Deracemization of 1,2-diol monotosylate derivatives by a combination of enzymatic hydrolysis with the Mitsunobu inversion using polymer-bound triphenylphosphine

The deracemization of 1,2-diol monotosylate derivatives is achieved by the sequential combination of enzymatic hydrolysis and Mitsunobu inversion using a polymer-bound triphenylphosphine. After the lipase-catalysed hydrolysis of the racemic 2-acetoxyhexyl tosylate, the subsequent Mitsunobu reaction without separation causes an inversion of the resulting (R)-alcohol to give the (S)-enantiomer of the acetate as a single product. In particular, the reaction using the polymer-bound triphenylphosphine also proceeds smoothly, and the product is easily separated by filtration from the polymer-bound reagent and its by-products. This deracemization process is applicable to the preparation of several optically active 1,2-diol monotosylates.     

Fabrication and optical reflection behavior of a two-dimensional barium titanate ceramic photonic crystal

We demonstrate a method for fabricating a two-dimensional hexagonal array of nanoscale barium titanate ceramic pillars. A precursor array was prepared by introducing a sol solution into an electron-beam resist mold with air holes and subsequently dry etching the unnecessary gel layer formed on the mold. A ceramic array, consisting of barium titanate ceramic pillars with a radius of 85 nm, a lattice constant of 450 nm, and a height of 500 nm, was fabricated by sintering the precursor array at 1073 K. The reflection spectra for the ceramic array in the visible range revealed the underlying photonic band gaps, which were in good agreement with results calculated using a plane-wave method. PACS 77.84.-s; 42.70.-a; 42.70.Qs     

Reactions of lithium tributyl heteroaryl borates with allylic bromides in the presence of copper(I) cyanide

The reaction of various lithium tributylheteroarylborates with allylic bromides in the presence of copper(I) cyanide furnished the regioselective allylation at the heteroaryl ring.     

Effects of three dithiocarbamates on tissue distribution and excretion of cadmium in mice

N-Benzyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (BGD), N-p-hydroxymethylbenzyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (HBGD), and N-p-carboxybenzyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (CBGD) were compared for their relative efficacies in the distribution and excretion of cadmium in mice exposed to cadmium. Mice were injected intraperitoneally with 109CdCl2 (1 mg of Cd/kg and 2 microCi of 109Cd/one animal). Three days later, they were injected with chelating agents (400 mumol/kg) every other day for 2 weeks. After injections of BGD and HBGD, cadmium was excreted mainly in the feces through the bile, and the fecal excretion of cadmium by HBGD was significantly higher than that by BGD or CBGD. These chelating agents increased the urinary excretion of cadmium to a small extent. The hepatic cadmium content was decreased only after HBGD injection. Also, the injection of HBGD caused a much greater decrease in renal cadmium content than did BGD or CBGD. These chelating agents did not result in the redistribution of cadmium to the brain, testes, or heart. The growth of mice was only slightly retarded by injections of these chelating agents. The results of this study indicate that the injection of HBGD to mice pretreated with cadmium can remove cadmium from the body, mainly through fecal excretion, without redistribution of cadmium to other tissues such as the brain, testes, and heart, more effectively than BGD or CBGD.     

Flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of acetyl-coenzyme A with immobilized phosphotransacetylase

Phosphotransacetylase (PTA) is immobilized on AF-Tresyl TOYOPEARL 650 gel and used on-line in a stainless-steel column (10 × 4 mm i.d.). CoA-SH liberated enzymatically from acetyl-CoA is reacted with Ellman's reagent [5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid)] in the carrier stream. The calibration graph for acetyl-CoA is linear from 4 × 10^?6 to 4 × 10^?4 M and the detection limits is 8 × 10^?7 M. The immobilized enzyme can be employed for over 4 months without any significant decrease in activity. The enzyme retains its activity in methanol even though the initial rate of reaction is decreased.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of descurainin via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a carbonyl ylide using Rh2(R-TCPTTL)4

A catalytic asymmetric synthesis of descurainin has been achieved by incorporating an enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, a stereoselective alkene hydrogenation, an oxidation with Fremy’s salt and a regioselective demethylation with NbCl₅ as the key step. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a carbonyl ylide derived from tert-butyl 2-diazo-5-formyl-3-oxopetanoate with 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylacetylene in the presence of dirhodium(II) tetrakis[N-tetrachlorophthaloyl-(R)-tert-leucinate], Rh₂(R-TCPTTL)₄, provided an 8-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton in 95% ee.     

Electrochemical performance of nanocomposite LiMnPO4/C cathode materials for lithium batteries

A LiMnPO₄/C composite cathode was prepared by a combination of spray pyrolysis and wet ball milling. The cathode showed stable performance at various cutoff voltages up to 4.9 V. The cutoff voltage increase up to 4.9 V allowed the achievement of a high discharge capacity in galvanostatic charge–discharge tests. The discharge capacities of 153 mAh g^?1 at 0.05 C and 149 mAh g^?1 at 0.1 C were achieved at room temperature; the trickle-mode discharge capacities at room temperature were 132, 120 and 91 mAh g^?1 at 0.1, 1 and 5 C discharge rates, respectively. The cell exhibited a good rate capability in the galvanostatic cycling up to 5 C discharge rates at both ambient temperature and 50 °C.     

Preparation and certification of arsenate [As(V)] reference material, NMIJ CRM 7912-a

Arsenate [As(V)] solution reference material, National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) certified reference material (CRM) 7912-a, for speciation of arsenic species was developed and certified by NMIJ, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. High-purity As₂O₃ reagent powder was dissolved in 0.8 M HNO₃ solution and As(III) was oxidized to As(V) with HNO₃ to prepare 100 mg kg^-1 of As(V) candidate CRM solution. The solution was bottled in 400 bottles (50 mL each). The concentration of As(V) was determined by four independent analytical techniques—inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, and liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry—according to As(V) calibration solutions, which were prepared from the arsenic standard of the Japan Calibration Service system and whose species was guaranteed to be As(V) by NMIJ. The uncertainties of all the measurements and preparation procedures were evaluated. The certified value of As(V) in the CRM is (99.53 ± 1.67) mg kg^-1 (k = 2).     

Mesostructured organosilica with a 9-mesityl-10-methylacridinium bridging unit: photoinduced charge separation in the organosilica framework

Polycondensation of 9-mesityl-10-methylacridinium-bridged organosilane in the presence of a nonionic surfactant yielded a mesostructured organosilica solid with a functional framework that exhibited long-lived photoinduced charge separation.     

Analysis of Th, U, Pu, and Am in radioactive metal waste using extraction chromatography

In order to analyze actinide elements in radioactive metal waste, the dissolution and chemical separation conditions were optimized. The surfaces of a type 304 stainless steel plate and of pipe waste sampled from the prototype advanced thermal reactor (Fugen) were dissolved in mixed acid solution (HNO₃:HCl:H₂O = 1:1:4). The resulting solution was evaporated to dryness and dissolved with 2 mol/dm³ of HNO₃ to prepare sample solutions. In order to analyze trivalent actinide elements in the sample solution containing a large amount of Fe(III) (>0.1 g) using TRU resin, the effect of Fe(III) concentration on the recovery of Am(III) and reduction effect of Fe(III) to Fe(II) with ascorbic acid were studied. On the basis of results of this study, chemical separation scheme was constructed and Pu and Am in the sample solutions were separated. Thorium and U in the sample solutions were separated with UTEVA resin. High recoveries for all experimented elements were obtained from the analysis of spiked sample solutions, the effectiveness of the method was confirmed.