Inhibitory effect of cis-dehydromatricaria ester isolated from Solidago altissima on the growth of mammalian cells

A cell growth inhibitory substance was isolated from Solidago altissima, which is known as a naturalized weed. The data of infrared spectrum, proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum, and mass spectrum were identical with those of cis-dehydromatricaria ester. The compound inhibited both tumor and normal mammalian cells.     

Voltammetric behavior of the transfer of mono- and polyammonium ions across a phospholipid monolayer at the nitrobenzene/water interface.

The influence of a phospholipid, dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine, layer at a nitrobenzenelwater interface on the transfer of tetraethylammonium ion and a polyammonium anti-fungus agent, poly[(dimethylimino)(2-oxo-1,2-ethanediyl)imino1,6-hexanediylimino (1-oxo-1,2-ethanediyl)(dimethylimino)-1,6-hexanediyl] ion, across the interface was studied by normal pulse voltammetry. When the phospholipid was adsorbed to form a monolayer at the nitrobenzenelwater interface by its addition to the organic phase, the half-wave potential in the current vs. potential curves for the transfer of tetraethylammonium ion did not change, but the limiting current was significantly decreased at certain sampling times, indicating a retarding effect of the layer on the ion-transfer. On the other hand, in the current vs. potential curves for the transfer of the polyammonium ion, no significant change in either the half-wave potential or the limiting current was observed upon adding the phospholipid, indicating that the polyammonium ion can easily permeate through the phospholipid layer. The results suggest a new application of the voltammetric technique to the study of cell membrane permeability to polyionic bioactive compounds.     

Hierarchical chiral framework based on a rigid adamantane tripod on Au(111)

We have investigated the tripod-shaped bromo adamantane trithiol (BATT) molecule on Au(111) using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) at 4.7 K. Adsorption of BATT leads to formation of highly ordered self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with three-point contacts on Au(111). The structure of these SAMs has been found to have a two-tiered hierarchical chiral organization. The self-assembly of achiral monomers produces chiral trimers, which then act as the building blocks for chiral hexagonal supermolecules. SAMs begin to form from the racemic mixture of assembled molecules in ribbon-shaped islands, followed by the transformation to enantiomeric domains when SAM layers develop two-dimensionally across hcp domains. Such a chiral phase transition at the two-dimensional domain can arise from a subtle balance between molecule-substrate and intermolecular interactions. Two structural factors, the S atom (stabilization) and the methylene groups (chirality) located just above the S atom, induce the chiral ordering of BATT on Au(111).     

Cyclic voltammetry of the electron transfer reaction between bis(cyclopentadienyl)iron in 1,2-dichloroethane and hexacyanoferrate in water.

The electron transfer (ET) reaction between bis(cyclopentadienyl)iron(II) ([Fe(II)(C(5)H(5))2]) in 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) and hexacyanoferrate redox couple ([Fe(II/III)(CN)6](4-/3-)) in water (W) at the interface has been studied by using cyclic voltammetry. The voltammetric results can be explained well by a theoretical equation for the so-called IT-mechanism, in which a homogeneous ET reaction between [Fe(C(5)H(5))2] (partially distributed from 1,2-DCE) and [Fe(CN)6](3-) takes place in the W phase and the resultant [Fe(C(5)H(5))2]+ ion is responsible for current passage across the interface. The forward rate constant of the homogeneous ET reaction, [Fe(C(5)H(5))2] + [Fe(CN)6](3-) = [Fe(C(5)H(5))2]+ + [Fe(CN)6](4-) in W phase, k(f)(IT), was determined to be (2.9 +/- 2.2)x 10(10) M(-1) s(-1), which was in good agreement with k(f)(IT) = (3.2 +/- 2.0)x 10(10) M(-1) s(-1), which had been determined by using normal-pulse voltammetry.     

Cems study of corrosion on iron foil at low temperatures

Conversion electron Mössbauer measurements with a proportional counter at 6.3, 78 and 300 K have been done to investigate the corrosion of the surface of iron foils, which consists of small particles of γ-Fe₂O₃. When the average particle sizes of the corroded layer are approximately 4 and 5 nm, magnetic hyperfine splitting was observed in the spectra at 6.3 and 78 K. However, for a corroded layer composed of smaller particles, the splitting was noticed only at 6.3 K. The anisotropy constantK of the small particles was estimated using the magnetic hyperfine fields obtained from the spectra at 6.3 and 78 K.     

Total synthesis of sorbistin A1 and a positional isomer

Total synthesis of sorbistin A₁ (1) and a positional isomer (7) is described for the first time in a regio- and stereo-controlled manner.     

Surface and interface properties of epitaxial Fe3O4 films studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy

Stoichiometric Fe₃O₄ films have formed epitaxially on -Al₂O₃ and MgO single-crystal substrates by a reactive vapor deposition method. In order to apply conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy depth-selectively, a 5–7 Åthick probe layer containing ⁵⁷Fe was formed at various depths in inactive ⁵⁶Fe₃O₄ matrix films. At the topmost surfaces and also at the interfaces, the essential electronic features of bulk Fe₃O₄ are retained, including a rapid electron hopping between the Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions at B sites. Minor depth-dependent changes are confined to a few outermost atomic layers, and the changes depend on the orientation and the lattice mismatch with the substrate. For (111) growth on -Al₂O₃, the surface layer seems to be strongly relaxed to reduced the electric polarization, while a high density of defects seems to be concentrated at the interface with -Al₂O₃. For (001) growth on MgO, the surface retains the spinel lattice though slightly oxidized, while the interface with MgO has good crystallinity and stoichiometry. An enhanced thermal fluctuation of the Fe³⁺-spins in contact with the MgO substrate and in the topmost surface layer can be seen in their reduced magnetic hyperfine field at 300 K.     

Kinetic study on the elastic change of vascular endothelial cells on collagen matrices by atomic force microscopy

The elasticity of vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC) was measured with an atomic force microscopy (AFM, Olympus), and analyzed by applying the Hertz model, and those data were compared with ones reported by us previously. The latter elasticity data were measured with AFM Instruments (Seiko) on the basis of the Young's modulus of gelatin gel, which was obtained from the measurement with a tensile tester. The elasticity of HUVEC was concluded to depend on the culture period. The elasticity of the cells cultured on type IV collagen for longer than 4 days led to average elasticity values higher than ca. 10(4)Pa. Moreover, the scattered values of elasticity decreased eminently in the AFM measurement of the cells at room temperature. A few cells, however, appeared to adhere long and tensely on matrix, which seems to one of reasons for relatively high elasticity in our previous works. The possibility of such high elasticity was considered to change in cell adhesion, anchoring on matrix during a long culture period.     

Resolution-free route to chiral 2,2-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,1-binaphthyl ligand: photochemical CpCo(CO)2-mediated cycloaddition of enantiopure 2,2-dicyano-1,1-binaphthyl with diynes

A resolution-free route to chiral 2,2^′-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,1^′-binaphthyl ligands 2 was developed for the first time based on the photochemical CpCo(CO)₂-mediated cycloaddition reaction of enantiopure 2,2^′-dicyano-1,1^′-binaphthyl 3 with 1,6-heptadiyne, 1,7-octadiyne, 1,8-nonadiyne, and 2,8-decadiyne.     

Sum-frequency generation study of reacting species at surfaces

Received: 6 October 1998 / Revised version: 3 November 1998