Synthesis and nanostructure of strong polyelectrolyte brushes in amphiphilic diblock copolymer monolayers on a water surface

We synthesized an ionic amphiphilic diblock copolymer, poly(hydrogenated isoprene)-b-poly(styrenesulfonic acid) (PIp-h2-b-PSS), by living anionic polymerization, and the nanostructure of its monolayer spread on a water surface was directly investigated by the in situ X-ray reflectivity technique. The monolayer of the diblock copolymer on a water surface had a smooth hydrophobic PIp-h2 layer on water and a "carpet"/polymer brush double layer in a hydrophilic sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSSNa) layer under the water. The surface pressure dependence and PSSNa chain length dependence of the PIp-h2 layer thickness and the brush nanostructure were quantitatively studied. The effect of salt concentration in the subphase was also investigated in aqueous solutions containing 0-2 M NaCl. The salt effect on monolayer structure occurred at around 0.2 M. The thickness of the PSS brush layer decreased at salt concentrations above 0.2 M, while no structural change was observed below 0.2 M. This critical salt concentration is thought to be related to the balance of ionic concentrations inside the brush and in bulk solution.     

Evaluation of postoperative hepatobiliary function by deconvolution analysis of hepatobiliary image data by 99mTc-N-pyridoxyl-5-methyltryptophan

Dynamic hepatobiliary image data were analyzed by the mathematical deconvolution to derive the transfer function (TF) which represents the impulse response function of the liver following direct bolus injection of a tracer into the liver. Biliary flow was evaluated by TF in patients with previous hepatobiliary surgery to detect abnormal flow causing problems such as cholangitis. Serial image data were collected for 60 min after intravenous injection of 37-75 MBq (1-2 mCi) of 99mTc-N-pyridoxyl-5-methyltryptophan (99mTc-PMT). TF was obtained by the matrix algorithm, using regional hepatogram as output and time-activity curve over the heart as input function. Minimum, mean and maximum transit time (Max. TT) were determined from TF. The functional image for each of the transit times was constructed by displaying the distribution of the values for matrix elements with a color scale. In this study, a critical Max. TT of 60 min was used to detect abnormal biliary flow. Of 30 cases, 9 positive cases were discriminated from 21 negative cases on the basis of the finding of presence or absence of areas with Max. TT of more than 60 min anywhere in the liver. Bowel activity overlapping the liver was excluded in the judgment. The validity of this method was evaluated in comparison with the clinical courses after surgery with (8 cases) or without (22 cases) problems. The results were sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 91%, accuracy of 90% and positive predictive value of 78%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Study on Segmental Motion and Ion Binding in Polyelectrolyte Solutions by Ultrasonic Spectroscopy

The ultrasonic absorption spectra of aqueous solutions of polyacrylate (PA), polyphosphate (PP), and polystyrenesulfonate (PSS), neutralized by tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH), were measured. The effects of addition of tetramethylammonium chloride (TMACl) and sodium chloride (NaCl) to the polyelectrolyte solutions were investigated in the frequency range from 500 kHz to 100 MHz. Two ultrasonic relaxation processes due to the local segmental motions were observed. The relaxation frequency for TMAPP solution decreased as the ionic strength was increased by the addition of TMACl. For the other two polymer solutions, the ionic strength did not affect the relaxation spectra. The addition of NaCl led to an increase of the ultrasonic absorption, which was ascribed to ion binding. The ultrasonic absorption due to the ion binding was estimated by subtracting the contribution of the segmental motion from the measuring ultrasonic spectra. The volume changes accompanying the ion binding for polyacrylate and polyphosphate salts were estimated to be 5 and 8 cm³-mol^?1, respectively.     

Electrical and magnetic properties of ion-exchangeable layered ruthenates

An ion-exchangeable ruthenate with a layered structure, K_0.2RuO_2.1, was prepared by solid-state reactions. The interlayer cation was exchanged with H⁺, C₂H₅NH₃⁺, and ((C₄H₉)₄N⁺) through proton-exchange, ion-exchange, and guest-exchange reactions. The electrical and magnetic properties of the products were characterized by DC resistivity and susceptibility measurements. Layered K_0.2RuO_2.1 exhibited metallic conduction between 300 and 13 K. The products exhibited similar magnetic behavior despite the differences in the type of interlayer cation, suggesting that the ruthenate sheet in the protonated form and the intercalation compounds possesses metallic nature.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic analysis of tetraphenylporphyrinatoantimony(V) complexes linked to boron-dipyrrin chromophore on axial ligands

Tetraphenylporphyrinatoantimony(V) complexes, linked to boron-dipyrrin chromophores on axial ligands, were synthesized. The fluorescence spectra of 1a, 1b and 1c (3-[4-(N,N′-difluorobornyl-5-dipyrrinyl)phenyl]propoxo(methoxo)antimony(V) tetraphenylporphyrin bromide (1a); 6-[4-(N,N′-difluorobornyl-5-dipyrrinyl)phenyl]hexyloxo(methoxo)antimony(V) tetraphenylporphyrin bromide (1b); bis{3-[4-(N,N′-difluorobornyl-5-dipyrrinyl)phenyl]propoxo}antimony(V) tetraphenylporphyrin bromide (1c)) were analyzed under the excitations of N,N′-difluorobornyl-5-dipyrrinylphenyl (Bdpy) and tetraphenylporphyrinatoantimony(V) (Sb(TPP)) chromophores. Under the irradiation of Bdpy chromophore, the excitation energy was transferred from Bdpy chromophore to the Sb(TPP) moiety at 0.13–0.40 of the quantum yields, even in a polar solvent. On the other hand, the emission of Sb(TPP) chromophores was quenched by Bdpy chromophores at rate constants of 10⁸–10⁹ s⁻¹, independent of on the solvent polarity. Under the excitation of the Bdpy chromophore of 1d (3-[4-(N,N′-difluorobornyl-5-dipyrrinyl)phenyl]propoxo(phenyloxo)antimony(V) tetraphenylporphyrin bromide) involving both the Bdpy and the phenoxy chromophores on the axial ligands, the excited singlet state of the Sb(TPP) chromophore generated by the energy transfer from the Bdpy chromophore was quenched by the phenoxy ligand via non-radiative processes involving electron transfer. However, rapid back electron-transfer may occur because no absorption of the anion radical of Sb(TPP) was observed by nanosecond laser photolysis.     

High-pressure synthesis of cyclic phenylacetylene oligomer

New conjugated oligomers were prepared by reacting phenylacetylene under high pressure of 0.11 to 0.92 GPa at 100–200°C for 0–5 h. The number-average molecular weight M?_n, the weight-average molecular weight M?_w, and the oligomer yield increased with pressure, tem-perature, and time. The average molecular weight of the oligomer showed the maximum value (M?_n: 830, M?_w: 2400) under 0.92 GPa, the maximum pressure, where phenylacetylene was oligomerized at a constant temperature. The structure of the oligomer was investigated from ESR, infrared, UV–VIS, field desorption mass (FDMS) spectra, and ¹³C NMR spec-trum. Analysis of the FDMS spectrum revealed that the molecular weight of the oligomer was multiple of the monomer. ¹³C NMR spectrum of the oligomer showed the absence of sp-carbon (? C?). We found that the oligomer had a cyclic structure. The cyclic oligomers of pentamer or more were new compounds. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Zirconium-mediated intramolecular ester transfer reaction: synthesis of alpha-substituted gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) derivatives

[reaction: see text]. The zirconium-mediated intramolecular ester transfer reaction of N-alkenyl carbamate derivatives proceeded to give alpha-substituted gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) derivatives in good to excellent yields. Quenching experiments of the reaction mixture with iodine or O2 indicated the presence of a cyclopropane intermediate. The resulting iodide was converted to 2-substituted pyrrolidine-3-carboxylate and/or alpha-alkylidene-gamma-aminobutyric acid derivatives in a stereospecific manner.     

Furopyridines. XXIII. Synthesis and reactions of chloropyridine derivatives of furo[2,3-b]-, -[2,3-c]- and -[3,2-c]pyridine

Chlorination of the N-oxides of furo[2,3-b]- 1a , -[2,3-c]- 1b and -[3,2-c]pyridine 1c with phosphorus oxychloride afforded compounds substituted normally at the α- or λ-position to the ring nitrogen, 2a, 2′a, 2b, 2c, 2′c and 2′c , and in addition, in the case of 1b , compounds substituted on the furan ring, 2′b and 2″b . The structures of these compounds were confirmed from their ir, nmr and mass spectra. The major chlorinated products 2a, 2b and 2c were converted to methoxy- 5a, 5b and 5c , N-pyrrolidyl- 7a, 7b and 7c , and phenylthiofuropyridines 8a, 8b , and 8c .     

Analyses of structure of photoreceptor organelle and blepharismin-associated protein in unicellular eukaryote Blepharisma

In the ciliated protozoan Blepharisma, step-up photophobic response is believed to be mediated by a novel type of photosensory pigment known as "blepharismins" (BL) that are contained in the pigment granules located just beneath the plasma membrane. We examined the ultrastructure of the pigment granules by freeze-fracture and thin-section electron microscopy and proposed a schematic diagram showing the granules' three-dimensional inner membranous structure. Some of the BL are suggested to be associated with 200 kDa membrane protein. High-pressure liquid chromatography analysis of pigment species associated with 200 kDa protein obtained from blue forms of Blepharisma (oxyblepharisma) revealed that the 200 kDa protein was associated with five types of oxyblepharismin. The fluorescence intensity was increased when the pigments were dissociated from the 200 kDa protein. The result supports the hypothesis that the pigment-200 kDa complex is able to transduce light energy into signals mediating the photobehavior of Blepharisma.