Direct Estimation of the Surface Location of Immobilized Functional Groups for Concerted Catalysis Using a Probe Molecule

The location of active sites during concerted catalysis by a metal complex and tertiary amine on a SiO₂ surface is discussed based on the interaction between the functionalized SiO₂ surface and a probe molecule, p‐formyl phenylboronic acid. The interactions of the probe molecule with the surface functionalities, diamine ligand, and tertiary amine, were analyzed by FT‐IR and solid‐state ¹³C and ¹¹B MAS NMR. For the catalyst exhibiting high 1,4‐addition activity, the diamine ligand and tertiary amine base exist in closer proximity than in the catalyst with low activity.     

Synthesis of a Sialic Acid Containing Complex‐Type N‐Glycan on a Solid Support

On solid ground : A new solid‐phase synthesis of N‐linked glycans featuring 1) highly stereoselective β‐mannosylation and microfluidic α‐sialylation and 2) efficient glycosylation of the N‐phenyltrifluoroacetimidate units on JandaJel resin is reported. Reagent concentration effects by a fluorous solvent are effectively applied, and the use of these methods results in the first synthesis of a sialic acid containing complex‐type N‐glycan on a solid support.

     

Solid-state 2H NMR structure of retinal in metarhodopsin I

The structural and photochemical changes in rhodopsin due to absorption of light are crucial for understanding the process of visual signaling. We investigated the structure of trans-retinal in the metarhodopsin I photointermediate (MI), where the retinylidene cofactor functions as an antagonist. Rhodopsin was regenerated using retinal that was (2)H-labeled at the C5, C9, or C13 methyl groups and was reconstituted with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. Membranes were aligned by isopotential centrifugation, and rhodopsin in the supported bilayers was then bleached and cryotrapped in the MI state. Solid-state (2)H NMR spectra of oriented rhodopsin in the low-temperature lipid gel state were analyzed in terms of a static uniaxial distribution (Nevzorov, A. A.; Moltke, S.; Heyn, M. P.; Brown, M. F. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 7636-7643). The line shape analysis allowed us to obtain the methyl bond orientations relative to the membrane normal in the presence of substantial alignment disorder (mosaic spread). Relative orientations of the methyl groups were used to calculate effective torsional angles between the three different planes that represent the polyene chain and the beta-ionone ring of retinal. Assuming a three-plane model, a less distorted structure was found for retinal in MI compared to the dark state. Our results are pertinent to how photonic energy is channeled within the protein to allow the strained retinal conformation to relax, thereby forming the activated state of the receptor.     

Theoretical investigation of the stability of highly charged C60 molecules produced with intense near-infrared laser pulses

We theoretically investigated the stability of highly charged C(60) (z+) cations produced from C(60) with an ultrashort intense laser pulse of lambda approximately 1800 nm. We first calculated the equilibrium structures and vibrational frequencies of C(60) (z+) as well as C(60). We then calculated key energies relevant to dissociation of C(60) (z+), such as the excess vibrational energy acquired upon sudden tunnel ionization from C(60). By comparing the magnitudes of the calculated energies, we found that C(60) (z+) cations up to z approximately 12 can be produced as a stable or quasistable (microsecond-order lifetime) intact parent cation, in agreement with the recent experimental report by V. R. Bhardwaj et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 043001 (2004)] that almost only intact parent C(60) (z+) cations up to z=12 are detected by a mass spectrometer. The results of Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus calculation suggest that the lifetime of C(60) (z+) drastically decreases by ten orders of magnitude as z increases from z=11 to z=13. Using the time-dependent adiabatic state approach, we also investigated the vibrational excitation of C(60) and C(60) (z+) by an intense near-infrared pulse. The results indicate that large-amplitude vibration with energy of >10 eV is induced in the delocalized h(g)(1)-like mode of C(60) (z+).     

Palladium-catalyzed direct N-arylation of nucleosides, nucleotides, and oligonucleotides for efficient preparation of dG-N2 adducts with carcinogenic amino-/nitroarenes

A method for direct palladium-catalyzed N-arylation reaction of nucleobases was developed for the convenient synthesis of DNA adducts with carcinogenic compounds. Using xantphos as the phosphine ligand and tetraethylammonium fluoride as the base in DMSO, several o-iodonitroarenes could be efficiently coupled with 2'-deoxyguanosine, 2'-deoxyadenosine, and 2'-deoxycytidine. The presence of a 3'-phosphate group in the deoxyribose moiety was found to be compatible with this N-arylation reaction; further, oligonucleotides could serve as substrates. The facile nitroreduction of the coupling compounds (12) yielded 2'-deoxyguanosin-N2-ylarylamine adducts, which are known to be biologically important. Compound 12 was easily converted to phosphoramidite derivatives, allowing the preparation of site-specific modified oligonucleotides with arylamine after the nitroreduction.     

Coaxial holographic data storage without recording the dc components

A technique of recovering the data pages from Fourier holograms recorded without the dc components is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally by use of a coaxial holographic storage system. A reconstructed image is obtained by adding a phase-modulated dc component of the signal beam on reading. The bit error rate of the reconstructed image is comparable with that for the hologram recorded with the dc component as well. Since high intensities of the dc components are not recorded in this technique, the dynamic range of the recording media can be saved, which potentially contributes to increasing the number of multiplexed holograms.     

Recent progress in environmental catalytic technology

Recent progress and trends in environmental catalytic technology in Japan are described with emphasis on the catalysts having hybridized functions. In addition to automobile exhaust cleaning, use of environmental catalysts such as titanium oxide photocatalysts is rapidly growing for the control of residential environments, e.g., antimicrobial activity and odor control, as life styles change gradually and the living environment is deteriorating considerably. Many new catalysts are evolving through hybridization of functions. The market of environmental catalyst products in 2005 is estimated 2,000 billion yen/year (photocatalyst: 1,100 billion yen/year).     

并二苯环纳米分子桥的电子传导特性

An two-electrode molecular bridge model that consists of two benzene rings was presented. The characteristics of electronic transport through the nano-molecular bridge was investigated theoretically by using the tight binding approach based on the Green’s function with only one π orbital per carbon atom at the site. Electronic transport probabilities through the molecular bridge from the input to the output terminal were obtained. The electronic current distributions inside the molecular bridge were calculated and shown in graphical analogy by the current density method based on Fisher-Lee formula at the energy points E=±0.68 and E=±1.38 where the peaks of transport probabilities appeared, and the maximum bond electronic current was also presented. The reason why the loop current in the benzene ring is induced by the phase difference within the molecular orbits is explained.