Competitive potentiometric determination of binding constants between α-cyclodextrin and 1-alkanols

The binding constants of 1-alkanols with α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) were determined by indirect competitive potentiometry, although potentiometry is usually inapplicable to nonionic compounds. This novel method utilizes competitive binding of 1-alkanol and octyltrimethylammonium bromide (OTAB) to α-CD in aqueous media, where the concentration of free OTAB depending on the competitive binding is monitored with an OTAB-selective electrode. Therefore, the concentration of 1-alkanol is indirectly estimated from the observed electromotive force. The binding constants of 1-propapnol, 1-butanol, 1-hexanol, and 1-octanol with α-CD, obtained by this method, are close to the literature values. The implications and limitations of this indirect competitive potentiometry were discussed.     

Large-scale separation of metallic and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes

In the applications of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), it is extremely important to separate semiconducting and metallic SWNTs. Although several methods have been reported for the separation, only low yields have been achieved at great expense. We show a separation method involving a dispersion-centrifugation process in a tetrahydrofuran solution of amine, which makes metallic SWNTs highly concentrated to 87% in a simple way.     

Side chain-directed assembly of triangular molecular panels into a tetrahedron vs. open cone

Despite their structural similarity, triangular tetradentate ligands 2b and 2c experience different assembly pathways on complexation with (en)Pd(NO3)2 to give M8L4 tetrahedral (3) and open cone (4) structures, respectively, due to steric restriction by side chains at the corner or on the edge of the ligands.     

Syntheses and reactions of functional polymers. XCIII. Syntheses of polymers containing the N-(4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)succinimide structure in the chain and the use of these activated polymer esters of N-blocked amino acids or peptides

Polymers containing the N-(4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)succinimide residue were designed in order to achieve acyl activation of a reacting carboxylic acid in the solid phase. These polymers were prepared through the following three routes: (a) styrene was allowed to copolymerize with N-(4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)- or N-(4-acetoxy-3-nitrophenyl)maleimide, (b) styrene was copolymerized with N-(4-acetoxyphenyl)maleimide in the presence of divinylbenzene (DVB), and the copolymer obtained was hydrolyzed and nitrated, (c) a copolymer of maleic anhydride and styrene was reacted with p-aminophenol, followed by nitration. The polymers prepared by routes b and c were converted to the activated polymer esters of N-blocked amino acids and peptides by using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC). The acylated polymers thus obtained were treated with amino acid esters and found to give peptides quantitatively without racemization.     

Improved assay for catechol-O-methyltransferase activity utilizing norepinephrine as an enzymatic substrate and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

We have previously established a rapid catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) assay using norepinephrine (NE) as a natural substrate and flow-injection analysis. In this study, the method is improved for screening of COMT inhibitors or activators using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation with fluorescence detection. The excess substrate, NE, was removed by the addition of borate in the eluent for HPLC to make an ionic complex with NE, which was eluted faster than the enzymatic product, normetanephrine. The method had good precision and accuracy, and was able to assay one sample in 5 min, showing the usability for screening of COMT inhibitors or activators.     

Specific heat and neutron diffraction study on quaternary sulfides BaNd2CoS5 and BaNd2ZnS5

Magnetic and electrical properties are investigated for quaternary neodymium sulfides BaNd₂TS₅ (T=Co, Zn) through the specific heat, neutron diffraction, and electrical conductivity measurements. Their electrical conductivities show semiconductive behavior, which follows the Arrhenius temperature dependence with the activation energy of E_a=1.46 eV for BaNd₂ZnS₅ and E_a=1.19 eV for BaNd₂CoS₅. The specific heat of BaNd₂ZnS₅ has a λ-type anomaly at 2.8 K due to the antiferromagnetic ordering of the Nd³⁺ moments and a Schottky-type anomaly at around 60 K, which results from the crystal field splitting of the ⁴I_9/2 ground state of the Nd³⁺ ion. The specific heat of BaNd₂CoS₅ shows two λ-type anomalies at 5.7 K due to the antiferromagnetic ordering of Nd³⁺ and at 58 K due to the antiferromagnetic ordering of Co²⁺. The latter overlaps with the Schottky-type anomaly due to the crystal field splitting of the Nd³⁺ ion. Neutron diffraction measurements for BaNd₂CoS₅ show that a magnetic arrangement of the Co²⁺ moments has a collinear antiferromagnetic structure, while that of the Nd³⁺ moments has a noncollinear one.     

Structure and biosynthetic implication of (S)-NHAB, a novel shunt product, from a disruptant of the actVI-ORFA gene for actinorhodin biosynthesis in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

A novel shunt product was isolated from a disruptant of the actVI-ORFA gene involved in the biosynthesis of actinorhodin (ACT) in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). Its structure was elucidated as 1,4-naphthoquinone-8-hydroxy-3-[3(S)-acetoxy-butyric acid], (S)-NHAB, based on NMR, MS, and CD spectroscopic data as well as a single crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis. The formation of (S)-NHAB involves a retro-Claisen type C-C bond cleavage of an ACT biosynthetic intermediate. Feeding experiments with [1-¹³C] and [2-¹³C] acetates indicated its biosynthetic origin as a single octaketide chain. The relevant gene product, Act-ORFA, which is a functionally unknown protein, is proposed to play a regulatory role related to the multi-enzymatic steps to ACT production, based on the metabolic profile of its disruptant and the wide distribution of actVI-ORFA homologues in the gene clusters for Streptomyces aromatic polyketides.     

High-Spin Polyphenoxyls Attached to Star-Shaped Poly(phenylenevinylene)s

Star-shaped poly(1,2-phenylenevinylene)s 4-substituted with multiple pendant phenoxyls (2 and 3) were synthesized by polymerizing 2-bromo-4-(acetoxyphenyl)styrene in the presence of 1,3,5-triiodobenzene or 1,3,5-tris(3',5'-diiodophenyl)benzene as the core via a simple one-pot Heck reaction and subsequent hydrolysis, phenolate formation, and heterogeneous oxidation. ESR spectra indicated a delocalized spin distribution into the core parts of the star-shaped molecules. The polyradicals, 2 and 3, were in a high-spin state at low temperature, and the ferromagnetic behavior was enhanced for the polyradical with a higher molecular weight. Although an average S of 3 remained at 3/2 to 4/2, the polyradical 2 even with a spin concentration of 0.8 spin/unit revealed an average S of 7/2 to 8/2. The 1,3,5-benzene core acted as an effective magnetic coupler to align the spins of the pendant phenoxyls through the star-shaped pi-conjugated backbone.     

Effect of Organic Ligands Used in Sol-Gel Process on the Formation of Mullite

The preparation of mullite by the sol-gel method using organic polydentate ligands and the effect of the raw materials and organic polydentate ligands on the formation of mullite were investigated. Two series of samples were prepared using tetraethoxyorthosilicate (TEOS) and aluminum nitrate nonahydrate, or dibutoxyethylacetoacetatoaluminum (Al(OBu)₂(AcAcEt)) as the silica and alumina sources, respectively, and using ethylene glycol (EG), 1,3-propanediol (PD), 1,3-butanediol (BD), 2-methyl-2, 4-pentanediol (MPD), diethlene glycol monoethyl ether (DEME) and ethoxyethanol as the ligands. When the alumina source was aluminum nitrate nonahydrate, mullite was apt to appear in the order of EG>PD>MPD. When Al(OBu)₂(AcAcEt) was the alumina source, the tendency toward the appearance of mullite crystalline phase was EG>BD>DEME>MPD. Between the two alumina sources, aluminum nitrate nonahydrate gave mullite much easier than Al(OBu)₂(AcAcEt). These relationships were discussed from the viewpoints of the coordination ability of the ligands and the miscibility between the silica and alumina.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 3,4-dihydroxyglutamic acids via enantioselective reduction of cyclic meso-imide

Stereoselective synthesis of (3S,4S)- and (3R,4R)-series of 3,4-dihydroxyglutamic acids was investigated. The key reaction in this synthesis is asymmetric reduction of meso-imide derived from meso-tartaric acid. Lewis acid-promoted cyanation of the obtained optically active lactam via the acyliminium intermediate followed by standard deprotection procedure afforded the desired 3,4-dihydroxyglutamic acids.