Solvent-Vapor-Induced Reversible Single-Crystal-to-Single-Crystal Transformation of a Triphosphaazatriangulene-Based Metal–Organic Framework

A triphosphaazatriangulene (H₃L) was synthesized through an intramolecular triple phospha-Friedel–Crafts reaction. The H₃L triangulene contains three phosphinate groups and an extended π-conjugated framework, which enables the stimuli-responsive reversible transformation of [Cu(HL)(DMSO)⋅(MeOH)]_n, a 3D-MOF that exhibits reversible sorption characteristics, into (H₃L⋅0.5 [Cu₂(OH)₄⋅6 H₂O] ⋅4 H₂O), a 1D-columnar assembled proton-conducting material. The hydrophilic nature of the latter resulted in a proton conductivity of 5.5×10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 95 % relative humidity and 60 °C.     

A Dual Emissive Coumarin–urea Derivative with an Electron-withdrawing Substituent in the Presence of Acetate Anion

We investigated the fluorescent properties, including the excited-state intermolecular proton transfer, of urea derivatives comprising a coumarin ring, which is a widely used fluorophore. We prepared two different coumarin–urea derivatives, 6CU and 7CU, which bear a urea-based substituent at the 6 and 7 positions of a coumarin ring, respectively. In the presence of the acetate ion, 7CU showed additional tautomer fluorescence emission with respect to 6CU, indicating that tautomer formation depends on the positions of the urea-based substituent on the coumarin ring. Thus, the resonance structures of urea derivatives might play an important role in the behavior of dual fluorescence, which is an important phenomenon applicable to photochemical anion sensing. Moreover, in order to further improve the fluorescence properties of the mentioned derivatives, a CF₃ group was introduced in a phenyl ring opposite to a coumarin ring. The fluorescence quantum yield of 7CUCF₃ thus synthesized was 65 times as large as that of 7CU, an observation that renders 7CUCF₃ a suitable anion sensor candidate. The results of this study will contribute to the development of new molecular designs for highly fluorescent sensing.     

Structural characteristics of polysaccharide-based thermotropic liquid crystals

Main mesomorphic properties of cellulose and cello- and chito-oligosaccharide derivatives are overviewed, and their structuring principles are briefly discussed with some new analyses incorporated.     

Inter-atomic distance and temperature dependence of correlation effects among thermal displacements

Diffuse neutron scattering from a powder AgCl was measured from 10 to 260 K. The correlation effects among thermal displacements of atoms were obtained from the diffraction data. The values of the correlation effects decrease rapidly with the increase of the inter-atomic distance. The values also decrease with the decrease of temperature. The similar tendency was also obtained in AgBr and CuI. The temperature dependence of the values of correlation effects agrees with the result by a simple Debye model of lattice vibrations.     

A novel injection method for high-speed proteome analysis by capillary electrophoresis

We have developed a new sample injection method for capillary electrophoresis (CE) that reduces the required migration time. We demonstrated a pressurization technique that was performed with buffer in the outlet after the electrokinetic sample injection with no buffer in the outlet. To reduce the migration time, the sample injection had to be performed with no buffer in the outlet; water should be pressurized while the buffer is in the outlet. Though the resolution was slightly decreased using this method, the addition of a separation carrier (curdlan) to the run buffer restored the resolution without delaying the migration time. The use of our new sample injection method combined with our high-quality separation carrier will enable us to improve the efficiency of the high-throughput screening (HTS) system for proteome analysis.