Can Thiacalixarene Surpass Calixarene?

Heteroatom-bridged calixarenes have been confined intothe unexplored frontier of the vast realm of the calixarene chemistry because of their syntheticdifficulty. Since we found facile one-step synthesis of thiacalix[4]arene, in which four methylenebridges of calix[4]arene are replaced by four sulfides, we have been engaged in the study on thisnew molecular platform regarding the improvements for the synthetic procedures, structuralanalyses, chemical modifications, and functional developments. In this review are describedthe results of our own study to demonstrate the potentials over the limits of the conventionalcalixarenes, putting emphasis on the indispensable role of the bridging sulfur. Highlighted examples are(1) enlargement of the calix skeleton to provide larger cavity, (2) ready oxidizability to sulfoxideand sulfone for providing new members of S bridged calixarenes, and (3) coordination to specificmetal ions controlled by the oxidation state of S. These indicate a hopeful future for thethiacalixarene platform in the forthcoming applications to functional molecular devices.     

Transmission electron microscopy study of an AlN nucleation layer for the growth of GaN on a 7-degree off-oriented (0 0 1) Si substrate by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy

We have investigated the morphology of the high-temperature-grown AlN nucleation layer and its role in the early stage of GaN growth, by means of transmission electron microscopy. The nitride was selectively grown on a 7-degree off-oriented (0 0 1) patterned Si substrate by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy. AlN was deposited on the inclined unmasked (1 1 1) facet in the form of islands. The size of the islands varied along the slope, which is attributable to the diffusion of the growth species in the vapor phase. The GaN nucleation occurred at the region where rounded AlN islands formed densely. The threading dislocations were observed to generate in the GaN nucleated region.     

Kinetic spectrophotometric determination of tetraphenylporphinecobalt(II) based on photochromism of immobilized norbornadiene

The cobalt(II) complex is detected spectrophotometrically by its catalysis of a photochromic isomerism of norbornadiene (NBD). NBD is immobilized on porous glass beads, and is isomerized to quadricyclane (QC) by UV irradiation. The beads are then immersed in a solution containing tetraphenylporphinecobalt(II) [TPPCo(II)], and the QC is converted back to NBD by a catalytic reaction with TPPCo(II). The rate constant, measured spectrophotometrically, is proportional to the concentration of TPPCo(II). The detection limit of TPPCo(II) is 60 μM for a reaction period of 1 h. This spectrophotometric detection can be applied repetitively without any supply of the chemical reagent, as NBD immobilized on the porous glass beads can be re-isomerized to QC by UV irradiation.     

Fluorimetric determination of gallium with lumogallion by flow injection analysis based on solvent extraction

Gallium in the concentration range 4 X 10^-6–8.7 X 10^-5 M is determined fluorimetrically with lumogallion by an extraction—flow injection procedure. Sensitivity and selectivity are improved compared to those obtained earlier with an entirely aqueous system. The transient phenomena occurring in extraction in a narrow teflon tube are examined by a laser excitation technique, in which the concentration profile of the gallium—lumogallion complex is measured directly without phase separation. The results show that mixing between segments plays an important role in dispersion of the sample in the extraction coil. Two extraction processes with different rates were observed in the transient signals during extraction.     

Binding of methyl orange and its homologs by powdered nylon 66

Powdered Nylon 66 was prepared as a model of amorphous polymers. The resultant powder polyamide was composed of only amorphous regions. The extent of uptake of the acid azo dyes, a homologous series of methyl orange derivatives, by the polymer was measured in an aqueous solution. The first binding constants and the thermodynamic parameters in the course of the binding were evaluated. The thermodynamic behaviors obtained are very similar to those of crosslinked polyvinylpyrrolidone. The favorable free energy of the binding is accompanied by an entropy gain and an exothermic enthalpy change. The shorter the alkyl chain of the dyes, the more negative is the enthalpy change and, hence, the smaller is the entropy change. The thermodynamic data for butyl orange showed that the binding process is athermal and is wholly an entropic effect. The binding of the dyes to the matrix is entropically favorable as a result of the operation of the hydrophobic effect. In addition, an electrostatic force is operative between the sulfonate group on the dyes and the terminal amino groups on the polyamide.     

1H NMR titration study of stimuli-responsive supramolecular assemblies: inclusion complexes between PEG–b-PEI copolymer-grafted dextran and naphthalene-appended γ-cyclodextrin via double-strand inclusion

We have previously prepared a stimuli-responsive inclusion complex between PEG–b-PEI–g-dextran graft copolymer (PEG–PEI–dex) and γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) in order to investigate unique inclusion phenomena, double-axle inclusion. For further study, a γ-CD derivative, mono-6-O-(2-sulfonato-6-naphthyl)-γ-CD (SN-γ-CD) was additionally synthesized for ¹H NMR titration study, which is expected to induce the competition of pendant naphthyl group with external polymer guests. Consequently, ¹H NMR titration results of the inclusion complex of PEG–PEI–dex with SN-γ-CD showed stoichiometric changes, temperature-dependence, and reversibly pH-responsive properties of the inclusion complexes in terms of chemical shift variation.