Synthesis and spectral properties of perylene–rhodamine dyads with lipophilic dendritic auxiliaries

The present publication reports a new entry of perylene–rhodamine dyads, whose solubilities in organic solvents are enhanced by the lipophilic dendritic auxiliaries. Spectroscopic studies on these dyad systems have demonstrated that the intramolecular Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from the perylene donor to the rhodamine acceptor was activated upon protonation with either H₂SO₄ or TFA to result in drastic colour change of the fluorescence emissions. This phenomenon can be reasonably accounted for in terms of the switching behaviour of the FRET interactions, which is suppressed by disruptive interference from lone pair electrons of the amino moieties.     

Three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging after ultrasonography for assessment of fetal gastroschisis

A 24-year-old woman (Gravida I, Para I) at estimated 32 weeks of pregnancy was referred to our department for evaluation of a suspected fetal gastroschisis. Ultrasound scan revealed multiple loops of dilated bowel outside the fetal abdomen and absence of membrane surrounding the herniated loops of the intestines. Three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging was performed to obtain more information on the bowel both outside and inside the abdomen. Images were constructed with T1-weighted fat-suppressed 3D fast low-angle shot sequences using a maximum intensity projection algorithm. The 3D images made possible the realization of fetal bowel conditions with greater definition and accuracy.     

Synthetic approach to kendomycin: preparation of the C-glycosidic core

Synthesis of the C13-C19 C-glycoside portion of kendomycin was achieved via oxidative pyran cyclization and Claisen rearrangement to construct the fully functionalized aromatic ring.     

Comparative studies of spectrochemical characteristics between axial and radial observations in inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry.

By using an ICP optical emission spectrometer having two different observation modes, the authors compared the spectrochemical characteristics of various emission lines as viewed from the axial direction and the direction radial to the long axis of the plasma. The excitation temperature, the emission intensity, and the degree of ionization were investigated when iron and chromium were employed as the test sample and further potassium was added as an interfering element. These observations could lead to a similar conclusion that the emission intensities from the axial direction were more easily affected by the potassium addition. The reason for this effect is probably because the portion of the plasma observed from the axial direction includes the tail zone which is apart from the induction zone and thus has lower temperatures. On the other hand, in the radial observation, one can observe the emission intensities from a narrow portion of the plasma just above the load coil. The axial observation mode gave better analytical performance, including a lower detection limit as well as a better signal-to-background ratio, compared to the radial observation mode. However, interferences from co-existing elements should be noted if the axial observation is employed in practical applications.     

Dilatometric studies of reaction volumes for the formation of metal complexes in several solvents

A convenient technique is described to determine reaction volumes by means of direct dilatometry. Reaction volumes were determined for the following complexation reactions: formation of monoamminenickel(II) in water (–0.1±0.5 cm³-mol^–1); formation of the 1:1 nickel(II) complex with isoquinoline in methanol and ethanol (3.2±0.1 and 1.1±0.1 cm³-mol^–1, respectively); formation of the 1:1 isothiocyanatoiron(III) complex in water, Me₂SO, and DMF (8.9±0.2, 12.4±0.7, and 25.1±0.3 cm³-mol^–1, respectively); formation of the 18-crown-6 potassium complex in water (10.9±0.2 cm³-mol^–1). We discussed these values in terms of electrostriction and molecular size.     

First total synthesis and absolute stereochemical assignment of vittarilide-A,an antioxidant extractive component isolated from Vittaria anguste-elongata Hayata

The first stereocontrolled synthesis of vittarilide-A and its C5-epimer was completed from d-glucuronolactone. Comparison with the spectroscopic properties reported for authentic material has given a clear indication as to the absolute stereochemistry of the natural vittarilide-A.     

Investigation of a Kubo-formula-based approach to estimate DNA conductance in an atomistic model

A novel approach to estimate DNA conductance based upon Kubo formula is presented and discussed. Using this approach, the effects of base pair mismatches, different conformational changes and base pair sequence on DNA electrical properties were investigated. The results were compared with the data from other methods. The new approach makes possible very fast estimation of conductance spectra for oligonucleotides with hundreds of base pairs and can easily be extended to treat arbitrary chemical modifications of DNA.