Water-assisted assembly of (E)-arylvinylpyridine hydrochlorides: effective substrates for solid-state [2+2] photodimerization

Water molecules assist the assembly of (E)-arylvinylpyridine hydrochlorides in a head-to-tail and face-to-face fashion by way of N-HO hydrogen bonds in combination with cation-π interactions between the pyridinium and aromatic rings. Photolysis of the pyridinium salt hydrates provided synHT dimers in high yields.     

Single-molecule magnet behavior enhanced by magnetic coupling between 4f and 3d spins

We synthesized and characterized a new compound [{Dy(hfac)₃}₂Pd(dpk)₂] ([Dy₂Pd]; Hdpk = di-2-pyridyl ketoxime), which is isostructural with the known [Dy₂Cu] and [Dy₂Ni]. The study of the [Dy₂Pd] compound containing diamagnetic Pd ion is indispensable to clarify a contribution of the exchange coupling for a 4f-3d single-molecule magnet behavior. From the ac susceptibility measurements on [Dy₂Pd], we obtained Δ/k_B = 28.6(11) K and T_B = 1.1 K. In accordance with the blocking behavior, the pulsed-field magnetization showed the hysteresis behavior below 1.1 K. These parameters on [Dy₂Pd] having S_Pd = 0 was compared with those of the derivatives having S_Cu = 1/2 (Δ/k_B = 47 K and T_B = 1.8 K) and S_Ni = 1 (Δ/k_B = 62(4) K and T_B = 2.5 K). The T_B and Δ steadily increase with the increasing 3d(4d) spin quantum number.     

Screening of cosmological constant for de Sitter Universe in non-local gravity,phantom-divide crossing and finite-time future singularities

We investigate de Sitter solutions in non-local gravity as well as in non-local gravity with Lagrange constraint multiplier. We examine a condition to avoid a ghost and discuss a screening scenario for a cosmological constant in de Sitter solutions. Furthermore, we explicitly demonstrate that three types of the finite-time future singularities can occur in non-local gravity and explore their properties. In addition, we evaluate the effective equation of state for the universe and show that the late-time accelerating universe may be effectively the quintessence, cosmological constant or phantom-like phases. In particular, it is found that there is a case in which a crossing of the phantom divide from the non-phantom (quintessence) phase to the phantom one can be realized when a finite-time future singularity occurs. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the addition of an R ² term can cure the finite-time future singularities in non-local gravity. It is also suggested that in the framework of non-local gravity, adding an R ² term leads to possible unification of the early-time inflation with the late-time cosmic acceleration.     

Observation of a half step magnetization in the {Cu3}-type triangular spin ring

We report pulsed field magnetization and ESR experiments on a {Cu3} nanomagnet, where antiferromagnetically coupled Cu(2+) (S = 1/2) ions form a slightly distorted triangle. The remarkable feature is the observation of a half step magnetization, hysteresis loops, and an asymmetric magnetization between a positive and a negative field in a fast sweeping external field. This is attributed to an adiabatic change of magnetization. The energy levels determined by ESR unveil that the different mixing nature of a spin chirality of a total S = 1/2 Kramers doublet by virtue of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions is decisive for inducing half step magnetization.     

Concise and stereoselective synthesis of 2,5- and 2,4-disubstituted thiazole amino acid subunits for synthesizing thiazole-containing peptides

A concise, highly stereoselective synthesis of 2,4- and 2,5-disubstituted thiazole amino acids was developed. These are important building blocks for various biologically active thiazole-containing natural peptides and their regioisomeric analogues. The fundamental reactions are diastereoselective addition of (4- or 5-bromothiazol-2-yl)lithium to N-tert-butanesulfinyl imine with subsequent Pd-catalyzed phenoxycarbonylation.     

Hyperfine interactions of β-emitting12N in GaN crystal

Nuclear quadrupole effects in the NMR spectra of¹²N implanted in GaN crystal was studied. Broad quadrupole spectra were observed almost independent of the crystal orientation relative to the external magnetic field. Homogeneously oriented field gradients distributed in the range 0<⋎eqQ/h⋎<400 kHz were consistent with in vacancies and/or 0 impurities of densities 10¹⁹/cc in the GaN crystal.     

Polymer-coated synthetic fibers designed for miniaturized sample preparation process

Miniaturized sample preparation technique for complex sample matrices has been developed with a polymer-coated fibrous extraction medium. Several hundreds of fine fibrous materials were packed longitudinally into a fused-silica capillary followed by a polymeric coating on it to prepare the extraction capillary. The extraction capillary was installed in a liquid chromatograph as a sample loop of the injection valve. The on-line coupled sample preparation/separation system demonstrated a good validity for the analysis of phthalates in real river and wastewater samples. The lowest limits of quantification for several phthalates were less than 1 ng/ml. The effect of polymeric coating to the filaments on the extraction power was also investigated.     

Spin-frustrated (VO)36+-triangle-sandwiching octadecatungstates as a new class of molecular magnets

Spin-frustrated polyoxometalates, K(11)H[(VO)(3)(SbW(9)O(33))(2)].27H(2)O (1) and K(12)[(VO)(3)(BiW(9)O(33))(2)].29H(2)O (2), containing approximately equilateral and isosceles (VO)(3)(6+)-triangles (V(IV)...V(IV) separation of 5.4-5.5 A) sandwiched by two diamagnetic alpha-B nonatungstate ligands ([SbW(9)O(33)](9)(-) and [BiW(9)O(33)](9)(-)) with approximate D(3)(h) symmetry, are found to show magnetization jumps with distinct hysteresis for the S = (1)/(2) <--> S = (3)/(2) level crossing under fast sweeping pulsed magnetic fields (approximately 10(3) T/s) at T < or = 0.5 K. This unusual phenomenon is attributed to the theoretical prediction of half step magnetization, which is expected for an antiferromagnetic spin triangle with antisymmetrical Dzyaloshinky-Moriya interaction. The degeneracy of the S = (1)/(2) states for 1 is removed by slightly lower symmetry effects of triangular structure for 2. The calorimetry of 1 and 2 shows the heat capacity anomaly at 2 < or = T < or = 20 K which is associated with a thermal excitation from the S = (1)/(2) ground states to the S = (3)/(2) state at zero field. Zero-field splitting energies (5-7 K) between S = (1)/(2) and S = (3)/(2) states for 1 and 2, readily estimated by the level-crossing field for the magnetization, allow us to measure the hyperfine-structural 22 lines due to three equivalent I = (7)/(2) (51)V nuclei, the fine-structural triplet line of the S = (3)/(2) excited state, and the g anisotropy on the high-frequency ESR spectra. The spin-frustrated (VO)(3)(6+)-triangle for 1 and 2 is a good model of the magnetization between pure quantum states S = (1)/(2) and (3)/(2) and provides a new class of single-molecule magnets.     

Determination of sugar alcohols in confectioneries by high-performance liquid chromatography after nitrobenzoylation

A method was developed for the determination of sugar alcohols, meso-erythritol, xylitol, D-glucitol, D-mannitol, maltitol and parachinit by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The sugar alcohols were converted into strong ultraviolet (UV)-absorbing derivatives with p-nitrobenzoyl chloride. HPLC was performed on a phenyl column, using acetonitrile-water (67:33) as mobile phase and UV detection (260 nm). The calibration curves for all sugar alcohols tested were linear in the 10-250 microg/ml range. The average recoveries of the sugar alcohols from four sugarless confectioneries spiked at 5 and 10% levels of six sugar alcohol standards ranged from 73.2 to 109.0% with relative standard deviations ranging from 0.7 to 9.0%. The detection limit of the developed method was 0.1% for the above sugar alcohols contained in the samples.