Optical second-harmonic generation in a thin-film waveguide without control of film thickness

An optical second-harmonic wave can be generated in a three-layered optical waveguide of arbitrary film thickness under phase-matching condition. Phase-matching is achieved by utilizing mode dispersion in an optical waveguide with a two-dimensional configuration. A numerical analysis of the matching condition is given and the results of the observation of the optical second-harmonic wave of a guided Nd : YAG laser in a Ti-indiffused LiNbO₃ nonlinear film are described.     

A Facile Access to (R)-Methyl 2-Oxocyclopentane-1-acetate via Lipase-Catalyzed Irreversible Transesterification

A highly efficient kinetic resolution of (±)-methyl trans-2-hydroxycyclopentane-1-acetate via lipase PS-catalyzed irreversible transesterification provides a facile and economical entry to (R)-methyl 2-oxocyclopentane-1-acetate of 96% ee, a starting material for the convergent synthesis of (+)-isocarbacyclin.     

Hologram recording in glass and direct reconstruction using visible-wavelength laser beam

We propose a method of hologram recording in a glass plate by corona charging. The holographic recording materials used in this study are conventional soda-lime glass and azobenzene polymer film. A Fourier transform hologram on an azobenzene polymer film coated on the glass plate is recorded in the glass plate by corona charging. After removing the polymer film, the hologram recorded in the plate can be reconstructed using a visible-wavelength laser beam. The first-order diffraction efficiency of the hologram at a wavelength of 532 nm is 0.03%; the efficiency depends on the depth of the surface relief structure on the azobenzene polymer film and the corona-charging time. The hologram recorded in the glass plate has high environmental resistance.     

Hologram Recording in Various Glass Plates by Corona Charging

We propose techniques of hologram replication in glass plates and reconstruction on another film by corona charging. A surface relief hologram on an azobenzene polymer film was recorded in the form of electric polarization in glass plates that include alkali cations by corona charging at high temperature. The hologram recorded in the glass plate is stable for more than 1 month at room temperature. After removal of the azobenzene polymer film from the plate, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) film was spin-coated onto the plate. The hologram recorded in the plate was reconstructed with the same surface relief structure on the PMMA film by corona charging again at 110°C.     

Direct Observation Method of Individual Single-Stranded DNA Molecules Using Fluorescent Replication Protein A

Direct observation studies of single molecules have revealed molecular behaviors usually hidden in the ensemble and time-averaging of bulk experiments. Direct single DNA molecule analysis of DNA metabolism reactions such as DNA replication, repair, and recombination is necessary to fully understand these essential processes. Intercalation of fluorescent dyes such as YOYO-1 and SYTOX Orange has been the standard method for observing single molecules of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), but effective fluorescent dyes for observing single molecules of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) have not been found. To facilitate direct single-molecule observations of DNA metabolism reactions, it is necessary to establish methods for discriminating ssDNA and dsDNA. To observe ssDNA directly, we prepared a fusion protein consisting of the 70 kDa DNA-binding domain of replication protein A and enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (RPA-YFP). This fusion protein had ssDNA-binding activity. In our experiments, dsDNA was stained by SYTOX Orange and ssDNA by RPA-YFP, and we succeeded in staining ssDNA and dsDNA by using RPA-YFP and SYTOX Orange simultaneously.     

Photochemistry of 4(3H)-pyrimidin-4-ones. Formation of medium-ring lactams

Upon irradiation, 4(3H)-pyrimidin-4-one(1) afforded a di-imine derivative(2) which, when hydrolyzed in an acidic methanol solution, gave N-methyl acetoacetamide(3). On the other hand, the fused 4(3H)-pyrimidin-4-ones, (4) and (5), gave medium-ring lactams(6) and (7), which were hydrolyzed in an acidic methanol solution to give (8) and (9), respectively.     

Porphyrins bearing arylphosphonic acid tethers for attachment to oxide surfaces

Synthetic molecules bearing phosphonic acid groups can be readily attached to oxide surfaces. As part of a program in molecular-based information storage, we have developed routes for the synthesis of diverse porphyrinic compounds bearing phenylphosphonic acid tethers. The routes enable (1) incorporation of masked phosphonic acid groups in precursors for use in the rational synthesis of porphyrinic compounds and (2) derivatization of porphyrins with masked phosphonic acid groups. The precursors include dipyrromethanes, monoacyldipyrromethanes, and diacyldipyrromethanes. The tert-butyl group has been used to mask the dihydroxyphosphoryl substituent. The di-tert-butyloxyphosphoryl unit is stable to the range of conditions employed in syntheses of porphyrins and multiporphyrin arrays yet can be deprotected under mild conditions (TMS-Cl/TEA or TMS-Br/TEA in refluxing CHCl(3)) that do not cause demetalation of zinc or magnesium porphyrins. The porphyrinic compounds that have been prepared include (1) A(3)B-, trans-AB(2)C-, and ABCD-porphyrins that bear a single phenylphosphonic acid group, (2) a trans-A(2)B(2)-porphyrin bearing two phenylphosphonic acid groups, (3) a chlorin that bears a single phenylphosphonic acid group, and (4) a porphyrin dyad bearing a single phenylphosphonic acid group. For selected porphyrin-phosphonic acids, the electrochemical characteristics have been investigated for molecules tethered to SiO(2) surfaces grown on doped Si. The voltammetric behavior indicates that the porphyrin-phosphonic acids form robust, electrically well-behaved monolayers on the oxide surface.     

The sum rule for dipolar absorptions and rotational kinetic energy of wate and some dipolar molecules in condensed phases

Another form of the sum rule for dipolar absorptions has been derived by means of quantum statistics. The difference between this and usually used form results from a quantum effect on the molecular rotational motion. By the joint use of the two forms, average rotational kinetic energies of water molec in the liquid and solid phases and some dipolar molecules in solutions have been estimated. It has been shown that the average rotational kinetic energ larger than the value expected from the classical equipartition rule, with an increase in the hindering potential for the rotational motion of the mole The dipole moments of water molecules in liquid and solid water have been estimated. These are considerably smaller than the gas-phase value.