Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy of K3Ta3B2O12 photocatalysts for water splitting

Electrons photoexcited in K(3)Ta(3)B(2)O(12), an efficient photocatalyst for the water-splitting reaction driven by ultraviolet light, were observed using time-resolved IR absorption spectroscopy with microsecond resolution. When the catalyst was irradiated with 266 nm light pulses, a structureless absorption appeared at 3000-1500 cm(-1). The absorption was assigned to the optical transition of electrons that were band gap-excited and then trapped in mid-gap states. The absorbance decayed with a time delay because of the electron-hole recombination. The rate of recombination in an argon atmosphere was sensitive to the composition of the starting material used in the catalyst preparation. The electron decay was accelerated by exposing the catalyst to water vapor. The degree of acceleration was qualitatively correlated with the H(2) production rate observed during steady-state light irradiation.     

Shear response of Fe-bearing MgSiO3 post-perovskite at lower mantle pressures

We investigate the shear response of possible slip systems activated in pure and Fe-bearing MgSiO₃ post-perovskite (PPv) through ab initio generalized stacking fault (GSF) energy calculations. Here we show that the [100](001) slip system has the easiest response to plastic shear among ten possible slip systems investigated. Incorporation of Fe²⁺ decreases the strength of all slip systems but does not change the plastic anisotropy style. Therefore, pure and Fe-bearing MgSiO₃ PPv should demonstrate similar LPO patterns with a strong signature of the [100](001) slip system. An aggregate with this deformation texture is expected to produce a V_SH > V_SV type polarization anisotropy, being consistent with seismological observations.     

Archimedean zeta integrals on GL n × GL m and SO2n+1 × GL m

In this paper, we evaluate archimedean zeta integrals for automorphic L-functions on GL _n × GL _n-1+? and on SO_2n+1 × GL _n+? , for ? = ?1, 0, and 1. In each of these cases, the zeta integrals in question may be expressed as Mellin transforms of products of class one Whittaker functions. Here, we obtain explicit expressions for these Mellin transforms in terms of Gamma functions and Barnes integrals. When ? = 0 or ? = 1, the archimedean zeta integrals amount to integrals over the full torus. We show that, as has been predicted by Bump for such domains of integration, these zeta integrals are equal to the corresponding local L-factors—which are simple rational combinations of Gamma functions. (In the cases of GL _n × GL _n-1 and GL _n × GL _n this has, in large part, been shown previously by the second author of the present work, though the results here are more general in that they do not require the assumption of trivial central characters. Our techniques here are also quite different. New formulas for GL(n, R) Whittaker functions, obtained recently by the authors of this work, allow for substantially simplified computations). In the case ? = ?1, we express our archimedean zeta integrals explicitly in terms of Gamma functions and certain Barnes-type integrals. These evaluations rely on new recursive formulas, derived herein, for GL(n, R) Whittaker functions. Finally, we indicate an approach to certain unramified calculations, on SO_2n+1 × GL _n and SO_2n+1 × GL _n+1, that parallels our method herein for the corresponding archimedean situation. While the unramified theory has already been treated using more direct methods, we hope that the connections evoked herein might facilitate future archimedean computations.     

Reactions in Water Involving the “On-Water” Mechanism

Ever-evolving catalyst advances in synthetic protocols using water as a reaction medium have enriched the understanding of sustainable organic chemistry. Because conventional classification and definitions were ambivalent, it is proposed here that catalytic reactions using water be collectively called to be “in water”, with further classification into seven types. When accelerated in water as heterogeneous mixtures, the reactions can be regarded as following an “on-water” mechanism. The original term “on water” coined by Sharpless is incongruous with catalytic reactions, whereas on-water used in this review covers all the interfaces involving water where chemical reactions are accelerated. As a result of the unconcluded dispute on the antiquated catalyst-free “on water” model, the modified model defines three water layers: water molecules that are oriented to extrude protons toward the oil phase in the inner layer, those enwrapped by a secondary layer, and finally the bulk water layer. In light of the latitudinous outlook on the role of water at the interface, selected examples of reactions, in particular those reported over the past decade, that follow an “on-water” mechanism are reviewed herein.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of azuleno[1′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,14-diones: Azulene analogs of tryptanthrin

Azulene analog of tryptanthrin, azuleno[1′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,14-dione, was successfully prepared by the condensation reaction of azuleno[2,1-b]pyrrole-2,3-dione with isatoic anhydride in the presence of sodium hydride or diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA). Its 2-halo derivatives were also obtained in high yields by the condensation reaction with 5-haloisatoic anhydrides in the presence of DIPEA. Reactivity toward electrophilic reagents was revealed by halogenation with N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) or N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) to afford 12-halo derivatives in high yields. Among the halo derivatives, 2-iodo and 12-iodo derivatives were reactive enough to afford phenylethynyl derivatives under Pd-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling conditions. Within the phenylethynyl derivatives, only 12-phenylethynyl derivative was transformed into its 1,1,4,4-tetracyanobutadiene (TCBD) derivative by the reaction with TCNE. Amphoteric redox properties of the novel azulene analogs of tryptanthrin were characterized by spectroscopic and voltammetric analyses.     

Photometric determination of arsenic in silicate rocks

Summary The method described consists in decomposing the silicate rock sample by fusion with sodium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide-peroxide, leaching the melt with water, evolving arsine from the filtrate, and finally determining arsenic by photometric evaluation of molybdenum blue. Satisfactory accuracy has been demonstrated for the range 0.0 to 20 p. p. m. As, for which the method is particularly intended.

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Zusammenfassung Zur Bestimmung des Arsengehaltes in Silikatgesteinen wird die Probe durch Schmelzen mit Natriumhydroxyd und gegebenenfalls Natriumperoxyd aufgeschlossen. Aus dem Filtrat der wäßrigen Lösung dieser Schmelze wird Arsenwasserstoff entwickelt und in natriumhydrogenkarbonathältiger Jodlösung aufgefangen. Das hierbei entstehende Arsenat wird nach Zugabe von Molybdatreagens und Bisulfit photometrisch bestimmt. Für Arsengehalte unter 0,02% werden nach dieser Methode Resultate von zufriedenstellender Genauigkeit erhalten.

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Résumé La méthode décrite consiste en la décomposition de l'échantillon de roche silicatée par fusion avec la soude ou le peroxyde de sodium, reprenant la partie fondue par l'eau, libérant l'hydrogène arsénié du filtrat et finalement dosant l'arsenic par colorimétrie du bleu de molybdène. Une précision suffisante a été mise en évidence dans le domaine de 0,0 à 20 p. p. m. d'arsenic pour lequel la méthode convient particulièrement bien.

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Fulbright Scholar.     

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of microparticulate drug delivery systems composed of macromolecular prodrugs

Macromolecular prodrugs are very useful systems for achieving controlled drug release and drug targeting. In particular, various macromolecule-antitumor drug conjugates enhance the effectiveness and improve the toxic side effects. Also, polymeric micro- and nanoparticles have been actively examined and their in vivo behaviors elucidated, and it has been realized that their particle characteristics are very useful to control drug behavior. Recently, researches based on the combination of the concepts of macromolecular prodrugs and micro- or nanoparticles have been reported, although they are limited. Macromolecular prodrugs enable drugs to be released at a certain controlled release rate based on the features of the macromolecule-drug linkage. Micro- and nanoparticles can control in vivo behavior based on their size, surface charge and surface structure. These merits are expected for systems produced by the combination of each concept. In this review, several micro- or nanoparticles composed of macromolecule-drug conjugates are described for their preparation, in vitro properties and/or in vivo behavior.     

Isolation, structure, and antibacterial activity of philipimycin, a thiazolyl peptide discovered from Actinoplanes philippinensis MA7347

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics, particularly to multiple drug resistant antibiotics, is becoming cause for significant concern. The only really viable course of action is to discover new antibiotics with novel mode of actions. Thiazolyl peptides are a class of natural products that are architecturally complex potent antibiotics but generally suffer from poor solubility and pharmaceutical properties. To discover new thiazolyl peptides potentially with better desired properties, we designed a highly specific assay with a pair of thiazomycin sensitive and resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, which led to the discovery of philipimycin, a new thiazolyl peptide glycoside. It was isolated along with an acid-catalyzed degradation product by bioassay-guided fractionation. Structure of both compounds was elucidated by extensive application of 2D NMR, 1D TOCSY, and HRESIFT-MS/MS. Both compounds showed strong antibacterial activities against gram-positive bacteria including MRSA and exhibited MIC values ranging from 0.015 to 1 microg/mL. Philipimycin was significantly more potent than the degradation product. Both compounds showed selective inhibition of protein synthesis, indicating that they targeted the ribosome. Philipimycin was effective in vivo in a mouse model of S. aureus infection exhibiting an ED50 value of 8.4 mg/kg. The docking studies of philipimycin suggested that a part of the molecule interacts with the ribosome and another part with Pro23, Pro22, and Pro26 of L11 protein, which helped in explaining the differential of activities between the sensitive and resistant strains. The design and execution of the bioassay, the isolation, structure, in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity, and docking studies of philipimycin and its degradation product are described.     

Contribution of inter- and intramolecular energy transfers to heat conduction in liquids

The molecular dynamics expression of heat flux, originally derived by Irving and Kirkwood [J. Chem. Phys. 18, 817 (1950)] for pairwise potentials, is generalized in this paper for systems with many-body potentials. The original formula consists of a kinetic part and a potential part, and the latter term is found in the present study to be expressible as a summation of contributions from all the many-body potentials defined in the system. The energy transfer among a set of sites for which a many-body potential is defined is discussed and evaluated by the rate of increase in the kinetic energy of each site due to the potential, and its accumulation over all the potentials in the system is shown to make up the potential part of the generalized expression. A molecular dynamics simulation for liquid n-octane was performed to demonstrate the applicability of the new expression obtained in this study to measure the heat flux and to elucidate the contributions of inter- and intramolecular potentials to heat conduction.     

Heteropolynuclear complexes of 3,5-dimethylpyrazolate [Pt2M4(Me2pz)8] (M = Ag, Cu). Highly luminescent character of the triplet excited state based on mixed-metal cores

The platinum dimer and heteropolynuclear platinum complexes of 3,5-dimethylpyrazolate, [Pt2M4(mu-Me2pz)8] [M = H (1), Ag (2), Cu (3)], were synthesized and structurally characterized. They exhibit yellow, sky-blue, and orange luminescence, respectively, in the solid state. The absorption bands of 2 and 3 are mainly assigned to the combination of the metal-metal-to-ligand charge-transfer and [Pt2 --> Pt2M4] transitions by the time-dependent density functional theory (DFT) method. DFT calculations also indicate that the emissive states of 2 and 3 are 3[Pt2 --> Pt2Ag4] and 3[Cu(d) --> Pt2Cu4], respectively.