Theoretical calculation of structures and proton transfer in hydrated ammonia-hydrogen chloride clusters

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations have been performed to investigate the structures and quantum effects of the proton motion in NH(3):HCl:(H(2)O)(n) (n = 0-3) clusters using a MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory. Three new stable structures and one transition-state structure are investigated for these clusters. The detailed analyses of the intermolecular interactions suggest that three-body interactions play an important role to determine the relative stability in each size of cluster. The quantum effects of the proton motion result in frequency shifts for proton-stretching modes. Our one-dimensional and two-dimensional models fairly closely reproduce the experimental proton-stretching vibrational frequency of the NH(3):HCl cluster. The most stable isomer for n = 1 has a proton-transfer structure, which is weakened by the quantum effects of the proton motion.     

Manipulating the Through‐Space Spin–Spin Interaction of Organic Radicals in the Confined Cavity of a Self‐Assembled Cage

We show a new approach to manipulating the through‐space spin–spin interaction by utilizing the confined cavity of a self‐assembled M₆L₄ coordination cage. The coordination cage readily encapsulates stable organic radicals in solution, which brings the spin centers of the radicals closer to each other. In sharp contrast to the fact that the radical in solution in the absence of the cage is in a doublet state, in the presence of the cage through‐space spin–spin interaction is induced through cage‐encapsulation effects in solution as well as in the solid state, resulting in the triplet state of the complex. These results were confirmed by ESR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography. The quantity of triplet species generated by encapsulation in the cage increases with increasing affinity of the radicals to the cage. We estimated the affinity between several types of guests and the cage in solution by cyclic voltammetry. We also demonstrate that the through‐space interaction of organic radicals within the self‐assembled coordination cage can be controlled by external stimuli such as heat or pH.     

Palladium-catalyzed allylation of imines with allyl alcohols

A catalytic system, Pd(OAc)2 (10 mol %)-P(n-Bu)3 (20 mol %)-Et3B (360 mol %), promotes allylic alcohols to undergo the allylation of anisidine-imines of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes and furnishes homoallylamines in good to moderate yields. The reaction shows unique stereoselectivity, giving anti-isomers selectively. [reaction: see text]     

Generation of ynolates via reductive lithiation using flow microreactors

A new method has been developed for the generation and subsequent reaction of ynolates in a micro flow reactor system. This new procedure allowed for ynolates to be prepared at 0 °C or ambient temperature within 1 min via a reductive lithiation reaction, whereas the corresponding batch processes generally require low temperature control and extended reaction times of up to 1 h. The resulting ynolates were applied to the olefination of carbonyl compounds, with the reactions reaching completion in a much shorter reaction time in the continuous flow reactor than the batch reactor. These results highlight the practical utility of the ynolate reaction, and represent the first reported example of the use of lithium naphthalenide in a flow microreactor, which would contribute to progress of the flash chemistry.     

Neutron Diffraction Study on the Structure of Aqueous LiNO3 Solutions

Neutron diffraction measurements were carried out at 25 °C for aqueous LiNO₃ heavy water solutions, (*LiNO₃) _x (D₂O)_1?x where x = 0.1, 0.05 and 0.01, in which the ⁶Li/⁷Li isotopic ratios were varied. Structural information on intermolecular nearest neighbor Li⁺···D₂O interactions in the extensive concentration range was derived from the first-order difference function, ?_Li(Q), obtained from the difference in scattering cross sections between ⁶Li- and ⁷Li-enriched sample solutions. The nearest neighbor Li⁺···O distance and coordination number for sample solution with x = 0.1 were determined to be r _LiO = 1.969 (8) Å and n _LiO = 4.12 (6), respectively, corresponding to the four-coordinated Li⁺ ion in the solution. On the other hand, those obtained for the solution with x = 0.01 are r _LiO = 2.00 (2) Å and n _LiO = 6.0 (2), respectively, indicating that hexaaqua Li⁺ is dominant in the dilute solution. These results clearly indicate that a concentration dependence of the hydration number of Li⁺ occurs in the aqueous solutions.     

An Isotope‐Coded Fluorogenic Cross‐Linker for High‐Performance Target Identification Based on Photoaffinity Labeling

A photoaffinity labeling (PAL)‐based method for the rapid identification of target proteins is presented in which a high‐performance chemical tag, an isotope‐coded fluorescent tag (IsoFT), can be attached to the interacting site by irradiation. Labeled peptides can be easily distinguished among numerous proteolytic digests by sequential detection with highly sensitive fluorescence spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Subsequent MS/MS analysis provides amino acid sequence information with a higher depth of coverage. The combination of PAL and heterogeneous target‐selecting techniques significantly reduces the amount of time and protein required for identification. An additional photocleavable moiety successfully accelerated proteomic analysis using cell lysate. This method is a widely applicable approach for the rapid and accurate identification of interacting proteins.     

Antibacterial metal implant with a TiO2‐conferred photocatalytic bactericidal effect against Staphylococcus aureus

Photocatalysis with anatase Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) under ultraviolet A (UVA) has a well recognized bactericidal effect. There have been a few reports, however, on the effects of photocatalysis on bio‐implant‐related infections. The purpose of present study was to evaluate the photocatalytic bactericidal effects of anatase TiO₂ on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) associated with surgical site infections. TiO₂ films were synthesized on commercially pure titanium substrates and SUS316 stainless steel using a plasma source ion implantation method followed by annealing. The chemical composition of the surface layers was determined using GXRD and XPS. The disks were seeded with cultured S. aureus and exposed to UVA illumination from black light. The bactericidal effect of the TiO₂ films was evaluated by counting the survived colonies statistically. A structural gradient anatase type TiO₂ layer formed on all substrates. The viability of the bacteria on the photocatalytic TiO₂ film coated on titanium was suppressed to 7.0% at 30 minutes and 5.5% at 45 minutes, whereas that on a similarly coated stainless steel was suppressed to 45.8% at 30 minute and 28.6% at 45 minutes (ANOVA: p < 0.05). Complete bacterial inactivation was achieved after 90 minutes on titanium and after 60 minutes on stainless steel. The photocatalytic bactericidal effect of TiO₂ is useful for sterilizing the contaminated surfaces of bioimplants. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polynomially convex hulls of graphs on the sphere

Let be the graph of a continuous map of the unit sphere of into , and the polynomially convex hull of . Several examples of for are given, which have different properties from the known ones for .