Syntheses, structures, and properties of intercalation compounds of silver(I) complex with [2.2]paracyclophane

Reaction of [2.2]paracyclophane (pcp) with silver(I) trifluoroacetate (AgCF(3)CO(2)) and silver(I) pentafluoroproprionate (AgC(2)F(5)CO(2)) has led to isolation of three novel intercalation polymers: [Ag(4)(pcp)(CF(3)CO(2))(4)](C(6)H(6)) (1), [Ag(4)(pcp)(CF(3)CO(2))(4)](C(6)H(3)Me(3)) (2), and [Ag(4)(pcp)(C(2)F(5)CO(2))(4)](pcp) (3). Structure studies using single crystal X-ray diffraction have shown that all compounds contain two-dimensional layered frameworks based on cation-pi interactions, in which pcp exhibits an unprecedented micro-tetra-eta(2) coordination mode. Guest molecules which weakly interact with the host pcp via C-H.pi interactions are intercalated between layers. The guest-eliminated complexes (1a and 2a) and guest-reincorporated ones (1b or 1c and 2b or 2c), accompanied by small structural changes, were confirmed by (1)H NMR, thermogravimetric analysis, mass spectra, and X-ray powder diffraction patterns. The structural changes from 1 --> 1a --> 1c (=1) can take place reversibly in the process of exposure of 1a to benzene vapor. The original framework of complex 2 is also completely recovered by immersing 2a in mesitylene as well as exposing it to mesitylene vapor.     

Total synthesis of macquarimicins using an intramolecular Diels-Alder approach inspired by a biosynthetic pathway

A total synthesis of the macquarimicins A-C (1-3), novel natural products with intriguing tetra- or pentacyclic frameworks, has been achieved. The synthesis features an extensive investigation of the biosynthesis-based intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reactions of (E,Z,E)-1,6,8-nonatrienes. Considering possible biosynthetic sequences, four types of substrates were synthesized, and their IMDA reactions were examined. From one of the four substrates, the total synthesis was achieved via a transannular Diels-Alder reaction, which led to the stereoselective construction of the unique molecular framework. The convergent and efficient synthetic pathway afforded (+)-1 in 27 linear steps with 4.3% and 9.9% overall yields from readily available ethyl (2E,4S)-4,5-(isopropylidene)dioxy-2-pentenoate (22) and (R)-epichlorohydrin (30), respectively. Furthermore, efficient syntheses of 2, 3, and the 9-epi-cochleamycins A (57) and B (58) were accomplished. Additionally, the present work established the absolute stereochemistry of macquarimicins and revised the C(2)--C(3) geometry of 1.     

High-power 1.625-μm strained multiple-quantum-well lasers as a light source for optical time-domain reflectometers

An optical output power of 160 mW has been successfully achieved in 1.625-m strained multiple-quantum-well lasers at a forward current of 800 mA under pulsed operation. Such a high output power has been achieved by optimizing the separated confinement heterostructure layer thickness. The operating life of high-power 1.625-m lasers has been estimated from the results of accelerated ageing at an ambient temperature of 45°C and 500 mA under continuous-wave operation. No significant change in the optical output power was observed up to 2000 hours. The mean time to failure is estimated to be about 4.5×10⁴ hours at 500 mA and 45°C.     

Synthesis and nucleic acid-binding properties of water-soluble porphyrins appending platinum(II) complexes.

We synthesized two water-soluble porphyrins appending platinum(II) complexes [alpha,beta-(4a) and alpha,alpha-(4b) 5,15-bis(2-trans-[PtCl(NH3)2]N-2-aminoethylaminocarbonylphenyl) 2,3,7,8,12,13,17,18-octamethylporphyrin] and studied their reactions with a variety of nucleic acids [disodium adenosine-5'-monophosphate (AMP), disodium guanosine-5'-monophosphate (GMP), disodium thymidine-5'-monophosphate (TMP), disodium cytidine-5'-monophosphate (CMP), synthetic polymer poly(dG)-poly(dC), poly(dA)-poly(dT)] by 1H-NMR, UV-vis and FAB-MS spectroscopies. Based on the denaturation experiments of synthetic nucleic acid polymers, we conclude that the presence of the porphyrins (5.6 microM) does not cause significant changes in the melting temperature of poly(dA)-poly(dT) (28 microM) (deltaT=1 degrees C) and shows reannealing. On the other hand, gradual melting of poly(dG)-poly(dC) (28 microM) occurs at a low temperature (deltaT= -27 degrees C) in the presence of the porphyrins (5.6 microM), and the solutions do not show reannealing phenomena. The results of UV-vis and 1H-NMR experiments revealed that the porphyrins bind to guanine bases and that the porphyrins bind to GMP more strongly than to the other nucleotides. The binding modes between the porphyrins and synthetic nucleic acids are affected more by the coordination of the nucleobase [poly(dG)-poly(dC)] to the Pt(II) in the porphyrins than by Coulomb and hydrophobic interactions.     

Biological monitoring of solar UV radiation at 17 sites in Asia, Europe and South America from 1999 to 2004

A small and robust dosimeter for determining the biologically effective dose of ambient UV radiation has been developed using UV-sensitive mutant spores of Bacillus subtilis strain TKJ6312. A membrane filter with four spots of the spores was snapped to a slide mount. The slide was wrapped and covered with two or more layers of polyethylene sheet to protect the sample from rain and snow and to reduce monthly-cumulative doses within the measurable range. From 1999, monthly data were collected at 17 sites for more than 1 year, and data for 4 to 6 consecutive years were obtained from 12 sites. Yearly total values of the spore inactivation dose (SID) ranged from 3200 at subarctic Oulu to 96000 at tropical Denpasar, and the mean yearly values of SID exhibited an exponential dependence on latitude in both hemispheres with a doubling for about every 14 degrees of change. During the observation period, increasing trends of UV doses have been observed at all sites with more than 5 years of data available. Year-to-year variations at high and middle latitude sites are considered due mostly to climatic variation. At three tropical sites, negative correlations between the yearly doses and the column ozone amounts were observed. The results verified the applicability of spore dosimetry for global and long-time monitoring of solar UV radiation, in particular at tropical sites where no monitoring is taking place.     

Total synthesis of apratoxin A

[reaction: see text]. We have achieved a total synthesis of apratoxin A in which thiazoline formation was accomplished from the moCys containing amide 4 using PPh3(O)/Tf2O. Deprotection of the Troc and allyl ester in 17, coupling with tripeptide 3, and deprotection of the allyl ester and the Fmoc, followed by macrolactamization provided apratoxin A (1).     

Stochastic resonance in the FitzHugh-Nagumo model from a dynamic mutual information point of view

Stochastic resonance(SR) in a FitzHugh-Nagumo neuron model is investigated based on a dynamic mutual information (DMI) between the input and the corresponding output signals. The DMI is expressed in terms of the (cross)power spectra of the input and output time series. Both stochastic-periodic and aperiodic SR are treated based on the DMI and our results are in good accord with the SR measured by the signal to noise ratio(SNR) for the case of the stochastic-periodic input and the power norm for the case of the aperiodic input.     

1.625-μm high-power strained multiple quantum well lasers for optical time-domain reflectometers

An optical output power exceeding 210 mW has been achieved using 1.625-μm strained multiple quantum well lasers at a forward current of 800 mA under pulsed operation. We introduced tensile-strained barrier layers to increase internal quantum efficiency. High quantum efficiency is attributed to improved of hole injection efficiency and suppressed electron overflow from wells. The 1.625-μm high-power lasers are expected to be applied to optical time-domain reflectometers, which enable regular communication light to be used.     

Zr-based bulk metallic glass as a cylinder material for high pressure apparatuses

Zirconium-based bulk metallic glass (Zr-based BMG) has outstanding properties as a cylinder material for piston-cylinder high pressure apparatuses and is especially useful for neutron scattering. The piston-cylinder consisting of a Zr-based BMG cylinder with outer/inner diameters of 8.8/2.5?mm sustains pressures up to 1.81?GPa and ruptured at 2.0?GPa, with pressure values determined by the superconducting temperature of lead. The neutron attenuation of Zr-based BMG is similar to that of TiZr null-scattering alloy and more transparent than that of CuBe alloy. No contamination of sharp Bragg reflections is observed in the neutron diffraction pattern for Zr-based BMG. The magnetic susceptibility of Zr-based BMG is similar to that of CuBe alloy; this leads to a potential application for measurements of magnetic properties under pressure.