Basicity‐dependent properties of anion conducting membranes consisting of iminium cations for alkaline fuel cells

To design novel anion‐conducting polymer electrolyte membranes (AEMs), this paper proposes a basicity index (BI) that is defined by the ion‐exchange ratios of AEMs from the OH^? to Cl^? forms in a neutral aqueous solution as a parameter for Arrhenius basicity (dissociation constant). Using a radiation‐induced graft polymerization technique, three iminium cations are introduced into fluorinated polymer films. The BI of the iminium‐containing AEMs is less than that of a conventional ammonium‐type AEM. The conductivity and water uptake correlate positively with the BI, whereas the thermal and chemical stabilities correlate negatively with the BI. The dependence on the BI stems from the stabilization of the iminium hydroxide in proportion to the basicity of the original diaza‐compounds, resulting in a decrease in conductivity and water uptake with keeping higher thermal and chemical stabilities. Notably, ion conductivity is sufficient and water uptake is less in AEMs with a medium BI. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 503–510     

Effect of Interference on Scanning Performance of fθ Lens Fixed by a Shrink Fitter

An ultra-precise method of joining optical lenses in a housing by a shrinkage fit has been developed using a shrink fitter, which is a cylindrically shaped machine element made of a plastic material. In this method, the form error of the shrink fitter increased the interference of shrinkage fit which caused a lens deformation much greater than the limitation of surface irregularity of λ/2. With an fθ lens unit of the laser scanner, this lens deformation may deteriorate the laser beam spots on an image plane. Therefore, the shrink fitter is carefully and precisely turned, however this takes time and costs money. This is a contact problem between the optical lenses and the shrink fitter. In this paper, to determine limit interferences of the shrink fitter, the effect of the interference of the shrinkage fit on the scanning performance was examined through computer simulation.     

Development and validation of an on-line two-dimensional reversed-phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous determination of prostaglandins E(2) and F(2alpha) and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto prostaglandin F(2alpha) levels in human plasma

We developed and validated an on-line reverse-phase two-dimensional LC/MS/MS (2D-LC/MS/MS) system for simultaneous determination of the levels of prostaglandin (PG) E(2) as well as PGF(2alpha) and its metabolite 13,14-dihydro-15-keto PGF(2alpha) (F(2alpha)-M) in human plasma. Analytes were extracted by a three-step solid-phase extraction. Samples were then analyzed by on-line 2D-LC/MS/MS with electrospray ionization in negative mode. The 2D-LC system is composed of two reverse-phase analytical columns with a trapping column linking the two analytical columns. While an acidic buffer was used for both separation dimensions, differing organic solvents were employed for each dimension: methanol for the first and acetonitrile for the second to increase resolving power. The 2D-LC/MS/MS method was highly selective and sensitive with a significantly lower limit of quantitation (0.5 pg/mL for PGE(2) and 2.5 pg/mL for PGF(2alpha) and F(2alpha)-M, respectively). Linearity of the 2D-LC/MS/MS system was demonstrated for the calibration ranges of 0.5-50 pg/mL for PGE(2) and 2.5-500 pg/mL for PGF(2alpha) and F(2alpha)-M, respectively. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained throughout the calibration curve ranges. This highly selective and sensitive method was successfully utilized to determine the endogenous levels of PGE(2), PGF(2alpha), and F(2alpha)-M in plasma samples from six (four male and two female) normal volunteers. The mean concentrations for each analyte were 0.755 pg/mL for PGE(2), 5.70 pg/mL for PGF(2alpha) and 9.48 pg/mL for F(2alpha)-M.     

Photoresponse of an aqueous two-phase system composed of photochromic dextran

A novel aqueous two-phase system, which exhibits a reversible photoinduced phase separation, has been developed with photochromic dextran synthesized by substituting 0.3 mol % of the hydroxyl groups with the photochromic chromophore, 6-nitrospiropyran (NSp). For an aqueous solution containing this photochromic dextran and poly(ethylene glycol), it was observed that the solution, which had been uniform in the dark, quickly separated into two phases through blue light irradiation within 1 min and returned to the former uniform state spontaneously after heating at 50 degrees C for 1 h. Photoisomerization of NSp was confirmed to shift the phase separation temperature of this aqueous two-phase system by up to 30 degrees C.     

Asymmetric synthesis of α-monofluoromethyl- and α-difluoromethylbenzylamines through regioselective hydrogenolysis

Asymmetric synthesis of α-monofluoromethyl- and α-difluoromethylbenzylamines through regioselective hydrogenolysis is described. Hydrogenolysis of diastereomerically pure bis(α-methylbenzyl)amine derivatives having partially fluorinated methyl group at benzylic position also proceeded with a high regioselectivity as well as in the case of α-trifluoromethyl group. Moreover, opposite asymmetric induction was observed in reduction of chiral imines derived from partially fluorinated acetophenone and α-phenylethylamine.     

Activity of Arsenic in Liquid Cu–Fe Base Alloys

Summary. The activity of arsenic in liquid Cu–Fe base alloys was determined by isopiestic and Knudsen cell-mass spectrometer methods. Based on the activity data, the volatilization of arsenic in the extraction and recycling of copper was thermodynamically evaluated.     

Ab initio CI calculations on free-base porphin

Ab initio configuration interaction (CI ) calculations were carried out on low-lying singlet and triplet π–π* states and ionized states of free-base porphin. We take into account single and double excitations from σ and π electrons in the CI calculations. The composite natural orbitals were employed in order to reduce the size of orbital set to be used in the CI . The calculated excitation energies were in good agreement with experimental values. The use of split-valence-type basis and the inclusion of correlation effects of σ electrons were proved to be important to describe the low-lying π–π* states, especially the Soret band.     

Formation of Azulenequinone Derivatives from Variously Functionalized Azulenes by Bromine-oxidation

Variously functionalized 1,5- and 1,7-azulenequinones were easily derived in one-pot in 30-50% yield from the bromine-oxidation of 2-methoxyazulene and 2-methyl derivatives of 1-cyano-, 1-methoxycarbonyl- and its 7-isopropyl derivatives, while 1-methoxycarbonylazulene afforded several unstable products from which we could not isolate any azulenequinones. 1-Acetylazulene afforded 3-bromo-1,5- and -1,7-azulenequinones via side-chain brominated intermediates in high yield. 1,3-Dichloroazulene afforded a mixture of 3-chloro-1,5- and −1,7-azulenequinones, while 1-fluoro- and 1,3-diiodoazulene gave a mixture of 3-bromoazulenequinones. Analogous oxidation of 1,3-difluoroazulene produced 3-fluoroazulenequinones, but we could not isolate them due to its instability. Hydroxy group of 2-(3-hydroxypropyl)azulene was intact during this quinone formation reaction.