A conducting crystal based on a single-component paramagnetic molecule, [Cu(dmdt)(2)] (dmdt = dimethyltetrathiafulvalenedithiolate)

A single-component conducting molecular crystal composed of paramagnetic copper complexes, [Cu(dmdt)2]0+, was prepared. The crystal has an unprecedented three-dimensionally packed molecular arrangement and exhibits a fairly high conductivity (1 S cm-1 at room temperature). The magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed that [Cu(dmdt)2]0+ molecule keeps most of S = 1/2 spin moments. The difference of the bond lengths between [Cu(dmdt)2]0+ and [Cu(dmdt)2]2- is consistent with the result of the molecular orbital calculation.     

An indication of magnetic-field-induced superconductivity in a bifunctional layered organic conductor,kappa-(BETS)(2)FeBr(4)

Hybrid systems consisting of the conducting layers of organic donor molecules and the magnetic layers of inorganic anions have been focused on as possible bifunctional materials, whose conducting properties can be tuned by controlling the magnetic state of the anion layers on an application of magnetic field. Here we report the magnetoresistance of the antiferromagnetic organic superconductor, kappa-(BETS)2FeBr4 [BETS = bis(ethylenedithio)tetraselenafulvalene], consisting of the two-dimensional superconducting layers of the BETS semications and the insulating layers of the FeBr4- anions. Due to the metamagnetic nature of the Fe3+ spin system, characteristic resistivity decrease was observed just below the antiferromagnetic superconductor-to-ferromagnetic metal transition at 1.6 T. Furthermore, an indication of the onsets of the magnetic-field-induced superconductivity was discovered around 12.5 T.     

Electronic structure of the organic conductors based on BMDT-TTF (BIS(methylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene)

In the crystals of the cation radical salts based on the organic donor BMDT-TTF, the charge separation is observed. This comes from (1) nonequivalency of the site potential and (2) the long range electron-electron interaction, which are related to the two-dimensional nature of the molecular arrangement. The effects of the charge separation on the elctronic structure are discussed.     

Electrical conductivity modulation coupled to a high-spin-low-spin conversion in the molecular system [FeIII(qsal)2][Ni(dmit)2]3.CH3CN.H2O

The synergy between the electrical conductivity within the stacks of Ni(dmit)2 in the newly electrocrystallized [Fe(qsal)2][Ni(dmit)2]3.CH3CN.H2O and the spin conversion of Fe(qsal)2 is evidenced. In addition, the presence of a light-induced excited spin state trapping effect suggests that this complex is a prototypal photoswitchable spin-crossover molecular conductor.     

Metal-organic frameworks from copper dimers with cis- and trans-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate and cis,cis-1,3,5-cyclohexanetricarboxylate

Single crystals of three coordination networks containing the Cu(2)(COO)(4) core bridged by cyclohexane have been hydrothermally prepared by the reaction of 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic (1,4-H(2)chdc) or 1,3,5-cyclohexanetricarboxylic (1,3,5-H(3)chtc) acid and Cu(NO(3))(2) x 6H(2)O. We report their characterizations by single-crystal X-ray structure determinations, IR spectroscopy, thermal analyses, and their magnetic properties. [Cu(2)(trans-1,4-chdc)(2)] (1) consists of 4 x 4 grids with the dimeric nodes connected by the trans-1,4-chdc, and these grids are then connected to each other by Cu-O bonds, resulting in a porous network (void volume of 130 Angstrom(3) per cell or 25%) with no solvent in its cavities. [Cu(2)(cis-1,4-chdc)(2)(H(2)O)(2)] (2) consists of two-legged ladders where the dimer nodes are bridged by pairs of cis-1,4-chdc and the water molecules cap the ends of the Cu dimers. [Cu(2)(1,3,5-Hchtc)(2)] (3) displays 4 x 4 grids, but each dimeric node is connected to its neighbors within the same grid by Cu-O bonds to form a layered network which further makes hydrogen-bond interactions with its neighbors. 2 and 3 have compact structures without any space for solvents. IR and DT-TGA confirm the absence of water in the empty channels of 1, while IR shows the presence of both protonated and deprotonated carboxyl groups for 3. The magnetic properties of all three compounds are dominated by the strong Cu-Cu antiferromagnetic interaction resulting in singlet-triplet gaps of 450-500 K.     

Determination of protein spots separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

A simple method for quantitating proteins in the spots on two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electropherograms is described. The system consists in three steps: (1) O'Farrell's two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the proteins to be analysed; (2) staining of the gels with Coomassie brilliant blue; and (3) determination of the area and integrated density of the stained spots by the Joyce Loebl Magiscan-1 image analysis system. The method can be used for the determination of proteins in the range 0.5-100 micrograms/cm2; the amount of protein involved in most spots detected by the staining method actually falls within this range. As the minimum spot diameter that can easily be handled by the method is about 2 mm, as much as 30 ng of protein in such a spot can be determined. The method can also be applied to autoradiograms.     

Desulfurization of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides via the sulfur‐by‐oxygen replacement induced by the hydroxyl radical during negative electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

While the occurrence of desulfurization of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides in solution is well established, this study represents the first attempt to investigate the basis of the unexpected desulfurization via the net sulfur‐by‐oxygen (S‐O) replacement during negative electrospray ionization (ESI). The current work, facilitated by quantitative mass deconvolution, demonstrates that considerable desulfurization can take place even under common negative ESI operating conditions. The extent of desulfurization is dependent on the molar phosphorothioate oligonucleotide‐to‐hydroxyl radical ratio, which is consistent with the corona discharge‐induced origin of the hydroxyl radical leading to the S‐O replacement. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that an increase of the high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) flow rate and the on‐column concentration of a phosphorothioate oligonucleotide, as well as a decrease of the electrospray voltage reduce the degree of desulfurization. Comparative LC‐tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) sequencing of a phosphorothioate oligonucleotide and its corresponding desulfurization product revealed evidence that the S‐O replacement occurs at multiple phosphorothioate internucleotide linkage sites. In practice, the most convenient and effective strategy for minimizing this P = O artifact is to increase the LC flow rate and the on‐column concentration of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides. Another approach to mitigate possible detrimental effects of the undesired desulfurization is to operate the ESI source at a very low electrospray voltage to diminish the corona discharge; however this will significantly compromise sensitivity when analyzing the low‐level P = O impurities in phosphorothioate oligonucleotides. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improvement of gas meter performance using polymer materials

The measuring elements of both dry‐ and wet‐type gas meters are composed of a diaphragm and rotary drum. In this article an explanation on the principle of measuring and the structure of the gas meter for each of these two types was discussed. Such applications were made as follows: synthetic rubber was used for the measuring diaphragm, engineering plastic was employed instead of metal for the measuring drum, and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) was used for the casing, respectively. As a result, an improvement in the gas resistance performance and productivity, which led to a lighter weight, more compactness and a lower cost of productions was achieved. Also the influence of the solubility of the measured gas to the plastic on the measured valve was discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anomalous dielectric behavior and thermal motion of water molecules confined in channels of porous coordination polymer crystals

Guest water molecules confined in channels of porous coordination polymer crystals [Ln(2)Cu(3)(IDA)(6)]·nH(2)O (Ln = La, Nd, Sm, Gd, Ho, Er; IDA = [NH(CH(2)COO)(2)](2-); n ≈ 9) exhibited large dielectric constants (ε) and antiferroelectric behaviors at high temperatures (e.g., ε(Sm) ≈ 1300 at 400 K). In addition, plots of the temperature dependence of ε showed broad peaks at ～170 K, below which ε became very small. These puzzling temperature dependences of ε are consistent with the results of molecular dynamics simulations, suggesting the "freezing of thermal motion" of water molecules at ～170 K.