Heterochain model for simultaneous long‐chain branching and crosslinking. III. Multicomponent polymerization

The matrix formula developed in the context of heterochain theory, M?_w = M?_wp + WF ( I ? M )^?1 S , was applied to describe the molecular weight development during free‐radical multicomponent polymerization. All of the required probabilistic parameters are expressed in terms of the kinetic‐rate constants and the various concentrations associated with them. In free‐radical polymerization, the number of heterochain types, N, needs to be extrapolated to infinity, and such extrapolation is conducted with only three different N values. This matrix formula can be used as a benchmark test if other approximate approaches can give reasonable estimates of the weight‐average molecular weights. The moment equations with the average pseudo‐kinetic‐rate constants for branching and crosslinking reactions may provide poor estimates when the copolymer composition drift during polymerization is very significant. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2801–2812, 2004     

High-throughput characterization of local conductivity of Nd0.9Ca0.1Ba2Cu3O7−δ thin film by the low-temperature scanning microwave microscope

We developed a scanning microwave microscope (SμM) designed for high-throughput electric-property screening as well as for rapid construction of electronic phase diagrams at low temperatures. As a sensor probe, we used a high-Qλ/4 coaxial cavity resonator to which a thin needle with ball-tip end was attached. The sensor module was mounted on the low-temperature XYZ stage, which allowed us to map out the change of resonance frequency and quality factor due to the local tip-sample interaction at low temperatures. From the measurements of combinatorial thin films, such as Ti_1−xCo_xO_2−δ and Nd_0.9Ca_0.1Ba₂Cu₃O_7−δ (NCBCO), it was demonstrated that this SμM system has enough performance for the high-throughput characterization of sample conductance under variable temperature conditions.     

THE CONFORMATIONAL ANALYSIS AND PHOTOISOMERIZATION OF RETINOCHROME ANALOGS WITH POLYENALS

Abstract— 3, 7-Dimethyl-2, 4, 6, 8, 10-dodecapentaenal was synthesized for reconstitution of the retinochrome analog. Its opsin shift was 1000 cm ¹ smaller than that of native retinochrome, whose chromophore contains the same number of double bonds. The conformational change from 6-s-trans to 6-s-cis , as figured in a retinal molecule, plays an important role in the formation of the retinochrome analog, based on the estimation of opsin shifts for retinal analogs locked in the 6-s conformation. Thus the conformation of the 6–7 single bond in the native retinochrome was suggested to be 6 -cis . Analysis of the circular dichroic spectra of retinochrome analogs revealed that the 6-s conformation is independent of the appearance of the β-band. The stereoselectivity in the photoisomerization of the retinal analogs by a retinochrome template depends on the hydrophobic binding in the region of the β-ionone ring.     

Crystal structures ofcatena-[diligatocadmium(II) tetra-μ-cyanocadmate(II)] host clathrates: Diamminecadmium(II) tetracyanocadmate(II)-benzene(1/2), diamminecadmium(II) tetracyanocadmate(II)-aniline(1/2), ethylenediaminecadmium(II) tetracyanocadmate(II)-aniline(1/2), and a novel type bis(aniline)cadmium(II) tetracyanocadmate(II)-aniline(2/1)

The crystal structures of the four title clathrate compounds Cd(NH₃)₂Cd(CN)₄ · 2C₆H₆,I, Cd(NH₃)₂Cd(CN)₄ · 2C₆H₅NH₂,II, Cd(NH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂)Cd(CN)₄ · 2 C₆H₅NH₂,III, and Cd(C₆H₅NH₂)₂Cd(CN)₄ · 0.5C₆H₅NH₂,IV, have been analyzed by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. CompoundI crystallizes in the monoclinic space groupC2/c,a = 12.063(2),b = 12.174(2),c = 14.621(1) Å,β = 90.976(9)°,Z = 4,R = 0.042 for 2388 reflections;II: monoclinic C₂/c,a = 12.1951(9),b = 12.078(1),c = 14.6921(7) Å,β = 93.436(5)°,Z = 4,R = 0.039 for 2374 reflections;III: monoclinicCc,a = 11.027(1),b = 12.0767(9),c = 15.837(1) Å,β = 92.059(9)°,Z = 4,R = 0.041 for 2883 reflections; andIV: monoclinicP2₁/n,a = 15.169(2),b = 16.019(2),c = 8.866(1) Å,β = 95.73(1)°,Z = 4,R = 0.052 for 3612 reflections. The three-dimensionalcatena-[diamminecadmium(II) tetra-μ-cyanocadmate(II)] hosts ofI andII are substantially isostructural to that of the already known Hofmann-Td-type Cd(NH₃)₂Hg(CN)₄ · 2C₆H₆. The three-dimensional en-Td-typecatena-[catena-μ-ethylenediaminecadmium(II) tetra-μ-cyanocadmate(II)] host ofIII, reinforced by the catena-μ-en linking between the octahedral Cd atoms, accommodates the aniline as the guest with a monoclinic distortion from the tetragonal symmetry of the previously reported en-Td-type benzene clathrate. InIV dual behavior of aniline, one as the unidentate ligand in the three-dimensional host and the other as the guest in the cage-like cavity, has been demonstrated.     

THE 'OPSIN SHIFT' IN BACTERIORHODOPSIN: STUDIES WITH ARTIFICIAL BACTERIORHODOPSINS

Abstract— The difference (in cm⁻¹) in absorption maxima between the protonated Schiff base of retinals and the pigment derived therefrom has been defined as the opsin shift. It represents the influence of the opsin binding site on the chromophore. The analysis of the opsin shifts of a series of dihydrobacteriorhodopsins has led to the external point-charge model, which in addition to a counter anion near the Schiff base ammonium, carries another negative charge in the vicinity of the β-ionone ring. This is in striking contrast to the external point-charge model proposed earlier for the bovine visual pigment. The absorption maxima of rhodopsins formed from bromo- and phenyl retinals support the two models. A retinal carrying a photoaffinity label has yielded a nonbleachable bacteriorhodopsin.     

Nmr spectroscopic studies on the tautomerism in tenuazonic acid analogs

Nmr spectra of structural analogs of tenuazonic acid such as 3-acetyltetramic acid, 3-acetyltetronic acid, 3-acetylthiotetronic acid and others were investigated for elucidation of the tautomeric structures. These compounds have completely enolized β,β′-triketone systems, and the position of the nmr signals for the enolic proton shows that the strength of their intramolecular hydrogen-bonding is weaker than those of acyclic β,β′-triketones and six-membered cyclic triketones. The assignment was made for nmr signals split by the difference of the diamagnetic anisotropic effect in each tautomers. The percentages of each of the tautomers were calculated from the intensities of the corresponding nmr signals. The results were confirmed by means of ¹³C-nmr spectroscopy.     

A new strategy in enantioselective intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction: catalytic double asymmetric induction during the tandem transetherification-intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction of methyl (E)-4-methoxy-2-oxo-3-butenoate with rac-6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol

An efficient catalytic double asymmetric induction during the tandem transetherification-intramolecular hetero Diels-Alder reaction has been developed. The enantioselective tandem reaction of methyl (E)-4-methoxy-2-oxo-3-butenoate with rac-6-methyl-5-hepten-2-ol has been achieved to provide methyl (2R,4aS,8aR)-3,4,4a,8a-tetrahydro-2,5,5-trimethyl-2H,5H-pyrano[4,3-b]-pyran-7-carboxylate in good yield with effective kinetic resolution (up to 95% selectivity), high diastereoselectivity (up to 92% de), and high enantioselectivity (up to 97% ee) in the presence of (S,S)-tert-Bu-bis(oxazoline)-Cu(SbF₆)₂ and 5 Å molecular sieves.     

Synthesis of green organogelators with a sulfide linkage via solvent-free Michael addition: soft templates for the preparation of size-controlled gold nanoparticles

Green organogelators with a sulfide linkage and free amino groups were synthesized via phase transfer catalysis using a N-benzylcinchonidinium bromide catalyst. Their self-assemblies in various common solvents were examined. These compounds exhibit high gelation ability especially in aromatic and highly polar solvents with a low critical gelation of 0.1 wt %. The organogels were analyzed by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) and Fourier transfer-infrared spectroscopies (FT-IR), and their phase transition temperatures were determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The homogeneity of the gel networks was examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A lamellar structure was also confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The organogels were employed as soft-templates for the in situ generation of stable gold nanoparticles dispersed in the gel matrix, and the resulting GNP dispersions were studied by ¹H NMR and UV–vis absorption. Transmission electron microscopy showed that GNPs assemble into a thin membrane-like structure.     

The effect of phenoxy oxygen atoms on extremely high extraction ability and less separation efficiency of trivalent rare earth elements with tetraphosphonic acid derivative of calix[4]arene

A cone confomational p-t-octylcalix[4]arene with four methylenephosphonic acids at the lower rim as well as its monomeric analog have been synthesized as a new extraction reagent to investigate the extraction behavior of the nine trivalent rare earth elements: Y, La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Ho and Er. The new calix[4]arene exhibited significantly higher extraction capacity than not only the monomeric derivative and the commercial extraction reagent, 2-ethylhexyl hydrogen 2-ethylhexylphosphonate, but also the cone conformational calix[4]arene extractants employed in our previous work, composed of a tetrapropylenephosphonic acid with a longer spacer, a tetraphosphonic acid at the upper rim, and tetraacetic acid at the lower rim. A dependence on the pH was observed for the new extractant in the highly acidic region, and the extraction took place via a simple ion-exchange mechanism. Using slope analysis, the stoichiometries of tetrameric and monomeric extractants to rare earth metal ions were determined to be 2:1 and 3:1, respectively. Using the proposed extraction equations, extraction equilibrium constants and separation factors were estimated. The extremely high extraction ability and moderate separation efficiency were attributed to the chelating effect of the phosphonic acid and the phenoxy oxygen atom. The effect of the phenoxy oxygen atom on extraction ability and separation efficiency of calix[4]arene derivatives was found to be significant.