Chiral Interlocked Corrole Dimers Directly Linked at Inner Carbon Atoms of Confused Pyrrole Rings

A facile synthetic strategy towards conformationally stable chiral chromophores based on dimeric porphyrinoids has been established. A peculiar class of face-to-face intramolecularly interlocked corrole dimers were formed by the oxidative C−C coupling linked at the inner carbon sites upon simple treatment of copper(II) ions. Their intrinsic electronic structures were modulated by the peripheral corrole ring annulations, which lead to distinct optical properties and redox profiles. The stereogenic carbon centers implemented in the confused corrole skeleton provided a rationale for designing novel chiral materials.     

Simultaneous determination of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid in human urine by automated precolumn derivatization and semi-microbore column liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

An improved high-performance liquid-chromatographic (HPLC) assay for the simultaneous determination of serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) in human urine is reported. Following the automated precolumn derivatization of urinary 5-HT and 5-HIAA with benzylamine, the derivatives are separated by isocratic elution on a reversed-phase C18 semi-microbore column, and are fluorometrically detected at an excitation wavelength of 345 nm and an emission wavelength of 480 nm. The detection limits of 5-HT and 5-HIAA are 7 and 5 nmol/l in urine (0.7 and 0.5 fmol/20-microl injection). The proposed automatic method permits a highly selective and sensitive determination of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in human urine without any sample purification.     

Discrimination of carbonyl groups of meso-α-diketones with Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reagent of chiral binaphthyl esters

Asymmetric Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reactions of selected meso-α-dicarbonyl compounds with chiral phosphonate reagents, which possessed axially dissymmetric 1,1′-bi-2- or 8-naphthol at the carboxylate moiety as a chiral auxiliary, were examined. The reactions proceeded smoothly with good chemical yields as well as with high diastereoselectivities. Z-olefins were preferentially formed, and it was found that the free hydroxy group at the 2′- or 8′-position on the naphthalene ring plays a crucial role in the high diastereoselectivity, probably due to a complex-induced proximity effect. Mechanistic considerations are also described.     

InGaAs/InAlAs Five Layer Asymmetric Coupled Quantum Well (FACQW) for Ultra-Wideband Ultrafast Optical Modulators

An InGaAs/InAlAs five-layer asymmetric coupled quantum well (FACQW) is expected to show very large electrorefractive index change. n in a wideband transparency region. Band structures of the FACQW are analyzed with Luttinger-Kohn Hamiltonian. The electrorefractive characteristics of the FACQW are discussed.     

Numerical analysis of finite amplitude motion of waves and a moored floating body under severe storm conditions

The motion of a moored floating body under the action of wave forces, which is influenced by fluid forces, shape of the floating body and mooring forces, should be analysed as a complex coupled motion system. Especially under severe storm conditions or resonant motion of the floating body it is necessary to consider finite amplitude motions of the waves, the floating body and the mooring lines as well as non-linear interactions of these finite amplitude motions. The problem of a floating body has been studied on the basis of linear wave theory by many researchers. However, the finite amplitude motion under a correlated motion system has rarely been taken into account. This paper presents a numerical method for calculating the finite amplitude motion when a floating body is moored by non-linear mooring lines such as chains and cables under severe storm conditions.     

Radiation sterilization of enzyme hybrids with biodegradable polymers

Ionizing radiations, which have already been utilized for the sterilization of medical supplies as well as gas fumigation, should be the final candidate to decontaminate “hybrid” biomaterials containing bio-active materials including enzymes because irradiation induces neither heat nor substances affecting the quality of the materials and our health. In order to check the feasibility of ⁶⁰Co-gamma rays on these materials, we selected commercial proteases including papain and bromelain hybridized with commercial activated chitosan beads and demonstrated that these enzyme-hybrids suspended in water showed the significant radiation durability of more than twice as much as free enzyme solution at 25-kGy irradiation. Enhanced thermal and storage stability of the enzyme hybrids were not affected by the same dose level of irradiation, either, indicating that commercial irradiation sterilization method is applicable to enzyme hybrids without modification.