Photoinduced ionic polymerization. III. Cationic polymerization and copolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and α-methylstyrene in the presence of pyromellitic dianhydride

The photoinduced ionic polymerization of cyclohexene oxide was studied in the presence of pyromellitic dianhydride. The polymerization is initiated by the excited chargetransfer complex between cyclohexene oxide and the electron-acceptor and proceeds by a cationic mechanism. Photoinduced cationic polymerization of α-methylstyrene was also observed in the presence of pyromellitic dianhydride. The initiation mechanism of the polymerization was elucidated by means of electron spin resonance measurements. The concentration of pyromellitic dianhydride anion-radicals measured in this way was found to be proportional to the rate of polymerization. This result shows clearly that the photopolymerization is initiated by cation-radicals formed from photoexcited donoracceptor complexes. The attempted photocopolymerization of cyclohexene oxide and α-methylstyrene gave a mixture of homopolymers. The composition of the product depends on the wavelength of the light used.     

Thermal analysis graphite intercalation compounds with dichlorides of some d-elements: A.S. Skoropanov,G.S. Petrov,A.A. Vecher,Yu.N. Novikov and M.E. Vol'pin,Thermochim. Acta, 90 (1985) 339-342

Kinetic and thermodynamic aspects of the axial base dissociation of solid Co(salen) (X-py) complexes, X = H (1), 3-Me (2), 4-Me (3), 3,4-Me₂ (4), 3,5-Me₂ (5), 3-NH₂ (6), 3-Cl (7), 3-CN (8), 4-CN (9), have been investigated by means of TG-DSC and isothermal weight-loss measurements. These adducts endothermically dissociate the axial base giving rise to the oxygen-active Co(salen) complex. The axial base dissociation reactions fit the contracting disc equation and the kinetic compensation effect is observed for all the adducts excepting Adducts 4–6. For the remaining adducts the kinetic and thermodynamic stabilities of the Co-(X-py) bond are found to increase linearly with increasing Hammett's substitution constants of X except for Adducts 3 and 9. These results are discussed in terms of the σ and π interactions between cobalt(II) and substituted pyridine. Factors dominating the kinetic bond stability are briefly discussed.     

Photoinduced ionic polymerization. II. Cationic polymerization of α-methylstyrene in the presence of tetracyanobenzene

The dependence of the rate of polymerization on light intensity and the stereoregularity of the polymer was studied to elucidate the propagation and termination mechanisms of the photoinduced cationic polymerization of α-methylstyrene in the presence of tetracyanobenzene in methylene chloride. The rate of polymerization was proportional to the light intensity. The polymer is highly syndiotactic, and the stereoregularity is similar to that of polymers obtained by radiation-induced cationic polymerization. The initiation mechanism was also studied by electron spin resonance, by which the anion radical of tetracyanobenzene formed from a photoexcited complex between α-methylstyrene and tetracyanobenzene was observed. The cation radical of α-methylstyrene, counterpart of the anion radical, is believed to initiate the polymerization.     

Relaxation Dynamics In Photo-Excited Halogen-Bridged Pt-Complexes Studied By Femtosecond Luminescence Spectroscopy

The ultrafast dynamics of excited electronic states in a series of quasi-one-dimensional halogen-bridged platinum-complexes was investigated by using femtosecond luminescence spectroscopy. In Pt-Br system, the wave-packet oscillation of the local vibration of self-trapped excitons (STEs) was observed. The time evolutions of luminescence intensity in Pt-Br and Pt-Cl were successfully described by using a model based on a wave-packet motion on the interaction mode coordinate. In Pt-I, very fast decay was observed, suggesting the existence of efficient non-radiative decay channel directing to structural change.     

Unusual resistivity broadening in the mixed state of NdBa2Cu3O7−δ crystals grown by a crystal-pulling technique

In order to clarify the origin of a strong peak effect in the magnetization curve of NdBa₂Cu₃O_7−δ crystals, we investigated the superconductivity transition behavior of the in-plane resistivity in static magnetic fields up to 8 T. Comparing the results for the samples exhibiting and not exhibiting the peak effect, we found that the former (peak effect sample) shows lower resistivity above the vortex melting temperature. This implies that the pinning force is effective in the vortex liquid state. We also found that the normal state resistivity behaviors of some samples were unusual, indicating inhomogeneous current flow. These results suggest an existence of sheet-like pinning centers perpendicular to the conduction planes.     

Parametrization of calcium binding site in proteins and molecular dynamics simulation on phospholipase A2

The empirical energy parameters for a calcium ion and its ligands in proteins were determined within a pairwise additive framework. The interaction energies of Ca²⁺-water, Ca²⁺-peptide group and Ca²⁺-carboxyl group systems were calculated using the ab initio molecular orbital method with basis sets of double zeta quality including polarization or diffuse functions. The resulting potential energy surfaces served as references for the determination of the nonbonded parameters in the empirical energy function. The nonadditive corrections for the Ca²⁺-ligand pair potentials are incorporated implicitly in the nonbonded paremeters by treating three-body (1:2 complex) or seven-body (1:6 complex) systems in reference calculations. Ligand polarizations induced by Ca²⁺ are estimated from the partial atomic charges of two-body (1:1 complex) systems. The charge sets were determined by scaling so as to reproduce the reference potential energy surfaces. The newly determined parameter set was used in a stochastic boundary molecular dynamics simulation of phospholipase A₂. The solvated structure of the Ca²⁺-binding site obtained from an X-ray crystallographic study is well reproduced by the parameter set.     

Metabolomic investigation of cholestasis in a rat model using ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Metabolomics follows the changes in concentrations of endogenous metabolites, which may reflect various disease states as well as systemic responses to environmental, therapeutic, or genetic interventions. In this study, we applied metabolomic approaches to monitor dynamic changes in plasma and urine metabolites, and compared these metabolite profiles in Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rats (EHBR, an animal model of cholestasis) with those in the parent strain of EHBR - Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats - in order to characterize cholestasis pathophysiologically. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry-based analytical methods were used to assay metabolite levels. More than 250 metabolites were detected in both plasma and urine, and metabolite profiles of EHBR differed from those of SD rats. The levels of antioxidative and cytoprotective metabolites, taurine and hypotaurine, were markedly increased in urine of EHBR. The levels of many bile acids were also elevated in plasma and urine of EHBR, but the extent of elevation depended on the particular bile acid. The levels of cytoprotective ursodeoxycholic acid and its conjugates were markedly elevated, while that of cytotoxic chenodeoxycholic acid remained unchanged, suggesting the balance of bile acids had shifted resulting in decreased toxicity. In EHBR, reduced biliary excretion leads to increased systemic exposure to harmful compounds including some endogenous metabolites. Our metabolomic data suggest that mechanisms exist in EHBR that compensate for cholestasis-related damage.     

Rapid determination of fumagillin residues in honey by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using the QuEChERS method

A new, rapid, and efficient method for determining the fumagillin residues in honey was developed. The samples extracted were analyzed using LC/MS/MS. Chromatographic separation of fumagillin was performed in gradient mode on a C8 column (100 x 2.0 mm, 5 microm) at 40 degrees C. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of 2 mM ammonium formate-0.01% formic acid solution and methanol; the flow rate was set to 0.2 mL/min. Under these conditions, it was possible to measure fumagillin and its isomers as a single peak. The sample preparation procedure used is based on the QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) method, which is fast (approximately 30 min) and uses less organic solvent. The fumagillin was extracted with acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid, then purified using a solid-phase extraction method with an Oasis mixed-mode weak anion-exchange cartridge. The overall recovery of fumagillin ranged from 88.1 to 99.4%; the intra- and interassay CVs were <4.5% and <4.9%, respectively. The LOQ was 0.1 microg/kg. LC/MS/MS coupled with the QuEChERS method showed strong potential as a method for determining fumagillin residues in honey.