Diffusion Structural Analysis Study of Titania Films Deposited by Sol-Gel Technique on Silica Glass

The diffusion structural analysis (DSA) was used to characterize microstructure changes of hydrous titania gel films under in situ conditions of heating. TG and DTA were used in order to elucidate the processes controlling the formation of anatase film during heating of hydrous titania gel film. The annealing of porosity and near surface structure defects of the dehydrated titania films was indicated by DSA in the temperature range 255–700°C as the decrease of radon release rate. It was demonstrated that the annealing was enhanced on heating in oxygen in comparison with heating in argon. The DSA experimental results were compared with model curves describing the radon diffusion mobility and the annealing of radon diffusion paths.     

Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation mechanisms in kaolinite confirmed by magic-angle spinning

Spin-lattice relaxation mechanisms in kaolinite have been reinvestigated by magic-angle spinning (MAS) of the sample. MAS is useful to distinguish between relaxation mechanisms: the direct relaxation rate caused by the dipole-dipole interaction with electron spins is not affected by spinning while the spin diffusion-assisted relaxation rate is. Spin diffusion plays a dominant role in ¹H relaxation. MAS causes only a slight change in the relaxation behavior, because the dipolar coupling between ¹H spins is strong. ²⁹Si relaxes directly through the dipole-dipole interaction with electron spins under spinning conditions higher than 2 kHz. A spin diffusion effect has been clearly observed in the ²⁹Si relaxation of relatively pure samples under static and slow-spinning conditions. ²⁷Al relaxes through three mechanisms: phonon-coupled quadrupole interaction, spin diffusion and dipole-dipole interaction with electron spins. The first mechanism is dominant, while the last is negligibly small. Spin diffusion between ²⁷Al spins is suppressed completely at a spinning rate of 2.5 kHz. We have analyzed the relaxation behavior theoretically and discussed quantitatively. Concentrations of paramagnetic impurities, electron spin-lattice relaxation times and spin diffusion rates have been estimated.     

Emanation Thermal Analysis of SiC Based Materials

Results of emanation thermal analysis (ETA) characterizing microstructure changes of SiC based materials during heat treatment in argon are demonstrated. This method made it possible to reveal fine changes of the texture of SiC nano-sized powders, SiC micro-sized powders and SiC whiskers under in situconditions of the heating. ETA curves can serve as fingerprints of the respective samples.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis of pyrido[1′,2′:1,2]imidazo[4,5-b]pyrazines from 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanopyrazine with 2-aminopyridines

Novel synthesis of the title compounds by the facile cyclization between 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanopyrazine and various 2-aminopyridines under relatively mild conditions is described. The reactivity depended on the basicity of 2-aminopyridines.     

Photochemical aromatic hydroxylation by aromatic amine N-oxides: remarkable solvent effect on NIH-shift

Photooxygenations of 4-²H-anisole ($\text{3}$) and o-xylene ($\text{5}$) by 3-methylpyridazine 2-oxide ($\text{1}$) or pyridine 1-oxide ($\text{2}$) were studied in a variety of solvents at varying irradiation temperatures. Remarkable solvent effect on NIH-shift coupled with their hydroxylation processes was observed.     

A simple and stereoselective synthesis of 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]-heptane-1,2,3,4-tetracarboxylates

The photoinitiated reaction of 1,1′-bis(methoxycarbonyl)divinylamine with various maleates and fumarates afforded novel 7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-1,2,3,4-tetracarboxylates. The spectral investigation of the products showed that the reaction proceeded stereoselectively, retaining the original configuration of the reagents.     

Singlet Oxygen–mediated Hydroxyl Radical Production in the Presence of Phenols: Whether DMPO–·OH Formation Really Indicates Production of ·OH?¶

The reaction of singlet oxygen (1O2) generated by ultraviolet-A (UVA)-visible light (lambda > 330 nm) irradiation of air-saturated solutions of hematoporphyrin with phenolic compounds in the presence of a spin trap, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), gave an electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrum characteristic of the DMPO-hydroxyl radical spin adduct (DMPO-*OH). In contrast, the ESR signal of 5,5-dimethyl-2-pyrrolidone-N-oxyl, an oxidative product of DMPO, was observed in the absence of phenolic compounds. The ESR signal of DMPO-*OH decreased in the presence of either a *OH scavenger or a quencher of *O2 and under anaerobic conditions, whereas it increased depending on the concentration of DMPO. These results indicate both 1O2- and DMPO-mediated formation of free *OH during the reaction. When DMPO was replaced with 5-(diethoxyphosphoryl)-5-methyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DEPMPO), no DEPMPO adduct of oxygen radical species was obtained. This suggests that 1O2, as an oxidizing agent, reacts little with DEPMPO, in which a strong electron-withdrawing phosphoryl group increases the oxidation potential of DEPMPO compared with DMPO. A linear correlation between the amounts of DMPO-*OH generated and the oxidation potentials of phenolic compounds was observed, suggesting that the electron-donating properties of phenolic compounds contribute to the appearance of *OH. These observations indicate that 1O2 reacts first with DMPO, and the resulting DMPO-1O2 intermediate is immediately decomposed/reduced to give *OH. Phenolic compounds would participate in this reaction as electron donors but would not contribute to the direct conversion of 1O2 to *OH. Furthermore, DEPMPO did not cause the spin-trapping agent-mediated generation of *OH like DMPO did.     

An improvement in the bending ability of a hinged trisaccharide with the assistance of a sugar-sugar interaction

Hinged di- and trisaccharides incorporating 2,4-diamino-beta-D-xylopyranoside as a hinge unit (Hin) were synthesized. Bridging of the diamino group of Hin by carbonylation or chelation to a metal ion results in a conformational change from (4)C1 to (1)C4, which in turn causes a bending of the oligosaccharides. In this study, the bending abilities of the hinged oligosaccharides were compared, in terms of the reactivities toward carbonylation and chelation. Di- or trisaccharides containing a 6-O-glycosylated mannopyranoside or galactopyranoside at their reducing ends had bending abilities similar to that of the Hin monosaccharide, probably because there were neither attractive nor repulsive interactions between the reducing and nonreducing ends. However, when Hin was attached at O2 of methyl mannopyranoside (Man alphaMe), the bending ability was dependent on the nonreducing sugar and the reaction conditions. Typically, a disaccharide--Hin beta(1,2)Man alphaMe--was difficult to bend under all the tested reaction conditions, and the bent population in the presence of Zn(II) was only 4%. On the other hand, a trisaccharide--Man alpha(1,3)Hin beta(1,2)Man alphaMe--was bent immediately after the addition of Zn(II) or Hg(II), and the bent population reached 75%, much larger than those of all the other hinged trisaccharides ever tested (<40%). This excellent bending ability suggests an attractive interaction between the reducing and nonreducing ends. The extended conformation was recovered by the addition of triethylenetetramine, a metal ion chelator. Reversible, quick, and efficient bending of the hinged trisaccharide was thus achieved.     

Improved method for the determination of kynurenic acid in rat plasma by column-switching HPLC with post-column fluorescence detection

Kynurenic acid (KYNA), an endogenous antagonist of ionotropic glutamate and α7 nicotinic receptors, was fluorometrically determined by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The HPLC system consists of two octadecyl silica (ODS) columns, both of which are connected with an anion-exchange column (trapping column). Following sample injection onto the HPLC column, KYNA was separated on the first ODS column with a mobile phase of H₂O/acetonitrile (95/5) containing 0.1% acetic acid. The peak fraction of KYNA was trapped on the anion-exchange column by changing the position of a six-port valve and then introduced into the second ODS column. Subsequently, KYNA was detected fluorometrically as a fluorescence complex formed with zinc ion which was pumped constantly. Instrumental limit of detection was approximately 0.16 nM, which corresponded to 8.0 fmol (per 50 μl injection, signal to noise ratio 3), and the limit of quantification was 0.53 nM (signal to noise ratio 10). Intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations were 1.1-3.9% (n = 3) and 3.0-5.3% (n = 3), respectively. The peak of KYNA in rat plasma was clearly detected by the proposed column-switching HPLC system after a facile pretreatment procedure. Intra- and inter-day relative mean errors were −1.6-1.4% (n = 3) and −2.4 to −0.4% (n = 3), respectively, with a satisfactory precision (within 5.0%). A calibration curve for the determination of KYNA showed a good linearity (r² > 0.999) in the range of 25-200 nM. The KYNA concentrations in the plasma of male Sprague-Dawley rats (8-week-old) were 44 ± 5.5 nM (mean ± S.E., n = 5). In ketamine-treated rats, which are animal models of schizophrenia, the plasma KYNA concentrations were significantly increased compared with those in the control rats (p < 0.05).     

13C-NMR studies on the cevanine alkaloids : the application of 13C-NMR spectrum for structure elucidation of new alkaloids,baimonidine and isoverticine

The ¹³C-NMR spectra of seven cavanine alkaloids isolated from Veratrum and Fritillaria plants were measured and their signals were assigned, and these results were applicated for structure elucidation of two new cevanine alkaloids, baimonidine and isoverticine, isolated from mature Fritillaria verticillata.