Synthesis and properties of poly(phenylacetylenes) having two polar groups or one cyclic polar group on the phenyl ring

Phenylacetylene (PA) derivatives having two polar groups (ester, 2a – d ; amide, 4) or one cyclic polar group (imide, 5a – c ) were polymerized using (nbd)Rh⁺[(η⁶‐C₆H₅)B^?(C₆H₅)₃] catalyst to afford high molecular weight polymers (～1 × 10⁶ – 4 × 10⁶). The hydrolysis of ester‐containing poly(PA), poly( 2a) , provided poly(3,4‐dicarboxyPA) [poly ( 3 )], which could not be obtained directly by the polymerization of the corresponding monomer. The solubility properties of the present polymers were different from those of poly(PA) having no polar group; that is, poly( 2a )–poly( 2d ) dissolved in ethyl acetate and poly( 4 ) dissolved in N,N‐dimethylformamide, while poly(PA) was insoluble in such solvents. Ester‐group‐containing polymers [poly( 2a )–poly( 2d )] afforded free‐standing membranes by casting from THF solutions. The membrane of poly( 2a ) showed high carbon dioxide permselectivity against nitrogen (PCO₂/PN₂ = 62). © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5943–5953, 2006     

Selective chemical vapor deposition synthesis of double-wall carbon nanotubes on mesoporous silica

Double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) have been selectively synthesized over Fe/Co loaded mesoporous silica by catalytic chemical vapor deposition of alcohol. Several silica materials with desired pore diameter and morphology have been investigated for the DWNT growth. The diameter distribution and selectivity of the DWNT are found to depend on the reaction temperature, pore size, and thermal stability of the support material. A high-yield synthesis of DWNTs has been achieved at 900 degrees C over high-temperature stable mesoporous silica. The outer diameter of DWNTs is found to be in the range of 1.5-5.4 nm with a "d" spacing of 0.38 +/- 0.02 nm between inner and outer layers, which is much larger than those of multiwall carbon nanotubes.     

A new method of plutonium speciation in sea water

A new method of plutonium speciation in large volume of sea water was developed by using adsorption of Pu(IV)-Xylenol Orange chelate and Pu-Arsenazo chelate on XAD-2 resin, respectively. The tetravalent plutonium ion reacts selectively with Xylenol Orange in acid solution and that adsorbed on XAD-2 resin. Total plutonium can be collected onto the resin in the form of its Arsenazo-III complex. The determination of plutonium then was carried out by alpha-ray spectrometric method after decomposition of organic complexes and ion exchange separation. The present method is confirmed for convenient and rapid preconcentration procedure for plutonium shipboard chemistry.     

Antihypertensive Effect of Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptide Obtained from Hen Ovotransferrin

Angiotensin I‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide was isolated from the hen ovotransferrin hydrolysate using chymotryptic hydrolysis by two steps of reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. The amino sequence of this novel peptide was identified as Lys‐Val‐Arg‐Glu‐Gly‐Thr‐Thr‐Tyr that inhibited ACE activity in vitro in a concentration‐dependent manner with an effective concentration (IC₅₀) of 102.8 μM. Also, this inhibition was identified as noncompetitive using the Lineweaver‐Burk plot. Moreover, the antihypertensive action of this novel peptide was investigated by an intravenous injection into spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). A dose‐dependent reduction of systolic blood pressure by this peptide was observed after 40 min of treatment and it decreased the blood pressure markedly at the maximal dose (1 nmol/mL/kg). The maximal blood pressure lowering activity of this peptide was calculated as 163% of captopril (10 pmol/mL/kg) that was used as positive control. In conclusion, the obtained data suggests that Lys‐Val‐Arg‐Glu‐Gly‐Thr‐Thr‐Tyr has an ability to inhibit ACE activity and decrease the systolic blood pressure in hypertensive animals.     

Apparent molal volumes of phosphonium halides at 15, 25 and 35°C

The densities of aqueous solutions of the phosphonium halides, Bu _4-n Ph _n PX(n=0–4), some of which were synthesized from the phosphines, were measured at 15, 25 and 35°C. Partial molal volumes at infinite dilution, , and B _v coefficients for the apparent molal volumes were determined at each temperature. For the first four cations varies little with n. For all salts B _v are negative but become less negative with increasing n. The temperature dependence of B _v is positive for butyl-rich salts (n<2) but negative for phenyl-rich salts (n>1). Also it appears that is relatively large for phenyl-rich cations in comparison with that for butyl-rich cations.     

Selective formation of AAB- and ABC-type heterotrimeric alpha-helical coiled coils

The alpha-helical coiled coils have a representative amino acid sequence of (abcdefg)(n) heptad repeats. We previously reported that two peptides named IZ-2A and IZ-2W formed an (IZ-2A)(2)/IZ-2W heterotrimer with an Ala-Ala-Trp interaction in the hydrophobic core. In this paper, we describe the selective formation of AAB- and ABC-type heterotrimers. To increase the selectivity of the AAB-type heterotrimeric formation, Lys residues at the f position were mutated to either an Ala or a Gln residue to form IZ-2A(fA) or IZ-2W(fQ). Separately, both IZ-2A(fA) and IZ-2W(fQ) have a random structure at pH 7 and 20 degrees C. However, together IZ-2A(fA) and IZ-2W(fQ) form a 2:1 complex with a thermal transition midpoint (Tm) of 48 degrees C. This procedure was applied to prepare the ABC-type heterotrimer, in which two sets of Ala-Ala-Trp interactions were designed in the hydrophobic core. Interhelical interaction between the e and g positions and the alpha-helical propensity of the amino acid at the f position were also considered in the design. The resultant three peptides selectively formed the ABC-type heterotrimer with a Tm of 51 degrees C. Other peptide combinations had random coil properties.     

Infrared spectroscopic study on the reaction mechanism of CO hydrogenation over Pd/CeO2

In situ infrared spectroscopy was applied to elucidate the reaction mechanism of CO hydrogenation over Pd/CeO₂. Instead of direct dissociation of CO, a new reaction pathway is proposed for methane formation, involving geminal dicarbonyl intermediates and (HCO)₂(a) intermediates, which may be located on the surface of Pd covered with thin layers of reduced ceria (SMSI effect). Transformation of methane formation sites into methanol formation ones by the oxidation with water vapor formed during the CO?H₂ reaction is proposed, which may be located on the Pd (111) planes adjacent to ceria support.     

Plutonium isotopes in the surface air in Japan: Effect of Chernobyl accident

Plutonium isotope concentrations in the surface air at Tsukuba, Japan are reported during the period from 1981 to the end of 1986. The^239,240Pu concentration in the surface air, which showed a marked seasonal variation with a spring maximum and fall minimum, decreased until the end of 1985 according to the stratospheric residence time of 1.15 years. In May 1986, elevated^239,240Pu concentrations with high²³⁸Pu/^239,240Pu activity ratios were observed. The serial trend of plutonium concentration in the surface air is similar to the concentrations of the Chernobyl-released radionuclides. These findings suggest that a significant part of the plutonium in the surface air in May 1986 was due to the Chernobyl fallout. The size distribution of plutonium bearing particles indicates that plutonium isotopes were mechanically released in the Chernobyl accident. The surface air concentration of plutonium from the Chernobyl accident was much lower than the concentrations of the volatile fission products, and increased the monthly mean^239,240Pu concentration by only 0.03 Bqm^–3.     

Essential of Proline and Valine Residues in the Peptide Derived from Lactoferrin for Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibition

We synthesized Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu, the peptide contained in lactoferrin (Lf), to identify the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. In an attempt to know the structure‐activity relationship of this peptide, we replaced Pro (the third amino acid residues from N‐terminal) or Val (the fourth amino acid residues from N‐terminal) with Ala (neutral amino acid), Glu (acidic amino acid) or Lys (basic amino acid) to produce six peptides. From the in vitro ACE inhibition (IC₅₀) of these synthesized peptides, the original peptide (Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu) showed higher ACE inhibition than the replaced six peptides. Thus, replacement of Pro at the third amino acid residues or Val at the fourth position with Ala, Glu or Lys revealed the ACE inhibition to be lower than the original form of Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu. Otherwise, we added one peptide at the C‐terminal of Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu and found both products with an addition of Val (Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu‐Val) or Ile (Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala‐Glu‐Ile) showing a lower ACE inhibition than the original one. The ACE inhibitions produced by both replaced peptides were without significance. Also, deletion of the last peptide at the C‐terminal (Leu‐Arg‐Pro‐Val‐Ala‐Ala) failed to produce a marked change of ACE inhibition as compared to the original one. These results suggest that Pro and Val are essential in the peptide for inhibition of ACE activity.     

Polymerization of vinyl monomers by diphenylsulfone–potassium complexes

Diphenylsulfone (DPSO₂) was found to react with an equimolar amount of potassium in tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethoxyethane (DME), or diglyme (DG) at reflux or an elevated temperature to yield a reddish-black solution, giving an electron spin resonance (ESR) signal. The signal was attributed to the formation of relatively labile DPSO₂ anion radical. The apparent effects of solvents on the reactivity of DPSO₂ with potassium depended on the polarities and the solvation powers: benzene ? toluene ? dioxane ? tetrahydrofuran < monoglyme < diglyme. The monopotassium complex was found to react further with another molecular amount of the metal to yield a dark blue solution giving no ESR signal. The monopotassium complex initiated the polymerization of acrylonitrile (AN). It did not, however, initiate the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene (St), or isoprene (IP). The active species of the monopotassium complex that initiated the polymerization of AN was found from analyses of the reaction products and the infrared spectrum of oily oligomer of AN obtained by the complex to be potassium benzenesulfinate. The dipotassium complex was found to initiate the polymerization of MMA, St, IP and AN. The active species of the dipotassium complex that initiated the polymerization of MMA, St, or IP was found from analyses of the reaction products and the infrared spectrum of the oily oligomer of MMA obtained by the complex to be phenyl potassium.