Evaluation of fine structure of tubular zeolite NaA membrane by FTIR-ATR and FIB-TEM.

A zeolite NaA (LTA) membrane supported by an alumina porous support tube for pervaporation (PV) dehydration of ethanol was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) using a focused ion beam (FIB) thin-layer specimen preparation technique and by Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflectance method (FTIR-ATR) using a diamond prism as the waveguide. FIB-TEM clearly presented cross-section images up to about 15 microm depth from the membrane surface. FTIR-ATR monitored the Si-O asymmetric stretching vibration spectrum. The Si-O spectrum was compared with the TEM image and their relationships were discussed. By combining the two methods, we could study the thickness of surface LTA crystals, the grain boundary, the LTA/alumina interface structure and the crystallinity and density of materials inside of the alumina porous support. Consequently, fine structure changes of the LTA membrane corresponding to the hydrothermal synthesis condition could be sensitively detected.     

A study of embolizing materials for chemo-embolization therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma: embolic effect of cisplatin albumin microspheres using chitin and chitosan in dogs, and changes of cisplatin content in blood and tissue.

Hepatic artery of dogs was embolized with cisplatin (CDDP) albumin microspheres containing chitin and chitosan to investigate the in vivo CDDP release kinetics from CDDP albumin microspheres, the CDDP cumulative characteristics in the liver, and the influence of microsphere administration on hepatic tissue. Results showed that changes in blood CDDP content were dependent on CDDP albumin microsphere type and that release kinetics were better sustained when chitin was added to the microspheres or when the microspheres were treated with chitosan. In particular, the administration of CDDP in the chitin-containing CDDP chitosan albumin microspheres showed a blood CDDP content of approximately 0.26 micrograms Pt/ml 14 d after administration. The administration of chitin-containing or chitosan treated CDDP microspheres showed a CDDP content in the hepatic tissue of 0.14 to 0.23 micrograms Pt/g 28 d after administration. They also showed better control of CDDP release than those without chitin or chitosan treatment. No CDDP influence on hepatic tissue was observed. We conclude that, even in vivo, chitin and chitosan are effective embolic materials.     

Electrical conducting and magnetic properties of (ethylenedithiotetrathiafulvalenothioquinone-1,3-diselenolemethide)2.FeBr4 (GaBr4) crystals with two different interlayer arrangements of donor molecules

Two donor molecules newly synthesized, dimethylthio- and ethylenedithio-tetrathiafulvalenothioquinone-1,3-diselenolemethides (1 and 2), were used to prepare their charge-transfer (CT) salts with a magnetic FeBr(4)(-) counteranion. For 1, a low electrical conducting 1:1 salt (1.FeBr(4)) was obtained, in which molecules of 1 are tightly dimerized in a one-dimensional (1D) stacking column. On the other hand, 2 gave a 2:1 salt (2(2).FeBr(4)) as two different kinds of plate crystals (I and II). Both I and II possess similar stacking structures of molecules of 2 in each 1D column with a half-cut pipelike structure along the c axis. However, for I, the stacking columns are aligned in the same direction along the a and b axes, while for II they are in the same direction along the a axis, but in the reverse direction along the b axis, resulting in the difference in the relative arrangement of molecules of 2 and FeBr(4)(-) ions between the two crystals. The room-temperature electrical conductivities of the single crystals of I and II were 13.6 and 12.7 S cm(-)(1), respectively. The electrical conducting behavior in I was metallic above 170 K but changed to be semiconducting with a very small activation energy of 7.0 meV in the temperature range 4-170 K. In contrast, II showed the semiconducting behavior in the whole temperature range 77-285 K. The corresponding nonmagnetic GaBr(4)(-) salts with almost the same crystal structure as I and II showed definitively different electrical conducting properties in the metal to semiconductor transition temperature in I as well as in the magnitude of activation energy in the semiconducting region of I and II. The interaction between the d spins of FeBr(4)(-) ions was weak and antiferromagnetic in both I and II, but the magnitude of the spin interaction was unexpectedly larger compared with that in the FeBr(4)(-) salt of the corresponding sulfur derivative of 2 with closer contact between the neighboring FeBr(4)(-) ions. These electrical conducting and magnetic results suggest a significant interaction between the conducting pi electrons and the d spins of FeBr(4)(-) ions located near the columns or layers.     

Cisplatin suppository: preparation, release characteristics and clinical evaluation

Cisplatin (CDDP) has attracted attention as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of uterine endometrial carcinoma but causes serious side effects, including renal toxicity. CDDP suppositories containing NaCl at different concentrations were prepared to enhance the efficacy and to reduce the side effects of CDDP. The release characteristics, melting point and viscosity of the suppositories were first studied. The rate of CDDP release increased as the NaCl concentration increased: it was 12% 12 h after administration of suppositories containing no NaCl, but 32% with 0.2% NaCl. The melting point was raised by addition of NaCl: 35.5 degrees C without NaCl and 36.5 degrees C with 0.2% NaCl. Addition of 0.2% NaCl doubled the viscosity. Clinically, the suppository containing 0.06% NaCl was given to 3 patients with endometrial carcinoma twice a week for 3 weeks to examine serum CDDP levels and endometrial absorption. Patients with endometrial carcinoma showed different peak plasma platinum (Pt) levels which were as low as 0.12, 0.06 and 0.22 micrograms Pt/ml with similar patterns of change in the level. Radiographic analysis revealed many Pt particles in sections of necrosed endometria after 21d of the treatment. No side effects of CDDP were found in biochemical testing or subjective symptoms.     

Polycyclic N-hetero compounds. XXXIV. Syntheses and evaluation of antidepressive activity of benzofuro-[2,3-e]imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidines and their precursors

Syntheses of 2,3-dihydrobenzofuro[2,3-e]imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidine and its 5-substituted derivatives, corresponding to B-nor-6-oxa-11,13,15-triazasteroids, are described. These products and their precursors were screened to evaluate the antidepressive activity.     

Synthesis and structure of 16 pi octaalkyltetraphenylporphyrins

The oxidized octaethyltetraphenylporphyrin (1, OETPP) and the corresponding newly prepared octaisobutyltetraphenylporphyrin (3, OisoBuTPP) could be isolated from the reaction of OETPPLi2 (or OisoBuTPPLi2) with SOCl2. The X-ray analysis and the characteristic UV-vis spectra of 1 and 3 revealed that these are the first examples of 16 pi nonaromatic porphyrins.     

Syntheses and structures of hypervalent pentacoordinate carbon and boron compounds bearing an anthracene skeleton--elucidation of hypervalent interaction based on X-ray analysis and DFT calculation

Pentacoordinate and tetracoordinate carbon and boron compounds (27, 38, 50-52, 56-61) bearing an anthracene skeleton with two oxygen or nitrogen atoms at the 1,8-positions were synthesized by the use of four newly synthesized tridentate ligand precursors. Several carbon and boron compounds were characterized by X-ray crystallographic analysis, showing that compounds 27, 56-59 bearing an oxygen-donating anthracene skeleton had a trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) pentacoordinate structure with relatively long apical distances (ca. 2.38-2.46 A). Despite the relatively long apical distances, DFT calculation of carbon species 27 and boron species 56 and experimental accurate X-ray electron density distribution analysis of 56 supported the existence of the apical hypervalent bond even though the nature of the hypervalent interaction between the central carbon (or boron) and the donating oxygen atom was relatively weak and ionic. On the other hand, X-ray analysis of compounds 50-52 bearing a nitrogen-donating anthracene skeleton showed unsymmetrical tetracoordinate carbon or boron atom with coordination by only one of the two nitrogen-donating groups. It is interesting to note that, with an oxygen-donating skeleton, the compound 61 having two chlorine atoms on the central boron atom showed a tetracoordinate structure, although the corresponding compound 60 with two fluorine atoms showed a pentacoordinate structure. The B-O distances (av 2.29 A) in 60 were relatively short in comparison with those (av 2.44 A) in 59 having two methoxy groups on the central boron atom, indicating that the B-O interaction became stronger due to the electron-withdrawing nature of the fluorine atoms.     

Synthesis of a novel potential tridentate anthracene ligand, 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)-9-bromoanthracene,and its application as chelate ligand for synthesis of the corresponding boron and palladium compounds

A novel potential tridentate ligand, 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)-9-bromoanthracene, was synthesized. The key steps are as follows: 1) dimethylamination of 1,8-dibromo-9-methoxyanthracene by a modified Buchwald's method to afford 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)-9-methoxyanthracene, and 2) reduction of the methoxy group by LDBB (lithium di-tert-butylbiphenylide) followed by treatment with BrCF2CF2Br. The corresponding 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)-9-lithioanthracene, which should be a useful versatile tridentate ligand, could be generated by treatment of the bromide with one equivalent of nBuLi. The lithioanthracene reacted with B-chloroborane derivatives to give three 9-boryl derivatives. Although we recently reported that the crystal structure of 1,8-dimethoxy-9-B-catecholateborylanthracene was a symmetrical compound with the almost identical two O-B distances (2.379(2) and 2.441(2) A), the newly prepared 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)-9-borylanthracene derivatives clearly have unsymmetrical structures with coordination of only one NMe2 group toward the central boron atom. However, the energy difference between the unsymmetrical and symmeterical structures was found to be very small based on 1H NMR measurements, in which symmetrical anthracene patterns in the aromatic region (two kinds of doublets and a triplet) and a sharp singlet signal of the two NMe2 groups were observed even at -80 degrees C. 1,8-Bis(dimethylamino)-9-bromoanthracene itself can be a versatile ligand for transition metal compounds. In fact, direct palladation of the bromide took place by the reaction with [Pd2(dba)3].CHCl3 in THF to give the 9-palladated product. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the Pd compound showed that the square planar palladium atom was coordinated in a symmetrical fashion by both NMe2 groups (Pd-N bonds are 2.138(5) and 2.146(5) A).     

An evaluation method for measuring SPL and mode shape of tire cavity resonance by using multi-microphone system

This paper presents an evaluation method for measuring the sound pressure level and mode shapes of tire cavity resonance by using a multi-microphone system. Two commercial tires were evaluated to compare abilities of noise suppression by means of this method in the range of the first resonance from 200 to 260 Hz. One tire was a special tire that suppresses tire cavity resonance with polyurethane foam mounted on the tire’s inner liner. The other tire was a normal tire with no polyurethane foam. The mode shape change from vertical to horizontal direction in both tires. However, the sound pressure level of the special tire was lower than the normal tire at all frequencies.