Enzymatic polymerizations using surfactant microstructures and the preparation of polymer-ferrite composites

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Horseradish peroxidase has been used as a biocatalyst to synthesize a polymeric material from alkyl-substituted phenols. The synthesis is carried out in a...     

New Layered Materials in the K–In–Ge–As System: K8In8Ge5As17and K5In5Ge5As14

Exploratory synthesis in the K–In–Ge–As system has yielded the unusual layered compounds K₈In₈Ge₅As₁₇(1) and K₅In₅Ge₅As₁₄(2), both of which contain In–Ge–As layers with interleaved potassium ions, Ge–Ge bonds, InAs₄tetrahedra, As–As bonds, and rows of Ge₂As₆dimers. Compound 1 has As₃groups, while compound 2 has infinite As ribbons on both faces of each layer. Unlike compound 1, compound 2 has substitutional defects where indium partially occupies each of the three independent germanium sites in the ratio of 1:5 for In:Ge. This partial occupancy makes 2 an electron-precise compound. The Ge(In)–Ge(In) bond of 2 is longer than the Ge–Ge bond of 1, and this bond lengthening effect was confirmed by performing DFT-MO calculations on the model compounds H₃Ge–GeH₃and H₃Ge–InH⁻₃. Possible implications of electron imprecise formulas determined by X-ray crystal structure determinations are discussed. Compound 1: space groupP2₁/cwitha=18.394 (8) Å,b=19.087 (7) Å,c=25.360 (3) Å,β=105.71 (2)°,V=8571 (4) ų, andD_calcd=4.45g/cm³forZ=4. Refinement on 4455 reflections yieldedR(R_w)=6.8%(7.8%). Compound 2: space groupC2/mwitha=40.00 (1) Å,b=3.925 (2) Å,c=10.299 (3),β=99.97 (2)°,V=1592 (1) ų, andD_calcd= 4.55g/cm³forZ=8. Refinement on 1206 reflections yieldedR(R_w)=5.6% (5.7%).     

Structure and properties of transition metal complexes of naphthoquinonedithiolate

Naphthoquinonedithiolate (nqdt) is a noninnocent ligand forming dithiolene transition metal complexes. Most [M(nqdt)₂]^–1 and [M(nqdt)₂]^–2 complex ions are planar with each forming an isomorphous series with the (n-butyl)₄N⁺ (tba) counter ion. The cobalt complex is isolated as a step dimer (tba)₂[Co(nqdt)2]₂ where two square-planar monomer units are bonded via Co–S intermolecular interactions.Ab initio andsemi-empirical calculations are used to investigate the complex ions. The complexes form tba single crystals only with difficulty, and an extensive study with ions of various shapes and charges failed to identify a more satisfactory counter ion. The magnetic susceptibilities of four complexes are discussed. The (tba)[Ni(nqdt)₂] complex undergoes a weak ferromagnetic transition at 4.43 K while a mixed oxidation state Mn(II) complex exhibits a weak ferromagnetic transition at 40K. The crystal structures of (tba) [Cu(nqdt)₂], (tba)[Ni(nqdt)₂], (tba)₂[Ni(nqdt)₂], (tba)₂[Pd(nqdt)₂], {(tba)[Co(nqdt)₂]}₂ and four side reaction products 5,7,12,14-tetrahydrodibenzo-[b,i]thianthrene-5,7,12,14-tetraone (2), benzocyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione-1,3-thiole-2-thione (3), a thiomethyl derivative (4), and an unusual oxidatively coupled product (5) are reported.     

Colorimetric determination of amino acids using genipin from Gardenia jasminoides

Genipin, a hydrolysate of geniposide from gardenia fruits, produces blue pigments on reaction with amino acids. The colorimetric detection of amino acids using this genipin reaction was evaluated and compared with the well-known ninhydrin reaction. The molar absorptivities of the blue pigments, the reaction products of genipin with various amino acids, were greater than those of the respective ninhydrin reaction products. When asparagine was reacted with genipin, the molar absorptivity was about 14 times higher than with ninhydrin. The absorbance of the genipin–amino acids increased linearly with increase of amino acid concentration, indicating that genipin could be a useful reagent for quantitation of amino acids. Thin layer chromatographic analysis showed that the genipin reaction produces clear and stable colored spots. The blue ninhydrin reaction spots were usually bleached in 24 h at room temperature, while the genipin reaction spots remained unchanged for several months. The addition of 0.1 mM Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ decreased the absorbance of Gly–ninhydrin pigment by 50% and 98%, respectively, but those metal ions did not affect the absorbance of the Gly–genipin pigment.     

Influence of Heat Treatment on Biological Properties of Chitosan toward Vascular Cells in vitro

The effects of heat treatment of chitosan film on the proliferation of vascular cells were examined in vitro. Chitosan film was heat treated at 110 °C in vacuo for 1∼3 days. Heat treatment slightly improved the hydrophilicity of chitosan, although the cross-linking of chitosan took place after heat treatment. Chitosan films were cytocompatible toward smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) before and after heat treatment of chitosan. In particular, the heat treated chitosan supported the proliferation of both vascular cell types for one day. The growth of HDMECs was greater than that of SMCs on heat treated chitosan film for one day. Heat treated chitosan has intrinsic biological activity which could contribute to a retardation of SMC growth relative to HDMECs.