Formation of Supramolecular Nanostructures through in Situ Self-Assembly and Post-Assembly Modification of a Biocatalytically Constructed Dipeptide Hydrazide**

Aqueous self-assembly of short peptides has attracted growing attention for the construction of supramolecular materials for various bioapplications. Herein, we describe how the thermolysin-assisted biocatalytic construction of a dipeptide hydrazide from an N-protected amino acid and an amino acid hydrazide leads to the formation of thermally stable supramolecular hydrogels. In addition, we demonstrate the post-assembly modification of the supramolecular architectures constructed in situ tethering hydrazide groups as a chemical handle by means of fluorescence imaging.     

Microstructural stability and age-hardening behavior of Re-added dual two-phase Ni3Al and Ni3V intermetallic alloys

The effect of Re addition on the microstructure and hardening behaviour of the dual two-phase Ni₃Al (L1₂) and Ni₃V (D0₂₂) intermetallic alloy was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Vickers hardness test. The two-phase eutectoid microstructure accompanying the Re-rich precipitates were observed in the channel region of the alloys in which Re substituted for Ni but not in those in which Re substituted for Al and V. The concomitant addition of Nb (or Ta) with Re more stabilized the two-phase eutectoid microstructure and consequently more induced the fine precipitates in the channel region. The annealing at temperatures below the eutectoid temperature was necessary to induce the fine precipitates in the channel region and thereby result in the precipitation hardening. The fine precipitation in the channel region and related hardening was attributed to the alloying feature so that Re is soluble in the A1 (fcc) phase at high temperatures and becomes less soluble in the two intermetallic phases decomposed from the A1 phase at low temperatures.     

Rational Molecular Design towards Vis/NIR Absorption and Fluorescence by using Pyrrolopyrrole aza‐BODIPY and its Highly Conjugated Structures for Organic Photovoltaics

Pyrrolopyrrole aza‐BODIPY (PPAB) developed in our recent study from diketopyrrolopyrrole by titanium tetrachloride‐mediated Schiff‐base formation reaction with heteroaromatic amines is a highly potential chromophore due to its intense absorption and fluorescence in the visible region and high fluorescence quantum yield, which is greater than 0.8. To control the absorption and fluorescence of PPAB, particularly in the near‐infrared (NIR) region, further molecular design was performed using DFT calculations. This results in the postulation that the HOMO–LUMO gap of PPAB is perturbed by the heteroaromatic moieties and the aryl‐substituents. Based on this molecular design, a series of new PPAB molecules was synthesized, in which the largest redshifts of the absorption and fluorescence maxima up to 803 and 850 nm, respectively, were achieved for a PPAB consisting of benzothiazole rings and terthienyl substituents. In contrast to the sharp absorption of PPAB, a PPAB dimer, which was prepared by a cross‐coupling reaction of PPAB monomers, exhibited panchromatic absorption across the UV/Vis/NIR regions. With this series of PPAB chromophores in hand, a potential application of PPAB as an optoelectronic material was investigated. After identifying a suitable PPAB molecule for application in organic photovoltaic cells based on evaluation using time‐resolved microwave conductivity measurements, a maximized power conversion efficiency of 1.27 % was achieved.     

Synthesis of 5-heteroarylazulenes: first selective electrophilic substitution at the 5-position of azulene

1,3-Di-tert-butylazulene reacted with highly electrophilic trifluoromethanesulfonate of N-containing heterocycles to give 5-(dihydroheteroaryl)azulene derivatives in good yield and treatment of the 5-(dihydroheteroaryl)azulene derivatives with KOH afforded 5-(heteroaryl)azulenes in excellent yield.     

The origin of enhanced photocatalytic decomposition of ATP on TiO2 powders as induced by surface modification with lanthanide ions: important roles of ATP adsorption to the modified surface

Surface modification of TiO₂ powders with lanthanide salts (EuCl₃ or YbCl₃) enhanced photocatalytic decomposition of ATP. In comparison with the unmodified catalyst, a 3-fold increase in the ATP decay rate was observed with TiO₂ powders as prepared in 5 mM EuCl₃ (or YbCl₃) solution. The reason was ascribed to enrichment of ATP to TiO₂ powder with the lanthanide ions. Evidence was obtained by adsorption experiments where ATP concentration was monitored after dispersing TiO₂ powders into the solution. The ATP molecules adsorbed faster to TiO₂ powder and strongly stabilized there in the presence of Yb³⁺ than otherwise.     

Pressure response of Raman spectra of water and its implication to the change in hydrogen bond interaction

In situ Raman spectroscopic measurements of water in the region of OH vibration were conducted up to 0.4 GPa at 23 and 52 degrees C. The frequencies of the decomposed OH stretching bands initially decreased with increasing pressure, reached a minimum at 0.15 GPa and increased up to 0.3 GPa and then decreased, which corresponds to the variations of the strength of hydrogen bonding. This variation was observed at 23 degrees C, but not at 52 degrees C, which suggests a change in pressure dependence on the hydrogen bond interaction between these two temperatures. Based on the equilibration model between hydrogen-bonded and nonhydrogen-bonded molecules, the present experimental results indicate that the pressure variation of the viscosity depends on the ratio of hydrogen-bonded molecules, rather than the strength of hydrogen bonding between molecules.     

Antitumor activity of Hypsizigus marmoreus. I. Antitumor activity of extracts and polysaccharides.

Antitumor activity of Hypsizigus marmoreus, one of the most popular Japanese edible mushrooms, was investigated. The aqueous and methanol extracts were tested against allogeneic tumor, solid sarcoma 180 and syngeneic tumor, Meth A fibrosarcoma. The aqueous extract was highly active in inhibiting growth of solid sarcoma 180, but not as much for Meth A fibrosarcoma. Fractionation of antitumor substances of the aqueous extract isolated four polysaccharides. Chemical analysis revealed one of them to be beta-(1-3)-glucan with a remarkable inhibitory effect against tumor-growth of sarcoma 180.     

Optically active 1,2-bis(1-arylhydroxymethyl) ferrocene: a new, efficient chiral ligand for scandium-catalyzed asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction

[reaction: see text] The Sc(OTf)3/FERRODIOL (2) complex was prepared at -78 degrees C in CH2Cl2 in the presence of 2,6-lutidine and MS 4A. The chiral scandium Lewis acid-catalyzed asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene (3) with 3-acyloxazolidin-2-ones (4) effectively produced the adduct (5) in a high yield with good selectivity, i.e., endo/exo = 90:10 up to 91% ee (endo).     

Effect of syndiotacticity on the aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) gel 3. Mechanical property of gel

Summary The mechanical property of aqueous gel was studied using the PVA having the content of syndiotacticity in diad from 58.4 and 66.2%. The elastic modulus of gels was 105–106 dyne/cm2 and the variation of the elastic modulus of gel with the rise of temperature was corresponded with the variation of the concentration of PVA in gel accompanying syneresis. The elastic modulus of gel having the same content of syndiotacticity and concentration of PVA increased in the order as follows, the first is the gel chilled at room temperature, the second is the gel chilled at 60 °C and last is the gel chilled at 0 °C. The variation of the elastic modulus of gel with the rise of temperature became smaller with increasing content of syndiotacticity. The increase of elastic modulus is considered to be attributed to the further growth of stronger junctions through the recrystallization followed by syneresis rather than the entropic effect of polymer networks with the rise of temperature.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurden die mechanischen Eigenschaften wßriger Gele aus Polyvinylalkohol untersucht, mit Gehalten an Syndioaktizität in Diaden zwischen 58,4 und 66,2%. Die elastischen Moduln der Gele lagen bei 105 bis 106 dyn/cm2 und die Variation der elastischen Moduln der Gele mit Steigerung der Temperatur entsprach der Konzentrationsänderung von Polyvinylalkohol im Gele gemäß der stattgefundenen Synärese. Der elastische Modul des Gels mit konstantem Gehalt an Syndiotaktizität und Konzentration des PVA steigen in folgender Weise: Zuerst das Gel abgekühlt bei Raumtemperatur, dann das Gel abgekühlt bei 60 °C und zuletzt das Gel erstarrt bei 0 °C. Die Variation der elastischen Moduln mit steigender Temperatur wird kleiner mit steigendem Gehalt an Syndiotaktizität. Das Anwachsen der Moduln sollte vermutlich dem weiteren Wachstum strengerer Kopp lungen durch Rekristallisation infolge der Synärese zuzuschreiben sein mehr als einem Entropieeffekt der polymeren Netzwerke mit steigender Temperatur.

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With 6 figures and 2 tables

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Part 2. cf. reference 2.