Pure octa, deca, and dodeca(4-nitrophenyl) cage silsesquioxanes were obtained by regio-selective 4-nitration of octa, deca, and dodeca(4-trimethylsilylphenyl) cage silsesquioxanes via ipso-substitution of trimethylsilyl-phenyl bonds by fuming nitric acid. 3-Nitration of octa(4-methylphenyl)octasilesquioxane was also described. The starting octa(4-methyl-, 4-isopropyl- and 4-trimethylsilylphenyl)octasilsesquioxanes were selectively formed in 9-21% isolated yield in the presence of hydrochloric acid. Mixtures of octa, deca and dodecasilsesquioxanes, with decasilsesquioxane as the main component, were formed in the presence of tetrabutylammmonium fluoride as a catalyst. All the cage compounds could be separated mainly by crystallization.
Direct depolymerization of crystalline cellulose into water-soluble sugars by solvent-free ball milling was examined in the presence of a strongly acidic layered metal oxide, HNbMoO , resulting in full conversion with 72 % yield of water-soluble sugars. Measurements by C cross-polarization magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction revealed that amorphization of cellulose occurred rapidly within 10 min. Scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray indicated that the substrate and the catalyst were well mixed during milling. The time course of the product distribution showed that most of the resultant water-soluble sugars were produced not by successive degradation of oligosaccharides but by direct depolymerization of cellulose chains. The products included glucose, mannose, and cello-oligomers, as well as anhydrosugars. Addition of small amounts of polar solvents increased the sugar yield, whereas further addition of water decreased the selectivity to anhydrosugars. Calculations of the mechanical energy required for the ball-milling process showed that 0.02 % was utilized for the chemical transformation under the conditions examined in this study.
Plant leaves administered with systemic insecticides as agricultural chemicals were analyzed using imaging mass spectrometry (IMS). Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) is inadequate for the detection of insecticides on leaves because of the charge-up effect that occurs on the non-conductive surface of the leaves. In this study, surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization with a sputter-deposited platinum film (Pt-SALDI) was used for direct analysis of chemicals in plant leaves. Sputter-deposited platinum (Pt) films were prepared on leaves administered with the insecticides. A sputter-deposited Pt film with porous structure was used as the matrix for Pt-SALDI. Acephate and acetamiprid contained in the insecticides on the leaves could be detected using Pt-SALDI-MS, but these chemical components could not be adequately detected using MALDI-MS because of the charge-up effect. Enhancement of ion yields for the insecticides was achieved using Pt-SALDI, accompanied by prevention of the charge-up effect by the conductive Pt film. The movement of systemic insecticides in plants could be observed clearly using Pt-SALDI-IMS. The distribution and movement of components of systemic insecticides on leaves could be analyzed directly using Pt-SALDI-IMS. Additionally, changes in the properties of the chemicals with time, as an indicator of the permeability of the insecticides, could be evaluated.
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