A series of 10 didodecanoylamides of alpha,omega-alkylidenediamines bridged by a straight carbon chain varying in length from 0 to 9 carbons was examined as possible gelator molecules of organic liquids to gain information on the relationships between the spacial arrangement of two amide groups in a molecule and their effects on the microscopic structures of the gel. The structural characteristics of these amides are parallel and antiparallel arrangements of two amide carbonyl groups, which depend on the even and odd numbers of a bridging zigzag carbon chain. The linear alkyl chain moieties and a center carbon chain of diamides intermolecularly interact with each other within the van der Waals contact. Two amide moieties of an even number carbon chain diamide intermolecularly interact with each other by using two pairs of hydrogen bonds with two other molecules in a plane, which formed ribbonlike self-complementarily assembled aggregates. On the other hand, a diamide of an odd number carbon chain forms four independent hydrogen bonds with four other molecules not in a plane, which assembled into woven aggregates. Asymmetric introduction of a methyl group at the alpha-position of the amide groups successfully twists the two side chain van der Waals cores of the chiral diamides in the fixed direction, giving helically twisted ribbon and coiled coil aggregates. The helically twisted ribbon and coiled coil aggregates of these chiral diamides were directly observed by CD, SEM, and TEM, providing a basis for the design of a sophisticated small molecular gelator of a tailor-made shape.

The present study has attempted to downscale a mass spectrometer in order to make it portable and enable onsite analysis with it. The development of a small mass spectrometer required the use of a compact pump whose displacement was small, decreasing the sensitivity of that spectrometer. To get high sensitivity with a small mass spectrometer, we have integrated novel techniques: a highly sensitive ionization source and efficient extraction of sample vapor. The low-pressure dielectric barrier discharge ionization (LP-DBDI) source made it possible to increase the conductance between the source and the mass analyzer, compared with ambient ionization sources, enhancing the efficiency of the ion transfer from the ionization source to the mass analyzer. We have also developed a vacuumed headspace method efficiently transporting the sample vapor to the ionization source. The sensitivity was further enhanced by also using a discontinuous sample gas introduction technique. A prototype portable mass spectrometer using those novel techniques was found to be sensitive enough to detect 0.1 ppm methamphetamine, 1 ppm amphetamine, 1 ppm 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and 10 ppm cocaine in liquid.

Total syntheses of (-)-lycorine and (-)-2-epi-lycorine were accomplished using chiral ligand-controlled asymmetric cascade conjugate addition methodology, which enables the formation of two C-C bonds and three stereogenic centers in one pot to give synthetically useful chiral cyclohexane derivatives.

Thiol-catalyzed direct generation of acyl radicals and their intramolecular addition to olefins of alkenals gave 2-substituted five- and six-membered cyclic ketones in reasonably good yields. The combination of odorless tert-dodecanthiol and AIBN or V-40 was the initiator of choice among surveyed radical generators for the cyclization of alkenals. Aldehydes having electron-deficient olefins cyclized more easily than those having unactivated olefins.

Bacillus thuringiensis was recovered at a relatively high frequency from both running and still fresh waters in natural environments of Kyushu, Japan. Of 107 water samples examined, 53 (49.5%) contained this organism. The frequency of B. thuringiensis colonies was 4.4% among 4414 colonies of the Bacillus cereus/B. thuringiensis group. The density of this bacterium in fresh waters averaged 0.45 cfu/ml. Serologically, B. thuringiensis isolates were assigned to 26 H serotypes. Of these, H14/36 (H serovar israelensis/malaysiensis) was the predominant, followed by the serotypes H3abc (kurstaki), H27 (mexicanensis), H3ad (sumiyoshiensis), and H35 (seoulensis). Of 195 isolates, 52 (26.7%) exhibited larvicidal activity against aquatic Diptera; 21 killed Culex pipiens molestus (Culicidae) only, and 31 were active on both the culicine mosquito and the moth-fly, Clogmia albipunctata (Psychodidae). The Diptera-toxic isolates produced spherical or irregularly pointed parasporal inclusions.

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Bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, nelumboferine which was recently isolated from the embryo of Nelumbo nucifera, and stereoisomers of neferine, which is a major alkaloid of the embryo of N. nucifera, were stereo selectively synthesized. Pharmacological activity of nelumboferine, stereoisomers of neferine, liensinine, iso liensinine, and Omethylneferine were evaluated.