A simple and reliable method has been developed to selectively separate and concentrate trace amounts of thallium ion from real samples for the subsequent measurement by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Thallium ions are absorbed quantitatively during passage of aqueous real samples through an octadecyl bonded silica membrane disk modified by 4-(4-Chloro-phenylazo)-2-[(4-hydroxy-phenylamino)-methyl]-phenol. The retained $Tl^+$ ions are then stripped from the disk quantitatively with a minimal amount of thiosulfate solution as eluent. The proposed method permitted large enrichment factors of about 130 and higher. The relative standard deviation for ten replicate extraction of thallium from 1 L samples containing 5 ${\mu}g$ thallium is 1.2%. The break through volume for 5 ${\mu}g$ thallium is 1000 mL. The limit of detection of the proposed method is 11.2 ng of $Tl^+$ per 1000 mL. The effects of various cationic interferences on the recovery of thallium in binary mixtures were studied. The method was applied to the recovery of $Tl^+$ ions from natural water and human hair samples.

The adsorption and configuration of CO molecules adsorbed on W (110) and W (100) surfaces have been calculated by the atomic superposition and electron delocalization molecular orbital (ASED-MO) method. Referred to as the ASED-MO method, it has been used in the present study to calculate the geometries, binding energies, vibrational frequencies, orbital energies, reduced overlap population (ROP), and charges. From these results adsorption properties of ${\alpha}$-state and ${\beta}$-state were deduced. The calculated binding energies are in good agreement with the experimental result. On the W (110), the calculated average binding energies are 2.56 eV for the end-on configuration and 3.20 eV for the lying-down configuration. Calculated vibrational frequency is 1927 $cm^{-1}$ at a 1-fold site and 1161 $cm^{-1}$ at a long-bridge (2) site. These results are in reasonable agreement with experimental values. On the W(100) surface, calculated average binding energies of the end-on and the lying-down are 2.54 eV and 4.02 eV respectively. The differences for binding energy and configuration on the surfaces are explained on the basis of surface-atom coordination and atom-atom spacing. In the favored lyingdown CO configuration on the W(110) and W(100) surfaces, 4 ${\sigma}$ and 1 ${\pi}$ donation interactions, coupled with the familiar 5 ${\sigma}$ donation to the surfaces and back-donations to the CO 2 ${\pi}^{\ast}$ orbital, are responsible for adsorption to the surface.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), an anionic surfactant, can strongly adsorb at the surface of a carbon paste electrode (CPE) via the hydrophobic interaction. In pH 3.0 $Na_2HPO_4$-citric acid buffer (Mcllvaine buffer) and in the presence of SDS, the cationic indole-3-acetic acid (IAA, $pK_a$ = 4.75) was highly accumulated at the CPE surface through the electrostatic interaction between the negative-charged head group of SDS and cationic IAA, compared with that in the absence of SDS. Hence, the oxidation peak current of IAA increases greatly and the oxidation peak potential shifts towards more negative direction. The experimental parameters, such as pH, varieties of surfactants, concentration of SDS, and scan rate were optimized for IAA determination. The oxidation peak current is proportional to the concentration of IAA over the range from $5\;{\times}\;10^{-8}$ mol/L to $2\;{\times}\;10^{-6}$ mol/L. The detection limit is $2\;{\times}\;10^{-8}$ mol/L after 3 min of accumulation. This new voltammetric method was successfully used to detect IAA in some plant leaves.

Several new derivatives of oxazolidinone phosphonate, that are expected to show biological activity, were prepared efficiently by previously published methods. ${\gamma}$-Ketophosphonate 1 was synthesized using pentacovalent oxaphosphorane chemistry followed by reductive amination with aromatic amine of oxazolidinone 4. Biological activity of the synthetic compounds has been studied. One of the synthetic compounds showed promising result for us to pursue further studies.

Angiogenesis is essential for the growth and persistence of solid tumors. Their metastases, anti-angiogenesis could lead to the suppression of tumor growth. One of the main strategies of cancer treatment is developing molecules of anti-angiogenic activity. In this study, two angiogenic inhibitors, Ang3 (KLFDF) and Ang4 (XLFDF) derived from KLYDY, which is the sequence of angiostatin active sites kringle 5, were designed and synthesized. Previously we reported the activities and structures of two inhibitors, Ang1 (KLYDY) and Ang2 (KLWDF). In order to investigate the effect of Phe substitution, Ang3 was designed with a sequence of KLFDF. In order to reduce conformational flexibility of side chain in Lys, Ang4 was designed with a sequence of XLFDF, where X has amino substituted phenyl ring. Solution structures of those inhibitors were investigated using NMR spectroscopy and their activities as angiogenesis inhibitors were studied. Ang1 and Ang2 show angiogenic activities, while Ang3 and Ang4 have no activities and have extended structures compared to Ang1 and Ang2. Therefore, Phe rings do not have effective hydrophobic interactions with other aromatic residues in Ang3 and Ang4. The representative structure of Ang2 has a stable intramolecular hydrogen bond. Therefore, intramolecular hydrogen bonding might be more important in stabilizing the structure than the hydrophobic interactions in these inhibitors. More rigid structure, which can be expected to have higher activities and better match with the receptor bound conformations, can be obtained with a constrained cyclic structure. Further peptidomimetic approaches should be tried to develop angiogenesis inhibitors.

The same kind of chiral stationary phase with a commercialized chiral column was used to make preparative chiral columns and was applied to resolve racemic N-acetyl-1-naphthylethylamide (3) by preparative liquid chromatography. An improved chromatographic condition to resolve racemic 3 on the CSP was examined by changing flow rate and kind of the mobile phase and the sample injection volume. The optimized separation conditions were applied to resolve racemic 1,1'-Binaphthyl-2,2'-diamine(4).

We developed a novel synthesis strategy of titania nanowire arrays by employing simple hydrothermal reaction and ion-exchange reaction techniques. Hydrothermal reactions of metallic titanium powder with $H_2O_2$ in a 10 M NaOH solution produced a new sodium titanate compound, $Na_2Ti_6O_{13}{\cdot}xH_2O$ (x~4.2), as arrays of nanowires of lengths up to 1 mm. Acid-treatment followed by calcination of this material produced arrays of highly crystalline anatase nanowires as evidenced by x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy studies. In both cases of sodium titanate and anatase, the nanowires have exceptionally large aspect ratios of 10,000 or higher, and they form arrays over a large area of $1.5 {\times} 3 cm^2$. Observations on the reaction products with varied conditions indicate that the array formation requires simultaneously controlled formation and crystal growth rates of the $Na_2Ti_6O_{13}{\cdot}xH_2O$ phase.

Pseudo-first order rate constants $(k_{obs})$ are reported for the following solvolyses in approximately isodielectric mixtures: 3- and 4-methoxybenzyl chloride, bromo- and chlorodiphenylmethane, and 4-chloro-, 4,4'-dichloro and 4-methyl-chlorodiphenylmethane in 0-80% v/v nitromethane-methanol mixtures; and bromo- and chlorodiphenylmethane and 4-methyl-chlorodiphenylmethane in various acetonitrile-methanol mixtures (in the range 0-50% v/v) at$25^{\circ}C.$ These data, and literature data for t-butyl halides (Cl, Br, and I), and for p-methoxybenzoyl chloride, show rate maxima in solvent compositions of ca. 30% aprotic cosolvent, explained by a stoichiometric solvent effect on electrophilic solvation. Linear relationships are observed between $(k_{obs})/[MeOH]^2$ and [AP]/[MeOH], where [AP] refers to the molar concentration of aprotic cosolvent. The results are consistent with competing third order contributions to $k_{obs}$, $k_{MM}[MeOH]^2$ with hydrogen-bonded methanol as electrophile, and $k_{MAP}[MeOH][AP]$ with hydrogen-bonding disrupted by the aprotic solvent.

Tetracyclic 5-azaindole analogues were prepared by palladium-catalyzed sequential annulation of benzylidene(3-iodopyridinyl-4-yl)amine and 1-aryl substituted internal alkynes under $Pd(OAc)_2,\;n-Bu_4NCl,\;and Et_3N\;at\;120^{\circ}C.$ The synthetic procedure showed possible diversification of tetracyclic 5-azaindole analogues by varying the 1-aryl substituent in internal alkynes.

The oxidative decomposition of trichloroethylene (TCE) was investigated using palladium catalysts supported on pure and sulfated zirconia. The reactions were performed under dry and wet conditions in the temperature between 200 and $550^{\circ}C$ keeping GHSV of 14,000 $h^{-1}.$ The products such as $C_2Cl_4,\;C_2HCl_5,\;CO\;and\;CO_2$ were observed in the reaction. The addition of water in the feed affected the distribution of reaction product with dramatically improved catalytic activity. The spectroscopic investigations gave an evidence that the strong acid sites play an important role on controlling the catalytic activity. Among the catalysts investigated, the Pd-loaded sulfated zirconia catalyst with 1 wt% Pd was found to exhibit the highest catalytic activity in the presence of water vapor having the stability for 30 h of the reaction at $500^{\circ}C$. The successful performance of the catalyst might be attributed to promotional effect of Pd active sites and strong acid sites induced from surface sulfate species on zirconia.

Solvatokinetic and solvatochromic behavior of bis(indolinobenzospiropyranyl) sulfide derivatives 1a-1c have been studied in various solvents. The marked negative solvatochromism is exhibited for 1a and 1b in the whole region of solvent polarity examined. Whereas, it is found only in the polar solvent region ($E_T$ > 37) for 1c. The sensitivity order to the solvent media (slope values) is 1a > 1b > 1c. The branched linear plot with a zero slope was shown for the most sterically-hindered compound 1c in the less polar-solvent region (($E_T$ < 37). The biphasic plot is indicative of dual mechanistic process, i.e., a transition state with increased zwitter-ionic character in more polar solvents and electrocyclic process with an isopolar transition state in less polar solvents.

Controlled pore glass bead was modified with bovine serum albumin (BSA), and glutathione (GSH) was immobilized through three kinds of linkers on top of BSA. Bis(3-sulfo-N-hydroxysuccinimide suberate) sodium salt $(BS^3)$, N-hydroxysuccinimide 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate (SPDP), or N-hydroxysuccinimide 4-maleimidobutyrate (GMBS) was introduced into the BSA-bound matrix. Subsequently, GSH was immobilized by addition of thiol side chain into the maleimido moiety, replacing a disulfide group, or formation of an amide group upon releasing 3-sulfo-N-hydroxysuccimide group. It was observed that conjugation methodology played a critical role for activity of the immobilized GSH. SDS-PAGE chromatogram showed that the matrix of glutathione immobilized on BSA through GMBS manifested high selectivity towards glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in cell lysate.

A porous stainless steel (SUS) as a substrate of silica composite membranes for hydrogen purification was used to improve mechanical strength of the membranes for industrial application. The SUS support was successfully modified by using submicron Ni powder, $SiO_2$ sols with particle size of 500 nm and 150 nm in turns. Silica top layer was coated on the modified supports under various preparation conditions such as calcination temperature, dipping time and repeating number of dipping-drying process. The calcination temperature for proper sintering was between H ttig temperature and Tamman temperature of the coating materials. Maximum hydrogen selectivity was investigated by changing dipping time. As repeating number of dipping-drying process increased, permeances of nitrogen and hydrogen were decreased and $H_2/N_2$ selectivity was increased due to the reduction of non-selective pinholes and mesopores. For the silica membrane prepared under optimized conditions, permeance of hydrogen was about $3\;{\times}\;10^{-5}\;cm^3{\cdot}cm^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}{\cdot}cmHg^{-1}$ combined with $H_2/N_2$ seletivity of about 20.

Rearrangements of 1,3-oxathiolane sulfoxides 8 and 9 in the presence of base are described from a mechanistic viewpoint of sigmatropic and elimination reactions. In the presence of triethylamine the (Z)-sulfoxide 8 gave the corresponding thiolsulfinate 10 by way of dimerization of the sulfenic acid intermediate 2 at room temperature while the (E)-sulfoxide 9 was recovered even after refluxing in ethyl acetate by the reversal of the [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of the sulfenic acid 4. Triethylamine promoted the developing charge separation in the transition state of the sigmatropic rearrangement of the (Z)-sulfoxide 8 to facilitate the ring opening to the sulfenic acid 2. The reason for more facile ring opening of the (Z)-sulfoxide 8 in comparison with the corresponding (E)-sulfoxide 9 is attributable to the differences in the reactivity of the hydrogen adjacent to the carbonyl group. Triethylamine was not strong base to deprotonate the carbonyl-activated methylene hydrogen of the (E)-sulfoxide 9 but enough to catalyze the sigmatropic process of the sulfoxides. The sulfenic acid 2 dimerized to the thiolsulfinate 10 while the sulfenic acid 4 proceeded the sigmatropic ring closure. In the presence of strong base such as potassium hydroxide, the elimination reaction was predominant over the sigmatropic rearrangement. In this reaction condition, both sulfoxides 8a and 9a gave a mixture of the disulfide 12, the isomeric disulfide 14, and the sulfinic acid 13. Under the strong alkaline condition an elimination of activated hydrogen from the carbon adjacent to the carbonyl group to furnish the sulfenic acid 2a and the isomeric sulfenic acid 18. The formation of the transient intermediate in the reaction was proven by isolation of the isomeric disulfide 14. The reactive entity was regarded as the sulfenic acid rather than sulfenate anion under these reaction conditions.

A general route for the synthesis of optically active unhindered aliphatic alcohols, where the steric demands between two alkyl groups adjacent to the carbinol are similar, with high enantiomeric purity has been developed by sulfoxifation of chiral ${\beta}$-hydroxy sulfides, followed by alkylation and desulfurization.

The micellization of dodecylpyridinum chloride (DPC) assembled on aqueous gold nanoparticles has been studied as a function of concentration using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). At the low concentration, the strong SERS band of the benzene ring moiety was observed at 1025 $cm^{-1}$, and assigned to “trigonal ring breathing”. According to high concentration of DPC, a new strong band was also appeared at 1012 $cm^{-1}$, which was assigned to “totally symmetry ring breathing”. The difference of two spectra seems to ascribe to the geometry of polar head group, i.e., pyridinium cation. These geometry exist flat-down at low concentration, whereas standing-up or tilted geometry at high concentration. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) was first obtained from the ratio of intensities of the two bands related to the benzene ring moiety by vibrational spectroscopy, and was about 28 mM. After the CMC, the benzene ring moiety in the micelle state was more restricted than in monomer state because there is no more change of intensities at 1012 $cm^{-1}$. In addition, the size of gold-assembled micelle was estimated using light scattering and it was about 328.3 nm.

The vibrational predissociation of triatomic, i.e., atom-diatom, van der Waals complexes in transient electronic excited state has been widely investigated. The predissociation rates or lifetimes are major concerns of the previous studies. Experimentally rotational state distributions of diatomic product are hardly investigated and few theoretical stuides on rotational state distributions have appeared in literature. In this work, choosing the frequently studied $I_2(B)-Ne$ complex as an example, we investigate the change of rotational state distributions of $I_2(B)-Ne$ produced from predissociation of the various initial states of $I_2(B)-Ne$. The present study on the rotational distributions indicates that rotational state distributions depend significantly on the predissociation energy and the van der Waals vibrational modes of $I_2(B)-Ne$. That is, the initial state dependency of rotational state distributions is extensively discussed.

Dielectric relaxation measurements on 3-nitrotoluene (3-NT) mixture of dimethylacetamide (DMA), dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethysulphoxide (DMSO) have been carried out across the entire concentration range using Time domain reflectometry technique at 15, 25, 35 and $45^{\circ}C$ over the frequency range from 10 MHz to 20 GHz. For all the mixtures, only one dielectric loss peak was observed in this frequency range and the relaxation in these mixtures can be well described by a single relaxation time using Debye model. Bilinear calibration method is used to obtain complex permittivity ${\varepsilon}^{*}({\omega})$ from complex reflection coefficient ${\rho}^{*}({\omega})$ over frequency range 10 MHz to 20 GHz. The excess permittivity, excess inverse relaxation time, Kirkwood correlation factor, molar energy of activation are also calculated for these mixtures to study the solute-solvent interaction.