Self-assembly is an efficient method for generating large numbers of structurally diverse catalysts for screening. In this work, the method of self-assembly was explored in the construction of bifunctional catalysts, from a chiral aminophosphine, 2-formylphenylboronic acid, and a (thio)urea-containing diol. These catalysts were evaluated by their effect on the asymmetric aza-Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction. In the second half of this thesis, the hydrogen bonding abilities of different dithiosquaramides were analyzed. As thioureas have been shown to be stronger hydrogen bond donors than ureas, it was hypothesized that dithiosquaramides may also follow a similar trend. Affinities of corresponding squaramides and dithiosquaramides to chloride, sulfate, and tosylate were compared, as well as their abilities to catalyze the Freidel-Crafts alkylation between indole and trans-β-nitrostyrene.

Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) are an alternative to proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) with potential benefits that include low cost (i.e., platinum-free), facile electro-kinetics, low fuel crossover, and use of CO-resistant metal catalysts. Despite these advantages, AEMFCs have not been widely used because they require more highly conductive anion exchange membranes (AEMs) that do not exhibit impaired physical properties. Therefore, the issues that this research is dealing with are to maximize conductivity and to improve chemical stability. As model materials for these studies, I synthesize a series of multiblock copolymers with which polymer structures and morphologies can be easily controlled. Chapter 2 presents the synthesis and the chemical structure determination of the multiblock copolymers. With the objective of maximizing conductivity, an understanding of the impact of structural features such as organization, size, polarity and connectivity of ionic domains and channels within AEMs on ion/water transporting properties is necessary for the targeted and predictable design of an enhanced material. Chapters 3 to 5 describe three characterization techniques that reveal the role of these structural features in the transport process. Specifically, Chapter 3 demonstrates the possibility that the NMR relaxation times of water could be an indicator of the efficiency of ion channels. Low-temperature DSC measurements differentiate the state of water (i.e., bound water and free water) inside the membranes by measuring freezing temperature drop and enthalpy. Chapter 4 demonstrates that the number of water molecules in each state correlates with conductivity and suggests a major anion-conducting mechanism for the multiblock AEM systems. In Chapter 5, the measurement of the activation energy of diffusion characterizes ion transporting behavior that occurs on the sub-nanometer scale. For the characterization of the chemical stability of the AEMs under high pH conditions, I employ automated 1H NMR measurements as a function of time as well as diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy (DOSY) as shown in Chapter 6. Finally, I demonstrate that new multiblock copolymers are successfully utilized as an ionomer for a hybrid cell in Chapter 7. The properties of the polymer strongly influence overall cell performance. I believe that the combination of the techniques presented in this thesis will provide insight into the ion/water transporting mechanism in a polymer ion conductor and guidance for improving conductivity and the chemical stability of the AEMs.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2001--Duisburg.

Regensburg, Univ., Diss., 2007

Universiẗat, Diss., 2000--Kaiserslautern.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2005--Frankfurt (Main).

Les stéroïdes anabolisants androgènes peu acides ou basiques ne permettent pas d’obtenir des signaux importants lors de leur analyse par spectrométrie de masse électrospray (ESI-MS), rendant ainsi leur détection compliquée par l’utilisation de cette technique. Bien que certains stéroïdes puissent être analysés de manière adéquate avec des méthodes d’analyse antidopage classiques comme la chromatographie en phase gazeuse (GC) couplée à la MS avec une source d’ionisation électronique (EI), il reste un besoin pour le développement d’une méthode qui soit capable de détecter efficacement les composés plus difficiles, c’est-à-dire ceux qui sont moins susceptibles de s’ioniser en ESI. Pour résoudre ce problème l’approche envisagée se base sur l’addition d’anions (sous forme de sel d’ammonium) à des stéroïdes anabolisants comme principe pour le développement d’une méthode analytique de détection de ces composés. Il a été confirmé que les limites de détection instrumentales obtenues avec ces anions sont plus basses qu’en comparaison des mêmes analyses sans additif en ESI positif ou négatif. Les étapes de développement de cette méthode basée sur la chromatographie en phase liquide (LC) couplée à la MS en tandem sont également présentées. Les résultats obtenus sur des échantillons en matrice urinaire démontrent que l’attachement anionique apporte une nouvelle approche prometteuse pour la détection des stéroïdes en contrôle antidopage. De plus, des expériences sur des stéroïdes bifonctionnels comme la 5-α-pregnan-3α,20β-diol ou la d4-17,21,21,21-pregnenolone réduite ont permis de mieux appréhender les facteurs qui permettent que l’attachement préférentiel d’un anion donné puisse se faire sur une région spécifique de la molécule, i.e. que l’attachement anionique soit « régiosélectif ». La fragmentation des adduits anioniques de stéroïdes bifonctionnels en MS en tandem a montré des voies de décomposition produisant des ions produits caractéristiques de chaque anion. La détermination d’acidités en phase gazeuse obtenues par des calculs de chimie théorique a également permis d’apporter une nouvelle lumière sur le comportement des adduits anion-stéroïde. / Androgenic anabolic steroids that are neither acidic or basic do not provide strong signals for their analysis by electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), making their detection difficult with the use of this technique. Although some steroids can be adequately analysed by standard antidoping analytical methods, such as gas-phase chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with an electron ionization source (EI), there is nonetheless a need for the development of the method that could efficiently detect more difficult compounds, i.e. the least likely to ionize by ESI. In order to solve this problem, the chosen approach is based on addition of anions (found as ammonium salts) to anabolic steroids as principle for the development of an analytical method for the detection of those compounds. It was confirmed that the instrumental limits of detection obtained with the anions were lower compared to the same analyses without additive in positive or negative ESI. The steps for this method development based on liquid-phase chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) are also presented. The results obtained on samples in urine matrice have shown that anion attachment brings a new promising approach for steroid detection in antidoping control. Furthermore, experiments on bifonctionnal steroids such as 5-α-pregnan-3α,20β-diol or reducted d4-17,21,21,21-pregnenolone have brought light on the factors that dictate preferential attachment of a given anion.

Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第15039号 / 工博第3188号 / 新制||工||1479(附属図書館) / 27500 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科合成・生物化学専攻 / (主査)教授 濵地 格, 教授 森 泰生, 教授 白川 昌宏 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

Abstract Glycans, as a part of glycoproteins, glycolipids and other glycoconjugates, are involved in many vital intra- and inter-cellular tasks, such as protein folding and sorting, protein quality control, vesicular trafficking, cell signalling, immunological defence, cell motility and adhesion. Therefore, their correct construction is crucial for the normal functioning of eukaryotic cells and organisms they form. Most cellular glycans are constructed in the Golgi, and abnormalities in their structure may derive, for instance, from alkalinization of the Golgi lumen. In this work we show that Golgi pH is generally higher and more variable in abnormally glycosylating, i.e. strongly T-antigen (Gal-β1,3-GalNAc-ser/thr) expressing cancer cells, than in non-T-antigen expressing cells. We also confirmed that the Golgi pH alterations detected in cancer cells have the potential to induce glycosylation changes. A mere 0.2 pH unit increase in Golgi pH is able to induce T-antigen expression and inhibit terminal N-glycosylation in normally glycosylating cells. The mechanism of inhibition involves mislocalization of the corresponding glycosyltransferases. We also studied potential factors that can promote Golgi pH misregulation in health and disease, and found that cultured cancer cells, despite variation and elevation in Golgi pH, are fully capable of acidifying the Golgi lumen under the normal Golgi pH. Moreover, we introduce a Golgi localized Cl-/HCO3- exchanger, AE2a, that participates in Golgi pH regulation by altering luminal bicarbonate concentration and thus also buffering capacity. Participation of AE2a in Golgi pH regulation is especially intriguing, because it also provides a novel mechanism for expelling protons from the Golgi lumen.

Many coatings only need to either be durable or fast drying, usually sacrificing long term stability in favor of quick setting, or vice versa. One coating type that cannot afford to sacrifice either performance feature is traffic paint. These paints are made up of a weak polycation, an anionic latex, and a volatile base which evaporates upon application. The high pH in the initial formulation deprotonates the polycation, rendering it charge neutral. However, upon evaporation, the resulting drop in pH allows for the electrostatic complexation between the polycation and the latex. The electrostatic interactions used in these formulations parallels that of complex coacervation, an associative liquid-liquid phase separation. In this thesis, we will take advantage of model coacervate systems to elucidate the design parameters necessary for the formulations to serve as paints. We used a series of simplified systems, starting with a system consisting of a weakly cationic homopolymer and weakly anionic homopolymer before moving on to anionic copolymers with decreasing charge density, and ultimately an anionic latex. We investigated the effects of pH, charge stoichiometry, and salt concentration for each of these systems, using turbidimetry and optical microscopy as a means of measuring the extent of coacervation. We determined that, the removal of 99.9% of the charge on our polymers was necessary for coacervation to no longer occur. This can be achieved using either salt or pH, however, salt may be preferable, due to the inherent hazardous properties of highly acidic or basic solutions. Very excitingly, we were able to observe coacervation with latex particles. To our knowledge, there are no known observations of polymer-particle coacervation prior to this study. These results suggest that the underlying physics and design principles associated with fast setting paints can be explored using complex coacervation, and that a much broader range of parameters can be used to control the setting of these materials, beyond just pH used in existing technology. Future efforts are still needed to better understand the effect that polymer chemistry has on the complexation of these materials, and how it also affects the mechanical and adhesive properties of coating produced by such formulations.