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The reaction of methyl acridin-9-ylthiosemicarbazide under basic conditions with methyl bromoacetate resulted in a 1,3-thiazolin-4-one structure as provided by X-ray crystallography. The structure forced a re-evaluation of the reactant methyl acridin-9-ylthiosemicarbazide, originally thought to be 2-methyl 4-acridin-9-ylthiosemicarbazide based on synthetic expectations, but which when examined by X-ray crystallography was found to be in fact the isomeric 2- methyl 1-acridin-9-ylthiosemicarbazide resulting from rearrangement via a spiro form which it is in equilibrium with in solution. The product resulting from reaction with methyl iodide was also studied and the previously reported semicarbazide produced by reaction with MNO was re-examined. In both cases, the 1,2 isomer rather than the 2,4 isomer was found to be present based on the sign of the 3JCH3,N11 coupling. Full characterization of the compounds was rendered by 1H, 13C, and 15N solution-state NMR, and in the solid state, by both 13C and 15N NMR.
Push-pull alkenes are substituted alkenes with one or two electron-donating substituents on one end of C=C double bond and with one or two electron-accepting substituents at the other end. Allowance for pi-electron delocalization leads to the central C=C double bond becoming ever more polarized and with rising push-pull character, the pi-bond order of this double bond is reduced and, conversely, the corresponding pi-bond orders of the C-Don and C- Ace bonds are accordingly increased. This push-pull effect is of decisive influence on both the dynamic behavior and the chemical reactivity of this class of compounds and thus it is Of Considerable interest to both determine and to quantify the inherent push-pull effect. previously, the barriers to rotation about the C=C, C-Don and/or C-Acc partial double bonds (Delta G(not equal), as determined by dynamic NMR spectroscopy) or the C-13 chemical shift difference of the polarized C=C partial double bond (Delta delta(C=C)) were employed for this purpose, However, these parameters can have serious limitations, viz. the barriers can be immeasurable on the NMR timescale (either by being too high or too low-, heavily-biased conformers are present, etc.) or Delta delta(C=C) behaves in a non-additive manner with respect to the combination of the four substituents. Hence, a general parameter to quantify the push-pull effect is not yet available. Ab initio MO calculations on a collection of compounds, together with NBO analysis, provided valuable information on the structure, bond energies, electron occupancies and bonding/antibonding interactions. In addition to Delta G(C=C)(not equal) (either experimentally determined or theoretically calculated) and Delta delta(C=C), the bond length of the C=C partial double bond was also examined and it proved to be a reliable parameter to quantify the push-pull effect. Equally so, the quotient of the occupation numbers of the antibonding and bonding pi orbitals of the central C=C partial double bond ( pi*(C=C)/pi(C=C) ) could also be employed for this purpose
For the first time, site-selective distortion has been investigated for two different structural units in the ternary compound alpha-GaPO4 under the influence of a permanent external electric field. Based on 54 measured reflection intensities, the electric-field-induced distortion of PO4 and GaO4 tetrahedra in alpha-GaPO4 crystals is evaluated using a model of pseudoatomic displacements introduced recently [Gorfman, Tsirelson & Pietsch (2005). Acta Cryst. A61, 387- 396]. A stronger variation of the P-O bond lengths in the PO4 tetrahedron was found compared to the bonds in the GaO4 tetrahedron. The different distortions of the tetrahedra owing to the electric field were analysed in terms of the valence charge density of alpha-GaPO4 and its topological characteristics. The larger charge of the P pseudoatom compared to the Ga atom was recognized as the main reason for the higher sensitivity of the PO4 tetrahedron to a permanent external electric field
Propagation and chain-length averaged termination rate coefficients, k(p) and <k(t)>, for radical polymerizations of methacrylates carrying poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) units are reported. kp derived from pulsed laser initiated polymerizations in bulk, in organic solvents, and in ionic liquids follows the methacrylate-type family behavior. Contrary, diffusion controlled k(t) values obtained from chemically initiated polymerizations with in-line FT- NIR monitoring of monomer conversion are strongly affected by the PEG units in the ester group. Compared to alkyl methacrylates <k(t)> is unexpectedly high. Moreover, <k(t)> of poly(ethylene glycol) ethyl ether methacrylate shows a significant reduction in k(t) already at 15% conversion, whereas dodecyl methacrylate <k(t)> is constant up to at least 70% conversion.
The trithiocarbonate 2-(benzylsulfanylthiocarbonylsulfanyl) propanoic acid is formed as minor by-product in the synthesis of the dithioester 2-((2-phenylthioacetyl)sulfanyl) propanoic acid via the Grignard route. The mechanism for this side reaction is not clear. The isolated trithiocarbonate may act as unsymmetrical but bifunctional RAFT agent in the aqueous polymerization of N,N-dimethyl acrylamide. Therefore, it is important to separate it completely from the dithioester before engaging the latter in controlled free radical polymerization to guarantee a maximum control.
Quantification of the (Anti)Aromaticity of Fulvalenes Subjected to -Electron Cross-Delocalization
(2008)
Fulvalenes 3-12 were theoretically studied at the ab initio level of theory. For the global minima structures, the occupation of the bonding (pi)C=C orbital of the interring C=C double bond obtained by NBO analysis quantitatively proves pi-electron cross-delocalization resulting in, at least partially, 2- or 6pi-electron aromaticity and 8pi- electron antiaromaticity for appropriate moieties. The cross-conjugation was quantified by the corresponding occupation numbers and lengths of the interring C=C double bonds, while the aromaticity or antiaromaticity due to cross- delocalization of the pi-electrons was visualized and quantified by through-space NMR shielding surfaces.
The reaction of styrene with trifluoromethanesulfonyl nitrene generated from trifluoromethanesulfonamide in the system (t-BuOCl+NaI) results in the formation of trifluoro-N-[2-phenyl-2-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) aminoethyl]methanesulfonamide, 1-pheny1-2-iodo-ethanol, and 2,5-diphenyl-1,4-bis(trifluoromethyl sulfonyl)piperazine rather than the expected product of aziridination, 2-phenyl-1-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) aziridine. The mechanism of the reaction is discussed.
Multinuclear dynamic NMR spectroscopy of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,3,5-oxadiazinane (3) revealed the existence of two conformers with differently oriented CF3 groups with respect to the ring, and two dynamic processes: ring inversion and restricted rotation about the N-S bond. Two transition states connecting the two conformers and corresponding to clockwise and counterclockwise rotations about the N-S bond were found; the calculated activation barriers of about 12 kcal/mol are in excellent agreement with those measured experimentally for the related molecule 1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,3,5-triazinane (1). X-ray analysis proved the existence of the symmetric isomer of 3, which is the minor isomer in solutions but the only one in the crystal due to packing effects. The normal Perlin effect (JCHax < JCHeq)observed for 2(6)-CH2 in 3, whereas the reversed Perlin effect was found for the 4-CH2 group in 3 as well as for all CH2 groups in 1 both experimentally and theoretically. The latter effect in compounds 1, 3, and 1- (methylsulfonyl)-3,5-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,3,5-triazinane (2) can be considered as a genuine reverse Perlin effect since larger values of 1JCH are observed for longer C-H bonds.
We have recently shown that efficient polymer solar cells can be fabricated by using a weakly soluble derivative of poly-p-vinylene (M3EH-PPV) as the electron donor. Here we present studies on bilayer devices using organic electron acceptors with varying LUMO levels and M3EH-PPV. It is found that the open-circuit voltage scales linearly with the LUMO level of the acceptor, reaching values as high as 1.5 V when cyano-substituted poly(p-phenyleneethynylene)-alt- poly(p-phenylenevinylene) copolymers are used. Further, we discovered that for an increasing number of triple bonds in the repeat unit of the acceptor polymer the device performance decreases with increasing thickness of the acceptor layer. Also, the quantum efficiency was smaller when using polymers with higher LUMO levels. Thus, further effort is needed to design optimum acceptor polymers for devices exhibiting large open-circuit voltage and high quantum efficiency
In most cases where ring closing metathesis is applied to the synthesis of heterocycles, alpha,omega-dienes are used as precursors. If substrates containing more than two double bonds are subjected to a metathesis reaction, carba- or heterocycles bearing additional exocyclic alkene functionality result, or multiple ring closing processes occur. This offers interesting and potentially very useful synthetic perspectives. On the other hand, selectivity problems need to be addressed as the cyclization of substrates with more than two double bonds available for olefin metathesis may result in constitutional isomers or stereoisomers. This review highlights problems and opportunities evolving from ring closing metathesis of tri-, tetra-, and polyenes as a strategy for the selective synthesis of functionalized heterocycles. The chapter on RCM of trienes is subdivided according to the symmetry of the metathesis precursor. The following two chapters deal with the double or multiple RCM of tetra- or polyenes. These processes are further classified according to the preferred cyclization mode. Finally, the application of cascade or domino metathesis reactions to the synthesis of heterocycles will be discussed. These processes can be classified into those where exclusively C-C-double bonds take part in the metathesis reaction, and those where one or more C-C-triple bonds are involved
The push-pull character of a series of para-phenyl substituted isophorone chromophores has been quantified by the 13C chemical shift difference of the three conjugated partial C=C double bonds and the quotient of the occupations of both the bonding and anti-bonding orbitals of these C=C double bonds as well. The correlations of the two push-pull quantifying parameters, and to the corresponding bond lengths, strongly recommend ;*c=c/ ;c=c as the general parameter to estimate charge alternation and as a very useful indication of the molecular hyperpolarizabilities for NLO application of the compounds studied.
pH sensing in living cells represents one of the most prominent topics in biochemistry and physiology. In this study we performed one-photon and two-photon time-domain fluorescence lifetime imaging with a laser-scanning microscope using the time-correlated single-photon counting technique for imaging intracellular pH levels. The suitability of different commercial fluorescence dyes for lifetime-based pH sensing is discussed on the basis of in vitro as well of in situ measurements. Although the tested dyes are suitable for intensity-based ratiometric measurements, for lifetime- based techniques in the time-domain so far only BCECF seems to meet the requirements of reliable intracellular pH recordings in living cells.
Molecule-detective
(2006)
Biosensors are analytical devices incorporating biological material (receptor) intimately associated with or integrated within a physicochernical transducer. Advantages are the high selectivity for analyte detection. Examples given comprise the very successful commercial blood glucose biosensors made for the self-control by the diabetic patients. Other biosensors are part of an analytic system, including the sensor chips Of surface plasmon resonance or interferometry based devices, piezoelectric or reflectometric sensors capable of direct measurement of mass changes, and thermometric and other reagentless sensors. The development of nanotubes-based devices allows for significant enhancment of the signal-to-noise ratio of the biosensors. A milestone on the way towards miniaturization and parallelization of biosensors is the recently developed and prize-winning electronic DNA chip
The crude methanol extract of the seeds of Derris trifoliata showed potent and dose dependent larvicidal activity against the 2nd instar larvae of Aedes aegypti. From this extract two unusual rotenoid derivatives, a rotenoloid (named 7a-O-methyl-12a-hydroxydeguelol) and a spirohomooxarotenoid (named spiro-13-homo-13-oxaelliptone), were isolated and characterised. In addition a rare natural chromanone (6,7-dimethoxy-4-chromanone) and the known rotenoids rotenone, tephrosin and dehydrodeguelin were identified. The structures were assigned on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. The larvicidal activity of the crude extract is mainly due to rotenone. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
The complexes [(HgCl2)(2)((ch)(2)30S(4)O(6))] (1), [HgCl,(mn21S(2)O(5))] (2), [HgCl2(ch18S(2)O(4))] (3) and [HgI(meb12S(2)O(2))](2)[Hg2I6] (4) have been synthesized, characterized and their crystal structures were determined. In [(HgCl2)(2)((ch)(2)3OS(4)O(6))] two HgCl2 units are discretely bonded within the ligand cavity of the 30-membered dichinoxaline-tetrathia-30-crown-10 ((ch)(2)30S(4)O(6)) forming a binuclear complex. HgCl2 forms I : I "in-cavity" complexes with the 21-membered maleonitrile-dithia-21-crown-7(mn21S(2)O(5)) ligand and the 18-membered chinoxaline- dithia-18-crown-6 (ch18S(2)O(4)) ligand, respectively. The 12-membered 4-methyl-benzo-dithia-12-crown-4 (meb12S(2)O(2)) ligand gave with two equivalents HgI2 the compound [HgI(meb12S(2)O(2))](2)[Hg2I6]. In the cation [HgI(meb12S(2)O(2))](+) meb12S(2)O(2) forms with the cation HgI+ a half-sandwich complex
The electronic effects of the 5- and 6-membered heterocyclic rings on the C=N-N unit of five different hydrazone derivatives of pyridine-2-, -3- and -4-carbaldehydes, pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde, furan-2- and -3-carbaldehydes and thiophene-2- and -3-carbaldehydes have been studied with the aid of 13C and 15N NMR measurements together with the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. As model compounds are used the corresponding substituted benzaldehyde derivatives. The polarization of the C=N unit of the hydrazone functionality of the heteroaryl derivatives occurs in an analogous manner with that of phenyl derivatives. The electron-withdrawing heteroaryl groups destabilize and the electron-donating groups stabilize the positive charge development at the CN carbon while the effect on the negative charge development is opposite. The 15N NMR chemical shift of the C=N and C=N-N nitrogens and the NBO charges at C=N-N unit can be correlated with the replacement substituent constants of the heteroaryl groups. 13C NMR shifts of the C=N carbon of N,N- dialkylhydrazones of the heteroarenecarbaldehydes can be correlated with a dual parameter equation possessing the polar substituent constant ;* of the heteroaryl group and the electronegativity of the heteroatom as variables.
The report shows that simple LbL deposition of positively charged chitosan and negatively charged heparin can be used to efficiently modify the native surface of both NiTi and Ti without any previous treatments. Moreover, mineralization of the polymer multilayers with calcium phosphate leads to surfaces with low contact angles around 70 and 20 degrees for NiTi and Ti, respectively. This suggests that a polymer multilayer/calcium phosphate hybrid coating could be useful for making NiTi or Ti implants that are at the same time antibacterial (via the chitosan), suppress blood clot formation (via the heparin), and favor fast endothelialization (via the improved surface hydrophilicity compared to the respective neat material).
Metal ion induced self-assembly of the rigid ligand 1,4-bis(2,2':6',2 ''-terpyridine- 4'-yl) benzene (1) with Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) acetate in aqueous solution results in extended, rigid- rod like metallosupramolecular coordination polyelectrolytes (MEPE-1). Under the current experimental conditions the molar masses range from 1000 g mol(-1) up to 500 000 g mol(-1). The molar mass depends on concentration, stoichiometry, metal-ion and time. In addition, we present viscosity measurements, small angle neutron scattering and AFM data. We introduce a protocol to precisely control the stoichiometry during self-assembly using conductometry. The protocol can be used with different terpyridine ligands and the above-mentioned metal ions and is of paramount importance to obtain meaningful and reproducible results. As a control experiment we studied the mononuclear 4'- (phenyl)2,2':6',2 ''-terpyridine (3) complex with Ni(II) and Zn(II) and the flexible ligand 1,3- bis[4'-oxa(2,2': 6',2 ''-terpyridinyl)] propane (2) with Ni(II) acetate (Ni-MEPE-2). This ligand does not form extended macroassemblies but likely ring-like structures with 3 to 4 repeat units. Through spin- coating of Ni-MEPE-1 on a solid surface we can image the MEPEs in real space by AFM. SANS measurements of Fe-MEPE-1 verify the extended rigid-rod type structure of the MEPEs in aqueous solution.
Homoleptic Ni-II and Fe-II complexes of the "large-surface" phenanthroline-type ligand 1,12-diazaperylene (dap), [Ni(dap)(3)](BF4)(2) (1) and [Fe(dap)(3)](PF6)(2) (2), respectively, were synthesized. In the crystal structure the complex cation [M(dap)(3)](2+) (M = Ni, Fe) exhibits C-3 symmetry and interacts with three other cations by pi-pi stacking. It forms a new metalla-supramolecular assembly with a honeycomb structure containing nanochannels running parallel to the crystallographic c axis. Aggregation by pi-pi stacking between metal complexes of "large-surface" ligands should give new perspectives for inorganic supramolecular chemistry.
A short and convenient synthesis of metallochlorin-C-60 dyads based on a Heck-type hetero coupling at the 3(2) position of a chlorin is described. p-Bromobenzaldehyde was treated with Zn-metalated 13(2)- demethoxycarbonylmethylpheophorbide a, using a palladium acetate/LiCl catalyst mixture under phase-transfer conditions in DMF at 70 degrees C. The resulting asymmetric olefin was obtained in a high trans/cis ratio. The desired trans isomer was separated and subsequently transformed into a donor-acceptor dyad by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to C-60 in the presence of sarcosine in refluxing toluene. The resulting dyads are expected to undergo efficient photoinduced electron transfer and can potentially be utilized in solar energy conversion devices.
The new tetrathiacrown ethers maleonitrile-tetrathia-12-crown-4 (mn12S(4)) and maleonitrile-tetrathia-13-crown- 4 (mn13S(4)) have been prepared and characterised by X-ray crystallographic analysis. These crown ethers form 2:1, 3:2 and 1: 1 complexes with AgY (Y = BF4, PF6). The crystal structures of [Ag(mn12S(4))(2)]BF4 (3a), [Ag(mn13S(4))(2)]BF4 (4a) and [Ag-2(mn13S(4))(3)](PF6)(2) (6b) have been determined. Compound 3a contains the centrosymmetric sandwich complex cation [Ag(mn12S(4))(2)](+) where each mn12S(4) ligand is coordinated to the Ag centre in an endo manner through all four S atoms. The 2:1 complex [Ag(mn12S(4))(2)](+) is the first sandwich complex with a tetrathiacrown ether and the first complex with an octa(thioether) coordination sphere. The crystal structure of compound 4a also reveals a 2:1 complex. This complex, [Ag(mnl3S(4))(2)](+), exhibits a half-sandwich structure. One mn13S(4) ligand coordinates to Ag+ by all four S donor atoms and the other 13S(4) crown by only one S atom. Compound 6b contains a dinuclear Ag complex. The Ag complexes 3a,b-8a,b were also studied by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) was used to compare the relative stability of 2:1 complexes [AgL2]+ and 1:1 complexes [AgL](+) (L = mn12S(4), mn13S(4)). The C-13 NMR chemical shifts of 2:1 and 1:1 Ag complexes and their corresponding free ligands were also estimated and compared. The free energy of the barrier of ring inversion (Delta G(double dagger)) for [Ag(mn12S(4))(2)](+) was determined to be 64 kJmol(-1).
Metal-ion-induced self-assembly in aqueous solution of the rigid ligand 1,4-bis(2,2':6',2 ''-terpyridine-4'-yl)benzene (1) with Fe(OAc)(2) and Ni(OAc)(2) is investigated with viscosimetry, SANS, and AFM. Ligand 1 forms extended, rigid-rod like metallo-supramolecular coordination polyeectrolytes (MEPEs) with a molar mass of up to 200 000 g mol(-1) under the Current experimental conditions. The molar mass depends oil concentration, stoichiometry, and time. By spin-coating MEPEs oil a solid surface, we call image the MEPEs in real space by AFM. Both AFM and SANS confirm the extended rigid-rod-type structure of the MEPEs. As a control experiment, we also studied the flexible ligand 1,3-bis[4'-oxa(2,2':6',2 ''-terpyridinyl)]propane (2). Ligand 2 does not form extended macro-assemblies but likely ringlike structures with three 10 four repeat units. Finally, we present it protocol to control the stoichiometry during self-assembly using conductometry, which is of paramount importance to obtain meaningful and reproducible results.
The conformations of N-benzylideneani lines p-X-C6H4-CH=N-C6H4 p-Y (X, Y = NO2, CN, CF3, F, Cl, Br, H, Me, OMe, NMe2) have been studied by B3LYP density functional (DFT) hybrid method in combination with the 6-31G* or 6-311G* split valence basis set. The twist of the plane of the aniline ring with respect to the other part of the molecule (tau(2)) is systematically controlled by substituents X and Y, the effect of Y being larger. The value of the dihedral angle tau(2), correlates nicely with equation tau(2) = rho(F)(Y)(x)sigma(F)(Y)+rho(+R)(Y)(x)sigma(+)(R)(Y) + k(x) or tau(2) = rho(F)(X)(y)sigma(F)(X)+rho(-)(R)(X)(y)sigma(+)(R)(X) + k(y), respectively, when aniline or benzylidene substituent is varied. ED substituents X diminish the sensitivity of tau(2) to the aniline substituent Y[rho(F)(Y)(x) and rho(+)(R)(Y)(x)] while ED substituents Y increase the sensitivity Of T2 to the benzylidene substituent X[rho(F)(X)(y) and rho(+)(R)(X)(y)]. There seems to be two competitive conjugative interactions for the aniline ring n electrons: one with the nitrogen lone pair and one with the C=N unit. Substituents X and Y adjust the extent of these interactions and therefore the conformation of the molecule. A good correlation is observed between the dihedral angle tau(2) and the experimental C-13 NMR chemical shift of the C=N carbon of N-benzylideneanilines in CDCl3 (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A new functional group, the hydroxy group, was inserted into a Betti base by reaction with salicylaldehyde, and the naphthoxazine derivatives thus obtained were converted by ring-closure reactions with formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde or phosgene to the corresponding naphth[1',2':5,6][1,3]oxazino[3,2-c][1,3]benzoxazine derivatives. Further, the conformational analysis of these polycyclic compounds by NMR spectroscopy and an accompanying molecular modelling are reported; especially, both quantitative anisotropic ring current effects of the aromatic moieties in these compounds and steric substituent effects were employed to determine the stereochemistry of the naphthoxazinobenzoxazine derivatives.
Free radical homo- and copolymerization of the highly polar 3-(N-[2-methacryloyloxyethyl]-N,N-dimethylammonio) propane sulfonate with the nonpolar n-butylmethacrylate was investigated in the ionic liquids 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluoro phosphate, and compared to analogous polymerizations in standard solvents. Higher molar masses are obtained for the zwitterionic homopolymer when the polymerization is carried out in an ionic liquid compared to the classical reaction in water. Although homopolymerization of the sulfobetain monomer as well as of n-butylmethacrylate results in phase separation during the polymerization process, copolymerization of a stoichiometric ratio of the two monomers in the ionic liquids produced transparent gels indicating that no macrophase separation occurs. The use of ionic liquids as reaction medium improved the copolymerization behavior of the two methacrylates significantly. Whereas only minor amounts of n-butyl methacrylate were incorporated in the copolymer when synthesized in acetonitrile, the content of the non-polar monomer units in the zwitterionic copolymer approached increasingly its content in the polymerization mixture when ionic liquids were employed as solvents
Tria-, penta-, hepta- and nonafulvenes (1-4) have been studied theoretically at the MP2 ab initio level of theory. For the global minimum structures, the occupation of the bonding ;C=C orbital of the exocyclic C=C double bond, obtained by NBO analysis, quantitatively proves ;-electron delocalization which can reveal partial 2-, 6- and 10-;-electron aromaticity, and 4-, 8- and 12-;-electron antiaromaticity of the ring moieties. Beside the corresponding occupation number, this conjugation was quantified by the length of the exocyclic C=C double bond whilst the (anti)aromaticity of the ring moieties of 1-4 was visualized and quantified by through space NMR shielding surfaces (TSNMRS).
Highly fluorescent crystalline and liquid crystalline columnar phases of pyrene-based structures
(2006)
A concept for highly ordered solid-state structures with bright fluorescence is proposed: liquid crystals based on tetraethynylpyrene chromophores, where the rigid core is functionalized with flexible, promesogenic alkoxy chains. The synthesis of this novel material is presented. The therniotropic properties are studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), cross-polarized optical microscopy (POM), and X-ray diffraction. The mesogen possesses an enantiotropic Col(h) phase over a large temperature range before clearing. The material is highly fluorescent in solution and, most remarkably, in the condensed state, with a broad, strongly red shifted emission. Fluorescence quantum yields (Phi(F)) have been determined to be 70% in dichloromethane solution and 62% in the solid state. Concentration- and temperature-dependent absorption and emission studies as well as quantum-chemical calculations on isolated molecules and dimers are used to clarify the type of intermolecular interactions present as well as their influence on the fluorescence quantum yield and spectral properties of the material. The high luminescence efficiency in the solid state is ascribed to rotated chromophores, leading to an optically allowed lowest optical transition
The influence of the water soluble polymer poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) on structure formation in the quasiternary system sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS)/pentanol-xylene/water was checked by means of conductometry, rheology, and micro differential calorimetry. The polymer induces the formation of an isotropic phase channel between the o/w and w/o microemulsion. The transition from the normal as well as from the inverse micellar to the bicontinuous phase range can be detected by conductometry, rheology as well as micro-DSC. As a result of polymer-surfactant interactions, the spontaneous curvature of the surfactant film is changed and a sponge phase is formed. The bicontinuous phase is characterized by a moderate shear viscosity, a Newtonian flow behaviour, and the disappearence of interphasal water in the heating curve of the micro-DSC. When the polymer-modified bicontinuous phase is used as a template phase for the nanoparticle formation, spherical BaSO4 nanoparticles were formed. During the following solvent evaporation process the primarily formed spherical nanoparticles aggregate to nanorods and triangular structures due to the non-restriction of the bicontinuous template phase in longitudinal direction
The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of decreased cytosolic pyruvate kinase (PKc) on potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber metabolism. Transgenic potato plants with strongly reduced levels of PKc were generated by RNA interference gene silencing under the control of a tuber-specific promoter. Metabolite profiling showed that decreased PKc activity led to a decrease in the levels of pyruvate and some other organic acids involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Flux analysis showed that this was accompanied by changes in carbon partitioning, with carbon flux being diverted from glycolysis toward starch synthesis. However, this metabolic shift was relatively small and hence did not result in enhanced starch levels in the tubers. Although total respiration rates and the ATP to ADP ratio were largely unchanged, transgenic tubers showed a strong decrease in the levels of alternative oxidase (AOX) protein and a corresponding decrease in the capacity of the alternative pathway of respiration. External feeding of pyruvate to tuber tissue or isolated mitochondria resulted in activation of the AOX pathway, both in the wild type and the PKc transgenic lines, providing direct evidence for the regulation of AOX by changes in pyruvate levels. Overall, these results provide evidence for a crucial role of PKc in the regulation of pyruvate levels as well as the level of the AOX in heterotrophic plant tissue, and furthermore reveal that these parameters are interlinked in vivo.
Tuning of the excited-state properties and photovoltaic performance in PPV-based polymer blends
(2008)
The nonadiabatic coupling of an adsorbate close to a metallic surface leads to electronic damping of adsorbate vibrations and line broadening in vibrational spectroscopy. Here, a perturbative treatment of the electronic contribution to the lifetime broadening serves as a building block for a new approach, in which anharmonic vibrational transition rates are calculated from a position-dependent coupling function. Different models for the coupling function will be tested, all related to embedding theory. The first two are models based on a scattering approach with (i) a jellium-type and (ii) a density functional theory based embedding density, respectively. In a third variant a further refined model is used for the embedding density, and a semiempirical approach is taken in which a scaling factor is chosen to match harmonic, single-site, first-principles transition rates, obtained from periodic density functional theory. For the example of hydrogen atoms on (adsorption) and below (subsurface absorption) a Pd(111) surface, lifetimes of and transition rates between vibrational levels are computed. The transition rates emerging from different models serve as input for the selective subsurface adsorption of hydrogen in palladium starting from an adsorption site, by using sequences of infrared laser pulses in a laser distillation scheme.
Together with the nonsubstituted reference compound, para-methoxy- and para-nitro cyclohexyl benzoates have been synthesized and their conformational equilibria studied by low temperature NMR spectroscopy and theoretical DFT calculations. The free energy differences ;G° between axial and equatorial conformers were examined with respect to polar substituent influences on the conformational equilibrium of O-mono-substituted cyclohexane.
Through the cyclization of 1-(;-hydroxynaphthyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline and 1-(;- hydroxynaphthyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline with formaldehyde, phosgene, p-nitrobenzaldehyde or p-chlorophenyl isothiocyanate, 8-substituted 10,11-dihydro-8H,15bH-naphth[1,2-e][1,3]oxazino[4,3-a]isoquinolines (3 and 4) and 10,11- dihydro-8H,15bH-naphth[2,1-e][1,3]oxazino[4,3-a]isoquinolines (15 and 16) were prepared. Conformational analysis of both the piperidine and the 1,3-oxazine moieties of these heterocycles by NMR spectroscopy and an accompanying theoretical study revealed that these two conformationally flexible six-membered ring moieties prefer twisted chair conformers.
Electrospray ionization was employed to study the mass spectrometric behavior of the maleonitrile tetrathiacrown ethers mn12S(4) (1) and mn13S(4) (2) and maleonitrile pentathiacrown ether mn15S(5) (3) and of their complexes with various metal salts (MX2, M=Pd, Pt, Ni, Co, Fe; X=Cl, CrCl3, Ni(BF4)(2), TIPF6 or Cd(NO3)(2)) and Cu(SO3CF3)(2). Both singly charged, [MXL](+) and [MXL2]+, and doubly charged complexes, [MLn](2+) (n = 2-5), were observed. The formation of the different complexes consisting of the transition metal ion, the counterion and the various crown ethers and their subsequent dissociation was also studied by collision-induced dissociation measurements which were also used to evaluate the relative stabilities of the complexes. It was found that the collisional voltages for the dissociation of the complexes were generally greater in the [MXL](+) complexes than in the corresponding [MXL2]+ complexes. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Variously substituted tolanes were employed to show that the push-pull effect is also active in C equivalent to C triple bonds by the successful correlation of the occupation quotient pi*/pi of the pi orbital in resonance with the substituted phenyl moieties of tolanes versus the bond length of the C equivalent to C triple bond. In addition, the influences of the ortho phenyl ring substituents on the C-13 chemical shifts of the triple bond carbon atoms, which were estimated by Rubin et al.(4) to be "inapplicable for describing triple bond polarization", were re-evaluated, leading to the conclusion that, while anisotropic effects of ortho substituents are negligible, the steric ortho-substituent effects do in fact dominate the deviations obtained. A detailed theoretical NBO/NCS study has been employed to illuminate the facts of this case
New amphiphilic diblock copolymers : surfactant properties and solubilization in their micelles
(2006)
Several series of amphiphilic diblock copolymers are investigated as macrosurfactants in comparison to reference low-molar-mass and polymeric surfactants. The various copolymers share poly(butyl acrylate) as a common hydrophobic block but are distinguished by six different hydrophilic blocks (one anionic, one cationic, and four nonionic hydrophilic blocks) with various compositions. Dynamic light scattering experiments indicate the presence of micelles over the whole concentration range from 10(-4) to 10 g(.)L(-1). Accordingly, the critical micellization concentrations are very low. Still, the surface tension of aqueous solutions of block copolymers decreases slowly but continuously with increasing concentration, without exhibiting a plateau. The longer the hydrophobic block, the shorter the hydrophilic block, and the less hydrophilic the monomer of the hydrophilic block is, the lower the surface tension is. However, the effects are small, and the copolymers reduce the surface tension much less than standard low-molar-mass surfactants. Also, the copolymers foam much less and even act as anti-foaming agents in classical foaming systems composed of standard surfactants. The copolymers stabilize O/W emulsions made of methyl palmitate as equally well as standard surfactants but are less efficient for O/W emulsions made of tributyrine. However, the copolymer micelles exhibit a high solubilization power for hydrophobic dyes, probably at their core-corona interface, in dependence on the initial geometry of the micelles and the composition of the block copolymers. Whereas micelles of copolymers with strongly hydrophilic blocks are stable upon solubilization, solubilization-induced micellar growth is observed for copolymers with moderately hydrophilic blocks
The regioselectivities of methyl- and phenylhydrazine with acridin-9-yl isothiocyanate (thus yielding thiosemicarbazides with acridine substituted on the urea-type side) were examined. Methythydrazine regioselectivity was high with the alpha-nitrogen atom overwhelmingly more nucleophilic than the beta-nitrogen atom; phenylhydrazine regioselectivity was poor but varied with the solvent and only in the case of ethanol was nucleophilic predominance of the alpha-nitrogen atom pronounced. Of note, whilst both phenyl thiosemicarbazides were present in solution only as spiro forms, the methyl product was present as an equilibrium mixture of open-chain and spiro thiosemicarbazides. Reactions on the NH2 blocked analogue of methyl acridin-9-ylthiosemicarbazide (1-isopropylidene-2- methylthiosemicarbazide) were also examined. Interestingly, present in the starting material itself was a structural motif of novelty wherein a triazolethione represented the major species of an equilibrium between cyclic and open-chain forms
The crystal and molecular structures of sodium and barium complexes of dibenzo-24-crown-8 ether
(2006)
The sodium and barium isothiocyanate complexes of 6,7,9,10,12,13,20,21,23,24,26,27-dodecahydrodibenzo[b,n]- 1,4,7,10,13,16,19,22-octaoxacyclotetracosin (dibenzo-24-crown-8 ether = DB24C8) were synthesized and analyzed by X-ray diffraction. The sodium complex, [Na(DB24C8)(NCS)(H2O)] 1, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Fdd2 with 16 molecules in the unit cell. The coordination number of Na is 6 and the central ion is located in a distorted octahedric environment. Only four of the crown ether oxygen atoms are involved. The coordination polyhedron is completed by the isothiocanate anion and by a water molecule, which is stabilized by hydrogen bonds. The barium complex, [Ba(DB24C8)(NCS)(2)] 2, crystallizes in the trigonale space group P3(1)21 with 3 molecules in the unit cell. Crystallographic C-2 symmetry is observed for the complex. The coordination number of Ba is 10. Barium is coordinated with the eight oxygen atoms of the macrocyclic ligand and with two isothiocyanate anions. The absolute structure was estimated using the FLACK parameter
The acinar salivary glands of cockroaches receive a dual innervation from the subesophageal ganglion and the stomatogastric nervous system. Acinar cells are surrounded by a plexus of dopaminergic and serotonergic varicose fibers. In addition, seroton-ergic terminals lie deep in the extracellulor spaces between acinar cells. Excitation-secretion coupling in cockroach salivary glands is stimulated by both dopamine and serotonin. These monoamines cause increases in the intracellular concentrations of cAMP and Ca2+. Stimulation of the glands by serotonin results in the production of a protein-rich saliva, whereas stimulation by dopamine results in saliva that is protein-free. Thus, two elementary secretary processes, namely electrolyte/water secretion and protein secretion, are triggered by different aminergic transmitters. Because of its simplicity and experimental accessibility, cockroach salivary glands have been used extensively as a model system to study the cellular actions of biogenic amines and to examine the pharmacological properties of biogenic amine receptors. In this review, we summarize current knowledge concerning the aminergic control of cockroach salivary glands and discuss our efforts to characterize Periplaneta biogenic amine receptors molecularly
Different chemical and enzymatic methods were applied for the hydrolysis of main stems from Lupinus nootkatensis (harvest November 2002). The whole process (all steps) is based on the lignocellulose-feedstock biorefinery regime. The acid hydrolysis of L. was performed with concentrated hydrochloric acid; advantages in this process are exothermic hydrolysis and the possibility of acid recovery. Enzymatic hydrolysis achieved high yields of fermentable carbohydrates (regarding to input cellulose) with high selectivity. However, this way requires the generation of cellulose from L. by chemical pulping. Monosaccharide derivatives thus obtained were identified by their GC retention times and the corresponding MS fragmentation. Hexamethyldisilazane was used as derivatization reagent to prepare the trimethylsilyl derivatives of the carbohydrates and of the degradations products of cellulose from the different fractions. The glucose content was quantified by GC peak integration with respect to an internal standard.
A new synthetic approach to 2,3-dihydro-4H-1,3-thiazine derivatives based upon reductive rearrangement of 1,2- dithiole-3-ylidene thiones has been developed. In turn, the 1,2-dithiole derivatives were prepared by an efficient ring- opening-closing process of 2-alkylidene-4-oxothiazolidines, induced in the presence of Lawesson's reagent by intramolecular non-bonded 1,5-type S...O interactions in the 4-oxothiazolidine precursors.
We report here for the first time on surface immobilization of hollow faceted polyhedrons formed from catanionic surfactant mixtures. We find that electrostatic interaction with the substrate dominates their adhesion behavior. Using polyelectrolyte coated surfaces with tailored charge densities, polyhedrons can thus be immobilized without complete spreading, which allows for further study of their mechanical properties using AFM force measurements. The elastic response of individual polyhedrons can be locally resolved, showing pronounced differences in stiffness between faces and vertexes of the structure, which makes these systems interesting as models for structurally similar colloidal scale objects such as viruses, where such effects are predicted but cannot be directly observed due to the smaller dimensions. Elastic constants of the wall material are estimated using shell and plate deformation models and are found to be a factor of 5 larger than those for neutral lipidic bilayers in the gel state. We discuss the molecular origins of this high stiffness
The iron-containing ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroferrate(III) [Bmim][FeCl4] has been used as a building block in the synthesis of transparent, ion-conducting, and paramagnetic ionogels. UV/Vis spectroscopy shows that the coordination around the Fe(III) ion does slightly change upon incorporation of the IL into PMMA. The thermal stability of the PMMA increases significantly with IL incorporation. In particular, the onset weight loss observed at ca. 265 degrees C for pure PMMA is completely suppressed. The ionic conductivity shows a strong temperature dependence and increases with increasing IL weight fractions. The magnetic properties are similar to those reported for the pure IL and are not affected by the incorporation into the PMMA matrix. The resulting ionogel is thus an interesting prototype for soft, flexible, and transparent materials combining the mechanical properties of the matrix with the functionality of the metal-containing IL, such as magnetism.
In this work, ion mobility (IM) spectra of more than 50 aromatic compounds were recorded with a laser-based IM spectrometer at atmospheric pressure. IM spectra of PAH in the laser desorption experiment show a high complexity resulting from the occurrence of monomeric, dimeric, and oligomeric cluster ions. The mobilities of all compounds were determined in helium as drift gas. This allows the calculation of the diffusion cross sections (Omega(calc)) on the basis of the exact hard sphere scattering model and their comparison with the experimentally determined diffusion cross sections (Omega(exp)). Extended Omega(exp)/Omega(calc) and Omega(exp/)mass correlations were performed in order to gain insight into conformational properties of cationic alkyl benzenes and internal rotation of phenyl rings in aromatic ions. This is demonstrated with some examples, such as the evaluation of the dihedral angle of the ions of 9,10- diphenylanthracene, o- and m-terphenyl, and 1,2,3- and 1,3,5-triphenylbenzene. Furthermore, sandwich and T-structures of dimeric PAH cations are discussed. The analysis was extended to oligomeric ions with up to nine monomer units. Experimental evidence is presented suggesting the formation of pi-stacks with a transition toward modified pi-stacks with increasing cluster size. The distance between monomeric units in dimeric and oligomeric ions was obtained
The trans diesters of 1,4-cyclohexanediol with a number of acetic acid analogues, CX3COOH, of varying steric hindrance and polarity (CX3 = Me, Et, iso-Pr, tert-Bu, CF3, CH2Cl, CHCl2, CCl3, CH2Br, CHBr2, CBr3) were synthesized, and the axial, axial/equatorial, equatorial conformational equilibria were studied by low-temperature H-1 NMR spectroscopy in CD2Cl2. The structures and relative energies of the axial, axial and equatorial, equatorial conformers were calculated at both the MP2/6-311G* and the MP2/6-311+G* levels of theory, and it was only by including diffuse functions that a good correlation of Delta G degrees(calcd) vs Delta G(exptl) could be obtained. Both the structures and the energy differences of the axial, axial and equatorial, equatorial conformers are discussed with respect to the established models of conformational analysis, viz., steric 1,3-diaxial and hyperconjugative interactions. Interestingly, the hyperconjugative interactions sigma(C-C)/sigma(C-H)->sigma*(C-O), together with a steric effect which also destabilizes the equatorial, equatorial conformers on increasing bulk of the substituents, proved to dominate the position of the conformational equilibria. In addition, the preference of the axial, axial conformers with respect to their equatorial, equatorial analogues was greater than expected from the conformational energies of the corresponding substituents in the monosubstituted cyclohexyl esters. The reason for this very interesting and unexpected result is also discussed
CAMPHOR: A GOOD MODEL FOR ILLUSTRATING NMR TECHNIQUES. The use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy to establish the three-dimensional structures of molecules is an important component of modern Chemistry courses. The combination of techniques that can be used for this purpose is conveniently illustrated by their application to the camphor molecule. This paper presents applications of several techniques used in NMR spectral interpretation in an increasing order of complexity. The result of individual experiments is illustrated in order to familiarize the user with the way connectivity through bonds and through space is established from 1D/2D-NMR spectra and molecular stereochemistry is determined from different NMR experiments
Dynamic 1H NMR (500 MHz) investigation of aryl-N-(arylsulfonyl)-N-(triphenylphosphoranylidene)imidocarbamates in CDCl3, CD3COCD3, and CD3OD at the temperature range of 183-298 K is reported. The observed free energy barriers (almost 12 kcal mol;1) are attributed to conformational isomerization about the NùS bond and these barriers show very little solvent dependence.
The dynamic 1H NMR study of some primary carbamates in the solvents CDCl3 and CD3COCD3 between 183 and 298 K is reported. The free energies of activation, thus obtained (12.4 to 14.3 kcal mol-1), were attributed to the conformational isomerization about the N-C bond. These barriers to rotation show solvent dependence in contrast to the tertiary analogues and are lower in free energy by ca. 2-3 kcal mol-1.
The Push-pull character of two series of donor-acceptor triazenes has been quantified by C-13 and N-15 chemical shift differences of the partial N(1)=N(2) and N(3)=C(4) double bonds in the central linking C=N-N=N-C unit and by the quotient of the occupations of both the bonding pi and antibonding orbitals pi* of these partial double bonds. Excellent correlations of the two estimates, to quantify the push-pull effect, with the bond lengths strongly recommend the occupation quotients pi*/pi, the N-15 chemical shift differences Delta delta[N(l),N(2)], and the corresponding bond lengths as reasonable sensors for quantifying charge alternation along the C=N-N=N-C linking unit, for the donor- acceptor quality of the triazenes 1 and 2 and for the molecular hyperpolarizability beta(0) of these compounds. Within this context, certain Substances can be strongly recommended for NLO application.
Molecular modeling calculations using DFT at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory have been performed on diastereomeric complexes formed between chiral carboxylate anions and chiral urea receptors, a combination previously demonstrated to enable enantiodifferentiation by electrochemical sensing. The calculations correctly predicted the stability order of the enantiomers in acetonitrile solution when the distinction between the enantiomers was above the declared threshold reliability value of 1 kcal mol;1 for computations at this level of theory. Thus, the calculations can not only be applied to predict the likely success of undertakings using the analytical method, it can also, provided ;E is sufficient, potentially be used to determine the absolute configuration of chiral analytes with at least the racemate in hand. The previously successful enantiodifferentiations of various amino acids and alcohols using chiral ion mobility spectroscopy (CIMS) with (S)-2-butanol as the chiral selector were also evaluated by DFT calculations. The calculations again correctly predicted the stability order of the enantiomers when the calculated ;E was above the threshold value though cases not providing a value for ;E above the threshold value was problematic for this system. Attempts to address this shortcoming included an expanded conformational evaluation, a broader analytical approach, and an extended basis set.
Multinuclear dynamic NMR spectroscopy of 5-trifluoromethylsulfonyl-1,3,5-dioxaazinane (4) revealed the existence of two close in energy chair conformers with differently oriented CF3 groups with respect to the ring. Of the two alternative routes for their interconversion, the ring inversion path with intermediate formation of the corresponding 2,5-twist-conformer is preferred, with the energy barrier of 11.2 kcal/mol in excellent agreement with the experimental value (11.7 kcal/mol). The Perlin effect is studied experimentally and calculated theoretically for all CH2 groups and found to be subject to the nature of the adjacent heteroatoms O and N, respectively.
Through the ring closures of tetrahydroisoquinoline 1,3-amino alcohols bearing a phenyl group in the side- chain, diastereomers of novel 1- or 2-phenyl-substituted 1,3,2-oxazaphosphino[4,3-a]isoquinoline 4-oxides, and 1,2,3- oxathiazino[4,3-a]isoquinoline 4-oxides and 4,4-dioxides were prepared. NMR analysis and DFT calculations on the prepared tetrahydroisoquinoline-condensed 1,2,3-heterocycles revealed that their conformational equilibria of cis1-trans-cis2 type are influenced by the relative configuration of P-4 in the 1,3,2-oxazaphosphinanes, and by the position of the phenyl group in the 1,2,3-oxathiazines.
The spatial magnetic properties (Through Space NMR Shieldings - TSNMRS) of two cyclobutadiene derivatives (2 and 5) and of a number of cyclobutadiene dianion derivatives (3, 4 and 6-8) have been calculated by the GIAO perturbation method employing the Nucleus-Independent Chemical Shift (NICS) concept of P. v. Ragué Schleyer, and visualized as Iso-Chemical-Shielding Surfaces (ICSS) of various size and direction. TSNMRS values can be successfully employed to quantify and visualize the (anti)aromaticity of the compounds studied and to discuss the influence of Li+ complexation to cyclobutadiene dianion (4a, 7 and 8) on planar 4c,6e or three-dimensional 6c,6e aromaticity.
A new series of unsubstituted and substituted pyridinium salts bearing a 4-oxothiazolidinyl moiety has been prepared by an efficient rearrangement of 2-(1-bromoalkylidene)thiazolidin-4-ones. The process in based on three steps, namely carbon-bromine cleavage, bromine transfer, and substitution, each induced by pyridine or its derivatives, acting as base and reactant.
The stereodynamic behaviour of 1-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)piperidine 1, 4-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)morpholine 2, 1,4-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)piperazine 3 and 4-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)thiomorpholine 1,1-dioxide 4 was studied by low-temperature 1H, 13C and 19F NMR spectroscopies. In acetone solution, compounds 1, 2 and 4 were found to exist as mixtures of two conformers in the ratio of 4:1, 4:1 and 8:1, respectively, differing by orientation of the CF3 group with respect to the ring. Compound 3 exists as a mixture of three conformers in the ratio of 3:28:69 also differing by the orientation of the two CF3 groups. Unlike the previously studied N-trifyl substituted 1,3,5-triheterocyclohexanes, the preferred conformers of compound 1 and of 1,4-diheterocyclohexanes 2-4 are those with the CF3 group directed outward from the ring, which is caused by intramolecular interactions of the oxygen atoms of the CF3SO2N groups with the equatorial hydrogens in the ;-position. B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) calculations of the energy, geometry and NMR parameters corroborate the experimental data. The calculated Perlin effects for all conformers of compounds 1-4 as well as those measured for the major conformers of compounds 3 and 4 were analyzed by the use of the NBO analysis.
The through space NMR shielding (TSNMRS) values of two tricyclobutabenzene (TCBB) derivatives 2, of the corresponding hexamethylene and hexaoxo TCBB derivatives 3, of [4n]annuleno[4n + 2]annulene 5 and of its tricyclobutadiene parent compound 4 have been ab initio calculated by the GIAO perturbation method employing the nucleus- independent chemical shift (NICS) concept of Paul von Ragué Schleyer, and visualized as iso-chemical shielding surfaces (ICSS). TSNMRS values can be successfully employed to quantify and visualize the aromaticity of the central, and in 5 also of the terminal benzene ring moieties.
The electron ionization (EI) mass spectra of a variety of stereoisomeric tricyclic 1,3,2-oxazaphosphino[4,3- a]isoquinolines (1-4), 1,2,3-oxathiazino[4,3-a]isoquinoline-4-oxides (5-7) and the -4,4-dioxides (8-10) of oxazaphospholo- and oxathiazolo[4,3-a]- (11, 12, 15 and 16) and -[3,4-b]isoquinolines (13, 14 and 17) were recorded. Ring size and fusion, the different heteroatoms (P and S) and substituents on the ring systems strongly influence the mass spectra. In addition, mass spectra of the stereoisomers of compounds 1, 2 and 13, 14 revealed stereochemically relevant differences which are not observed for the other pairs of isomers. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The cyclizations of tetrahydroisoquinoline 1,2-amino alcohols with phenylphosphonic dichloride, bis(2- chloroethyl)phosphoramidic dichloride, thionyl chloride and sulfuryl chloride were utilized to synthesize 1,5,6,10b- tetrahydro-1,3,2-oxazaphospholo[4,3-a]isoquinolines (2, 3), 1,5,10,10a-tetrahydro-1,3,2-oxazaphospholo[3,4- b]isoquinolines (8, 9), 1,5,6,10b-tetrahydro-1,2,3-oxathiazolo[4,3-a]isoquinolines (4-6) anda 1,5,10,10a-tetrahydro- 1,2,3-oxathiazolo[3,4-b]isoquinoline (11), which are the first representatives of these ring systems. NMR spectroscopic analysis revealed the existence of conformational equilibria that are fast on the NMR timescale. Theoretical DFT calculations pointed to the participation of generally two preferred conformers in the conformational equilibria; the positions of the equilibria were indicated by the experimental NMR spectroscopic parameters, and they are in good agreement with the theoretically calculated energy differences of the participating conformers. For two compounds, which could be not isolated (10, 12), both the preferred conformers and the stereochemistry could be concluded from the DFT calculation results.
In order to obtain information on the number and symmetry of the different Eu3+ complexes formed with several hydroxybenzoic acids, ultra-low temperature luminescence measurements at 4.7 K were carried out. Hydroxybenzoic acids were used as simple model compounds for metal binding structures in humic substances (HS). Information on the complexes was extracted from high-resolution total luminescence spectra (TLS), which were obtained by scanning through the D-5(0) <-- F-7(0) transition of Eu(III) with a pulsed dye laser and measuring the emission in the wavelength range of the D- 5(0) --> F-7(0) and D-5(0) --> F-7(0) transitions simultaneously. By extracting the crystal field strength parameter N- v(B-2q) from the TLS, it was found that N-v(B-2q) was not directly correlated with the excitation energy. Further, the symmetry of the individual complexes formed was extracted from the experimental data. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
DFT-GIAO-NBO and 13C NMR study of the delta-syn-axial effect in 2,4-disubstituted adamantanes
(2008)
Six groups of diastereomeric 2,4-disubstituted adamantanes were studied with DFT-GIAO-NBO (natural orbital analysis) methods. The calculated 13C chemical shifts reproduce well the experimental data. It was found that among all diastereomers, those bearing substituents in -syn-axial positions showed the largest overall deshielding, i.e. the sum of all 13C chemical shifts [;;(13C)] was the greatest and also had the highest delocalization contribution to the molecular energy evaluated with NBO. The higher delocalization energy is proposed to be the origin of the deshielding -syn-axial effect
The complex formation of the ligands 1,12-diazaperylene (dap), 1,1-bisisoquinoline (bis), 2,2-bipyridine (bpy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) with transition metal ions (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ru, Os, Re, Pd, Pt, Ag and Cd) in the gas phase has been studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. With the exception of Ru, Os, Fe, Ni and Cu, singly charged complexes [MLn]+ (n = 1,2) were observed. The complexes of dap and bis with Ru, Os, Fe and Ni ions, and the mixed ligand complexes with bpy and phen, are preferably of the doubly charged type [ML3]2+. In addition, collision- induced dissociation (CID) measurements were employed to evaluate the relative stabilities of these complexes. The CID experiments of mixed-ligand complexes which contain both dap and phen or dap and bpy exhibit preferential elimination of bpy, indicating that bpy is a weaker ligand than phen and dap.
The through space NMR shielding (TSNMRS) values of adamantane, the 2(N + 1)2 spherical (4c, 2e) homoaromatic compounds 1,3-dehydro-5,7-adamantandiyl dication (C10H122+) and 1,3-dehydro-5,7-cubandiyl dication (C8H42+), and the (6c, 8e) homoaromatic compound 2,2;,4,4;,6,6;,8,8;,10,10;-dehydroadamantane tetracation (C10H44+) have been ab initio calculated, employing the NICS concept, and visualized as iso-chemical shielding surfaces (ICSSs). TSNMRS values can be successfully employed to study both the endohedral and exohedral aromaticity/ antiaromaticity of the compounds studied.
The title compounds, [(1R,3R,4R,5R,6S)-4,5-bis(acetyloxy)-7-oxo-2-oxabicyclo-
[4.2.0]octan-3-yl]methyl acetate, C14H18O8, (I), [(1S,4R,5S,6R)-5-acetyloxy-7-
hydroxyimino-2-oxobicyclo[4.2.0]octan-4-yl acetate, C11H15NO6, (II), and
[(3aR,5R,6R,7R,7aS)-6,7-bis(acetyloxy)-2-oxooctahydropyrano[3,2-b]pyrrol-5-
yl]methyl acetate, C14H19NO8, (III), are stable bicyclic carbohydrate derivatives.
They can easily be synthesized in a few steps from commercially available
glycals. As a result of the ring strain from the four-membered rings in (I) and
(II), the conformations of the carbohydrates deviate strongly from the ideal
chair form. Compound (II) occurs in the boat form. In the five-membered
lactam (III), on the other hand, the carbohydrate adopts an almost ideal chair
conformation. As a result of the distortion of the sugar rings, the configurations
of the three bicyclic carbohydrate derivatives could not be determined from
their NMR coupling constants. From our three crystal structure determinations,
we were able to establish for the first time the absolute configurations of all new
stereocenters of the carbohydrate rings.
In this study, a new reliable, economic, and environmentally-friendly one-step synthesis is established to obtain carbon nanodots (CNDs) with well-defined and reproducible photoluminescence (PL) properties via the microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment of starch and Tris-acetate-EDTA (TAE) buffer as carbon sources. Three kinds of CNDs are prepared using different sets of above mentioned starting materials. The as-synthesized CNDs: C-CND (starch only), N-CND 1 (starch in TAE) and N-CND 2 (TAE only) exhibit highly homogenous PL and are ready to use without need for further purification. The CNDs are stable over a long period of time (>1 year) either in solution or as freeze-dried powder. Depending on starting material, CNDs with PL quantum yield (PLQY) ranging from less than 1% up to 28% are obtained. The influence of the precursor concentration, reaction time and type of additives on the optical properties (UV-Vis absorption, PL emission spectrum and PLQY) is carefully investigated, providing insight into the chemical processes that occur during CND formation. Remarkably, upon freeze-drying the initially brown CND-solution turns into a non-fluorescent white/slightly brown powder which recovers PL in aqueous solution and can potentially be applied as fluorescent marker in bio-imaging, as a reduction agent or as a photocatalyst.
Polysarcosine (Mn = 3650–20 000 g mol−1, Đ ∼ 1.1) was synthesized from the air and moisture stable N-phenoxycarbonyl-N-methylglycine. Polymerization was achieved by in situ transformation of the urethane precursor into the corresponding N-methylglycine-N-carboxyanhydride, when in the presence of a non-nucleophilic tertiary amine base and a primary amine initiator.
The folding of single-stranded telomeric DNA into guanine (G) quadruplexes is a conformational change that plays a major role in sensing and drug targeting. The telomeric DNA can be placed on DNA origami nanostructures to make the folding process extremely selective for K+ ions even in the presence of high Na+ concentrations. Here, we demonstrate that the K+-selective G-quadruplex formation is reversible when using a cryptand to remove K+ from the G-quadruplex. We present a full characterization of the reversible switching between single-stranded telomeric DNA and G-quadruplex structures using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the dyes fluorescein (FAM) and cyanine3 (Cy3). When attached to the DNA origami platform, the G-quadruplex switch can be incorporated into more complex photonic networks, which is demonstrated for a three-color and a four-color FRET cascade from FAM over Cy3 and Cy5 to IRDye700 with G-quadruplex-Cy3 acting as a switchable transmitter.
In this paper, we show experimentally that inside a microfluidic device, where the reactants are segregated, the reaction rate of an autocatalytic clock reaction is accelerated in comparison to the case where all the reactants are well mixed. We also find that, when mixing is enhanced inside the microfluidic device by introducing obstacles into the flow, the clock reaction becomes slower in comparison to the device where mixing is less efficient. Based on numerical simulations, we show that this effect can be explained by the interplay of nonlinear reaction kinetics (cubic autocatalysis) and differential diffusion, where the autocatalytic species diffuses slower than the substrate.
Metal-containing ionic liquids (ILs) are of interest for a variety of technical applications, e.g., particle synthesis and materials with magnetic or thermochromic properties. In this paper we report the synthesis of, and two structures for, some new tetrabromidocuprates(II) with several “onium” cations in comparison to the results of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic analyses. The sterically demanding cations were used to separate the paramagnetic Cu(II) ions for EPR measurements. The EPR hyperfine structure in the spectra of these new compounds is not resolved, due to the line broadening resulting from magnetic exchange between the still-incomplete separated paramagnetic Cu(II) centres. For the majority of compounds, the principal g values (g|| and gK) of the tensors could be determined and information on the structural changes in the [CuBr4]2- anions can be obtained. The complexes have high potential, e.g., as ionic liquids, as precursors for the synthesis of copper bromide particles, as catalytically active or paramagnetic ionic liquids.
DNA origami nanostructures are a versatile tool to arrange metal nanostructures and other chemical entities with nanometer precision. In this way gold nanoparticle dimers with defined distance can be constructed, which can be exploited as novel substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). We have optimized the size, composition and arrangement of Au/Ag nanoparticles to create intense SERS hot spots, with Raman enhancement up to 1010, which is sufficient to detect single molecules by Raman scattering. This is demonstrated using single dye molecules (TAMRA and Cy3) placed into the center of the nanoparticle dimers. In conjunction with the DNA origami nanostructures novel SERS substrates are created, which can in the future be applied to the SERS analysis of more complex biomolecular targets, whose position and conformation within the SERS hot spot can be precisely controlled.
Sixteen new ionic liquids (ILs) with tetraethylammonium, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium, 3-methyl-1-octylimidazolium and tetrabutylphosphonium cations paired with 2-substituted 4,5-dicyanoimidazolate anions (substituent at C2 = methyl, trifluoromethyl, pentafluoroethyl, N,N′-dimethyl amino and nitro) have been synthesized and characterized by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The effects of cation and anion type and structure of the resulting ILs, including several room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs), are reflected in the crystallization, melting points and thermal decomposition of the ILs. ILs exhibited large liquid and crystallization ranges and formed glasses on cooling with glass transition temperatures in the range of −22 to −71 °C. We selected one of the newly designed ILs due to its bigger size, compared to the common conventional IL anion and high electron-withdrawing nitrile group leads to an overall stabilization anion that may stabilize the metal nanoparticles. Stable and better separated iron and silver nanoparticles are obtained by the decomposition of corresponding Fe2(CO)9 and AgPF6, respectively, under N2-atmosphere in newly designed nitrile functionalized 4,5-dicyanoimidazolate anion based IL. Very small and uniform size for Fe-nanoparticles of about 1.8 ± 0.6 nm were achieved without any additional stabilizers or capping molecules. Comparatively bigger size of Ag-nanoparticles was obtained through the reduction of AgPF6 by hydrogen gas. Additionally, the AgPF6 precursor was decomposed under microwave irradiation (MWI), fabricating nut-in-shell-like, that is, core-separated-from-shell Ag-nano-structures.
Catalytic amounts of a weak base are sufficient to induce the decomposition of anthracene endoperoxides to anthraquinone. The mechanism has been elucidated by isolation of intermediates in combination with DFT calculations. The whole process is suitable for the convenient generation of hydrogen peroxide under very mild conditions.
A multi-reference study of the byproduct formation for a ring-closed dithienylethene photoswitch
(2015)
Photodriven molecular switches are sometimes hindered in their performance by forming byproducts which act as dead ends in sequences of switching cycles, leading to rapid fatigue effects. Understanding the reaction pathways to unwanted byproducts is a prerequisite for preventing them. This article presents a study of the photochemical reaction pathways for byproduct formation in the photochromic switch 1,2-bis-(3-thienyl)-ethene. Specifically, using single- and multi-reference methods the post-deexcitation reaction towards the byproduct in the electronic ground state S0 when starting from the S1–S0 conical intersection (CoIn), is considered in detail. We find an unusual low-energy pathway, which offers the possibility for the formation of a dyotropic byproduct. Several high-energy pathways can be excluded with high probability.
Spatio-temporal control of cellular uptake achieved by photoswitchable cell-penetrating peptides
(2015)
The selective uptake of compounds into specific cells of interest is a major objective in cell biology and drug delivery. By incorporation of a novel, thermostable azobenzene moiety we generated peptides that can be switched optically between an inactive state and an active, cell-penetrating state with excellent spatio-temporal control.
NaYF4:Yb:Er nanoparticles (UCNP) were synthesized under mild experimental conditions to obtain a pure cubic lattice. Upon annealing at different temperatures up to Tan = 700 °C phase transitions to the hexagonal phase and back to the cubic phase were induced. The UCNP materials obtained for different Tan were characterized with respect to the lattice phase using standard XRD and Raman spectroscopy as well as steady state and time resolved upconversion luminescence. The standard techniques showed that for the annealing temperature range 300 °C < Tan < 600 °C the hexagonal lattice phase was dominant. For Tan < 300 °C hardly any change in the lattice phase could be deduced, whereas for Tan > 600 °C a back transfer to the α-phase was observed. Complementarily, the luminescence upconversion properties of the annealed UCNP materials were characterized in steady state and time resolved luminescence measurements. Distinct differences in the upconversion luminescence intensity, the spectral intensity distribution and the luminescence decay kinetics were found for the cubic and hexagonal lattice phases, respectively, corroborating the results of the standard analytical techniques used. In laser power dependent measurements of the upconversion luminescence intensity it was found that the green (G1, G2) and red (R) emission of Er3+ showed different effects of Tan on the number of required photons reflecting the differences in the population routes of different energy levels involved. Furthermore, the intensity ratio of Gfull/R is highly effected by the laser power only when the β-phase is present, whereas the G1/G2 intensity ratio is only slightly effected regardless of the crystal phase. Moreover, based on different upconversion luminescence kinetics characteristics of the cubic and hexagonal phase time-resolved area normalized emission spectra (TRANES) proved to be a very sensitive tool to monitor the phase transition between cubic and hexagonal phases. Based on the TRANES analysis it was possible to resolve the lattice phase transition in more detail for 200 °C < Tan < 300 °C, which was not possible with the standard techniques.
Upconversion NaYF4:Yb:Er nanoparticles co-doped with Gd3+ and Nd3+ for thermometry on the nanoscale
(2015)
In the present work, the upconversion luminescence properties of oleic acid capped NaYF4:Gd3+:Yb3+:Er3+ upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP) with pure β crystal phase and Nd3+ ions as an additional sensitizer were studied in the temperature range of 288 K < T < 328 K. The results of this study showed that the complex interplay of different mechanisms and effects, causing the special temperature behavior of the UCNP can be developed into thermometry on the nanoscale, e.g. to be applied in biological systems on a cellular level. The performance was improved by the use of Nd3+ as an additional dopant utilizing the cascade sensitization mechanism in tri-doped UCNP.
What are the fundamental laws for the adsorption of charged polymers onto oppositely charged surfaces, for convex, planar, and concave geometries? This question is at the heart of surface coating applications, various complex formation phenomena, as well as in the context of cellular and viral biophysics. It has been a long-standing challenge in theoretical polymer physics; for realistic systems the quantitative understanding is however often achievable only by computer simulations. In this study, we present the findings of such extensive Monte-Carlo in silico experiments for polymer–surface adsorption in confined domains. We study the inverted critical adsorption of finite-length polyelectrolytes in three fundamental geometries: planar slit, cylindrical pore, and spherical cavity. The scaling relations extracted from simulations for the critical surface charge density sc—defining the adsorption–desorption transition—are in excellent agreement with our analytical calculations based on the ground-state analysis of the Edwards equation. In particular, we confirm the magnitude and scaling of sc for the concave interfaces versus the Debye screening length 1/k and the extent of confinement a for these three interfaces for small ka values. For large ka the critical adsorption condition approaches the known planar limit. The transition between the two regimes takes place when the radius of surface curvature or half of the slit thickness a is of the order of 1/k. We also rationalize how sc(k) dependence gets modified for semi-flexible versus flexible chains under external confinement. We examine the implications of the chain length for critical adsorption—the effect often hard to tackle theoretically—putting an emphasis on polymers inside attractive spherical cavities. The applications of our findings to some biological systems are discussed, for instance the adsorption of nucleic acids onto the inner surfaces of cylindrical and spherical viral capsids.
The phase behavior of an amphiphilic block copolymer based on a poly(aspartic acid) hydrophilic block and a poly(n-butyl acrylate) hydrophobic block was investigated at the air–water and air–buffer interface. The polymer forms stable monomolecular films on both subphases. At low pH, the isotherms exhibit a plateau. Compression–expansion experiments and infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy suggest that the plateau is likely due to the formation of polymer bi- or multilayers. At high pH the films remain intact upon compression and no multilayer formation is observed. Furthermore, the mineralization of calcium phosphate beneath the monolayer was studied at different pH. The pH of the subphase and thus the polymer charge strongly affects the phase behavior of the film and the mineral formation. After 4 h of mineralization at low pH, atomic force microscopy shows smooth mineral films with a low roughness. With increasing pH the mineral films become inhomogeneous and the roughness increases. Transmission electron microscopy confirms this: at low pH a few small but uniform particles form whereas particles grown at higher pH are larger and highly agglomerated. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirm the formation of calcium phosphate. The levels of mineralization are higher in samples grown at high pH.
Optical properties of modified diamondoids have been studied theoretically using vibrationally resolved electronic absorption, emission and resonance Raman spectra. A time-dependent correlation function approach has been used for electronic two-state models, comprising a ground state (g) and a bright, excited state (e), the latter determined from linear-response, time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The harmonic and Condon approximations were adopted. In most cases origin shifts, frequency alteration and Duschinsky rotation in excited states were considered. For other cases where no excited state geometry optimization and normal mode analysis were possible or desired, a short-time approximation was used. The optical properties and spectra have been computed for (i) a set of recently synthesized sp2/sp3 hybrid species with C[double bond, length as m-dash]C double-bond connected saturated diamondoid subunits, (ii) functionalized (mostly by thiol or thione groups) diamondoids and (iii) urotropine and other C-substituted diamondoids. The ultimate goal is to tailor optical and electronic features of diamondoids by electronic blending, functionalization and substitution, based on a molecular-level understanding of the ongoing photophysics.
Fluid force microscopy combines the positional accuracy and force sensitivity of an atomic
force microscope (AFM) with nanofluidics via a microchanneled cantilever. However, adequate
loading and cleaning procedures for such AFM micropipettes are required for various
application situations. Here, a new frontloading procedure is described for an AFM micropipette
functioning as a force- and pressure-controlled microscale liquid dispenser. This frontloading
procedure seems especially attractive when using target substances featuring high
costs or low available amounts. Here, the AFM micropipette could be filled from the tip side
with liquid from a previously applied droplet with a volume of only a few μL using a short
low-pressure pulse. The liquid-loaded AFM micropipettes could be then applied for experiments
in air or liquid environments. AFM micropipette frontloading was evaluated with the
well-known organic fluorescent dye rhodamine 6G and the AlexaFluor647-labeled antibody
goat anti-rat IgG as an example of a larger biological compound. After micropipette usage,
specific cleaning procedures were tested. Furthermore, a storage method is described, at
which the AFM micropipettes could be stored for a few hours up to several days without drying
out or clogging of the microchannel. In summary, the rapid, versatile and cost-efficient
frontloading and cleaning procedure for the repeated usage of a single AFM micropipette is
beneficial for various application situations from specific surface modifications through to
local manipulation of living cells, and provides a simplified and faster handling for already
known experiments with fluid force microscopy.
Brownianmotion is ergodic in the Boltzmann–Khinchin sense that long time averages of physical observables such as the mean squared displacement provide the same information as the corresponding ensemble average, even at out-of-equilibrium conditions. This property is the fundamental prerequisite for single particle tracking and its analysis in simple liquids. We study analytically and by event-driven molecular dynamics simulations the dynamics of force-free cooling granular gases and reveal a violation of ergodicity in this Boltzmann–
Khinchin sense as well as distinct ageing of the system. Such granular gases comprise materials such as dilute gases of stones, sand, various types of powders, or large molecules, and their mixtures are ubiquitous in Nature and technology, in particular in Space. We treat—depending on the physical-chemical properties of the inter-particle interaction upon their pair collisions—both a constant and a velocity-dependent (viscoelastic) restitution coefficient e. Moreover we compare the granular gas dynamics with an effective single particle stochastic model based on an underdamped Langevin equation with time dependent diffusivity. We find that both models share the same behaviour of the ensemble mean squared displacement (MSD) and the velocity correlations in the limit of weak dissipation. Qualitatively, the reported non-ergodic behaviour is generic for granular gases with any realistic dependence of e on the impact velocity of particles.
The present article is among the first reports on the effects of poly(ampholyte)s and poly(betaine)s on the biomimetic formation of calcium phosphate. We have synthesized a series of di- and triblock copolymers based on a non-ionic poly(ethylene oxide) block and several charged methacrylate monomers, 2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl methacrylate chloride, 2-((3-cyanopropyl)-dimethylammonium)ethyl methacrylate chloride, 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt, and [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium hydroxide. The resulting copolymers are either positively charged, ampholytic, or betaine block copolymers. All the polymers have very high molecular weights of over 106 g mol−1. All polymers are water-soluble and show a strong effect on the precipitation and dissolution of calcium phosphate. The strongest effects are observed with triblock copolymers based on a large poly(ethylene oxide) middle block (nominal Mn = 100 000 g mol−1). Surprisingly, the data show that there is a need for positive charges in the polymers to exert tight control over mineralization and dissolution, but that the exact position of the charge in the polymer is of minor importance for both calcium phosphate precipitation and dissolution.
We investigate the ergodic properties of a random walker performing (anomalous) diffusion on a random fractal geometry. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations of the motion of tracer particles on an ensemble of realisations of percolation clusters are performed for a wide range of percolation densities. Single trajectories of the tracer motion are analysed to quantify the time averaged mean squared displacement (MSD) and to compare this with the ensemble averaged MSD of the particle motion. Other complementary physical observables associated with ergodicity are studied, as well. It turns out that the time averaged MSD of individual realisations exhibits non-vanishing fluctuations even in the limit of very long observation times as the percolation density approaches the critical value. This apparent non-ergodic behaviour concurs with the ergodic behaviour on the ensemble averaged level. We demonstrate how the non-vanishing fluctuations in single particle trajectories are analytically expressed in terms of the fractal dimension and the cluster size distribution of the random geometry, thus being of
purely geometrical origin. Moreover, we reveal that the convergence scaling law to ergodicity, which is known to be inversely proportional to the observation time T for ergodic diffusion processes, follows a power-law BTh with h o 1 due to the fractal structure of the accessible space. These results provide useful measures for differentiating the subdiffusion on random fractals from an otherwise closely related process, namely, fractional Brownian motion. Implications of our results on the analysis of single particle tracking experiments are provided.
In living cells, there are always a plethora of processes taking place at the same time. Their precise regulation is the basis of cellular functions, since small failures can lead to severe dysfunctions. For a comprehensive understanding of intracellular homeostasis, simultaneous multiparameter detection is a versatile tool for revealing the spatial and temporal interactions of intracellular parameters. Here, a recently developed time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) board was evaluated for simultaneous fluorescence and phosphorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM/PLIM). Therefore, the metabolic activity in insect salivary glands was investigated by recording ns-decaying intrinsic cellular fluorescence, mainly related to oxidized flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and the μs-decaying phosphorescence of the oxygen-sensitive ruthenium-complex Kr341. Due to dopamine stimulation, the metabolic activity of salivary glands increased, causing a higher pericellular oxygen consumption and a resulting increase in Kr341 phosphorescence decay time. Furthermore, FAD fluorescence decay time decreased, presumably due to protein binding, thus inducing a quenching of FAD fluorescence decay time. Through application of the metabolic drugs antimycin and FCCP, the recorded signals could be assigned to a mitochondrial origin. The dopamine-induced changes could be observed in sequential FLIM and PLIM recordings, as well as in simultaneous FLIM/PLIM recordings using an intermediate TCSPC timing resolution.
The distinction of enantiomers is a key aspect of chemical analysis. In mass spectrometry the distinction of enantiomers has been achieved by ionizing the sample with circularly polarized laser pulses and comparing the ion yields for light of opposite handedness. While resonant excitation conditions are expected to be most efficient, they are not required for the detection of a circular dichroism (CD) in the ion yield. However, the prediction of the size and sign of the circular dichroism becomes challenging if non-resonant multiphoton excitations are used to ionize the sample. Employing femtosecond laser pulses to drive electron wavepacket dynamics based on ab initio calculations, we attempt to reveal underlying mechanisms that determine the CD under non-resonant excitation conditions. Simulations were done for (R)-1,2-propylene oxide, using time-dependent configuration interaction singles with perturbative doubles (TD-CIS(D)) and the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set. Interactions between the electric field and the electric dipole and quadrupole as well as between the magnetic field and the magnetic dipole were explicitly accounted for. The ion yield was determined by treating states above the ionization potential as either stationary or non-stationary with energy-dependent lifetimes based on an approved heuristic approach. The observed population dynamics do not allow for a simple interpretation, because of highly non-linear interactions. Still, the various transition pathways are governed by resonant enantiospecific n-photon excitation, with preferably high transition dipole moments, which eventually dominate the CD in the ionized population.
Exposure to organic mercury compounds promotes primarily neurological effects. Although methylmercury is recognized as a potent neurotoxicant, its transfer into the central nervous system (CNS) is not fully evaluated. While methylmercury and thiomersal pass the blood–brain barrier, limited data are available regarding the second brain regulating interface, the blood–cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier. This novel study was designed to investigate the effects of organic as well as inorganic mercury compounds on, and their transfer across, a porcine in vitro model of the blood–CSF barrier for the first time. The barrier system is significantly more sensitive towards organic Hg compounds as compared to inorganic compounds regarding the endpoints cytotoxicity and barrier integrity. Whereas there are low transfer rates from the blood side to the CSF side, our results strongly indicate an active transfer of the organic mercury compounds out of the CSF. These results are the first to demonstrate an efflux of organic mercury compounds regarding the CNS and provide a completely new approach in the understanding of mercury compounds specific transport.
Arsenic-containing fatty acids are a group of fat-soluble arsenic species (arsenolipids) which are present in marine fish and other seafood. Recently, it has been shown that arsenic-containing hydrocarbons, another group of arsenolipids, exert toxicity in similar concentrations comparable to arsenite although the toxic modes of action differ. Hence, a risk assessment of arsenolipids is urgently needed. In this study the cellular toxicity of a saturated (AsFA 362) and an unsaturated (AsFA 388) arsenic-containing fatty acid and three of their proposed metabolites (DMAV, DMAPr and thio-DMAPr) were investigated in human liver cells (HepG2). Even though both arsenic-containing fatty acids were less toxic as compared to arsenic-containing hydrocarbons and arsenite, significant effects were observable at μM concentrations. DMAV causes effects in a similar concentration range and it could be seen that it is metabolised to its highly toxic thio analogue thio-DMAV in HepG2 cells. Nevertheless, DMAPr and thio-DMAPr did not exert any cytotoxicity. In summary, our data indicate that risks to human health related to the presence of arsenic-containing fatty acids in marine food cannot be excluded. This stresses the need for a full in vitro and in vivo toxicological characterisation of these arsenolipids.
Fully renewable pyridinium ionic liquids were synthesised via the hydrothermal decarboxylation of pyridinium zwitterions derived from furfural and amino acids in flow. The functionality of the resulting ionic liquid (IL) can be tuned by choice of different amino acids as well as different natural carboxylic acids as the counterions. A representative member of this new class of ionic liquids was successfully used for the synthesis of ionogels and as a solvent for the Heck coupling.
Double cyclization of short linear peptides obtained by solid phase peptide synthesis was used to prepare bridged bicyclic peptides (BBPs) corresponding to the topology of bridged bicyclic alkanes such as norbornane. Diastereomeric norbornapeptides were investigated by 1H-NMR, X-ray crystallography and CD spectroscopy and found to represent rigid globular scaffolds stabilized by intramolecular backbone hydrogen bonds with scaffold geometries determined by the chirality of amino acid residues and sharing structural features of β-turns and α-helices. Proteome profiling by capture compound mass spectrometry (CCMS) led to the discovery of the norbornapeptide 27c binding selectively to calmodulin as an example of a BBP protein binder. This and other BBPs showed high stability towards proteolytic degradation in serum.
Nonlinear optical response of photochromic azobenzene-functionalized self-assembled monolayers
(2015)
The combination of photochromic and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of azobenzene-functionalized self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) constitutes an intriguing step towards novel photonic and optoelectronic devices. By utilizing the second-order NLO process of second harmonic generation (SHG), supported by density-functional theory and correlated wave function method calculations, we demonstrate that the photochromic interface provides the necessary prerequisites en route towards possible future technical applications: we find a high NLO contrast on the order of 16% between the switching states. These are furthermore accessible reversibly and with high efficiencies in terms of cross sections on the order of 10−18 cm2 for both photoisomerization reactions, i.e., drivable by means of low-power LED light sources. Finally, both photostationary states (PSSs) are thermally stable at ambient conditions.