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Olefin isomerization side reactions that occur during ADMET polymerizations were studied by preparing polyesters via ADMET and subsequently degrading these polyesters via transesterification with methanol. The resulting diesters, representing the repeating units of the previously prepared polyesters, were then analyzed by GC-MS. This strategy allowed quantification of the amount of olefin isomerization that took place during ADMET polymerization with second generation ruthenium metathesis catalysts. In a second step, it was shown that the addition of benzoquinone to the polymerization mixture prevented the olefin isomerization. Therefore, second generation ruthenium metathesis catalysts may now be used for the preparation of well-defined polymers via ADMET with very little isomerization, which was not possible before.
Structures of a series of push-pull 2-alkylidene-4-thiazolidinones and 2-alkylidene-4,5-fused bicyclic thiazolidine derivatives were optimized at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory in the gas phase and discussed with respect to configurational and conformational stability. Employing the GIAO method, C-13 NMR chemical shifts of the C-2, C-2', C-4 and C-5 atoms were calculated at the same level of theory in the gas phase and with inclusion of solvent, and compared with experimental data. Push-pull effect of all compounds was quantified by means of the quotient pi*/pi, length of the partial double bond, C-13 NMR chemical shift difference (Delta delta(C=C)) and H-1 NMR chemical shifts of olefinic protons. The effect of bromine on donating and accepting ability of other substituents of the push- pull C=C double bond is discussed, too.
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.
Two different types of mesoporous silicon-phosphate supports using different surfactants (a mixture of (CH3)(3)C13H27NBr with an organophosphorus coupling molecule (HO-PO(i-C3H7)(2)) and with a co-surfactant ((C2H5)(3)(C6H5)PCl), respectively) were synthesized. Trivalent europium (Eu) ions were immobilized via ion-exchange on these supports. The resulting materials were characterized using nitrogen adsorption isotherms at -196 degrees C, thermogravimetric analysis, SEM, TEM, FT-IR, PXRD, CP/MAS. (HSi)-H-1-Si-29 and P-31 NMR, DR-UV-vis as well as steady- state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. The results evidenced that the co-polymerization of silicon and phosphorous yielded a unique morphology in these materials. Following calcination at 450 and 900 degrees C europium- exchanged silicon-phosphates with great surface area (BET=600-705 m(2) g(-1)) and 3.4 nm sized mesopores were obtained. The differences among the optical properties of the non-calcined europium materials such as the emission lifetimes, local environment at the europium sites or the relative contribution of the upper excited levels to the total photoluminescence were assigned to the surfactants used in the synthesis. Calcination of the silicon-phosphates at higher temperatures than 450 degrees C did not induce major changes in the structural properties: in contrast, photoluminescence properties of europium were markedly improved in terms of intensity and average lifetime.
Recent calculations on the hydrogen-exchange reaction [Bouakline et al., J. Chem. Phys. 128, 124322 (2008)], have found strong geometric phase (GP) effects in the state-to-state differential cross-sections (DCS), at energies above the energetic minimum of the conical intersection (CI) seam, which cancel out in the integral cross-sections (ICS). In this article, we explain the origin of this cancellation and make other predictions about the nature of the reaction mechanisms at these high energies by carrying out quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) calculations. Detailed comparisons are made with the quantum results by splitting the quantum and the QCT cross-sections into contributions from reaction paths that wind in different senses around the CI and that scatter the products in the nearside and farside directions. Reaction paths that traverse one transition state (1-TS) scatter their products in just the nearside direction, whereas paths that traverse two transition states (2-TS) scatter in both the nearside and farside directions. However, the nearside 2-TS products scatter into a different region of angular phase-space than the 1-TS products, which explains why the GP effects cancel out in the ICS. Analysis of the QCT results also suggests that two separate reaction mechanisms may be responsible for the 2-TS scattering at high energies.
Stochastic approach to laser-induced ultrafast dynamics : the desorption of H-2/D-2 from Ru(0001)
(2010)
The desorption of molecular hydrogen and deuterium induced by femtosecond-laser pulses is studied theoretically for the so-called DIMET (Desorption Induced by Multiple Electronic Transitions) process. These investigations are based on nonadiabatic classical Monte Carlo trajectory (CMCT) simulations on a ground and an excited state potential energy surface, including up to all six adsorbate degrees of freedom. The focus is on the hot-electron mediated energy transfer from the surface to the molecule and back, and the energy partitioning between the different degrees of freedom of the desorbing molecules. We first validate for a two-mode model comprising the desorption mode and the internal vibrational coordinate, the classical Monte Carlo trajectory method by comparing with Monte Carlo wavepacket (MCWP) calculations arising from a fully quantum mechanical open-system density matrix treatment. We then proceed by extending the CMCT calculations to include all six nuclear degrees of freedom of the desorbing molecule. This allows for a detailed comparison between theory and experiment concerning isotope effects, energy partitioning (translational, vibrational, and rotational energies and their distributions), and the dependence of these properties on the laser fluence. The most important findings are as follows. (i) CMCT agrees qualitative with the MCWP scheme. (ii) The basic experimental features such as the large isotope effect, the non-linear increase of yield with laser fluence, translationally hot products (in the order of several 1000 K) and non-equipartitioning of translational and internal energies (E-trans > E- vib > E-rot) are well reproduced. (iii) Predictions concerning a strong angular dependence of translational energies at large observation angles are also made.
A new approach to analyze multi-component Saturation Transfer Difference (STD) NMR spectra by combining the STD and the DOSY experiment is proposed. The resulting pulse sequence was successfully used to simplify an exemplary multi- component protein/substrate system by means of standard DOSY processing methods. Furthermore, the same experiment could be applied to calculate the ratio of saturated substrate molecules and its saturation rate in the case of competitive interactions. This ratio depends on the strength of this interaction between the substrates and the protein, so that this kind of information could be extracted from the results of our experiment.
A series of nitrogen ligand (L)/copper complexes of the type [(CuL)-L-I](+), [(CuL)-L-II(X)](+) and [(CuL2)-L- I](+) (X = Cl-, BF4-, acac(-), CH3COO- and SO3CF3-) was studied in the gas phase by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The following ligands (L) were employed: 1,12-diazaperylene (dap), 1,1'-bisiso-quinoline (bis), 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 2,11-disubstituted 1,12-diazaperylenes (dap), 3,3'- disubstituted 1,1'-bisisoquinoline (bis), 5,8-dimethoxy-substituted diazaperylene (meodap), 6,6'-dimethoxy- substituted bisisoquinoline (meobis) and 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmphen). Collision-induced decomposition measurements were applied to evaluate the relative stabilities of the different copper complexes. The influence of the spatial arrangement of the ligands, of the type of substituents and of the counter ion of the copper salts employed for the complexation was examined. Correlations were found between the binding constants of the [ML2](+) complexes in solution and the relative stabilities of the analogous complexes in the gas phase. Furthermore, complexation with the ligands 2,11-dialkylated 1,12-diazaperylenes [alkyl = ethyl (dedap) and isopropyl (dipdap)] was studied in the solvents CH3OH and CH3CN.
Smart bioactive surfaces
(2010)
The purpose of this highlight is to define the emerging field of bioactive surfaces. In recent years, various types of synthetic materials capable of "communicating'' with biological objects such as nucleic acids, proteins, polysaccharides, viruses, bacteria or living cells have been described in the literature. This novel area of research certainly goes beyond the traditional field of smart materials and includes different types of sophisticated interactions with biological entities, such as reversible adhesion, conformational control, biologically-triggered release and selective permeation. These novel materials may be 2D planar surfaces as well as colloidal objects or 3D scaffolds. Overall, they show great promise for numerous applications in biosciences and biotechnology. For instance, practical applications of bioactive surfaces in the fields of bioseparation, cell engineering, biochips and stem-cell differentiation are briefly discussed herein.
Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) is the key enzyme of the Calvin cycle, catalyzing the fixation of inorganic carbon dioxide to organic sugars. Unlike most enzymes, RuBisCO is extremely slow, substrate unspecific, and catalyzes undesired side-reactions, which are considered to be responsible for the slow deactivation observed in vitro, a phenomenon known as fallover. Despite the fact that amino acid sequences and the 3D structures of RuBisCO from a variety of species are known, the precise molecular mechanisms for the various side reactions are still unclear. In the present study, we investigate the kinetic properties of RuBisCO using mathematical models. Initially, we formulate a minimal model that quantitatively reflects the kinetic behavior of RuBisCOs from different organisms. By relating rate parameters for single molecular steps to experimentally determined K-m and V-max values, we can examine mechanistic differences among species. The minimal model further demonstrates that two inhibitor producing side reactions are sufficient to describe experimentally determined fallover kinetics. To explain the observed kinetics of the limited capacity of RuBisCO to accept xylulose 1,5-bisphosphate as substrate, the inclusion of other side reactions is necessary. Our model results suggest a yet undescribed alternative enolization mechanism that is supported by the molecular structure. Taken together, the presented models serve as a theoretical framework to explain a wide range of observed kinetic properties of RuBisCOs derived from a variety of species. Thus, we can support hypotheses about molecular mechanisms and can systematically compare enzymes from different origins.
Terephthalic acid reacts with alkyl halides under Birch conditions to substituted 1,4-cyclohexadienes in high yields and good stereoselectivities. Electrophiles containing ester or nitrile groups undergo a surprising fragmentation under the reaction conditions. Subsequent treatment with chlorosulfonic acid proceeds by an interesting tandem decarbonylation/decarboxylation, affording 1,4-dialkylbenzenes in excellent regioselectivity. Thus our new method is superior to classical Friedel-Crafts alkylations.
The polarity of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids containing hexafluorophosphate, tetrafluoroborate, dicyanoimide, or bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide as anions and a variation of the alkyl-chain length of the cation are investigated by both solvatochromic dyes and spin probes. Two different polarity scales are used for discussion of the polarity of these ionic liquids. These polarity scales are the empirical Kamlet-Taft parameters alpha, beta, and pi* and the hyperfine coupling constants A(iso)(N-14) obtained for spin probes substituted either with an ammonio or a sulfate group at 4-position. The results show that both polarity scales are valid for description of the ionic liquid polarity although differences are found between the two polarity scales. The most clear trend is found in all ionic liquids investigated for the hydrogen-bond accepting ability (beta) and the hyperfine- coupling constant of the anionic spin probe, where both parameters increase for all ionic liquids investigated until an alkyl chain length of eight carbon atoms and keep constant at longer alkyl chains.
Rubidium and strontium partitioning experiments between haplogranitic melts and aqueous fluids (water or 1.16- 3.56 m (NaCl + KCl) +/- HCl) were conducted at 750-950 degrees C and 0.2-1.4 GPa to investigate the effects of melt and fluid composition, pressure, and temperature. In addition, we studied if the applied technique (rapid and slow quench, and in-situ determination of trace element concentration in the fluid) has a bearing on the obtained data. There is good agreement of the data from different techniques for chloridic solutions, whereas back reactions between fluid and Melt upon cooling have a significant effect on results from the experiments with water. The Rb fluid-melt partition coefficient shows no recognizable dependence on melt composition and temperature. For chloridic Solutions, it is similar to 0.4, independent of pressure. In experiments with water, it is one to two orders of magnitude lower and increases with pressure. The strontium fluid-melt partition coefficient does not depend on temperature. It increases slightly with pressure in Cl free experiments. In chloridic fluids, there is a sharp increase in the Sr partition coefficient with the alumina saturation index (ASI) from 0.003 at an ASI of 0.8 to a maximum of 0.3 at an ASI of 1.05. At higher ASI, it decreases slightly to 0.2 at an ASI of 1.6. It is one to two orders of magnitude higher in chloridic fluids compared to those found in H2O experiments. The Rb/Sr ratio in non-chloridic solutions in equilibrium with metaluminous melts increases with pressure, whereas the Rb/Sr ratio in chloridic fluids is independent of pressure and decreases with fluid salinity. The obtained fluid-melt partition coefficients are in good agreement with data from natural cogenetic fluid and melt inclusions. Numerical modeling shows that although the Rb/Sr ratio in the residual melt is particularly sensitive to the degree of fractional crystallization, exsolution of a fluid phase, and associated fluid-melt partitioning is not a significant factor controlling Rb and Sr concentrations in the residual melt during crystallization of most granitoids.
The push-pull characters of a large series of donor-acceptor substituted azo dyesù71 structures in allùhave been quantified by the NN double bond lengths, dNN, the 15N NMR chemical shift differences, ;;15N, of the two nitrogen atoms and the quotient, ;*/;, of the occupations of the antibonding ;*, and bonding ; orbitals of this partial NN double bond. The excellent correlation of the occupation quotients with the bond lengths strongly infers that both ;*/; and dNN are excellent parameters for quantifying charge alternation in the push-pull chromophore and the molecular hyperpolarizability, ;0, of these compounds. By this approach, selected compounds can be appropriately considered as viable candidates for nonlinear optical (NLO) applications.
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 through space NMR shieldings (TSNMRS) of dodecahedrane C20H20, of the isomeric hydrocarbons C20H12, of the ions C20H122+ and C20H122- of the fluxional fullerene C20 and of its dication C202+ have been ab initio calculated employing the NICS concept on basis of MP2/6-31G* geometries and visualized as iso-chemical-shielding/deshielding surfaces (ICSSs). TSNMRS values were employed to study the exohedral magnetic properties of the compounds studied. Hereby, the curved It-conjugation in the compounds studied could be quantified.
Zeolites NaY and ZSM-5 were used as hosts for styrene polymerization after ion-exchange with europium ions. The parent and hybrid, polystyrene coated Eu-NaY (Eu-NaY/PS) and Eu-ZSM-5 (Eu-ZSM-5/PS) zeolites were investigated by using thermal analysis, SEM, PXRD, FT-IR, DR-UV/Vis, steady state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. FT-IR spectra evidenced for the interaction between the zeolitic hosts and polystyrene while the PXRD spectra supported for the presence of the polymer inside the channels/pores of Eu-NaY/PS and Eu-ZSM-5/PS materials. The optical properties of Eu-NaY/PS and Eu-ZSM-5/PS were significantly changed relative to those of the parent zeolites, giving further evidence for the presence of polymer inside zeolites. An interesting case is presented by NaY zeolite: following styrene polymerization, the polymer interacted selectively with one of the two main species co-existing inside zeolite while for ZSM-5 a similar effect was not observed.
Polymer libraries offer straightforward opportunities for the investigation of structure property relationships and for a more thorough understanding of certain research problems. Furthermore, if combined with high-throughput methods for their preparation as well as screening, they offer the additional advantage of time savings and/or the reduction of experimental efforts. Thus, the herein discussed methods of polymer library preparation and selected literature examples of polymer libraries describe efficient and state-of-the-art methods to tackle difficult research challenges in polymer and materials science.
An alpha,omega-diene containing hydroxyl groups was prepared from plant oil-derived platform chemicals. The acyclic diene metathesis copolymerization (ADMET) of this monomer with a phosphorus-containing alpha,omega-cliene (DOPO II), also plant oil derived, afforded a series of phosphorus containing linear polyesters, which have been fully characterized. The backbone hydroxyls of these polyesters have been acrylated and radically polymerized to produce crosslinked polymers. The thermomechanical and mechanical properties, the thermal stability, and the flame retardancy of these phosphorus-based thermosets have been studied. Moreover, methyl 10-undecenoate has been used as chain stopper in selected ADMET polymerizations to study the effect of the prepolymers' molecular weights on the different properties of the final materials.
Aqueous solutions of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and poly(N,N'-diallyl-N,N'-dimethyl-alt-maleamic carboxylate) (PalH), a synthetic pH-tuneable polyelectrolyte (PEL), have been investigated by various techniques at different pH-values in absence and presence of NaCl. Potentiometric measurements using a surfactant-selective electrode indicate a quite complex interaction mechanism, which can be subdivided into different regions, where non-cooperative, electrostatic and cooperative hydrophobic interactions are of relevance. It was concluded, that in dependence on pH, conformational changes are responsible for the different interaction behavior in the NaCl-free system. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) suggests that early stage hydrophobic binding is an exothermic process followed by electrostatic interactions, which are endothermic in nature and entropy driven. After NaCl addition the interaction mechanism becomes independent of pH due to a screening of (i) attractive interactions between the surfactant head groups and oppositely charged binding sites and (ii) repulsive forces between the surfactant head groups. Furthermore, the ITC investigations have revealed that after salt-addition surfactant micelles interact with the polymer instead of separated SDS molecules due to a depression of the CMC.
Near edge X-ray absorption. ne structure and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have been employed to follow the reversible trans to cis isomerization of tetra-tert-butyl-azobenzene (TBA) adsorbed on Au(111). For one monolayer the molecules adopt an adsorption geometry characteristic of the trans-TBA isomer. The azo-bridge (N = N) is aligned nearly parallel to the surface and the phenyl rings exhibit a planar orientation with a small tilt angle <= 4 degrees with respect to the surface normal. Illumination of the molecular layer at 455 nm triggers the trans to cis isomerization which is associated with a pronounced change of the geometrical and electronic structure. The N1s to pi* transition of the central azo-bridge shifts by 0.45 +/- 0.05 eV to higher photon energy and the transition dipole moment (TDM) is tilted by 59 +/- 5 degrees with respect to the surface normal. The pi-system of one phenyl ring is tilted by about 30 degrees with respect to the surface normal, while the second ring plane is oriented nearly perpendicular to the surface. This reorientation is supported by a shift and broadening of the C-H resonances associated with the tert-butyl legs of the molecule. These findings support a configuration of the photo-switched TBA molecule on Au(111) which is comparable to the cis-isomer of the free molecule. In the photo-stationary state 53 +/- 5% of the TBA molecules are switched to the cis configuration. Thermal activation induces the back reaction to trans-TBA.
We report on attempts towards the synthesis of titanium nanoparticles using a wet chemical approach in imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) under reducing conditions. Transmission electron microscopy finds nanoparticles in all cases. UV/Vis spectroscopy confirms the nanoparticulate nature of the precipitate, as in all cases an absorption band between ca. 280 and 300 nm is visible. IR spectroscopy shows that even after extensive washing and drying, some IL remains adsorbed on the nanoparticles. Raman spectroscopy suggests the formation of anatase nanoparticles, but X-ray diffraction reveals that, possibly, amorphous titania forms or that the nanoparticles are so small that a clear structure assignment is not possible. The report thus shows that (possibly amorphous) titanium oxides even form under reducing conditions and that the chemical synthesis of titanium nanoparticles in ILs remains elusive.
Herein we demonstrate how the photoreaction between anthracenes and singlet oxygen (O-1(2)) is employed for applications either as photoswitch or as photoresist. Thin Films of the diaryl-alkyl anthracene 1 and the analogous oligomeric species 2 were it-radiated under photomasks to generate pattern structures composed of 1/1-O-2 and 2/2-O-2. Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) provided a powerful and nondestructive method to image the pattern information. The following studies based on AFM, KPFM and contact angle measurements unfold that the two species 1 and 2 underwent different progressions after the imaging step. Degrading is observed for the monomeric compound 1 and the pattern eventually becomes recognizable in topography. In the oxidized state (1-O-2) the monomeric species remains physically stable. In consequence, the unreacted portion is removable and the remaining oxygenated form 1-O-2 is sufficiently stable to protect in underlying substrate (e.g., silver) from etching. Thus, the system 1/1-O-2 operates as photoresist. Oil the other hand, both states of the oligomier 2 remain stable. The Film is stable up to temperatures > 120 degrees C required to erase the pattern within acceptable time by cycloreversion. Anthracene 2 therefore acts as erasable and rewritable photochromic switch. The different behavior between 1 and 2 is explained by phase transitions which cause crystallization and finally ablation. Such transitions affect only the monomeric system 1/1-O-2 and not the oligomeric system 2/2-O-2. In conclusion, we designed two very similar materials based on diarylanthracenes, which can act either as a photoresist or as a rewritable photochrornic switch.
Recently, we introduced a thermoresponsive copolymer that consists of oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (OEGMA) and 2-(2- methoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate (MEO(2)MA). The polymer exhibited an LCST at 35 degrees C in PBS buffer and was anchored onto gold substrates using disulfide polymerisation initiators. It allows the noninvasive detachment of adherent cells from their substrate. As the mechanisms that determine the interaction of cells with such polymers are not well understood, we employed Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy in order to monitor the detachment process of cells of two different types. We identified contact area and average cell-substrate distance as crucial parameters for the evaluation of the detachment process. The sensitivity of TIRF microscopy allowed us to correlate the specific adhesion pattern of MCF-7 breast cancer cells with the morphology of cell deposits that may serve as fingerprints for a nondestructive characterisation of live cells.
The kinetics of the crystallization of thermoresponsive poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) in water and the time- dependent evolution of the morphology were examined using wide-angle X-ray scattering and conventional and cryogenic scanning electron microscopy. Results indicate that a temperature-induced phase separation produces a bicontinuous polymer network-like structure, which with the onset of crystallization collapses into individual particles (1-2 mu m in diameter) composed of a porous fiber mesh. Nanofibers then preferentially form at the particle surface, thus wrapping the microspheres like a ball of wool. The particle morphology is severely affected by changes in temperature and less by the initial polymer concentration.
Lectin-bound conformations and non-covalent interactions of glycomimetic analogs of thiochitobiose
(2010)
The bound conformations of five S-glycoside analogs of N,N'-diacetylchitobiose as well as their non- covalent interactions with two lectins, Phytolacca americana lectin (PAL) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), are reported. The conformations of the ligands were examined by trNOESY experiments and compared with the free, solution-state conformations and molecular modeling data obtained by force field calculations. In the case of S-aryl, S-glycosides with exclusively S-glycosidic linkages, similar free and lectin-bound conformations and non-covalent interactions were found, whereas they differed for mixed glycosides and for a thiazoline derivative. In addition, STD (saturation transfer difference) NMR magnetization transfer efficiencies at three different temperatures were determined and assessed with respect to the structural differences of these pseudosaccharides. The binding epitopes of each substrate with PAL and WGA were also determined.
Intramolecular deactivation processes in complexes of salicylic acid or glycolic acid with Eu(III)
(2010)
The complexation of Eu(III) by 2-hydroxy benzoic acid (2HB) or glycolic acid (GL) was investigated using steady- state and time-resolved laser spectroscopy. Experiments were carried out in H2O as well as in D2O in the temperature range of View the MathML source. The Eu(III) luminescence spectra and luminescence decay times were evaluated with respect to the temperature dependence of (i) the luminescence decay time ;, (ii) the energy of the View the MathML source transition, (iii) the width of the View the MathML source transition, and (iv) the asymmetry ratio calculated from the luminescence intensities of the View the MathML source and View the MathML source transition, respectively. The differences in ligand-related luminescence quenching are discussed. Based on the temperature dependence of the luminescence decay times an activation energy for the ligand-specific non-radiative deactivation in Eu(III)-2HB or Eu(III)-GL complexes was determined. It is stressed that ligand-specific quenching processes (other than OH quenching induced by water molecules) need to be determined and considered in detail, in order to extract speciation- relevant information from luminescence data (e.g., estimation of the number of water molecules nH2O in the first coordination sphere of Eu(III)). In case of 2HB, conclusions drawn from the evaluation of the Eu(III) luminescence are compared with results of a X-ray structure analysis.
Interactions of the antimicrobial peptide Arenicin with amphiphiles at planar and curved interfaces
(2010)
The influence of the alkyl chain length in 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonylimide)s is studied to explore the rotation of piperidine-1-yloxyl derivatives substituted with either hydrogen bonding hydroxy group or ionic substituents, such as the cationic trimethylammonium or the anionic sulfate group placed at the 4 position. Structural variation of the ionic liquids results in differences of their viscosity influencing the rotation of the spin probes. The size of the average rotational correlation times of the spin probes dissolved in the ionic liquids depends further on the additional substituent in 4-position at these spin probes. The rotational correlation time exhibits a linear dependence on the ionic liquid viscosity in the case of the spin probe forming hydrogen bonding with the ionic liquids. In contrast to this, a deviation from the Stokes-Einstein behavior is found in the case of rotation of the charged spin probes in the 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium bis( trifluoromethylsulfonylimide) s substituted with a longer alkyl chain. This effect may be explained by phase separation on a molecular level between the charged part of the ionic liquid and the longer alkyl chains bound at the imidazolium ion. Although the neutral and the cationic spin probes show only a slight dependence between ionic liquid structure variation and the hyperfine coupling constants, structural effects cause changes in the hyperfine coupling constants in the case of the anionic spin probes. These probes strongly interact with the imidazolium ion.
Individual rate coefficients for 1H,1H,2H,2H-tridecafluorooctyl methacrylate radical polymerizations
(2010)
Kinetic data for radical polymerizations of 1H,1H,2H,2H-tridecafluorooctyl methacrylate (TDFOMA) in bulk is reported. Pulsed laser initiated polymerizations yield propagation rate coefficients, k(p), which are by a factor of 1.9 higher than methyl methacrylate k(p). The activation energy of TDFOMA k(p) is not significantly different from that of alkyl methacrylates. Chain-length averaged termination rate coefficients were estimated from chemically initiated polymerizations with in-line FT-NIR spectroscopic monitoring of monomer conversion. Up to 30% of monomer conversion TDFOMA termination rate coefficients are only slightly below MMA low conversion values. The result is suggested to be due to less interactions between the macroradicals compared to nonfluorinated systems.
Narrow channels with polar walls are the structural and functional features responsible for the high capacity of a zinc-organic framework based on an imidazolate-amide-imidate ligand for the uptake of H2 and CO2 (see structure: orange Zn, blue N, red O, dark gray C, light gray H). The rigid and stable chelating ligand was synthesized in situ by partial hydrolysis of a dicyanoimidazole compound.
Identification of benzenoid and quinonoid structures by through-space NMR shieldings (TSNMRS)
(2010)
The surface of carbon black (CB) nanoparticles was functionalized with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) either by trapping of macroradicals or by cycloaddition. PVDF with two iodine end groups (I-PVDF-I) obtained from iodine transfer polymerization in supercritical CO2 was heated in the presence of CB and the C-I bond was cleaved resulting in a reaction between the macroradical and the CB surface. To allow for cycloaddition of PVDF to the CB surface for a number of polymers, the iodine end groups were replaced by azide end groups. In addition, microwave irradiation was applied to the functionalization. The influence of temperature, time, polymer concentration, and polymer molar mass on the functionalization reaction was examined.
The free volume in thin films of poly(N-isopropylacrylamid) end-capped with n-butyltrio-carbonate (nbc-PNIPAM) is probed with positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The PALS measurements are performed as function of energy to obtain depth profiles of the free volume of nbc-PNIPAM films. The range of nbc-PNIPAM films with thicknesses from 40 to 200 nm is focused. With decreasing film thickness the free volume increases in good agreement with an increase in the maximum swelling capability of the nbc-PNIPAM films. Thus in thin hydrogel films the sorption and swelling behavior is governed by free volume.
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.
Thiol-ene additions of methyl 10-undecenoate, a castor oil derived renewable platform chemical, were studied with the goal of preparing a set of renewable monomers. Good to excellent yields were obtained for these solvent and initiator free thiol-ene additions. The resulting monomers were then polymerized using TBD as a catalyst, to linear as well as hyperbranched polyesters that also contain thio-ether linkages. All thus prepared polymers were fully characterized (NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA) and the results of these investigations will be discussed within this contribution. The thermal analysis of these polymers revealed melting points in the range from 50 to 71 degrees C. Moreover, no significant weight loss was observed below 300 degrees C.
Oil-in-water (o/w) Pickering emulsions stabilized with silica nanoparticles were prepared. Droplets of diethyl phthalate (oil phase) act as reservoirs for 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ), which is used as (a) the hydrophobizing agent for the silica particles and (b) an encapsulated corrosion inhibitor for application in active feedback coatings. The hydrophobization of silica nanoparticles with 8-HQ is determined by the amount of this agent adsorbed on the nanoparticle surface. The latter is governed by the 8-HQ concentration in the aqueous phase, which in turn depends on the degree of protonation and fir ally on the pH. We observe three ranges of 8-HQ adsorption value with respect to nanoparticle hydophobization: (I) insufficient, (2) sufficient, and (3) excessive adsorption by the formation of an 8-HQ bilayer, where only case 2 leads to the necessary nanoparticle hydrophobization. Hence emulsions stable in a narrow pH window between pH 5.5 and 4.4 follow. Here functional molecules are sufficiently charged to compensate for the charges on silica nanoparticles to make them interfacially active and thus able to stabilize an emulsion but they are still to a large extent uncharged and thereby remain in the oil phase. The emulsification is reversible upon changing the pH to a value beyond the stability region.
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.
The first conformational analysis of 3-silathiane and its C-substituted derivatives, namely, 3,3-dimethyl-3- silathiane 1, 2,3,3-trimethyl-3-silathiane 2, and 2-trimethylsilyl-3,3-dimethyl-3-silathiane 3 was performed by using dynamic NMR spectroscopy and B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) quantum chemical calculations. From coalescence temperatures, ring inversion barriers ;G; for 1 and 2 were estimated to be 6.3 and 6.8;kcal/mol, respectively. These values are considerably lower than that of thiacyclohexane (9.4;kcal/mol) but slightly higher than the one of 1,1- dimethylsilacyclohexane (5.5;kcal/mol). The conformational free energy for the methyl group in 2 (;;G°;=;0.35;kcal/mol) derived from low-temperature 13C NMR data is fairly consistent with the calculated value. For compound 2, theoretical calculations give ;E value close to zero for the equilibrium between the 2-Meax and 2-Meeq conformers. The calculated equatorial preference of the trimethylsilyl group in 3 is much more pronounced (;;G°;=;1.8;kcal/mol) and the predominance of the 3-SiMe3 eq conformer at room temperature was confirmed by the simulated 1H NMR and 2D NOESY spectra. The effect of the 2-substituent on the structural parameters of 2 and 3 is discussed.
Nanofibrous mats are interesting scaffold materials for biomedical applications like tissue engineering due to their interconnectivity and their size dimension which mimics the native cell environment. Electrospinning provides a simple route to access such fiber meshes. This thesis addresses the structural and functional control of electrospun fiber mats. In the first section, it is shown that fiber meshes with bimodal size distribution could be obtained in a single-step process by electrospinning. A standard single syringe set-up was used to spin concentrated poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) solutions in chloroform and meshes with bimodal-sized fiber distribution could be directly obtained by reducing the spinning rate at elevated humidity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury porosity of the meshes suggested a suitable pore size distribution for effective cell infiltration. The bimodal fiber meshes together with unimodal fiber meshes were evaluated for cellular infiltration. While the micrometer fibers in the mixed meshes generate an open pore structure, the submicrometer fibers support cell adhesion and facilitate cell bridging on the large pores. This was revealed by initial cell penetration studies, showing superior ingrowth of epithelial cells into the bimodal meshes compared to a mesh composed of unimodal 1.5 μm fibers. The bimodal fiber meshes together with electrospun nano- and microfiber meshes were further used for the inorganic/organic hybrid fabrication of PCL with calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate, two biorelevant minerals. Such composite structures are attractive for the potential improvement of properties such as stiffness or bioactivity. It was possible to encapsulate nano and mixed sized plasma-treated PCL meshes to areas > 1 mm2 with calcium carbonate using three different mineralization methods including the use of poly(acrylic acid). The additive seemed to be useful in stabilizing amorphous calcium carbonate to effectively fill the space between the electrospun fibers resulting in composite structures. Micro-, nano- and mixed sized fiber meshes were successfully coated within hours by fiber directed crystallization of calcium phosphate using a ten-times concentrated simulated body fluid. It was shown that nanofibers accelerated the calcium phosphate crystallization, as compared to microfibers. In addition, crystallizations performed at static conditions led to hydroxyapatite formations whereas in dynamic conditions brushite coexisted. In the second section, nanofiber functionalization strategies are investigated. First, a one-step process was introduced where a peptide-polymer-conjugate (PLLA-b-CGGRGDS) was co-spun with PLGA in such a way that the peptide is enriched on the surface. It was shown that by adding methanol to the chloroform/blend solution, a dramatic increase of the peptide concentration at the fiber surface could be achieved as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Peptide accessibility was demonstrated via a contact angle comparison of pure PLGA and RGD-functionalized fiber meshes. In addition, the electrostatic attraction between a RGD-functionalized fiber and a silica bead at pH ~ 4 confirmed the accessibility of the peptide. The bioactivity of these RGD-functionalized fiber meshes was demonstrated using blends containing 18 wt% bioconjugate. These meshes promoted adhesion behavior of fibroblast compared to pure PLGA meshes. In a second functionalization approach, a modular strategy was investigated. In a single step, reactive fiber meshes were fabricated and then functionalized with bioactive molecules. While the electrospinning of the pure reactive polymer poly(pentafluorophenyl methacrylate) (PPFPMA) was feasible, the inherent brittleness of PPFPMA required to spin a PCL blend. Blends and pure PPFPMA showed a two-step functionalization kinetics. An initial fast reaction of the pentafluorophenyl esters with aminoethanol as a model substance was followed by a slow conversion upon further hydrophilization. This was analysed by UV/Vis-spectroscopy of the pentaflurorophenol release upon nucleophilic substitution with the amines. The conversion was confirmed by increased hydrophilicity of the resulting meshes. The PCL/PPFPMA fiber meshes were then used for functionalization with more complex molecules such as saccharides. Aminofunctionalized D-Mannose or D-Galactose was reacted with the active pentafluorophenyl esters as followed by UV/Vis spectroscopy and XPS. The functionality was shown to be bioactive using macrophage cell culture. The meshes functionalized with D-Mannose specifically stimulated the cytokine production of macrophages when lipopolysaccharides were added. This was in contrast to D-Galactose- or aminoethanol-functionalized and unfunctionalized PCL/PPFPMA fiber mats.
PVP-block-PVAc block copolymers were synthesized by controlled radical polymerization applying a RAFT/MADIX system and were investigated by HPLC and by coupling of chromatography to FT-IR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF MS. Chromatographic methods (LACCC and gradient techniques) were developed that allowed a separation of block copolymers according to their repeating units. The results of the spectroscopic and spectrometric analysis clearly showed transfer between radicals and process solvent. With the use of hyphenated techniques differences between main and side products were detected. In agreement with previously published results, obtained by NMR, SEC, static light scattering and MALDI- TOF MS, our data proved a non-ideal RAFT polymerization.