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The acetone extracts of the root bark and stem bark of Erythrina sacleuxii showed antiplasmodial activities against the chloroquine-sensitive (D6) and chloroquine-resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Chromatographic separation of the acetone extract of the root bark afforded a new isoflavone, 7-hydroxy-4 -methoxy-3'- prenylisoflavone (trivial name 5-deoxy-3' - prenylbiochanin A) along with known isoflavonoids as the antiplasmodial principles. Flavonoids and isoflavonoids isolated from the stem bark of E. sucleuxii were also tested and showed antiplasmodial activities. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence
The results of a quantum-mechanical study of vibrational relaxation of hydrogen adsorbed on a Si(100) surface with the multi-configurational time-dependent Hartree (MCTDH) method are presented. A two-dimensional subsystem is coupled non-linearly to a bath of harmonic oscillators (phonons of the Si bulk), and the relaxation of subsystem vibrations proceeds primarily via a two-phonon process. Characteristic times of the system evolution agree well with our previous perturbation theory study. The vibrational population decay is non-exponential, exhibiting pronounced recurrences due to finite bath size. The dependence of the lifetimes of the vibrational levels on the bath size and on the coupling details is investigated.
Nonaqueous synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles and their assembly into mesoporous materials
(2006)
This thesis mainly consist of two parts, the synthesis of several kinds of technologically interesting crystalline metal oxide nanoparticles via nonaqueous sol-gel process and the formation of mesoporous metal oxides using some of these nanoparticles as building blocks via evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA) technique. In the first part, the experimental procedures and characterization results of successful syntheses of crystalline tin oxide and tin doped indium oxide (ITO) nanoparticles are reported. SnO2 nanoparticles exhibit monodisperse particle size (3.5 nm in average), high crystallinity and particularly high dispersibility in THF, which enable them to become the ideal particulate precursor for the formation of mesoporous SnO2. ITO nanoparticles possess uniform particle morphology, narrow particle size distribution (5-10 nm), high crystallinity as well as high electrical conductivity. The synthesis approaches and characterization of various mesoporous metal oxides, including TiO2, SnO2, mixture of CeO2 and TiO2, mixture of BaTiO3 and SnO2, are reported in the second part of this thesis. Mesoporous TiO2 and SnO2 are presented as highlights of this part. Mesoporous TiO2 was produced in the forms of both films and bulk material. In the case of mesoporous SnO2, the study was focused on the high order of the porous structure. All these mesoporous metal oxides show high crystallinity, high surface area and rather monodisperse pore sizes, which demonstrate the validity of EISA process and the usage of preformed crystalline nanoparticles as nanobuilding blocks (NBBs) to produce mesoporous metal oxides.
A successful assignment for the fundamental bands observed in the experimental IR spectra of mn-12S(2)O(2) and fn-12S(2)O(2) dithiacrown ethers was achieved by the aid of the density functional theory (DFT) based quantum mechanical calculations carried out at the 133LYP/6-31G(d) and B3LYP/6-31 + G(d) level of theory. Two different scaling approaches, '(i) scaled quantum mechanics force field (SQM FF) methodology', and (ii) the 'scaling frequencies with dual empirical scale factors', were used in order to fit the calculated harmonic frequencies to the experimental ones. Potential energy distribution (PED) calculations were carried out to define the internal coordinate contributions to each normal mode and to define the corresponding normal modes of the molecules. The effects of the conformational differences onto the IR active normal modes of the two isomeric molecules and their corresponding experimental frequencies were discussed in the light of the calculated spectral data.
Quantum dots (QDs) are common as luminescing markers for imaging in biological applications because their optical properties seem to be inert against their surrounding solvent. This, together with broad and strong absorption bands and intense, sharp tuneable luminescence bands, makes them interesting candidates for methods utilizing Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET), e. g. for sensitive homogeneous fluoroimmunoassays (FIA). In this work we demonstrate energy transfer from Eu<SUP>3+</SUP>-trisbipyridin (Eu-TBP) donors to CdSe-ZnS-QD acceptors in solutions with and without serum. The QDs are commercially available CdSe-ZnS core-shell particles emitting at 655 nm (QD655). The FRET system was achieved by the binding of the streptavidin conjugated donors with the biotin conjugated acceptors. After excitation of Eu-TBP and as result of the energy transfer, the luminescence of the QD655 acceptors also showed lengthened decay times like the donors. The energy transfer efficiency, as calculated from the decay times of the bound and the unbound components, amounted to 37%. The Förster-radius, estimated from the absorption and emission bands, was ca. 77 Å. The effective binding ratio, which not only depends on the ratio of binding pairs but also on unspecific binding, was obtained from the donor emission dependent on the concentration. As serum promotes unspecific binding, the overall FRET efficiency of the assay was reduced. We conclude that QDs are good substitutes for acceptors in FRET if combined with slow decay donors like Europium. The investigation of the influence of the serum provides guidance towards improving binding properties of QD assays.
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
In this work approaches for new detection system development for an Analytical Ultracentrifuge (AUC) were explored. Unlike its counterpart in chromatography fractionation techniques, the use of a Multidetection system for AUC has not yet been implemented to full extent despite its potential benefit. In this study we tried to couple existing fundamental spectroscopic and scattering techniques that are used in day to day science as tool for extracting analyte information. Trials were performed for adapting Raman, Light scattering and UV/Vis (with possibility to work with the whole range of wavelengths) to AUC. Conclusions were drawn for Raman and Light scattering to be a possible detection system for AUC, while the development for a fast fiber optics based multiwavelength detector was completed. The multiwavelength detector demonstrated the capability of data generation matching the literature and reference measurement data and faster data collection than that of the commercial instrument. It became obvious that with the generation of data in 3-D space in the UV/Vis detection system, the user can select the wavelength for the evaluation of experimental results as the data set contains the whole range of information from UV/Vis wavelength. The detector showed the data generation with much faster speed unlike the commercial instruments. The advantage of fast data generation was exemplified with the evaluation of data for a mixture of three colloids. These data were in conformity with measurement results from normal radial experiments and without significant diffusion broadening. Thus conclusions were drawn that with our designed Multiwavelength detector, meaningful data in 3-D space can be collected with much faster speed of data generation.
Effects of frequency, predictability, and position of words on event-related potentials were assessed during word-by-word sentence reading in 48 subjects in an early and in a late time window corresponding to P200 and N400. Repeated measures multiple regression analyses revealed a P200 effect in the high-frequency range also the P200 was larger on words at the beginning and end of sentences than on words in the middle of sentences (i.e., a quadratic effect of word position). Predictability strongly affected the N400 component; the effect was stronger for low than for high- frequency words. The P200 frequency effect indicates that high-frequency words are lexically accessed very fast, independent of context information. Effects on the N400 suggest that predictability strongly moderates the late access especially of low-frequency words. Thus, contextual facilitation on the N400 appears to reflect both lexical and post- lexical stages of word recognition, questioning a strict classification into lexical and post-lexical processes.
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
Die Anwendung zweier ähnlicher fasergekoppelte Diodenlaser-Spektrometer-Systeme werden vorgestellt. Basis sind handelsübliche DFB-Laserdioden der optischen Kommunikationstechnik. Der faseroptische Aufbau, das Detektionsverfahren (2f Wellenlängenmodulations-Spektroskopie mit Balanced Receiver), Rauschverhalten und Detektionslimit werden diskutiert. Zur in-situ Plasma-Diagnostik von CO- und CO2-Konzentrationen in industriellen CO2-Lasern der Materialbearbeitung wurde eine Wellenlänge von 1582 nm verwendet. Bei einem Gasdruck von 100 hPa und einer Absorptionsweglänge von 14,9 cm wurden mit einer Laserdiode simultan CO- und CO2-Konzentrationen von 0% bis 11% im Gasgefäß bei laufender Hochfrequenzgasentladung des CO2-Lasers zeitaufgelöst gemessen. Vorgestellt und diskutiert werden Aufbau und Eigenschaften des Spektrometers sowie die Ergebnisse der dynamischen Gasanalysen, die zu einer Verbesserung der Katalysator-Technik im CO2-Laser beigetragen haben.Mit isotopenaufgelöster CO- und CO2-Spektroskopie können biologische Gasaustauschprozesse, z.B. in Gasen aus dem Erdboden untersucht werden. Hierzu wurde ein fasergekoppeltes feldtaugliches Diodenlaser-Spektrometer bei Wellenlängen um 1605 nm zur Messungder Isotopologe 12C16O, 13C16O, 12C18O und 12C16O2, 13C16O2, 12C18O16O aufgebaut. Die Messung erfolgt extraktiv in Langwegzellen mit unterschiedlichen Absorptionsweglängen von 100.9 m und 29.9 m. Es werden Kalibrationsmessungen zur Linearität und zur Präzision der Bestimmung der Isotopenverhältnisse sowie Wiederholungsmessungen zur Stabilität vorgestellt. Nachweisgrenzen von wenigen ppm konnten für die CO- und CO2-Isotopologen erhalten werden.
Optical methods play an important role in process analytical technologies (PAT). Four examples of optical process and quality sensing (OPQS) are presented, which are based on three important experimental techniques: near-infrared absorption, luminescence quenching, and a novel method, photon density wave (PDW) spectroscopy. These are used to evaluate four process and quality parameters related to beer brewing and polyurethane (PU) foaming processes: the ethanol content and the oxygen (O2) content in beer, the biomass in a bioreactor, and the cellular structures of PU foam produced in a pilot production plant.
Optical methods play an important role in process analytical technologies (PAT). Four examples of optical process and quality sensing (OPQS) are presented, which are based on three important experimental techniques: near- infrared absorption, luminescence quenching, and a novel method, photon density wave (PDW) spectroscopy. These are used to evaluate four process and quality parameters related to beer brewing and polyurethane (PU) foaming processes: the ethanol content and the oxygen (O-2) content in beer, the biomass in a bioreactor, and the cellular structures of PU foam produced in a pilot production plant
The aliphatic anthracene compound 1 and the oligomeric anthracene 2 were synthesized. Thin films of 1 and 2 mixed with the sensitizers tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) and methylene blue (MB) were irradiated with visible light in air. Upon formation of singlet oxygen, the anthracene units were converted quantitatively to the corresponding endoperoxides. Heating of the irradiated samples afforded the parent anthracenes with high yields. Here, we demonstrate that the kinetics and reversibility of this reaction strongly depend on the microenvironment of the anthracene groups in the two compounds. The photooxidation of thin films of I is accompanied by interesting changes in the morphology of the film and allows the first application of 1 as a nondestructive negative-tone photo-resist for lithography and as an oxidizing ink. The morphology of 2 remained unchanged after photooxidation as a result of the stabilizing oligomer backbone. This stabilizing effect significantly improves the photochromic performance of 2. The reversibility of the photooxidation is very high (> 90%) for oligomeric films of 2 after several cycles of irradiation and beating. Decomposition of the anthracene and a loss of the activity of the sensitizer diminish slightly the performance of the monomeric species.
The photooxygenation of homochiral cyclohexene ketals, which are easily available from 2-cyclohexenone and L-tartrates, affords hydroperoxides and after reduction the corresponding allylic alcohols in good yields and high regioselectivities. This can be rationalized by electronic repulsions in a perepoxide intermediate and provides evidence for unfavorable 1,3 diaxial interactions with a dioxolane oxygen atom. Only low stereoselectivities were observed, due to the flexibility of the cyclohexene ring. However, the diastereomers could be separated and after cleavage of the auxiliary, 4-hydroxy-2-cyclohexen-1-one was isolated in enantiomerically pure form, which can serve as a building block for natural product synthesis.
We report quantum chemical calculations, mostly based on density functional theory, on azobenzene and substituted azobenzenes as neutral molecules or ions, in ground and excited states. Both the cis and trans configurations are computed as well as the activation energies to transform one isomer into the other and the possible reaction paths and reaction surfaces along the torsion and inversion modes. All calculations are done for the isolated species, but results are discussed in light of recent experiments aiming at the switching of surface mounted azobenzenes by scanning tunneling microscopes.
Water-soluble, amphiphilic diblock copolymers were synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. They consist of poly(butyl acrylate) as hydrophobic block with a low glass transition temperature and three different nonionic water-soluble blocks, namely, the classical hydrophilic block poly(dimethylacrylamide), the strongly hydrophilic poly(acryloyloxyethyl methylsulfoxide), and the thermally sensitive poly(N-acryloylpyrrolidine). Aqueous micellar solutions of the block copolymers were prepared and characterized by static and dynamic light scattering analysis (DLS and SLS). No critical micelle concentration could be detected. The micellization was thermodynamically favored, although kinetically slow, exhibiting a marked dependence on the preparation conditions. The polymers formed micelles with a hydrodynamic diameter from 20 to 100 nm, which were stable upon dilution. The micellar size was correlated with the composition of the block copolymers and their overall molar mass. The micelles formed with the two most hydrophilic blocks were particularly stable upon temperature cycles, whereas the thermally sensitive poly(N-acryloylpyrrolidine) block showed a temperature-induced precipitation. According to combined SLS and DLS analysis, the micelles exhibited an elongated shape such as rods or worms. It should be noted that the block copolymers with the most hydrophilic poly(sulfoxide) block formed inverse micelles in certain organic solvents.
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
Retrosynthese von Perlmutt
(2006)
In dieser Arbeit ist es gelungen, die Bedeutung physikalisch-chemischer Mechanismen in der Biomineralisation gegenüber der bisher angenommenen Dominanz spezifischer biomolekularer Erkennungsmechanismen aufzuzeigen. Dazu wurden drei Ansätze verfolgt: Zum einen wurden Studien zur Calciumcarbonatkristallisation durchgeführt. Zum anderen wurde das Biomineral Perlmutt intensiv untersucht. Als drittes wurde ein Modellsystem entwickelt, mit dem künstliches Perlmutt synthetisiert und ein Mechanismus für die Perlmuttmineralisation vorgeschlagen werden konnte. Im ersten Schritt wurden in einem simplen Kristallisationsansatz komplexe Calciumcarbonatüberstrukturen ohne die Verwendung von Additiven synthetisiert. Es wurde gezeigt, daß diese durch orientierte Anlagerung von Nanopartikeln gebildet werden, bei der dipolare Felder eine wichtige Rolle zu spielen scheinen. Dieser Mechansimus war bislang für Calciumcarbonat unbekannt und ermöglicht die Synthese komplexer Kristallmorphologien, wodurch die Frage aufgeworfen wird, ob er bei der Biomineralbildung von Bedeutung sein kann. Durch Einsatz minimaler Mengen eines einfachen, synthetischen Additivs bei der Kristallisation wurden zu Überstrukturen angeordnete Aragonitplättchen synthetisiert, die von einer wenige nm dicken Schicht aus amorphen Calciumcarbonat umgeben sind. Eine solche Schicht wurde auch bei den Aragonitplättchen Perlmutts entdeckt (s.u.) und bietet möglicherweise in verschiedenen Systemen eine Erklärung für die Stabilisierung der sonst metastabilen Aragonitphase. Im zweiten Schritt wurden bei der Untersuchung von natürlichem Perlmutt zwei bislang unbekannte Strukturmerkmale entdeckt: Es gibt Bereiche, die nicht aus den charakteristischen Plättchen bestehen, sondern wesentlich weniger stark mineralisert sind. Die Mineralphase besteht in diesen Bereichen aus Nanopartikeln. Es wurde weiterhin gezeigt, daß die Aragonitplättchen von einer wenige nm dicken Schicht aus amorphem Calciumcarbonat umgeben ist. Die gängigen Modelle der Perlmuttbildung sind mit diesen Beobachtungen nicht zu vereinbaren und somit zu hinterfragen. Dagegen deuten diese Ergebnisse ein Wachstum von Perlmutt über ACC-Nanopartikel an. Unter der Annahme der Bedeutung physikalisch-chemischer Mechanismen in der Biomineralisation wurde schließlich als dritter Schritt ein Ansatz zur in vitro-Retrosynthese von Biomineralien ausgehend von ihrer unlöslichen Matrix entwickelt. Mit diesem Ansatz ist es erstmals gelungen, künstliches Perlmutt auf synthetischem Wege herzustellen, das morphologisch nicht vom Original zu unterscheiden ist. Die existierenden Unterschiede konnten zeigen, daß der Mineralisationsprozeß nicht auf ein spezifisches Mikroumgebungssystem beschränkt, sondern "allgemeiner gültig"' sein muß. Bei der Retrosynthese gibt es zwei Schlüsselfaktoren: Zum einen die demineralisierte unlösliche Perlmuttmatrix als dreidimensionales Gerüst für das künstliche Perlmutt, zum anderen amorphe Precursorpartikel, die die Mineralphase bilden. Es werden keinerlei Proteine oder andere Biomoleküle verwendet. Dieser Ansatz bietet die Möglichkeit, den Mineralisationsprozeß an einem in vitro-Modellsystem zu verfolgen, was für das in vivo-System, wenn überhaupt, nur unter starken Einschränkungen möglich ist. Es wurde gezeigt, daß das künstliche Perlmutt über die Mesoskalentransformation von ACC-Precursorn innerhalb der Matrix gebildet wird und als möglicher Mechanismus bei der Biomineralisation von natürlichem Perlmutt diskutiert. Es konnte in der vorliegenden Arbeit konsequent gezeigt werden, daß die Imitation von Biomineralisationsprozessen in in vitro-Ansätzen möglich ist, wobei chemisch-physikalische Parameter dominieren. In zukünftigen Studien sollten einerseits die mechanischen Eigenschaften des künstlichen Perlmutts untersucht werden, wofür sich in Vorversuchen im Rahmen dieser Arbeit die Nanoindentierung als geeignet herausgestellt hat. Es sollte geprüft werden, ob das hier ermittelte Prinzip zur Mineralisierung in der Materialentwicklung angewendet werden kann. Andererseits sollte die Retrosynthese auf andere Systeme ausgeweitet und in vivo-Studien durchgeführt werden, um die Gültigkeit der vorgeschlagenen Mechanismen zu überprüfen.
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
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
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.
Quantum dots (QDs) are common as luminescing markers for imaging in biological applications because their optical properties seem to be inert against their surrounding solvent. This, together with broad and strong absorption bands and intense, sharp tuneable luminescence bands, makes them interesting candidates for methods utilizing Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET), e. g. for sensitive homogeneous fluoroimmunoassays (FIA). In this work we demonstrate energy transfer from Eu3+-trisbipyridin (Eu-TBP) donors to CdSe-ZnS-QD acceptors in solutions with and without serum. The QDs are commercially available CdSe-ZnS core-shell particles emitting at 655 nm (QD655). The FRET system was achieved by the binding of the streptavidin conjugated donors with the biotin conjugated acceptors. After excitation of Eu-TBP and as result of the energy transfer, the luminescence of the QD655 acceptors also showed lengthened decay times like the donors. The energy transfer efficiency, as calculated from the decay times of the bound and the unbound components, amounted to 37%. The Forster-radius, estimated from the absorption and emission bands, was ca. 77Å. The effective binding ratio, which not only depends on the ratio of binding pairs but also on unspecific binding, was obtained from the donor emission dependent on the concentration. As serum promotes unspecific binding, the overall FRET efficiency of the assay was reduced. We conclude that QDs are good substitutes for acceptors in FRET if combined with slow decay donors like Europium. The investigation of the influence of the serum provides guidance towards improving binding properties of QD assays.
Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) plays an important role for biochemical applications such as DNA sequencing, intracellular protein-protein interactions, molecular binding studies, in vitro diagnostics and many others. For qualitative and quantitative analysis, FRET systems are usually assembled through molecular recognition of biomolecules conjugated with donor and acceptor luminophores. Lanthanide (Ln) complexes, as well as semiconductor quantum dot nanocrystals (QD), possess unique photophysical properties that make them especially suitable for applied FRET. In this work the possibility of using QD as very efficient FRET acceptors in combination with Ln complexes as donors in biochemical systems is demonstrated. The necessary theoretical and practical background of FRET, Ln complexes, QD and the applied biochemical models is outlined. In addition, scientific as well as commercial applications are presented. FRET can be used to measure structural changes or dynamics at distances ranging from approximately 1 to 10 nm. The very strong and well characterized binding process between streptavidin (Strep) and biotin (Biot) is used as a biomolecular model system. A FRET system is established by Strep conjugation with the Ln complexes and QD biotinylation. Three Ln complexes (one with Tb3+ and two with Eu3+ as central ion) are used as FRET donors. Besides the QD two further acceptors, the luminescent crosslinked protein allophycocyanin (APC) and a commercial fluorescence dye (DY633), are investigated for direct comparison. FRET is demonstrated for all donor-acceptor pairs by acceptor emission sensitization and a more than 1000-fold increase of the luminescence decay time in the case of QD reaching the hundred microsecond regime. Detailed photophysical characterization of donors and acceptors permits analysis of the bioconjugates and calculation of the FRET parameters. Extremely large Förster radii of more than 100 Å are achieved for QD as acceptors, considerably larger than for APC and DY633 (ca. 80 and 60 Å). Special attention is paid to interactions with different additives in aqueous solutions, namely borate buffer, bovine serum albumin (BSA), sodium azide and potassium fluoride (KF). A more than 10-fold limit of detection (LOD) decrease compared to the extensively characterized and frequently used donor-acceptor pair of Europium tris(bipyridine) (Eu-TBP) and APC is demonstrated for the FRET system, consisting of the Tb complex and QD. A sub-picomolar LOD for QD is achieved with this system in azide free borate buffer (pH 8.3) containing 2 % BSA and 0.5 M KF. In order to transfer the Strep-Biot model system to a real-life in vitro diagnostic application, two kinds of imunnoassays are investigated using human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) as analyte. HCG itself, as well as two monoclonal anti-HCG mouse-IgG (immunoglobulin G) antibodies are labeled with the Tb complex and QD, respectively. Although no sufficient evidence for FRET can be found for a sandwich assay, FRET becomes obvious in a direct HCG-IgG assay showing the feasibility of using the Ln-QD donor-acceptor pair as highly sensitive analytical tool for in vitro diagnostics.
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 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).
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.
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 cysteine mutant of a monomeric human Cu, Zn-SOD (Glycine 61, Serine 142) has been immobilized directly on gold electrodes using the thiol groups introduced. The electrochemical behavior of the surface confined protein was studied in mixtures of aqueous buffer and DMSO up to an organic solvent content of 60%. The formal potential was found to be rather independent of the DMSO content. However, half peak width increased and the redoxactive amount clearly decreased with raising DMSO content. In addition, the kinetics of the heterogeneous electron transfer became slower; but still a quasireversible electrochemical conversion of the mutant SOD was feasible. Thus, the electrodes were applied for sensorial superoxide detection. At a potential of +220 mV vs. Ag/AgCl advantage was taken of the partial oxidation reaction of the enzyme. A defined superoxide signal was obtained in solutions up to 40% DMSO. The sensitivity of the mutant electrodes decreased linearly with the organic solvent content in solution but was still higher compared to conventional cyt.c based sensors. At DMSO concentrations higher than 40% no sensor response was detected.
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.
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
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
Both the structure and intramolecular flexibility of a series of aza crown ethers were studied by experimental NMR and theoretical molecular modeling. The stoichiometries of complexation to the anions H2PO4- and resulting complex stabilities were determined by experimental NMR (1H, 31P) titration and, in addition, the structure and mobility changes of the aza crown ethers upon complexation were also examined.
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
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
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 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.
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 paper is focused on the characterization and use of phosphatidylcholine (PC)-based inverse microemulsions as a template phase for the CdS nanoparticle formation. The optically clear, isotropic phase in the oil corner was identified as a "classicalö water-in-oil microemulsion by means of NMR-diffusion measurements. Because of the very small dimensions of the water droplets, the isotropic phase shows a Newtonian-like flow behavior, and adequate amounts of bulk water cannot be detected by DSC. It is demonstrated that this w/o microemulsion can be used successfully as a nanoreactor for the formation of CdS nanoparticles with diameters of 4-5 nm. During the following process of solvent evaporation the individual small CdS nanoparticles aggregate to significant larger cubic nanoparticles, with an edge length of 2-40 nm, arranged in well-defined mosaic-like superstructures. In presence of SDS the nanocubes were stable up to 800 °C. It has to be stated here that polyelectrolytes prevent the formation of such well-ordered superstructures.
The crystal structure of cis-[Cu(C8H7O3)(2)(H2O)(2)] (115 K data) reveals bidentate vanillinate ions coordinated via methoxy and deprotonated hydroxy oxygen atoms and water molecules in a distorted octahedral CuO6 chromophore. A cis orientation of the ligands enables two non-identical O(methoxy)-Cu-O(water) coordination axes (2.354(l) + 2.163(1); 2.151(1) + 2.020(1) angstrom), and the third shortest O(hydroxy)-Cu-O(hydroxy) axis (1.919(1) + 1.914(1) angstrom). This 115 K coordination sphere differs importantly to the one obtained from the 293 K data of the same compound, where two long 0(methoxy)-Cu-O(water) axes are of the same length, and only minor changes at the short 0(hydroxy)-Cu-O(hydroxy) axis are noticed. An axial symmetry of the complex with an inverse g(1.2)(g(perpendicular to)) > g(3)(g(parallel to)) pattern is observed in the temperature range from 298 to 180 K. A further decrease of temperature reveals gradual changes from axial to rhombic symmetry (g(1) > g(2) > g(3)) that is reversible. A mean-square displacement amplitude (MDSA) analysis reveals a disorder in the Cu-O(methoxy) bonds, but not in the other metal-ligand Cu-O(hydroxy) and Cu-O(water) bonds at 293 and 115 K. The disorder is significantly weaker in the 115 K structure. The MSDA analysis and the structural-EPR agreement show vibrational disorder in two coordination axes, due to the cis conformation of the complex with two 0(methoxy)-Cu-O(water) axes.
Two copper(II) coordination compounds with vanillic acid C8H8O4 (1), namely [Cu- 2(C8H7O4)(2)(O2CCH3)(2)(CH3OH)(2)] (2) and [Cu-2(C8H7O4)(4)(H2O2)(2)] (3), were synthesized and characterized. Single crystals of 1-3 were obtained and their crystal structures determined. The structure of 2 shows dinuclear cage structure of copper acetate hydrate type, however with two different carboxylates, acetates and vanillic acid anions,. respectively. Both bridging anions are in pairs in trans orientation. Methanol molecules are apically coordinated (Cu-O7 2.160(2) angstrom), fulfilling square-pyramidal coordination sphere around both copper ions. The compound 2 decomposes outside mother-liquid (yielding [Cu-2(C8H7O4)(2)(O2CCH3)(2)(H2O)(2)] (2a)) with the removal of methanol, but without significant change of the dicopper tetracarboxylate cage structure, as noticed by mu(eff) 1.48 BM for 2a. Similar was found also in the X-band EPR spectra with three signals H-z1, H-perpendicular to 2 and H-z2 in the region from 0 to 600 mT. The structure of free vanillic acid 1 is composed of dimeric units of two molecules, connected by two parallel hydrogen bonds between carboxylate group of each other (O1-H(...)O2 2.642(3) angstrom), while the structure of 3 is of [Cu-2(O2CCH3)(4)(H2O)(2)] type. Interestingly, an additional signal in the EPR spectra of 3 is found at 80 mT (H- perpendicular to 1) at 298 and at 116 K, next to three signals H-z1, H-perpendicular to 2 and H-z2.
The nanostructuring of ORMOCER (R) to form inverse opals is described. For this purpose a polymer opal is used as a template and infiltrated with liquid ORMOCER (R). After photopolymerization of the resin the host opal is dissolved in tetrahydrofuran and an ORMOCER (R) inverse opal is obtained. It shows excellent periodicity (by SEM) and optical properties to reveal a high degree of face centered cubic order. This replication process leads to a nanostructured photonic crystal with the outstanding mechanical properties of ORMOCER (R) and high temperature stability up to 350 degrees C.