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Molecules are often naturally embedded in a complex environment. As a consequence, characteristic properties of a molecular subsystem can be substantially altered or new properties emerge due to interactions between molecular and environmental degrees of freedom. The present thesis is concerned with the numerical study of quantum dynamical and stationary properties of molecular vibrational systems embedded in selected complex environments.
In the first part, we discuss "strong-coupling" model scenarios for molecular vibrations interacting with few quantized electromagnetic field modes of an optical Fabry-Pérot cavity. We thoroughly elaborate on properties of emerging "vibrational polariton" light-matter hybrid states and examine the relevance of the dipole self-energy. Further, we identify cavity-induced quantum effects and an emergent dynamical resonance in a cavity-altered thermal isomerization model, which lead to significant suppression of thermal reaction rates. Moreover, for a single rovibrating diatomic molecule in an optical cavity, we observe non-adiabatic signatures in dynamics due to "vibro-polaritonic conical intersections" and discuss spectroscopically accessible "rovibro-polaritonic" light-matter hybrid states.
In the second part, we study a weakly coupled but numerically challenging quantum mechanical adsorbate-surface model system comprising a few thousand surface modes. We introduce an efficient construction scheme for a "hierarchical effective mode" approach to reduce the number of surface modes in a controlled manner. In combination with the multilayer multiconfigurational time-dependent Hartree (ML-MCTDH) method, we examine the vibrational adsorbate relaxation dynamics from different excited adsorbate states by solving the full non-Markovian system-bath dynamics for the characteristic relaxation time scale. We examine half-lifetime scaling laws from vibrational populations and identify prominent non-Markovian signatures as deviations from Markovian reduced system density matrix theory in vibrational coherences, system-bath entanglement and energy transfer dynamics.
In the final part of this thesis, we approach the dynamics and spectroscopy of vibronic model systems at finite temperature by formulating the ML-MCTDH method in the non-stochastic framework of thermofield dynamics. We apply our method to thermally-altered ultrafast internal conversion in the well-known vibronic coupling model of pyrazine. Numerically beneficial representations of multilayer wave functions ("ML-trees") are identified for different temperature regimes, which allow us to access thermal effects on both electronic and vibrational dynamics as well as spectroscopic properties for several pyrazine models.
Carbohydrates are found in every living organism, where they are responsible for numerous, essential biological functions and processes. Synthetic polymers with pendant saccharides, called glycopolymers, mimic natural glycoconjugates in their special properties and functions. Employing such biomimetics furthers the understanding and controlling of biological processes. Hence, glycopolymers are valuable and interesting for applications in the medical and biological field. However, the synthesis of carbohydrate-based materials can be very challenging. In this thesis, the synthesis of biofunctional glycopolymers is presented, with the focus on aqueous-based, protecting group free and short synthesis routes to further advance in the field of glycopolymer synthesis.
A practical and versatile precursor for glycopolymers are glycosylamines. To maintain biofunctionality of the saccharides after their amination, regioselective functionalization was performed. This frequently performed synthesis was optimized for different sugars. The optimization was facilitated using a design of experiment (DoE) approach to enable a reduced number of necessary experiments and efficient procedure. Here, the utility of using DoE for optimizing the synthesis of glycosylamines is discussed.
The glycosylamines were converted to glycomonomers which were then polymerized to yield biofunctional glycopolymers. Here, the glycopolymers were aimed to be applicable as layer-by-layer (LbL) thin film coatings for drug delivery systems. To enable the LbL technique, complimentary glycopolymer electrolytes were synthesized by polymerization of the glycomonomers and subsequent modification or by post-polymerization modification. For drug delivery, liposomes were embedded into the glycopolymer coating as potential cargo carriers. The stability as well as the integrity of the glycopolymer layers and liposomes were investigated at physiological pH range.
Different glycopolymers were also synthesized to be applicable as anti-adhesion therapeutics by providing advanced architectures with multivalent presentations of saccharides, which can inhibit the binding of pathogene lectins. Here, the synthesis of glycopolymer hydrogel particles based on biocompatible poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (NiPAm) was established using the free-radical precipitation polymerization technique. The influence of synthesis parameters on the sugar content in the gels and on the hydrogel morphology is discussed. The accessibility of the saccharides to model lectins and their enhanced, multivalent interaction were investigated.
At the end of this work, the synthesis strategies for the glycopolymers are generally discussed as well as their potential application in medicine.
This thesis deals with the synthesis of protein and composite protein-mineral microcapsules by the application of high-intensity ultrasound at the oil-water interface. While one system is stabilized by BSA molecules, the other system is stabilized by different nanoparticles modified with BSA. A comprehensive study of all synthesis stages as well as of resulting capsules were carried out and a plausible explanation of the capsule formation mechanism was proposed. During the formation of BSA microcapsules, the protein molecules adsorb firstly at the O/W interface and unfold there forming an interfacial network stabilized by hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds between neighboring molecules. Simultaneously, the ultrasonic treatment causes the cross-linking of the BSA molecules via the formation of intermolecular disulfide bonds. In this thesis, the experimental evidences of ultrasonically induced cross-linking of the BSA in the shells of protein-based microcapsules are demonstrated. Therefore, the concept proposed many years ago by Suslick and co-workers is confirmed by experimental evidences for the first time. Moreover, a consistent mechanism for the formation of intermolecular disulfide bonds in capsule shells is proposed that is based on the redistribution of thiol and disulfide groups in BSA under the action of high-energy ultrasound. The formation of composite protein-mineral microcapsules loaded with three different oils and shells composed of nanoparticles was also successful. The nature of the loaded oil and the type of nanoparticles in the shell, had influence on size and shape of the microcapsules. The examination of the composite capsule revealed that the BSA molecules adsorbed on the nanoparticles surface in the capsule shell are not cross-linked by intermolecular disulfide bonds. Instead, a Pickering emulsion formation takes place. The surface modification of composite microcapsules through both pre-modification of main components and also the post-modification of the surface of ready composite microcapsules was successfully demonstrated. Additionally, the mechanical properties of protein and composite protein-mineral microcapsules were compared. The results showed that the protein microcapsules are more resistant to elastic deformation.
The doctoral thesis presented provides a comprehensive view of laser-based ablation techniques promoted to new fields of operation, including, but not limited to, size, composition, and concentration analyses. It covers various applications of laser ablation techniques over a wide range of sizes, from single molecules all the way to aerosol particles. The research for this thesis started with broadening and deepening the field of application and the fundamental understanding of liquid-phase IR-MALDI. Here, the hybridization of ion mobility spectrometry and microfluidics was realized by using IR-MALDI as the coupling technique for the first time. The setup was used for monitoring the photocatalytic performance of the E-Z isomerization of olefins. Using this hybrid, measurement times were so drastically reduced that such photocatalyst screenings became a matter of minutes rather than hours. With this on hand, triple measurements screenings could not only be performed within ten minutes, but also with a minimum amount of resources highlighting its potential as a green chemistry alternative to batch-sized reactions. Along the optimizing process of the IR-MALDI source for microfluidics came its application for another liquid sample supply method, the hanging drop. This demarcated one of the first applications of IR-MALDI for the charging of sub-micron particles directly from suspensions via their gas-phase transfer, followed by their characterization with differential mobility analysis. Given the high spectral quality of the data up to octuply charged particles became experimentally accessible, this laid the foundation for deriving a new charge distribution model for IR-MALDI in that size regime. Moving on to even larger analyte sizes, LIBS and LII were employed as ablation techniques for the solid phase, namely the aerosol particles themselves. Both techniques produce light-emitting events and were used to quantify and classify different aerosols. The unique configuration of stroboscopic imaging, photoacoustics, LII, and LIBS measurements opened new realms for analytical synergies and their potential application in industry. The concept of using low fluences, below 100 J/cm2, and high repetition rates of up to 500 Hz for LIBS makes for an excellent phase-selective LIBS setup. This concept was combined with a new approach to the photoacoustic normalization of LIBS. Also, it was possible to acquire statistically relevant amounts of data in a matter of seconds, showing its potential as a real-time optimization technique. On the same time axis, but at much lower fluences, LII was used with a similar methodology to quickly quantify and classify airborne particles of different compositions. For the first time, aerosol particles were evaluated on their LII susceptibility by using a fluence screening approach.
Two approaches for the synthesis of prenylated isoflavones were explored: the 2,3-oxidative rearrangement/cross metathesis approach, using hypervalent iodine reagents as oxidants and the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling/cross metathesis approach. Three natural prenylated isoflavones: 5-deoxy-3′-prenylbiochanin A (59), erysubin F (61) and 7-methoxyebenosin (64), and non-natural analogues: 7,4′-dimethoxy-8,3′-diprenylisoflavone (126j) and 4′-hydroxy-7-methoxy-8,3′-diprenylisoflavone (128) were synthesized for the first time via the 2,3-oxidative rearrangement/cross metathesis approach, using mono- or diallylated flavanones as key intermediates. The reaction of flavanones with hypervalent iodine reagents afforded isoflavones via a 2,3-oxidative rearrangement and the corresponding flavone isomers via a 2,3-dehydrogenation. This afforded the synthesis of 7,4′-dimethoxy-8-prenylflavone (127g), 7,4′-dimethoxy-8,3′-diprenylflavone (127j), 7,4′-dihydroxy-8,3′-diprenylflavone (129) and 4′-hydroxy-7-methoxy-8,3′-diprenylflavone (130), the non-natural regioisomers of 7-methoxyebenosin, 126j, erysubin F and 128 respectively. Three natural prenylated isoflavones: 3′-prenylbiochanin A (58), neobavaisoflavone (66) and 7-methoxyneobavaisoflavone (137) were synthesized for the first time using the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling/cross metathesis approach. The structures of 3′-prenylbiochanin A (58) and 5-deoxy-3′-prenylbiochanin A (59) were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The 2,3-oxidative rearrangement approach appears to be limited to the substitution pattern on both rings A and B of the flavanone while the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling approach appears to be the most suitable for the synthesis of simple isoflavones or prenylated isoflavones whose prenyl substituents or allyl groups, the substituents that are essential precursors for the prenyl side chains, can be regioselectively introduced after the construction of the isoflavone core.
The chalcone-flavanone hybrids 146, 147 and 148, hybrids of the naturally occurring bioactive flavanones liquiritigenin-7-methyl ether, liquiritigenin and liquiritigenin-4′-methyl ether respectively were also synthesized for the first time, using Matsuda-Heck arylation and allylic/benzylic oxidation as key steps.
The intermolecular interactions of 5-deoxy-3′-prenylbiochanin A (59) and its two closely related precursors 106a and 106b was investigated by single crystal and Hirshfeld surface analyses to comprehend their different physicochemical properties. The results indicate that the presence of strong intermolecular O-H···O hydrogen bonds and an increase in the number of π-stacking interactions increases the melting point and lowers the solubility of isoflavone derivatives. However, the strong intermolecular O-H···O hydrogen bonds have a greater effect than the π-stacking interactions.
5-Deoxy-3′-prenylbiochanin A (59), erysubin F (61) and 7,4′-dihydroxy-8,3′-diprenylflavone (129), were tested against three bacterial strains and one fungal pathogen. All the three compounds were inactive against Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica (NCTC 13349), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), and Candida albicans (ATCC 90028), with MIC values greater than 80.0 μM. The diprenylated isoflavone erysubin F (61) and its flavone isomer 129 showed in vitro activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA, ATCC 43300) at MIC values of 15.4 and 20.5 μM, respectively. 5-Deoxy-3′-prenylbiochanin A (59) was inactive against this MRSA strain. Erysubin F (61) and its flavone isomer 129 could serve as lead compounds for the development of new alternative drugs for the treatment of MRSA infections.
One aspect of achieving a more sustainable chemical industry is the minimization of the usage of solvents and chemicals. Thus, optimization and development of chemical processes for large-scale production is favourably performed in small batches. The critical step in this approach is upscaling the batches from the small reaction systems to the large reactors mandatory for cost efficient production in an industrial environment. Scaling up the bulk volume always goes along with increasing the surface where the reaction medium is in contact with the confining vessel. Since volume scales proportional with the cubic dimension while the surface scales quadratic, their ratio is size-dependent. The influence of reaction vessel walls can change the reaction performance. A number of phenomena occurring at the surface-liquid interface can affect reaction rates and yields, resulting in possible difficulties in predicting and extrapolating from small size production scale to large industrial processes. The application of levitated droplets as a containerless reaction vessels provides a promising possibility to avoid the above-mentioned issues.
In the presented work, an efficient coupling of acoustically levitated droplets to an ion mobility (IM) spectrometer, operating at ambient conditions, was designed for real-time monitoring of chemical reactions. The design of the system comprises noncontact sampling and ionization of the droplet realised by laser desorption/ionization at 2,94 µm. The scope of the work includes fundamental studies covering understanding of laser irradiation of droplets enclosed in an acoustical field. Understanding of this phenomenon is crucial to comprehending the effects of temporal and spatial resolution of the generated ion plume that influence the resolution of the system.
The set-up includes an acoustic trap, laser irradiation and ion manipulation electrostatic lenses operating at high voltage at ambient pressure. The complexity of the design needs to fully be considered for an effective ion transfer at the interface region between the levitated droplet and IM spectrometer. For sampling and ionization, two distinct laser pulse lengths were evaluated, ns and µs. Irradiation via µs laser pulses provides several advantages: i) the droplet volume is not extensively impinged, as in case of ns laser pulses, allowing the sampling of only the small volume of the droplet; ii) the lower fluence results in less pronounced oscillations of the droplet confined in the acoustic field. The droplet will not be dissipated out of the acoustic field leading to loss of the sample; iii) the mild laser irradiation results in better spatial and temporal ion plume confinement, leading to better resolution of the detected ion packets. Finally, this knowledge allows the application of ion optics necessary to induce ion flow between the droplet suspended in the acoustic field and the IM spectrometer. The ion optics, composed of 2 electrostatic lenses placed in the near vicinity of the droplet, allow effective focusing of the ion plume and its redirection directly to the IM spectrometer entrance. This novel coupling has proved to be successful for detection of some simple molecules ionizable at the 2.94 µm wavelength. To further demonstrate the applicability of the system, a proof-of-principle reaction was selected, fulfilling the requirements of the system, and was subjected to comprehensive investigation of its performance. Herein, the reaction between N-Boc cysteine methyl ester and allyl alcohol has been performed in a batch reactor and on-line monitored via 1H NMR to establish reaction propagation. With the additional assessment, it was confirmed that the thiol-ene coupling can be performed within first 20 minutes of the irradiation with a reaction yield above 50%, proving that the reaction can be applied as a study case to assess the possibilities of the developed system.
The numerous applications of rare earth elements (REE) has lead to a growing global demand and to the search for new REE deposits. One promising technique for exploration of these deposits is laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Among a number of advantages of the technique is the possibility to perform on-site measurements without sample preparation. Since the exploration of a deposit is based on the analysis of various geological compartments of the surrounding area, REE-bearing rock and soil samples were analyzed in this work. The field samples are from three European REE deposits in Sweden and Norway. The focus is on the REE cerium, lanthanum, neodymium and yttrium. Two different approaches of data analysis were used for the evaluation. The first approach is univariate regression (UVR). While this approach was successful for the analysis of synthetic REE samples, the quantitative analysis of field samples from different sites was influenced by matrix effects. Principal component analysis (PCA) can be used to determine the origin of the samples from the three deposits. The second approach is based on multivariate regression methods, in particular interval PLS (iPLS) regression. In comparison to UVR, this method is better suited for the determination of REE contents in heterogeneous field samples. View Full-Text
The development of novel programmable materials aiming to control friction in real-time holds potential to facilitate innovative lubrication solutions for reducing wear and energy losses. This work describes the integration of light-responsiveness into two lubricating materials, silicon oils and polymer brush surfaces.
The first part focusses on the assessment on 9-anthracene ester-terminated polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS-A) and, in particular, on the variability of rheological properties and the implications that arise with UV-light as external trigger. The applied rheometer setup contains an UV-transparent quartz-plate, which enables radiation and simultaneous measurement of the dynamic moduli. UV-A radiation (354 nm) triggers the cycloaddition reaction between the terminal functionalities of linear PDMS, resulting in chain extension. The newly-formed anthracene dimers cleave by UV-C radiation (254 nm) or at elevated temperatures (T > 130 °C). The sequential UV-A radiation and thermal reprogramming over three cycles demonstrate high conversions and reproducible programming of rheological properties. In contrast, the photochemical back reaction by UV-C is incomplete and can only partially restore the initial rheological properties. The dynamic moduli increase with each cycle in photochemical programming, presumably resulting from a chain segment re-arrangement as a result of the repeated partial photocleavage and subsequent chain length-dependent dimerization. In addition, long periods of radiation cause photooxidative degradation, which damages photo-responsive functions and consequently reduces the programming range. The absence of oxygen, however, reduces undesired side reactions. Anthracene-functionalized PDMS and native PDMS mix depending on the anthracene ester content and chain length, respectively, and allow fine-tuning of programmable rheological properties. The work shows the influence of mixing conditions during the photoprogramming step on the rheological properties, indicating that material property gradients induced by light attenuation along the beam have to be considered. Accordingly, thin lubricant films are suggested as potential application for light-programmable silicon fluids.
The second part compares strategies for the grafting of spiropyran (SP) containing copolymer brushes from Si wafers and evaluates the light-responsiveness of the surfaces. Pre-experiments on the kinetics of the thermally initiated RAFT copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) and spiropyran acrylate (SPA) in solution show, first, a strong retardation by SP and, second, the dependence of SPA polymerization on light. Surprisingly, the copolymerization of SPA is inhibited in the dark. These findings contribute to improve the synthesis of polar, spiropyran-containing copolymers. The comparison between initiator systems for the grafting-from approach indicates PET-RAFT superior to thermally initiated RAFT, suggesting a more efficient initiation of surface-bound CTA by light. Surface-initiated polymerization via PET-RAFT with an initiator system of EosinY (EoY) and ascorbic acid (AscA) facilitates copolymer synthesis from HEA and 5-25 mol% SPA. The resulting polymer film with a thickness of a few nanometers was detected by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ellipsometry. Water contact angle (CA) measurements demonstrate photo-switchable surface polarity, which is attributed to the photoisomerization between non-polar spiropyran and zwitterionic merocyanine isomer. Furthermore, the obtained spiropyran brushes show potential for further studies on light-programmable properties. In this context, it would be interesting to investigate whether swollen spiropyran-containing polymers change their configuration and thus their film thickness under the influence of light. In addition, further experiments using an AFM or microtribometer should evaluate whether light-programmable solvation enables a change in frictional properties between polymer brush surfaces.
Proteine erfüllen bei einer Vielzahl von Prozessen eine essenzielle Rolle. Um diese Funktionsweisen zu verstehen, bedarf es der Aufklärung derer Struktur und deren Bindungsverhaltens mit anderen Molekülen wie Proteinen, Peptiden, Kohlenhydraten oder kleinen Molekülen. Im ersten Teil dieser Arbeit wurden der Wildtyp und die Punktmutante N126W eines Kohlenhydrat-bindenden Proteins aus dem hitzestabilen Bakterium C. thermocellum untersucht, welches Teil eines Komplexes ist, der Kohlenhydrate wie Cellulose erkennen, binden und abbauen kann. Dazu wurde dieses Protein mit E.coli Bakterien hergestellt und durch Metallchelat- und Größenausschlusschromatographie gereinigt. Die Proteine konnten isotopenmarkiert mittels Kernspinresonanz-Spektroskopie (NMR) untersucht werden. H/D-Austauschexperimente zeigten leicht und schwer zugängliche Stellen im Protein für eine mögliche Ligandenwechselwirkung. Anschließend konnte eine Interaktion beider Proteine mit Cellulosefragmenten festgestellt werden. Diese interagieren über zwischenmolekulare Kräfte mit den Seitenketten von aromatischen Aminosäuren und über Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen mit anderen Resten. Weiterhin wurde die Calcium-Bindestelle analysiert und es konnte gezeigt werden, das diese nach der Proteinherstellung mit einem Calcium-Ion besetzt ist und dieses mit dem Komplexbildner EDTA entfernbar ist, jedoch wieder reversibel besetzt werden kann. Zum Schluss wurde mittels zweier Methoden versucht (grafting from und grafting to), das Protein mit einem temperatursensorischen Polymer (Poly-N-Isopropylacrylamid) zu koppeln, um so Eigenschaften wie Löslichkeit oder Stabilität zu beeinflussen. Es zeigte sich, das während die grafting from Methode (Polymer wächst direkt vom Protein) zu einer teilweisen Entfaltung und Destabilisierung des Proteins führte, bei der grafting to Methode (Polymer wird separat hergestellt und dann an das Protein gekoppelt) das Protein seine Stabilität behielt und nur wenige Polymerketten angebaut waren. Der zweite Teil dieser Arbeit beschäftigte sich mit der Interaktion von zwei LIM-Domänen des Proteins Paxillin und der zytoplasmatischen Domäne der Peptide Integrin-β1 und Integrin-β3. Diese spielen eine wichtige Rolle bei der Bewegung von Zellen. Dabei interagieren sie mit einer Vielzahl an anderen Proteinen, um fokale Adhäsionen (Multiproteinkomplexe) zu bilden. Bei der Herstellung des Peptids Integrin-β3 zeigte sich durch Größenausschlusschromatographie und Massenspektrometrie ein Abbau, bei dem verschiedene Aminosäuregruppen abgespalten werden. Dieser konnte durch eine Zugabe des Serinprotease-Inhibitors AEBSF verhindert werden. Anschließend wurde die direkte Interaktion der Proteine untereinander mittels NMR untersucht. Dabei zeigte sich, das Integrin-β1 und Integrin-β3 an die gleiche Position binden, nämlich an den flexiblen Loop der LIM3-Domäne von Paxillin. Die Dissoziationskonstanten zeigten, dass Integrin-β1 mit einer zirka zehnfach höheren Affinität im Vergleich zu Integrin-β3 an Paxillin bindet. Während Paxillins Bindestelle an Integrin-β1 in der Mitte des Peptids liegt, ist bei Integrin-β3 der C-Terminus essenziell. Daher wurden die drei C-terminalen Aminosäuren entfernt und erneut Bindungsstudien durchgeführt, welche gezeigt haben, das die Affinität dadurch fast vollständig unterbunden wurde. Final wurde der flexible Loop der LIM3-Domäne in zwei andere Aminosäuresequenzen mutiert, um die Bindung auf der Paxillin-Seite auszulöschen. Jedoch zeigten sowohl Zirkulardichroismus-Spektroskopie als auch NMR-Spektroskopie, dass die Mutationen zu einer teilweisen Entfaltung der Domäne geführt haben und somit nicht als geeignete Kandidaten für diese Studien identifiziert werden konnten.
Janus droplets were prepared by vortex mixing of three non-mixable liquids, i.e., olive oil, silicone oil and water, in the presence of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in the aqueous phase and magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) in the olive oil. The resulting Pickering emulsions were stabilized by a red-colored AuNP layer at the olive oil/water interface and MNPs at the oil/oil interface. The core–shell droplets can be stimulated by an external magnetic field. Surprisingly, an inner rotation of the silicon droplet is observed when MNPs are fixed at the inner silicon droplet interface. This is the first example of a controlled movement of the inner parts of complex double emulsions by magnetic manipulation via interfacially confined magnetic nanoparticles.
As climate change worsens, there is a growing urgency to promote renewable energies and improve their accessibility to society. Here, solar energy harvesting is of particular importance. Currently, metal halide perovskite (MHP) solar cells are indispensable in future solar energy generation research. MHPs are crystalline semiconductors increasingly relevant as low-cost, high-performance materials for optoelectronics. Their processing from solution at low temperature enables easy fabrication of thin film elements, encompassing solar cells and light-emitting diodes or photodetectors. Understanding the coordination chemistry of MHPs in their precursor solution would allow control over the thin film crystallization, the material properties and the final device performance.
In this work, we elaborate on the key parameters to manipulate the precursor solution with the long-term objective of enabling systematic process control. We focus on the nanostructural characterization of the initial arrangements of MHPs in the precursor solutions. Small-angle scattering is particularly well suited for measuring nanoparticles in solution. This technique proved to be valuable for the direct analyzes of perovskite precursor solutions in standard processing concentrations without causing radiation damage. We gain insights into the chemical nature of widely used precursor structures such as methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3), presenting first insights into the complex arrangements and interaction within this precursor state. Furthermore, we transfer the preceding results to other more complex perovskite precursors. The influence of compositional engineering is investigated using the addition of alkali cations as an example. As a result, we propose a detailed working mechanism on how the alkali cations suppress the formation of intermediate phases and improve the quality of the crystalline thin film. In addition, we investigate the crystallization process of a tin-based perovskite composition (FASnI3) under the influence of fluoride chemistry. We prove that the frequently used additive, tin fluoride (SnF2), selectively binds undesired oxidized tin (Sn(IV)) in the precursor solution. This prevents its incorporation into the actual crystal structure and thus reduces the defect density of the material. Furthermore, SnF2 leads to a more homogeneous crystal growth process, which results in improved crystal quality of the thin film material.
In total, this study provides a detailed characterization of the complex system of perovskite precursor chemistry. We thereby cover relevant parameters for future MHP solar cell process control, such as (I) the environmental impact based on concentration and temperature (II) the addition of counter ions to reduce the diffuse layer surrounding the precursor nanostructures and (III) the targeted use of additives to eliminate unwanted components selectively and to ensure a more homogeneous crystal growth.
Core-shell upconversion nanoparticles - investigation of dopant intermixing and surface modification
(2022)
Frequency upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are inorganic nanocrystals capable to up-convert incident photons of the near-infrared electromagnetic spectrum (NIR) into higher energy photons. These photons are re-emitted in the range of the visible (Vis) and even ultraviolet (UV) light. The frequency upconversion process (UC) is realized with nanocrystals doped with trivalent lanthanoid ions (Ln(III)). The Ln(III) ions provide the electronic (excited) states forming a ladder-like electronic structure for the Ln(III) electrons in the nanocrystals. The absorption of at least two low energy photons by the nanoparticle and the subsequent energy transfer to one Ln(III) ion leads to the promotion of one Ln(III) electron into higher excited electronic states. One high energy photon will be emitted during the radiative relaxation of the electron in the excited state back into the electronic ground state of the Ln(III) ion. The excited state electron is the result of the previous absorption of at least two low energy photons.
The UC process is very interesting in the biological/medical context. Biological samples (like organic tissue, blood, urine, and stool) absorb high-energy photons (UV and blue light) more strongly than low-energy photons (red and NIR light). Thanks to a naturally occurring optical window, NIR light can penetrate deeper than UV light into biological samples. Hence, UCNPs in bio-samples can be excited by NIR light. This possibility opens a pathway for in vitro as well as in vivo applications, like optical imaging by cell labeling or staining of specific organic tissue. Furthermore, early detection and diagnosis of diseases by predictive and diagnostic biomarkers can be realized with bio-recognition elements being labeled to the UCNPs. Additionally, "theranostic" becomes possible, in which the identification and the treatment of a disease are tackled simultaneously.
For this to succeed, certain parameters for the UCNPs must be met: high upconversion efficiency, high photoluminescence quantum yield, dispersibility, and dispersion stability in aqueous media, as well as availability of functional groups to introduce fast and easy bio-recognition elements. The UCNPs used in this work were prepared with a solvothermal decomposition synthesis yielding in particles with NaYF4 or NaGdF4 as host lattice. They have been doped with the Ln(III) ions Yb3+ and Er3+, which is only one possible upconversion pair. Their upconversion efficiency and photoluminescence quantum yield were improved by adding a passivating shell to reduce surface quenching.
However, the brightness of core-shell UCNPs stays behind the expectations compared to their bulk material (being at least μm-sized particles). The core-shell structures are not clearly separated from each other, which is a topic in literature. Instead, there is a transition layer between the core and the shell structure, which relates to the migration of the dopants within the host lattice during the synthesis. The ion migration has been examined by time-resolved laser spectroscopy and the interlanthanoid resonance energy transfer (LRET) in the two different host lattices from above. The results are
presented in two publications, which dealt with core-shell-shell structured nanoparticles. The core is doped with the LRET-acceptor (either Nd3+ or Pr3+). The intermediate shell serves as an insulation shell of pure host lattice material, whose shell thickness has been varied within one set of samples having the same composition, so that the spatial separation of LRET-acceptor and -donor changes. The outer shell with the same host lattice is doped with the LRET-donor (Eu3+). The effect of the increasing insulation shell thickness is significant, although the LRET cannot be suppressed completely.
Next to the Ln(III) migration within a host lattice, various phase transfer reactions were investigated in order to subsequently perform surface modifications for bioapplications. One result out of this research has been published using a promising ligand, that equips the UCNP with bio-modifiable groups and has good potential for bio-medical applications. This particular ligand mimics natural occurring mechanisms of mussel protein adhesion and of blood coagulation, which is why the UCNPs are encapsulated very effectively. At the same time, bio-functional groups are introduced. In a proof-of-concept, the encapsulated UCNP has been coupled successfully with a dye (which is representative for a biomarker) and the system’s photoluminescence properties have been investigated.
Im Rahmen dieser Dissertation wurde der Sauerstoff im Grundgerüst der [1,3]-Dioxolo[4.5-f]benzodioxol-Fluoreszenzfarbstoffe (DBD-Fluoreszenzfarbstoffe) vollständig mit Schwefel ausgetauscht und daraus eine neue Klasse von Fluoreszenzfarbstoffen entwickelt, die Benzo[1,2-d:4,5-d']bis([1,3]dithiol)-Fluorophore (S4-DBD-Fluorophore). Insgesamt neun der besonders interessanten, difunktionalisierten Vertreter konnten synthetisiert werden, die sich in ihren elektronenziehenden Gruppen und in ihrer Anordnung unterschieden.
Durch den Austausch von Sauerstoff mit Schwefel kam es zu teilweise auffälligen Veränderungen in den Fluoreszenzparametern, wie eine Abnahme der Fluoreszenzquantenausbeuten und -lebenszeiten aber auch eine deutliche Rotverschiebung in den Absorptions- und Emissionswellenlängen mit großen STOKES-Verschiebungen. Damit sind die S4-DBD-Fluorophore eine wertvolle Ergänzung für die DBD-Farbstoffe.
Die Ursachen für die Abnahme der Lebenszeiten und Quantenausbeuten konnte auf eine hohe Besetzung des Triplett-Zustandes zurückgeführt werden, welcher durch die verstärkten Spin-Bahn-Kopplungen des Schwefels hervorgerufen wird. Zusammen mit dem Arbeitskreis physikalische Chemie der Universität Potsdam konnten auch die photophysikalischen Prozesse über die Transienten-Absorptionsspektroskopie (TAS) aufgeklärt werden.
Eine Strategie zur Funktionalisierung der S4-DBD-Farbstoffe am Thioacetalgerüst konnte entwickelt werden. So gelang es Alkohol-, Propargyl-, Azid-, NHS-Ester-, Carbonsäure-, Maleimid- und Tosyl-Gruppen an S4-DBD-Dialdehyden anzubringen.
Erweiternd wurden molekulare Stäbe auf Basis von Schwefel-Oligo-Spiro-Ketalen (SOSKs) untersucht, bei denen Sauerstoff durch Schwefel ersetzt wurde. Hier konnten die Synthesen der löslichkeitsvermittelnden TER-Muffe und auch des Tetrathiapentaerythritols als Grundbaustein deutlich verbessert werden. Aus diesen konnte ein einfaches SOSK-Polymer hergestellt werden. Weitere Versuche zum Aufbau eines Stabes müssen aber noch untersucht werden. Um einen S-OSK-Stab aufzubauen hat sich dabei die Dithiocarbonat-Gruppe in ersten Versuchen als potenzielle geeignete Schutzgruppe für das Tetrathiapentaerythritol herausgestellt.
Bio-sourced adsorbing poly(2-oxazoline)s mimicking mussel glue proteins for antifouling applications
(2022)
Nature developed countless systems for many applications. In maritime environments, several organisms established extra-ordinary mechanisms to attach to surfaces. Over the past years, the scientific interest to employ those mechanisms for coatings and long-lasting adhering materials gained significant attention.
This work describes the synthesis of bio-inspired adsorbing copoly(2-oxazoline)s for surface coatings with protein repelling effects, mimicking mussel glue proteins. From a set of methoxy substituted phenyl, benzyl, and cinnamyl acids, 2-oxazoline monomers were synthesized. All synthesized 2-oxazolines were analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, and EI mass spectrometry. With those newly synthesized 2-oxazoline monomers and 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline, kinetic studies concerning homo- and copolymerization in a microwave reactor were conducted. The success of the polymerization reactions was demonstrated by FT-IR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The copolymerization of 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline with a selection of methoxy-substituted 2-oxazolines resulted in water-soluble copolymers. To release the adsorbing catechol and cationic units, the copoly(2-oxazoline)s were modified. The catechol units were (partially) released by a methyl aryl ether cleavage reaction. A subsequent partial acidic hydrolysis of the ethyl unit resulted in mussel glue protein-inspired catechol and cation-containing copolymers. The modified copolymers were analyzed by NMR spectroscopy, UV-VIS spectroscopy, and SEC. The catechol- and cation-containing copolymers and their precursors were examined by a Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D), so study the adsorption performance on gold, borosilicate, iron, and polystyrene surfaces. An exemplary study revealed that a catechol and cation-containing copoly(2-oxazoline)-coated gold surface exhibits strong protein repelling properties.
The incorporation of proteins in artificial materials such as membranes offers great opportunities to avail oneself the miscellaneous qualities of proteins and enzymes perfected by nature over millions of years. One possibility to leverage proteins is the modification with artificial polymers. To obtain such protein-polymer conjugates, either a polymer can be grown from the protein surface (grafting-from) or a pre-synthesized polymer attached to the protein (grafting-to). Both techniques were used to synthesize conjugates of different proteins with thermo-responsive polymers in this thesis.
First, conjugates were analyzed by protein NMR spectroscopy. Typical characterization techniques for conjugates can verify the successful conjugation and give hints on the secondary structure of the protein. However, the 3-dimensional structure, being highly important for the protein function, cannot be probed by standard techniques. NMR spectroscopy is a unique method allowing to follow even small alterations in the protein structure. A mutant of the carbohydrate binding module 3b (CBM3bN126W) was used as model protein and functionalized with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide). Analysis of conjugates prepared by grafting-to or grafting-from revealed a strong impact of conjugation type on protein folding. Whereas conjugates prepared by grafting a pre-formed polymer to the protein resulted in complete preservation of protein folding, grafting the polymer from the protein surface led to (partial) disruption of the protein structure.
Next, conjugates of bovine serum albumin (BSA) as cheap and easily accessible protein were synthesized with PNIPAm and different oligoethylene glycol (meth)acrylates. The obtained protein-polymer conjugates were analyzed by an in-line combination of size exclusion chromatography and multi-angle laser light scattering (SEC-MALS). This technique is particular advantageous to determine molar masses, as no external calibration of the system is needed. Different SEC column materials and operation conditions were tested to evaluate the applicability of this system to determine absolute molar masses and hydrodynamic properties of heterogeneous conjugates prepared by grafting-from and grafting-to. Hydrophobic and non-covalent interactions of conjugates lead to error-prone values not in accordance to expected molar masses based on conversions and extents of modifications.
As alternative to this method, conjugates were analyzed by sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation (SV-AUC) to gain insights in the hydrodynamic properties and how they change after conjugation. Within a centrifugal field, a sample moves and fractionates according to the mass, density, and shape of its individual components. Conjugates of BSA with PNIPAm were analyzed below and above the cloud point temperature of the thermo-responsive polymer component. It was identified that the polymer characteristics were transferred to the conjugate molecule which than showed a decreased ideality – defined as increased deviation from a perfect sphere model – below and increased ideality above the cloud point temperature. This effect can be attributed to an arrangement of the polymer chain pointing towards the solvent (expanded state) or snuggling around the protein surface depending on the applied temperature.
The last project dealt with the synthesis of ferric hydroxamate uptake protein component A (FhuA)-polymer conjugates as building blocks for novel membrane materials. The shape of FhuA can be described as barrel and removal of a cork domain inside the protein results in a passive channel aimed to be utilized as pores in the membrane system. The polymer matrix surrounding the membrane protein is composed of a thermo-responsive and a UV-crosslinkable part. Therefore, an external trigger for covalent immobilization of these building blocks in the membrane and switchability of the membrane between different states was incorporated. The overall performance of membranes prepared by a drying-mediated self-assembly approach was evaluated by permeability and size exclusion experiments. The obtained membranes displayed an insufficiency in interchain crosslinking and therefore a lack in performance. Furthermore, the aimed switch between a hydrophilic and hydrophobic state of the polymer matrix did not occur. Correspondingly, size exclusion experiments did not result in a retention of analytes larger than the pores defined by the dimension of the used FhuA variant.
Overall, different paths to generate protein-polymer conjugates by either grafting-from or grafting-to the protein surface were presented paving the way to the generation of new hybrid materials. Different analytical methods were utilized to describe the folding and hydrodynamic properties of conjugates providing a deeper insight in the overall characteristics of these seminal building blocks.
Polymeric films and coatings derived from semi-crystalline oligomers are of relevance for medical and pharmaceutical applications. In this context, the material surface is of particular importance, as it mediates the interaction with the biological system. Two dimensional (2D) systems and ultrathin films are used to model this interface. However, conventional techniques for their preparation, such as spin coating or dip coating, have disadvantages, since the morphology and chain packing of the generated films can only be controlled to a limited extent and adsorption on the substrate used affects the behavior of the films. Detaching and transferring the films prepared by such techniques requires additional sacrificial or supporting layers, and free-standing or self supporting domains are usually of very limited lateral extension. The aim of this thesis is to study and modulate crystallization, melting, degradation and chemical reactions in ultrathin films of oligo(ε-caprolactone)s (OCL)s with different end-groups under ambient conditions. Here, oligomeric ultrathin films are assembled at the air-water interface using the Langmuir technique. The water surface allows lateral movement and aggregation of the oligomers, which, unlike solid substrates, enables dynamic physical and chemical interaction of the molecules. Parameters like surface pressure (π), temperature and mean molecular area (MMA) allow controlled assembly and manipulation of oligomer molecules when using the Langmuir technique. The π-MMA isotherms, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM), and interfacial infrared spectroscopy assist in detecting morphological and physicochemical changes in the film. Ultrathin films can be easily transferred to the solid silicon surface via Langmuir Schaefer (LS) method (horizontal substrate dipping). Here, the films transferred on silicon are investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical microscopy and are compared to the films on the water surface.
The semi-crystalline morphology (lamellar thicknesses, crystal number densities, and lateral crystal dimensions) is tuned by the chemical structure of the OCL end-groups (hydroxy or methacrylate) and by the crystallization temperature (Tc; 12 or 21 °C) or MMAs. Compression to lower MMA of ~2 Å2, results in the formation of a highly crystalline film, which consists of tightly packed single crystals. Preparation of tightly packed single crystals on a cm2 scale is not possible by conventional techniques. Upon transfer to a solid surface, these films retain their crystalline morphology whereas amorphous films undergo dewetting.
The melting temperature (Tm) of OCL single crystals at the water and the solid surface is found proportional to the inverse crystal thickness and is generally lower than the Tm of bulk PCL. The impact of OCL end-groups on melting behavior is most noticeable at the air-solid interface, where the methacrylate end-capped OCL (OCDME) melted at lower temperatures than the hydroxy end-capped OCL (OCDOL). When comparing the underlying substrate, melting/recrystallization of OCL ultrathin films is possible at lower temperatures at the air water interface than at the air-solid interface, where recrystallization is not visible. Recrystallization at the air-water interface usually occurs at a higher temperature than the initial Tc.
Controlled degradation is crucial for the predictable performance of degradable polymeric biomaterials. Degradation of ultrathin films is carried out under acidic (pH ~ 1) or enzymatic catalysis (lipase from Pseudomonas cepcia) on the water surface or on a silicon surface as transferred films. A high crystallinity strongly reduces the hydrolytic but not the enzymatic degradation rate. As an influence of end-groups, the methacrylate end-capped linear oligomer, OCDME (~85 ± 2 % end-group functionalization) hydrolytically degrades faster than the hydroxy end capped linear oligomer, OCDOL (~95 ± 3 % end-group functionalization) at different temperatures. Differences in the acceleration of hydrolytic degradation of semi-crystalline films were observed upon complete melting, partial melting of the crystals, or by heating to temperatures close to Tm. Therefore, films of densely packed single crystals are suitable as barrier layers with thermally switchable degradation rates.
Chemical modification in ultrathin films is an intricate process applicable to connect functionalized molecules, impart stability or create stimuli-sensitive cross-links. The reaction of end-groups is explored for transferred single crystals on a solid surface or amorphous monolayer at the air-water interface. Bulky methacrylate end-groups are expelled to the crystal surface during chain-folded crystallization. The density of end-groups is inversely proportional to molecular weight and hence very pronounced for oligomers. The methacrylate end-groups at the crystal surface, which are present at high concentration, can be used for further chemical functionalization. This is demonstrated by fluorescence microscopy after reaction with fluorescein dimethacrylate. The thermoswitching behavior (melting and recrystallization) of fluorescein functionalized single crystals shows the temperature-dependent distribution of the chemically linked fluorescein moieties, which are accumulated on the surfaces of crystals, and homogeneously dispersed when the crystals are molten. In amorphous monolayers at the air-water interface, reversible cross-linking of hydroxy-terminated oligo(ε-caprolactone) monolayers using dialdehyde (glyoxal) lead to the formation of 2D networks. Pronounced contraction in the area occurred for 2D OCL films in dependence of surface pressure and time indicating the reaction progress. Cross linking inhibited crystallization and retarded enzymatic degradation of the OCL film. Altering the subphase pH to ~2 led to cleavage of the covalent acetal cross-links. Besides as model systems, these reversibly cross-linked films are applicable for drug delivery systems or cell substrates modulating adhesion at biointerfaces.
To achieve a sustainable energy economy, it is necessary to turn back on the combustion of fossil fuels as a means of energy production and switch to renewable sources. However, their temporal availability does not match societal consumption needs, meaning that renewably generated energy must be stored in its main generation times and allocated during peak consumption periods. Electrochemical energy storage (EES) in general is well suited due to its infrastructural independence and scalability. The lithium ion battery (LIB) takes a special place, among EES systems due to its energy density and efficiency, but the scarcity and uneven geological occurrence of minerals and ores vital for many cell components, and hence the high and fluctuating costs will decelerate its further distribution.
The sodium ion battery (SIB) is a promising successor to LIB technology, as the fundamental setup and cell chemistry is similar in the two systems. Yet, the most widespread negative electrode material in LIBs, graphite, cannot be used in SIBs, as it cannot store sufficient amounts of sodium at reasonable potentials. Hence, another carbon allotrope, non-graphitizing or hard carbon (HC) is used in SIBs. This material consists of turbostratically disordered, curved graphene layers, forming regions of graphitic stacking and zones of deviating layers, so-called internal or closed pores.
The structural features of HC have a substantial impact of the charge-potential curve exhibited by the carbon when it is used as the negative electrode in an SIB. At defects and edges an adsorption-like mechanism of sodium storage is prevalent, causing a sloping voltage curve, ill-suited for the practical application in SIBs, whereas a constant voltage plateau of relatively high capacities is found immediately after the sloping region, which recent research attributed to the deposition of quasimetallic sodium into the closed pores of HC.
Literature on the general mechanism of sodium storage in HCs and especially the role of the closed pore is abundant, but the influence of the pore geometry and chemical nature of the HC on the low-potential sodium deposition is yet in an early stage. Therefore, the scope of this thesis is to investigate these relationships using suitable synthetic and characterization methods. Materials of precisely known morphology, porosity, and chemical structure are prepared in clear distinction to commonly obtained ones and their impact on the sodium storage characteristics is observed. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in combination with distribution of relaxation times analysis is further established as a technique to study the sodium storage process, in addition to classical direct current techniques, and an equivalent circuit model is proposed to qualitatively describe the HC sodiation mechanism, based on the recorded data. The obtained knowledge is used to develop a method for the preparation of closed porous and non-porous materials from open porous ones, proving not only the necessity of closed pores for efficient sodium storage, but also providing a method for effective pore closure and hence the increase of the sodium storage capacity and efficiency of carbon materials.
The insights obtained and methods developed within this work hence not only contribute to the better understanding of the sodium storage mechanism in carbon materials of SIBs, but can also serve as guidance for the design of efficient electrode materials.
The key to reduce the energy required for specific transformations in a selective manner is the employment of a catalyst, a very small molecular platform that decides which type of energy to use. The field of photocatalysis exploits light energy to shape one type of molecules into others, more valuable and useful.
However, many challenges arise in this field, for example, catalysts employed usually are based on metal derivatives, which abundance is limited, they cannot be recycled and are expensive. Therefore, carbon nitrides materials are used in this work to expand horizons in the field of photocatalysis.
Carbon nitrides are organic materials, which can act as recyclable, cheap, non-toxic, heterogeneous photocatalysts. In this thesis, they have been exploited for the development of new catalytic methods, and shaped to develop new types of processes.
Indeed, they enabled the creation of a new photocatalytic synthetic strategy, the dichloromethylation of enones by dichloromethyl radical generated in situ from chloroform, a novel route for the making of building blocks to be used for the productions of active pharmaceutical compounds.
Then, the ductility of these materials allowed to shape carbon nitride into coating for lab vials, EPR capillaries, and a cell of a flow reactor showing the great potential of such flexible technology in photocatalysis.
Afterwards, their ability to store charges has been exploited in the reduction of organic substrates under dark conditions, gaining new insights regarding multisite proton coupled electron transfer processes.
Furthermore, the combination of carbon nitrides with flavins allowed the development of composite materials with improved photocatalytic activity in the CO2 photoreduction.
Concluding, carbon nitrides are a versatile class of photoactive materials, which may help to unveil further scientific discoveries and to develop a more sustainable future.
The self-assembly of amphiphilic polymers in aqueous systems is important for a plethora of applications, in particular in the field of cosmetics and detergents. When introducing thermoresponsive blocks, the aggregation behavior of these polymers can be controlled by changing the temperature. While confined to simple diblock copolymer systems for long, the complexity - and thus the versatility - of such smart systems can be strongly enlarged, once designed monomers, specific block sizes, different architectures, or additional functional groups such as hydrophobic stickers are implemented. In this work, the structure-property relationship of such thermoresponsive amphiphilic block copolymers was investigated by varying their structure systematically. The block copolymers were generally composed of a permanently hydrophobic sticker group, a permanently hydrophilic block, and a thermoresponsive block exhibiting a Lower Critical Solution Temperature (LCST) behavior. While the hydrophilic block consisted of N,N dimethylacrylamide (DMAm), different monomers were used for the thermoresponsive block, such as N n propylacrylamide (NPAm), N iso propylacrylamide (NiPAm), N,N diethylacrylamide (DEAm), N,N bis(2 methoxyethyl)acrylamide (bMOEAm), or N acryloylpyrrolidine (NAP) with different reported LCSTs of 25, 32, 33, 42 and 56 °C, respectively. The block copolymers were synthesized by successive reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. For the polymers with the basic linear, the twinned hydrophobic and the symmetrical quasi miktoarm architectures, the results were well defined block sizes and end groups as well as narrow molar mass distributions (Ɖ ≤ 1.3). More complex architectures, such as the twinned thermoresponsive and the non-symmetrical quasi miktoarm one, were achieved by combining RAFT polymerization with a second technique, namely atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) or single unit monomer insertion (SUMI), respectively. The obtained block copolymers showed well defined block sizes, but due to the complexity of these reaction paths, the dispersities were generally higher (Ɖ ≤ 1.8) and some end groups were lost.
The thermoresponsive behavior of the block copolymers was investigated by turbidimetry and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Below the phase transition temperature, the polymers were soluble in water and small micellar structures were visible. However, above the phase transition temperature, the aggregation behavior was strongly dependent on the architecture and the chemical structure of the thermoresponsive block. Thermoresponsive blocks comprising PNAP and PbMOEAm with DPn = 40 showed no cloud point (CP), since their already high LCSTs were further increased by the attached hydrophilic block. Depending on the architecture as well as on the block size, block copolymers with PNiPAm, PDEAm and PNPAm showed different CP’s. Large aggregates were visible for block copolymers with PNiPAm and PDEAm above their CP. For PNPAm containing block copolymers, the phase transition was very sensitive towards the architecture resulting in either small or large aggregates.
In addition, fluorescence studies were performed using PDMAm and PNiPAm homo and block copolymers with linear architecture, functionalized with complementary fluorescence dyes introduced at the opposite chain ends. The thermoresponsive behavior was studied in pure aqueous solution as well as in an oil in water (o/w) microemulsion. The findings indicate that the block copolymer behaves as polymeric surfactant at low temperatures, with one relatively small hydrophobic end group and an extended hydrophilic chain forming ‘hairy micelles’ similar as the other synthesized architectures. Above the phase transition temperature of the PNiPAm block, however, the copolymer behaves as associative telechelic polymer with two non-symmetrical hydrophobic end groups, which do not mix. Thus, instead of a network of bridged ‘flower micelles’, large dynamic aggregates are formed. These are connected alternatingly by the original micellar cores as well as by clusters of the collapsed PNiPAm blocks. This type of bridged micelles is even more favored in the o/w microemulsion than in pure aqueous solution.
Natural products have proved to be a major resource in the discovery and development of many pharmaceuticals that are in use today. There is a wide variety of biologically active natural products that contain conjugated polyenes or benzofuran structures. Therefore, new synthetic methods for the construction of such building blocks are of great interest to synthetic chemists. The recently developed one-pot tethered ring-closing metathesis approach allows for the formation of Z,E-dienoates in high stereoselectivity. The extension of this method with a Julia-Kocienski olefination protocol would allow for the formation of conjugated trienes in a stereoselective manner. This strategy was applied in the total synthesis of conjugated triene containing (+)-bretonin B. Additionally, investigations of cross metathesis using methyl substituted olefins were pursued. This methodology was applied, as a one-pot cross metathesis/ring-closing metathesis sequence, in the total synthesis of benzofuran containing 7-methoxywutaifuranal. Finally, the design and synthesis of a catalyst for stereoretentive metathesis in aqueous media was investigated.