Langmuir monolayers of an inclusion complex formed by a new calixarene derivative and fullerene

The design of new molecules with directed interactions to functional molecules as complementary building blocks is one of the main goals of supramolecular chemistry. A new p-tert-butylcalix[6]arene monosubstituted derivative bearing only one alkyl chain with an acid group (C6A3C) has been synthesized. The C6A3C has been successfully used for building Langmuir monolayers at the air-water interface. The C6A3C molecule adopts a flatlike orientation with respect to the air-water interface. The molecular structure gives the molecule amphiphilic character, while allowing the control of both the dissociation degree and the molecular conformation at the air-water interface. The C63AC has been combined with pristine fullerene (C60) to form the supramolecular complex C6A3C:C60 in 2:1 molar ratio (CFC). The CFC complex retains the ability of C6A3C to form Langmuir monolayers at the air/water interface. The interfacial molecular arrangement of the CFC complex has been convincingly described by in situ UV-vis reflection spectroscopy and synchrotron X-ray reflectivity measurements. Computer simulations complement the experimental data, confirming a perpendicular orientation of the calixarene units of CFC with respect to the air-water interface. This orientation is stabilized by the formation of intermolecular H-bonds. The interfacial monolayer of the CFC supramolecular complex is proposed as a useful model for the well-defined self-assembly of recognition and functional building blocks.     

The NMR reciprocity theorem for arbitrary probe geometry

It is shown that the NMR reciprocity theorem is a variant of a problem considered by Lorentz in 1895. This formulation is quite general and applies to electric-dipole-based as well as coil-based or resonator-based magnetic resonance probes. The reasoning is related to, but different from, the proof of the reciprocity theorem for radiofrequency networks and for transmit/receive antenna systems in telecommunications. The signal-to-noise ratio of the NMR experiment is also discussed in very general terms.