Characterization of low-energy chlorophylls in the PSI-LHCI supercomplex from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. A site-selective fluorescence study

Almost all photosystem I (PSI) complexes from oxygenic photosynthetic organisms contain chlorophylls that absorb at longer wavelength than that of the primary electron donor P700. We demonstrate here that the low-energy pool of chlorophylls in the PSI-LHCI complex from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, containing five to six pigments, is significantly blue-shifted (A(max) at 700 nm at 4 K) compared to that in the PSI core preparations from several species of cyanobacteria and in PSI-LHCI particles from higher plants. This makes them almost isoenergetic with the primary donor. However, they keep the other characteristic features of "red" chlorophylls: clear spectral separation from the bulk chlorophylls, big Stokes shift revealing pronounced electron-phonon coupling, and large homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening of approximately 170 and approximately 310 cm(-1), respectively.     

X-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR studies of a germanium binuclear complex

A compound formulated as (C4H12N2)[Ge2(pmida)2(OH)2] x 4 H2O (where pmida(4-) = N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetate and C4H12N2(2+) = piperazinedium cation), containing the anionic [Ge2(pmida)2(OH)2]2- complex, has been synthesised by the hydrothermal approach and its structure determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Several high-resolution solid-state magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR techniques, in particular two-dimensional 1H-X(13C,31P) heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) and 1H-1H homonuclear correlation (HOMCOR) experiments incorporating a frequency-switched Lee-Goldburg (FS-LG) decoupling scheme, have been employed for the first time in such a material. Using these tools in tandem affords an excellent general approach to study the structure of other inorganic-organic hybrids. We assigned the NMR resonances with the help of C...H and P...H internuclear distances obtained through systematic statistical analyses of the crystallographic data. The compound was further characterised by powder X-ray diffraction techniques, IR and Raman spectroscopy, and by elemental and thermal analyses (thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry).     

Relaxation in partiell kristallisierten Copolymeren des äthylens

Zusammenfassung Die dielektrischen Verluste diphenylmethylierter und chlorierter Poly?thylene k?nnen in Einzelheiten quantitativ richtig dargestellt werden, wenn man annimmt, da\ das Copolymerensystem pseudo-eutektischen Charakter hat. Die dipoltragenden Gruppen (CHCl bzw. Diphenylmethan-CH) werden offenbar nicht in die Kristalle, wohl aber in die longitudinalen Grenzschichten eingebaut. Dasα-Maximum ist den Dipolen in der Grenzschicht, dasΒ-Maximum den Dipolen im Innern der amorphen Anteile zuzuordnen. Die Temperaturlage und die Fl?che unter diesen Verlustmaxima h?ngen in bestimmter Weise von der mittleren Kristalldicke ab. Eine klare Zuordnung von Strukturdaten und Daten aus dem Relaxationsspektrum ist durch eine erweiterte quantitative Analyse der dielektrischen Me\ergebnisse m?glich. Es sind dann nicht nur die Temperaturlage desα- und desΒ-Maximums, sondern auch deren relative Fl?chen?nderungen in übereinstimmung mit dem Experiment berechenbar. Dies ist eine scharfe quantitative Konsistenzprüfung des erweiterten Stuktur-modells, wonach die Kristalle longitudinale Grenzschichten von definierter mittlerer Dicke besitzen sollen. Mit Hilfe der Zwei-Drittel-Regel kann man bei Kenntnis der wahren Konzentration der Comonomereneinheiten in den amorphen Zwischenbereichen kristallisierter Proben die Temperaturlage der glasigen Erstarrung abh?ngig von der Gesamtkonzentration sehr gut angeben. Die Lage der Glastemperatur sollte hiernach im Vergleich zur Glastemperatur des ‚'unendlich gro\en“ amorphen Systems derselben Konzentration durch die Kristallisation nicht ver?ndert werden. Wir danken der Deutschen Forschungsge-meinschaft für die gro\zügige Bereitstellung von Sach- und Personalmitteln.     

Crystal structures and magnetic properties of two low-dimensional materials constructed from [Mn(III)(salen)H2O]+ and [M(CN)8](3-/4-) (M = Mo or W) precursors

The syntheses, X-ray structures, and magnetic behaviors of two new cyano-bridged assemblies, the molecular [Mn(III)(salen)H2O]3[W(V)(CN)8].H2O (1) and one-dimensional [Mn(salen)(H2O)2]2[[Mn(salen)(H2O)][Mn(salen)]2[Mo(CN)(8)]].0.5ClO4.0.5OH.4.5H2O (2), are presented. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, has space group P2(1)/c, and has unit cell constants a = 13.7210(2) A, b = 20.6840(4) A, c = 20.6370(2) A, and Z = 4. Compound 2 crystallizes in the triclinic system, has space group P, and has unit cell dimensions a = 18.428(4) A, b = 18.521(3) A, c = 18.567(4) A, and Z = 2. The structure of 1 consists of the asymmetric V-shaped Mn-NC-W-NC-Mn-O(phenolate)-Mn molecules, where W(V) coordinates with [Mn(salen)H2O] and singly phenolate-bridged [Mn(salen)H2O]2 moieties through the neighboring cyano bridges. The [W(V)(CN)8]3- ion displays distorted square-antiprism geometry. The structure of 2 consists of the cyano-bridged [Mn3(III)Mo(IV)]n- repeating units linked by double phenolate bridges into one-dimensional zigzag chains. The Mn(III) centers are bound to Mo(IV) of square-antiprism geometry through the neighboring cyano bridges. The magnetic studies of 1 reveal the antiferromagnetic intramolecular interactions through the CN and phenolate bridges and the relatively weak intermolecular interactions. Compound 1 becomes antiferromagnetically ordered below TN = 4.6 K. The presence of the magnetic anisotropy is documented with the MH measurements carried out for both polycrystalline and single-crystal samples. At T = 1.9 K, the spin-flop transition is observed in the field of 18 kOe applied parallel to the bc plane, which is the easy plane of magnetization. Field dependence of magnetization of 1 shows field-induced metamagnetic behavior from the antiferromagnetic ground state of ST = 3/2 to the state of ST = 5/2. The magnetic properties of 2 indicate a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between Mn(III) centers in double-phenolate-bridged [Mn(III)(salen)]2 dinuclear subunits and a very weak ferromagnetic interaction between them through the diamagnetic [Mo(IV)(CN)8]4- spacer.     

The first structurally characterized nonorganometallic titanium(III) alkoxo-bridged dinuclear complexes

The reaction of [Ti4(OMe)14Cl2] (1) with an excess of AlMe3 gave the cocrystallite [Ti2(mu-OMe)2(mu-Cl)Cl3(thf)3].[Ti2(mu-OMe)3Cl3(thf)3] (2.3) species in a 1:1 ratio. Similar to 2, [Ti2(mu-OEt)2(mu-Cl)Cl3-(thf)3] (4) was obtained in the reaction of an equimolar mixture of TiCl4 and Ti(OEt)4 with Al/AlMe3. The short distance [2.543(1)av A in 2.3 and 2.599(1) A in 4] between "Ti(+3)" atoms, their diamagnetism, and ELF analysis indicate the presence of a Ti-Ti bond.     

Cucurbit[6]uril pseudorotaxanes: distinctive gas-phase dissociation and reactivity

Cucurbit[6]uril forms a doubly charged complex with 1,4-butanediammonium cation that is observed using electrospray ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry. Such 1:1 complexes are not observed for the smaller cucurbit[5]uril, which forms a 2:1 ammonium:cucurbituril complex instead. The 1:1 complex with cucurbit[6]uril is difficult to fragment via collisional activation; when it does fragment, both breakup of the cucurbituril cage and loss of the amine are observed. Further, the complex reacts with tert-butylamine via slow adduction. In contrast, nonrotaxane analogues (such as doubly charged 2:1 complexes of either protonated 1,4-butanediamine or protonated ethylenediamine with cucurbit[6]uril) fragment via easy loss of the intact amine upon collisional activation and react with tert-butylamine via rapid displacement of the original amine. On the basis of stoichiometry, fragmentation behavior, and reactivity, we conclude that the doubly charged complex of cucurbit[6]uril with 1,4-butanediammonium is a gas-phase pseudorotaxane.     

Kristallisation von Copolymeren des Äthylens

Zusammenfassung Die maximalen Kristallanteile verschieden verzweigter Polyäthylene, die röntgenographisch bestimmt worden sind, sowie die aus der Literatur entnommenen Kristallanteüe von Copolymeren des Äthylens können durch eine empirische Korrektur einer bekannten Theorie quantitativ richtig berechnet werden. Aus der Diskussion ergeben sich die Folgerungen, daß die Kristallvernetzung die Einstellung des heterogenen Phasengleichgewichts (zwischen Kristall und Flüssigkeits-Phase) für kristallisierende Copolymere verhindert. Es existiert eine kleinste longitudinale Kristallitausdehnung, deren Größe für die verschiedensten Copolymeren des Äthylens konstant etwa 30 Å ist. Die Eigenschaften der nichtkristallisationsfähigen Komponente (Styrol, Acrylsäure, aliphatische Kurzketten) haben hierauf keinen nachweisbaren Einfluß. Unterhalb vonX _A =0,80 kannkeine merkliche Kristallisation für Copolymere des Äthylens mit einer kristallisationsfähigen Komponente mehr eintreten. Es bestehen jedoch im Konzentrationsbereich 0,7X _A 0,80 wahrscheinlich kleinste Aggregationen von Molekülteilen mit schlechter Ordnung (Pseudostrukturen), die röntgenographisch schwer nachweisbar sind. Das Kristallisationsverhalten nähert sich mit steigender Konzentration der nichtkristallisationsfähigen Komponente dem Grenzfall der Kaltkristallisation, die entsprechend einer bekannten Theorie der Nullzeitkristallisation der größten Abweichung vom Gleichgewicht entspricht. Die partielle Kristallisation von Homopolymeren ist wahrscheinlich ebenso hauptsächlich auf Kristallvernetzung zurückzuführen. Die nichtkristallisationsfähigen Einheiten (im Fall der Polyäthylene die Kurzkettenverzweigungen) sollten nicht von Kristalliten inkorporiert werden. Diese Hypothese wird mittels Röntgenkleinwinkelmessungen durch den Einfluß der nichtkristallisationsfähigen Gruppen, der Verzweigungen, auf die mittlere Kristallitgröße sowie deren Schwankungen nachgewiesen. Hieraus ergeben sich einige Folgerungen über den Einbau der Makromoleküle in die im statistischen Mittel periodisch wechselnden amorphen und kristallisierten Bereiche in Copolymeren, die anhand bekannter Modell Vorstellungen und in Abhängigkeit von der Konzentration der nichtkristallisationsfähigen Gruppen diskutiert werden.Herrn Prof. Dr.F. H. Müller danke ich für die stete Förderung dieser Arbeit, Herrn Dr.Hellmuth für zahlreiche wertvolle Diskussionen und Anregungen.Der Forschungsgemeinschaft danke ich für wirksame Hilfe mit Sach- und. Personalmitteln. Auch dem Hessischen Wirtschaftsministerium sei für die Unterstützung der Arbeit hier mein Dank ausgesprochen.     

Analysis of First-Order Reactions with Distributed Parameters

Simple methods of analysis of first-order kinetic processes controlled by distributions of parameters (activation energies and/or frequency factors) are presented. Both the isothermal and nonisothermal regimes are considered. The procedures make use of numerically calculated time derivatives of the concentrations of decaying species (reactants in the case of chemical reactions). They do not require any adjustable initial or boundary values of parameters (like concentration at the infinite time) being thus more accurate and reliable than earlier methods in which kinetic parameters were determined from the concentration, and not from its time derivative. The methods were successfully employed in analysis of the thermally driven cis–trans isomerization of a photochromic crown ether containing the azobenzene moiety incorporated in the crown.     

Synthesis of mesoporous carbons using ordered and disordered mesoporous silica templates and polyacrylonitrile as carbon precursor

Mesoporous carbons were synthesized from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) using ordered and disordered mesoporous silica templates and were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, and thermogravimetry. The pores of the silica templates were infiltrated with carbon precursor (PAN) via polymerization of acrylonitrile from initiation sites chemically bonded to the silica surface. This polymerization method is expected to allow for a uniform filling of the template with PAN and to minimize the introduction of nontemplated PAN, thus mitigating the formation of nontemplated carbon. PAN was stabilized by heating to 573 K under air and carbonized under N2 at 1073 K. The resulting carbons exhibited high total pore volumes (1.5-1.8 cm3 g(-1)), with a primary contribution of the mesopore volume and with relatively low microporosity. The carbons synthesized using mesoporous templates with a 2-dimensional hexagonal structure (SBA-15 silica) and a face-centered cubic structure (FDU-1 silica) exhibited narrow pore size distributions (PSDs), whereas the carbon synthesized using disordered silica gel template had broader PSD. TEM showed that the SBA-15-templated carbon was composed of arrays of long, straight, or curved nanorods aligned in 2-D hexagonal arrays. The carbon replica of FDU-1 silica appeared to be composed of ordered arrays of spheres. XRD provided evidence of some degree of ordering of graphene sheets in the carbon frameworks. Elemental analysis showed that the carbons contain an appreciable amount of nitrogen. The use of our novel infiltration method and PAN as a carbon precursor allowed us to obtain ordered mesoporous carbons (OMCs) with (i) very high mesopore volume, (ii) low microporosity, (iii) low secondary mesoporosity, (iv) large pore diameter (8-12 nm), and (v) semi-graphitic framework, which represent a desirable combination of features that has not been realized before for OMCs.     

Cationic polymerization of 1,4,6-trioxaspiro [4,4]-nonane

Cationic polymerization of 1,4,6-trioxaspiro [4,4]-nonane ( 1 ) with (CH₃)₃O⁺SbF₆^?(2) and CH₃OSO₂CF₃(3) initiators has been investigated. Although the observed rates of initiation and propagation are relatively slow, they consist of rapid reversible elementary reactions. In ¹H-NMR spectra, a broadening of the monomer signal was observed, indicating a fast exchange between “free” monomer and monomer engaged in the active species. The variety of orthoester bonds were observed in the polymer formed at the early stages of monomer conversion. The final polymer has, however, structure of a linear poly(ester–ether) including two subsequent ester or ether linkages. To account for these new facts, the mechanism of polymerization was proposed, consisting of a rapid reversible opening of one of the rings in the monomer molecule involved in the growing species, followed by the slower opening of the second ring with formation of the ester linkages. It appears that the rings originally present in the chains rearrange into the linear units intramolecularly.