New layered materials: syntheses, structures, and optical and magnetic properties of CsGdZnSe3, CsZrCuSe3, CsUCuSe3, and BaGdCuSe3

Four new quaternary selenides CsGdZnSe3, CsZrCuSe3, CsUCuSe3, and BaGdCuSe3 have been synthesized with the use of traditional high-temperature solid-state experimental methods. These compounds are isostructural with KZrCuS3, crystallizing with four formula units in the orthorhombic space group Cmcm. Cell constants (A) at 153 K are CsGdZnSe3 4.1684(7), 15.765(3), 11.0089(18); CsZrCuSe3 3.903(2), 15.841(10), 10.215(6); CsUCuSe3 4.1443(7), 15.786(3), 10.7188(18); and BaGdCuSe3 4.1839(6), 13.8935(19), 10.6692(15). The structure of these ALnMSe3 compounds (A = Cs, Ba; Ln = Zr, Gd, U; M = Cu, Zn) is composed of 2 to infinity [LnMSe3(n-)] (n = 1, 2) layers separated by A atoms. The Ln atom is octahedrally coordinated to six Se atoms, the M atom is tetrahedrally coordinated to four Se atoms, and the A atom is coordinated to a bicapped trigonal prism of eight Se atoms. Because there are no Se-Se bonds in the structure, the oxidation state of A is 1+ (Cs) or 2+ (Ba), that of Ln is 3+ (Gd) or 4+ (Zr, U), and that of M is 1+ (Cu) or 2+ (Zn). CsGdZnSe3 and BaGdCuSe3, which are paramagnetic, obey the Curie-Weiss law and have effective magnetic moments of 7.87(6) and 7.85(5) muB for Gd(3+), in good agreement with the theoretical value of 7.94 muB. Optical transitions at 1.88 and 2.92 eV for CsGdZnSe3 and 1.96 eV for BaGdCuSe3 were deduced from diffuse reflectance spectra.     

Effects of cytosine methylation on pyrimidine dimer formation in DNA

The relative induction of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) and pyrimidine (6-4)pyrimidone photoproducts ([6-4]PD) was quantified in the duplex homopolymers polydeoxyadenosine:polydeoxythymidine, polydeoxyguanosine:polydeoxycytidine and polydeoxyguanosine:polydeoxy-5-methylcytidine irradiated with UVC or UVB radiation. Cytosine methylation significantly increased the yield of cytosine (6-4)PD after irradiation with UVC light and of cytosine CPD and (6-4)PD after irradiation with UVB light. The data suggest that CPD and (6-4)PD are preferentially induced at 5-methylcytosine bases in DNA of cells exposed to sunlight and comprise a major component of the mutation spectrum leading to the initiation of sunlight-induced skin cancer.     

Total syntheses of epothilones B and d

A convergent, total synthesis of epothilones B (2) and D (4) is described. The key steps are Normant coupling to establish the desired (Z)-stereochemistry at C12-C13, Wadsworth-Emmons olefination of methyl ketone 28 with the phosphonate ester 8, diastereoselective aldol condensation of aldehyde 5 with the enolate of keto acid derivatives to form the C6-C7 bond, selective deprotection of acid 52, and macrolactonization.     

Dielectrophoresis with 3D microelectrodes fabricated by surface tension assisted lithography

This paper demonstrates the utilization of 3D semispherical shaped microelectrodes for dielectrophoretic manipulation of yeast cells. The semispherical microelectrodes are capable of producing strong electric field gradients, and in turn dielectrophoretic forces across a large area of channel cross‐section. The semispherical shape of microelectrodes avoids the formation of undesired sharp electric fields along the structure and also minimizes the disturbance of the streamlines of nearby passing fluid. The advantage of semispherical microelectrodes over the planar microelectrodes is demonstrated in a series of numerical simulations and proof‐of‐concept experiments aimed toward immobilization of viable yeast cells.     

Observation of the internal network structure of a polymer-stabilized liquid crystal via transmission electron microscopy

The internal structure of the network component of a polymer-stabilized liquid crystal has been observed for the first time. These are systems in which a small amount of a monomer is dissolved within a LC host and then polymerized in situ to produce a network. Studies performed on a system prepared using the diacrylate monomer RM60 and the nematic mixture BL087 are presented. The concentration of the monomer was 1 wt %. After formation of the network through photopolymerization of the monomer between Melinex layers within a glass cell, the LC host was removed by dissolving it in heptane. Subsequent observation of the internal network structure by transmission electron microscopy was made possible by bromine staining of the network, followed by embedding and ultramicrotomy. A collection of solid, near-circular objects was observed, of mean diameter 0.13 μm. These objects were found to be highly permeable to bromine vapour, suggesting an open, but homogeneous structure.     

Pd‐PEPPSI‐IHeptCl: A General‐Purpose,Highly Reactive Catalyst for the Selective Coupling of Secondary Alkyl Organozincs

Dichloro[1,3‐bis(2,6‐di‐4‐heptylphenyl)imidazol‐2‐ylidene](3‐chloropyridyl)palladium(II) (Pd‐PEPPSI‐IHept^Cl), a new, very bulky yet flexible Pd–N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complex has been evaluated in the cross‐coupling of secondary alkylzinc reactants with a wide variety of oxidative addition partners in high yields and excellent selectivity. The desired, direct reductive elimination branched products were obtained with no sign of migratory insertion across electron‐rich and electron‐poor aromatics and all forms of heteroaromatics (five and six membered). Impressively, there is no impact of substituents at the site of reductive elimination (i.e., ortho or even di‐ortho), which has not yet been demonstrated by another catalyst system to date.     

Study of polymerizing styrene through depolarized light scattering

The thermal polymerization of clean styrene has been studied through Rayleigh-Brillouin light scattering. The frequency shifts, Rayleigh to Brillouin intensity ratios, Rayleigh depolarization ratios, and depolarized intensities were measured as the polymerization proceeded to completion at 90°C. The depolarized intensities decreased and the frequency shifts increased smoothly from the monomer to the polymer values. The Vv intensities and Rayleigh to Brillouin intensity ratios increase dramatically during the first stages of polymerization then decrease systematically to their final values. There is a large increase in the Rayleigh to Brillouin intensity ratio from the monomer to the final polymer value. The vertical depolarization ratio pv and the horizontal depolarization ratio pV were found to be respectively 0.4 and 1 for the polymer. Our observations are explained in terms of light being scattered from concentration fluctuations in the early stages of polymerization and from spherically symmetric strain fields in the polymer. We believe that the background, which we observed to embrace a wide range of frequencies, was due to rotational Raman transitions.     

Solvent Effect and Reactivity Trend in the Aerobic Oxidation of 1,3‐Propanediols over Gold Supported on Titania: NMR Diffusion and Relaxation Studies

In recent work, it was reported that changes in solvent composition, precisely the addition of water, significantly inhibits the catalytic activity of Au/TiO₂ catalyst in the aerobic oxidation of 1,4‐butanediol in methanol due to changes in diffusion and adsorption properties of the reactant. In order to understand whether the inhibition mechanism of water on diol oxidation in methanol is generally valid, the solvent effect on the aerobic catalytic oxidation of 1,3‐propanediol and its two methyl‐substituted homologues, 2‐methyl‐1,3‐propanediol and 2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐propanediol, over a Au/TiO₂ catalyst has been studied here using conventional catalytic reaction monitoring in combination with pulsed‐field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG‐NMR) diffusion and NMR relaxation time measurements. Diol conversion is significantly lower when water is present in the initial diol/methanol mixture. A reactivity trend within the group of diols was also observed. Combined NMR diffusion and relaxation time measurements suggest that molecular diffusion and, in particular, the relative strength of diol adsorption, are important factors in determining the conversion. These results highlight NMR diffusion and relaxation techniques as novel, non‐invasive characterisation tools for catalytic materials, which complement conventional reaction data.