Baryon-number-induced Chern-Simons couplings of vector and axial-vector mesons in holographic QCD

We show that holographic models of QCD predict the presence of a Chern-Simons coupling between vector and axial-vector mesons at finite baryon density. In the Anti de Sitter/Conformal Field Theory dictionary, the coefficient of this coupling is proportional to the baryon number density and is fixed uniquely in the five-dimensional holographic dual by anomalies in the flavor currents. For the lightest mesons, the coupling mixes transverse rho and a1 polarization states. At sufficiently large baryon number densities, it produces an instability, which causes the rho and a1 mesons to condense in a state breaking both rotational and translational invariance.     

Controlling the Surface Functionalization of Ultrasmall Gold Nanoparticles by Sequence-Defined Macromolecules

Ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (diameter about 2 nm) were surface-functionalized with cysteine-carrying precision macromolecules. These consisted of sequence-defined oligo(amidoamine)s (OAAs) with either two or six cysteine molecules for binding to the gold surface and either with or without a PEG chain (3400 Da). They were characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, ¹H NMR diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The number of precision macromolecules per nanoparticle was determined after fluorescent labeling by UV spectroscopy and also by quantitative ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Each nanoparticle carried between 40 and 100 OAA ligands, depending on the number of cysteine units per OAA. The footprint of each ligand was about 0.074 nm² per cysteine molecule. OAAs are well suited to stabilize ultrasmall gold nanoparticles by selective surface conjugation and can be used to selectively cover their surface. The presence of the PEG chain considerably increased the hydrodynamic diameter of both dissolved macromolecules and macromolecule-conjugated gold nanoparticles.     

Organozinc Pivalate Reagents: Segregation,Solubility, Stabilization,and Structural Insights

The pivalates RZnOPiv?Mg(OPiv)X?n LiCl (OPiv=pivalate; R=aryl; X=Cl, Br, I) stand out amongst salt‐supported organometallic reagents, because apart from their effectiveness in Negishi cross‐coupling reactions, they show more resistance to attack by moist air than conventional organometallic compounds. Herein a combination of synthesis, coupling applications, X‐ray crystallographic studies, NMR (including DOSY) studies, and ESI mass spectrometric studies provide details of these pivalate reagents in their own right. A p‐tolyl case system shows that in [D₈]THF solution these reagents exist as separated Me(p‐C₆H₄)ZnCl and Mg(OPiv)₂ species. Air exposure tests and X‐ray crystallographic studies indicate that Mg(OPiv)₂ enhances the air stability of aryl zinc species by sequestering H₂O contaminants. Coupling reactions of Me(p‐C₆H₄)ZnX (where X=different salts) with 4‐bromoanisole highlight the importance of the presence of Mg(OPiv)₂. Insight into the role of LiCl in these multicomponent mixtures is provided by the molecular structure of [(THF)₂Li₂(Cl)₂(OPiv)₂Zn].     

Air‐Stable Solid Aryl and Heteroaryl Organozinc Pivalates: Syntheses and Applications in Organic Synthesis

A wide range of air‐stable, solid, polyfunctional aryl and heteroarylzinc pivalates were efficiently prepared by either magnesium insertion or Hal/Mg exchange followed by transmetalation with Zn(OPiv)₂ (OPiv=pivalate). By reducing the amount of LiCl the air stability could be significantly enhanced compared with previously prepared reagents. An alternative route is directed magnesiation using TMPMgCl ? LiCl (TMP=2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidyl) followed by transmetalation with Zn(OPiv)₂ or, for very sensitive substrates, direct zincation by using TMPZnOPiv. These zinc reagents not only show excellent stability towards air, but they also undergo a broad range of C?C bond‐formation reactions, such as allylation and carbocupration reactions, as well as addition to aldehydes and 1,4‐addition reactions. Acylation reactions can be performed by using an excess of TMSCl to overcome side reactions of the omnipresent pivalate anion.     

Stimulated and spontaneous optical generation of electron spin coherence in charged GaAs quantum dots

We report on the coherent optical excitation of electron spin polarization in the ground state of charged GaAs quantum dots via an intermediate charged exciton (trion) state. Coherent optical fields are used for the creation and detection of the Raman spin coherence between the spin ground states of the charged quantum dot. The measured spin decoherence time, which is likely limited by the nature of the spin ensemble, approaches 10 ns at zero field. We also show that the Raman spin coherence in the quantum beats is caused not only by the usual stimulated Raman interaction but also by simultaneous spontaneous radiative decay of either excited trion state to a coherent combination of the two spin states.     

New SPE loading material for affinity‐based separation of cyclodextrins from drug:CD complexes in order to overcome Beer's law deviations

Molecular inclusion of guest molecules within CDs is known to alter guest molecule spectrophotometric absorptivity, making their determination, based on spectrophotometric data, inaccurate. Therefore specific analytical methods capable of quantifying the drugs as free molecules must be developed and validated. SPE was selected to simplify sample and avoid more time‐consuming alternatives. A new solid phase was synthesized and characterized by infrared spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry and elemental analysis. The competitive complexation of adamantane groups immobilized on the silica substrate facilitates drug:CD complex dissociation and elimination of CD from samples. The drug molecules, now free from CD, can be easily analysed by an already available HPLC method. This new SPE loading material was employed in the determination of ketoprofen in its CD complex as a representative example of the utility of this novel material. The calculated analytical errors were reduced from a maximum of 20.79% (without SPE) to a minimum of 3.99%.