SF and SC Activation of SF6 and SF5 Derivatives at Rhodium: Conversion of SF6 into H2S

The degradation of SF₆ and SF₅ organyls by S? F and S? C bond‐activation reactions at [{Rh(μ‐H)(dippp)}₂] under mild conditions is reported. Fluorido and thiolato species were identified as products or intermediates, and were characterized by X‐ray diffraction analysis and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. An unprecedented cyclic process for the conversion of the potent greenhouse gas SF₆ into H₂S was developed.     

Tightening up the structure,lighting up the pathway: application of molecular constraints and light to manipulate protein folding,self-assembly and function

Chemical cross-linking provides an effective avenue to reduce the conformational entropy of polypeptide chains and hence has become a popular method to induce or force structural formation in peptides and proteins.Recently,other types of molecular constraints,especially photoresponsive linkers and functional groups,have also found increased use in a wide variety of applications.Herein,we provide a concise review of using various forms of molecular strategies to constrain proteins,thereby stabilizing their native states,gaining insight into their folding mechanisms,and/or providing a handle to trigger a conformational process of interest with light.The applications discussed here cover a wide range of topics,ranging from delineating the details of the protein folding energy landscape to controlling protein assembly and function.     

Electron impact mass spectrometry of some benzodioxole derivatives of pharmacological interest,their synthons and synthetic intermediates

The mass spectrometric behaviour of two newly synthesized β-blocking benzodioxole derivatives, their synthons and synthetic intermediates has been studied in detail with the aid of exact mass measurements, linked scans, collisionally activated decomposition mass analysed ion kinetic energy spectra and deuterium labelling experiments. A retrosynthetic process, leading to the original synthons, is described.     

Density functional studies of the dipole polarizabilities of the linear polyacenes benzene through nonacene

We report Ab Initio studies of the electric dipole polarizability of the linear polyacene series benzene through nonacene. A number of Ab Initio studies were done at different levels of theory for benzene, with all remaining Ab Initio calculations being at the B3LYP/6-311G(2d, 1p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(2d, 1p) level of theory. We find that the NN tensor component shows a constant increment of 20 atomic units per ring. AM1 and QSAR-quality empirical calculations show poor absolute agreement with the Ab Initio results but given excellent statistical correlation coefficients with the Ab Initio values. This implies that the results of such cheaper calculations can be suitably scaled for predictive purposes.     

A new particle solution in aesthetic field theory

In present theories a particle is commonly associated with a singularity of the field. A more realistic picture would describe the particle by an intense but singularity-free field. We have found a new solution to the aesthetic field equations for which the field associated with the particle has a very large magnitude. The particle appears to be bounded despite the large numbers appearing in the solution. We prove that this present solution is not equivalent to theO(3)-invariant solution discussed in Muraskin (1973b). Since our present solution appears well-behaved, the suggestion is that we do not confine ourselves toO(3)-invariant data in future work. Owing to the large magnitude fields, we were unable to study trajectories of the particle in any detail. There is nothing wrong, in itself, with large numbers. The present solution, which we have now studied, is the first instance in our work on aesthetic field theory in which large numbers appear without the suggestion of unboundedness.     

Ultra-Small Air-Stable Triplet-Triplet Annihilation Upconversion Nanoparticles for Anti-Stokes Time-Resolved Imaging

Image contrast is often limited by background autofluorescence in steady-state bioimaging microscopy. Upconversion bioimaging can overcome this by shifting the emission lifetime and wavelength beyond the autofluorescence window. Here we demonstrate the first example of triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion (TTA-UC) based lifetime imaging microscopy. A new class of ultra-small nanoparticle (NP) probes based on TTA-UC chromophores encapsulated in an organic–inorganic host has been synthesised. The NPs exhibit bright UC emission (400–500 nm) in aerated aqueous media with a UC lifetime of ≈1 μs, excellent colloidal stability and little cytotoxicity. Proof-of-concept demonstration of TTA-UC lifetime imaging using these NPs shows that the long-lived anti-Stokes emission is easily discriminable from typical autofluorescence. Moreover, fluctuations in the UC lifetime can be used to map local oxygen diffusion across the subcellular structure. Our TTA-UC NPs are highly promising stains for lifetime imaging microscopy, affording excellent image contrast and potential for oxygen mapping that is ripe for further exploitation.     

Reactivity of superoxide radical anion with cyclic nitrones: role of intramolecular H-bond and electrostatic effects

Limitations exist among the commonly used cyclic nitrone spin traps for biological free radical detection using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The design of new spin traps for biological free radical detection and identification using EPR spectroscopy has been a major challenge due to the lack of systematic and rational approaches to their design. In this work, density functional theory (DFT) calculations and stopped-flow kinetics were employed to predict the reactivity of functionalized spin traps with superoxide radical anion (O2*-). Functional groups provide versatility and can potentially improve spin-trap reactivity, adduct stability, and target specificity. The effect of functional group substitution at the C-5 position of pyrroline N-oxides on spin-trap reactivity toward O2*- was computationally rationalized at the PCM/B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31G(d) and PCM/mPW1K/6-31+G(d,p) levels of theory. Calculated free energies and rate constants for the reactivity of O2*- with model nitrones were found to correlate with the experimentally obtained rate constants using stopped-flow and EPR spectroscopic methods. New insights into the nucleophilic nature of O2*- addition to nitrones as well as the role of intramolecular hydrogen bonding of O2*- in facilitating this reaction are discussed. This study shows that using an N-monoalkylsubstituted amide or an ester as attached groups on the nitrone can be ideal in molecular tethering for improved spin-trapping properties and could pave the way for improved in vivo radical detection at the site of superoxide formation.     

Determination of twenty-five elements in lichens by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and microwave-assisted acid digestion

A simple and efficient digestion method for rapid sample preparation and quantification of 25 chemical elements in lichens by sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is described. A microwave (MW)-assisted acid digestion was carried out at atmospheric pressure simultaneously handling up to 80 samples in screw-capped disposable polystyrene tubes. This digestion procedure was compared with the established MW digestion in closed vessels in order to examine its potential applicability in routine analysis for environmental monitoring. Three certified reference materials, i.e. BCR 482 (lichens), BCR 62 (olive leaves) and BCR 100 (beech leaves), as well as a small set of real samples were analyzed. Limits of quantification, accuracy and precision of the method were assessed. The majority of the elements were totally recovered from the lichens and from the other vegetable matrices. Low contamination risk, simplicity, time-saving, and applicability in routine analyses make this method very suitable for use in extensive screening campaigns.