The ring-opening reaction of chromenes: a photochemical mode-dependent transformation

The efficiency of the photochemical ring-opening of chromenes (or benzopyrans) depends on the vibronic transition selected by the chosen excitation wavelength. In the present work, ab initio CASPT2//CASSCF calculations are used to determine the excited-state ring-opening reaction coordinate for 2H-chromene (C) and 2,2-diethyl-2H-chromene (DEC) and provide an explanation for such an unusual mode-dependent behavior. It is shown that excited-state relaxation and decay occur via a multimodal and barrierless (or nearly barrierless) reaction coordinate. In particular, the relaxation out of the Franck-Condon involves a combination of in-plane skeletal stretching and out-of-plane modes, while the second part of the reaction coordinate is dominated exclusively by a different out-of-plane mode. Population of this last mode is shown to be preparatory with respect to both C-O bond breaking and decay via an S(1)/S(0) conical intersection. The observed mode-dependent ring-opening efficiency is explained by showing that the vibrational mode corresponding to the most efficient vibronic transition has the largest projection onto the out-of-plane mode of the reaction coordinate. To support the computationally derived mechanism, we provide experimental evidence that the photochemical ring-opening reaction of 2,2-dimethyl-7,8-benzo(2H)chromene, that similarly to DEC exhibits a mode-dependent photoreaction, has a low ( approximately 1 kcal mol(-1)) activation energy barrier.     

Alkylidinphosphane und -arsane. I [P ≡ C?S]−[Li(dme)3]+ – Synthese und Struktur

Alkylidynephosphanes and -arsanes. I [P ≡ C? S]^?[Li(dme)₃]⁺ – Synthesis and Structure O,O′-Diethyl thiocarbonate and bis(tetrahydrofuran)-lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)phosphanide dissolved in 1,2-dimethoxyethane, react below 0°C to give ethoxy trimethylsilane and tris(1,2-dimethoxyethane-O,O′)lithium 2λ³-phosphaethynylsulfanide – [P≡C? S]^? [Li(dme)₃]⁺ – ( 1a ). Apart from bis(trimethylsilyl)sulfane or carbon oxide sulfide, dark red concentrated solutions of λ³-phosphaalkyne 1 are also obtained from reactions of carbon disulfide with bis(tetrahydrofuran)-lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)phosphanide or with the homologous lithoxy-methylidynephosphane ( 2 ) [1]. The ir spectrum shows two absorptions at 1762 and 747 cm^?1 characteristic for the P≡C and C? S stretching vibrations. The nmr parameters {δ(³¹P) ? 121.3; δ(¹³C) 190.8 ppm; ¹J_CP 18.2 Hz} resemble much more values of diorganylamino-2λ³-phosphaalkynes than those of bis(1,2-dimethoxyethane-O,O′)lithoxy-methylidyne-phosphane ( 2a ). As found by an X-ray structure analysis (P2₁/c; a = 1192.6(16); b = 1239.1(19); c = 1414.8(26) pm; β = 105.91(13)° at ?100 ± 3°C; Z = 4 formula units; wR = 0.064) of pale yellow crystals (mp. + 16°C) isolated from the reaction with O,O′-diethyl thiocarbonate, the solid is built up of separate [P≡C? S]^? and [Li(dme)₃]⁺ ions. Typical bond lengths and angles are: P≡C 155.5(11); C? S 162.0(11); Li? O 206.4(17) to 220.3(20) pm; P≡C? S 178.9(7)°.     

INVESTIGATION INTO THE SPECTROSCOPY AND PHOTOISOMERIZATION OF A SERIES OF POLY (ETHYLENE GLYCOL) PEPTIDE SCHIFF BASES OF 11-cis RETINAL

Abstract— The 11-cis and all-trans isomers of a series of poly(ethylene glycol)-oligopeptide - Schiff bases as models for rhodopsin were synthesized and studied. Absorption data for certain of the PEG-peptide Schiff bases demonstrated that no intramolecular hydrogen-bonding (or protonation) occurs between the Schiff base and an acidic amino acid residue, as was previously thought. Photoisomerization of the 11-cis protonated and unprotonated Schiff bases were examined using both steady state and laser flash techniques. Also with 355 nm excitation (and additionally 532 nm in one case), an approximate 40% increase in quantum yield of isomerization (φ) occurred for all protonated PEG-peptide Schiff bases compared to the H⁺-n-butylamine counterparts (in methanol). In one case, a > 100% increase in φ was found in dichloromethane. These data show that PEG-oligopeptide Schiff bases are still further improved models for rhodopsin compared to their n-butylamine analogs.     

Metallderivate von Molekülverbindungen. III. Molekül- und Kristallstruktur des Lithium-bis (trimethylsilyl)-phosphids · DME und des Lithium-dihydrogenphosphids · DME

Metal Derivatives of Molecular Compounds. III. Molecular and Crystal Structure of Lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)phosphide · DME and of Lithium dihydrogenphosphide · DME Lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)phosphide · DME 1 prepared from tris(trimethylsilyl)-phosphine and lithium methanide [2, 4] in 1,2-dimethoxyethane

1 1,2-Dimethoxyethan (DME); Tetrahydrofuran (THF); Bis[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]methyl-amin (PMDETA).

, crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnnn {a = 881.1(9); b = 1308.5(9); c = 1563.4(9) pm at ?120 ± 3°C; Z = 4 formula units}, lithium dihydrogenphosphide · DME 2 [10] prepared from phosphine and lithium- n -butanide in the same solvent, in P2 ₁ 2 ₁ 2 ₁ {a = 671.8(1); b = 878.6(1); c = 1332.2(2) pm at ?120 ± 3°C; Z = 4 formula units}. X-ray structure determinations (R _w = 0.036/0.045) show the bis(trimethylsilyl) derivative 1 to be dimeric with a planar P? Li? P? Li ring (P? Li 256 pm; Li? P? Li 76°; P? Li? P 104°), and the dihydrogenphosphide 2 to be polymeric with a linear Li? P? Li fragment (P? Li 254 to 260 pm; Li? P? Li 177°; P? Li? P 118°). The shortened P? Si distance (221 pm) of compound 1 and the structure of the PH ₂ group in 2 are discussed in detail. Lithium obtains its preferred coordination number 4 by a chelation with one molecule of 1,2-dimethoxyethane (Li? O 202 to 204 pm).     

Ultrafast Delamination of Graphite into High-Quality Graphene Using Alternating Currents

To bridge the gap between laboratory-scale studies and commercial applications, mass production of high quality graphene is essential. A scalable exfoliation strategy towards the production of graphene sheets is presented that has excellent yield (ca. 75 %, 1–3 layers), low defect density (a C/O ratio of 21.2), great solution-processability, and outstanding electronic properties (a hole mobility of 430 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹). By applying alternating currents, dual exfoliation at both graphite electrodes enables a high production rate exceeding 20 g h⁻¹ in laboratory tests. As a cathode material for lithium storage, graphene-wrapped LiFePO₄ particles deliver a high capacity of 167 mAh g⁻¹ at 1 C rate after 500 cycles.     

An amphibious vibration-driven microrobot with a piezoelectric actuator

This article concerns microrobots for solid and liquid environments. A short overview of microrobotics, suitable actuators and energy systems is given. The principles of terrestrial and aquatic locomotion are discussed and illustrated with examples from the literature on robotics. The state of the art with a focus on piezo microrobots for solid and liquid environments is presented. Furthermore, we report an amphibious prototype, which can move on flat solid ground and on the free surface of water. The design, characteristic parameters and experiments on locomotion are described. The robot is characterized by a light and simple design and can perform twodimensional locomotion in different environments with a speed up to 30 mm/s. An analytical model to predict the maximum carrying capacity of the robot on water is solved numerically.