Fragmentation dynamics of ammonia cluster ions after single photon ionisation

A reflecting time of flight mass spectrometer (RETOF) is used to study unimolecular and collision induced fragmentation of ammonia cluster ions. Synchrotron radiation from the BESSY electron storage ring is used in a range of photon energies from 9.08 up to 17.7 eV for single photon ionisation of neutral clusters in a supersonic beam. The threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence technique (TPEPICO) is used to define the energy initially deposited into the cluster ions. Metastable unimolecular decay (µs range) is studied using the RETOF's capacity for energy analysis. Under collision free conditions the by far most prominent metastable process is the evaporation of one neutral NH₃ monomer from protonated clusters (NH₃) _{n ? 2}NH ₄ ⁺ . Abundance of homogeneous vs. protonated cluster ions and of metastable fragments are reported as a function of photon energy and cluster size up ton=10.     

HO2 ELIMINATION FROM α-HYDROXYALKYLPEROXYL RADICALS IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION

Abstract— In aqueous solutions α-hydroxyalkylperoxyl radicals undergo a spontaneous and a base catalysed HO₂ elimination. From kinetic deuterium isotope effects, temperature dependence, and the influence of solvent polarity it was concluded that the spontaneous reaction occurs via an HO₂ elimination followed by the dissociation of the latter into H⁺ and O₂^-. The rate constant of the spontaneous HO₂ elimination increases with increasing methyl substitution in α-position ( k (CH₂(OH)O₂) < 10s^-1 k (CH₃CH(OH)O₂) = 52s^-1 k ((CH₃)₂C(OH)O₂) = 665 s^-1). The OH^- catalysed reaction is somewhat below diffusion controlled. The mixture of peroxyl radicals derived from polyhydric alcohols eliminate HO₂ at two different rates. Possible reasons for this behaviour are discussed. The mixture of the six peroxyl radicals derived from d -glucose are observed to eliminate HO₂ with at least three different rates. The fastest rate is attributed to the HO₂ elimination from the peroxyl radical at C-l ( k > 7000s^-1). Because of the HO₂ eliminations the peroxyl radicals derived from d -glucose do not undergo a chain reaction in contrast to peroxyl radicals not containing an α-OH group. In competition with the first order elimination reactions the α-hydroxylalkylperoxyl radicals undergo a bimolecular decay. These reactions are briefly discussed.     

Two-dimensional condensation in camphor-10-sulphonic acid films at the mercury/electrolyte interface

The electrosorption properties of camphor-10-sulphonic acid (CS) in different electrolytes (Na₂SO₄, LiClO₄, KNO₃, KCl, KBr, KJ) were investigated experimentally by ac polarographic measurements at different temperatures. Depending on the type of electrolyte and on the temperature, film condensation was observed.The Frumkin interaction coefficient, determined from the critical degree of coverage, does not depend linearly on the reciprocal temperature as would be the case in correspondence to the temperature dependence of the pit width. This contradiction does not occur if the interaction coefficient is determined from the critical degree of coverage using the lattice gas model. The temperature dependence of the pit width of the differential capacity-potential curves, found in the experiment, can be theoretically described by both these models. The interaction coefficient in the models is inversely proportional to the temperature. Furthermore, the parameters of the standard free energy of adsorption, the interaction energy, the interaction coefficient of the Frumkin isotherm, the adsorption coefficient, and the maximal surface concentration of CS in the film were estimated and compared.     

Phosphonio‐benzophospholide Zwitterions as Bridging 8e‐Donor Ligands: Synthetic and Mechanistic Studies

Reactions of the phosphonio‐benzophospholide π‐complexes 3a, b[Cr] with [M(CO)₅(olefin)] or of the σ‐complexes 2a, b[M] (M = Cr, Mo, W) with [M(CO)₃(aren)] lead to the first binuclear complexes 4a, b[CrM] featuring phosphonoio‐benzophospholides as μ‐bridging 8e‐donor ligands to two group 6 metal atoms. The constitution of the products was determined by spectroscopic and X‐ray diffraction studies. Mixed complexes with both group 6 and 7 metals were not accessible. Mechanistic studies showed that the reactions follow a complicated mechanism whose single steps may involve transfer of either M(CO)_n fragments or single CO ligands between complexes; the latter are associated with a σ/π‐coordination isomerization of the benzophospholide unit. Competition between both reaction channels can lead to the formation of product mixtures whose composition is controlled by the relative thermodynamic stabilities of the products. Computational studies suggest that in the more stable isomer of heterobimetallic complexes 4a, b[MM′] end‐on coordination to the heavier and side‐on coordination to the lighter metal atom is preferred.     

Immunoassay methods for paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins

The current status of immunochemical techniques for analysis of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins is summarized. Important aspects regarding production of the biological reagents necessary for immunochemical methods, the characteristics of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against saxitoxin and neosaxitoxin, and the importance of test sensitivity and specificity are discussed. Applications of immunochemical techniques for PSP toxins include microtiter plate enzyme immunoasays and enzyme-linked immunofiltration assays for toxin detection, and immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC) for sample extract cleanup. A major advantage of enzyme immunoassay (EIA) is simplicity and rapidity of the test procedure, and higher sensitivity than other methods. However, quantitative agreement between EIA and mouse bioassay is dependent on antibody specificity and the toxin profile in the shellfish; thus, both over- and underestimation of total toxicity may occur. For screening purposes, however, EIAs offer major advantages over the mouse bioassay, which is criticized in Europe because of animal welfare. A major application of antibodies against PSP toxins is their use for extract cleanup by IAC, which gives highly purified extracts, thereby enhancing determination of PSP toxins by conventional physicochemical methods such as liquid chromatography. IAC can also be used to isolate PSP toxins for preparation of analytical standard solutions.     

The first enantiomerically pure [n]triangulanes and analogues: sigma-[n]helicenes with remarkable features

(M)-(-)- and (P)-(+)-Trispiro[2.0.0.2.1.1]nonanes [(M)- and (P)-3] as well as (M)-(-)- and (P)-(+)-tetraspiro[2.0.0.0.2.1.1.1]undecanes [(M)- and (P)-4]-enantiomerically pure unbranched [4]- and [5]triangulanes-have been prepared starting from racemic bicyclopropylidenecarboxylic [(1RS)-12] and exo-dispiro[2.0.2.1]heptane-1-carboxylic [(1RS,3SR)-13] acids. The optical resolutions of rac-12 and rac-13 furnished enantiomerically pure acids (S)-(+)-12, (R)-(-)-12, (1R,3S)-(-)-13, and (1S,3R)-(+)-13. The ethyl ester (R)-25 of the acid (R)-(-)-12 was cyclopropanated to give carboxylates (1R,3R)-26 and (1R,3S)-26. The ester (1R,3S)-26 and acids (1R,3S)-13 and (1S,3R)-13 were converted into enantiomerically pure methylene[3]triangulanes (S)-(-)- and (R)-(+)-28. An alternative approach consisted of an enzymatic deracemization of endo-[(1SR,3SR)-dispiro[2.0.2.1]heptyl]methanol (rac-20) or anti-[(1SR,3RS)-4-methylenespiropentyl]methanol (rac-18). This afforded (S)-(-)- and (R)-(+)-28 (starting from rac-20), as well as enantiomerically pure (M)-(-)- and (P)-(+)-1,4-dimethylenespiropentanes [(M)- and (P)-23] starting from rac-18. The methylenetriangulanes (S)-(-)- and (R)-(+)-28 were cyclopropanated furnishing (M)- and (P)-3. The rhodium-catalyzed cycloaddition of ethyl diazoacetate onto (S)-(-)- and (R)-(+)-28 yielded four diastereomeric ethyl trispiro[2.0.0.2.1.1]nonane-1-carboxylates in approximately equal proportions. The enantiomerically pure esters (1R,3S,4S)- and (1S,3R,4R)-30 were isolated by careful distillation and then transformed into [5]triangulanes (M)- and (P)-4 using the same sequence of reactions as applied for (M)- and (P)-3. The structures of the key intermediates (R)-12 and rac-31 were confirmed by X-ray analyses. Although [4]- and [5]triangulanes have no chromophore which would lead to any significant absorption above 200 nm, they have remarkably high specific rotations even at 589 nm with [alpha](20)D=-192.7 [(M)-3, c=1.18, CHCl(3))] or +373.0 [(P)-4, c=1.18, CHCl(3))]. This remarkable optical rotatation is in line with their helical arrangement of sigma bonds, as confirmed by a full valence space single excitation configuration interaction treatment (SCI) in conjunction with DFT computations at the B3LYP/TZVP//B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory which reproduce the ORD very well. Thus, it is appropriate to call the helically shaped unbranched [n]triangulanes the "sigma-[n]helicenes", representing the sigma-bond analogues of the aromatic [n]helicenes.     

Cytochemical differences in bacterial glycocalyx.

To examine new cytochemical aspects of the bacterial adhesion, a strain 41452/01 of the oral commensal Streptococcus sanguis and a wild strain of Staphylococcus aureus were grown with and without sucrose supplementation for 6 days. Osmiumtetraoxyde (OsO4), uranyl acetate (UA), ruthenium red (RR), cupromeronic blue (CB) staining with critical electrolytic concentrations (CECs), and the tannic acid-metal salt technique (TAMST) were applied for electron microscopy. Cytochemically, only RR-positive fimbriae in S. sanguis were visualized. By contrast, some types of fimbriae staining were observed in S. aureus glycocalyx: RR-positive, OsO4-positive, tannophilic and CB-positive with ceasing point at 0.3 M MgCl2. The CB staining with CEC, used for the first time for visualization of glycoproteins of bacterial glycocalyx, also reveals intacellular CB-positive substances-probably the monomeric molecules, that is, subunits forming the fimbriae via extracellular assembly. Thus, glycosylated components of the biofilm matrix can be reliably related to single cells. The visualization of intracellular components by CB with CEC enables clear distinction between S. aureus and other bacteria, which do not produce CB-positive substances. The small quantities of tannophilic substances found in S. aureus makes the use of TAMST for the same purpose difficult. The present work protocol enables, for the first time, a partial cytochemical differentiation of the bacterial glycocalyx.     

Raman and cathodoluminescence spectroscopic investigations on Permian fossil wood from Chemnitz--a contribution to the study of the permineralisation process

Samples of different three-dimensionally preserved fossil plants (Medullosa sp., Dadoxylon sp., Calamodendron striatum, Psaronius sp.) from the Lower Permian petrified forest of Chemnitz were examined with regard to their chemical composition and structural order. Raman spectroscopy and cathodoluminescence microscopy are shown to be powerful tools for such investigations. Silicified wood from Chemnitz-Hilbersdorf generally shows yellow cathodoluminescence (CL) of the cell walls and only weak yellow-brownish CL of the cell lumina. By time-resolved cathodoluminescence spectroscopy, a secondary mineralisation of hydrothermal origin was recognized. The latter is shown by short-lived blue CL at the cell walls extinguishing the yellow signal. Therefore, after the primary silicification step a secondary mineralisation step initiated by hydrothermal processes, seems to have taken place at probably slightly higher temperatures. The resulting silica matrix consists of phanerocrystalline and microcrystalline alpha-quartz as well as microcrystalline moganite, both partially associated with iron oxides. Dadoxylon sp. is a prominent example for parallel permineralisation by alpha-quartz and fluorspar, which is outstanding for the Chemnitz Petrified Forest. CL on this samples shows parallel silicification and fluoritisation, followed by infiltration of iron oxides. Permineralised samples show very low percentage of original organic remains. The seed fern Medullosa, for example, shows dispersed carbon, which is mainly restricted to the centres of the typical star-shaped vascular bundles. Raman spectroscopy revealed that these carbonaceous particles are of an anthracite structure. For experimental confirmation coal samples of different rank, especially anthracite from different geological times and localities, were studied by means of Raman spectroscopy. The remaining pith of the vascular bundles is white-coloured and consists of alpha-quartz and moganite, whereas surrounding tracheides exhibit white and reddish coloured parts. The reddish parts, mainly found in the rays, additionally contain alpha-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 among the SiO2 polymorphs of alpha-quartz and moganite. Sometimes iron oxides could have dominated permineralisation processes as the peak intensities of distinct parts of the samples suggest.     

Synthese neuer Aminofluorsilane,sowie Alkoxylierung von Bis (trimethylsilyl)-amino-fluorsilanen

The reaction of aminofluorsilanes of the type (R=H,F) (Me ₃Si)₂N?SiF₂R with two moles of ammonia, or of a mono- or dialkylamine, yields the corresponding amino-compounds, e.g. (Me ₃Si)₂N?Si(F)R?NH₂, (Me ₃Si)₂N?Si(F)R?NHR′ and (Me ₃Si)₂N?Si(F)R?NR₂′ (R′=Me, Et). Analogous products are obtained by reaction of the aminofluorosilanes with lithium salts of amines with bulky organic substituents in a 1 : 1 molar ratio. Alkoxy- and aryloxyaminofluorosilanes are prepared by the reaction of sodium alcoholates and sodium phenolate with (Me ₃Si)₂N?Si(F₂)R (R=H, C₂H₃, C₂H₅, C₆H₅). The i.r.-, mass-,¹H- and¹⁹F-NMR spectra of the above compounds are reported.