Benchmark Dyson orbital study of the ionization spectrum and electron momentum distributions of ethanol in conformational equilibrium

An extensive study, throughout the valence region, of the electronic structure, ionization spectrum, and electron momentum distributions of ethanol is presented, on the ground of a model that focuses on a mixture of the gauche and anti conformers in their energy minimum form, using weight coefficients obtained from thermostatistical calculations that account for the influence of hindered rotations. The analysis is based on accurate calculations of valence one-electron and shakeup ionization energies and of the related Dyson orbitals, using one-particle Green's Function (1p-GF) theory in conjunction with the so-called third-order Algebraic Diagrammatic Construction scheme [ADC(3)]. The confrontation against available UPS (HeI) measurements indicates the presence in the spectral bands of significant conformational fingerprints at outer-valence ionization energies ranging from approximately 14 to approximately 18 eV. The shakeup onset is located at approximately 24 eV, and a shoulder at approximately 14.5 eV in the He I spectrum can be specifically ascribed to the minor anti (C(s)) conformer fraction. Thermally and spherically averaged Dyson orbital momentum distributions are computed for seven resolvable bands in model (e, 2e) ionization spectra at an electron impact energy of 1.2 keV. A comparison is made with results obtained from standard (B3LYP) Kohn-Sham orbitals and EMS measurements employing a high-resolution spectrometer of the third generation. The analysis is qualitatively in line with experiment and reveals a tremendously strong influence of the molecular conformation on the outermost electron momentum distributions. Quantitatively significant discrepancies with experiment can nonetheless be tentatively ascribed to strong dynamical disorder in the gas phase molecular structure.     

Luminescent Ionic Transition‐Metal Complexes for Light‐Emitting Electrochemical Cells

Higher efficiency in the end‐use of energy requires substantial progress in lighting concepts. All the technologies under development are based on solid‐state electroluminescent materials and belong to the general area of solid‐state lighting (SSL). The two main technologies being developed in SSL are light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs), but in recent years, light‐emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) have emerged as an alternative option. The luminescent materials in LECs are either luminescent polymers together with ionic salts or ionic species, such as ionic transition‐metal complexes (iTMCs). Cyclometalated complexes of Ir^III are by far the most utilized class of iTMCs in LECs. Herein, we show how these complexes can be prepared and discuss their unique electronic, photophysical, and photochemical properties. Finally, the progress in the performance of iTMCs based LECs, in terms of turn‐on time, stability, efficiency, and color is presented.     

Implementation and validation of a multi-purpose virtual spectrometer for large systems in complex environments

Despite impressive advances of computational spectroscopy, a robust and user-friendly multi-frequency virtual spectrometer is not yet available. This contribution summarises ongoing efforts in our research group toward the implementation and validation of such a tool with special reference to the building blocks of biomolecules in their natural environment. Our integrated computational tool allows the computation of several kinds of spectra, including vibrational (e.g. IR, VCD), electronic (e.g. absorption, emission, ECD) as well as magnetic resonance (e.g. ESR, NMR) for both closed- and open-shell systems in vacuo and in condensed phases, and includes facilities for drawing, comparing, and modifying all the computed spectra. A number of test cases involving a combination of different spectroscopic ranges will be discussed in order to point out strengths, limitations, and ongoing developments of our research plan.     

Challenges in the simulation of dye-sensitized ZnO solar cells: quantum confinement, alignment of energy levels and excited state nature at the dye/semiconductor interface

We report a first principles density functional theory/time-dependent density functional theory (DFT/TDDFT) computational investigation on a prototypical perylene dye anchored to realistic ZnO nanostructures, approaching the size of the ZnO nanowires used in dye-sensitized solar cells devices. DFT calculations were performed on (ZnO)(n) clusters of increasing size, with n up to 222, of 1.3 × 1.5 × 3.4 nm dimensions, and for the related dye-sensitized models. We show that quantum confinement in the ZnO nanostructures substantially affects the dye/semiconductor alignment of energy levels, with smaller ZnO models providing unfavourable electron injection. An increasing broadening of the dye LUMO is found moving to larger substrates, substantially contributing to the interfacial electronic coupling. TDDFT excited state calculations for the investigated dye@(ZnO)(222) system are fully consistent with experimental data, quantitatively reproducing the red-shift and broadening of the visible absorption spectrum observed for the ZnO-anchored dye compared to the dye in solution. TDDFT calculations on the fully interacting system also introduce a contribution to the dye/semiconductor admixture, due to configurational excited state mixing. Our results highlight the importance of quantum confinement in dye-sensitized ZnO interfaces, and provide the fundamental insight lying at the heart of the associated DSC devices.     

Computational modelling of TiO2 surfaces sensitized by organic dyes with different anchoring groups: adsorption modes, electronic structure and implication for electron injection/recombination

We present a Density Functional Theory investigation aimed to model the possible adsorption modes to the TiO(2) surface of two representative TPA-based dyes, termed L0 and rh-L0, having the two mostly employed anchoring groups, namely the cyanoacrylic and rhodanine-3-acetic acids respectively. The bidentate coordination with proton transfer to a nearby surface oxygen is found to be the energetically favored anchoring mode for both dyes. The calculations show that the different dye anchoring groups give rise to a very different electronic coupling between the dye and the manifold of unoccupied semiconductor states, thus implying different electron injection mechanisms. The strongly coupled L0 dye possibly shows an adiabatic electron injection mechanism, while a non-adiabatic electron injection can be foreseen for the weakly coupled rh-L0 dye. The different orientation with respect to the TiO(2) surface for the two classes of dyes, implying different distances of the donor group from the oxide surface, together with the different electron injection mechanisms might account for the faster recombination reaction measured for the rhodanine-based dyes.     

Cationic Pentaheteroaryls as Selective G‐Quadruplex Ligands by Solvent‐Free Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis

We report herein a solvent‐free and microwaved‐assisted synthesis of several water soluble acyclic pentaheteroaryls containing 1,2,4‐oxadiazole moieties ( 1 – 7 ). Their binding interactions with DNA quadruplex structures were thoroughly investigated by FRET melting, fluorescent intercalator displacement assay (G4‐FID) and CD spectroscopy. Among the G‐quadruplexes considered, attention was focused on telomeric repeats together with the proto‐oncogenic c‐kit sequences and the c‐myc oncogene promoter. Compound 1 , and to a lesser extent 2 and 5 , preferentially stabilise an antiparallel structure of the telomeric DNA motif, and exhibit an opposite binding behaviour to structurally related polyoxazole ( TOxaPy ), and do not bind duplex DNA. The efficiency and selectivity of the binding process was remarkably controlled by the structure of the solubilising moieties.     

Inulin‐Based Hydrogel for Oral Delivery of Flutamide: Preparation,Characterization, and in vivo Release Studies

The ability of a hydrogel obtained by crosslinking INUDV and PEGBa to facilitate sustained release of flutamide is examined. The hydrogel is prepared in pH = 7.4 PBS and no toxic solvents or catalysts are used. It is recovered in microparticulate form and its size distribution is determined. Mucoadhesive properties are evaluated in vitro by reproducing gastrointestinal conditions. Flutamide is loaded into the hydrogel using a post‐fabrication encapsulation procedure that allows a drug loading comparable to that of market tablets. Drug‐loaded microparticles are orally administered to cross‐bred dogs and the in vivo study demonstrates their ability to prolong the half‐life of the principal active metabolite approximately threefold and to significantly increase its bioavailability.

     

Chemical Identification of Specialized Metabolites from Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) Collected in Southern Italy

Sulla (Hedysarum coronarium L.) is a biennal forage legume originated from the Mediterranean basin and used for animal feeding due to its high forage quality and palatability. Several species of Hedysarum have been considered for their nutritional, pharmaceutical, and biological properties, and different applications have been reported, both for human consumption and animal nutrition. Although a systematic investigation of the chemical constituents of Hedysarum spp. has been performed in order to provide chemotaxonomic evidences for the genus and to support the pharmacological application of several species within the genus, few data are available on the chemical constituents of H. coronarium, and only the content of condensed tannins and flavonoids in leaves has been previously reported. In the present paper, results from a detailed chemical analysis of the extracts from the leaves and flowers of H. coronarium grown wild in southern Italy are presented. Identification of the main specialized metabolites within the chemical classes of flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and saponins, is described, including considerations on their content in the two plant organs. Information acquired from this study expands the knowledge on H. coronarium as a source of valuable phytochemicals for different applications in human and animal health and nutrition.     

Rational design of small molecule inhibitors targeting the Rac GTPase-p67(phox) signaling axis in inflammation

The NADPH oxidase enzyme complex, NOX2, is responsible for reactive oxygen species production in neutrophils and has been recognized as a key mediator of inflammation. Here, we have performed rational design and in?silico screen to identify a small molecule inhibitor, Phox-I1, targeting the interactive site of p67(phox) with Rac GTPase, which is a necessary step of the signaling leading to NOX2 activation. Phox-I1 binds to p67(phox) with a submicromolar affinity and abrogates Rac1 binding and is effective in inhibiting NOX2-mediated superoxide production dose-dependently in human and murine neutrophils without detectable toxicity. Medicinal chemistry characterizations have yielded promising analogs and initial information of the structure-activity relationship of Phox-I1. Our studies suggest the potential utility of Phox-I class inhibitors in NOX2 oxidase inhibition and present an application of rational targeting of a small GTPase-effector interface.     

A general route for RuO2 deposition on metal oxides from RuO4

A novel method for the deposition of RuO(2) from RuO(4)(g) on diverse metal oxides has been developed by grafting dopamine onto the otherwise un-reactive metal oxide surface. Oxygen evolution reaction on TiO(2) and the photoelectrochemical improvement of WO(3) by deposition of RuO(2) are just a few examples where this novel deposition method can be used.