Hybrid chirped-pulse amplification

Conversion efficiency in optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification is limited by spatiotemporal characteristics of the pump pulse. We have demonstrated a novel hybrid chirped-pulse amplification scheme that uses a single pump pulse and combines optical parametric amplification and laser amplification to achieve high gain, high conversion efficiency, and high prepulse contrast without utilization of electro-optic modulators. We achieved an overall conversion efficiency of 37% from the hybrid amplification system at a center wavelength of 820nm. Generation of multiterawatt pulses is possible by use of this simple method and commercial Q -switched pump lasers.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of allylic amines: considerable rate acceleration in the hydrozirconation-transmetalation-aldimine addition sequence

The hydrozirconation of alkynes with zirconocene hydrochloride and the dimethylzinc-mediated addition of alkenylzirconocenes to diphenylphosphinoyl imines can be greatly accelerated with microwave irradiation, resulting in a convenient and rapid one-pot process for the preparation of synthetically useful allylic amines.     

New tin templates for the synthesis of macrocyclic polythiaether-polythiaester ligands

The preparation of new tin templates, stannathianes 1-3 is described. New templates have been successfully applied to the synthesis of macrocyclic polythialactones 4-9 by cyclization of corresponding stannathianes 1-3 with pimeloyl dichloride.     

Optical sectioning in wide-field microscopy obtained by dynamic structured light illumination and detection based on a smart pixel detector array

Optical sectioning in wide-field microscopy is achieved by illumination of the object with a continuously moving single-spatial-frequency pattern and detecting the image with a smart pixel detector array. This detector performs an on-chip electronic signal processing that extracts the optically sectioned image. The optically sectioned image is directly observed in real time without any additional postprocessing.     

Optical study of the formation of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-based fluorescent nanoaggregates

Pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives possessing different sterically-hindered end-groups at position 7 of the heterocycle were studied and compared with respect to nanoaggregate formation ability by the reprecipitation method in aqueous solutions. The emergence of nanoaggregates with an increasing water fraction in THF/water mixture was traced by observing sudden changes in spectral and transient fluorescence dynamics accompanied by fluorescence efficiency turn-on. The aggregation induced emission with a maximal 20-fold emission efficiency enhancement was obtained. Tuning of the nanoaggregates sizes from about 50 nm to 600 nm by increasing the THF/water ratio was revealed by electron microscopy. Almost perfect spherical shapes of the nanoaggregates and their structureless fluorescence bands similar to those of their neat amorphous films suggested an amorphous-like nature of the pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-based nanoparticles.     

Normal- and Reversed-Phase Behaviour of 16,17-Secoestrone Derivatives on Cyanopropyl-Bonded Silica Gel

The retention behaviour of a number of 16,17-secoestrone derivatives has been studied by LC and HPTLC on a polar cyanopropyl-bonded stationary phase using non-aqueous and aqueous-organic mobile phases. The retention behaviour has been discussed in terms of nature of the solute, eluent and stationary phase. The correlation between retention constants of 16,17-secoestrone derivatives obtained from reversed-phases and commercially available ACD log P software (Advanced Chemistry, Toronto, Canada) has also been examined.

     

Synthesis of unsymmetrical saturated or diacetylenic cationic bolaamphiphiles

This work presents the synthesis of novel unsymmetrical bolaamphiphiles bearing a sugar residue and a cationic glycine betaine moiety connected to both ends of a C₂₂ or C₃₂ oligomethylene bridging chain possessing or not a diacetylenic unit. Preliminary transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies revealed the polymorphism of these bola lipids with regard to their self-assembled morphologies in water depending on the presence or not of the diacetylenic functionality and on alkyl chain length.