Rhodium‐Catalyzed Ketone Methylation Using Methanol Under Mild Conditions: Formation of α‐Branched Products

The rhodium‐catalyzed methylation of ketones has been accomplished using methanol as the methylating agent and the hydrogen‐borrowing method. The sequence is notable for the relatively low temperatures that are required and for the ability of the reaction system to form α‐branched products with ease. Doubly alkylated ketones can be prepared from methyl ketones and two different alcohols by using a sequential one‐pot iridium‐ and rhodium‐catalyzed process.     

Structural insight into exosite binding and discovery of novel exosite inhibitors of botulinum neurotoxin serotype A through in silico screening

Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT/A) is the most lethal toxin among the Tier 1 Select Agents. Development of potent and selective small molecule inhibitors against BoNT/A zinc metalloprotease remains a challenging problem due to its exceptionally large substrate binding surface and conformational plasticity. The exosites of the catalytic domain of BoNT/A are intriguing alternative sites for small molecule intervention, but their suitability for inhibitor design remains largely unexplored. In this study, we employed two recently identified exosite inhibitors, D-chicoric acid and lomofungin, to probe the structural features of the exosites and molecular mechanisms of synergistic inhibition. The results showed that D-chicoric acid favors binding at the α-exosite, whereas lomofungin preferentially binds at the β-exosite by mimicking the substrate β-sheet binding interaction. Molecular dynamics simulations and binding interaction analysis of the exosite inhibitors with BoNT/A revealed key elements and hotspots that likely contribute to the inhibitor binding and synergistic inhibition. Finally, we performed database virtual screening for novel inhibitors of BoNT/A targeting the exosites. Hits C1 and C2 showed non-competitive inhibition and likely target the α- and β-exosites, respectively. The identified exosite inhibitors may provide novel candidates for structure-based development of therapeutics against BoNT/A intoxication.     

Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of H2 dissociation on Si(001)

The dissociative adsorption of H2 on the Si(001) surface is theoretically investigated for several reaction pathways using quantum Monte Carlo methods. Our reaction energies and barriers are at large variance with those obtained with commonly used approximate exchange-correlation density functionals. Our results for adsorption support recent experimental findings, while, for desorption, the calculations give barriers in excess of the presently accepted experimental value, pinpointing the role of coverage effects and desorption from steps.     

Novel coordination polymers and structural systematics in the hydrothermal M,M' trans-3(-3-pyridyl)acrylic acid system

The bifunctional ligand trans-3-(3-pyridyl)acrylic acid has been utilized to promote the formation of a novel hetero-metallic [Cu3(C8H6NO2)6Nd2(NO3)6] (1) and two homometallic: [Nd(C8H6NO2)3H2O] (2) and [Cu(C8H6NO2)2] x H2O (3) metal organic framework (MOF) materials. The philosophy here is that a mixture of hard (Nd3+) and softer metal cations will show preference for the carboxylic and pyridyl functional groups, respectively. As such, a 3-D topology 1 has emerged as a stable, heterometallic structure. Efforts to explore structural systematics in this system have led to the synthesis of homometallic end members and hence the formation of a 2-D coordination polymer 2, and a 1-D coordination polymer 3. Presented is an analysis of the effect of a second metal centre on coordination environment, overall structure formation, thermal and luminescence properties.     

Altering surface charge nonuniformity on individual colloidal particles

Charge nonuniformity (sigmazeta) was altered on individual polystyrene latex particles and measured using the novel experimental technique of rotational electrophoresis. It has recently been shown that unaltered sulfated latices often have significant charge nonuniformity (sigmazeta = 100 mV) on individual particles. Here it is shown that anionic polyelectrolytes and surfactants reduce the native charge nonuniformity on negatively charged particles by 80% (sigmazeta = 20 mV), even while leaving the average surface charge density almost unchanged. Reduction of charge uniformity occurs as large domains of nonuniformity are minimized, giving a more random distribution of charge on individual particle surfaces. Targeted reduction of charge nonuniformity opens new opportunities for the dispersion of nanoparticles and the oriented assembly of particles.     

Angular dependence of the dipole-dipole interaction in a nearly one-dimensional sample of Rydberg atoms

Atoms in an ultracold highly excited sample are strongly coupled through the dipole-dipole interaction. In an effort to understand and manipulate the complicated interactions in this system we are investigating their dependence on the relative orientation of the dipoles. By focusing a 480 nm beam from a tunable dye laser into a magneto-optical trap, we produce a nearly one-dimensional sample of Rydberg atoms. The trap lies at the center of four conducting rods with which we can vary the magnitude and direction of the electric field at the trap, thus controlling the orientation of the dipoles with respect to the sample axis. We have measured the strength of the interaction for a variety of relative orientations.     

Entropy-stabilized smectic C phase in a system of zigzag-shaped molecules

We report Monte Carlo simulations of a system of rigid zigzag-shaped molecules that demonstrate that simple excluded-volume interactions are sufficient to produce a fluid tilted lamellar [smectic C (SmC)] liquid crystal phase. The molecules are composed of three rigidly linked hard spherocylinders arranged in a zigzag fashion. By varying the zigzag angle we have mapped out the whole phase diagram as a function of pressure and zigzag angle Psi. For Psi between 35 degrees and 80 degrees our model simulation exhibits the SmC phase. This is the first conclusive evidence where steric interactions arising out of molecular shape alone induce the occurrence of the SmC phase for a wide range of zigzag angles. For smaller Psi, a transition from tilted crystal to crystal is observed.