AES investigations on starting powders for high performance ceramics

AES depth profiles on ceramic powders (untreated/hydrolyzed/oxidized/ (Al, Y)₂O₃ coated Si₃N₄, [BaO, SiO₂] coated Al₂O₃) are feasible on thin, homogeneous layers or m sized agglomerations prepared on an Au foil. By means of the depth profiles one can qualitatively characterize the coating around the particles. Factor analysis of the depth profiles on the differently treated Si₃N₄ powders suggests the existence of an Si₂N₂O phase on the oxidized sample.Dedicated to Professor Günther Tölg on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Structure and Dynamics of Hydrogen Chelates. Part 1. NMR-spectroscopic studies in the quinazoline-2-acetonitrile series

To get informations on both the structure and dynamics of hydrogen chelates 1 of heteroaromatic systems, a great variety of quinazoline-2-acetonitrile chelates were synthesized (see 2–4 ). Similarly to the situation of the corresponding H-chelates in the pyrimidine-2-acetonitrile series, the investigation of these new derivatives 2–4 by NMR spectroscopic methods (DNMR, COSY, NOESY, ROESY, EXSY, HMQC, HMBC) confirms the presence of an equilibrium of the two possible H-chelate structures (two ‘rotamers’ I and II , i.e., (E)/(Z) isomers; see Scheme). The corresponding equilibria I ? II were determined by complete ¹H-NMR signal assignment at low temperatures (after freezing the rotational processes). In addition, the tautomer equilibria A ? B (relative energies of the two minima of the nonsymmetrical double-well potential) for both ‘rotamers’ are ascertained by H,H and C,H couplings. The results are an important basis for the interpretation of both the UV/VIS absorptions and the dependence of fluorescence and fluorescence quantum yields on temperature.     

Hyphenation of capillary high-performance liquid chromatography with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for nano-scale screening of single-bead combinatorial libraries

This paper focuses on the technical aspects of chemical screening from 384-well plate nano-scale single-bead combinatorial libraries. The analytical technique utilized is a combination of capillary liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. The HPLC/MALDI-MS hyphenation is achieved by means of a micro-fraction collector with a peak detection system that automatically collects the peaks onto the MALDI targets for subsequent characterization. Several experimental parameters such as type of 384-well plate, well-plate sealing foils, and a column-switching procedure were investigated using a small test library of nine components. Additionally, the influence of different MALDI matrices, different MALDI targets and sample-spotting techniques on the MALDI detection sensitivity as well as the ruggedness and sample throughput capacity of this technique were studied. Optimum results for the analytes investigated were obtained with 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid using on-line mixing of HPLC effluent and matrix solution. To demonstrate the potential of this capillary HPLC/MALDI-TOFMS method, its application to several single-bead libraries was investigated. The instrumental method allowed for the rapid identification and purity assessment of combinatorial libraries with detection limits down to the higher femtomole level using both UV detection and MALDI mass spectrometry.     

Syntheses and PE-Spectroscopic Investigations of 2,6- and 3,5-Bridged 1,4-Dimethylidenecyclohexanes

Three 1,4-dimethylidenecyclohexanes, bridged in the 2,6- and 3,5-positions by two ethano ( 4 ), one ethano and one propano ( 5 ), and two propano bridges ( 6 ) have been synthesized. The interaction of the two exocyclic methylidene groups has been investigated by He(I) photoelectron (PE) spectroscopy. It revealed a slightly larger energy difference (0.8 eV) for 4 and 5 as compared to the parent 1,4-dimethylidenecyclohexane ( 7 ) (0.7 eV). The interpretation of the PE spectra was based on the comparison with PE data of related systems and with the results of semiempirical calculations on 4–6 .     

N-Heterocyclic Olefins as Electron Donors in Combination with Triarylborane Acceptors: Synthesis,Optical and Electronic Properties of D–π–A Compounds

N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs), relatives of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), exhibit high nucleophilicity and soft Lewis basic character. To investigate their π-electron donating ability, NHOs were attached to triarylborane π-acceptors (A) giving donor (D)–π–A compounds 1 – 3 . In addition, an enamine π-donor analogue ( 4 ) was synthesized for comparison. UV–visible absorption studies show a larger red shift for the NHO-containing boranes than for the enamine analogue, a relative of cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbenes (CAACs). Solvent-dependent emission studies indicate that 1 – 4 have moderate intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) behavior. Electrochemical investigations reveal that the NHO-containing boranes have extremely low reversible oxidation potentials (e.g., for 3 , =−0.40 V vs. ferrocene/ferrocenium, Fc/Fc⁺, in THF). Time-dependent (TD) DFT calculations show that the HOMOs of 1 – 3 are much more destabilized than that of the enamine-containing 4 , which confirms the stronger donating ability of NHOs.     

Cs3[Tb10(C2)2]Cl21, ein neuer Formel- und Strukturtyp mit isolierten,dimeren Clustern

Cs₃[Tb₁₀(C₂)₂]Cl₂₁, A New Formula and Structure Type with Isolated Dimeric Clusters Cs₃[Tb₁₀(C₂)₂]Cl₂₁ is obtained via the metallothermic reduction of TbCl₃ with caesium in the presence of graphite as black single crystals. The crystal structure (monoclinic, C2/c, Z = 4; a = 2318.72(13); b = 1245.8(9); c = 1502.0(13) pm; β = 98.13(6)°; R = 0.089; R_w = 0.049) contains dimeric clusters that are built from two octahedra connected via one common edge and filled with C₂ units. These isolated [Tb₁₀(C₂)₂] clusters are surrounded by 26 chloride ligands which are then connected via i—a and a—a bridges in a way that voids for Cs⁺ of coordination number 10 are formed.     

Dithiol proteins as guardians of the intracellular redox milieu in parasites: old and new drug targets in trypanosomes and malaria-causing plasmodia

Parasitic diseases such as sleeping sickness, Chagas' heart disease, and malaria are major health problems in poverty-stricken areas. Antiparasitic drugs that are not only active but also affordable and readily available are urgently required. One approach to finding new drugs and rediscovering old ones is based on enzyme inhibitors that paralyze antioxidant systems in the pathogens. These antioxidant ensembles are essential to the parasites as they are attacked in the human host by strong oxidants such as peroxynitrite, hypochlorite, and H2O2. The pathogen-protecting system consists of some 20 thiol and dithiol proteins, which buffer the intraparasitic redox milieu at a potential of -250 mV. In trypanosomes and leishmania the network is centered around the unique dithiol trypanothione (N1,N8-bis(glutathionyl)spermidine). In contrast, malaria parasites have a more conservative dual antioxidative system based on glutathione and thioredoxin. Inhibitors of antioxidant enzymes such as trypanothione reductase are, indeed, parasiticidal but they can also delay or prevent resistance against a number of other antiparasitic drugs.     

Orientation and order in thin films of a combined liquid crystalline polymer

The order in thin films of a combined liquid crystalline polymer is studied by X-ray reflection. Films of thicknesses of less than 200 nm on float glass are investigated as a function of temperature. The polymer with mesogenic groups in the main and side-chains exhibits smectic and cholesteric mesophases. Measurements in the smectic phases show a Bragg peak and smectic layers are oriented parallel to the substrate. The sample is thus macroscopically ordered by the influence of substrate and free surface. The film surface is very smooth after spincoating; surface roughness is typically 0.8 nm. First annealing of samples leads to a significant roughening of the free surface; roughness increases to 2.1 nm. Order as a function of film thickness depends on the interaction of the polymer with the substrate and free surface. These interactions give rise to a typical correlation length of perturbations in smectic ordering.     

Syntheses for 2-hydroxy-2H-1,4-benzothiazin-3(4H)-one derivatives as thio analogues of natural hemiacetals

Reductive cyclizations of methyl 2-(2-nitrophenylthio)acetate 2 by means of electrochemistry or by catalytic hydrogenation have been used as key steps in the syntheses of the hemiacetals 2-hydroxy-2H-1,4-benzothiazin-3(4H)-one 10 and its 4-hydroxy derivative 9 representing thio analogues of allelo chemicals found in Gramineae and Acanthaceae. In contrast to its natural counterpart 2,4-dihydroxy-2H-1,4-benzoxa-zin-3(4H)-one hydroxamic acid 9 did not undergo degradation by extrusion of formic acid.