Analysis of bi-material interface cracks with complex weighting functions and non-standard quadrature

A boundary element formulation is developed to determine the complex stress intensity factors associated with cracks on the interface between dissimilar materials. This represents an extension of the methodology developed previously by the authors for determination of free-edge generalized stress intensity factors on bi-material interfaces, which employs displacements and weighted tractions as primary variables. However, in the present work, the characteristic oscillating stress singularity is addressed through the introduction of complex weighting functions for both displacements and tractions, along with corresponding non-standard numerical quadrature formulas. As a result, this boundary-only approach provides extremely accurate mesh-insensitive solutions for a range of two-dimensional interface crack problems. A number of computational examples are considered to assess the performance of the method in comparison with analytical solutions and previous work on the subject. As a final application, the method is applied to study the scaling behavior of epoxy–metal butt joints.     

Characterization of the Zwitterionic Intermediate in 1,1‐Carboboration of Alkynes

The reaction of a Lewis acidic borane with an alkyne is a key step in a diverse range of main group transformations. Alkyne 1,1‐carboboration, the Wrackmeyer reaction, is an archetypal transformation of this kind. 1,1‐Carboboration has been proposed to proceed through a zwitterionic intermediate. We report the isolation and spectroscopic, structural and computational characterization of the zwitterionic intermediates generated by reaction of B(C₆F₅)₃ with alkynes. The stepwise reactivity of the zwitterion provides new mechanistic insight for 1,1‐carboboration and wider B(C₆F₅)₃ catalysis. Making use of intramolecular stabilization by a ferrocene substituent, we have characterized the zwitterionic intermediate in the solid state and diverted reactivity towards alkyne cyclotrimerization.     

An Indium‐Seamed Hexameric Metal–Organic Cage as an Example of a Hexameric Pyrogallol[4]arene Capsule Conjoined Exclusively by Trivalent Metal Ions

A hexameric metal–organic nanocapsule is assembled from pyrogallol[4]arene units, which are stitched together with indium ions. This indium‐seamed capsule is the first instance of a M₂₄L₆ type hexameric coordination cage held together exclusively by trivalent metal ions. Explicitly, unlike previously reported pyrogallol[4]arene‐based metal‐seamed capsules, the current In³⁺ seamed capsule is entirely supported by O→In coordinate bonds. This work demonstrates the important proof of concept of the ability of pyrogallol[4]arene to react with metals in higher oxidation states to assemble into atomically‐precise hexameric coordination cages. As such, these results open up exciting avenues toward the assembly of previously unanticipated metal–organic capsules, for example offering inspiration for tackling metals exhibiting high valence states such as in the lanthanide and actinide series.     

Recent advances in surface x-ray diffraction and the potential for determining structure-sensitivity relations in single-crystal electrocatalysis

Determining how electrode structure governs the performance of an electrocatalyst requires techniques capable of probing structure at the atomic scale, often in situ and operando. In recent years, there have been numerous advances in the main experimental techniques for determining the structure of the electrochemical interface. In situ/operando synchrotron surface x-ray diffraction measurements are key to investigate the atomic structure of the electrode surfaces as well as understand the structure-reactivity relations in electrocatalysis. Here we discuss some recent improvements that have taken place in surface x-ray diffraction and how we expect them to lead to an enhanced understanding of electrocatalysis.     

Convenient syntheses of ring-B-nor analogues of Ambrox® and amberketal via a novel ring contraction reaction

Manool is converted into ring-B-nor analogues of commercially important perfumery compounds via a novel ring-B-nor intermediate methylene ketone 9. Compound 9 is synthesised via the formation of an exocyclic bromonium ion and the concomitant ring contraction of the B-ring of a diterpene skeleton derived from manool. Oxidation and base treatment of the ring-contracted product result in dehydrohalogenation and decarboxylation to afford methylene ketone compound 9, which is then converted to ring-B-nor analogues of Ambrox® and amberketal.     

Using LR-HSQMBC to observe long-range H–N correlations

The recently reported LR-HSQMBC experiment has been optimized for ¹H–¹⁵N long-range heteronuclear couplings. Several previously unreported four-bond correlations, consistent with the predicted by DFT calculations (0.2–0.3 Hz ⁴J_NH couplings), have been observed for strychnine using 2 Hz optimization of the LR-HSQMBC experiment. This experiment offers an advantage over accordion-optimized experiments such as IMPEACH and CIGAR for the observation of long-range ¹H–¹⁵N correlations in that the experiment is refocused and employs a CLIP pulse sequence element to bring the long-range correlations into phase, allowing broadband X-decoupling to be employed during acquisition.     

The Development of the In Situ Modification of 1st Generation Analytical Scale Silica Monoliths

Analytical scale silica monoliths are commercially limited to three column selectivities (bare silica, C8 and C18). An in situ modification is reported in detail to overcome this barrier and allow for any functionality of choice to be bonded to the silica surface of the monolithic stationary phase support. The modification method was conducted on a commercial bare silica column to bond the C18 moiety to the silica surface through a silylation reaction. The C18 type of stationary phase was chosen, as this is the most commonly bonded functionality for the majority of stationary phases used for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separations. The C18-modified monolith’s performance was compared to a commercial C18 monolithic and a particle packed column of the same analytical scale column dimensions (100 × 4.6 mm). The modified C18 monolith proved to be of high quality with an efficiency of 73,267 N m^?1, fast analysis times (operated at flow rates up to 3 mL min^?1 using a conventional 400 bar HPLC system) and improved resolution of a set of polar and non-polar substituted aromatics in comparison to a commercial C18 monolith.     

Phenothiazine–BODIPY–Fullerene Triads as Photosynthetic Reaction Center Models: Substitution and Solvent Polarity Effects on Photoinduced Charge Separation and Recombination

Novel photosynthetic reaction center model compounds of the type donor₂–donor₁–acceptor, composed of phenothiazine, BF₂‐chelated dipyrromethene (BODIPY), and fullerene, respectively, have been newly synthesized using multistep synthetic methods. X‐ray structures of three of the phenothiazine‐BODIPY intermediate compounds have been solved to visualize the substitution effect caused by the phenothiazine on the BODIPY macrocycle. Optical absorption and emission, computational, and differential pulse voltammetry studies were systematically performed to establish the molecular integrity of the triads. The N‐substituted phenothiazine was found to be easier to oxidize by 60 mV compared to the C‐substituted analogue. The geometry and electronic structures were obtained by B3LYP/6‐31G(dp) calculations (for H, B, N, and O) and B3LYP/6‐31G(df) calculations (for S) in vacuum, followed by a single‐point calculation in benzonitrile utilizing the polarizable continuum model (PCM). The HOMO?1, HOMO, and LUMO were, respectively, on the BODIPY, phenothiazine and fullerene entities, which agreed well with the site of electron transfer determined from electrochemical studies. The energy‐level diagram deduced from these data helped in elucidating the mechanistic details of the photochemical events. Excitation of BODIPY resulted in ultrafast electron transfer to produce PTZ–BODIPY^.+–C₆₀^.?; subsequent hole shift resulted in PTZ^.+–BODIPY–C₆₀^.? charge‐separated species. The return of the charge‐separated species was found to be solvent dependent. In nonpolar solvents the PTZ^.+–BODIPY–C₆₀^.? species populated the ³C₆₀* prior to returning to the ground state, while in polar solvent no such process was observed due to relative positioning of the energy levels. The ¹BODIPY* generated radical ion‐pair in these triads persisted for few nanoseconds due to electron transfer/hole‐shift mechanism.     

Synthesis and thermal properties of a new styryl-functionalized pentafulvene glassy carbon precursor

The first preparation of a styryl-functionalized aryl pentafulvene 4 was carried out. In the crystal structure of 4, the packing of fulvene molecules results in the shortest intermolecular contacts between aligned vinyl groups. Thermal reactivity studies of 4 (DSC and TGA, under N₂) revealed a small difference between the melting point (120 °C) and the T_onset for cross-linking (125 °C), and provided strong evidence for the production of a network material (net4) due to reactivity of the attached styryl group. Pyrolysis of net4 under N₂ gave a glassy carbon product in low yield as revealed by powder X-ray and TGA analyses (carbon yield (TGA) of 38% (900 °C)).     

Synthesis and characterization of a new fluorogenic substrate for alpha-galactosidase

Alpha-galactosidase A hydrolyzes the terminal alpha-galactosyl moieties from glycolipids and glycoproteins in lysosomes. Mutations in α-galactosidase cause lysosomal accumulation of the glycosphingolipid, globotriaosylceramide, which leads to Fabry disease. Small-molecule chaperones that bind to mutant enzyme proteins and correct their misfolding and mistrafficking have emerged as a potential therapy for Fabry disease. We have synthesized a red fluorogenic substrate, resorufinyl α-d-galactopyranoside, for a new α-galactosidase enzyme assay. This assay can be measured continuously at lower pH values, without the addition of a stop solution, due to the relatively low pK _a of resorufin (~6). In addition, the assay emits red fluorescence, which can significantly reduce interferences due to compound fluorescence and dust/lint as compared to blue fluorescence. Therefore, this new red fluorogenic substrate and the resulting enzyme assay can be used in high-throughput screening to identify small-molecule chaperones for Fabry disease. Zhen-Dan Shi and Omid Motabar contributed equally to this work