Improving Site‐Directed RNA Editing In Vitro and in Cell Culture by Chemical Modification of the GuideRNA

Adenosine‐to‐inosine deamination can be re‐addressed to user‐defined mRNAs by applying phosphothioate/2′‐methoxy‐modified guideRNAs. Dense chemical modification of the guideRNA clearly improves performance of the covalent conjugates inside the living cell. Furthermore, careful positioning of a few modifications controls editing selectivity in vitro and was exploited for the challenging repair of the Factor 5 Leiden missense mutation.     

On-Surface Synthesis of Cumulene-Containing Polymers via Two-Step Dehalogenative Homocoupling of Dibromomethylene-Functionalized Tribenzoazulene

Cumulene compounds are notoriously difficult to prepare and study because their reactivity increases dramatically with the increasing number of consecutive double bonds. In this respect, the emerging field of on-surface synthesis provides exceptional opportunities because it relies on reactions on clean metal substrates under well-controlled ultrahigh-vacuum conditions. Here we report the on-surface synthesis of a polymer linked by cumulene-like bonds on a Au(111) surface via sequential thermally activated dehalogenative C−C coupling of a tribenzoazulene precursor equipped with two dibromomethylene groups. The structure and electronic properties of the resulting polymer with cumulene-like pentagon–pentagon and heptagon–heptagon connections have been investigated by means of scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy methods and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, complemented by density functional theory calculations. Our results provide perspectives for the on-surface synthesis of cumulene-containing compounds, as well as protocols relevant to the stepwise fabrication of carbon–carbon bonds on surfaces.     

Environmentally Benign Solution-Based Procedure for the Fabrication of Metal Oxide Coatings on Metallic Pigments

Aluminum pigments were coated with Fe₂O₃ and CuO by solution-based thermal decomposition of the urea nitrate compounds hexakisureairon(III)nitrate and tetrakisureacopper(II)nitrate. The deposition process was optimized to obtain homogeneously coated aluminum pigments. The growth of the surface coatings was controlled by investigation with scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and static light scattering as well as infrared, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The iron precursor showed an incomplete decomposition in solution, incorporating traces of urea molecules inside the coatings while the copper precursor showed complete dissociation accompanied by in situ formation of amine complexes. The amount of organic residues resulting from ligand fragments in the final oxide coatings could be reduced to 22 % for the iron oxide and 12 % for the copper oxide by further temperature treatment in solution (259 °C). Colorimetric investigations of the obtained pigments revealed an excellent hiding power, outperforming the pigments used in current state-of-the-art formulations.     

On‐Surface Synthesis of Cumulene‐Containing Polymers via Two‐Step Dehalogenative Homocoupling of Dibromomethylene‐Functionalized Tribenzoazulene

Cumulene compounds are notoriously difficult to prepare and study because their reactivity increases dramatically with the increasing number of consecutive double bonds. In this respect, the emerging field of on‐surface synthesis provides exceptional opportunities because it relies on reactions on clean metal substrates under well‐controlled ultrahigh‐vacuum conditions. Here we report the on‐surface synthesis of a polymer linked by cumulene‐like bonds on a Au(111) surface via sequential thermally activated dehalogenative C?C coupling of a tribenzoazulene precursor equipped with two dibromomethylene groups. The structure and electronic properties of the resulting polymer with cumulene‐like pentagon–pentagon and heptagon–heptagon connections have been investigated by means of scanning probe microscopy and spectroscopy methods and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, complemented by density functional theory calculations. Our results provide perspectives for the on‐surface synthesis of cumulene‐containing compounds, as well as protocols relevant to the stepwise fabrication of carbon–carbon bonds on surfaces.     

Photochemical Deracemization of Allenes and Subsequent Chirality Transfer

Trisubstituted allenes with a 3‐(1′‐alkenylidene)‐pyrrolidin‐2‐one motif were successfully deracemized (13 examples, 86–98 % ee) employing visible light (λ=420 nm) and a chiral triplet sensitizer as the catalyst (2.5 mol %). The photocatalyst likely operates by selective recognition of one allene enantiomer via hydrogen bonds and by a triplet‐sensitized racemization process. Even a tetrasubstituted allene (45 % ee) and a seven‐membered 3‐(1′‐alkenylidene)‐azepan‐2‐one (62 % ee) could be enantiomerically enriched under the chosen conditions. It was shown that the axial chirality of the allenes can be converted into point chirality by a Diels–Alder (94–97 % ee) or a bromination reaction (91 % ee). Ring opening of the five‐membered pyrrolidin‐2‐one was achieved without significantly compromising the integrity of the chirality axis (92 % ee).     

Granular dampers for the reduction of vibrations of an oscillatory saw

Instruments for surgical and dental application based on oscillatory mechanics submit unwanted vibrations to the operator’s hand. Frequently the weight of the instrument’s body is increased to dampen its vibration. Based on recent research regarding the optimization of granular damping we developed a prototype granular damper that attenuates the vibrations of an oscillatory saw twice as efficiently as a comparable solid mass.