Synthesis of homoceramides, novel ceramide analogues, and their lack of effect on the growth of hippocampal neurons

The synthesis of a new series of D-erythro-homoceramide analogues is described. Several synthetic approaches were investigated. Homoceramides can be successfully synthesized from L-homoserine as chiral building block and a protected Weinreb-amide as a key intermediate. The synthesis of short-chain analogues with a heptyl side chain, as well as with a phenyl residue in the sphingoid part (instead of the naturally occurring tridecyl side chain), was effected. The homoceramides 15-17 and 24 were investigated for their potential to reverse the inhibitory effect of fumonisin B(1) on axonal growth. Unfortunately, none of the tested compounds showed any biological activity due to their lack of metabolism to glucosylhomoceramide.     

3,3′‐Bi(1,2,4‐oxadiazoles) Featuring the Fluorodinitromethyl and Trinitromethyl Groups

Here we report on the preparation of two hydrogen atom free 3,3′‐bi(1,2,4‐oxadiazole) derivatives. 5,5′‐Bis(fluorodinitromethyl)‐3,3′‐bi(1,2,4‐oxadiazole) was synthesised by fluorination of diammonium 5,5′‐bis(dinitromethanide)‐3,3′‐bi(1,2,4‐oxadiazole). For our previously reported analogue 5,5′‐bis(trinitromethyl)‐3,3′‐bi(1,2,4‐oxadiazole), a new synthetic route starting from new 3,3′‐bi(1,2,4‐oxadiazolyl)‐5,5′‐diacetic acid was developed. In this course also hitherto unknown 5,5′‐dimethyl‐3,3′‐bi(1,2,4‐oxadiazole) was isolated. The compounds were characterised by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR and Raman spectroscopy, elemental analysis as well as mass spectrometry. X‐ray diffraction studies were performed and the crystal structures for the 5,5'‐dimethyl and 5,5'‐(fluorodinitromethyl) derivatives are reported. The energetic 5,5'‐(fluorodinitromethyl) and 5,5'‐(trinitromethyl) compounds do not contain any hydrogen atoms and show remarkable high densities. Furthermore, the thermal stabilities and sensitivities were determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and standardised impact and friction tests. The heats of formation were calculated by the atomisation method based on CBS‐4M enthalpies. With these values and the room‐temperature X‐ray densities, several detonation and propulsion parameters, such as the detonation velocity and pressure as well as the specific impulse of mixtures with aluminium, were computed using the EXPLO5 code.     

Innovative Measurement Techniques in Surface Science

We describe four new experimental techniques advanced during the last decade in the authors’ laboratory. The techniques include photon scanning tunneling microscopy; aberration‐corrected low‐energy electron microscopy in combination with photoelectron emission microscopy, microcalorimetry, and electron‐spin resonance spectroscopy. It is demonstrated how those techniques may be applied to solve fundamental problems in surface science with growing demands to tackle complex nanoscopic systems, and, in particular in catalysis science, which, without the availability of those techniques, would be difficult if not impossible to address.     

Adsorption energetics of CO on supported Pd nanoparticles as a function of particle size by single crystal microcalorimetry

The heat of adsorption and sticking probability of CO on well-defined Pd nanoparticles were measured as a function of particle size using single crystal adsorption microcalorimetry. Pd particles of different average sizes ranging from 120 to 4900 atoms per particle (or from 1.8 to 8 nm) and Pd(111) were used that were supported on a model in situ grown Fe(3)O(4)/Pt(111) oxide film. To precisely quantify the adsorption energies, the reflectivities of the investigated model surfaces were measured as a function of the thickness of the Fe(3)O(4) oxide layer and the amount of deposited Pd. A substantial decrease of the binding energy of CO was found with decreasing particle size. Initial heat of adsorption obtained on the virtually adsorbate-free surface was observed to be reduced by about 20-40 kJ mol(-1) on the smallest 1.8 nm sized Pd particles as compared to the larger Pd clusters and the extended Pd(111) single crystal surface. This effect is discussed in terms of the size-dependent properties of the Pd nanoparticles. The CO adsorption kinetics indicates a strong enhancement of the adsorbate flux onto the metal particles due to a capture zone effect, which involves trapping of adsorbates on the support and diffusion to metal clusters. The CO adsorption rate was found to be enhanced by a factor of ～8 for the smallest 1.8 nm sized particles and by ～1.4 for the particles of 7-8 nm size.     

The theoretical research of the medium effect on the vibrational spectrum and the energy of intramolecular coordination O → Si in (benzoyloxymethyl)trifluorosilane molecule

The characteristics of (benzoyloxymethyl)trifluorosilane C₆H₅C(O)OCH₂SiF₃ containing a five-membered heterocycle closed by intramolecular coordination O → Si bond (Ia) and its most stable acyclic isomer (Ib) have been calculated by HF, MP2(Full) non-empirical methods, and DFT(B3LYP) using 6-311G(d) and 6-311 + G(2d,p) basis sets. The (C₈H₁₈, C₆H₆, (C₄H₉)₂O, CHCl₃, (CH₂)₄O, CH₂Cl₂, CH₃CN) medium effect on the energy and structural characteristics, dipole moments, and vibrational spectra of Ia and Ib isomers was calculated by the DFT(B3LYP)/6-311 + G(2d,p) method in the Onsager SCRF model approximation. The DFT(B3LYP)/6-311 + G(2d,p) calculation reasonably reproduces the medium effect on coordination energy, geometry, dipole moments, and band frequencies in the vibrational spectrum of Ia.