Z/E-photoisomerizations of olefins with 4npi- or (4n + 2)pi-electron substituents: zigzag variations in olefin properties along the T(1) state energy surfaces

[Figure: see text]. A quantum chemical study has been performed to assess changes in aromaticity along the T1 state Z/E-isomerization pathways of annulenyl-substituted olefins. It is argued that the point on the T1 energy surface with highest substituent aromaticity corresponds to the minimum. According to Baird (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1972, 94, 4941), aromaticity and antiaromaticity are interchanged when going from S0 to T1. Thus, olefins with S0 aromatic substituents (set A olefins) will be partially antiaromatic in T1 and vice versa for olefins with S0 antiaromatic substituents (set B olefins). Twist of the C=C bond to a structure with a perpendicular orientation of the 2p(C) orbitals (3p*) in T1 should lead to regaining substituent aromaticity in set A and loss of aromaticity in set B olefins. This hypothesis is verified through quantum chemical calculations of T1 energies, geometries (bond lengths and harmonic oscillator measure of aromaticity), spin densities, and nucleus independent chemical shifts whose differences along the T1 PES display zigzag dependencies on the number of -electrons in the annulenyl substituent of the olefin. Aromaticity changes are reflected in the profiles of the T1 potential energy surfaces (T1 PESs) for Z/E-isomerizations because olefins in set A have minima at 3p* whereas those in set B have maxima at such structures. The proper combination (fusion) of the substituents of set A and B olefins could allow for design of novel optical switch compounds that isomerize adiabatically with high isomerization quantum yields.     

Computation of cross sections for the F+H2(v=0,j=0) → FH(v′j)+H reaction by the hyperspherical method

Summary A quantum mechanical calculation of cross sections for the reaction F+H₂(v=0,j=0) FH(vj)+H has been performed on the T5A semiempirical potential surface using hyperspherical coordinates. State-to-state integral and differential cross sections converge rapidly with the number of components of the total angular momentum projection onto the axis of least inertia. Thev=3 differential cross section has a forward peak whose magnitude increases with energy whereas thev=2 differential cross section has a backward maximum, in qualitative agreement with cross-beam experiments. Thev=2 andv=3 rotational distributions are in rather good agreement with experiment, but not the vibrational branching ratios.     

Participation d'un groupe amide a la formation de sels de dioxolanne-1,3 ylium-2; Modele biomimetique de reaction de peptidation

An amide group is shown to be capable of intramolecular participation in the formation of an 1,3-dioxolan 2-ylium cation giving a tricyclic organic cation of a new type $\text{5a}$,$\text{b}$. This cation may be considered as a model of an electrophilic intermediate which might be formed from a peptidyl t-RNA during protein biosynthesis.The tricyclic salt $\text{5a}$,$\text{b}$ reacts with water and methanol like a classical dioxolenium salt. An amide acetal $\text{18}$ can be obtained from dimethylamine and 5a; hydrolysis of $\text{18}$ does not lead to the corresponding amide $\text{20}$ but to the cleavage of the CN. bond.     

Kinetics of thermal decomposition of Co3O4 powder and single crystals

Kinetics of thermal decomposition in vacuum of Co₃O₄ powder as well as single crystals has been investigated. Discrepancies with the results of previous authors have been discussed. Decomposition of Co₃O₄ proceeds through formation of a compact layer of CoO and hence diffusion is the rate-limiting factor. The experimental curves α(t) be described for 0.05 < α < 0.85 using a modified Ginstling-Brounshtein equation: 1 ? 2α/3 ? (1 ? α)^2/3 = ktⁿ where the activation energy varies with the degree of decomposition.     

A DFT study of lithium battery materials: application to the β-VOXO4 systems (X=P, As, S)

VOXO₄ systems have been considered as potential lithium battery electrodes. They mainly present two distinct structural types: the tetragonal “α” type with a two-dimensional framework, and the three-dimensional orthorhombic “β”. DFT calculations were performed on this latter system for several β-Li_xVOXO₄ compounds (x=0, 1; X=P, As, S). They allowed to propose structural models for VOAsO₄ and LiVOSO₄, not fully crystallographically well described yet. Based on an experimental model of two-phase processes, these calculations led also to a good simulation of electrochemical potential values. A density of states analysis put in evidence the “inductive effect” and the role played by (XO₄)ⁿ⁻ groups inside the host frameworks on these potentials.     

Molecular fluorescence excitation-emission matrices relevant to tissue spectroscopy

In vivo and ex vivo studies of fluorescence from endogenous and exogenous molecules in tissues and cells are common for applications such as detection or characterization of early disease. A systematic determination of the excitation-emission matrices (EEM) of known and putative endogenous fluorophores and a number of exogenous fluorescent photodynamic therapy drugs has been performed in solution. The excitation wavelength range was 250-520 nm, with fluorescence emission spectra collected in the range 260-750 nm. In addition, EEM of intact normal and adenomatous human colon tissues are presented as an example of the relationship to the EEM of constituent fluorophores and illustrating the effects of tissue chromophore absorption. As a means to make this large quantity of spectral data generally available, an interactive database has been developed. This currently includes EEM and also absorption spectra of 35 different endogenous and exogenous fluorophores and chromophores and six photosensitizing agents. It is intended to maintain and extend this database in the public domain, accessible through the Photochemistry and Photobiology website (http://www.aspjournal. com/).     

Structural aspects of the metal-insulator transitions in V0.985Al0.015O2

The crystal structure of V_0.985Al_0.015O₂ has been refined from single-crystal X-ray data at four temperatures. At 373°K it has the tetragonal rutile structure. At 323°K, which is below the first metal-insulator transition, it has the monoclinic M₂ structure, where half of the vanadium atoms are paired with alternating short (2.540 Å) and long (3.261 Å) V-V separations. The other half of the vanadium atoms form equally spaced (2.935 Å) zigzag V chains. At 298°K, which is below the second electric and magnetic transition, V_0.985Al_0.015O₂ has the triclinic T structure where both vanadium chains contain V-V bonds, V(1)-V(1) = 2.547 Å and V(2)-V(2) = 2.819 Å. At 173°K the pairing of the V(1) chain remains constant: V(1)-V(1) = 2.545 Å, whereas that of the V(2) chain decreases: V(2)-V(2) = 2.747 Å. From the variation of the lattice parameters as a function of temperature it seems that these two short V-V distances will not become equal at lower temperatures. The effective charges as calculated from the bond strengths at 298 and 173°K show that a cation disproportionation has taken place between these two temperatures. About 20% of the V⁴⁺ cations of the V(1) chains have become V³⁺ and correspondingly 20% of the V⁴⁺ cations of the V(2) chains have become V⁵⁺. This disproportionation process would explain the difference between the two short V-V distances. Also it would explain why the T → M₁ transition does not take at lower temperatures.     

On the partial reversibility of the Β-lactoglobulin heat denaturation

The thermal behavior ofΒ-lactoglobulin (Β-lg) disperesed in distilled water (pH=3.2) is studied dy differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the temperature range 20?C–120?C and within a concentration region of 3.5% to 24%. Recently [1] we have determined by DSC the kinetic parameters for the heat-denaturation ofΒ-lg. The effect of the protein concentration and of the thermal treatment on transition temperature (T _trs), half-widths of the peak (δT _1/2), of apparent enthalpy changes (δ_app H) and of Van't Hoff enthalpies (δ_VH H) have been examined for the concentrations of 8.8% and 24%. In this study we have undertaken complementary experiments for the concentrations 3.5% and 10.8%. The half-widths of the peaks, which depend on the cooperativity of the denaturation process [2], decrease with increasing concentration. The ratio δ_app H/δ_VH H tends to 1, with low values of the protein concentration and with high scanning rates. This implies the hypothesis of a reversible step for the denaturation process ofΒ-lg.