Ten-membered rings as key interaction motifs in folding of desmuramyl di-, tri-, and tetrapeptides

Structural Chemistry - Muropeptides are fragments of polymeric peptidoglycan, unique constituent of bacterial cell walls, acting as immunostimulators (adjuvants). The smallest biologically active...     

Solution equilibria of aromatic dinitroso compounds: a combined NMR and DFT study

Solution-state nitroso monomer-azodioxide equilibria and conformational freedom of several aromatic dinitroso derivatives, differing in the spacer group between the aromatic rings, were studied by one- and two-dimensional variable temperature ¹H NMR spectroscopy and by quantum chemical calculations. The proton signals of nitroso monomer-azodioxide mixtures revealed by low-temperature NMR were assigned and validated using B3LYP-D3/6-311+G(2d,p)/SMD level of theory. In almost all cases, a preference towards the formation of only one azodioxy isomer of aromatic dinitroso compounds was found, which was assigned to Z-dimer according to computational data. Nevertheless, the computed small energy difference between the Z- and E-isomer could not account for the extreme preference for Z-dimer formation, indicating an influence of entropic or solvent effects. The formation of shorter oligomers in solution was excluded based on integrated ¹H NMR signal intensities. The experimental results indicated an average dimerization Gibbs energy of about ??5 kJ/mol at 223 K and were found to be in very good correlation with dimerization energies obtained by solution-phase optimization.

     

Visible and NIR luminescence of nanocrystalline β-Ga2O3:Er prepared by solution combustion synthesis

In this paper we report on facile solution combustion synthesis of erbium doped β-Ga₂O₃ with urea as fuel. The product was characterized using powder X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). X-ray diffraction and TEM showed that the material is nanostructured. Luminescence properties of β-Ga₂O₃:Er are studied with excitation in near infrared (Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm) and visible (argon laser at 514.5 nm). A strong NIR emission of Er³⁺ in the window of minimal optical loss in silica based optical fibers, due to the ⁴I_13/2→⁴I_15/2 transition at 1.55 μm has been observed. Codoping with Yb³⁺ significantly increases the intensity of that important emission.     

Structural, Spectroscopic and Thermal Characterisation of bis (dibenzoylmethanato)Cd(II) Adducts with Dimethylsulfoxide and Water

Abstract  Adducts of cadmium(II) dibenzoylmethate, Cd(dbm)₂X₂ (X = DMSO, H₂O) were synthesized and analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential-scanning calorimetry (DSC), hot-stage microscopy (HSM), single crystal X-ray diffraction, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Products obtained by thermal decomposition of the two Cd(II) complexes in oxygen, were used for quantitative analysis of cadmium in the adduct molecules. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the DMSO adduct revealed that it has cis configuration. The DMSO adduct crystallizes in P2₁/a space group, a = 17.2494(6) ?, b = 8.3251(4) ?, c = 22.2746(9) ?, β = 93.836(3)°, V = 3191.53(7) ?³, Z = 4. Graphical abstract   Structural, Spectroscopic and Thermal Characterisation of bis (dibenzoylmethanato)Cd(II) Adducts With Dimethylsulfoxide and Water Ivan Halasz, Michaela Horvat, Tomislav Biljan, Ernest Meštrović Two adducts of bis(dibenzoylmethanato)Cd(II), Cd(dbm)₂X₂ (X = DMSO, H2O) have been synthesized and characterized.      

Yb3+ as an origin of the strong anti-Stokes luminescence in NIR FT-Raman spectra of some lanthanide sesquioxides

Strong anti-Stokes bands observed in FT-Raman spectra of Y2O3, Gd2O3 and Lu2O3 are explained by NIR luminescence of Yb3+ impurities present in sesquioxides after the excitation with the 1064 nm line of an Nd:YAG laser. Samples of Y2O3:Yb, Ga2O3:Yb, CeO2:Yb, Gd2O3:Yb and Lu2O3:Yb were prepared by solution combustion synthesis procedure using urea. All materials were investigated by FT-Raman and FT-NIR spectroscopy and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering on molecular self-assembly in nanoparticle-hydrogel composite

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering has been applied to study weak intermolecular interactions between small organic gelling molecules involved in the silver nanoparticle-hydrogel composite formation. Assembly and disassembly of the gelator molecules in close vicinity to embedded silver nanoparticles were followed by changes in Raman intensity of the amide II and carboxyl vibrational bands, whereas the strength of the bands related to benzene modes remained constant. This implied that the gelator molecules were strongly attached to the silver particles through the benzene units, while participating in gel structure organization by intermolecular hydrogen bonding between oxalyl amide and carboxyl groups.     

Mechanochemically induced cross‐dimerizations of nitrosobenzenes. Kinetics and solid‐state isotope effects

Mechanical treatment (milling) of crystals of aromatic nitroso dimers (azodioxides) induces their dissociation and cross‐dimerizations. The mechanisms of these processes are discussed on the basis of kinetic studies and the solid‐state ¹⁵ N kinetic isotope effect, which is measured for the first time. By comparison with analogous processes in cocrystals and in melts, it appears that the reactions follow similar mechanism in which the surface deformations play the crucial role. The system can also be used as a model for a more general conceptual study of solid‐state reaction mechanisms. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering on colloid gels originated from low molecular weight gelator

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on silver and gold colloid gels formed by a low molecular weight organic gelator, bis‐(S‐phenylalanine) oxalyl amide, was obtained. Strong Raman signals dominate in the SERS spectra of hydrogels containing silver nanoparticles prepared by citrate and borohydride reduction methods, whereas broad bands of low intensity are detected in the spectra of gold colloid gels. Resemblance between Raman spectrum of the crystalline substance and the SERS spectra of the silver nanoparticle–hydrogel composites implies the electromagnetic nature of the signal enhancement. A change in Raman intensity of the benzene and amide II bands caused by an increase in temperature and concentration indicates that the gelling molecules are strongly attached through the benzene moieties to the metal nanoparticles while participating in gel formation by intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the adjacent oxalyl amide groups. Transmission electron microscopy reveals a dense gel structure in the close vicinity of the enhancing metal particles for both silver colloid gels. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.