Evidence for Non-Innocence of a β-Diketonate Ligand

β-Diketonates, such as acetylacetonate, are amongst the most common bidentate ligands towards elements across the entire periodic table and are considered wholly redox-inactive in their complexes. Herein we show that complexation of 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetonate (hfac⁻) to Cr^II spontaneously affords Cr^III and a reduced β-diketonate radical ligand scaffold, as evidenced by crystallographic analysis, magnetic measurements, optical spectroscopy, reactivity studies, and DFT calculations. The possibility of harnessing β-diketonates as electron reservoirs opens up possibilities for new metal–ligand concerted reactivity in the ubiquitous β-diketonate coordination chemistry.     

Compressing a Non-Planar Aromatic Heterocyclic [7]Helicene to a Planar Hetero[8]Circulene

This work describes a synthetic approach where a non-planar aromatic heterocyclic [7]helicene is compressed to yield a hetero[8]circulene containing an inner antiaromatic cyclooctatetraene (COT) core. This [8]circulene consists of four benzene rings and four heterocyclic rings, and it is the first heterocyclic [8]circulene containing three different heteroatoms. The synthetic pathway proceeds via a the flattened dehydro-hetero[7]helicene, which is partially a helicene and partially a circulene: it is non-planar and helically chiral as helicenes, and contains a COT motif like [8]circulenes. The antiaromaticity of the COT core is confirmed by nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS) calculations. The planarization from a helically π-conjugated [7]helicene to a fully planar heterocyclic [8]circulene significantly alters the spectroscopic properties of the molecules. Post-functionalization of the [7]helicenes and the [8]circulenes by oxygenation of the thiophene rings to the corresponding thiophene-sulfones allows an almost complete fluorescence emission coverage of the visible region of the optical spectrum (400–700 nm).     

Model of contact between rollers and sprockets in chain-drive systems

A model of a roller-chain drive is developed and applied to the simulation and analysis of roller-chain drives of large marine diesel engines. Two different ways of modelling the contact between the rollers and sprockets are presented; one using a circular shaped tooth profile and the other using the shape of a real tooth profile. The main components of the roller-chain drive model include the sprockets with different sizes and the chain made of rollers and links, which are represented by rigid bodies, mass particles and spring-damper assemblies, respectively. The contact between the rollers and the sprockets are represented by a continuous contact force. The models proposed effectively represent the polygonal effect always present in this type of drive. The numerical results from the simulations are compared with analytical results, for simplified models. The model with a real tooth profile proves superior to the model with a circular tooth profile.The applications represent the ongoing work that resulted from many fruitful discussions with Per Rønnedal, Mikkel Preem et al. of MAN B&W Diesel A/S, Copenhagen, Denmark.     

Influence of boundary conditions on the stability of a column under non-conservative load

The cantilever follower force problem with external damping is extended to a three-parameter case, including a concentrated mass, a linear elastic spring, and a partial follower force at the free end. As a result of the study an unexpected, hitherto unrecognized feature of stability/vibration is identified.Normally, the boundary conditions have great influence on the stability limits. However, it is proved that there exists a force at which the critical frequency is independent of all three boundary parameters. The characteristics of this force/frequency combination are discussed in detail, especially in relation to the corresponding eigenfunctions.Also a direct study of the onset of flutter as a function of the boundary parameters is included.     

Pore-Scale Level Set Simulations of Capillary-Controlled Displacement with Adaptive Mesh Refinement

Transport in Porous Media - Multiphase flow simulations on imaged porous rock structures require numerical methods that are accurate and robust when applied on complex geometries. A key element in...     

Assignment of h.f.s. constants of 1,4-benzosemiquinones by additivity rules. The free rotation of t-butyl groups

A set of equations for assigning hyperfine coupling constants of substituted 1,4-benzosemiquinones are presented. The equations, based on additivity rules, yield assignments for a range of substituents with a correlation between predicted and experimental constants to better than five per cent. The investigation shows that t-butyl groups in semiquinones rotate freely against prior assertions.     

An Aldehyde Responsive,Cleavable Linker for Glucose Responsive Insulins

A glucose responsive insulin (GRI) that responds to changes in blood glucose concentrations has remained an elusive goal. Here we describe the development of glucose cleavable linkers based on hydrazone and thiazolidine structures. We developed linkers with low levels of spontaneous hydrolysis but increased level of hydrolysis with rising concentrations of glucose, which demonstrated their glucose responsiveness in vitro. Lipidated hydrazones and thiazolidines were conjugated to the LysB29 side-chain of HI by pH-controlled acylations providing GRIs with glucose responsiveness confirmed in vitro for thiazolidines. Clamp studies showed increased glucose infusion at hyperglycemic conditions for one GRI indicative of a true glucose response. The glucose responsive cleavable linker in these GRIs allow changes in glucose levels to drive the release of active insulin from a circulating depot. We have demonstrated an unprecedented, chemically responsive linker concept for biopharmaceuticals.