Accurate theoretical prediction of optical properties of BODIPY dyes

Boron-dipyrromethene dyes (BODIPY) are of great interest nowadays mostly due to their valuable optical properties. Nevertheless, no systematic research of the optical property dependence on the structure of dyes has been performed yet. In this work, analysis of the available quantum-chemical methods for BODIPY optical property calculations has been carried out. The accuracy of eight DFT functionals has been studied. The solvation effects upon excitation have been considered within two schemes. The methods that predict the absorption and emission spectra of BODIPY derivatives with high accuracy have been proposed. Using the suggested methods, the influence of nature of substituents and their position in the BODIPY core on the optical spectra of the dyes has been studied. A complex pattern of red- and blue-shifts in optical spectra in dependence of nature and position of substituents has been revealed. The results of this work provide the way for efficient design of BODIPY derivatives with desired optical properties.     

Methane Oxidation over Cu2+/[CuOH]+ Pairs and Site-Specific Kinetics in Copper Mordenite Revealed by Operando Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and UV/Visible Spectroscopy

Cu-exchanged mordenite (MOR) is a promising material for partial CH₄ oxidation. The structural diversity of Cu species within MOR makes it difficult to identify the active Cu sites and to determine their redox and kinetic properties. In this study, the Cu speciation in Cu-MOR materials with different Cu loadings has been determined using operando electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and operando ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy as well as in situ photoluminescence (PL) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. A novel pathway for CH₄ oxidation involving paired [CuOH]⁺ and bare Cu²⁺ species has been identified. The reduction of bare Cu²⁺ ions facilitated by adjacent [CuOH]⁺ demonstrates that the frequently reported assumption of redox-inert Cu²⁺ centers does not generally apply. The measured site-specific reaction kinetics show that dimeric Cu species exhibit a faster reaction rate and a higher apparent activation energy than monomeric Cu²⁺ active sites highlighting their difference in the CH₄ oxidation potential.     

Director configurations in nematic droplets with tilted surface anchoring

The polymer dispersed nematic liquid crystal (LC) with the tilted surface anchoring has been studied. The droplet orientational structures with two point surface defects – boojums and the surface ring defect – are formed within the films. The director tilt angle α = 40° ± 4° at the droplet interface and LC surface anchoring strength W_s ~ 10^–6 (J m^?2) have been estimated. The bipolar axes within the studied droplets of oblate ellipsoidal form can be randomly oriented are oriented randomly relatively to the ellipsoid axes as opposed to the droplets with homeotropic and tangential anchoring.     

A Novel Streptavidin–luciferase Fusion Protein: Preparation,Properties and Application in Hybridization Analysis of DNA

A streptavidin–luciferase fusion protein comprising the thermostable mutant form of firefly luciferase Luciola mingrelica and minimal core streptavidin was constructed. The streptavidin–luciferase fusion was mainly produced in a tetrameric form with high luciferase and biotin‐binding activities. It was shown that fusion has the same K_m values for ATP and luciferin and the bioluminescence spectra as initial luciferase. The linear dependence of the bioluminescence signal on the content of the fusion was observed within the range of 10^?18–10^?13 mol per well. Successful application of obtained fusion in a biospecific bioluminescence assay based on biotin–streptavidin interactions was demonstrated by the example of a specific DNA hybridization analysis. A DNA hybridization analysis for Escherichia coli cells identification was developed using unique for these cells gadB fragment encoding glutamate decarboxylase. The amplified biotinylated GadB fragments were hybridized with the immobilized oligonucleotide probes; then, the biotin in the DNA duplexes was detected using the streptavidin–luciferase fusion protein. To reach the high sensitivity of the assay, we optimized the conditions of the assay. It was shown that the use of Pluronic for plate modification resulted in a significant reduction in the DNA detection limit which finally was 0.4 ng per well.     

Mono- and Diamination of 4,6-Dichloropyrimidine, 2,6-Dichloropyrazine and 1,3-Dichloroisoquinoline with Adamantane-Containing Amines

N-heteroaryl substituted adamantane-containing amines are of substantial interest for their perspective antiviral and psychotherapeutic activities. Chlorine atom at alpha-position of N-heterocycles has been substituted by the amino group using convenient nucleophilic substitution reactions with a series of adamantylalkylamines. The prototropic equilibrium in these compounds was studied using NMR spectroscopy. The introduction of the second amino substituent in 4-amino-6-chloropyrimidine, 2-amino-chloropyrazine, and 1-amino-3-chloroisoquinoline was achieved using Pd(0) catalysis.     

Plasma Photocathodes

Plasma wakefield accelerators offer accelerating and focusing electric fields three to four orders of magnitude larger than state-of-the-art radiofrequency cavity-based accelerators. Plasma photocathodes can release ultracold electron populations within such plasma waves and thus open a path toward tunable production of well-defined, compact electron beams with normalized emittance and brightness many orders of magnitude better than state-of-the-art. Such beams will have far-reaching impact for applications such as light sources, but also open up new vistas on high energy and high field physics. This paper reviews the innovation of plasma photocathodes, and reports on the experimental progress, challenges, and future prospects of the approach. Details of the proof-of-concept demonstration of a plasma photocathode in 90° geometry at SLAC FACET within the E-210: Trojan Horse program are described. Using this experience, alongside theoretical and simulation-supported advances, an outlook is given on future realizations of plasma photocathodes such as the upcoming E-310: Trojan Horse-II program at FACET-II with prospects toward excellent witness beam parameter quality, tunability, and stability. Future installations of plasma photocathodes also at compact, hybrid plasma wakefield accelerators, will then boost capacities and open up novel capabilities for experiments at the forefront of interaction of high brightness electron and photon beams.     

The Kinematic Flow Structure for the Gvirtzman–Gorelick In Situ VOC Remediation System

Potential theory and Stokes' stream function techniques are used to investigate the flow structure around the recirculation system developed by Gvirtzman and Gorelick (1992, 1993), which consists of an extraction well and a gallery (trench) for the recharge of treated water to the aquifer. Analytical formulas are derived for the drawdown, velocity, and stream function for a model in which the extraction well is modeled as a uniformly distributed line sink and the gallery is modeled as a uniformly distributed ring source. Travel times are reported for water particles traveling along the streamlines containing 50 and 90% of the flow for various degrees of well penetration and various radii of the ring source. The travel times along the streamline resulting in the shortest travel time (not necessarily the shortest path) are also reported for various degrees of well penetration and various radii of the ring source. The method completely eliminates the use of numerical finite-difference or finite-element methods and can be used for optimization of technological parameters of this remediation system.     

Synthesis of New Azocompounds and Fused Pyrazolo[5,1‐c][1,2,4]triazines Using Heterocyclic Components

Diazotization of 3‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐amine 1 in hydrochloric acid has been reported to afford the corresponding diazonium salt 2 . The latter underwent azocoupling with a variety of active methylene compounds (barbituric 3a and thiobarbituric 3b acid, 2‐hetarylpyrimidine‐4,6‐dione 6a , 6b , 4‐hydroxy‐6‐methylpyridin‐2(1H)‐one 10a , 4‐hydroxy‐6‐methyl‐2H‐pyran‐2‐one 10b , 4‐hydroxy‐1‐p‐tolyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐3‐carboxylic acid ethyl ester 14 , 1,3‐thiazolidine‐2,4‐dione 16a , 2‐thioxo‐1,3‐thiazolidin‐4‐one 16b ) to yield new pyrazolylazo derivatives. Fused pyrazolo[5,1‐c][1,2,4]triazines 5 , 9a , 9b , 12 , 13 were obtained by heterocyclization reactions. Copyright © 2013 HeteroCorporation