Direct UHV-TEM observation of palladium clusters on a silicon surface.

About 1 monolayer of palladium was deposited onto a silicon (111) 7 x 7 surface at a temperature of about 550 K inside an ultrahigh vacuum transmission electron microscope, resulting in formation of Pd2Si nanoislands and a 1 x 1 surface layer. Pd clusters created from an excess of Pd atoms on the 1 x 1 surface layer were directly observed by in situ plan view high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. When an objective aperture was introduced so that electron diffractions less than 0.20 nm were filtered out, the lattice structure of the 1 x 1 surface with 0.33 nm spacing and the Pd clusters with a trimer shape were visualized. It was found that image contrast of the 1 x 1 lattice on the specific height terraces disappeared, and thereby an atomic structure of the Pd clusters was clearly observed. The appearance and disappearance of the 1 x 1 lattice was explained by the effect of the kinematical diffraction. It was identified that a Pd cluster was composed of three Pd atoms without a centered Si atom, which is consistent with the model proposed previously. The feature of the Pd clusters stuck at the surface step was also described.     

Direct observation of radical intermediates in protein-dependent DNA charge transport.

Charge migration through the DNA base stack has been probed both spectroscopically, to observe the formation of radical intermediates, and biochemically, to assess irreversible oxidative DNA damage. Charge transport and radical trapping were examined in DNA assemblies in the presence of a site-specifically bound methyltransferase HhaI mutant and an intercalating ruthenium photooxidant using the flash-quench technique. The methyltransferase mutant, which can flip out a base and insert a tryptophan side chain within the DNA cavity, is found to activate long-range hole transfer through the base pair stack. Protein-dependent DNA charge transport is observed over 50 A with guanine radicals formed >10(6) s(-1); hole transport through DNA over this distance is not rate-limiting. Given the time scale and distance regime, such protein-dependent DNA charge transport chemistry requires consideration physiologically.     

Direct observation of the unstable intermediates in radical addition reaction by using an interfacing microchip combined with an NMR

Direct observation of the unstable intermediate in the radical addition reaction of the oxime ether 1 mediated by triethylborane (Et(3)B) is described using (1)H and (11)B micro channeled cell for synthesis monitoring (MICCS), which was recently developed as an interfacing microchip for NMR. It was possible that the signal of the intermediate was observed as a result of using MICCS technique with a standard NMR instrument. This result supports the structure of the intermediate analyzed by diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) NMR method in a previous paper. The procedure of micro channeled cell for synthesis monitoring-nuclear magnetic resonance (MICCS-NMR) was much easier than that of DOSY method. It was proven that it could be applied to the reaction in an anhydrous condition.     

Spectroscopic identification of the reaction intermediates in oxygen reduction on gold in alkaline solutions

Surface enhanced infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy with an attentuated total reflection configuration (ATR-SEIRAS) was used for the first time to identify the intermediates of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on gold electrodes. Our study employed a Au thin-film electrode in acidic and alkaline solutions. In alkaline solutions, a potential dependent band at 1268 cm(-1), which we assigned to the antisymmetric bending mode of OOH of adsorbed HO2-, was observed between 0.1 and -0.6 V versus Ag|AgCl, Cl-, exactly in the potential range where the ORR occurred. The assignment was supported by our isotope exchange experiment. The adsorbed HO2- is a reaction intermediate in the 4e- serial mechanism. In acidic solutions, there was only a very weak band at the same position, reflecting the fast protonation of HO2-. This finding may imply that the interaction between HO2- and Au surfaces is very weak in acidic solutions, in agreement with the observed 2e- reduction mechanism.     

Ligand heterogeneity on monolayer-protected gold clusters

This paper describes the effects of oxidative electronic charging of the Au cores of the monolayer-protected clusters (MPCs), Au140(S(CH2)5CH3)53 and Au38(SCH2CH2Ph)24, on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of their monolayer ligand shells. Previously unresolved fine structure in the 13C NMR hexanethiolate methyl and C5 methylene resonances is seen in spectra of solutions of monodisperse Au140(S(CH2)5CH3)53 MPCs, reflecting magnetically inequivalent ligand sites. Incremented increases in positive cluster core charge, effected by electrochemical charging, cause the spectral fine structure of the methyl resonance to coalesce, becoming a single peak at the Au140(3+) charge state. The spectral changes are reversible; charging back to the original core charge state regenerates the methyl 13C resonance fine structure. Adding an equimolar quantity of a Au(I) thiolate complex, Au(I)[SCH2(C6H4)C(CH3)3], to an uncharged Au140(S(CH2)5CH3)53 MPC solution in d2-methylene chloride causes partial spectral coalescence. 13C NMR spectra of Au38(SCH2CH2Ph)24 MPCs exhibit roughly comparable spectral changes upon positive core charging to the '0', '+1', and '+2' states. The NMR results indicate that exchange between magnetically inequivalent sites occurs at rates of 100 to 400 s(-1), a rate believed to be too fast to be accountable by actual exchanges of ligands between different sites on the Au core. We also describe changes in core electronic spectra of Au140(S(CH2)5CH3)53 induced by positive charging, measured using spectroelectrochemistry.     

Solvent effects on ozonolysis reaction intermediates

Solvent effects on relative stability, electronic and molecular structure of ozonolysis reaction intermediates are analyzed with the help of ab initio MP2/6-31+G^** calculations. A continuum model is employed to account for solute–solvent electrostatic interactions. The results show that there are large effects on the structure and relative stability of carbonyl oxide by substantially favoring its zwitterionic character. A complex formed by carbonyl oxide and formaldehyde is shown to be stable in the gas phase and in solution. This complex can be involved in solvent cage reactions leading to secondary ozonides. Thermodynamically, primary ozonide decomposition is favored by the solvent.     

DFT studies on key intermediates in thiamin catalysis

The diphosphate ester (ThDP) of thiamin (vitamin B₁) is an important cofactor of enzymes within the carbohydrate metabolism. From experiments of site‐specific variants and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies, it is known that the protonation of the N1′ atom is a significant step in the coenzyme activation by the enzymatic environment. Therefore, we have performed density functional theory (DFT) calculations on the B3LYP/6‐31G* level of N1′H and N1′CH₃ thiamin as model systems to study the protonation and methylation effect on the structure and the electronic properties of the 4′‐amino group. The relaxed rotational barriers related to the C4′‐4′N bond are correlated with findings of ¹H NMR studies and proton/deuterium exchange experiments. Moreover, the effect of N1′ protonation was studied in more detail on the hydroxyethyl‐thiamin carbanion (HETh^?), a key intermediate during catalysis of some ThDP‐dependent enzymes. The relaxed rotational barriers related to the C2? C2α bond and the reaction coordinates of the proton transfer 4′N? H→C2α of HETh^? and N1′H‐HETh^? show that they are significantly determined by the protonation at N1′ of HETh^?. The influence of the apoenzyme environment on the active coenzyme conformation is modeled in a very simple way. The characteristic torsion angles Φ_T and Φ_P are considered to be restricted in terms of their values in the corresponding enzyme as well as free optimization parameters. Frequency calculations were performed to characterize the minima and transition state structures, respectively. The applicability of the DFT method was checked by comparing calculations on the MP2‐HF‐SCF/6‐31G* level. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2004     

Direct evidence of oxidized gold on supported gold catalysts

Supported gold catalysts have drawn worldwide interest due to the novel properties and potential applications in industries. However, the origin of the catalytic activity in gold nanoparticles is still not well understood. In this study, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS) has been applied to investigate the nature of gold in Au (1.3 wt %)/gamma-Al2O3 and Au (2.8 wt %)/TiO2 catalysts prepared by the deposition-precipitation method. The SIMS spectrum of the supported gold catalysts presented AuO-, AuO2-, and AuOH- ion clusters. These measurements show direct evidence for oxidized gold on supported gold catalysts and may be helpful to gaining better understanding of the origin of the catalytic activity.     

Structural study of gold clusters

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to study gold clusters of up to 55 atoms. Between the linear and zigzag monoatomic Au nanowires, the zigzag nanowires were found to be more stable. Furthermore, the linear Au nanowires of up to 2 nm are formed by slightly stretched Au dimers. These suggest that a substantial Peierls distortion exists in those structures. Planar geometries of Au clusters were found to be the global minima till the cluster size of 13. A quantitative correlation is provided between various properties of Au clusters and the structure and size. The relative stability of selected clusters was also estimated by the Sutton-Chen potential, and the result disagrees with that obtained from the DFT calculations. This suggests that a modification of the Sutton-Chen potential has to be made, such as obtaining new parameters, in order to use it to search the global minima for bigger Au clusters.     

CO combustion on supported gold clusters.

Recent progress in the understanding of the fascinating catalysis of CO combustion by supported gold particles is summarized. Focusing on size-selected gold clusters consisting of only a few atoms, that is, the size regime with properties nonscalable from the bulk properties, we discuss the current knowledge of the different factors controlling the reactivity at the molecular level. These factors include the role of the oxide support, its defects, cluster charging as well as the structural fluxionality of clusters, the cluster size dependency, and the promotional effect of water. By combining experimental results with quantum mechanical ab initio calculations, a detailed picture of the reaction mechanism emerges. While similar mechanisms might be active for gold nanoparticles in the scalable size regime, it is shown that for different systems (defined by the cluster size, the support, experimental conditions, etc.) the reaction mechanism differs and, hence, no generalized explanation for the catalytic driving force of small gold particles can be given.     

Direct observation of microscopic solvation at the surface of clusters by ultrafast photoelectron imaging

We report on microscopic observation of solvation by argon atoms of excited states of an ethylenic-like molecule, TDMAE (tetrakis dimethylaminoethylene). Two experimental methods were used: gas phase dynamics for the observation of the evolution through excited states, matrix isolation spectroscopy for characterization of the initial states. Excited state dynamics was recorded after the molecule had been deposited on the surface of a large argon cluster (n approximately 100) by pick-up. The deposited cluster was characterized by mass spectrometry and by its shifted photoelectron spectrum. The time evolution of the system was visualized by femtosecond pump/probe velocity map imaging of photoelectrons. The time evolution of deposited TDMAE excited at 266 nm can be modeled via a modified three state model, as in the free molecule. The initially excited state is of valence character, and a Rydberg state mediates the passage to a zwitterionic configuration. The specific solvation of Rydberg states by the surface of the cluster was directly observed and is discussed. It represents the striking outcome of the present work. It is inferred that differently from the gas phase, solvated Rydberg states resulting from state mixing within a R(n/lambda) complex in the presence of the argon surface are reached. Solvation of these Rydberg states should be effective through interaction of the ion core of the excited molecules with the cluster.     

Surfactant layering on mixed monolayer-protected gold clusters

Positively-charged monolayer protected gold clusters (MMPCs) were mixed with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). At lower SDS concentration, the initially water-soluble particles became organic-soluble while remaining discrete. Upon further addition of SDS, the particles aggregate and become water-soluble. NaCN decomposition, TEM, and DLS characterization reveal the morphology and properties of these encapsulated assemblies.     

Spontaneous alloying of gold clusters into nanometer-sized antimony clusters

Alloying behavior of gold into nm-sized amorphous antimony (a-Sb) clusters has been studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), employing gold clusters in contact with a-Sb clusters. In order to produce gold clusters on individual a-Sb clusters, a-Sb clusters on an amorphous carbon film were cooled down to 96 K, and gold was then condenced on the film. When gold clusters in contact with a-Sb clusters are gradually heated from 96 to 290 K, dissolution of gold into a-Sb clusters sets in around 200K and clusters of a-(Sb-Au) alloys are produced. With increasing annealing temperture, more gold is absorbed into individual a-Sb clusters, and when the gold concentration in a-(Sb-Au) clusters reaches to the stoichiometric composition of AuSb₂, these amorphous clusters crystallize into AuSb2 clusters. The crystallization temperature decreases with decreasing size of initial a-Sb clusters.     

Electrocrystallization of rhodium clusters on thiolate-covered polycrystalline gold

This study reports on the electrochemical deposition of rhodium metal clusters on a polycrystalline gold electrode, modified with a monolayer of dodecanethiol through self-assembly from solution. The deposition process was investigated using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance. It is shown that the presence of the thiol monolayer drastically alters the nucleation and growth mechanism compared with the mechanism on the bare gold electrode. The small uncovered gold domains, located at the imperfections in the thiolate monolayer which are induced by the gold nanoroughness, act as nucleation sites for small rhodium clusters. At longer times, these clusters can outgrow the organic monolayer. The resulting surface morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Rhodium electrocrystallization on the bare gold substrate resulted in an ensemble of a very large amount of very small clusters that are difficult to distinguish from the gold roughness. In contrast, in the presence of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of dodecanethiol covalently attached to the gold electrode, the resulting deposit consisted of an ensemble of hemispherical particles. The size distribution of the rhodium particles obtained by using double step chronoamperometry was compared to the ones obtained with cyclic voltammetry and "classical" chronoamperometry. It is shown by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy that the SAM is still present after rhodium deposition on the thiolate-covered gold substrate. Because the rhodium clusters are directly attached to the gold substrate and can thus easily be electrified, the resulting interface could be used as a composite electrode consisting of a random array of gold supported rhodium nano/microparticles separated from each other by an organic phase. On the other hand, it is shown that the SAM is easily removed by electrochemical oxidation without dissolving the rhodium clusters and, thus, leaving a different array of rhodium clusters on the gold surface compared with the topography obtained in the absence of the SAM. From this point of view, substrate modification with such "removable" organic monolayers was found to be an interesting tool to tune the nano- or microtopography of electrochemically deposited rhodium.     

Raman spectroscopy of benzenethiolates on nanometer-scale gold clusters

Near-infrared (1064-nm) irradiation of neat solid samples of benzenethiolate monolayer-protected gold clusters (MPCs) yields strong, well-resolved Raman spectra of the thiolate groups, comparable to those obtained for the same groups adsorbed at roughened gold electrodes. These clusters are formulated as TOAZ[AuN(SPh)M]Z-, N > M and Z = 3-6, with core diameters of 1.7 and 1.5 nm, and were characterized previously by X-ray scattering, mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, optical spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and elemental analysis [Price, R. C.; Whetten, R. L. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005]. Numerous previous attempts to obtain spectra on various MPCs yielded only diffuse luminescence bands, as did benzenethiolate MPC samples of TOA2[Au44(SPh)28]2-, with 1.1-nm core diameters. The clusters are free of excess tetraoctylammonium bromide (TOABr) from the synthetic procedure, containing only the necessary TOA+ to maintain charge balance. In situ thermometry, using the anti-Stokes/Stokes intensity ratios, indicated the sample temperature remained below the onset of thermal decomposition. The Raman spectra of the clusters bear a strong resemblance to those obtained for nonmetallic (Au(I)SPh)x polymer samples that are not in resonant absorption at the laser wavelength. The smaller of the two cores, nominally TOA6[Au110(SPh)62], shows clearly a band at 505 cm(-1) assigned to a S-S stretch, suggestive of a moiety resembling diphenyl disulfide on the cluster surface. These results are interpreted with reference to recent reports suggesting a substantial "reconstruction" of the outermost gold layer upon thiolate adsorption (SAM formation).     

Direct observation of protein motion during the photochemical reaction cycle of bacteriorhodopsin

Platinum-coated, conductive atomic force microscope cantilevers were used to deposit electrophoretically purple membranes from Halobacterium salinarum on the bottom part of the cantilevers. By illuminating the bacteriorhodopsin-containing purple membranes, the protein goes through its photochemical reaction cycle, during which a conformational change happens in the protein, changing its shape and size. The size change of the protein acts upon the cantilever by causing its deflection, which can be monitored by the detection system of the atomic force microscope. The shape of the signal, the action spectrum of the deflection amplitude, and the blue light inhibition of the deflection all prove that the origin of the signal is the conformational change arising in the bacteriorhodopsin during the photocycle. From the size of the signal, the magnitude of the protein motion could be estimated. Using polarized light, the orientation of the motion was determined, relative to the transition moment of the retinal.     

The synthesis of key intermediates in cembranolides

Two key intermediates of cembranolides- (2E,6E,10E)-3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-9-phenylsulfonyl-2,6,10,14-tetraen-1-hexadecanol (1) and (2E,6E,10E,14E)-2,6,10,14-tetramethyl-8-phenylsulfonyl-2,6,10,14-tetraen-1,16-hexadecanediol (2) were synthesized starting from geraniol and linalool and some improved synthetic methods were used.