Composition of plasma-chemical silicon dioxide films as studied by IR spectroscopy

The results of a comparative analysis of the compositions of silicon dioxide films prepared by the decomposition of tetraethoxysilane vapor in a glow discharge and the deposition of the products onto a substrate are presented. The compositions of films prepared in gas mixtures containing argon, oxygen, tetraethoxysilane vapor, and NaCl were compared using IR spectroscopy. The electric discharge was excited at a frequency of 19 kHz and in a radiofrequency range at 81.36 MHz. It was found that the additives of oxygen and sodium-containing vapors exerted a noticeable effect on the composition of the films. The compositions of the films prepared at the low-frequency and high-frequency discharge excitation were also different.     

Reaction of perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and hexamethyldisilazane

The reaction of perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and hexamethyldisilazane was investigated. A possibility of obtaining a new dye resistant to UV light and heating (up to 300°C), consisting of structural fragments of perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxydiimede, diethoxysiloxane, and 3-aminopropylethoxysiloxane was demonstrated. A compound obtained in 43% yield by heating (7 h, 180–200°C) perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride with excess 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane in the presence of catalytic amounts of zinc acetate is an oligomer appropriate for the solgel process, displays strong luminescence in the red spectral region (540–620 nm), and has good film-forming properties. The participation of hexamethyldisilazane consists in binding water molecules formed in the reaction of perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and in the formation of trimethylsilanol which replaces a part of the EtO groups at the silicon atoms by a more bulky Me₃SiO groups, causing significant increase in the solubility of the dye in organic solvents and silicon sol-gel monomers. The hydrolysis of silicon-containing dye and subsequent dehydration of the resulting gel lead to the formation of insoluble xerogel.     

Reaction of diphenyldiazomethane with singlet oxygen studied by time-resolved IR spectroscopy

The mechanism of the reaction of diphenyldiazomethane 4a with singlet oxygen has been investigated by nanosecond time-resolved UV-vis (LFP) and IR (step-scan) spectroscopy. The experiments were performed with fullerene (C60) as photosensitizer for the generation of (1)O2 in nonpolar solvents (toluene and CCl4). The UV-vis experiments allowed us to monitor the formation of benzophenone O-oxide 1a, while in the IR experiments the bleaching of 4a and the formation of benzophenone 7a and N2O was observed. The kinetic data were evaluated using Monte Carlo simulation and DFT calculations. These methods allow us to present a consistent mechanistic scheme for the reaction of 4a with (1)O2 and to explain why the elusive dioxadiazole 5a as key intermediate is not directly observed.     

Ammonia sorption by Dawson acid studied by IR spectroscopy and microbalance

Using in-situ microbalance and infrared spectroscopy techniques the double ammonia proton complexation was traced. The results confirm the formation of N₂H₇⁺ dimer in solid Dawson acid H₆P₂W₁₈O₆₂, previously reported only for N₂H₇I and for (N₂H₇)₄SiW₁₂O₄₀. The formation of such dimers was evidenced by the microbalance results, the molar ratio of ammonia to proton was measured as 2:1 at 10.7 kPa and 298 K. The formation of NH₄⁺ monomer (band at 1410 cm⁻¹) and N₂H₇⁺ dimer (1460 cm⁻¹) was revealed by IR spectroscopy. Enthalpy of ammonia sorption on Dawson structure was calculated to be −127.9 kJ mol⁻¹, indicating the lower acid strength of Dawson-type compared to that of the Keggin-type heteropolyacids, like H₄SiW₁₂O₄₀.     

Interaction of human serum albumin with bendroflumethiazide studied by fluorescence spectroscopy

The interactions between bendroflumethiazide (BFTZ) and human serum albumin (HSA) have been studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. Binding constants for drug attachment to the various binding sites of HSA have been measured at different temperatures in physiological buffer solution. The effect of metal ions on BFTZ interaction with HSA was also investigated. The thermodynamic parameters, DeltaH and DeltaS, have been calculated to be 49.28kJmol(-1)>0, and 258.83Jmol(-1)K(-1)>0, respectively. The distance between HSA and BFTZ, r, was determined to be 1.47nm based on F?rster's non-radiative energy transfer theory. The experimental results reveal that BFTZ has a strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA through a static quenching mechanism. Furthermore, the binding constants between BFTZ and HSA are remarkably independent of temperature, and decrease in the presence of various ions, usually by about 30-55%. Hydrophobic interaction occurs between BFTZ and the sub-domain II A of HSA.     

Substituent effects in porphyrin dimer complexes studied by IR spectroscopy

A series of lanthanide porphyrin dimers have been synthesized and investigated with IR spectroscopic techniques. The spectra of the porphyrin dimers are compared not only with each other but also with those of their component monomer units. The experimental results exhibit that the IR spectra of the porphyrin dimers are closely related to those of their corresponding monomers. A detailed analysis of the IR spectra between the porphyrin dimers and monomers suggest that the dimer molecules can be treated as regular derivatives of metalloporphyrin monomers despite the symmetries of these two systems being different. The dimerization of the porphyrin rings only result in frequency shifts and intensity changes of the IR spectra. These shifts are attributed to the induced π–π interactions between these two macrocycles. The downshifts of the frequencies observed in Ce(OEP)₂ further indicate that the π–π interactions intrinsically decrease the bond strength of the entire molecule. Additionally, only the relative intensities instead of the frequencies of the ethyl vibrations in the region 2800–3000 cm⁻¹ are observed to be sensitive to the types and the positions of the substituent groups. These observations suggest that these ethyl vibrational modes of the OEP moiety can be used as characteristic bands to monitor subtle deformations of the porphyrin rings caused by the substituent groups in the dimer complexes.     

Complex formation of 1,4,7,10-tetraoxacyclododecane with alkali metal ions studied by 13C spectroscopy

Complex formation of 1,4,7,10-tetraoxacyclododecane (12-crown-4) with lithium, sodium and potassium salts in methanol solution was investigated. The strong influence of complexing on the chemical shift of the single ¹³C NMR line permitted titration of the ligand with alkali metal salts. Concentration stability constants of the complexes were obtained by a computerized iterative least squares method. Na⁺ and K⁺ form both 1: 1 and 1: 2 complexes, log K₁ = 2.1 and log K₂ = 3.8, log K₁ = 1.7 and log K₂ = 2.4 respectively. Li⁺ is complexed weakly. Assuming 1: 1 stoichiometry the complex stability constant is estimated to be < 1.     

Interaction between dendrons directly studied by single-molecule force spectroscopy

In this article, we have investigated the interaction between two poly(benzyl ether) dendrons directly by single-molecule force spectroscopy. For this purpose, one dendron was immobilized on an AFM tip through a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacer, and the other dendron was anchored on a gold substrate as a self-assembled monolayer. Two dendrons approached and then interacted with each other when the AFM tip and the substrate moved close together. The rupture force between dendrons was measured while the AFM tip and the substrate separated. PEG as a flexible spacer can function as a length window for recognizing the force signals and avoiding the disturbance of the interaction between the AFM tip and the substrate. The interaction between two first-generation dendrons is measured to be about 224 pN at a force loading rate of 40 nN/s. The interaction between second- and first-generation dendrons rises to 315 pN at the same loading rate. Such interactions depend on the force loading rate in the range of several to hundreds of nanonewtons per second, indicating that the rupture between dendrons is a dynamic process. The study of the interaction between surface-bound dendrons of different generations provides a model system for understanding the surface adhesion of molecules with multiple branches. In addition, this multiple-branch molecule may be used to mimic the sticky feet of geckos as a man-made adhesive.     

Hydration-dehydration of human serum albumin studied by isothermal calorimetry and IR spectroscopy

Based on a comparison of the data on the isothermal calorimetry of the interaction of human serum albumin with water and the adsorption isotherms of water vapor on the protein obtained by IR spectroscopy, an experimental method was used for the first time to study the thermochemical and sorption characteristics of protein hydration-dehydration over the entire range of the thermodynamic activities of water. A mechanism was proposed to explain the relationships between the thermochemical properties, protein water content, and the moistening method.     

Structure of thin block copolymer films studied by X-ray reflectivity

Summary X-ray reflectivity may be used to determine the internal structure of thin polymer films. An electron density difference of 10% for polystyrene and polyisoprene is sufficient to distinguish between a random distribution of lamellae, complete orientation parallel to the substrate surface and a surface induced formation of lamellae. The disappearance of the lamellar Bragg-peaks, with heating of the film, shows the transition into the disordered state.     

Interaction of proflavine with DNA studied by colloid surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy

The interaction of the mutagenic highly fluourescing proflavine (3,6-diaminoacridine: PF) dye with calf thymus DNA has been studied by Surface Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering (SERRS). Since the Ag-colloids almost completely quenche the strong fluorescence it is possible to obtain excellent vibrational spectra in a wide frequency range providing valuable information about the intercalation. The intercalation does not affect the vibrational frequencies of the proflavine dye. On the other hand, intensity changes are observed in some of the ring- and NH₂-modes of proflavine upon intercalation. This Raman hypochromism is characteristic for ring stacking interactions and in the SERRS spetroscopy for an additional effects of the dye orientation to the surface.     

Solvent retention in thin polymer films studied by gas chromatography

Thin polystyrene films were produced by spin coating from solutions in toluene. The amount of solvent retained in the films after drying for different times was measured using gas chromatography. Whereas for thicker films (thickness > 200 nm), the relative amount of solvent in the films is less than a few percent, the proportion of toluene increases significantly in thinner films. The thickness dependence of the mass of retained solvent shows that the solvent is mainly retained at the polymer–substrate interface. The solvent desorption rate exhibits no variation on the film thickness.     

UV and IR spectroscopy of cold 1,2-dimethoxybenzene complexes with alkali metal ions

We report UV photodissociation (UVPD) and IR-UV double-resonance spectra of 1,2-dimethoxybenzene (DMB) complexes with alkali metal ions, M(+)·DMB (M = Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs), in a cold, 22-pole ion trap. The UVPD spectrum of the Li(+) complex shows a strong origin band. For the K(+)·DMB, Rb(+)·DMB, and Cs(+)·DMB complexes, the origin band is very weak and low-frequency progressions are much more extensive than that of the Li(+) ion. In the case of the Na(+)·DMB complex, spectral features are similar to those of the K(+), Rb(+), and Cs(+) complexes, but vibronic bands are not resolved. Geometry optimization with density functional theory indicates that the metal ions are bonded to the oxygen atoms in all the M(+)·DMB complexes. For the Li(+) complex in the S(0) state, the Li(+) ion is located in the same plane as the benzene ring, while the Na(+), K(+), Rb(+), and Cs(+) ions are located off the plane. In the S(1) state, the Li(+) complex has a structure similar to that in the S(0) state, providing the strong origin band in the UV spectrum. In contrast, the other complexes show a large structural change in the out-of-plane direction upon S(1)-S(0) excitation, which results in the extensive low-frequency progressions in the UVPD spectra. For the Na(+)·DMB complex, fast charge transfer occurs from Na(+) to DMB after the UV excitation, making the bandwidth of the UVPD spectrum much broader than that of the other complexes and producing the photofragment DMB(+) ion.     

Dispersion spectroscopy of liquid thin films

Summary A new analytical method is presented based on measurement of dispersion spectra (refractive index versus wavelength) of liquid samples with a fast scanning diode array spectrometer. It proves to be suitable for the analysis of nanoliter volumes where classical absorption spectroscopy fails. Future applications include sample identification and discrimination (micro-analysis) and HPLC detection.

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Dispersionsspektroskopie von Flüssigkeits-Dünnschichten

Zusammenfassung Die hier vorgestellte analytische Meßmethode beruht auf der Messung der spektralen Dispersion der Probenflüssigkeit mit Hilfe eines Diodenzeilenspektrometers, das sich vor allem durch seine hohe Meßgeschwindigkeit auszeichnet. Es wird gezeigt, daß sich mit dieser Methode auch Volumina im Nanoliterbereich analysieren lassen, die der klassischen Absorptionsspektroskopie nicht mehr zugänglich sind. Die zukünftigen Anwendungen sind in der Probenidentifikation und -unterscheidung zu sehen, wie sie z. B. in der HPLC gefordert ist.