Synthesis and X-ray analysis of 1-((1S)-phenylethyl)-azetidine-(2R)-piperidinamide

The crystal and molecular structure of a new azetidine-2-carboxylic amide derivative is described. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by least squares methods toR1=0.0393 for 4264 reflections (withI>2(I)) The structure consists of two independent molecules which are chemically the same with slight differences in geometry. Crystal data: C₁₇H₂₄N₂O, monoclinic, space groupP2₁,a=8.3782(4),b=20.0342(13),c=9.7769(8) Å, =109.687(6)°,V=1545.1(2)ų,Z=4.     

Low-loss subwavelength metal C-aperture waveguide

We present a design of a linear optical waveguide that utilizes a C-shaped metallic nano-aperture that efficiently transports light while maintaining a spot size of lambda/10. The performance of a C-aperture waveguide is superior to both a regular ridge waveguide and other surface plasmon based metal nano-optical waveguides. The energy transport mechanisms are explained by the coupling of an aperture surface resonance and the thickness resonances inside the guide channel. Finite-difference time-domain simulations of gold C-aperture waveguides are performed for a 1.5 microm wavelength incident plane wave. The 1/e decay length in power transmission is predicted to be approximately 2.5 microm. The total power throughput is 1.66 for the 2.55 microm long guide, with an intensity 6 times that of the incident wave at a distance 120 nm from the exit plane, having a spot size of 150 nm.     

Ultrafast and bias-free all-optical wavelength conversion using III-V-on-silicon technology

Using a 7.5 μm diameter disk fabricated with III-V-on-silicon fabrication technology, we demonstrate bias-free all-optical wavelength conversion for non-return-to-zero on-off keyed pseudorandom bit sequence (PRBS) data at the speed of 10 Gbits/s with an extinction ratio of more than 12 dB. The working principle of such a wavelength converter is based on free-carrier-induced refractive index modulation in a pump-probe configuration. We believe it to be the first bias-free on-chip demonstration of all-optical wavelength conversion using PRBS data. All-optical gating measurements in the pump-probe configuration with the same device have revealed that it is possible to achieve wavelength conversion beyond 20 Gbits/s.     

Liquid-crystal phase equilibria of Lennard-Jones chains

Liquid-crystal phase equilibria of Lennard-Jones chain fluids and the solubility of a Lennard-Jones gas in the coexisting phases are calculated from Monte Carlo simulations. Direct phase equilibria calculations are performed using an expanded formulation of the Gibbs ensemble. Monomer densities, order parameters, and equilibrium pressures are reported for the coexisting isotropic and nematic phases of: (1) linear Lennard-Jones chains, (2) a partially-flexible Lennard-Jones chain, and (3) a binary mixture of linear Lennard-Jones chains. The effect of chain length is determined by calculating the isotropic-nematic coexistence of linear Lennard-Jones chain fluids made of 8, 10, and 12 segments (8-, 10-, 12-mer). The effect of molecular flexibility on the isotropic-nematic equilibrium is studied for a Lennard-Jones 10-mer chain fluid with one freely-jointed segment at the end of the chain. An isotropic-nematic phase split and fractionation are reported for a binary mixture of linear 7-mer and 12-mer chains. Simulation results are compared with theoretical results as obtained from a recently developed analytical equation of state based on perturbation theory. Excellent agreement between theory and simulations is observed. The solubility of a monomer Lennard-Jones gas in the coexisting isotropic and nematic phases is estimated using the Widom test-particle insertion method. A linear relationship between solubility difference and density difference at isotropic-nematic coexistence is observed. It is shown that gas solubility is independent of the nematic ordering of the fluid, at constant temperature and density conditions.     

Characterisation and quantification of liposome-type nanoparticles in a beverage matrix using hydrodynamic chromatography and MALDI–TOF mass spectrometry

This paper describes the characterisation of liposome-type nanoparticles (NPs) dispersed in a beverage matrix. Characterisation is based on a two-step procedure: first, liposomes are separated on the basis of size in the nanometre range by use of hydrodynamic chromatography (HDC); second, chemical characterisation is performed by use of MALDI–TOF mass spectrometry (MS). Characterisation of three types of Coatsome liposome, a commercially available type of empty liposome, was investigated. All three liposome types, Coatsome A?=?anionic, N?=?neutral, and C?=?cationic, gave single peaks in HDC, reflecting diameters of 153, 187, and 205 nm, respectively. Subsequent MALDI–TOF MS in positive mode furnished major signals at m/z?=?734.5 ([M?+?H]⁺ adduct) and m/z?=?756.6 ([M?+?Na]⁺ adduct) of l-(α)-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) monomer and dimeric adducts at m/z?=?1468.1 and m/z?=?1490.1, respectively. MALDI–TOF MS in negative mode gave a signal at m/z?=?721.3 ([M???H]^? adduct) of l-(α)-dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG), except for Coatsome C which lacks this phospholipid. After HDC separation of Coatsome A NPs the major DPPC and DPPG signals can be detected in the expected fractions by use of MALDI–TOF MS in positive and negative modes, respectively. Validation of the analytical strategy revealed linearity (R ²?>?0.99), repeatability (relative standard deviation <10 %), and reproducibility (relative standard deviation between days <10 %) were good, recovery was 61?±?5 %, and the limit of quantification was 1 mg?mL^?1 in this matrix. With 4 mg Coatsome A mL^?1 20 out of 20 samples furnished the 734.5 and 756.6 signals typical of DPPC in MALDI–TOF MS characterisation.     

The way to measure quantitatively full dissolution and crystallization of polyamides in water up to 200 °C and above by DSC

The way to measure quantitatively full dissolution and crystallization of polyamides in water up to 200 °C and above by DSC is described. Stainless-steel high-pressure pans enable research on fully dissolving polyamides in water under vapor pressure. The results show clearly that polyamide 6 (PA6) is soluble in water under vapor pressure in the whole concentration range and that water acts as a crystallization and melting point suppressor. The maximum temperature depression is approximately 60 °C. This depression of the transitions is independent of concentration over a large range (10-70 mass% PA6 in water). When PA6 dissolves in water during heating, the polymer often sets to the sides of the DSC sample pan. Because of this the contact between the sample and the bottom of the pan reduces during measurement and therefore DSC heating curves are frequently curved. Adding steel wool to these stainless-steel high-pressure pans improves the measurements by increasing the thermal conductivity between the sample and pan bottom, and as a result the DSC curves become less curved. The interpretation of the measurements improves and the possibility of reproducible peak area calculations also in heating comes in sight.     

Colloidal Silica Rods: Material Properties and Fluorescent Labeling

In this paper, the characterization and fluorescent labeling of silica rods are reported. These rods are synthesized following a recently reported method. Material properties of the silica rods measured with NMR, elemental analysis, TGA, and porosimetry are compared with those of well‐established Stöber silica spheres. Additionally, silica rods are made suitable for quantitative real‐space studies by confocal microscopy. Several methods of fluorescent labeling to prepare rods with different fluorescent patterning, ranging from uniform fluorescence levels to gradients from one rod‐end to the other, and even patterns of several colors are presented and discussed.     

Unexpected reactivity for the RAFT copolymerization of oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylates

Homo‐ and copolymers of di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (DEGMA) and oligo(ethyleneglycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMA₁₁₀₀) were synthesized with various chain lengths via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in ethanol using [M]/[RAFT] ratios of 100 and 200. Kinetic investigations on the homo‐ and copolymerization of these monomers were performed using a parallel synthesizer resulting in well‐defined polymers with polydispersity indices mostly below 1.3. The polymerization kinetics are presented and discussed in detail surprisingly revealing that the DEGMA homopolymerization is slower than the OEGMA₁₁₀₀ homopolymerization. Transfer coefficients c were estimated to be ～0.5 for the RAFT polymerization of both DEGMA and OEGMA₁₁₀₀ resulting in hybrid behavior at the beginning of the polymerizations. Subsequent copolymerization also revealed fast incorporation of the OEGMA₁₁₀₀ and relatively slow incorporation of DEGMA resulting in well‐defined copolymers with a molecular weight up to 100 kDa and polydispersities around 1.20. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2811–2820, 2009     

Thermoresponsive Poly(2‐oxazine)s

The monomers 2‐methyl‐2‐oxazine (MeOZI), 2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazine (EtOZI), and 2‐n‐propyl‐2‐oxazine (nPropOZI) were synthesized and polymerized via the living cationic ring‐opening polymerization (CROP) under microwave‐assisted conditions. pEtOZI and pnPropOZI were found to be thermoresponsive, exhibiting LCST behavior in water and their cloud point temperatures (T_CP) are lower than for poly(2‐oxazoline)s with similar side chains. However, comparison of poly(2‐oxazine) and poly(2‐oxazoline)s isomers reveals that poly(2‐oxazine)s are more water soluble, indicating that the side chain has a stronger impact on polymer solubility than the main chain. In conclusion, variations of both the side chains and the main chains of the poly(cyclic imino ether)s resulted in a series of distinct homopolymers with tunable T_CP.