Advanced surface functionalization of periodic mesoporous silica: Kinetic control by trisilazane reagents

The surface reactions of mesoporous silica MCM-41 with a series of new trisilylamines (trisilazanes) (SiHMe2)2NSiMe2R and (SiMe2Vin)2NSiMe2R (R = indenyl, norpinanyl, chloropropyl, 3-(N-morpholin)propyl; Vin = vinyl), disilylalkylamine (SiHMe2)iPrNSiMe2(CH2)3Cl, and monosilyldialkylamines Me2NSiMe2R (R = indenyl, chloropropyl, 3-(N-morpholin)propyl) were investigated. 1H, 13C, and 29Si MAS NMR spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption, infrared spectroscopy, and model reactions with calix[4]arene as a mimic for an oxo surface were used to clarify the chemical nature of surface-bonded silyl groups. The trisilylamines exhibited a comparatively slow surface reaction, which allowed for the adjustment of the amount of silylated and nonreacted SiOH groups and led to a stoichiometric distribution of surface functionalities. The 2:1 integral ratio of SiHMe2 and SiMe2R moieties of such trisilazanes was found to be preserved on the silica surface as indicated by microanalytical as well as 13C and 29Si MAS NMR spectroscopic data of the hybrid materials. For example, the reaction of MCM-41 with (SiHMe2)2NSiMe2(CH2)3Cl, (SiHMe2)iPrNSiMe2(CH2)3Cl, and Me2NSiMe2(CH2)3Cl provided bi- and monofunctional hybrid materials with one-third, one-half, or all chemically accessible silanol groups derivatized by chloropropyl groups, respectively. Thus, a molecular precursor strategy was developed to efficiently control the relative amount of three different surface species, SiHMe2 (or SiVinMe2), SiMe2R, and SiOH, in a single reaction step. The reaction behavior of indenyl-substituted monosilazanes and trisilazanes (R = Ind) with calix[4]arene proved that the indenyl substituent can act as a leaving group forming a dimethylsilyl species, which is anchored bipodally on the silica surface, that is, via two Si-O bonds.     

Absorption enhancement of oligothiophene dyes through the use of a cyanopyridone acceptor group in solution-processed organic solar cells

Improvements in the performance of small molecule-based organic solar cells have been reported through the use of a cyanopyridone acceptor group. This acceptor fragment enhances the absorbance of an oligothiophene-based dye and enables the addition of a solubilising alkyl chain that facilitates simple device fabrication from solution.     

Hydrogen‐bonding and C—H⋯π interactions in 7‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐4‐methyl‐5,6,7,8‐tetrahydro­pyrido­[1,2‐c]pyrimidin‐1(9H)‐one

In the title compound, C₁₀H₁₄N₂O₃, a pyrimidine ring is fused with a piperidine ring. The pyrimidine ring is planar, whereas the piperidine ring adopts a half‐chair conformation. The molecules of the title compound are connected via O—H⋯O intermolecular hydrogen bonds into infinite zigzag chains. The pyrimidine ring is involved in three C—H⋯π interactions, which link the hydrogen‐bonded chains into a three‐dimensional framework.     

Estimation of stability constants of copper(II) and nickel(II) chelates with dipeptides by using topological indices

The estimation of the overall stability constants β₁ of copper(II) and nickel(II) chelates with dipeptides was performed by using the model with the valence connectivity index of the 3rd order (³χ^v). It was done by dividing β₁ to its constituting constants K₁ and K_a, and subsequently by dividing the basic set into subsets or treating the chelate rings as separate units. Altogether 15 copper(II) and eight nickel(II) chelates with dipeptides were investigated. Six models for the estimation of log K₁ and pK_a were checked, most of them by usage of indicator variables (for differentiation of copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes or subclasses of ligands). Estimates of log β₁ gave the range of rms values from 0.19 to 0.27. For the best model, errors of estimates were less than 0.34.     

Heteronuclear and homonuclear high-spin alkali trimers on helium nanodroplets

The electronic excitation spectra of all possible homo- and heteronuclear high-spin (quartet) trimers of K and Rb (KxRb(3-x), x=0...3) assembled on the surface of superfluid helium droplets, are measured in the spectral range from 10,600 to 17,400 cm(-1). A regular series of corresponding bands is observed, reflecting the similar electronic structure of all these trimers. For the assignment and separation of overlapping bands, we determine x directly, with mass-selected beam depletion, and indirectly with a V-type double-resonance scheme. The assignment is confirmed by high-level ab initio calculations of the electronic structure of the bare trimers. The level structure is rationalized in terms of harmonic-oscillator states of the three valence electrons in a quantum-dot-like confining potential. We predict that three should be a magic number for high-spin alkali clusters.     

Flow injection spectrophotometric determination of N-acetyl-L-cysteine as a complex with palladium(II)

We describe a new method using flow-injection analysis with spectro-photometric detection, suitable for the determination of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). The proposed method is appropriate for the determination of NAC in reaction with Pd(2+) ions in the concentration range from 1.0 × 10(-5) mol L(-1) to 6.0 × 10(-5) mol L(-1). The detection limit NAC was 5.84 × 10(-6) mol L(-1) and the recorded relative standard deviation of the method is in the range from 1.67 to 4.11%. NAC and Pd(2+) form complexes of Pd(2+):NAC molar ratios of 1:1 and 1:2, depending on the ratio of their analytical concentrations. The cumulative conditional stability constant for the Pd(NAC)(2)(2+) complex is β(12)' = 2.69 × 10(9) L(2) mol(-2). The proposed method was compared with the classic spectrophotometric determination of NAC, using the same reagent, PdCl(2), and had shown certain advantages: a) shorter analysis time; b) the use of smaller volumes of sample and reagents, which make the proposed method cheaper and faster for NAC determination in real samples without sample pretreatment.     

Towards an integrated device that utilizes adherent cells in a micro-free-flow electrophoresis chip to achieve separation and biosensing

We immobilized adherent human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells—which are able to trace adenosine triphosphate (ATP) —inside a microfluidic free-flow electrophoresis (μFFE) chip in order to develop an integrated device combining separation and biosensing capabilities. HEK 293 cells loaded with fluorescent calcium indicators were used as a model system to enable the spatially and temporally resolved detection of ATP. The local position of a 20 μM ATP stream was successfully visualized by these cells during free-flow electrophoresis, demonstrating the on-line detection capability of this technique towards native, unlabeled compounds.