Difficulties for five-dimensional gauge-higgs unification

We consider five-dimensional gauge theories where all fields propagate in the bulk and the fifth direction is compactified on the orbifold S1/Z2, and where the fifth components of the gauge bosons play the role of the standard model Higgs boson (gauge-Higgs unification). The gauge symmetry breaking is realized through the appropriate orbifold boundary conditions and through the Hosotani mechanism. We show that for any such theory (with neither brane gauge kinetic terms nor anomalous gauge-group factors) the assumption that the low-energy vector-boson spectrum consists of the W(+/-), Z, and gamma only, is inconsistent with the experimental requirements sin2thetaW approximately 1/4 and rho identical with mW2/(mZ2 cos2theta w) = 1.     

PRO_LIGAND: An approach to de novo molecular design. 3. A genetic algorithm for structure refinement

Summary Recently, the development of computer programs which permit the de novo design of molecular structures satisfying a set of steric and chemical constraints has become a burgeoning area of research and many operational systems have been reported in the literature. Experience with PRO_LIGAND—the de novo design methodology embodied in our in-house molecular design and simulation system PRO-METHEUS—has suggested that the addition of a genetic algorithm (GA) structure refinement procedure can add value to an already useful tool. Starting with the set of designed molecules as an initial population, the GA can combine features from both high- and low-scoring structures and, over a number of generations, produce individuals of better score than any of the starting structures. This paper describes how we have implemented such a procedure and demonstrates its efficacy in improving two sets of molecules generated by different de novo design projects.     

Nickel(II) complexes of the macrocyclic ligand 5-nitromethyl-5,7,12,14-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-4,11-diene containing a pendant nitro group

The reaction of MeNO2 in the presence of Et3N with the nickel(II) complex of C-meso-5,7,12,14-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-4,11-diene gives the nickel(II) complex of the 5-nitromethyl derivative containing a pendant nitro group. The complex is octahedral with the nitro group coordinated to nickel(II) via the aci-nitro tautomer. Although the complex contains one water molecule, six-coordination occurs by interaction with a neighbouring CH NO2- group in a polymeric structure. Recrystallisation from aqueous ammonia gives a blue paramagnetic complex with lattice ammonia. Addition of HClO4 to the blue paramagnetic hydrate gives the orange-brown diperchlorate salt with a pendant nitro group. This salt displays a planar octahedral equilibrium in aqueous solution, NiL+2H2O NiL(H2O)2, with K=0.28 at 40degC. The thermodynamic parameters for this equilibrium are DeltaH=-59+2kJmol-1and DeltaS=-200+5JK-1mol-1. The nitro group can be reduced with Zn/HCl to give the amino derivative. The configurations of the complexes are considered and the spectroscopic results discussed. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fighting Aggregation‐Caused Quenching and Leakage of Dyes in Fluorescent Polymer Nanoparticles: Universal Role of Counterion

Dye‐loaded polymer nanoparticles (NPs) emerge as a powerful tool for bioimaging applications, owing to their exceptional brightness and controlled small size. However, aggregation‐caused quenching (ACQ) and leakage of dyes at high loading remain important challenges of these nanomaterials. The use of bulky hydrophobic counterions has been recently proposed as an effective approach to minimize ACQ and dye leakage, but the role of counterion structure is still poorly understood. Here, a systematic study based on ten counterions, ranging from small hydrophilic perchlorate up to large hydrophobic tetraphenylborate derivatives, reveals how counterion nature can control encapsulation and emission of a cationic dye (rhodamine B octadecyl ester) in NPs prepared by nanoprecipitation of a biodegradable polymer, poly‐lactide‐co‐glycolide (PLGA). We found that increase in counterion hydrophobicity enhances dye encapsulation efficiency and prevents dye adsorption at the particle surface. Cellular imaging studies revealed that ≥95 % encapsulation efficiency, achieved with most hydrophobic counterions (fluorinated tetraphenylborates), is absolutely required because non‐encapsulated dye species at the surface of NPs are the origin of dye leakage and strong fluorescence background in cells. The size of counterions is found to be essential to prevent ACQ, where the largest species, serving as effective spacer between dyes, provide the highest fluorescence quantum yield. Moreover, we found that the most hydrophobic counterions favor dye–dye coupling inside NPs, leading to ON/OFF fluorescence switching of single particles. By contrast, less hydrophobic counterions tend to disperse dyes in the polymer matrix favoring stable emission of NPs. The obtained structure‐property relationships validate the counterion‐based approach as a mature concept to fight ACQ and dye leakage in the development of advanced polymeric nanomaterials with controlled optical properties.     

Amperometric Biosensor Based on Enzymatic Reactor for Choline Determination in Flow Systems

A simple, selective and stable biosensor with the enzymatic reactor based on choline oxidase (ChOx) was developed and applied for the determination of choline (Ch) in flow injection analysis with amperometric detection. The enzyme ChOx was covalently immobilized with glutaraldehyde to mesoporous silica powder (SBA‐15) previously covered by NH₂‐groups. This powder was found as an optimal filling of the reactor. The detection of Ch is based on amperometric monitoring of consumed oxygen during the enzymatic reaction, which is directly proportional to Ch concentration. Two arrangements of an electrolytic cell in FIA, namely wall‐jet cell with working silver solid amalgam electrode covered by mercury film and flow‐through cell with tubular detector of polished silver solid amalgam were compared. The experimental parameters affecting the sensitivity and stability of the biosensor (i. e. pH of the carrier solution, volume of reactor, amount of the immobilized enzyme, the detection potential, flow rate, etc.) were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the limit of detection was found to be 9.0×10^?6 mol L^?1. The Michaelis‐Menten constant for covalently immobilized ChOx on SBA‐15 was calculated. The proposed amperometric biosensor with the developed ChOx‐based reactor exhibits good repeatability, reproducibility, long‐term stability, and reusability. Its efficiency has been confirmed by the successful application for the determination of Ch in two commercial pharmaceuticals.     

Flow electrochemical biosensors based on enzymatic porous reactor and tubular detector of silver solid amalgam

A flow amperometric enzymatic biosensor for the determination of glucose was constructed. The biosensor consists of a flow reactor based on porous silver solid amalgam (AgSA) and a flow tubular detector based on compact AgSA. The preparation of the sensor and the determination of glucose occurred in three steps. First, a self-assembled monolayer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) was formed at the porous surface of the reactor. Second, enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx) was covalently immobilized at MUA-layer using N-ethyl-N′-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carboimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide chemistry. Finally, a decrease of oxygen concentration (directly proportional to the concentration of glucose) during enzymatic reaction was amperometrically measured on the tubular detector under flow injection conditions. The following parameters of glucose determination were optimized with respect to amperometric response: composition of the mobile phase, its concentration, the potential of detection and the flow rate. The calibration curve of glucose was linear in the concentration range of 0.02–0.80 mmol L⁻¹ with detection limit of 0.01 mmol L⁻¹. The content of glucose in the sample of honey was determined as 35.5 ± 1.0 mass % (number of the repeated measurements n = 7; standard deviation SD = 1.2%; relative standard deviation RSD = 3.2%) which corresponds well with the declared values. The tested biosensor proved good long-term stability (77% of the current response of glucose was retained after 35 days).     

Tetraimine macrocyclic transition metal complexes as building blocks for molecular devices

The synthetic strategy initiated by Busch and further developed in recent years resulted in an impressive variety of new azamacrocyclic ligand superstructures. In this contribution, we have reviewed papers containing general synthetic strategies, structural and electronic properties and results of electrochemical studies for a long series of neutral and charged macrocyclic tetraimine complexes of transition metals leading to a new type of homo- and heteronuclear[2]catenanes as examples of switchable molecular machines. The whole series consists of neutral and charged mono-, bis- and trismacrocycles and appropriate reference neutral molecules and many of their derivatives. The bismacrocyclic moieties are constructed from simpler tetraazamacrocyclic fragments. When two of them are linked through polymethylene chains, they form face-to-face biscyclidenes—rectangular box-like moieties. They can host some small guest molecules (water, π-electron-donating compounds) and are stabilized by hydrogen bonds with solvent molecules or a shell of neighboring counterions. Neutral thiol derivatives are used as recognition sites of monolayers self-assembled on electrode surfaces to be employed in devices based on donor–acceptor interactions.Our catenanes consist of bismacrocyclic transition metal complexes linked by aliphatic chains and interlocked with a substituted crown ether. We have proved that under external stimuli – electrochemical pulses – the heteronuclear catenane exhibits controlled intramolecular relocation of the crown ether between two positions. The relocation is possible due to π?π interactions between the aromatic fragments of the crown ether and the transition metal (Ni, Cu) coordinating macrocyclic rings.Our model tetraimine complexes of transition metals can also be used to solve the problem of controlling directional relative movement of molecular fragments present in complex supramolecules. On the way to this aim we have synthesized trismacrocyclic derivatives which are now appropriately modified to serve as components of complex catenanes.     

Polymeric adducts of rhodium(II) tetraacetate with aliphatic diamines: natural abundance 13C and 15N CPMAS NMR investigations

Complexation properties of dimeric rhodium(II) tetracarboxylates have been utilised in chemistry, spectroscopy and organic synthesis. Particularly, the combination of these rhodium salts with multifunctional ligands results in the formation of coordination polymers, and these are of interest because of their gas‐occlusion properties. In the present work, the polymeric adducts of rhodium(II) tetraacetate with flexible ligands exhibiting conformational variety, ethane‐1,2‐diamine, propane‐1,3‐diamine and their N,N′‐dimethyl‐ and N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethyl derivatives, have been investigated by means of elemental analysis, ¹³C CPMAS NMR, ¹⁵N CPMAS NMR and density functional theory modelling. Elemental analysis and NMR spectra indicated the axial coordination mode and regular structures of (1 : 1)_n oligomeric chains in the case of adducts of ethane‐1,2‐diamine, N,N′‐dimethylethane‐1,2‐diamine N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylethane‐1,2‐diamine and N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethylpropane‐1,3‐diamine. Propane‐1,3‐diamine and N,N′‐dimethylpropane‐1,3‐diamine tended to form heterogeneous materials, composed of oligomeric (1 : 1)_n chains and the additive of dirhodium units containing equatorially bonded ligands. Experimental findings have been supported by density functional theory modelling of some hypothetical structures and gauge‐invariant atomic orbital calculations of NMR chemical shifts. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.