Aktivierungsanalytische Untersuchung von Zirkoniumlegierungen

Durch Aktivierungsanalyse mit Reaktorneutronen (zerstörungsfrei und mit chemischer Aufarbeitung) sowie mittels zerstörungsfreier Untersuchungen an einem Neutronengenerator wurden O, Al, Si, P, Mn, Cu, Nb, Mo, Cd, Ti, Cr und Hf in Zirkoniumlegierungen bestimmt.     

Computer‐Aided Optimization of Conditions for Fast and Controlled ICAR ATRP of n‐Butyl Acrylate

The potential of initiators for continuous activator regeneration atom transfer radical polymerization (ICAR ATRP) for the synthesis of well‐defined poly(n‐butyl acrylate) is analyzed by means of simulations. The kinetic model accounts for reactivity differences between secondary and tertiary macrospecies and considers the possible influence of diffusional limitations. CuBr₂ is used as transition metal salt and the commercially available N,N,N′,N″,N″‐pentamethyldiethylenetriamine as ligand. For targeted chain lengths (TCLs) up to 1000, the ICAR ATRP can be performed relatively quickly, and with ppm levels of ATRP catalyst. For moderate TCLs, slightly higher ppm levels are required if excellent control over chain length is also desired. In all cases, limited loss of end‐group functionality (EGF) results.

     

The Robin problem for the scalar Oseen equation

We study the Robin problem for the scalar Oseen equation in an open n‐dimensional set with compact Ljapunov boundary. We prescribe two types of Robin boundary conditions, and prove the unique solvability of these problems as well as a representation formula for the solution in form of a scalar Oseen single layer potential. Moreover, we prove the maximum principle for the solution to the Robin problem of the scalar Oseen equation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Factors governing electron capture by small disulfide loops in two-cysteine peptides

Integrated molecular orbital-molecular orbital (IMOMO) calculations on 17 short disulfide-bridged peptides (up to 16 residues, with at most five intraloop residues) were performed to elucidate some factors controlling their electron capture. These illustrative systems display contrasted behaviors, shedding light on several criteria of differentiation: size, shape, and rigidity of the disulfide-linking loop, intramolecular hydrogen bonds, etc. The geometrical malleability of disulfide radical anions, whose existence and role as intermediate have been evidenced, is discussed. The disulfide elongation (by ca. 0.7 A) upon electron capture induces "soft" structural damages for these turn structures, with a weakening or cleavage of vicinal hydrogen bond(s). On the basis of a series of six Cys-Alan-Cys peptides, it is proposed that electron affinity reflects the topological frustration of these short and highly constrained structures. Results for a series of amino acid mutations are analyzed for the Cys-Xxx-Yyy-Cys motif, common to redox enzymes of the thioredoxin superfamily.     

On the photophysics of polyenes. 1. Bathochromic shifts in their 1Ag --> 1Bu electronic transitions caused by the polarizability of the medium

As shown in this study, the solvatochromic behavior of polyenes depends exclusively on the polarizability of the medium and, even more interestingly, their solvatochromism increases markedly with increasing length of the polyene chain. By virtue of the electronic nature of the interaction of polyenes with the medium, their solvatochromic response to a polarizability change is instantaneous, making these compounds extremely effective polarizability probes for molecular environments. The extreme sensitivity of polyenes to the polarizability of their environment is consistent with the fact that changes in molecular architecture such as those occurring in photosynthetic systems can give rise to polarizability gradients resulting in red shifts in the 1Ag --> 1Bu transition, thereby opening up new channels directing the energy transfer involved to energy trapping sites in such systems.     

The photophysics of all-trans polyenes from ttbP5, a nonphotolabile pentaene

The all-trans pentaene, 3,12-di(tert-butyl)-2,2,13,13-tetramethyl-3,5,7,9,11-tetradecapentaene (ttbP5) fluoresces in two different regions of the visible spectrum. It produces an extremely weak emission in the gas phase that can also be detected in the condensed phase; such an emission exhibits a negligible Stokes shift with respect to the 1Ag-->1Bu absorption transition and can in principle be assigned to the 1Bu-->1Ag emission of the compound. ttbP5 also exhibits a second fluorescence emission at approximately 520 nm in both the gas phase and the condensed phase. The emission in the condensed phase increases in strength and structure, with no change in spectral position, as the solvent viscosity increases by effect of the solution temperature being lowered. The spectral behavior of this pentaene (ttbP5) is different enough from that reported [J. Catalan et al., J. Chem. Phys. 128, 104504 (2008)] for its tetraene counterpart (ttbP4) to warrant a separate analysis in order to facilitate a better understanding of the way the photophysics of these polyenes changes as their chain is lengthened.     

Configurational stability of oxymethyllithiums as intermediates in intramolecular rearrangements

Several homochiral oxymethyllithiums, chiral by virtue of the hydrogen isotopes protium and deuterium, were prepared. They were tested for their microscopic configurational stability in intramolecular isomerizations, such as the silyl- and germyl-[1,2]-retro-Brook and the sigmatropic[2,3]-Wittig rearrangement. The influence of temperature, solvent, and migrating group on the stability of the intermediate carbanions was studied. Furthermore, the stereochemical course of these rearrangements was elucidated, resulting in highly enantioenriched alcohols (90-97% ee; ee=enantiomeric excess) up to temperatures of 0 degrees C.     

Characterization of electronic properties of the Cr(CO)3 group in chromium, tricarbonyl [3-[(η-aryl)methylene]-Z-1(3H)-isobenzofuranones] using spectral and theoretical methods

The IR, ¹³C- and ¹⁷O-NMR spectral characteristics of the Cr(CO)₃ group in a series of eight chromium, tricarbonyl[3-[(η⁶-aryl)methylene]-Z-1(3H)-isobenzofuranones] were correlated mutually as well as with theoretical data obtained by optimized MMX force-field and EHT calculations. The net charges on the carbon and oxygen atoms of the CO group and their differences were found as the most appropriate quantitative characteristics for the electronic properties of the Cr(CO)₃ group. Using the results of the previously reported linear correlations, the electron-withdrawing effect of the PhCr(CO)₃ moiety, weakened by the back-donation effect, was estimated as σ0.45 on the scale of Hammett substituent constants.