Cover Picture: Direct C?H Metalation with Chromium(II) and Iron(II): Transition‐Metal Host / Benzenediide Guest Magnetic Inverse‐Crown Complexes (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 18/2009)

Chromation and ferration are the latest additions to the concept of alkali‐metal‐mediated metalation, as described by J. Klett, R. E. Mulvey, and co‐workers in their Communication on page 3317 ff. While the more electropositive sodium is essential for the reaction, it is the less electropositive chromium or iron that actually performs deprotonation of benzene. This novel reactivity can be likened to a game of chess in which the queen (Na) holds the king in check, while the knight (Cr, Fe) scores checkm(etal)ate.

     

Inside Cover: A Spherical Molecule with a Carbon‐Free Ih‐C80 Topological Framework (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 27/2009)

Template‐controlled self‐assembly of discrete molecular pentaphosphaferrocene and CuCl units was used to form the first entirely carbon‐free molecule that has C₈₀ topology and encapsulates a carborane unit. In their Communication on page 5046 ff. , M. Scheer and co‐workers report the synthesis and characterization of this impressive supramolecular compound, which displays an electronic interaction between the carborane and the spherical host molecule. C blue, Fe olive, P pink, Cl green, C gray, B/C orange, H white.

     

Vapor‐Phase Carbonylation of Dimethoxymethane over H‐Faujasite

Carbonylation gets a phase lift : The usual liquid‐phase, high‐pressure processes for carbonylating formaldehydes are avoided in a novel vapor‐phase reaction. Using an acid zeolite (Faujasite) at near‐atmospheric pressure dimethoxymethane (DMM; the dimethyl acetal of formaldehyde; see scheme) is carbonylated to produce methyl methoxyacetate (MMAc). This approach provides a new route to ethylene glycol under mild conditions.

     

Exciton Binding Energies in Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Films

Molecular design: The electronic structure of conjugated polyelectrolytes as a function of ionization potential (IP) and electron affinity (EA) is determined using X‐ray absorption and emission spectroscopy (see figure). Different functional groups give rise to dissimilar transport gaps and exciton binding energies.

     

Relationship between the Molecular Structure of Cyanine Dyes and the Vibrational Fine Structure of their Electronic Absorption Spectra

Vibronic sub‐bands in the electronic absorption spectra of symmetrical cyanine dyes (see picture) are attributed to the symmetric C? C valence vibration of the polymethine chain in the excited state. The ³J(H,H) coupling constants in the polymethine chain can be used to characterize the bond localization within the chain in the ground state and thus to explain the intensity distribution of the sub‐bands.

     

Anomalous Odd–Even Effects in Columnar and Smectic Phases of Discotic Tetraphenylenes

Rather uncommon but pronounced odd–even effects in the clearing temperatures of liquid crystals are found for three new homologous series of discotic tetraphenylenes (see figure). Detailed similarities to the well‐known odd‐even effects in calmitic mesogens point towards a more general understanding of odd‐even effects in liquid crystals.

     

Metallic Impurities within Residual Catalyst Metallic Nanoparticles Are in Some Cases Responsible for “Electrocatalytic” Effect of Carbon Nanotubes

It′s what′s on the inside that counts : In some cases, the metallic impurities within residual catalyst metallic nanoparticle impurities, which remain in carbon nanotubes even after their purification, are responsible for the “electrocatalytic” properties of carbon nanotubes. This is demonstrated by using double‐walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) containing cobalt residual catalyst nanoparticle impurities, which themselves contain iron‐based impurities.

     

Theoretical and empirical differentiations of phases in the modelling process

The reconstruction of pupils modelling processes can be found in many empirical studies within the literature on modelling. The empirical differentiations of the phases, which includes putting statements and actions of the pupils in the right phase, has not been reconstructed from a cognitive psychological point of view on a micro level thus far: In this article different modelling cycles are discussed with attention to distinctions in the various phases. The «modelling cycle under cognitive psychological aspects» is specifically emphasized in contrast to the other cycles. On the basis of the results of the COM²-project (Cognitive psychological analysis of modelling processes in mathematics lessons, Borromeo Ferri) the phases of the modelling processare described empirically. Some difficulties in the process of distinguishing the various phases are also pointed out.     

Amine capture strategy for peptide bond formation by means of quinolinium thioester salts

A new and unprecedented exploitation of quinolinium thioester salts 2 in peptide bond formation is reported. These synthetic tools were assessed during the preparation of a number of dipeptides 3a-f obtained in good yields with complete stereochemical integrity. A sequential mechanism related to a prior amine capture strategy is well-established. Additionally, a tripeptide 3g was prepared according to a "safety-catch" approach, thus demonstrating the important potential of these new synthetic tools in the design of new safety-catch linkers exploitable in Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS).     

Über die optimale Beleuchtung einer geraden Straße

The following problem is due toL. Fejes Tóth: For a given sort of lamps letf(x) be the intensity of brightness in each point having distancex from the foot of the lamp. How must infinitely many lamps of this kind be arranged on a both-side infinite rectilinear road, such that the infimum of the intensities of brightness, extended over the whole street, is maximal, subject to the condition that the average number of lamps per kilometer is bounded by a fixed number (“Best distributions”)? The main result of this paper is: Iff is strictly convex, the equidistant distribution is best.