Optical measurements of an acylated azacrown at the air-water interface

In this study, a cyclame derivative bearing four aliphatic chain substituents shows, like many amphiphiles, solid-condensed as well as liquid-expanded phases. In contrast to the classical amphiphiles, the onset of its phase transition is characterized by a bump-like shape whose amplitude is a function of the compression speed. Ellipsometry which is very sensitive to the monolayer physical state changes, and fluorescence microscopy which has contributed significantly to the understanding of the phenomena occurring in the phase transition region have been used to investigate the monolayer behavior of this compound. This study shows that in the liquid-expanded state, the film is homogeneous and remains as such until either the maximum amplitude of the bump is reached or the beginning of the plateau sets in. Thereafter, heterogeneity with formation of diamond-like domains appears with domain sizes varying with compression speed. The formation of the domains coincides with a change in the ellipsometric zone differences. From this ellipsometric behavior, a change in the distribution of the orientation of the molecules is suggested to take place at the onset of the phase transition.     

A Phosphorus Analogue of p-Quinodimethane with a Planar P4 Ring: A Metal-Free Diphosphorus Source

Para-quinodimethane (pQDM) is a fundamental structural component in many π-conjugated organic molecules and materials. The incorporation of phosphorus atom into π-conjugated frameworks offers unique opportunities for controlling the properties of derived species. A phosphorus analogue of p-quinodimethane (pQDM), (IPrC)₂P₄ [ 5 , IPr=C{N(Ar)CH₂}₂; Ar=2,6-iPr₂C₆H₃] featuring a planar P₄ ring, was readily accessible by KC₈-reduction of (IPrC)(PCl₂)₂ ( 2 ). Base-mediated C−H functionalization of IPrCH₂ ( 1 ) with PCl₃ afforded 2 . The formation of 5 was expected to occur through a dimerization of the transient 3H-diphosphirene (IPrC)P₂ ( 4 ), which was theoretically suggested to have an intermediate diradical character. Compound 5 underwent photo-induced ring-contraction reaction to form the singlet diradicaloid (IPrCP)₂ VI and white phosphorus (P₄). The formation of and VI and P₄ suggested the formal diphosphorus (P₂) elimination from 5 . Indeed, photolysis of a mixture of 1,3-cyclohexadiene (CHD) and 5 led to the formation of P₂-entrapped product (CHD)₂P₂ ( 6 ). The compound 5 represents the first organophosphorus species that functions as a P₂ source.     

Molecular and Spectroscopic Characterization of Green and Red Cyanine Fluorophores from the Alexa Fluor and AF Series**

The use of fluorescence techniques has an enormous impact on various research fields including imaging, biochemical assays, DNA-sequencing and medical technologies. This has been facilitated by the development of numerous commercial dyes with optimized photophysical and chemical properties. Often, however, information about the chemical structures of dyes and the attached linkers used for bioconjugation remain a well-kept secret. This can lead to problems for research applications where knowledge of the dye structure is necessary to predict or understand (unwanted) dye-target interactions, or to establish structural models of the dye-target complex. Using a combination of optical spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, we here investigate the molecular structures and spectroscopic properties of dyes from the Alexa Fluor (Alexa Fluor 555 and 647) and AF series (AF555, AF647, AFD647). Based on available data and published structures of the AF and Cy dyes, we propose a structure for Alexa Fluor 555 and refine that of AF555. We also resolve conflicting reports on the linker composition of Alexa Fluor 647 maleimide. We also conducted a comprehensive comparison between Alexa Fluor and AF dyes by continuous-wave absorption and emission spectroscopy, quantum yield determination, fluorescence lifetime and anisotropy spectroscopy of free and protein-attached dyes. All these data support the idea that Alexa Fluor and AF dyes have a cyanine core and are a derivative of Cy3 and Cy5. In addition, we compared Alexa Fluor 555 and Alexa Fluor 647 to their structural homologs AF555 and AF(D)647 in single-molecule FRET applications. Both pairs showed excellent performance in solution-based smFRET experiments using alternating laser excitation. Minor differences in apparent dye-protein interactions were investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. Our findings clearly demonstrate that the AF-fluorophores are an attractive alternative to Alexa- and Cy-dyes in smFRET studies or other fluorescence applications.     

A continuum model on the nanomesa and nanowell formation in Langmuir-Blodgett ferroelectric polymeric films

Spontaneous crystalline nanomesa and nanowell formation has recently been discovered in polyvinylidene fluoride trifluoroethylene [P(VDF-TrFE)] copolymer films developed by Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) deposition. In this paper, we propose a continuum field model to analyze this remarkable phenomenon, consisting of kinematics, energetics, and kinetics of pattern formation and evolution in P(VDF-TrFE) films. Linear perturbation analysis has been carried out to analyze the stability and growth of patterns under small perturbations, and finite difference numerical simulations have been implemented to simulate the morphologies and evolutions of nanomesas and nanowells. The effects of film thickness and a number of other material parameters have been considered in our simulations, which agree well with experimental observations. We expect that our modeling and simulation methods can be used to guide the design and optimization of nanomesa and nanowell patterns for technological applications.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Novel Alkali Trimolybdates

Novel alkali trimolybdates of the triclinic (M, M′)₂Mo₃O₁₀ (M = Rb; M′ = K, Cs) type were obtained through a systematic hydrothermal approach based on the reaction of MoO₃ with alkali halide solutions at 180 °C. The crystal structures were determined from X‐ray single crystal data. The alkali trimolybdates extend the family of known alkali trimolybdates in an unexpected fashion, because they contain a distorted variation of [Mo₃O₁₀]^2? chains as a key structural motif that has only been found in a single compound before, namely ethylenediammonium trimolybdate, (C₂H₁₀N₂)[Mo₃O₁₀]. The applied hydrothermal strategy is discussed in the general context of systematic pathways to polyoxomolybdates. Furthermore, the templating role of the alkali cations and their interaction with the polyoxomolybdate surroundings is compared to (C₂H₁₀N₂)[Mo₃O₁₀] in terms of electrostatic calculations.