Shape coexistence near the double-midshell nucleus 111Rh

The decay of ¹¹¹Ru obtained from fast on-line chemical and mass separation has been investigated by β-γ-t and γ-γ coincidence techniques. Earlier spin and parity assignments of ¹¹¹Rh levels based on extrapolations of level systematics are confirmed. In particular, the K=1/2 intruder band is supported by the hindrance of E2 transitions between deformed and spherical states and enhancement of intraband E2 transitions. The excitation energies of intruder band members in Rh isotopes show a minimum at ¹⁰⁹Rh₆₄, with two neutrons less than ¹¹¹Rh at the N=66 midshell. This trend, which differs from the one in the higher-Z neighbouring elements Ag and Cd with minima at N=66, follows the evolution of deformation observed in the lower-Z elements Ru and Mo. Received: 25 June 1997 / Revised version: 10 September 1997     

The coupling of Cr to Fe studied by circular magnetic X-ray dichroism

The coupling of Cr to Fe in stacked Cr/Fe/Cr trilayers is studied by circular magnetic X-ray dichroism using fluorescence yield to monitor the absorption. From the dichroic spectra, we determine the thickness dependent average magnetic coupling of Cr to Fe for Cr layer thicknesses of 1, 2 and 3 ML. We compare our results to new calculated spectra. Additionally, all Cr spectra show significant contributions due to photon scattering processes at theL _{2, 3} absorption edges depending on the degree of circular polarization.     

Asymmetric Bipyridine‐Terpyridine‐Copper(II) Complexes: An Approach for New Supramolecular Architectures

On the way towards novel supramolecular assemblies and polymers, several copper(II) complexes consisting of one terpyridine as well as one bipyridine ligand were synthesized in a one‐step reaction. The compounds were characterized by UV/VIS spectroscopy and MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry. Single crystals were obtained and their structures were determined by X‐ray analyses.     

Online ATR-IR investigations and mechanistic understanding of the carbonylation of epoxides - the selective synthesis of lactones or polyesters from epoxides and CO

In situ ATR-IR spectroscopy is applied as a powerful tool to study the factors that control the reaction of epoxides with carbon monoxide in the presence of [Lewis acid]⁺[Co(CO)₄]⁻ salts. Based on these investigations, a consistent mechanistic scheme is presented, comprising the main lactone and polyester products and minor components, e.g., acetone and crotonic acid derivatives. β-Alkoxy-acyl-cobalttetracarbonyl species are shown to be key intermediates from which two reaction routes start in dependence of the applied Lewis acid (LA). Labile LA-alkoxy combinations favor a backbiting process of the oxygen function on the Co-acyl bond, primarily producing lactone products. More stable LA-alkoxy entities are unreactive toward PO conversion and afford a polymerization reaction after the addition of a nucleophile. In that case, the Lewis acid remains bonded to the chain end.     

Amide-Amide and Amide-Water Hydrogen Bonds: Implications for Protein Folding and Stability

Amide-amide hydrogen bonds have been implicated in directing protein folding and enhancing protein stability. Inversion transfer (13)C NMR spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy were used to compare the ability of various amide solvents and of water to alter the rate of the cis-trans isomerization of the prolyl peptide bond of Ac-Gly-[β,δ-(13)C]Pro-OMe and the amide I vibrational mode of [(13)C=O]Ac-Pro-OMe. The results indicate that secondary amides are significantly weaker hydrogen bond donors than is formamide or water. These results are most consistent with models for protein folding in which the formation of secondary structure is a cooperative process that follows hydrophobic collapse. These results also suggest that a hydrogen bond between a main-chain oxygen and an asparagine or glutamine sidechain may contribute more to protein stability than does a main-chain-main-chain hydrogen bond.     

Time-of-flight mass and photoelectron spectroscopy study of LaC n -

Mass spectra of LaC _n ^- were taken by using a laser-vaporization source (LVS) and pulsed arc cluster ion source (PACIS) applied to La-carbon composite rods (1:130 atomic ratio). The mass spectrum using the LVS with annealing procedure has shown several magic numbers for LaC _n ^- (n = 44, 50, 60, and 70), whereas only small LaC _n ^- (up to n = 14) have been observed in the mass spectrum using the PACIS. Photoelectron spectra of some of these have been measured using a magnetic-bottle type time-of-flight electron spectrometer. These results indicate the exsistence of a few conformational isomers for small La-containing carbon cluster negative ions LaC _n ^- (n = 5–8).