Impact of the Oxygen Defects and the Hydrogen Concentration on the Surface of Tetragonal and Monoclinic ZrO2 on the Reduction Rates of Stearic Acid on Ni/ZrO2

The role of the specific physicochemical properties of ZrO₂ phases on Ni/ZrO₂ has been explored with respect to the reduction of stearic acid. Conversion on pure m‐ZrO₂ is 1.3 times more active than on t‐ZrO₂, whereas Ni/m‐ZrO₂ is three times more active than Ni/t‐ZrO₂. Although the hydrodeoxygenation of stearic acid can be catalyzed solely by Ni, the synergistic interaction between Ni and the ZrO₂ support causes the variations in the reaction rates. Adsorption of the carboxylic acid group on an oxygen vacancy of ZrO₂ and the abstraction of the α‐hydrogen atom with the elimination of the oxygen atom to produce a ketene is the key to enhance the overall rate. The hydrogenated intermediate 1‐octadecanol is in turn decarbonylated to heptadecane with identical rates on all catalysts. Decarbonylation of 1‐octadecanol is concluded to be limited by the competitive adsorption of reactants and intermediate. The substantially higher adsorption of propionic acid demonstrated by IR spectroscopy and the higher reactivity to O₂ exchange reactions with the more active catalyst indicate that the higher concentration of active oxygen defects on m‐ZrO₂ compared to t‐ZrO₂ causes the higher activity of Ni/m‐ZrO₂.     

Contribution of individual flavonoids in Lysimachia species to the antioxidant capacity based on HPLC-DPPH assay

Quantitative phytochemical characterisation of the chief flavonoid aglycones in the hydrolysed Lysimachia extracts revealed the dominance of kaempferol, quercetin and myricetin in L. vulgaris, L. nummularia, L. punctata, L. christinae, L. ciliata and L. clethroides, respectively. Due to the significant radical scavenging capacity of the samples, the contribution of the individual aglycones to the total antioxidant activity became of interest. Therefore, a HPLC method coupled to pre-column DPPH scavenging assay was developed. Differences in the six Lysimachia species’ phenolic composition regarding their participation to the antioxidant activity were revealed. The participation of the three investigated flavonoids to the radical quenching activity was the highest (91.2%) in the L. vulgaris sample, the lowest in L. christinae sample with 29.6%. In L. vulgaris sample, the 76.3% contribution of quercetin to the scavenger capacity was the highest peak area decrement ratio among the investigated samples.     

Unbinding Molecular Recognition Force Maps of Localized Single Receptor Molecules by Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy is a technique capable to study biological recognition processes at the single‐molecule level. In this work we operate the AFM in a force‐scan based mode, the jumping mode, where simultaneous topographic and tip–sample adhesion maps are acquired. This approach obtains the unbinding force between a well‐defined receptor molecule and a ligand attached to the AFM tip. The method is applied to the avidin–biotin system. In contrast with previous data, we obtain laterally resolved adhesion maps of avidin–biotin unbinding forces highly correlated with single avidin molecules in the corresponding topographic map. The scanning rate 250 pixel s^?1 (2 min for a 128×128 image) is limited by the hydrodynamic drag force. We are able to build a rupture‐force distribution histogram that corresponds to a single defined molecule. Furthermore, we find that due to the motility of the polymer used as spacer to anchor the ligand to the tip, its direction at rupture does not generally coincide with the normal to the tip–sample, this introduces an appreciable error in the measured force.     

Rovibrational spectroscopy and intramolecular dynamics of 1,2-trans-d(2)-ethene in the first C-H stretch overtone region

The first overtone region of the C-H stretching vibration of 1,2-trans-d(2)-ethene (HDC=CDH) was monitored via jet-cooled action spectroscopy and room temperature photoacoustic spectroscopy. The spectra include a strong band, which we assigned as the nu(1)+nu(9) C-H stretch vibration, and five additional bands related to transitions to coupled states. The spectral features were modeled in terms of a six-state deperturbation analysis, revealing the energies of the zero-order states and the relatively strong couplings between the initially excited nu(1)+nu(9) state and the doorway states. Considering these energies and the fundamental frequencies of 1,2-trans-d(2)-ethene and presuming that only low-order resonances are involved in the couplings enabled the assignment of the states. The analysis also allowed obtaining insight on energy flow and to find out that the energy oscillations between the C-H stretch state and the doorway states occur on a subpicosecond time scale.     

Activation of metal hydride complexes by tri-tert-butylphosphine-platinum and -palladium groups

The compounds HM(CO)4SnPh3, M = Os (10), Ru (11) are activated in the presence of Pt(PBut3)2 and Pd(PBu(t)3)2 toward the insertion of PhC2H into the M-H bond. The compounds PtOs(CO)4(SnPh3)(PBu(t)3)[mu-HCC(H)Ph], 12, and PtOs(CO)4(SnPh3)(PBu(t)3)[mu-H2CCPh], 13, were obtained from the reaction of 10 with PhC2H in the presence of Pt(PBu(t)3)2. Compounds 12 and 13 are isomers containing alkenyl ligands formed by the insertion of the PhC2H molecule into the Os-H bond at both the substituted and unsubstituted carbon atoms of the alkyne. Both compounds contain a Pt(PBu(t)3) group that is bonded to the osmium atom and a bridging alkenyl ligand that is pi-bonded to the osmium atom. The reaction of 11 with PhC2H in the presence of Pt(PBu(t)3)2 yielded the products PtRu(CO)4(SnPh3)(PBu(t)3)[mu-HC2(H)Ph], 14, and PtRu(CO)4(SnPh3)(PBut3)[mu-H2C2Ph], 15, which are also isomers similar to 12 and 13. The reaction of 11 with PhC2H in the presence of Pd(PBu(t)3)2 yielded the product PdRu(CO)4(SnPh3)(PBu(t)3)[mu-H2C2Ph], 16. Compound 16 contains a Pd(PBu(t)3) group bonded to the ruthenium atom and a bridging H2C2Ph ligand that is pi-bonded to the palladium atom. Compound 10 reacted with Pt(PBu(t)3)2 in the absence of PhC2H to yield the compound PtOs(CO)4(SnPh3)(PBu(t)3)(mu-H), 17. Compound 17 is a Pt(PBu(t)3) adduct of 10. It contains a Pt-Os bond with a bridging hydrido ligand. Compound 17 reacted with PhC2H to yield 12. Compound 12 reacted with PhC2H to yield the compound PtOs(CO)3(SnPh3)(PBu(t)3)[mu-HCC(Ph)C(H)C(H)Ph], 18. Compound 18 contains a bridging 2,4-diphenylbutadienyl ligand, HCC(Ph)C(H)C(H)Ph, that is pi-bonded to the osmium atom and sigma-bonded to the platinum atom. Fenkse-Hall molecular orbitals of 17 were calculated. The LUMO of 17 exhibits an empty orbital on the platinum atom that appears to be the most likely site for PhC2H addition prior to its insertion into the Os-H bond.     

Synthesis, characterization, and electronic structures of a series of two-dimensional trimetallic cluster complexes, Ru3(CO)9(mu-SnPh2)3[Pt(PBu(t)3)]x, x = 0-3

The triruthenium-tritin cluster complex, Ru3(CO)9(mu-SnPh2)3, 13 was obtained from the reaction of Ru3(CO)12 with Ph3SnH. Compound 13 reacts with Pt(PBut3)2 to yield three new Pt(PBut3) adducts of 13 Ru3(CO)9(mu-SnPh2)3[Pt(PBut3)]x, 14-16 x = 1 - 3 formed by the addition of Pt(PBut3) groups to the Ru-Sn bonds. The new complexes form a novel series of trimetallic complexes having planar arrangements of the metal atoms. The UV-vis absorptions of the four complexes shift progressively to longer wavelengths as the number of platinum atoms is added to the cluster. The electronic structures of these complexes have been investigated in the ground and excited states by density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory, and this has provided a detailed understanding of the metal-metal bonding and electronic transitions that are responsible for their UV-vis absorption properties. The predicted absorption maximum for the model structures for 13, 14, 15, and 16 at 465, 508, 556, and 585 nm differ only 4-18 nm from the experimental values of 474, 490, 552, and 576 nm. The shift of principal UV-vis absorption can be explained by a lowering of the HOMO-LUMO energy gap due to interactions of the platinum atoms with the HOMO and LUMO of the Ru3Sn3 core.     

Synthesis and characterization of oxazoline-functional polymer particles by free radical nonaqueous dispersion polymerization

A novel oxazoline-functional methacrylate was prepared and employed as comonomer to produce nonaqueous dispersions of oxazoline-functional polymer particles. In nonaqueous free radical dispersion copolymerization of methylmethacrylate in the presence of oxazoline-functional methacrylate, ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate crosslinking agent, AIBN initiator, and polystyrene-block-poly(ethene-alt-propene) dispersing agent, the average polymer particle size, varying between 100 and 500 nm, was controlled by the dispersing agent contents. According to titration with HClO₄ all oxazoline groups regardless of their location at particle surface or bulk, were accessible. Glass transition temperature decreased from 120 to 0°C when oxazoline functional methacrylate was increased from 0 to 95 mol %. As imaged by atomic force microscopy incorporation of the new oxazoline-functional methacrylate improved film formation. Oxazoline-functional polymer particles were easy to redisperse in a variety of other diluents. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 2539–2548, 1997     

Vibrationally mediated photodissociation of ethene isotopic variants preexcited to the fourth C-H stretch overtone

H and D photofragments produced via vibrationally mediated photodissociation of jet-cooled normal ethene (C2H4), 1,2-trans-d2-ethene (HDCCDH), and 1,1-d2-ethene (CH2CD2), initially excited to the fourth C-H stretch overtone region, were studied for the first time. H and D vibrational action spectra and Doppler profiles were measured. The action spectra include partially resolved features due to rotational cooling, while the monitored room temperature photoacoustic spectra exhibit only a very broad feature in each species. Simulation of the spectral contours allowed determination of the band types and origins, limited precision rotational constants, and linewidths, providing time scales for energy redistribution. The H and D Doppler profiles correspond to low average translational energies and show slight preferential C-H over C-D bond cleavage in the deuterated variants. The propensities toward H photofragments emerge even though the energy flow out of the initially prepared C-H stretch is on a picosecond time scale and the photodissociation occurs following internal conversion, indicating a more effective release of the light H atoms.     

Masked imidazolyl-dipyrromethanes in the synthesis of imidazole-substituted porphyrins

Imidazole-substituted metalloporphyrins are valuable for studies of self-assembly and for applications where water solubility is required. Rational syntheses of porphyrins bearing one or two imidazol-2-yl or imidazol-4-yl groups at the meso positions have been developed. The syntheses employ dipyrromethanes, 1-acyldipyrromethanes, and 1,9-diacyldipyrromethanes bearing an imidazole group at the 5-position. The polar, reactive imidazole unit was successfully masked by use of (1) the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethoxymethyl (SEM) group at the imidazole pyrrolic nitrogen, and (2) a dialkylboron motif bound to the pyrrole of the dipyrromethane and coordinated to the imidazole imino nitrogen. The nonpolar nature of such doubly masked imidazolyl-dipyrromethanes facilitated handling. Selected masked dipyrromethanes were characterized by 11B and 15N NMR spectroscopy. Five distinct methods were examined to obtain trans-A2B2-, trans-AB2C-, and trans-AB-porphyrins. Each porphyrin contained one or two SEM-protected imidazole units. The SEM group could be removed with TBAF or HCl. Two zinc(II) porphyrins and a palladium(II) porphyrin bearing a single imidazole moiety were prepared and subjected to alkylation (with ethyl iodide, 1,3-propane sultone, or 1,4-butane sultone) to give water-soluble imidazolium- porphyrins. This work establishes the foundation for the rational synthesis of a variety of porphyrins containing imidazole units.