The ultraviolet photodissociation of axial and equatorial conformers of 3-pyrroline

Resolved sets of photoproducts arising from the photodissociation of axial and equatorial conformers of 3-pyrroline have been observed using H(Rydberg) atom photofragment translational spectroscopy following excitation in the wavelength range of 250-213 nm. 3-pyrroline (alternatively 2,5-dihydropyrrole) is a five membered partially saturated heterocycle in which the bonding around the N atom is pyramidal (sp(3) hybridized) and the N-H bond can lie either axial or equatorial to the ring. Careful analysis of total kinetic energy release data derived from H atom time-of-flight measurements reveals excitation of the 3-pyrrolinyl cofragment consistent with N-H bond fission in both the axial and equatorial conformers. This allows determination of the energy difference between the ground state conformers to be 340±50 cm(-1) and the N-H bond strength for axial and equatorial conformers as 31,610±50 and 31,270±50 cm(-1), respectively.     

Methyl 4‐O‐β‐d‐galactopyranosyl α‐d‐mannopyranoside methanol 0.375‐solvate

Methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐α‐d ‐mannopyranoside methanol 0.375‐solvate, C₁₃H₂₄O₁₁·0.375CH₃OH, (I), was crystallized from a methanol–ethanol solvent system in a glycosidic linkage conformation, with ϕ′ (O5_Gal—C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C4_Man) = −68.2 (3)° and ψ′ (C1_Gal—O1_Gal—C4_Man—C5_Man) = −123.9 (2)°, where the ring is defined by atoms O5/C1–C5 (monosaccharide numbering); C1 denotes the anomeric C atom and C6 the exocyclic hydroxymethyl C atom in the βGalp and αManp residues, respectively. The linkage conformation in (I) differs from that in crystalline methyl α‐lactoside [methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐α‐d ‐glucopyranoside], (II) [Pan, Noll & Serianni (2005). Acta Cryst. C 61 , o674–o677], where ϕ′ is −93.6° and ψ′ is −144.8°. An intermolecular hydrogen bond exists between O3_Man and O5_Gal in (I), similar to that between O3_Glc and O5_Gal in (II). The structures of (I) and (II) are also compared with those of their constituent residues, viz. methyl α‐d ‐mannopyranoside, methyl α‐d ‐glucopyranoside and methyl β‐d ‐galactopyranoside, revealing significant differences in the Cremer–Pople puckering parameters, exocyclic hydroxymethyl group conformations and intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding patterns.     

A new structure type of RE4B4O11F2: High-pressure synthesis and crystal structure of La4B4O11F2

The first lanthanum fluoride borate La₄B₄O₁₁F₂ was obtained in a Walker-type multianvil apparatus at 6 GPa and 1300 °C. La₄B₄O₁₁F₂ crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with the lattice parameters a=778.1(2) pm, b=3573.3(7) pm, c=765.7(2) pm, β=113.92(3)° (Z=8), and represents a new structure type in the class of compounds with the composition RE₄B₄O₁₁F₂. The crystal structure contains BO₄-tetrahedra interconnected with two BO₃-groups via common vertices, B₂O₅-pyroborate units, and isolated BO₃-groups. The structure shows a wave-like modulation along the b-axis. The crystal structure and properties of La₄B₄O₁₁F₂ are discussed and compared to Gd₄B₄O₁₁F₂.     

Lipid domain specific recruitment of lipophilic nucleic acids: a key for switchable functionalization of membranes

Lipid domains in mammalian plasma membranes serve as platforms for specific recruitment or separation of proteins involved in various functions. Here, we have applied this natural strategy of lateral separation to functionalize lipid membranes at micrometer scale in a switchable and reversible manner. Membrane-anchored peptide nucleic acid and DNA, differing in their lipophilic moieties, partition into different lipid domains in model and biological membranes. Separation was visualized by hybridization with the respective complementary fluorescently labeled DNA strands. Upon heating, domains vanished, and both lipophilic nucleic acid structures intermixed with each other. Reformation of the lipid domains by cooling led again to separation of membrane-anchored nucleic acids. By linking appropriate structures/functions to complementary strands, this approach offers a reversible tool for triggering interactions among the structures and for the arrangement of reactions and signaling cascades on biomimetic surfaces.     

Interface identification by non-local autoionization transitions

We use an autoionization process that involves ultrafast energy transfer to neighbouring sites to characterize the formation of NeAr van der Waals bonds in clusters formed by a coexpansion of both gases. This autoionization process, the so-called interatomic or intermolecular coulombic decay (ICD), is ubiquitous in weakly bonded systems. The energy of the electron being emitted in the ICD process is shown to be characteristic of the two neighbouring entities and is therefore suggested as a new means for structural investigation, such as interface identification, of weakly bonded complexes.     

UV induced local heating effects in TiO2 nanocrystals

When isolated TiO(2) nanocrystals are subjected to UV light at 77 K and pressures below 10(-6) mbar, trapping of photogenerated hole centers occurs on the surface of the nanocrystals and can be tracked by time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Irrespective of the selected UV irradiance used, the maximum concentration of trapped charges was found to be constant for a given number of nanocrystals ( approximately 10(15)) and corresponds to one electron-hole pair per particle. On a time scale of seconds to minutes the dynamics for the trapping process depend on the number of photons with supra band gap energy. A local temperature rise of the TiO(2) nanocrystals was observed for irradiances above 1.55 mW cm(-2) (10(15) photons cm(-2) s(-1)). This is attributed to enhanced nonradiative recombination of photogenerated charge carriers via heat production and points to a substantial contribution of thermal chemistry in photocatalytic reaction cycles.     

MAGfect: a novel liposome formulation for MRI labelling and visualization of cells

Cellular entry of imaging probes, such as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is a key requirement for many molecular imaging studies, particularly imaging intracellular events and cell tracking. Here, we describe the successful development and in vitro analysis of MAGfect, a novel liposome formulation containing a lipidic gadolinium contrast agent for MRI, Gd-DOTA-Chol , designed to enter and label cells. Liposome formulation and cell incubation time were optimised for maximum cellular uptake of the imaging probe in a variety of cell lines. MRI analysis of cells incubated with MAGfect showed them to be highly MRI active. This formulation was examined further for cytotoxicity, cell viability and mechanism of cell labelling. One of the key advantages of using MAGfect as a labelling vehicle arises from its potential for additional functions, such as concomitant drug or gene delivery and fluorescent labelling. The gadolinium liposome was found to be an effective vehicle for transport of plasmid DNA (pDNA) into cells and expression levels were comparable to the commercial transfection agent Trojene.