Orientation and order in thin films of a combined liquid crystalline polymer

The order in thin films of a combined liquid crystalline polymer is studied by X-ray reflection. Films of thicknesses of less than 200 nm on float glass are investigated as a function of temperature. The polymer with mesogenic groups in the main and side-chains exhibits smectic and cholesteric mesophases. Measurements in the smectic phases show a Bragg peak and smectic layers are oriented parallel to the substrate. The sample is thus macroscopically ordered by the influence of substrate and free surface. The film surface is very smooth after spincoating; surface roughness is typically 0.8 nm. First annealing of samples leads to a significant roughening of the free surface; roughness increases to 2.1 nm. Order as a function of film thickness depends on the interaction of the polymer with the substrate and free surface. These interactions give rise to a typical correlation length of perturbations in smectic ordering.     

Syntheses for 2-hydroxy-2H-1,4-benzothiazin-3(4H)-one derivatives as thio analogues of natural hemiacetals

Reductive cyclizations of methyl 2-(2-nitrophenylthio)acetate 2 by means of electrochemistry or by catalytic hydrogenation have been used as key steps in the syntheses of the hemiacetals 2-hydroxy-2H-1,4-benzothiazin-3(4H)-one 10 and its 4-hydroxy derivative 9 representing thio analogues of allelo chemicals found in Gramineae and Acanthaceae. In contrast to its natural counterpart 2,4-dihydroxy-2H-1,4-benzoxa-zin-3(4H)-one hydroxamic acid 9 did not undergo degradation by extrusion of formic acid.     

Microrobotics and MEMS-based fabrication techniques for scaffold-based tissue engineering

Scaffold based tissue engineering strategies use cells, biomolecules and a scaffold to promote the repair and regeneration of tissues. Although scaffold-based tissue engineering approaches are being actively developed, most are still experimental, and it is not yet clear what defines an ideal scaffold/cell construct. Solid free form fabrication (SFF) techniques can precisely control matrix architecture (size, shape, interconnectivity, branching, geometry and orientation). The SFF methods enable the fabrication of scaffolds with various designs and material compositions, thus providing a control of mechanical properties, biological effects and degradation kinetics. This paper reviews the application of micro-robotics and MEMS-based fabrication techniques for scaffold design and fabrication. It also presents a novel robotic technique to fabricate scaffold/cell constructs for tissue engineering by the assembly of microscopic building blocks.     

Electron correlation as the driving force for charge transfer: charge migration following ionization in N-methyl acetamide

A hole charge created in a molecule, for instance, by ionization, can migrate through the system solely driven by electron correlation. The migration of a hole charge following ionization in N-methyl acetamide (a molecular system containing a peptide bond) is investigated. The initial hole charge is localized at one specific site of the molecule. Ab initio calculations show that nearly 90% of the hole migrates to a remote site of the molecule in 4.2 fs. This migration of charge is highly efficient and ultrafast. The underlying mechanism for this migration of a hole charge is identified and compared with a simple model.     

Temperature dependence of the reaction C2H (C2D) + O2 between 295 and 700 K

The rate coefficients for the reactions of C₂H and C₂D with O₂ have been measured in the temperature range 295 K T 700 K. Both reactions show a slightly negative temperature dependence in this temperature range, with k_C2H+O2 = (3.15 ± 0.04) × 10⁻¹¹ (T/295 K)^{−(0.16 ± 0.02)} cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹. The kinetic isotope effect is k_C2H/k_C2D = 1.04 ± 0.03 and is constant with temperature to within experimental error. The temperature dependence and the C₂H + O₂ kinetic isotope effect are consistent with a capture-limited metathesis reaction, and suggest that formation of the initial HCCOO adduct is rate-limiting.     

N‐Heterocyclic Silylenes in Boron Chemistry: Facile Formation of Silylboranes and Silaborinines

Reaction of a N‐heterocyclic silylene (NHSi) with PhBX₂ (X=Cl, Br) readily afforded six‐membered silaborinines through an insertion/ring expansion sequence. Increasing the sterics of the borane from phenyl to duryl enabled the selective generation and isolation of the highly colored silylborane intermediates. Theoretical studies on the mechanism and energetics of the silaborinine formation were fully consistent with the experimental observations.