Anomalous dispersion of optical phonons at the neutral-ionic transition: evidence from diffuse x-ray scattering

Diffuse x-ray data for mixed-stack organic charge-transfer crystals approaching the neutral-ionic phase transition can be quantitatively explained as due to the softening of the optical phonon branch. The interpretation is fully consistent with vibrational spectra, and underlines the importance of electron-phonon coupling in low-dimensional systems with delocalized electrons.     

Preparation of stannyl complexes of ruthenium and osmium stabilised by polypyridine and phosphite ligands

Trichlorostannyl complexes [M(SnCl3)(bpy)2P]BPh4 [M = Ru, P = P(OEt)(3), 1a PPh(OEt)2 1b; M = Os, P = P(OEt)3 2; bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine] were prepared by allowing chloro complexes [MCl(bpy)2P]BPh4 to react with SnCl2 in 1,2-dichloroethane. Bis(trichlorostannyl) compounds Ru(SnCl3)2(N-N)P2 [N-N = bpy, P = P(OEt)3 3a, PPh(OEt)2 3b; N-N = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), P = P(OEt)3 4] were also prepared by reacting [RuCl(N-N)P3]BPh4 precursors with SnCl2.2H2O in ethanol. Treatment of both mono- 1a, 2 and bis 3a trichlorostannyl complexes with NaBH4 afforded mono- and bis(trihydridestannyl) derivatives [M(SnH3)(bpy)2P]BPh4 5, 6 and Ru(SnH3)2(bpy)P2 7[P = P(OEt)3], respectively. Treatment of 1a, 2 with MgBrMe gave the trimethylstannyl complexes [M(SnMe3)(bpy)2P]BPh4 8, 9 and treatment of 3a afforded the bis(stannyl) Ru(SnClMe2)2(bpy)P2 10 derivative. Alkynylstannyl complexes [M{Sn(C triple bond CR)3}(bpy)2P]BPh4 11-13 and Ru[Sn(C triple bond CR)3]2(N-N)P2 14-17(R = p-tolyl, Bu t; N-N = bpy, phen) were also prepared by allowing trichlorostannyl compounds 1-4 to react with Li+[RC triple bond C]* in thf. The complexes were characterised spectroscopically and by the X-ray crystal structure determination of [Ru(SnMe3)(bpy)2{P(OEt)3}]BPh4 derivative.     

The racemate cage. Influence of p(1),n(1) salt occurrence on enantiomer separation processes. The case of trans-chrysanthemic acid

The occurrence of p(1),n(1) salt when accompanied by substrate self-association can have profound effects on enantiomer separation processes of non-racemic mixtures, impeding the complete recovery of the major enantiomer through formation of an inescapable racemate cage.     

Tying the knot: making of lasso peptides

In this issue of Chemistry & Biology, Duquesne and colleagues [1] describe the biosynthetic machinery of microcin J25, an antibacterial peptide that adopts an exceptional three-dimensional structure resembling a knot. The dedicated enzymes, McjB and McjC, were identified and employed to produce this modification in vitro.     

The use of SIMS and SEM for the characterization of individual particles with a matrix originating from a nuclear weapon.

The application of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) for characterization of mixed plutonium and uranium particles from nuclear weapons material is presented. The particles originated from the so-called Thule accident in Greenland in 1968. Morphological properties have been studied by SEM and two groups were identified: a "popcorn" structure and a spongy structure. The same technique, coupled with an energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometer, showed a heterogeneous composition of Pu and U in the surface layers of the particles. The SIMS depth profiles revealed a varying isotopic composition indicating a heterogeneous mixture of Pu and U in the original nuclear weapons material itself. The depth distributions agree with synchrotron-radiation-based mu-XRF (X-ray fluorescence microprobe) measurements on the particle (Eriksson, M., Wegryzynek, D., Simon, R., & Chinea-Cano, E., in prep.) when a SIMS relative sensitivity factor for Pu to U of 6 is assumed. Different SIMS identified isotopic ratio groups are presented, and the influence of interferences in the Pu and U mass range are estimated. The study found that the materials are a mixture of highly enriched 235U (235U:238U ratio from 0.96 to 1.4) and so-called weapons grade Pu (240Pu:239Pu ratio from 0.028 to 0.059) and confirms earlier work reported in the literature.