Quench dynamics and nonequilibrium phase diagram of the bose-hubbard model

We investigate the time evolution of correlations in the Bose-Hubbard model following a quench from the superfluid to the Mott insulator. For large values of the final interaction strength the system approaches a distinctly nonequilibrium steady state that bears strong memory of the initial conditions. In contrast, when the final interaction strength is comparable to the hopping, the correlations are rather well approximated by those at thermal equilibrium. The existence of two distinct nonequilibrium regimes is surprising given the nonintegrability of the Bose-Hubbard model. We relate this phenomenon to the role of quasiparticle interactions in the Mott insulator.     

Incorporation of β-Alanine in Cu(II) ATCUN Peptide Complexes Increases ROS Levels,DNA Cleavage and Antiproliferative Activity**

Redox-active Cu(II) complexes are able to form reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the presence of oxygen and reducing agents. Recently, Faller et al. reported that ROS generation by Cu(II) ATCUN complexes is not as high as assumed for decades. High complex stability results in silencing of the Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox cycle and therefore leads to low ROS generation. In this work, we demonstrate that an exchange of the α-amino acid Gly with the β-amino acid β-Ala at position 2 (Gly2→β-Ala2) of the ATCUN motif reinstates ROS production (^•OH and H₂O₂). Potentiometry, cyclic voltammetry, EPR spectroscopy and DFT simulations were utilized to explain the increased ROS generation of these β-Ala2-containing ATCUN complexes. We also observed enhanced oxidative cleavage activity towards plasmid DNA for β-Ala2 compared to the Gly2 complexes. Modifications with positively charged Lys residues increased the DNA affinity through electrostatic interactions as determined by UV/VIS, fluorescence, and CD spectroscopy, and consequently led to a further increase in nuclease activity. A similar trend was observed regarding the cytotoxic activity of the complexes against several human cancer cell lines where β-Ala2 peptide complexes had lower IC₅₀ values compared to Gly2. The higher cytotoxicity could be attributed to an increased cellular uptake as determined by ICP-MS measurements.     

The Activation of Sulfur Hexafluoride at Highly Reduced Low‐Coordinate Nickel Dinitrogen Complexes

The greenhouse gas sulfur hexafluoride is the common standard example in the literature of a very inert inorganic small molecule that is even stable against O₂ in an electric discharge. However, a reduced β‐diketiminate nickel species proved to be capable of converting SF₆ into sulfide and fluoride compounds at ambient standard conditions. The fluoride product complex features an unprecedented [NiF]⁺ unit, where the Ni atom is only three‐coordinate, while the sulfide product exhibits a rare almost linear [Ni(μ‐S)Ni]²⁺ moiety. The reaction was monitored applying ¹H NMR, IR and EPR spectroscopic techniques resulting in the identification of an intermediate nickel complex that gave insight into the mechanism of the eight‐electron reduction of SF₆.     

Access to the Aeruginosin Serine Protease Inhibitors through the Nucleophilic Opening of an Oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane: Total Synthesis of Microcin SF608

Serine proteases play key roles in many biological processes and are associated with several human diseases such as thrombosis or cancer. During the search for selective inhibitors of serine proteases, a family of linear peptides named the aeruginosins was discovered in marine cyanobacteria. We herein report an entry route into the synthetically challenging core fragment of these natural products. Starting from the common oxabicyclic building block 11 , we accessed the octahydroindole core of the aeruginosins, exemplified by the total synthesis of microcin SF608 ( 2 ). Key to the synthetic strategy is a highly efficient nucleophilic opening of an oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane producing the hydroindole motif of microcin SF608. Moreover, during the synthetic efforts we have observed an unusual regioselective epoxide reduction. Detailed experimental studies of this reaction led us to propose a mechanistic rationale involving intramolecular hydrogen atom delivery by a carbamate NH group to control the regioselectivity of the homolytic epoxide cleavage.     

Synthesis of Inorganic Structural Isomers By Diffusion‐Constrained Self‐Assembly of Designed Precursors: A Novel Type of Isomerism

The structure of precursors is used to control the formation of six possible structural isomers that contain four structural units of PbSe and four structural units of NbSe₂: [(PbSe)_1.14]₄[NbSe₂]₄, [(PbSe)_1.14]₃[NbSe₂]₃[(PbSe)_1.14]₁[NbSe₂]₁, [(PbSe)_1.14]₃[NbSe₂]₂[(PbSe)_1.14]₁[NbSe₂]₂, [(PbSe)_1.14]₂[NbSe₂]₃[(PbSe)_1.14]₂[NbSe₂]₁, [(PbSe)_1.14]₂[NbSe₂]₂[(PbSe)_1.14]₁[NbSe₂]₁[(PbSe)_1.14]₁[NbSe₂]₁, [(PbSe)_1.14]₂[NbSe₂]₁[(PbSe)_1.14]₁[NbSe₂]₂[(PbSe)_1.14]₁[NbSe₂]₁. The electrical properties of these compounds vary with the nanoarchitecture. For each pair of constituents, over 20 000 new compounds, each with a specific nanoarchitecture, are possible with the number of structural units equal to 10 or less. This provides opportunities to systematically correlate structure with properties and hence optimize performance.     

Rh catalyzed C-H activation and oxidative olefination without chelate assistance: on the reactivity of bromoarenes

A Rh catalyzed, no-chelate-assisted C-H activation/oxidative olefination reaction of bromoarenes has been discovered, in which the latter ones seem to act as a substrate, terminal oxidant, and catalyst modifier.     

Coating of titanium implant materials with thin polymeric films for binding the signaling protein BMP2

A fast and simple approach for immobilization using copolymers as interlayers is reported. The synthesized copolymers form stable self-assembled layers on implant materials like, e.g., titanium in a simple coating/drying/washing sequence and have functional groups which can bind proteins from an aqueous solution. The copolymer films have been characterized via ellipsometry and contact angle measurements and were tested for biocompatibility. An immunoassay was used to determine the amount of BMP2 and demonstrated an approximately 10-fold increase as compared to previously used self-assembled monolayers. A BMP2-responsive cell line with luciferase detection was used to determine the biological activity of the bound signaling protein.     

Adaptive timestep control for the contact-stabilized Newmark method

The aim of this paper is to devise an adaptive timestep control in the contact-stabilized Newmark method (ContacX) for dynamical contact problems between two viscoelastic bodies in the framework of Signorini’s condition. In order to construct a comparative scheme of higher order accuracy, we extend extrapolation techniques. This approach demands a subtle theoretical investigation of an asymptotic error expansion of the contact-stabilized Newmark scheme. On the basis of theoretical insight and numerical observations, we suggest an error estimator and a timestep selection which also cover the presence of contact. Finally, we give a numerical example.     

Gold(I) catalysts with bifunctional P, N ligands

A series of phosphanes with imidazolyl substituents were prepared as hemilabile PN ligands. The corresponding gold(I) complexes were tested as bifunctional catalysts in the Markovnikov hydration of 1-octyne, as well as in the synthesis of propargylamines by the three component coupling reaction of piperidine, benzaldehyde, and phenylacetylene. While the activity in the hydration of 1-octyne was low, the complexes are potent catalysts for the three component coupling reaction. In homogeneous solution the conversions to the respective propargylamine were considerably higher than under aqueous biphasic conditions. The connectivity of the imidazolyl substituents to the phosphorus atom, their substitution pattern, as well as the number of heteroaromatic substituents have pronounced effects on the catalytic activity of the corresponding gold(I) complexes. Furthermore, formation of polymetallic species with Au(2), Au(3), and Au(4) units has been observed and the solid-state structures of the compounds [(5)(2)Au(3)Cl(2)]Cl and [(3c)(2)Au(4)Cl(2)]Cl(2) (3c = tris(2-isopropylimidazol-4(5)-yl phosphane, 5 = 2-tert-butylimidazol-4(5)-yldiphenyl phosphane) were determined. The gold(I) complexes of imidazol-2-yl phosphane ligands proved to be a novel source for bis(NHC)gold(I) complexes (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene).