Latest results from HERA

Highlights are presented of the latest measurements from the H1, ZEUS and HERMES experiments at HERA.     

Visible light induced reversible extrusion of nitric oxide from a ruthenium(II) nitrosyl complex: a facile delivery of nitric oxide

The new ruthenium compound [Ru(NO)(pysiS4)]Br (3) (pysiS4 = 2,6-bis(3-triphenylsilyl-2-sulfanylphenylthiomethyl)pyridine), containing sterically bulky SiPh3 groups ortho to the thiolate donors, has been synthesized. In solution, 3 releases NO efficiently on exposure to visible light (lambda >/= 455 nm) at room temperature to afford [Ru(Br)(pysiS4)] (4). Treatment of 4 with NO yielded exclusively 3 without any metal-bound side reaction.     

Transition metal complexes bearing a 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)propionate ligand: one methyl more matters

The new N,N,O ligand 2,2-bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)propionic acid (2,2-Hbdmpzp) (2) and its transition metal complexes [Mn(2,2-bdmpzp)(CO)(3)] (3), [Re(2,2-bdmpzp)(CO)(3)] (4), [Cu(2,2-bdmpzp)(2)] (5), and [Ru(2,2-bdmpzp)Cl(L)(PPh(3))] [L = PPh(3) (6), N(2) (7), CO (8a/b), SO(2) (9a/b)] have been synthesized, characterized and compared to analogous complexes bearing a bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetic acid. It was found that the additional methyl group has a remarkable influence on the stability and reactivity of transition metal complexes.     

FeIII(tmdta)]--twist-boat/half-chair conformer ratio reliably deduced from DFT-calculated Raman spectra

The equilibrium between the twist-boat (tb) and half-chair (hc) conformers of the central diamine chelate ring of [Fe(III)(tmdta)]- in solids and aqueous solution has been studied by Raman spectroscopy, supported by calculated Raman spectra using Density Functional Theory.     

Stille Cross‐Coupling of a Racemic Planar‐Chiral Ferrocene and Crystallographic Trace Analysis of Catalysis Intermediates and By‐products

A pressure‐controlled procedure for the S_N1 reaction of rac‐1‐[(dimethylamino)methyl]‐2‐(tributylstannyl)ferrocene ( 1 ) to rac‐1‐(phthalimidomethyl)‐2‐(tributylstannyl)ferrocene ( 2 ) was developed. Pd⁰‐Catalyzed Stille coupling of 2 with iodobenzene afforded rac‐1‐phenyl‐2‐(N‐phthalimidomethyl)ferrocene ( 5 ) in 74% yield; after trace enrichment by crystallization of the combined mother liquors, one single crystal of each, 5 , catalysis intermediate trans‐iodo(σ‐phenyl)bis(triphenylarsino)palladium(II) ( 7 ), trans‐diiodobis(triphenylarsino)palladium(II) ( 8 ), and rac‐2,2′‐bis(phthalimidomethyl)‐1,1′‐biferrocene ( 9 ) could be isolated by crystal sorting under a microscope and characterized by X‐ray crystal structure analysis. Furthermore, 5 was deprotected to amine ( 11 ), which does even survive the Birch reduction to rac‐1‐(aminomethyl)‐2‐(cyclohexa‐2,5‐dienyl)ferrocene ( 12 ).     

Synthesis and Molecular Structure of [Ru3(CO)10(μ-dppa)] (dppa = Ph2PN(H)PPh2) Provided by Its Dioxane Solvate

The sodium benzophenone ketyl-induced reaction of [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] with bis(diphenylphosphanyl)amine Ph₂PN(H)PPh₂ (dppa) in THF resulted in the formation of the expected metal cluster [Ru₃(CO)₁₀(μ-dppa)] ( 1 ) in high yield. 1 was fully characterized by spectroscopic means and crystals of the compound suitable for X-ray diffraction were obtained from dichloromethane/dioxane. The molecular structure of 1 as its dioxane solvate was determined by X-ray crystallography. The compound crystallized in a new crystal structure of [Ru₃(CO)₁₀(μ-dppa)] in the triclinic space group P1 , whereas that compound was described in an earlier report crystallizing from chloroform in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c.     

Plasma Photocathodes

Plasma wakefield accelerators offer accelerating and focusing electric fields three to four orders of magnitude larger than state-of-the-art radiofrequency cavity-based accelerators. Plasma photocathodes can release ultracold electron populations within such plasma waves and thus open a path toward tunable production of well-defined, compact electron beams with normalized emittance and brightness many orders of magnitude better than state-of-the-art. Such beams will have far-reaching impact for applications such as light sources, but also open up new vistas on high energy and high field physics. This paper reviews the innovation of plasma photocathodes, and reports on the experimental progress, challenges, and future prospects of the approach. Details of the proof-of-concept demonstration of a plasma photocathode in 90° geometry at SLAC FACET within the E-210: Trojan Horse program are described. Using this experience, alongside theoretical and simulation-supported advances, an outlook is given on future realizations of plasma photocathodes such as the upcoming E-310: Trojan Horse-II program at FACET-II with prospects toward excellent witness beam parameter quality, tunability, and stability. Future installations of plasma photocathodes also at compact, hybrid plasma wakefield accelerators, will then boost capacities and open up novel capabilities for experiments at the forefront of interaction of high brightness electron and photon beams.