Two-dimensional double-quantum 2H NMR spectroscopy in the solid state under OMAS conditions: correlating 2H chemical shifts with quasistatic line shapes.

Solid-state 2H NMR spectroscopy is a well-established and versatile method to study molecular orientation and dynamics in selectively deuterated samples. Herein, we introduce a 2D 2H double-quantum (DQ) NMR experiment performed under fast magic-angle spinning with a slight offset of the magic angle (OMAS). The experiment combines 2H chemical-shift resolution with DQ-filtered quasistatic 2H line shapes. In this way, it is possible to separate 2H resonances and to independently determine 2H quadrupole couplings at multiple sites. While 2H chemical shifts are resolved in the 2H DQ dimension, the quadrupole parameters can be obtained from characteristic line shapes which are reintroduced in the second dimension by the magic-angle offset. The 2D 2H DQ OMAS experiment is demonstrated on L-histidine which was deuterated at multiple sites by recrystallisation from D2O.     

Über Oxotantalate der Lanthanide des Formeltyps MTaO4 (M = La – Nd,Sm – Lu)

About Lanthanide Oxotantalates with the Formula MTaO₄ (M = La – Nd, Sm – Lu) Besides being a by‐product of solid state syntheses in tantalum ampoules the lanthanide(III) oxotantalates of the formula MTaO₄ can be easily prepared by sintering lanthanide sesquioxide M₂O₃ and tantalum(V) oxide Ta₂O₅ with sodium chloride as flux. Under these conditions two structure types emerge depending upon the M³⁺ cationic radius. For M = La – Pr the MTaO₄‐type tantalates crystallize in the space group P2₁/c with lattice constants of a = 762(±1), b = 553(±4), c = 777(±4) pm, β = 101(±1)° and four formula units per unit cell. With M = Nd, Sm – Lu, the monoclinic cell dimensions (space group P2/c) shrink to the lattice constants like a = 516(±9), b = 551(±9), c = 534(±9) pm, β = 96.5(±0.3)° and there are only two formula units present. Both structures show a coordination sphere of eight oxygen atoms for the lanthanide trications shaped as distorted square antiprism for the structure with the larger lanthanides (in the following referred to as A‐type) and as trigonal dodecahedron for the structure with the smaller ones (called as B‐type in the following). The coordination environment about the Ta⁵⁺ cations can be described as a slightly distorted octahedron (CN = 6) for the A‐type structure of MTaO₄ and a heavily distorted one (CN = 6) for the B‐type. The difference between the two types results from the interconnection of these [TaO₆]^7? octahedra. Whereas they are connected via four vertices to form corrugated layers according to parallel the bc‐plane in the A‐type, the octahedra of the B‐type MTaO₄ structure share edges to built up zig‐zag chains along the c axis.     

Epitaxial growth of sexiphenyl on Al(111): from monolayer to crystalline films

A combination of in situ surface sensitive-techniques, UV photoemission and low energy electron diffraction, with ex situ bulk sensitive X-ray diffraction reveals the formation of epitaxial thin films of sexiphenyl on Al(111) starting from the first monolayer. For room temperature growth, highly ordered films are formed with a unique alignment of the sexiphenyl molecules with the long axes of all molecules aligned parallel to both the surface and the <10> azimuthal directions of Al(111). This is related to a densely packed highly commensurate first monolayer, which acts as a template for the unique (21) crystallite orientation observed.     

Recent advances in the formation of ultrathin polymeric membranes for gas separations

During the past 20 years membrane systems have been applied to a limited number of commercial gas separations. To further advance membrane-based gas separations, current research efforts focus on optimization of (i) membrane materials, (ii) membrane structures and (iii) membrane system design. In this overview, recent developments in the formation of high-performance gas separation membranes are discussed. The gas separation properties of state-of-the-art integrally skinned asymmetric membranes and thin-film composite membranes are summarized. Future directions for the preparation of advanced gas separation membranes are highlighted.     

Cyclodextrins as chiral stationary phases in capillary gas chromatography. Part VII: Cyclodextrins with an inverse substitution pattern – synthesis and enantioselectivity

Transferring the site of specific substitution of dipentylated cyclodextrins with methyl or acyl residues from the secondary 3-hydroxyl group to the primary 6-hydroxyl group was expected to provide new information on the mechanism of chiral recognition. The 3-position points towards and the 6-position points away from the cyclodextrin cavity which via inclusion complex formation is supposed to play a major role in chiral separation. The “inverse” 6-O-acyl-2,3-di-O-pentyl-cyclodextrins displayed almost no enantioselectivity but the corresponding 6-O-methyl derivatives are a versatile supplement to the chiral capillary GC phases nowadays available. Among the compounds that could be enantiomerically resolved are alcohols, amino acids, alkyl halides, bicyclic ethers, acetals, olefins, other hydrocarbons and chiral pharmaceuticals.     

The Uracil C(5) Position as a Metal Binding Site: Solution and X-ray Crystal Structure Studies of Pt(II) and Hg(II) Compounds

1,3-Dimethyluracil (1,3-DimeU) reacts with trans-[(CH(3)NH(2))(2)Pt(H(2)O)(2)](+) to give trans-[(CH(3)NH(2))(2)Pt(1,3-DimeU-C5)(H(2)O)]X (X = NO(3)(-), 1a, ClO(4)(-), 1b) and subsequently with NaCl to give trans-(CH(3)NH(2))(2)Pt(1,3-DimeU-C5)Cl (2) or with NH(3) to yield trans-[(CH(3)NH(2))(2)Pt(1,3-DimeU-C5)(NH(3))]ClO(4) (3). In a similar way, (dien)Pt(II) forms [dienPt(1,3-DimeU-C5)](+) (4). Reactions leading to formation of 1 and 4 are slow, taking days. In contrast, Hg(CH(3)COO)(2) reacts fast with 1,3-DimeU to give (1,3-DimeU-C5)Hg(CH(3)COO) (5). Both 1-methyluracil (1-MeUH) and uridine (urdH) react with (dien)Pt(II) initially at N(3) and subsequently with either (dien)Pt(II) or Hg(CH(3)COO)(2) also at C(5) to give the diplatinated species 7 and 9 or the mixed PtHg complex 8. C(5) binding of either Pt(II) or Hg(II) is evident from coupling of uracil-H(6) with either (195)Pt or (199)Hg nuclei and (3)J values of 47-74 Hz (for Pt compounds) and 185-197 Hz (for Hg compounds). J values of Pt compounds are influenced both by the ligands trans to the uracil C(5) position and by the number of metal entities bound to a uracil ring. Both 2 and 5 were X-ray structurally characterized. 2: monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c, a = 15.736(6) ?, b = 11.481(6) ?, c = 25.655 (10) ?, beta = 145.55(3) degrees, V = 2621.9(28) ?(3), Z = 4. 5: monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/c, a = 4.905(2) ?, b = 18.451(6) ?, c = 11.801(5) ?, beta = 94.47(3) degrees, V = 1064.77(72) ?(3), Z = 4.     

Replacement of Canonical DNA Nucleobases by Benzotriazole and 1,2,3‐Triazolo[4,5‐d]pyrimidine: Synthesis,Fluorescence, and Ambiguous Base Pairing

The syntheses and the fluorescence properties of 7H‐3,6‐dihydro‐1,2,3‐triazolo[4,5‐d]pyrimidin‐7‐one 2′‐deoxy‐β‐D ‐ribonucleosides (=2′‐deoxy‐8‐azainosine) 3 (N³), 15 (N²), and 16 (N¹) as well as of 1,2,3‐benzotriazole 2′‐O‐methyl‐β‐ or ‐α‐D ‐ribofuranosides 6 (N¹) and 24 (N¹) are described. Also the fluorescence properties of 1,2,3‐benzotriazole 2′‐deoxy‐β‐D ‐ribofuranosides 4 (N¹) and 5 (N²) are evaluated. From the nucleosides 3 – 6 , the phosphoramidites 19, 26a, 26b , and 28 are prepared and employed in solid‐phase oligonucleotide synthesis. In 12‐mer DNA duplexes, compound 3 shows similar ambiguous base‐pairing properties as 2′‐deoxyinosine ( 1 ), while the nucleosides 4 – 6 show strong pairing with each other and discriminate very little the four canonical DNA constituents.     

Synthesis,Structures, and Properties of Layered Quaternary Chalcogenides of the General Formula ALnEQ4 (A = K,Rb; Ln = Ce,Pr, Eu; E = Si,Ge; Q = S,Se)

Four related quaternary compounds containing rare‐earth metals have been synthesized employing the molten flux method and metathesis. The reactions of Eu and Rb₂S₅ with Si and Ge in evacuated fused silica ampoules at 725 °C for 150 h yielded RbEuSiS₄ ( I ) and RbEuGeS₄ ( II ), respectively. On the other hand, a reaction between CeCl₃ and K₄Ge₄Se₁₀ at 650 °C for 148 h has yielded KCeGeSe₄ ( III ) and KPrSiSe₄( IV ) was obtained by the reaction of elemental Pr, Si and Se in KCl flux at 850 °C for 168 h. Crystal data for these compounds are as follows: I , orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁ (#19), a = 6.392(1), b = 6.634(2), c = 17.001(3) Å, α = β = γ = 90°, Z = 4; II , monoclinic, space group P2₁/m (#11), a = 6.498(2), b = 6.689(3), c = 8.964(3) Å, β = 108.647(6)°, Z = 2; III , monoclinic, space group P2₁ (#4), a = 6.852(2), b = 7.025(2), c = 9.017(3) Å, β = 108.116(2)°, Z = 2; IV , monoclinic, space group P2₁ (#4), a = 6.736(2), b = 6.943(2), c = 8.990(1) Å, β = 108.262(2)°, Z = 2. The crystal structures of I ‐ IV contain two‐dimensional corrugated anionic layers of the general formula, [LnEQ₄]^? (Ln = Ce, Pr, Eu; E = Si, Ge and Q = S, Se) alternately piled upon layers of alkali cations. In addition to structural elucidation, Raman and UV‐visible spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements for compound III (KCeGeSe₄) are also discussed.     

The Diammoniates of dipotassiumtetraethinylozincate and -cadmate: K2M(C2H)4.2NH3 (M = Zn, Cd)

By reaction of KC(2)H and K(2)Zn(CN)(4) in liquid ammonia, the diammoniate K(2)Zn(C(2)H)(4).2NH(3) was obtained. K(2)Cd(C(2)H)(4).2NH(3) was synthesized by reacting KC(2)H, Cd(NH(2))(2), and acetylene in liquid ammonia. The crystal structures of the air and temperature sensitive compounds were determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction at low temperatures (T = 170 K). Both compounds crystallize in the monoclinic space group I2/a (No. 15) with Z = 4. K(2)Zn(C(2)H)(4).2NH(3): a = 7.289(1) A, b = 12.765(2) A, c = 14.066(2) A, beta = 98.11(2) degrees. K(2)Cd(C(2)H)(4).2NH(3): a = 7.444(1) A, b = 12.619(3) A, c = 14.304(2) A, beta = 98.94(1) degrees. Characteristic structural motifs are tetrahedral [M(C(2)H)(4)](2-) fragments (M = Zn, Cd) and zigzag chains of edge sharing distorted (C(2)H)(6) octahedra centered by potassium ions. These zigzag chains are connected by a second type of crystallographically distinct potassium ions that also bind to two ammonia molecules.     

Pharmacophore features of potential drugs

Drug discovery efforts rely increasingly on the identification of quality lead compounds through high-throughput synthesis and screening. However, large-scale random libraries have yielded only a low number of quality lead molecules. To address this shortcoming researchers have paid more attention to the concept of "drug-likeness" of molecules in combinatorial and screening libraries. Database profiling and analysis methods have been employed to identify the structural features of known drug molecules. Neural networks and machine learning methods help to distinguish between drugs and nondrugs. More recently, database-independent pharmacophore filters have been introduced that provide simple intuitive rules to classify potential drugs.