Spontaneous parity breaking of graphene in the Quantum Hall regime

We propose that the inversion symmetry of the graphene honeycomb lattice is spontaneously broken via a magnetic-field-dependent Peierls distortion. This leads to valley splitting of the n=0 Landau level but not of the other Landau levels. Compared to Quantum Hall valley ferromagnetism recently discussed in the literature, lattice distortion provides an alternative explanation to all of the currently observed Quantum Hall plateaus in graphene.     

Glycoligands tuning the magnetic anisotropy of Ni(II) complexes

Two organic ligands based on a sugar-scaffold derived from galactose and possessing three O-CH(2)-pyridine pendant arms at the 3-, 4-, and 5-positions of the galactopyranose that act as chelates afford mononuclear complexes when reacted with a Ni(II) salt. The magnetization behavior in the form of M=f(H/T) plots suggests the presence of appreciable magnetic anisotropy within the two complexes. The analysis of the EPR spectra performed at two different temperatures (7 and 17 K) and at three frequencies (190, 285, and 380 GHz) leads to the conclusion that the anisotropy has a high degree of axiality (E/D=0.17 for the two complexes), but with a different sign of the D parameter. The spin hamiltonian parameters D and E were reproduced for the two complexes by using calculations based on the angular overlap model (AOM). The structural difference between the two complexes responsible of the sign of the D parameters was also determined using AOM calculations. A thorough analysis of the structures showed that the structural differences in the coordination sphere of the two complexes responsible of the different D parameter sign result from the nature of the sugar scaffolds. In complex 1, the sugar scaffold imposes an intramolecular hydrogen bond with one of the atoms linked to Ni(II); this arrangement leads to a distorted coordination sphere and positive D value, while the absence of such a hydrogen bond in complex 2 leads to a less distorted environment around the Ni center and to a negative D value.     

Total syntheses of brominated marine sponge alkaloids

Total syntheses of six brominated marine sponge bis(indole) alkaloids of the hamacanthin, spongotine, and topsentin classes are described. Retrosynthetic analysis shows that their structures all include the 1-(6'-bromoindol-3'-yl)-1,2-diaminoethane unit 13a. This key moiety has been prepared from brominated indolic N-hydroxylamine 5b via synthetic intermediate 8b.     

Development of a metal-chelated plasmonic interface for the linking of His-peptides with a droplet-based surface plasmon resonance read-off scheme

Monolayers of metal complexes were covalently attached to the surface of lamellar SPR interfaces (Ti/Ag/a-Si(0.63)C(0.37)) for binding histidine-tagged peptides with a controlled molecular orientation. The method is based on the activation of surface acid groups with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), followed by an amidation reaction with (S)-N-(5-amino-1-carboxypentyl)iminodiacetic acid (NTA). FTIR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize each surface modification step. The NTA modified SPR interface effectively chelated Cu(2+) ions. Once loaded with metal ions, the modified SPR interface was able to bind specifically to histidine-tagged peptides. The binding process was followed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in a droplet based configuration. The Cu(2+)-NTA modified interface showed protein loading comparable to commercially available NTA chips based on dextran chemistry and can thus be regarded as an interesting alternative. The sensor interface can be reused several times due to the easy regeneration step using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) treatment.     

Efficient stereoselective nucleophilic addition of pyrroles to chiral nitrones

Regioselective additions of pyrroles to a variety of optically active nitrones under smooth acidic conditions lead to chiral pyrrolic N-hydroxylamines in good to excellent yields. Depending on the position of the chirality on the nitrone partner, the addition products have been isolated with high diastereoselectivity levels. Reaction of glyoxylate based chiral nitrones either at the C-2 or at the C-3 position of the pyrrole nucleus afforded N-hydroxyamino esters in high yields as single diastereoisomers. These adducts allow access to enantio-enriched non proteinogenic 2'- and 3'-pyrrolylglycines (13 and 19 respectively).     

A new and convenient method for the synthesis of strong non-ionic bases

Various strong non-ionic phosphazene bases were obtained by a new, efficient and very simple method involving the lithium phosphonium azayldiide Ph3P=NLi as a precursor.     

Beneficial Effect of Acetic Acid on the Formation of FeIII(OOH) Species and on the Catalytic Activity of Bioinspired Nonheme FeII Complexes.

Three new amine/pyridine Fe^II complexes bearing pentadentate ligand with one, two or three electron enriched 4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylpyridine were used as catalysts for the oxidation of small organic molecules by hydrogen peroxide. The distribution of products formed suggests that these ligands are not enough electron donating to promote the O−O heterolytic cleavage of the oxidant in order to generate selective Fe^V(O) species. Using acetic acid in the reaction mixtures results in a significant increase of the efficiency of these catalytic systems. Our investigations show that the use of AcOH leads to the protonation/dissociation of a pyridyl moiety and the formation of (N₄)Fe^II(OAc)(OH) species. These complexes readily react with excess hydrogen peroxide to yield (N₄)Fe^III(OAc)(OOH) intermediates. These latter intermediates are proposed to evolve into (N₄)Fe^IV(OAc)(O), which are more efficient than the usual (N₄)Fe^IV(O) and (N₅)Fe^IV(O).