Vibrational OH-stretching overtone spectroscopy of jet-cooled resorcinol and hydroquinone rotamers

We have measured the OH-stretching fundamental and overtone spectra of resorcinol and hydroquinone in a supersonic jet using nonresonant ionization detected infrared/near-infrared spectroscopy. Anharmonic oscillator local mode calculations of the OH-stretching frequencies and intensities and Boltzmann populations of the stable rotamers have been calculated at the B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,2pd) level to help interpret the observed spectra. Resorcinol has three stable rotamers and in the recorded second and third OH-stretching overtone spectra there is evidence of two distinguishable rotamers. Hydroquinone has two stable rotamers; however, the OH-stretching oscillators of each rotamer are so similar in nature that even up to the fourth OH-stretching overtone the transitions coincide. These results place a limit on the ability of the jet-cooled overtone spectroscopy technique to distinguish between rotamers.     

Superionic Conduction in Co‐Vacant P2‐NaxCoO2 Created by Hydrogen Reductive Elimination

The layered P2‐Na_xMO₂ (M: transition metal) system has been widely recognized as electronic or mixed conductor. Here, we demonstrate that Co vacancies in P2‐Na_xCoO₂ created by hydrogen reductive elimination lead to an ionic conductivity of 0.045 S cm^?1 at 25 °C. Using in situ synchrotron X‐ray powder diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, the composition of the superionic conduction phase is evaluated to be Na_0.61(H₃O)_0.18Co_0.93O₂. Electromotive force measurements as well as molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the ion conducting species is proton rather than hydroxide ion. The fact that the Co‐stoichiometric compound Na_x(H₃O)_yCoO₂ does not exhibit any significant ionic conductivity proves that Co vacancies are essential for the occurrence of superionic conductivity.     

Imaging of Oxygen Diffusion in Individual Platinum/Ce2Zr2Ox Catalyst Particles During Oxygen Storage and Release

The spatial distribution of Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ in each particle of Ce₂Zr₂O_x in a three‐way conversion catalyst system was successfully imaged during an oxygen storage/release cycle by scanning X‐ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) using hard X‐ray nanobeams. For the first time, nano‐XAFS imaging visualized and identified the modes of non‐uniform oxygen diffusion from the interface of Pt catalyst and Ce₂Zr₂O_x support and the active parts in individual catalyst particles.     

Inversion of enantioselectivity of asymmetric biocatalytic decarboxylation by site-directed mutagenesis based on the reaction mechanism

The introduction of two mutations (G74C/C188S) based on the estimated reaction mechanism resulted in the inversion of enantioselectivity of arylmalonate decarboxylase, which catalyses the asymmetric decarboxylation of arylmethylmalonate to give optically active arylpropionate.     

Formation process of silver-polypyrrole coaxial nanocables synthesized by redox reaction between AgNO3 and pyrrole in the presence of poly(vinylpyrrolidone)

We have recently demonstrated a one-step process to fabricate silver-polypyrrole (PPy) coaxial nanocables (Chen, A.; Wang, H.; Li, X. Chem. Commun. 2005, 14, 1863). The formation process of silver-PPy coaxial nanocables is discussed in this article. It was found from the results of TEM and SEM images that large numbers of silver atoms were formed when AgNO3 was added to a pyrrole solution. Then silver atoms transform to silver-PPy nanosheets with regular morphology, which will connect together to be more stable. Silver-PPy nanocables will be able to grow at the expense of the silver-PPy nanosheets. Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) plays crucial roles in this process: as a capping agent to form silver nanowires, and as a dispersant of pyrrole monomers, which can influence the site at which pyrrole monomer exists. On the basis of experimental analysis, the possible mechanism was proposed. Because of the effect of PVP, silver ions and pyrrole monomers are apt to be adsorbed at the [111] and [100] facets of silver nanosheets, respectively. Obvious polymerization will take place on the boundary of the [111] and [100] facets. The PPy layer stays stable on the [100] facets. Meanwhile, newly formed silver atoms and silver nanosheets will further ripen and grow on the [111] facets. In a word, the morphology of final products and the formation process are determined by the reaction site between AgNO3 and the pyrrole monomer, which is influenced by PVP.     

Intermolecular π‐stacking and F...F interactions of fluorine‐substituted meso‐alkynylporphyrin

Two C2‐symmetric meso‐alkynylporphyrins, namely 5,15‐bis[(4‐butyl‐2,3,5,6‐tetrafluorophenyl)ethynyl]‐10,20‐dipropylporphyrin, C₅₀H₄₂F₈N₄, (I), and 5,15‐bis[(4‐butylphenyl)ethynyl]‐10,20‐dipropylporphyrin, C₅₀H₅₀N₄, (II), show remarkable π–π stacking that forms columns of porphyrin centers. The tetrafluorophenylene moieties in (I) show intermolecular interactions with each other through the F atoms, forming one‐dimensional ribbons. No significant π–π interactions are observed in the plane of the phenylene and tetrafluorophenylene moieties in either (I) or (II). The molecules of both compounds lie about inversion centers.