Novel Stereoselective Phase Transfer Catalytic Synthesis and Some Applications of ( E )-2-Chlorovinylthioarenes and Hetarenes

A novel two-step method for the preparation of ( E )-2-chlorovinylthioarenes (or hetarenes) from thiols and 1,1,2-trichloroethane in the phase transfer catalytic systems solid K 2 CO 3 /solid KI/18-crown-6/xylene and solid KOH/18-crown-6/toluene has been developed. ( E )-2-chlorovinylthioarenes were isolated in yields up to 98%. Utilization of ( E )-2-chlorovinylthioarenes in the Heck and Stille reactions has been shown.     

Interfacing Click Chemistry with Automated Oligonucleotide Synthesis for the Preparation of Fluorescent DNA Probes Containing Internal Xanthene and Cyanine Dyes

Double‐labeled oligonucleotide probes containing fluorophores interacting by energy‐transfer mechanisms are essential for modern bioanalysis, molecular diagnostics, and in vivo imaging techniques. Although bright xanthene and cyanine dyes are gaining increased prominence within these fields, little attention has thus far been paid to probes containing these dyes internally attached, a fact which is mainly due to the quite challenging synthesis of such oligonucleotide probes. Herein, by using 2′‐O‐propargyl uridine phosphoramidite and a series of xanthenes and cyanine azide derivatives, we have for the first time performed solid‐phase copper(I)‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click labeling during the automated phosphoramidite oligonucleotide synthesis followed by postsynthetic click reactions in solution. We demonstrate that our novel strategy is rapid and efficient for the preparation of novel oligonucleotide probes containing internally positioned xanthene and cyanine dye pairs and thus represents a significant step forward for the preparation of advanced fluorescent oligonucleotide probes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the novel xanthene and cyanine labeled probes display unusual and very promising photophysical properties resulting from energy‐transfer interactions between the fluorophores controlled by nucleic acid assembly. Potential benefits of using these novel fluorescent probes within, for example, molecular diagnostics and fluorescence microscopy include: Considerable Stokes shifts (40–110 nm), quenched fluorescence of single‐stranded probes accompanied by up to 7.7‐fold light‐up effect of emission upon target DNA/RNA binding, remarkable sensitivity to single‐nucleotide mismatches, generally high fluorescence brightness values (FB up to 26), and hence low limit of target detection values (LOD down to <5 nM ).     

Matrix-isolation and electronic structure of vinyl-substituted silylenes and their complexes with bases [1]

Vinyl-substituted silylenes, 2,5-bis(methylene)-1-silacyclopentane-1,1-diyl ( 1 ) and 2-methylene-1-silacyclopentane-1,1-diyl ( 2 ), generated photochemically from the corresponding trisilanes in 3-methylpentane (3-MP) at 77 K, showed broad bands at 505 and 475 nm, respectively, which were assigned to the n(Si)-3p(Si) transition. The origin of the red shift in the n(Si)-3p(Si) transition is ascribed to the significant lowering of the 3p(Si) orbital level caused by the vinyl substitution on the silylene; the relatively high-lying 3p(Si) orbital can interact more effectively with the antibonding π* orbital than with the bonding π orbital of the vinyl group. The absorption spectra for 1 and 2 in the presence of several bases in 3-MP glass matrix shifted significantly to blue due to the formation of the corresponding base complexes. Analysis of the spectral change of the silylenes upon complexation with bases was very constructive for the understanding of the structural characteristics of substituted silylenes.     

A fractional equation for anomalous diffusion in a randomly heterogeneous porous medium

A fractional partial differential equation is derived for the spreading of matter in a saturated porous medium starting from precise hypotheses concerning the medium itself, which is a collection of intertwisted tubes with randomly distributed slopes, filled with quiescent fluid. Examining the fundamental solution of the fractional equation indicates that the second moment is not proportional to time, which is the signature of anomalous diffusion. The equation derived preserves non-negativity and also the total mass of matter.     

Trends in exchange coupling for trimethylenemethane-type Bis(semiquinone) biradicals and correlation of magnetic exchange with mixed valency for cross-conjugated systems

A magnetostructural correlation (conformational electron spin exchange modulation) within an isostructural series of biradical complexes is presented. X-ray crystal structures, variable-temperature electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, zero-field splitting parameters, and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements were used to evaluate molecular conformation and electron spin exchange coupling in this series of molecules. Our combined results indicate that the ferromagnetic portion of the exchange couplings occurs via the cross-conjugated pi-systems, while the antiferromagnetic portion occurs through space and is equivalent to incipient bond formation. Thus, molecular conformation controls the relative amounts of ferro- and antiferromagnetic contributions to exchange coupling. In fact, the exchange parameter correlates with average semiquinone ring torsion angles via a Karplus-Conroy-type relation. Because of the natural connection between electron spin exchange coupling and electronic coupling related to electron transfer, we also correlate the exchange parameters in the biradical complexes to mixed valency in the corresponding quinone-semiquinone radical anions. Our results suggest that delocalization in the cross-conjugated, mixed-valent radical anions is proportional to the ferromagnetic contribution to the exchange coupling in the biradical oxidation states.     

Effective mass anisotropy of hot electrons in nonparabolic conduction bands of n-doped InGaAs films using ultrafast terahertz pump-probe techniques

The anisotropic effective mass of energetic electrons in an isotropic, nonparabolic conduction band is revealed using ultrafast THz-pump-THz-probe techniques in a n-doped InGaAs semiconductor thin film. A microscopic theory is applied to identify the origin of the observed anisotropy and to show that the self-consistent light-matter coupling contributes significantly to the THz response.