Lithium‐Salt‐Containing High‐Molecular‐Weight Polystyrene‐block‐Polyethylene Oxide Block Copolymer Films

Ionic conductivity in relation to the morphology of lithium‐doped high‐molecular‐weight polystyrene‐block‐polyethylene oxide (PS‐b‐PEO) diblock copolymer films was investigated as solid‐state membranes for lithium‐ion batteries. The tendency of the polyethylene (PEO) block to crystallize was highly suppressed by increasing both the salt‐doping level and the temperature. The PEO crystallites completely vanished at a salt‐doping ratio of Li/EO>0.08, at which the PEO segments were hindered from entering the crystalline unit of the PEO chain. A kinetically trapped lamella morphology of PS‐b‐PEO was observed, due to PEO crystallization. The increase in the lamella spacing with increasing salt concentration was attributed to the conformation of the PEO chain rather than the volume contribution of the salt or the previously reported increase in the effective interaction parameter. Upon loading the salt, the PEO chains changed from a compact/highly folded conformation to an amorphous/expanded‐like conformation. The ionic conductivity was enhanced by amorphization of PEO and thereby the mobility of the PEO blocks increased upon increasing the salt‐doping level.     

Structure and spectroscopic properties of the dimeric copper(I) N‐heterocyclic carbene complex [Cu2(CNCt‐Bu)2](PF6)2

In recent years, the use of copper N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes has expanded to fields besides catalysis, namely medicinal chemistry and luminescence applications. In the latter case, multinuclear copper NHC compounds have attracted interest, however, the number of these complexes in the literature is still quite limited. Bis[μ‐1,3‐bis(3‐tert‐butylimidazolin‐2‐yliden‐1‐yl)pyridine]‐1κ⁴C²,N:N,C^2′;2κ⁴C²,N:N,C^2′‐dicopper(I) bis(hexafluoridophosphate), [Cu₂(C₁₉H₂₅N₅)₂](PF₆)₂, is a dimeric copper(I) complex bridged by two CNC, i.e. bis(N‐heterocyclic carbene)pyridine, ligands. Each Cu^I atom is almost linearly coordinated by two NHC ligands and interactions are observed between the pyridine N atoms and the metal centres, while no cuprophilic interactions were observed. Very strong absorption bands are evident in the UV–Vis spectrum at 236 and 274 nm, and an emission band is observed at 450 nm. The reported complex is a new example of a multinuclear copper NHC complex and a member of a compound class which has only rarely been reported.     

Strong,Thermally Superinsulating Biopolymer–Silica Aerogel Hybrids by Cogelation of Silicic Acid with Pectin

Silica aerogels are excellent thermal insulators, but their brittle nature has prevented widespread application. To overcome these mechanical limitations, silica–biopolymer hybrids are a promising alternative. A one‐pot process to monolithic, superinsulating pectin–silica hybrid aerogels is presented. Their structural and physical properties can be tuned by adjusting the gelation pH and pectin concentration. Hybrid aerogels made at pH 1.5 exhibit minimal dust release and vastly improved mechanical properties while remaining excellent thermal insulators. The change in the mechanical properties is directly linked to the observed “neck‐free” nanoscale network structure with thicker struts. Such a design is superior to “neck‐limited”, classical inorganic aerogels. This new class of materials opens up new perspectives for novel silica–biopolymer nanocomposite aerogels.     

Asymmetric catalysis,CIII: EnantioselectiveMichael addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to conjugated nitroalkenes

Summary Optically activeMichael adducts were synthesized by addition of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds to conjugated nitroalkenes. Good chemical yields were obtained for nitroalkenes stabilized by an aromatic substituent without any further substituents at the double bond. Acetylacetone and methyl-2,3-dihydro-1-oxo-1H-indene-2-carboxylate were used asMichael donors and four cinchona alkaloids as chiral base catalysts. Enantiomeric excess determinations were performed by¹H NMR spectroscopy in the presence of thePirkle alcohol and by HPLC on chiral stationary phases. A correlation between the relative configuration of the prevailing isomer of theMichael adduct and the catalysts was established.

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Asymmetrische Katalyse, 103. Mitt.: EnantioselektiveMichael-Addition von 1,3-Dicarbonylverbindungen an konjugierte Nitroalkene

Zusammenfassung Optisch aktiveMichael-Addukte werden durch die Addition von 1,3-Dicarbonylverbindungen an konjugierte Nitroalkene synthetisiert. Gute chemische Ausbeuten werden für durch aromatische Substituenten stabilisierte Nitroalkene ohne weitere Substituenten an der Doppelbindung erreicht. Acetylaceton und 2,3-Dihydro-1-oxo-1H-inden-2-carbonsäuremethylester werden alsMichael-Donoren und vier Cinchona-Alkaloide als chirale basische Katalysatoren verwendet. Die Bestimmung des Enantiomerenüberschusses wird mittels¹H-NMR-Spektroskopie in Gegenwart vonPirkle-Alkohol und HPLC an chiralen stationären Phasen durchgeführt. Eine Korrelation zwischen der relativen Konfiguration der Vorzugsisomeren derMichael-Addukte und den Katalysatoren wurde hergestellt.

     

Enzymatic synthesis and chromatographic purification of lignan glucuronides

Enterolactone, enterodiol and secoisolariciresinol were conjugated with glucuronic acid by solubilized rabbit liver microsomal UDP-glucuronyltrasnferase. The monoglucuronide conjugate of all three substrates was formed and its identity confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Analytical high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and NMR spectroscopy indicated conjugation with glucuronic acid to occur at several positions in the molecule. The enzymatic conjugation was monitored by analytical capillary isotachophoresis (ITP). The Km-values for enterlactone, enterodiol, and secoisolariciresinol were calculated to be 0.30, 0.23, and 0.22 mmol/l respectively.     

Zur Kenntnis der Netzhautstoffe

Ohne ZusammenfassungDie vorstehende Arbeit wurde seitens der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien durch Gewährung einer Subvention aus den Mitteln derZach-Stiftung gefördert. Wir gestatten uns auch an dieser Stelle unseren ergebensten Dank hiefür zum Ausdruck zu bringen.Auch der I. Gr. Farbenindustrie A. G., Leverkusen am Rhein (bzw. Vedepha, Wien) sind wir für die liebenswürdige Überlassung von Cautan (Bayer) zu Dank verpflichtet.     

Trends in solid-state NMR spectroscopy and their relevance for bioanalytics

Based on continuous methodical advances and developments, solid-state NMR spectroscopy has become a powerful tool for the investigation of various materials, including polymers, glasses, zeolites, fullerenes, and many others. During the past decade, solid-state NMR spectroscopy also found increasing interest for the study of biomolecules. For example, membrane proteins reconstituted into lipid environments such as bilayers or vesicles, protein aggregates such as amyloid fibrils, as well as carbohydrates can now be studied by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. This review briefly introduces the principles of solid-state NMR spectroscopy and highlights novel methodical trends. Selected applications demonstrate the possibilities of solid-state NMR spectroscopy as a valuable bioanalytical tool.     

The global version of the gyrokinetic turbulence code GENE

The understanding and prediction of transport due to plasma microturbulence is a key open problem in modern plasma physics, and a grand challenge for fusion energy research. Ab initio simulations of such small-scale, low-frequency turbulence are to be based on the gyrokinetic equations, a set of nonlinear integro-differential equations in reduced (five-dimensional) phase space. In the present paper, the extension of the well-established and widely used gyrokinetic code GENE [F. Jenko, W. Dorland, M. Kotschenreuther, B.N. Rogers, Electron temperature gradient driven turbulence, Phys. Plasmas 7 (2000) 1904–1910] from a radially local to a radially global (nonlocal) version is described. The necessary modifications of both the basic equations and the employed numerical methods are detailed, including, e.g., the change from spectral methods to finite difference and interpolation techniques in the radial direction and the implementation of sources and sinks. In addition, code verification studies and benchmarks are presented.