Sign ambiguity in dipole moment derivatives of Br2CO

Signs of the dipole moment derivatives, ?p_x/?S₄ and ?p_x/?S₅ where p_x is the dipole moment vector along an axis perpendicular to the CO bond in the plane of the molecule and S_j are the symmetry coordinates for the B₁ vibrations of Br₂CO have been re-evaluated from the reported ?p/?Q_i values (p being the dipole moment of the molecule and Q_i the normal coordinates) and the L matrix elements. The new set of dipole moment derivatives fits well with similar parameters for Cl₂CO and F₂CO.     

A microwave-assisted click chemistry synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles via a copper(I)-catalyzed three-component reaction

A microwave-assisted three-component reaction was used to prepare a series of 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles from corresponding alkyl halides, sodium azide, and alkynes. This procedure eliminates the need to handle organic azides, as they are generated in situ, making this already powerful click process even more user-friendly and safe.     

A new and rapid titration of antimony(III) with potassium dichromate, with iron(II) as inductor

The optimum conditions for the titration of antimony(III) with dichromate, and diphenyl-aminesulphonic acid as indicator, have been established. No iodine catalyst is used; the analytical reaction is based on an induced reaction with iron(II) as inductor. The titration can be done as easily as an iron(II) titration and the end-point is equally sharp. Titrations are possible with 0.01N solutions.     

Gold nanoshells on polystyrene cores for control of surface plasmon resonance

A method is presented for synthesizing core-shell structures consisting of monodisperse polystyrene latex nanospheres as cores and gold nanoparticles as shells. Use of polystyrene spheres as the core in these structures is advantageous because they are readily available commercially in a wide range of sizes, and with dyes or other molecules doped into them. Gold nanoparticles, ranging in size from 1 to 20 nm, are prepared by reduction of a gold precursor with sodium citrate or tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride (THPC). Carboxylate-terminated polystyrene spheres are functionalized with 2-aminoethanethiol hydrochloride (AET), which forms a peptide bond with carboxylic acid groups on their surface, resulting in a thiol-terminated surface. Gold nanoparticles then bind to the thiol groups to provide up to about 50% coverage of the surface. These nanoparticles serve as seeds for growth of a continuous gold shell by reduction of additional gold precursor. The shell thickness and roughness can be controlled by the size of the nanoparticle seeds as well as by the process of their growth into a continuous shell. By variation of the relative sizes of the latex core and the thickness of the gold overlayer, the plasmon resonance of the nanoshell can be tuned to specific wavelengths across the visible and infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum, for applications ranging from the construction of photonic crystals to biophotonics. The position and width of the plasmon resonance extinction peak are well-predicted by extended Mie scattering theory.     

The effects of axial ligands on electron distribution and spin states in iron complexes of octaethyloxophlorin, intermediates in heme degradation

The results presented here show that the nature of the axial ligand can alter the distribution of electrons between the metal and the porphyrin in complexes where there is an oxygen atom replacing one of the meso protons. The complexes (1-MeIm)(2)Fe(III)(OEPO) and (2,6-xylylNC)(2)Fe(II)(OEPO(*)) (where OEPO is the trianionic octaethyloxophlorin ligand and OEPO(*) is the dianionic octaethyloxophlorin radical) were prepared by addition of an excess of the appropriate axial ligand to a slurry of [Fe(III)(OEPO)](2) in chloroform under anaerobic conditions. The magnetic moment of (2,6-xylylNC)(2)Fe(II)(OEPO(*)) is temperature invariant and consistent with a simple S = (1)/(2) ground state. This complex with an EPR resonance at g = 2.004 may be considered as a model for the free-radical like EPR signal seen when the meso-hydroxylated heme/heme oxygenase complex is treated with carbon monoxide. In contrast, the magnetic moment of (1-MeIm)(2)Fe(III)(OEPO) drops with temperature and indicates a spin-state change from an S = (5)/(2) or an admixed S = (3)/(2),(5)/(2) state at high temperatures (near room temperature) to an S = (1)/(2) state at temperatures below 100 K. X-ray diffraction studies show that each complex crystallizes in centrosymmetric form with the expected six-coordinate geometry. The structure of (1-MeIm)(2)Fe(III)(OEPO) has been determined at 90, 129, and 296 K and shows a gradual and selective lengthening of the Fe-N(axial bond). This behavior is consistent with population of a higher spin state at elevated temperatures.     

EPR and optical absorption studies on Cr3+ ions doped in KZnClSO4 x 3H2O single crystals

EPR and optical absorption spectra of Cr3+ ions doped in KZnClSO4 x 3H2O single crystals have been studied at room temperature. The EPR spectrum exhibits a group of three fine structure transitions characteristic of Cr3+ ions. From the observed EPR spectra, the spin-Hamiltonian parameters have been determined. The optical absorption spectrum exhibits two broad bands characteristic of Cr3+ ions in an octahedral symmetry. From the observed band positions, the crystal field parameters have been evaluated.     

Gold nanoparticle networks with photoresponsive interparticle spacings

Photoresponsive gold nanoparticle networks were prepared by functionalizing them with azobenzene derivatives. A network can be formed when a linker molecule constituting the azobenzene moiety suitably derivatized on either side with gold surface sensitive groups such as thiols and amines is added to the nanoparticle solution. It is shown that the interparticle spacing in the networks could be controlled by the reversible trans-cis isomerization of the azobenzene moiety induced by UV and visible light, respectively. The photoinduced variation in the interparticle spacings is inferred by the changes in the optical spectra of the gold nanoparticles which display a red or blue shift in the surface plasmon resonance peak depending on a decrease or increase in the interparticle spacing, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy images are in consonance with the evidence from the optical spectra.     

Perturbed sites and host—guest—host exciton cascade in the biphenyl isotopic mixed crystal phosphorescence

An interesting energy cascade is observed in the phosphorescence spectra of 1% biphenyl-h₁₀ in biphenyl-d₁₀ (2–15 K); strongly perturbed host sites, with energy levels below that of the protonated guest, quench the guest sites at higher temperatures (11–15 K). The identification of the perturbed sites is based on vibrational characteristics (both intensity and frequency), obtained with the help of phosphorescence spectra of biphenyl-h₁₀ and biphenyl-d₁₀ in an argon matrix, indicating an isotope dependent vibronic structure. A partial vibrational analysis is presented, resulting in confirmation of the first triplet state of biphenyl as orbitally ungerade. The dynamics of the triplet excitation are discussed, including several possible mechanisms explaining the non-Boltzmann nature of the low-temperature steady state.