Time-dependent nonlinear optical properties of pyroelectric liquid crystalline polymers

Highly oriented pyroelectric liquid-crystalline polymers were prepared by photopolymerization under the influence of a static electric field from binary mixtures of two acrylate monomers exhibiting chiral smectic C mesomorphism. Both monomers contained nitro groups to yield second order nonlinear optical properties (second harmonic generation) and one of the monomers had two functional groups to yield a crosslinked polymer. The room temperature second order nonlinear susceptibility of the polymers showed during the first two hours a 10 % decrease after which it remained constant during the next 48 days. At elevated temperatures there was a significant difference in the nonlinear optical properties over time between crosslinked and uncrosslinked polymers. The uncrosslinked polymer showed a pronounced loss of second order nonlinear optical activity with time at ≥38°C. The crosslinked polymer showed a much smaller and basically a temperature independent decrease rate in the second order nonlinear optical properties at all the ageing temperatures (23-130°C). Both the loss in mesogen order parameter, very evident for the uncrosslinked polymer, and conformational changes occurring within the mesogens (β mechanism), may account for the observations made.     

The number of kekulé structures for rectangle-shaped benzenoids,part VIII: Some perforated rectangles

Summary Classes of coronoids (or degenerate coronoids), r and q are obtained by providing the rectangle-shaped benzenoids R^j (m, 3) with a naphthalenic or pyrenic hole, respectively. The numbers of Kekulé structures (K) are studied. It was found for theK numbers of the classes in question:r=4/5R andq=1/5R. The classes r and q are similar to r and q, respectively, but the naphthalenic or pyrenic hole is oriented in a different way. For these classes it was found:r=3/5R,q=2/5R.

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Die Anzahl von Kekulé-Strukturen für hochkondensierte Benzenoide mit rechteckigem Umriß, 8. Mitt.: Einige perforierte benzenoide Rechteck-Strukturen

Zusammenfassung Es werden Klassen r und q von Coronoiden (oder degenerierten Coronoiden) erhalten, wobei Benzenoide mit rechteckigem Umriß, R^j(m, 3), mit einem Naphthalin- oder Pyren-Loch versehen werden. Die Anzahl von Kekulé-Strukturen (K) wird untersucht; dabei wurde für die untersuchten Klassenr=4/5R undq=1/5R gefunden. Die Klassen r und q verhalten sich ähnlich, das Naphthalin- oder Pyren-Loch ist jedoch anders orientiert; dafür wurder=3/5R undq=2/5R gefunden.

     

Natural products in combinatorial chemistry: an andrographolide-based library

The generation of a natural-product-based library starting from andrographolide is described. Utilizing andrographolide itself in parallel solution-phase synthesis leads to a 360-membered library. The initial transformation of the starting material via ozonolysis is followed by the conversion into a suitable template by introduction of a thiazole moiety. Subsequent decoration at two points of diversity yields the desired natural product derivatives. The selection of actually synthesized compounds is based on a virtually generated library and the assessment of its members with respect to physicochemical parameters, thus ensuring pharmacological relevance of the compounds.     

Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Enantiopure Amino Alcohols from Simple Methyl Ketones

This study highlights the straight-forward synthesis of substituted 1,2-amino alcohols from simple and readily available aromatic methyl ketones. Starting from acetophenone derivatives, the straight-forward synthesis strategy involved an initial bromination of the alpha-positioned methyl group in the first step, followed by a simple hydrolysis to the hydroxyketone (2-hydroxyacetophenone). The hydroxylated intermediate was subsequently converted from Silicibacter pomeroyi to the final 1,2-amino alcohol by using the transaminase. The transaminase-catalyzed reaction proceeded with yields up to 62 % and always excellent enantiomeric excess of >99 %. Interestingly, the keto-enol-tautomerism of the hydroxyl ketone yields an unexpected amino alcohol isomer.     

Undecidable Classical Properties of Observers

A property of a system is called actual, if the observation of the outcome of the test that pertains to that property yields an affirmation with certainty. We formalize the act of observation by assuming the outcome itself is an actual property of the state of the observer after the act of observation and correlates with the state of the system. For an actual property this correlation needs to be perfect. A property is called classical if either the property or its negation is actual. We show by a diagonal argument that there exist classical properties of an observer that he cannot observe perfectly. Because states are identified with the collection of properties that are actual for that state, it follows no observer can perfectly observe his own state. Implications for the quantum measurement problem are briefly discussed. PACS: 02.10-v, 03.65.Ta     

In situ preparation of protein-"smart" polymer conjugates with retention of bioactivity

Protein-polymer conjugates are widely used in biotechnology and medicine, and new methods to prepare the bioconjugates would be advantageous for these applications. In this report, we demonstrate that bioactive "smart" polymer conjugates can be synthesized by polymerizing from defined initiation sites on proteins, thus preparing the polymer conjugates in situ. In particular, free cysteines, Cys-34 of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and Cys-131 of T4 lysozyme V131C, were modified with initiators for atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) either through a reversible disulfide linkage or irreversible bond by reaction with pyridyl disulfide- and maleimide-functionalized initiators, respectively. Initiator conjugation was verified by electrospray-ionization mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS), and the location of the modification was confirmed by muLC-MSMS (tandem mass spectrometry) analysis of the trypsin-digested protein macroinitiators. Polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) from the protein macroinitiators resulted in thermosensitive BSA-polyNIPAAm and lysozyme-polyNIPAAm in greater than 65% yield. The resultant conjugates were characterized by gel electrophoresis and size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and easily purified by preparative SEC. The identity of polymer isolated from the BSA conjugate was confirmed by (1)H NMR, and the polydispersity index was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to be as low as 1.34. Lytic activities of the lysozyme conjugates were determined by two standard assays and compared to that of the unmodified enzyme prior to polymerization; no statistical differences in bioactivity were observed.     

Activation of a Photodissociative Ruthenium Complex by Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Upconversion in Liposomes

Liposomes capable of generating photons of blue light in situ by triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion of either green or red light, were prepared. The red‐to‐blue upconverting liposomes were capable of triggering the photodissociation of ruthenium polypyridyl complexes from PEGylated liposomes using a clinical grade photodynamic therapy laser source (630 nm).     

New general synthesis of α-alkoxyketones via α'-alkylation, α-alkylation and α,α'-dialkylation of α-alkoxyketimines

α-Methoxy- and α-ethoxyketones, as important intermediates in organic synthesis and flavor compounds in food chemistry, were synthesized by deprotonation of N-(1-alkoxy-2-propylidene)isopropylamine, prepared by condensation of the corresponding α-alkoxyacetone with isopropylamine, and subsequent reaction of the corresponding 1-azaallylic anions with alkyl halides to afford α'-alkylated, α-alkylated and α,α'-dialkylated ketimines. Hydrolysis of the imino function led to the desired substituted α-alkoxyketones. The ratio of α-, α'-, and α,α'-(di)alkylated compounds depended on the amount of base used and on the nature of the alkylating reagent.