Si-based erbium-doped light-emitting devices

We report on the fabrication and performance of Si-based light sources. The devices consist of MOS structures with erbium (Er)-doped silicon rich oxide (SRO) film as gate dielectric. The devices exhibit electroluminescence (EL) at 1.54 μm at room temperature with a 0.2% external quantum efficiency. These devices show a high stability due to the silicon excess in the film. The Er-doped SRO films have been introduced in a Si/SiO₂ Fabry-Perot Microcavity in order to increase the spontaneous emission rate, the extraction efficiency and the spectral purity at the resonant wavelength. The active medium in the cavity has been electrically pumped and the conduction mechanisms have been analyzed. The EL spectra have also been acquired and compared with photoluminescence (PL) ones for the same resonant cavity light-emitting device (RCLED). The EL and PL peak intensities of the on-axis emission at the resonant wavelength are over 20 times above that of the similar Er-doped SRO film without a cavity. The Si-based RCLEDs exhibit different quality factors, ranging from 60 to 170. The spectra shape and intensity have been correlated with the quality factor. A high directionality of the emitted light, due to the presence of the resonant cavity, has also been observed: the overall luminescence is confined within 10° cone from the sample normal.     

Si-based materials and devices for light emission in silicon

We report on the fabrication and performances of extremely efficient Si-based light sources. The devices consist of MOS structures with erbium (Er) implanted in the thin gate oxide. The devices exhibit strong 1.54 μm electroluminescence (EL) at 300 K with a 10% external quantum efficiency, comparable to that of standard light-emitting diodes using III–V semiconductors. Er excitation is caused by hot electrons impact and oxide wearout limits the reliability of the devices. Much more stable light-emitting MOS devices have been fabricated using Er-doped silicon rich oxide (SRO) films as gate dielectric. These devices show a high stability, with an external quantum efficiency reduced to 1%. In these devices, Er pumping occurs by energy transfer from the Si nanostructures to the rare-earth ions. Finally, we have also fabricated MOS structures with Tb- and Yb-doped SiO₂ which show room temperature EL at 540 nm (Tb) and 980 nm (Yb) with an external quantum efficiency of a 10% and 0.1%, respectively.     

Stereoselective hydrostannation of substituted alkynes with trineophyltin hydride

Hydrostannation of mono- and disubstituted alkynes with trineophyltin hydride (1) leads to vinylstannanes in good to excellent yields, the configuration of the products depending on the reaction conditions. Thus, whereas hydrostannation under radical conditions leads stereoselectively to only one of the two possible products corresponding to an anti addition in 60–99% yield, the additions catalyzed by bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium dichloride gave mixtures of the syn adducts (60–79% yield). Full ¹H-, ¹³C-, and ¹¹⁹Sn-NMR as well as mass spectra data of the organotin adducts are given.     

Synthesis of ethyl zinc fluoroalkoxide complexes and the crystal structure of [EtZn(py){μ-OCH(CF3)2}]2

Fluorinated alkoxide complexes of zinc were synthesized for possible use as precursors to fluorine-doped ZnO films. Diethyl zinc reacted with fluorinated alcohols to form [EtZn(OR_f)]_n (R_f = CH(CF₃)₂, CMe₂CF₃, CMe(CF₃)₂) compounds. The [EtZn(OR_f)]_n compounds reacted with excess pyridine to yield the pyridine adducts [EtZn(py)(μ-OR_f)]₂. The X-ray structure of [EtZn(py){μ-OCH(CF₃)₂}]₂ showed that it has virtual C_i symmetry.     

Site-specific interactions of Cu(II) with alpha and beta-synuclein: bridging the molecular gap between metal binding and aggregation

The aggregation of alpha-synuclein (AS) is a critical step in the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative synucleinopathies. Protein-metal interactions play a critical role in AS aggregation and might represent the link between the pathological processes of protein aggregation and oxidative damage. Our previous studies established a hierarchy in AS-metal ion interactions, where Cu(II) binds specifically to the protein and triggers its aggregation under conditions that might be relevant for the development of PD. In this work, we have addressed unresolved structural details related to the binding specificity of Cu(II) through the design of site-directed and domain-truncated mutants of AS and by the characterization of the metal-binding features of its natural homologue beta-synuclein (BS). The structural properties of the Cu(II) complexes were determined by the combined application of nuclear magnetic resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance, UV-vis, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS). Two independent, noninteracting copper-binding sites with significantly different affinities for the metal ion were detected in the N-terminal regions of AS and BS. MALDI MS provided unique evidence for the direct involvement of Met1 as the primary anchoring residue for Cu(II) in both proteins. Comparative spectroscopic analysis of the two proteins allowed us to deconvolute the Cu(II) binding modes and unequivocally assign the higher-affinity site to the N-terminal amino group of Met1 and the lower-affinity site to the imidazol ring of the sole His residue. Through the use of competitive chelators, the affinity of the first equivalent of bound Cu(II) was accurately determined to be in the submicromolar range for both AS and BS. Our results prove that Cu(II) binding in the C-terminal region of synucleins represents a nonspecific, very low affinity process. These new insights into the bioinorganic chemistry of PD are central to an understanding of the role of Cu(II) in the fibrillization process of AS and have implications for the molecular mechanism by which BS might inhibit AS amyloid assembly.     

Synthesis,structure and investigations of tuberculosis inhibition activities of new 4‐methyl‐1‐substituted‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐5(4H)‐thione

By the reaction aminomethylation, chloromethylation and acylation of 4‐methyl‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiol, 4‐methyl‐1‐substituted‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole‐5(4H)‐thione 1‐8 were obtained. Molecular structure of the obtained compounds was confirmed by an elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra and additionally by X‐ray analysis for 2. Six new compounds 1,2,4‐7 were tested for antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium phlei and avirulent strain Mycobacterium H₃₇Ra.     

Effect of oxygen non-stoichiometry on the structural and magnetotransport properties of LaMn0.85Cr0.15O3+δ

Thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), d.c. magnetization, high-temperature susceptibility and electrical resistivity measurements were performed for LaMn_0.85Cr_0.15O_3+δ perovskites with accurate control of the oxygen content (0?δ?0.11). For 0?δ<0.09, three orthorhombic structures (Pnma) are found: for 0?δ<0.045, the O′ phase (b/√2<c<a), for 0.045?δ<0.06, the O″ (b/√2<a<c) and for 0.06?δ<0.09, the O^? (a<b/√2<c). For 0.09?δ?0.11, a rhombohedral symmetry coexists with O^? in a biphasic field. Magnetic measurements revealed the ferromagnetic interactions (FM) character of the Mn³⁺-O-Cr³⁺ interaction, but also the intricate magnetic phase diagram due to the presence of multiple interactions (Mn^3+,4+-O-Mn^3+,4+, Cr³⁺-O-Mn³⁺, etc.). The comparison of the results for LaMn_0.85Cr_0.15O_3+δ with those of LaMn_0.9Cr_0.1O_3+δ allows discuss the role of Cr³⁺ on the structural, magnetic and magnetotransport properties of the LaMn_1−xCr_xO_3+δ perovskites.     

Inventory of nanotechnology companies in Mexico

This study presents an inventory of 139 nanotechnology companies in Mexico, identifying their geographic distribution, economic sector classification, and position in the nanotechnology value chain. We find that the principal economic sector of nanotechnology-engaged firms involves the manufacture of chemical products, which largely serve as means of production (primary or intermediate materials; instruments and equipment) for industrial processes. The methodology used in this analysis could be replicated in other countries without major modifications.     

Pentacoordination at antimony in dibenzostibocines via D–Sb transannular interactions (D = O,S): A structural study

Addition of M₂SCN(CH₂R)₂ to D(C₆H₄S)₂SbCl in methylene chloride solution leaded to the formation of the stable compounds D(C₆H₄S)₂SbS₂CN(CH₂R)₂ (D = O, R = Me, 1; D = S, R = Me, 2; R = Ph, 3). The new dibenzostibocines derivatives containing two different types of dithioligands were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic studies (IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR). Single crystal X-ray diffraction determinations of complexes 1–3 revealed that the antimony atom acts as an acceptor atom exhibiting an intramolecular transannular interaction with the donor D atom, expanding its coordination from three to five and displaying a skew trapezoidal local geometry.     

Total syntheses of the actin-binding macrolides latrunculin A, B, C, M, S and 16-epi-latrunculin B

The latrunculins are highly selective actin-binding marine natural products and as such play an important role as probe molecules for chemical biology. A short, concise and largely catalysis-based approach to this family of bioactive macrolides is presented. Specifically, the macrocyclic skeletons of the targets were forged by ring-closing alkyne metathesis (RCAM) or enyne-yne metathesis of suitable diyne or enyne-yne precursors, respectively. This transformation was best achieved with the aid of [(tBu)(Me(2)C(6)H(3))N](3)Mo (37) as precatalyst activated in situ with CH(2)Cl(2), as previously described. This catalyst system is strictly chemoselective for the triple bond and does not affect the olefinic sites of the substrates. Moreover, the molybdenum-based catalyst turned out to be broader in scope than the Schrock alkylidyne complex [(tBuO)(3)W[triple chemical bond]CCMe(3)] (38), which afforded cycloalkyne 35 in good yield but failed in closely related cases. The required metathesis precursors were assembled in a highly convergent fashion from three building blocks derived from acetoacetate, cysteine, and (+)-citronellene. The key fragment coupling can either be performed via a titanium aldol reaction or, preferentially, by a sequence involving a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination followed by a protonation/cyclization/diastereoselective hydration cascade. Iron-catalyzed C--C-bond formations were used to prepare the basic building blocks in an efficient manner. This synthesis blueprint gave access to latrunculin B (2), its naturally occurring 16-epimer 3, as well as the even more potent actin binder latrunculin A (1) in excellent overall yields. Because of the sensitivity of the 1,3-diene motif of the latter, however, the judicious choice of protecting groups and the proper phasing of their cleavage was decisive for the success of the total synthesis. Since latrunculin A and B had previously been converted into latrunculin S, C and M, respectively, formal total syntheses of these congeners have also been achieved. Finally, a previously unknown acid-catalyzed degradation pathway of these bioactive natural products is described. The cysteine-derived ketone 18, the tetrahydropyranyl segment 31 serving as the common synthesis platform for the preparation of all naturally occurring latrunculins, as well as the somewhat strained cycloalkyne 35 formed by the RCAM reaction en route to 2 were characterized by X-ray crystallography.