The role of physical environment on molecular electromechanical switching

The influences of different physical environments on the thermodynamics associated with one key step in the switching mechanism for a pair of bistable catenanes and a pair of bistable rotaxanes have been investigated systematically. The two bistable catenanes are comprised of a cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) (CBPQT4+) ring, or its diazapyrenium-containing analogue, that are interlocked with a macrocyclic polyether component that incorporates the strong tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) donor unit and the weaker 1,5-dioxynaphthalene (DNP) donor unit. The two bistable rotaxanes are comprised of a CBPQT4+ ring, interlocked with a dumbbell component in which one incorporates TTF and DNP units, whereas the other incorporates a monopyrrolotetrathiafulvalene (MPTTF) donor and a DNP unit. Two consecutive cycles of a variable scan rate cyclic voltammogram (10-1500 mV s(-1)) performed on all of the bistable switches (approximately 1 mM) in MeCN electrolyte solutions (0.1 M tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate) across a range of temperatures (258-303 K) were recorded in a temperature-controlled electrochemical cell. The second cycle showed different intensities of the two features that were observed in the first cycle when the cyclic voltammetry was recorded at fast scan rates and low temperatures. The first oxidation peak increases in intensity, concomitant with a decrease in the intensity of the second oxidation peak. This variation changed systematically with scan rate and temperature and has been assigned to the molecular mechanical movements within the catenanes and rotaxanes of the CBPQT4+ ring from the DNP to the TTF unit. The intensities of each peak were assigned to the populations of each co-conformation, and the scan-rate variation of each population was analyzed to obtain kinetic and thermodynamic data for the movement of the CBPQT4+ ring. The Gibbs free energy of activation at 298 K for the thermally activated movement was calculated to be 16.2 kcal mol(-1) for the rotaxane, and 16.7 and 19.2 kcal mol(-1) for the bipyridinium- and diazapyrenium-based bistable catenanes, respectively. These values differ from those obtained for the shuttling and circumrotational motions of degenerate rotaxanes and catenanes, respectively, indicating that the detailed chemical structure influences the rates of movement. In all cases, when the same bistable compounds were characterized in an electrolyte gel, the molecular mechanical motion slowed down significantly, concomitant with an increase in the activation barriers by more than 2 kcal mol(-1). Irrespective of the environment--solution, self-assembled monolayer or solid-state polymer gel--and of the molecular structure--rotaxane or catenane--a single and generic switching mechanism is observed for all bistable molecules.     

Zinc triflate-catalyzed synthesis of pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones

Using zinc triflate, the direct one-pot double cyclodehydration of linear tripeptides to the total synthesis of pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones (1a-l) on solid support was achieved with good overall yields in short reaction time. These syntheses of the pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones were conveniently achieved in only three steps, starting from the amino acid-bound Wang resin.     

Ag4L2 nanocage as a building unit toward the construction of silver metal strings

Self-assembly of AgNO 3 with the semirigid tetratopic ligands 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(benzoimidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (TBim) and 1,2,4,5-tetrakis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene (TDMBim) afforded compounds [Ag 4(mu 4-TBim) 2(mu 2-eta (2)-NO 3) 2](NO 3) 2. (1)/ 2CH 2Cl 2.2CH 3OH ( 1mu (1)/ 2CH 2Cl 2.2CH 3OH) and [(NO 3 (-)) subset{Ag 4(mu 4-TDMBim) 2}][Ag(NO 3) 2](NO 3) 2.CH 2Cl 2.CH 3OH.4H 2O ( 2.CH 2Cl 2.CH 3OH.4H 2O), respectively. The structures of 1 and 2 were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Both compounds adopt a M 4L 2-type tetragonal metalloprismatic cage structure, [Ag 4(mu 4-L) 2] (4+), with strong intramolecular silver-silver contacts. Compound 1 is a discrete species, while compound 2 is a novel infinite chainlike supramolecular array involving silver metal strings assembled from a [Ag 4(mu 4-L) 2] (4+) nanocage and silver linkages. Thermogravimetric analyses of 1. (1)/ 2CH 2Cl 2.2CH 3OH and 2.CH 3OH.4H 2O indicate that the Ag 4L 2-cage structures of 1 and 2 both are thermally stable up to 330 degrees C. Results from an in situ (1)H NMR study of AgNO 3 and TDMBim in different molar ratios unambiguously revealed the successive self-organization process, in which self-organization of the molecular cage takes place initially followed by crystallization of the corresponding supramolecular arrays with silver metal strings.     

Dinitrosyl Iron Complex [K‐18‐crown‐6‐ether][(NO)2Fe(MePyrCO2)]: Intermediate for Capture and Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

Continued efforts are made for the utilization of CO₂ as a C₁ feedstock for regeneration of valuable chemicals and fuels. Mechanistic study of molecular (electro‐/photo‐)catalysts disclosed that initial step for CO₂ activation involves either nucleophilic insertion or direct reduction of CO₂. In this study, nucleophilic activation of CO₂ by complex [(NO)₂Fe(μ‐^MePyr)₂Fe(NO)₂]^2? ( 2 , ^MePyr=3‐methylpyrazolate) results in the formation of CO₂‐captured complex [(NO)₂Fe(^MePyrCO₂)]^? ( 2‐CO₂ , ^MePyrCO₂=3‐methyl‐pyrazole‐1‐carboxylate). Single‐crystal structure, spectroscopic, reactivity, and computational study unravels 2‐CO₂ as a unique intermediate for reductive transformation of CO₂ promoted by Ca²⁺. Moreover, sequential reaction of 2 with CO₂, Ca(OTf)₂, and KC₈ established a synthetic cycle, 2 → 2‐CO₂ → [(NO)₂Fe(μ‐^MePyr)₂Fe(NO)₂] ( 1 ) → 2 , for selective conversion of CO₂ into oxalate. Presumably, characterization of the unprecedented intermediate 2‐CO₂ may open an avenue for systematic evaluation of the effects of alternative Lewis acids on reduction of CO₂.     

Solving the Unit Commitment Problem by a Unit Decommitment Method

In this paper, we present a unified decommitment method to solve the unit commitment problem. This method starts with a solution having all available units online at all hours in the planning horizon and determines an optimal strategy for decommitting units one at a time. We show that the proposed method may be viewed as an approximate implementation of the Lagrangian relaxation approach and that the number of iterations is bounded by the number of units. Numerical tests suggest that the proposed method is a reliable, efficient, and robust approach for solving the unit commitment problem.     

Influence of excess Si distribution in the gate oxide on the memory characteristics of MOSFETs

In this work, Si ions are implanted into the gate oxide of MOSFETs with different implantation schemes, followed by a high-temperature annealing. The memory characteristics of the MOSFETs have been investigated for the following two excess Si distributions: (1) the excess Si is distributed in a narrow layer in the gate oxide near the Si substrate; and (2) the excess Si is distributed throughout the gate oxide. It is observed that both the excess Si distributions have good endurance of up to 10⁶ program/erase cycles. The second excess Si distribution exhibits a better retention characteristic with less than 50% charge loss after 10 years. In contrast, the first excess Si distribution shows a complete charge loss after 1 year. PACS 73.22.-f; 73.63.Bd; 81.07.Bc     

Tunable Strategy for the Asymmetric Synthesis of Sulfoglycolipids from Mycobacterium tuberculosis To Elucidate the Structure and Immunomodulatory Property Relationships

We developed a versatile asymmetric strategy to synthesize different classes of sulfoglycolipids (SGLs) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The strategy features the use of asymmetrically protected trehaloses, which were acquired from the glycosylation of TMS α-glucosyl acceptors with benzylidene-protected thioglucosyl donors. The positions of the protecting groups at the donors and acceptors can be fine-tuned to obtain different protecting-group patterns, which is crucial for regioselective acylation and sulfation. In addition, a chemoenzymatic strategy was established to prepare the polymethylated fatty acid building blocks. The strategy employs inexpensive lipase as a desymmetrization agent in the preparation of the starting substrate and readily available chiral oxazolidinone as a chirality-controlling agent in the construction of the polymethylated fatty acids. A subsequent investigation on the immunomodulatory properties of each class of SGLs showed how the structures of SGLs impact the host innate immunity response.     

Directly coupled CZE-NMR and CEC-NMR spectroscopy for metabolite analysis: paracetamol metabolites in human urine.

Direct coupling of NMR spectroscopic detection with both capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and capillary electrochromatography (CEC) was applied to the separation of metabolites of the drug paracetamol in an extract of human urine. Continuous-flow CZE-NMR and CEC-NMR allowed the detection of the major metabolites, the glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of the drug and the endogenous material hippurate. Identification of these substances was achieved by examination of individual rows of the NMR chromatogram and this also gave estimates of the detection limits. For CEC-NMR, spectra were also obtained in the stopped-flow mode including a two-dimensional TOCSY NMR experiment which afforded confirmatory evidence for paracetamol glucuronide. Characterisation of drug metabolites using NMR spectroscopy is therefore possible with nanolitre sample volumes.     

Cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory diterpenoids from the Dongsha Atoll soft coral Sinularia flexibilis

Seven new diterpenoids, namely, flexibilisolides C–G (1–5), flexibilisin C (6), and a novel 11,12-secoflexibillin (7), along with seven known compounds, 8–14, were isolated from the Dongsha Atoll soft coral Sinularia flexibilis. The structures of the new metabolites were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison of the NMR data with those of known analogues. Compounds 1, 8, and 11 were shown to exhibit moderate cytotoxic activity against HeLa and B16 cancer cell lines, and compound 10 was found to exhibit more potent cytotoxic activity against SK-Hep1 and B16 cancer cell lines. Moreover, compounds 1, 2, 8, 9, and 11–14 could significantly inhibit the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory iNOS protein and 1, 8, 11, and 14 could reduce the accumulation of COX-2 protein in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells.     

Impedance-based non-destructive and non-parametric infrastructural performance evaluation

Among various non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques, the non-parametric impedance-based method using smart piezoceramic wafers to identify structural damage possesses the advantage of being independent of the detailed structural knowledge such as the geometry and material properties. This paper presents the experimental results showing the feasibility of using impedance-based NDT to identify damage in concrete—the important material used in many infrastructures.