Triethanolamine zinc phosphite, (C6H13NO3)Zn2(HPO3): a templated network or a network of clusters?

(C6H13NO3)Zn2(HPO3) (I) displays an extended hybrid organic/inorganic structure in which the triethanolamine organic species acts as an anionic tetradentate ligand, rather than a typical protonated cationic template. Crystal data for I: Mr = 357.89, monoclinic, P2(1)/c (no. 14), a = 8.4216(4) angstroms, b = 9.9262(5) angstroms, c = 12.8494(6) angstroms, beta = 91.824(1) degrees, V = 1073.6(1) angstroms3, Z = 4.     

Redox mediators accelerate electrochemically-driven solubility cycling of molecular transition metal complexes

The solubility of molecular transition metal complexes can vary widely across different redox states, leaving these compounds vulnerable to electron transfer-initiated heterogenization processes in which oxidation or reduction of the soluble form of the redox couple generates insoluble molecular deposits. These insoluble species can precipitate as suspended nanoparticles in solution or, under electrochemical conditions, as an electrode-adsorbed material. While this electrochemically-driven solubility cycling is technically reversible, the reverse electron transfer to regenerate the soluble redox couple state is a practical challenge if sluggish electron transfer kinetics result in a loss of electronic communication between the molecular deposits and the electrode. In this work, we present an example of this electrochemically-driven solubility cycling, report a novel strategy for catalytically enhancing the oxidation of the insoluble material using homogeneous redox mediators, and develop the theoretical framework for analysing and digitally simulating the action of a homogeneous catalyst on a heterogeneous substrate via cyclic voltammetry. First, a mix of electrochemical and spectroscopic methods are used to characterize an example of this electrochemically-driven solubility cycling which is based on the two-electron reduction of homogeneous [Ni(P^Ph₂N^Ph₂)₂(CH₃CN)]²⁺ (P^Ph₂N^Ph₂ = 1,3,5,7-tetraphenyl-1,5-diaza-3,7-diphosphacyclooctane). The limited solubility of the doubly-reduced product in acetonitrile leads to precipitation and deposition of molecular [Ni(P^Ph₂N^Ph₂)₂]. While direct oxidation of this heterogeneous [Ni(P^Ph₂N^Ph₂)₂] at the electrode surface is possible, this electron transfer is kinetically limited. We demonstrate how a freely diffusing redox mediator (ferrocene) – which shuttles electrons between the electrode and the molecular material – can be used to overcome these slow electron transfer kinetics, enabling catalytic regeneration of soluble [Ni(P^Ph₂N^Ph₂)₂]²⁺. Finally, mathematical models are developed that describe the current–potential response for a generic EC′ mechanism involving a homogeneous catalyst and surface-adsorbed substrate. This novel strategy has the potential to enable reversible redox chemistry for heterogeneous, molecular deposits that are adsorbed on the electrode or suspended as nanoparticles in solution.

We present an example of electrochemically-driven solubility cycling of a molecular transition metal complex and report a novel strategy for catalytically enhancing the oxidation of an insoluble material using homogeneous redox mediators.     

Block copolymer-templated chemistry on Si, Ge, InP, and GaAs surfaces

Patterning of semiconductor surfaces is an area of intense interest, not only for technological applications, such as molecular electronics, sensing, cellular recognition, and others, but also for fundamental understanding of surface reactivity, general control over surface properties, and development of new surface reactivity. In this communication, we describe the use of self-assembling block copolymers to direct semiconductor surface chemistry in a spatially defined manner, on the nanoscale. The proof-of-principle class of reactions evaluated here is galvanic displacement, in which a metal ion, M+, is reduced to M0 by the semiconductor, including Si, Ge, InP, and GaAs. The block copolymer chosen has a polypyridine block which binds to the metal ions and brings them into close proximity with the surface, at which point they undergo reaction; the pattern of resulting surface chemistry, therefore, mirrors the nanoscale structure of the parent block copolymer. This chemistry has the added advantage of forming metal nanostructures that result in an alloy or intermetallic at the interface, leading to strongly bound metal nanoparticles that may have interesting electronic properties. This approach has been shown to be very general, functioning on a variety of semiconductor substrates for both silver and gold deposition, and is being extended to organic and inorganic reactions on a variety of conducting, semiconducting, and insulating substrates.     

High Reactivity of Strained Seven‐Membered‐Ring trans‐Alkenes

trans‐Oxasilacycloheptenes are highly reactive strained alkenes. Competition reactions showed that these seven‐membered ring trans‐alkenes underwent [4+2] cycloaddition reactions faster than a trans‐cyclooctene. They also reacted with quinones and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate to form adducts with high diastereoselectivity. Kinetic studies showed that ring strain increases nucleophilicity by approximately 10⁹.     

Screening molecular associations with lipid membranes using natural abundance 13C cross-polarization magic-angle spinning NMR and principal component analysis

We describe an NMR approach for detecting the interactions between phospholipid membranes and proteins, peptides, or small molecules. First, 1H-13C dipolar coupling profiles are obtained from hydrated lipid samples at natural isotope abundance using cross-polarization magic-angle spinning NMR methods. Principal component analysis of dipolar coupling profiles for synthetic lipid membranes in the presence of a range of biologically active additives reveals clusters that relate to different modes of interaction of the additives with the lipid bilayer. Finally, by representing profiles from multiple samples in the form of contour plots, it is possible to reveal statistically significant changes in dipolar couplings, which reflect perturbations in the lipid molecules at the membrane surface or within the hydrophobic interior.     

Stereochemistry of palladium-mediated synthesis of PAMP-BH3: retention of configuration at P in formation of Pd-P and P-C bonds

Treatment of Pd((S,S)-Chiraphos)(o-An)(I) (3, o-An = o-MeOC6H4) with either enantiomer of highly enantioenriched PH(Me)(Ph)(BH3) (1) gave the phosphido-borane complex Pd((S,S)-Chiraphos)(o-An)(P(Me)(Ph)(BH3)) (4) with retention of configuration at phosphorus, as shown by X-ray crystal structure determinations for both diastereomers of 4. Heating either diastereomer of 4 with diphenylacetylene gave Pd((S,S)-Chiraphos)(PhCCPh) (5) and P(o-An)(Me)(Ph)(BH3) (2) with retention of configuration at phosphorus.     

The effect of halogen hetero-atoms on the vapor pressures and thermodynamics of polycyclic aromatic compounds measured via the Knudsen effusion technique

Knowledge of vapor pressures of high molar mass organics is essential to predicting their behavior in combustion systems as well as their fate and transport within the environment. This study involved polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) containing halogen hetero-atoms, including bromine and chlorine. The vapor pressures of eight PACs, ranging in molar mass from (212 to 336) g · mol^?1, were measured using the isothermal Knudsen effusion technique over the temperature range of (296 to 408) K. These compounds included those with few or no data available in the literature, namely: 1,4-dibromonaphthalene, 5-bromoacenaphthene, 9-bromoanthracene, 1,5-dibromoanthracene, 9,10-dibromoanthracene, 2-chloroanthracene, 9,10-dichloroanthracene, and 1-bromopyrene. Enthalpies of sublimation of these compounds were determined via application of the Clausius–Clapeyron equation. An analysis is presented on the effects of the addition of halogen hetero-atoms to pure polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using these data as well as available literature data. As expected, the addition of halogens onto these PACs increases their enthalpies of sublimation and decreases their vapor pressures as compared to the parent compounds.     

Structural insights into the polymorphism of amyloid-like fibrils formed by region 20-29 of amylin revealed by solid-state NMR and X-ray fiber diffraction

Many unrelated proteins and peptides can assemble into amyloid or amyloid-like nanostructures, all of which share the cross-beta motif of repeat arrays of beta-strands hydrogen-bonded along the fibril axis. Yet, paradoxically, structurally polymorphic fibrils may derive from the same initial polypeptide sequence. Here, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) analysis of amyloid-like fibrils of the peptide hIAPP 20-29, corresponding to the region S (20)NNFGAILSS (29) of the human islet amyloid polypeptide amylin, reveals that the peptide assembles into two amyloid-like forms, (1) and (2), which have distinct structures at the molecular level. Rotational resonance SSNMR measurements of (13)C dipolar couplings between backbone F23 and I26 of hIAPP 20-29 fibrils are consistent with form (1) having parallel beta-strands and form (2) having antiparallel strands within the beta-sheet layers of the protofilament units. Seeding hIAPP 20-29 with structurally homogeneous fibrils from a 30-residue amylin fragment (hIAPP 8-37) produces morphologically homogeneous fibrils with similar NMR properties to form (1). A model for the architecture of the seeded fibrils is presented, based on the analysis of X-ray fiber diffraction data, combined with an extensive range of SSNMR constraints including chemical shifts, torsional angles, and interatomic distances. The model features a cross-beta spine comprising two beta-sheets with an interface defined by residues F23, A25, and L27, which form a hydrophobic zipper. We suggest that the energies of formation for fibril form containing antiparallel and parallel beta-strands are similar when both configurations can be stabilized by a core of hydrophobic contacts, which has implications for the relationship between amino acid sequence and amyloid polymorphism in general.     

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloid analysis using high‐resolution Orbitrap LC‐MSn

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) have profound implications on human health owing to their potent pharmacological properties. Notable naturally occurring BIAs are the narcotic analgesics morphine, the cough suppressant codeine, the potential anticancer drug noscapine, the muscle relaxant papaverine, and the antimicrobial sanguinarine, all of which are produced in opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). Thebaine, an intermediate in the biosynthesis of codeine and morphine, is used in the manufacture of semisynthetic opiates, including oxycodone and naloxone. As the only commercial source of pharmaceutical opiates, opium poppy has been the focus of considerable research to understand BIA metabolism in the plant. The elucidation of several BIA biosynthetic pathways has enabled the development of synthetic biology platforms aimed at the alternative commercial production of valuable phytochemicals in microorganisms. The detection and identification of BIA pathway products and intermediates in complex extracts is essential for the continuing advancement of research in plant specialized metabolism and microbial synthetic biology. Herein, we report the use of liquid chromatography coupled with linear trap quadrupole and high‐resolution Orbitrap multistage mass spectrometry to characterize 44 authentic BIAs using collision‐induced dissociation (CID), higher‐energy collisional dissociation (HCD), and pulsed Q collision‐induced dissociation (PQD) MS² fragmentation, with MS² CID followed by MS³ and MS⁴ fragmentation. Our deep library of diagnostic spectral data constitutes a valuable resource for BIAs identification. In addition, we identified 22 BIAs in opium poppy latex and roots extracts.