Stereocontrolled Synthesis of Chiral Heteroaromatic Propellers with Small Optical Bandgaps

Chiral heteroaromatic propellers based on radially π‐extended hexapyrrolohexaazacoronenes were obtained in a concise synthesis from suitably functionalized donor–acceptor monopyrroles. To overcome steric hindrance, a new cyclodehydrogenation method was developed, and it uses bromine electrophiles as oxidative coupling agents instead of the commonly employed high‐potential oxidants. The new reaction offers high yields of propeller‐shaped targets, even for electron‐deficient precursors, and shows electrophile‐dependent stereoselectivity, with N‐bromosuccinimide and dibromine yielding, respectively D₆‐ and C₂‐symmetric products. The propeller azacoronenes are chiral and can be separated into configurationally stable enantiomers. In addition to providing steric bulk, peripheral functionalization considerably affects the electronic properties of the propellers, which exhibit reduced optical and electrochemical band gaps, and a more clearly defined electroreduction behavior.     

Pulse shape analysis to reduce the background of BEGe detectors

A simple technique for pulse shape discrimination in HPGe-detectors of the so-called BEGe type, based on just one parameter obtained from one signal read out, is presented here. This technique allows discriminating between pulses generated when the deposited energy is located within a small region of about 1 mm³ from the pulses generated when the energy is deposited at different locations several mm or cm apart. Two possible applications using this technique are: (i) experiments that look for neutrinoless double β decay in ⁷⁶Ge, such as GERDA; (ii) γ spectrometry measurements where the Compton continuum can be reduced and the efficiency for cascading γ-rays can remain high. With this active background reduction technique a Compton suppression factor of about 3 was obtained. The detector response may be influenced by the detector size. The detector used for this study had a diameter of 6 cm, a thickness of 2.6 cm and a relative efficiency of 19%. The results obtained with this detector were consistent with the results obtained by Budjá? et al. [J Instrum 4:10, 2009] with a 50% relative efficiency BEGe detector.     

Extending the coordination chemistry of molecular P(4)S(3): the polymeric Ag(P(4)S(3))(+) and Ag(P(4)S(3))(2)(+) cations

Upon reacting P(4)S(3) with AgAl(hfip)(4) and AgAl(pftb)(4) [hfip = OC(H)(CF(3))(2); pftb = OC(CF(3))(3)], the compounds Ag(P(4)S(3))Al(hfip)(4) 1 and Ag(P(4)S(3))(2)(+)[Al(pftb)(4)](-) 2 formed in CS(2) (1) or CS(2)/CH(2)Cl(2) (2) solution. Compounds 1 and 2 were characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure determinations, Raman and solution NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analyses. One-dimensional chains of [Ag(P(4)S(3))(x)](infinity) (x = 1, 1; x = 2, 2) formed in the solid state with P(4)S(3) ligands that bridge through a 1,3-P,S, a 2,4-P,S, or a 3,4-P,P eta(1) coordination to the silver ions. Compound 2 with the least basic anion contains the first homoleptic metal(P(4)S(3)) complex. Compounds 1 and 2 also include the long sought sulfur coordination of P(4)S(3). Raman spectra of 1 and 2 were assigned on the basis of DFT calculations of related species. The influence of the silver coordination on the geometry of the P(4)S(3) cage is discussed, additionally aided by DFT calculations. Consequences for the frequently observed degradation of the cage are suggested. An experimental silver ion affinity scale based on the solid-state structures of several weak Lewis acid base adducts of type (L)AgAl(hfip)(4) is given. The affinity of the ligand L to the silver ion increases according to P(4) < CH(2)Cl(2) < P(4)S(3) < S(8) < 1,2-C(2)H(4)Cl(2) < toluene.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Optical Sol–Gel Adhesive for Military Protective Polycarbonate Resin

Sol–gel adhesive material for isostatic hotpressing lamination process was synthesized using 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTES), 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTS) and methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTS) as precursors. Reaction dynamics between APTES and GPTS was followed on-line with Raman spectroscopy. The lamination process was optimized by varying hotpressing times and pressures at the constant temperature. Mechanical shear strength properties were found to be excellent for studied composition, 25–30 kg/cm² at its best. One possible application of laminated polycarbonate (PC) structure is a soldier helmet visor. Therefore, the ballistic protection properties were tested by shooting with 1.1 gram standard fragment, and determining the v₅₀ velocity value, which corresponds to 50% perforation. The laminated structure gave 5.7% better protection compared with the solid polycarbonate. The laminated components were found to have high optical transparency at the visible wavelengths as well as high environmental stability.     

Iron and copper complexes of tetraphenyl-m-benziporphyrin: reactivity of the internal C-H bond

Iron and copper complexes of tetraphenyl-m-benziporphyrin (TPmBPH)H have been prepared and structurally characterized. The iron system, (TPmBPH)Fe(II)Br, contains a high-spin Fe(II) center. In the solid state the complex forms dimeric units linked by weak CH.Br hydrogen bonds. The Cu complex contains a tetrameric copper cluster with a Cu(2)Cl(4)(2)(-) unit bridging two [(TPmBPCl)Cu(II)](+) fragments. The formation of (TPmBPCl)H represents an example of copper-catalyzed chlorination on the internal carbon atom of (TPmBPH)H.     

From Weakly Coordinating to Non‐Coordinating Anions? A Simple Preparation of the Silver Salt of the Least Coordinating Anion and Its Application To Determine the Ground State Structure of the Ag(η2‐P4)2+ Cation

The unexpected but facile preparation of the silver salt of the least coordinating [(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃]^? anion (R=C(CF₃)₃) by reaction of Ag[Al(OR)₄] with one equivalent of PCl₃ is described. The mechanism of the formation of Ag[(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃] is explained based on the available experimental data as well as on quantum chemical calculations with the inclusion of entropy and COSMO solvation enthalpies. The crystal structures of (RO)₃Al←OC₄H₈, Cs⁺[(RO)₂(Me)Al‐F‐Al(Me)(OR)₂]^?, Ag(CH₂Cl₂)₃⁺[(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃]^? and Ag(η²‐P₄)₂⁺[(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃]^? are described. From the collected data it will be shown that the [(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃]^? anion is the least coordinating anion currently known. With respect to the fluoride ion affinity of two parent Lewis acids Al(OR)₃ of 685 kJ mol^?1, the ligand affinity (441 kJ mol^?1), the proton and copper decomposition reactions (?983 and ?297 kJ mol^?1) as well as HOMO level and HOMO–LUMO gap and in comparison with [Sb₄F₂₁]^?, [Sb(OTeF₅)₆]^?, [Al(OR)₄]^? as well as [B(R^F)₄]^? (R^F=CF₃ or C₆F₅) the [(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃]^? anion is among the best weakly coordinating anions (WCAs) according to each value. In contrast to most of the other cited anions, the [(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃] anion is available by a simple preparation in conventional inorganic laboratories. The least coordinating character of this anion was employed to clarify the question of the ground state geometry of the Ag(η²‐P₄)₂⁺ cation (D_2h, D₂ or D_2d?). In agreement with computational data and NMR spectra it could be shown that the rotation along the Ag‐(P‐P‐centroid) vector has no barrier and that the structure adopted in the solid state depends on packing effects which lead to an almost D_2h symmetric Ag(η²‐P₄)₂⁺ cation (0 to 10.6° torsion) for the more symmetrical [Al(OR)₄]^? anion, but to a D₂ symmetric Ag(η²‐P₄)₂⁺ cation with a 44° twist angle of the two AgP₂ planes for the less symmetrical [(RO)₃Al‐F‐Al(OR)₃]^? anion. This implies that silver back bonding, suggested by quantum chemical population analyses to be of importance, is only weak.     

Synthesis and characterization of the non-Kekulé, singlet biradicaloid Ar'Ge(micro-NSiMe(3))(2)GeAr' (Ar' = 2,6-Dipp(2)C(6)H(3), Dipp = 2,6-i-Pr(2)C(6)H(3))

Reaction of Ar'GeGeAr' (1) with an excess of Me3SiN3 gives the non-Kekulé, biradicaloid Ar'Ge(mu-NSiMe3)2GeAr' (3, Ar' = 2,6-Dipp2C6H3, Dipp = 2,6-i-Pr2C6H3) which has a planar Ge2N2Si2 array and pyramidal geometry at the germaniums. DFT calculations for the model MeGe(mu-NSiH3)2GeMe indicate no Ge-Ge bonding and a singlet ground state. The calculated energy difference between the optimized singlet and triplet states is 17.51 kcal/mol.     

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction analysis of Glu-1 high-molecular-mass glutenin genes from wheat by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

The unique bread-making properties of wheat are closely correlated with composition and quantity of high-molecular-mass (HMW) glutenin subunits encoded by the Glu-1 genes. We report the development of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to identify bread wheat genotypes carrying HMW glutenin allele composition of Glu-1 complex loci (Glu-A1, Glu-B1 and Glu-D1) by capillary electrophoresis(CE) with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. Two triplex primer sets of HMW glutenin subunit genes were examined. An automated and rapid CE-LIF technique is helpful in the multiplex PCR optimization process. Two fluorescent intercalating dyes (EnhanCE, and YO-PRO-1) are compared for detection of DNA fragments. Amplified DNA fragments of HMW glutenin Glu-1 genes were well separated both by agarose slab-gel electrophoresis and CE, and revealed minor differences between the sequences of 1Ax2*, 1Axnull, 1Bx6, 1Bx7, 1Bx17 and 1Dx5 genes. Moreover, CE technique requires samples of smaller volumes in comparison to slab-gel electrophoresis, and data can be obtained in less than 20 min. There was a very high concordance in the assessment of the molecular size of PCR-generated DNA markers. Fast and accurate identification of molecular markers of Glu-1 genes by CE-LIF can be an efficient alternative to standard procedure separation for early selection of useful wheat genotypes with good bread-making quality.     

Determination of lipophilicity for antitumor acridinone derivatives supported by gradient high-performance liquid chromatography method

The lipophilicity values of selected acridinone (imidazoacridinone and triazoloacridinone) derivatives were measured by gradient reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) using a C18 stationary phase with a water/acetonitrile mixture as a mobile phase. The retention times obtained served as input data and appropriate log k_w values (i.e., the retention factor log k_w extrapolated to 0% organic modifier) as an alternative to log P were calculated using the DryLab program. The relationships between the lipophilicity (log k_w) and the chemical structure of the studied compounds, as well as correlation between experimentally determined lipophilicities (log k_w) and log P data calculated using some commonly available software, are discussed.     

Lupane-type pentacyclic triterpenes in Langmuir monolayers: a synchrotron radiation scattering study

Lupane-type pentacyclic triterpenes (lupeol, betulin, and betulinic acid) are natural products isolated from various plant sources. The terpenes exhibit a vast spectrum of biological activity and are applied in therapies for different diseases, among which the anticancer, anti-HIV, antihypercholesteremic, and antiinflammatory are the most promising. These chemicals possess amphiphilic structure and were proved to interact strongly with biomembranes, which can be the key stage in their mechanism of action. In our studies, we applied Langmuir monolayers as versatile models of biomembranes. It turned out that the three investigated terpenes are capable of stable monolayer formation; however, these monolayers differ profoundly regarding their physicochemical characteristics. In our research, we applied the Langmuir technique (surface pressure-mean molecular area (π-A) isotherm registration) coupled with Brewster angle microscopy (BAM), but the main focus was on the synchrotron radiation scattering method, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD), which provides information on the amphiphilic molecule ordering in the angstr?m scale. It was proved that all the investigated terpenes form crystalline phases in their monolayers. In the case of lupeol, only the closely packed upright phase was observed, whereas for betulin and betulinic acid, the phase situation was more complex. Betulinic acid molecules can be organized in an upright phase, which is crystalline, and in a tilted phase, which is amorphous. The betulin film is a conglomerate of an upright crystalline monolayer phase, tilted amorphous monolayer phase, and a crystalline tilted bilayer. In our paper, we discuss the factors leading to the formation of the observed phases and the implications of our results to the therapeutic applications of the native lupane-type triterpenes.