Hierarchical assembly of helicate-type dinuclear titanium(IV) complexes

The ligands 4-7-H(2) were used in coordination studies with titanium(IV) and gallium(III) ions to obtain dimeric complexes Li(4)[(4-7)(6)Ti(2)] and Li(6)[(4/5a)(6)Ga(2)]. The X-ray crystal structures of Li(4)[(4)(6)Ti(2)], Li(4)[(5b)(6)Ti(2)], and Li(4)[(7a)(6)Ti(2)] could be obtained. While these complexes are triply lithium-bridged dimers in the solid state, a monomer/dimer equilibrium is observed in solution by NMR spectroscopy and ESI FT-ICR MS. The stability of the dimer is enhanced by high negative charges (Ti(IV) versus Ga(III)) of the monomers, when the carbonyl units are good donors (aldehydes versus ketones and esters), when the solvent does not efficiently solvate the bridging lithium ions (DMSO versus acetone), and when sterical hindrance is minimized (methyl versus primary and secondary carbon substituents). The dimer is thermodynamically favored by enthalpy as well as entropy. ESI FT-ICR mass spectrometry provides detailed insight into the mechanisms with which monomeric triscatecholate complexes as well as single catechol ligands exchange in the dimers. Tandem mass spectrometric experiments in the gas phase show the dimers to decompose either in a symmetric (Ti) or in an unsymmetric (Ga) fashion when collisionally activated. The differences between the Ti and Ga complexes can be attributed to different electronic properties and a charge-controlled reactivity of the ions in the gas phase. The complexes represent an excellent example for hierarchical self-assembly, in which two different noncovalent interactions of well balanced strengths bring together eleven individual components into one well-defined aggregate.     

Tribromohydroxyphosphonium hexafluorometalate: synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, and crystal structure of Br(3)POH(+)AsF(6)(-)

The reaction of tribromophosphine oxide in the superacidic systems XF/MF(5) (X = H, D; M = As, Sb) leads to tribromohydroxyphosphonium hexafluorometalates. The structure was successfully elucidated in the case of tribromohydroxyphosphonium hexafluoroarsenate. Br(3)POH(+)AsF(6)(-) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma (No. 53 with a = 1292.5(1) pm, b = 871.6(1) pm, and c = 845.0(1) pm) with four formula units per cell. The Raman, IR, (1)H NMR, and (31)P NMR spectra of Br(3)POX(+)MF(6)(-) (X = H, D; M = As, Sb) are reported.     

Acetogenic isoquinoline alkaloids: CXII. Separation and identification of dimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The atropodiastereomeric dimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, michellamines A (1a), B (1b) and C (1c), together with their monomers, korupensamines A (2a) and B (2b), were investigated using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry coupled to liquid chromatography (LC–ESI-MS–MS). From the spectra obtained, characteristic product ions were chosen to monitor the chromatographic separation achieved on an RP-18 column. Under acidic conditions required for chromatographic analysis, the monomeric alkaloids 2a and 2b yielded protonated molecules [M+H]⁺, while the dimers, the michellamines, exhibited doubly protonated [M+2H]²⁺ molecules. In addition, the coeluting alkaloids 1b and 2b were identified unambiguously by means of tandem mass spectrometry. Thus, together with the retention times of the alkaloids, the product ion spectra allowed us the identification of michellamines in the presence of their presumed biogenetic monomeric precursors. Application of the HPLC–MS–MS method successfully proved the enzymatic formation of michellamine C (1c) by in vitro dimerization of korupensamine B (2b).     

The quenching of CdSe quantum dots photoluminescence by gold nanoparticles in solution

The photoluminescence (PL) of CdSe quantum dots (QD) in aqueous media has been studied in the presence of gold nanoparticles (NP) with different shapes. The steady state PL intensity of CdSe QD (1.5-2 nm in size) is quenched in the presence of gold NP. Picosecond bleach recovery and nanosecond time-resolved luminescence measurements show a faster bleach recovery and decrease in the lifetime of the emitting states of CdSe QD in the presence of quenchers. Surfactant-capped gold nanorods (NR) with aspect ratio of 3 and surfactant-capped and citrate-capped nanospheres (NS) of 12 nm diameter were used as quenchers in order to study the effect of shape and surface charge on the quenching rates. The Stern-Volmer kinetics model is used to examine the observed quenching behavior as a function of the quencher concentration. It was found that the quenching rate of NR is more than 1000 times stronger than that of NS with the same capping material. We also found that the quenching rate decreases as the length of the NR decreases, although the overlap between the CdSe emission and the NR absorption increases. This suggests that the quenching is a result of electron transfer rather than long-range (Forster-type) energy transfer processes. The quenching was attributed to the transfer of electron with energies below the Fermi level of gold to the trap holes of CdSe QD. The observed large difference between NR and NS quenching efficiencies was attributed to the presence of the [110] facets only in the NR, which have higher surface energy.     

Principal part of resolvent and factorization of an increasing nonanalytic operator-function

Let a selfadjoint operator-valued functionL() be given on the interval [a,b] such thatL(a)0,L(b)0,L()0 (ab), andL() has a certain smoothness (for instance, it satisfies Hölder's condition). It turns out that the spectral theory of the operator-valued functionL() can be reduced to the spectral theory of one operatorZ, the spectrum of which lies on (a, b) and which is similar to a selfadjoint operator. In particular, the factorization takes place:L()=M()(I–Z), where the operator-valued functionM() is invertible on [a, b]. Earlier similar results were known only for analytic operator-valued functions. The authors had to use new methods for the proof of the described theorem. The key moment is the decomposition ofL ^–1() into the sume of its principal and regular parts.     

Dispersion of the local parameters of quasilocalized low-frequency vibrational modes in a low-temperature glass: direct observation via single-molecule spectroscopy

Spectra of single tetra-tert-butylterrylene chromophore molecules embedded in an amorphous polyisobutylene matrix as microprobes were recorded. The individual temperature dependences of the spectral linewidths for the same single molecules (SMs) in a broad temperature interval (1.6 < T < 40 K) have been measured. This enabled us to separate the contributions of tunneling two-level systems and quasilocalized low-frequency vibrational modes (LFMs) to the observed linewidths. The analysis of the T dependences yields the values of LFM frequencies and SM-LFM coupling constants for the LFMs in the local environment of a given chromophore. Pronounced distributions of the observed parameters of LFMs were found. This result can be regarded as the first direct experimental proof of the localized nature of LFMs in glasses.     

Swallowtail porphyrins: synthesis, characterization and incorporation into porphyrin dyads

The incorporation of symmetrically branched tridecyl ("swallowtail") substituents at the meso positions of porphyrins results in highly soluble building blocks. Synthetic routes have been investigated to obtain porphyrin building blocks bearing 1-4 swallowtail groups. Porphyrin dyads have been synthesized in which the zinc or free base (Fb) porphyrins are joined by a 4,4'-diphenylethyne linker and bear swallowtail (or n-pentyl) groups at the nonlinking meso positions. The swallowtail-substituted Zn(2)- and ZnFb-dyads are readily soluble in common organic solvents. Static absorption and fluorescence spectra and electrochemical data show that the presence of the swallowtail groups slightly raises the energy level of the filled a(2u)(pi) HOMO. EPR studies of the pi-cation radicals of the swallowtail porphyrins indicate that the torsional angle between the proton on the alkyl carbon and p-orbital on the meso carbon of the porphyrin is different from that of a porphyrin bearing linear pentyl groups. Regardless, the swallowtail substituents do not significantly affect the photophysical properties of the porphyrins or the electronic interactions between the porphyrins in the dyads. In particular, time-resolved spectroscopic studies indicate that facile excited-state energy transfer occurs in the ZnFb dyad, and EPR studies of the monocation radical of the Zn(2)-dyad show that interporphyrin ground-state hole transfer is rapid.     

The effect of polymers on the phase behavior of balanced microemulsions: diblock-copolymer and comb-polymers

The effect of some amphipilic diblock-copolymers and comb-polymers on a balanced Winsor III microemulsion system is investigated with the quaternary system n-octyl-β-d-glucoside/1-octanol/n-octane/D₂O as basis system. The diblock-copolymers are polyethyleneoxide-co-polydodecenoxide (PEO _x PEDODO _y ) and polyethyleneoxide-co-polybutyleneoxide (PEO _x PEBU _y ), constituted of a straight chain hydrophilic part and a bulky hydrophobic part. Addition of the diblock-copolymer leads to an enhancement of the swelling of the middle phase by uptake of water and oil; a maximum boosting factor of 6 was obtained for PEO₁₁₁PEDODO₂₅. Nuclear magnetic resonance diffusometry yields the self-diffusion coefficients of all the components in the system. The diffusion experiments provide information on how the microstructure of the bicontinuous microemulsion changes upon addition of the polymers. The reduced self-diffusion coefficients of water and oil are sensitive to the type of polymer that is incorporated in the film. For the diblock-copolymers, as mainly used here, the reduced self-diffusion coefficient of oil and water will respond to how the polymer bends the film. When the film bends away from water, the reduced self-diffusion of the water will increase, whereas the oil diffusion will decrease due to the film acting as a barrier, hindering free diffusion. The self-diffusion coefficient of the polymer and surfactant are similar in magnitude and both decrease slightly with increasing polymer concentration.