The AE-XA1 System of CaOCH3

We have recorded laser excitation spectra of the CaOCH₃ free radical in a laser ablation molecular beam apparatus, at a spectral resolution of about 0.010 cm⁻¹ and a rotational temperature estimated at 15 K. The two spin-orbit components of the A²E-X²A₁ 0₀⁰ origin band between 625 and 630 nm have been analyzed. Five main subbands were revealed, with ΔK=+1 and K″=0,±1,±2. There was clear evidence of lambda-doubling in the A²E_1/2-X²A₁ 0₀⁰ (F′₁) K′=+1←K″=0 component. A nonlinear least-squares fitting program based on the model developed by Endo et al. [Y. Endo, S. Saito, and E. Hirota, J. Chem. Phys.81, 122-135 (1984)] fit the experimental data (514 A-X lines, N″≤37) with a root mean square deviation of 0.003 cm⁻¹, using known molecular constants of the ground state. The main vibronic (T₀=15 925.1232(5) cm⁻¹), spin-orbit (aζ_ed=66.974 48(51) cm⁻¹), Coriolis (Aζ_t=5.437 30(24)) cm⁻¹, rotational (A=5.439 97(24) cm⁻¹, B=0.117 884(2) cm⁻¹), and fine structure constants (ε₁=−8.208(14)×10⁻³ cm⁻¹, h₁=1.50(12)×10⁻⁴ cm⁻¹, ε_aa=3.58(89)×10⁻³ cm⁻¹, ε_bc=3.20(76)×10⁻³ cm⁻¹) for the excited state have been obtained.     

Quantum Mayer Graphs for Coulomb Systems and the Analog of the Debye Potential

Within the Feynman–Kac path integral representation, the equilibrium quantities of a quantum plasma can be represented by Mayer graphs. The well known Coulomb divergencies that appear in these series are eliminated by partial resummations. In this paper, we propose a resummation scheme based on the introduction of a single effective potential that is the quantum analog of the Debye potential. A low density analysis of shows that it reduces, at short distances, to the bare Coulomb interaction between the charges (which is able to lead to bound states). At scale of the order of the Debye screening length ^–1 _D, approaches the classical Debye potential and, at large distances, it decays as a dipolar potential (this large distance behaviour is due to the quantum nature of the particles). The prototype graphs that result from the resummation obey the same diagrammatical rules as the classical graphs of the Abe–Meeron series. We give several applications that show the usefulness of to account for Coulombic effects at all distances in a coherent way.     

Synthesis,characterization, and bonding properties of polymeric fullerides AC70.nNH3 (A = Ca,Sr, Ba,Eu, Yb)

Reduction of C70 with alkaline earth and rare earth metals dissolved in liquid ammonia results in metal fulleride solvates AC70.nNH3 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba, Eu, Yb) containing linear polymeric, anionic chains infinity 1 [C70(2-)]. The compounds were characterised by means of Raman spectroscopy and single-crystal structure determination. The accurate crystal structure of [Sr(NH3)8]C70.3NH3, determined with atomic resolution, allowed for a comparison with results of quantum chemical calculations. The nature of the C-C bonds in the fulleride is analysed in detail leading to a model explaining the unexpected polymerisation of C70(2-).     

Network forming properties of various proteins adsorbed at the air/water interface in relation to foam stability

A series of proteins was studied with respect to their ability to form a network at the air/water interface and their suitability as foaming agents and foam stabilizers. Proteins were chosen with a range of structures from flexible to rigid/globular: beta-casein, beta-lactoglobulin, ovalbumin, and (soy) glycinin. Experiments were performed at neutral pH except for glycinin, which was studied at both pH 3 and pH 6.7. The adsorption process was followed with an automated drop tensiometer (ADT). Network forming properties were assessed in terms of surface dilational modulus (determined with the ADT), the critical falling film length (L(still)) and flow rate (Q(still)) below which a stagnant film exists (as measured with the overflowing cylinder technique), and the fracture stress and fracture strain measured in surface shear. It was found that glycinin (pH 3) can form an interfacial gel in a very short time, whereas beta-casein has very poor network-forming properties. Hardly any foam could be produced at the chosen conditions with glycinin (pH 6.7) and with ovalbumin, whereas beta-casein, beta-lactoglobulin, and glycinin (pH 3) were good foaming agents. It seems that adsorption and unfolding rate are most important for foam formation. Once the foam is formed, a rigid network might favor stabilizing the foam.     

In situ formation of allyl ketones via Hiyama-Nozaki reactions followed by a chromium-mediated Oppenauer oxidation

In Hiyama-Nozaki reactions of allylchromium with aldehydes the expected products are homoallylalcohols. However, oxidation products derived from these, predominantly allyl ketones, can be common side products. This can be explained by an Oppenauer-(Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley)-type mechanism (OMPV-reaction). The amount of oxidation is strongly dependent on the substitution pattern of the reaction partners and the reaction conditions. An appropriate choice of these can lead to preferential formation of ketones instead of the alcohols. In addition to its synthetic usefulness, the oxidation-reduction equilibrium is of the utmost importance for the design of enantioselective Hiyama-Nozaki reactions because it is also a potential racemization pathway.     

A solid-phase synthetic route to unnatural amino acids with diverse side-chain substitutions

Reacting imine derivatives of resin-bound amino acids with alpha,omega-dihaloalkanes provides highly versatile intermediates to racemic alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids with a wide variety of side-chain functionality. Two strategies were developed to convert the intermediate omega-chloro or omega-bromo derivatives to the desired products. Together, they allow the creation of amino acids with diverse functionalities (omega-chlorides, nitriles, azides, acetates, thioacetates, thioethers, secondary and tertiary aliphatic amines, and anilines) placed at varying chain lengths (2-5) from the alpha-center of the amino acid.     

Acid-induced rearrangement reactions of reduced benzoquinone cyclopentadiene cycloadducts

Several Diels-Alder adducts between benzoquinones and cyclopentadiene were reduced to the corresponding diols 7a-c and 11. Treatment of these diols with strong acid triggered a skeletal rearrangement reaction resulting in compounds 8a-c and 12 that contain a 4,8-methanoazulene substructure. In addition, a dyotropic-like rearrangement of the tetracyclic lactone 13 to the spiro-lactone 18 was observed. Five of the structures were supported by X-ray analysis.     

An improved western blotting technique effectively reduces background

We have developed a simple method to dramatically improve Western blotting by use of water washing as well as altered buffer conditions. Our improved protocol reduces the cost and labor of Western blotting by shortening the washing time and uses less buffer and other reagents. This procedure does not significantly change existing protocols of Western blotting analysis; it simply contains a few modifications to the washing step and buffer conditions. Our improved technique may therefore have broad applications in various experimental conditions.     

Band-broadening effects in preparative free-flow zone electrophoresis

Recently, we proposed a novel preparative free flow zone electrophoresis cell with extremely short residence time, which does not require external cooling (Poggel, M., Melin, T., Electrophoresis 2001, 22, 1008-1015). Within the new cell the smallest chamber dimension is not orientated perpendicular but in direction of the electric field. This alteration provides straight forward scale up opportunities. In this paper, new experimental results are reported, from which the limits of stable flow can be determined. The data suggest that not density differences but electrohydrodynamic effects are responsible for the disturbance of the laminar flow pattern, which is observed above a critical field strength. To demonstrate the efficiency of the new system, a three-component mixture consisting of bovine serum albumin (BSA), myoglobin and cytochrome c is processed, resulting in relatively high recovery and purity values of the different proteins, although a complete separation is not achieved.     

Synthesis and coordination chemistry of a water-soluble verdazyl radical. structures and magnetic properties of M(H2O)2(vdCO2)(2).2H2O (M = Co,Ni; vdCO2 = 1,5-dimethyl-6-oxo-verdazyl-3-carboxylate)

The synthesis of a verdazyl radical with a carboxylate substituent renders the radical highly soluble in water, thereby permitting the aqueous synthesis of Ni(II) and Co(II) verdazyl complexes which have been structurally and magnetically characterized.