Density functional theory investigation of benzenethiol adsorption on Au(111)

We have studied the adsorption of benzenethiol molecules on the Au(111) surface by using first principles total energy calculations. A single thiolate molecule is adsorbed at the bridge site slightly shifted toward the fcc-hollow site, and is tilted by 61 degrees from the surface normal. As for the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) structures, the (2 square root of 3 x square root of 3)R30 degrees herringbone structure is stabilized against the (square root 3 x square root 3)R30 degrees structure by large steric relaxation. In the most stable (2 square root 3 x square root 3)R30 degrees SAM structure, the molecule is adsorbed at the bridge site with the tilting angle of 21 degrees, which is much smaller compared with the single molecule adsorption. The van der Waals interaction plays an important role in forming the SAM structure. The adsorption of benzenethiolates induces the repulsive interaction between surface Au atoms, which facilitates the formation of surface Au vacancy.     

Investigation of the spectral properties of a squarylium near-infrared dye and its complexation with Fe(III) and Co(II) ions

The spectral features of the squarylium near-infrared (NIR) dye NN525 in different solutions and its complexation with several metal ions were investigated. The absorbance maximum of the dye is λ=663 nm in methanol. This value matches the output of a commercially available laser diode (650 nm), thus making use of such a source practical for excitation. The emission wavelength of the dye in methanol is λ_em=670 nm. The addition of either Fe(III) ion or Co(II) ion resulted in fluorescence quenching of the dye. The Stern–Volmer quenching constant, K_SV, was calculated from the Stern–Volmer plot to be K_SV=2.70×10⁷ M⁻¹ for Co(II) ion. The K_SV value for Fe(III) ion could not be established due to the non-linearity of the Stern–Volmer plot and the modified Stern–Volmer plot for this ion. The detection limit is 6.24×10⁻⁸ M for Fe(III) ion and 1.55×10⁻⁵ M for Co(III) ion. The molar ratio of the metal to the dye was established to be 1:1 for both metal ions. The stability constant, K_S, of the metal–dye complex was calculated to be 3.14×10⁶ M⁻¹ for the Fe–dye complex and 2.64×10⁵ M⁻¹ for the Co–dye complex.     

Acetoxyl group directed cyclization promoted by SmI2: directing group determined stereocomplementarity

Complete reversal of diastereoselectivity was observed in the SmI(2)-promoted ketyl-olefin coupling cyclizations of the hydroxy ketone or aldehyde and its acetate. For example, the stereodivergent synthesis of the epimeric five-membered-ring alcohols 2 and 4 has been accomplished through the SmI(2)-induced ketyl-olefin coupling cyclizations of the delta-hydroxy ketone 1 and delta-acetoxy ketone 3.     

A new series of estrogen receptor modulators: effect of alkyl substituents on receptor-binding affinity

New types of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) were synthesized and evaluated for their binding affinity and biological effect on reproductive cells. A proposed lead structure (B) was derivatized to provide compounds 30 and 44, which showed good estrogen-receptor binding affinity (K(i) values: 6.3 and 10 nM, respectively), as well as minimal impact on mammary and uterine carcinoma cells. Introduction of an alkyl group in the core structure considerably enhanced receptor-binding affinity of the compounds tested. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of these compounds are described.     

Study on suitability of KOD DNA polymerase for enzymatic production of artificial nucleic acids using base/sugar modified nucleoside triphosphates

Recently, KOD and its related DNA polymerases have been used for preparing various modified nucleic acids, including not only base-modified nucleic acids, but also sugar-modified ones, such as bridged/locked nucleic acid (BNA/LNA) which would be promising candidates for nucleic acid drugs. However, thus far, reasons for the effectiveness of KOD DNA polymerase for such purposes have not been clearly elucidated. Therefore, using mutated KOD DNA polymerases, we studied here their catalytic properties upon enzymatic incorporation of nucleotide analogues with base/sugar modifications. Experimental data indicate that their characteristic kinetic properties enabled incorporation of various modified nucleotides. Among those KOD mutants, one achieved efficient successive incorporation of bridged nucleotides with a 2'-ONHCH?CH?-4' linkage. In this study, the characteristic kinetic properties of KOD DNA polymerase for modified nucleoside triphosphates were shown, and the effectiveness of genetic engineering in improvement of the enzyme for modified nucleotide polymerization has been demonstrated.     

Friedel-Crafts sulfonylation in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloroaluminate ionic liquids.

1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloroaluminate ionic liquids have been employed as an unconventional reaction media and as Lewis acid catalyst for Friedel-Crafts sulfonylation reaction of benzene and substituted benzenes with 4-methyl benzenesulfonyl chloride. The substrates exhibited enhanced reactivity, furnishing almost quantitative yields of diaryl sulfones, under ambient conditions. Studies concerning the effect of Lewis acidity of the ionic liquid on the initial extent of conversion of this reaction has been carried out. (27)Al NMR spectroscopy has been exploited as a tool to investigate the mechanistic details of the reaction. (27)Al NMR spectral studies show the predominance of [Al(2)Cl(7)](-) species in [bmim]Cl-AlCl(3), N = 0.67, acidic ionic liquid in the presence of 4-methyl benzenesulfonyl chloride, and after the reaction with the aromatic hydrocarbon, [AlCl(4)](-) species predominates. This change in speciation of aluminum can be attributed to the interaction of the Lewis acidic species [Al(2)Cl(7)](-) of the ionic liquid with the formed HCl during the sulfonylation reaction, which is evidenced by the control experiment. Preliminary investigations on Friedel-Crafts acylation further substantiate the argument.     

Detection of Refractive Index Change of Liquids by Diffractive Element talrd Sensor

Refractive index change of liquids was detected using a temperature compensated prism cavity together with a diffractive optical element fabricated by electron beam lithography. Small changes of refractive index could be detected from image data of the sensor.     

Application of151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy to studies of electric field gradients in high-temperature superconductors

The rare-earth site of samples having the compositions (Fe,Cu)Sr₂(Eu,Ce) _n Cu₂O_4+2n+z (n=2 and 3) were studied by¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results obtained are compared with measurements of EuBa₂Cu₃O_7– (123) and Bi₂Sr₂(Ca_1–yEu_y)Cu₂O_8+E (2212) samples. The full quadrupole Hamiltonian of the 21.5-keV -transition was applied in analyzing the measured spectra. Simultaneous fitting of spectra recorded from crystallites oriented in various directions was used to determine the hyperfine parameters of then= 2 and 3 samples. Two different electric field gradients, not discernible in simple random crystallite measurements, were obtained for then=3 series.     

Can we extract lambda-lambda interaction from two-particle momentum correlation?

We analyze the invariant mass spectrum of Λ-Λ in ¹²C(K⁻, K⁺ ΛΛ) reaction at P_K⁻ = 1.65 GeV/c by using a combined framework of IntraNuclear Cascade (INC) model and the correlation function technique. The observed enhancement at low-invariant masses can be well reproduced with attractive Λ-Λ interactions with the scattering length either in the range a = −6 −4 fm (no bound state) or a = 7 12 fm (with bound state). We also discuss Λ-Λ correlation functions in central relativistic heavy-ion collisions as a possible way to eliminate this discrete ambiguity.