Origin of threefold symmetric torsional potential of methyl group in 4-methylstyrene

To understand the effect of the para position vinyl group substitution in toluene on methyl torsion, we investigated 4-methylstyrene, a benchmark molecule with an extended pi conjugation. The assignment for a 33 cm(-1) band in the excitation spectrum to the 3a(2) torsional transition, in addition to the assignments suggested previously for the other bands in the excitation spectrum, leads to the model potentials for the ground as well as excited states with V(3) (")=19.6 cm(-1), V(6) (")=-16.4 cm(-1) and V(3) (')=25.6 cm(-1), V(6) (')=-30.1 cm(-1), respectively. These potentials reveal that both in ground and excited states, the methyl group conformations are staggered with a 60 degrees phase shift between them. MP2 ab initio calculations support the ground state conformations determined from experiments, whereas Hartree-Fock calculations fail to do so. The origin of the modified ground state potential has been investigated by partitioning the barrier energy using the natural bond orbital (NBO) theoretical framework. The NBO analysis shows that the local delocalization (bond-antibond hyperconjugation) interactions of the methyl group with the parent molecule is sixfold symmetric. The threefold symmetric potential, on the other hand, stems from the interaction of the vinyl group and the adjacent ring pi bond. The threefold symmetric structural energy arising predominantly from the pi electron contribution is the barrier forming term that overwhelms the antibarrier contribution of the delocalization energy. The observed 60 degrees phase shift of the excited state potential is attributed to the pi(*)-sigma(*) hyperconjugation between out of plane hydrogens of the methyl group and the benzene ring.     

Platinum-catalyzed aromatization of enediynes via a C-H bond insertion of tethered alkanes

[STRUCTURE: SEE TEXT] PtCl2 (5 mol%) is an effective catalyst for aromatization of enediynes via a C-H bond insertion of tethered alkanes. The reaction mechanism of this cyclization is proposed to involve platinum-pi-alkyne intermediates. This cyclization works not only for terminal alkynes but also for internal alkynes.     

Synthesis of substituted imidazolines via [3+2]-cycloaddition of aziridines with nitriles

An efficient synthesis of 2,4-disubstituted 1H-imidazolines from aziridines and nitriles in the presence of BF₃-Et₂O or triethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate has been described. The reaction proceeds via a [3+2]-cycloaddition reaction. Most of the nitriles successfully underwent cycloaddition reactions with aziridines even at room temperature in a very short time.     

Size of supramolecular SNARE complex: membrane-directed self-assembly

Full length v-SNARE protein in lipid vesicles when exposed to t-SNARE-reconstituted lipid membrane results in the self-assembly of a t-/v-SNARE complex in a ring pattern, forming pores, and establishing continuity between the opposing bilayers. It is known that smaller vesicles fuse more efficiently than larger ones, and hence the curvature of secretory vesicles may dictate the potency and efficacy of their fusion at the cell plasma membrane. The diameter of t- and v-SNARE vesicles may, therefore, reflect the size of the t-/v-SNARE complex formed. In the present study, this hypothesis was tested, and results from the study demonstrate that the size of the t-/v-SNARE complex is directly proportional to the vesicle diameter (R2 = 0.9725).     

Pt-catalyzed pentannulations from in situ generated metallo-carbenoids utilizing propargylic esters

A highly selective and efficient Pt-catalyzed pentannulation reaction beginning from propargylic esters is described. The key to this reaction is the use of a PtCl2(PPh3)2/PhIO catalyst combination that allows the in situ generation of Pt-carbenoid intermediates, which lead to good yields (61-84%) of the desired pentannulated compounds.     

Regioselective synthesis of multifunctional hybrid polysiloxanes achieved by Pt-nanocluster catalysis

The first example of "Pt"-nanocluster-catalyzed regioselective generation of hybrid polymers via attachment of organic functionalities to evenly distributed Si-H bonds of poly(methylhydro)siloxane is described. In addition, participation of Pt-nanoclusters as an active catalyst was evidenced by various spectroscopic techniques during the catalytic transformations.     

"Polysiloxane-Pd" nanocomposites as recyclable chemoselective hydrogenation catalysts

Polysiloxane-encapsulated "Pd"-nanoclusters were generated by reduction of Pd(OAc)(2) with polymethylhydrosiloxane, which functions as a reducing agent as well as a capping material for production and stabilization of catalytically active "Pd"-nanoparticles. Chemoselective hydrogenation of functional conjugated alkenes was achieved by in-situ- or ex-situ-generated polysiloxane-stabilized "Pd"-nanoclusters under mild reaction conditions in high yields. Electron microscopy, UV-vis, and NMR studies of the reaction mixture during the catalytic transformation were performed and, in conjunction with catalyst poisoning experiments, demonstrated unequivocally the role of polysiloxane-encapsulated "Pd"-nanoclusters as the real catalytic species. The recyclability of the "Pd"-nanoclusters was established by reusing the solid left after the reaction.     

Wet chemical synthesis and characterization of pure and cerium doped Dy2O3 nanoparticles

Pure and cerium doped Dy₂O₃ nanoparticles were prepared by wet chemical synthesis route. The particles were subjected to thermal, structural, morphological and optical property studies. The calcination temperature was chosen based on the decomposition of the samples revealed by TG studies. EDS and FTIR results confirmed the presence of cerium in the Dy₂O₃ system. The particle size calculated from Williamson-Hall plot was consistent with TEM results. The effect of cerium as a dopant on the UV–vis absorption and photoluminescence intensity has been studied. XRD and PL analyses demonstrate that the cerium ions uniformly substitute dysprosium sites in Dy₂O₃ lattice and hence influence the optical properties.