Mechanism of Host–Guest Complex Formation and Identification of Intermediates through NMR Titration and Diffusion NMR Spectroscopy

The formation of host–guest (H‐G) complexes between 1,8‐bis[(diethylgallanyl)ethynyl]anthracene (H) and the N‐heterocycles pyridine and pyrimidine (G) was studied in solution using a combination of NMR titration and diffusion NMR experiments. For the latter, diffusion coefficients of potential host–guest structures in solution were compared with those of tailor‐made reference compounds of similar shape (synthesized and characterized by NMR, HRMS, and in part XRD). Highly dynamic behavior was observed in both cases, but with different host–guest species and equilibria. With increasing concentrations of the pyridine guest, the equilibrium H₂?H₂κ¹‐G₁?HG₂ is observed (in the second step a host dimer coordinates one guest molecule); for pyrimidine the equilibrium H₂→H₁κ²‐G₁?HG₂ is observed (the formation of a 1:1 aggregate is the second step).     

Nitrogen‐Doped Ordered Mesoporous Carbon Supported Bimetallic PtCo Nanoparticles for Upgrading of Biophenolics

Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is an attractive route for the upgrading of bio‐oils produced from lignocellulose. Current catalysts require harsh conditions to effect HDO, decreasing the process efficiency in terms of energy and carbon balance. Herein we report a novel and facile method for synthesizing bimetallic PtCo nanoparticle catalysts (ca. 1.5 nm) highly dispersed in the framework of nitrogen‐doped ordered mesoporous carbon (NOMC) for this reaction. We demonstrate that NOMC with either 2D hexagonal (p6m) or 3D cubic (Im m) structure can be easily synthesized by simply adjusting the polymerization temperature. We also demonstrate that PtCo/NOMC (metal loading: Pt 9.90 wt %; Co 3.31 wt %) is a highly effective catalyst for HDO of phenolic compounds and “real‐world” biomass‐derived phenolic streams. In the presence of PtCo/NOMC, full deoxygenation of phenolic compounds and a biomass‐derived phenolic stream is achieved under conditions of low severity.     

Spatially resolved ultra-trace analysis of elements combining resonance ionization with a MALDI-TOF spectrometer

A combined setup for spatially resolved mass analysis of trace amounts of elements and macromolecules is presented. Using a MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer, a laser spectroscopic setup for resonant ionization of neutral atoms has been implemented. This allows for an efficient and selective detection of trace elements by means of resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS). The instrumental scheme is described, and methodological developments are presented. In a first application pure, laser desorption/ionization with TOF-MS was used to measure mass distributions of cosmic nanodiamonds. For further applications regarding the spatially resolved ultra-trace analysis of elements in solid samples, an implanted target was used to characterize both laser desorption/ionization and laser desorption/resonance ionization for the detection of trace elements within. A perspective of the setup is given and future investigations are outlined.     

Experimental and Theoretical Structure Elucidation of the [2 : 1] Complex Ion of Carbo[n]helicene with n=6, 7 and 8 and Ag+

Gas-phase complexes of [n]helicenes with n=6, 7 and 8 and the silver(I) cation are generated utilizing electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Besides the well-established [1 : 1] helicene/Ag⁺-complex in which the helicene provides a tweezer-like surrounding for the Ag⁺, there is also a [2 : 1] complex formed. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations in conjunction with energy-resolved collision-induced dissociation (ER-CID) experiments reveal that the second helicene attaches via π-π stacking to the first helicene, which is part of the pre-formed [1 : 1] tweezer complex with Ag⁺. For polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of planar structure, the [2 : 1] complex with silver(I) is typically structured as an Ag⁺-bound dimer in which the Ag⁺ would bind to both PAHs as the central metal ion (PAH–Ag⁺–PAH). For helicenes, the Ag⁺-bound dimer is of similar thermochemical stability as the π-π stacked dimer, however, it is kinetically inaccessible. Coronene (Cor) is investigated in comparison to the helicenes as an essentially planar PAH. In analogy to the π-π stacked dimer of the helicenes, the Cor−Ag⁺−Cor−Cor complex is also observed. Competition experiments using [n]helicene mixtures reveal that the tweezer complexes of Ag⁺ are preferably formed with the larger helicenes, with n=6 being entirely ignored as the host for Ag⁺ in the presence of n=7 or 8.     

Coherent electronic and nuclear dynamics for charge transfer in 1-ethyl-4-(carbomethoxy)pyridinium iodide

Although polaronic interactions and states abound in charge transfer processes and reactions, quantitative and separable determination of electronic and nuclear relaxation is still challenging. The present paper employs the amplitudes, polarizations, and phases of four-wave mixing signals to obtain unique dynamical information on relaxation processes following photoinduced charge transfer between iodide and 1-ethyl-4-(carbomethoxy)pyridinium ions. Pump-probe signal amplitudes reveal the coherent coupling of an underdamped 115 cm(-1) nuclear mode to the charge transfer excitation. Assignments of this recurrence to intramolecular vibrational modes of the acceptor and to modulation of the intermolecular donor-acceptor distance are discussed on the basis of a high-level density functional theory normal-mode analysis and previously observed wave packet dynamics of solvated molecular iodine. Nuclear relaxation of the acceptor induces sub-picosecond decay of the pump-probe polarization anisotropy from an initial value of 0.4 to an asymptotic value of -0.05. Electronic structure calculations suggest that relaxation along the torsional coordinate of the ethyl group is the origin of the anisotropy decay. Electric-field-resolved transient grating (EFR-TG) signal fields are obtained by spectral interferometry with a diffractive optic based interferometer. These measurements show that the signal phase and amplitude possess similar dynamics. Model calculations are used to demonstrate how the EFR-TG signal phase yields unique information on transient material resonances located outside the laser pulse spectrum. This effect can be rationalized in that the real and imaginary parts of the nonlinear polarization are related by the Kramers-Kronig transformation, which allows the dispersive component of the polarization response to exhibit spectral sensitivity over a larger frequency range than that defined by the absorption bandwidth.     

Reactivity of N-(omega-haloalkyl)-beta-lactams with regard to lithium aluminium hydride: novel synthesis of 1-(1-aryl-3-hydroxypropyl)aziridines and 3-aryl-3-(N-propylamino)propan-1-ols

The reactivity of 4-aryl-1-(2-chloroethyl)azetidin-2-ones and 4-aryl-1-(3-bromopropyl)azetidin-2-ones with regard to lithium aluminium hydride has been evaluated for the first time. 4-Aryl-1-(2-chloroethyl)azetidin-2-ones were transformed into novel 1-(1-aryl-3-hydroxypropyl)aziridines through an unprecedented conversion of beta-lactams into 2,3-unsubstituted aziridine derivatives. Unexpectedly, 4-aryl-1-(3-bromopropyl)azetidin-2-ones underwent dehalogenation towards 3-aryl-3-(N-propylamino)propan-1-ols upon treatment with LiAlH(4). 1-(1-Aryl-3-hydroxypropyl)aziridines were further elaborated by means of ring opening reactions using benzyl bromide in acetonitrile towards 3-aryl-3-[N-benzyl-N-(2-bromoethyl)amino]propan-1-ols and using aluminium(iii) chloride in diethyl ether, affording 3-aryl-3-[N-(2-chloroethyl)amino]propan-1-ols.     

5-Aminolevulinic acid derivatives in photomedicine: Characteristics, application and perspectives

The introduction of lipophilic derivatives of the naturally occurring heme precursor 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) into photomedicine has led to a true revival of this research area. 5-ALA-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) and fluorescence photodetection (FD) of neoplastic disease is probably one of the most selective cancer treatments currently known in oncology. To date, this method has been assessed experimentally for the treatment of various medical indications. However, the limited local bioavailability of 5-ALA has widely prevented its use in daily clinical practice. Although researchers were already aware of this drawback early during the development of 5-ALA-mediated PDT, only recently have well-established concepts in pharmaceutical science been adapted to investigate ways to overcome this drawback. Recently, two derivatives of 5-ALA, methylaminolevulinate (MAL) and hexylaminolevulinate (HAL), gained marketing authorization from the regulatory offices in Europe and Australia. MAL is marketed under the trade name Metvix for the treatment of actinic keratosis and difficult-to-treat basal cell carcinoma. HAL has recently been launched under the trade name Hexvix to improve the detection of superficial bladder cancer in Europe. This review will first present the fundamental concepts underlying the use of 5-ALA derivatives in PDT and FD from a chemical, biochemical and pharmaceutical point of view. Experimental evidences from preclinical data on the improvements and limits observed with 5-ALA derivatives will then be introduced. The state-of-the-art from clinical studies with 5-ALA esters will be discussed, with special emphasis placed on the process that led to the development of MAL in dermatology and to HAL in urology. Finally, we will discuss promising medical fields in which use of 5-ALA derivatives might potentially lead to further use of this methodology in photomedicine.     

Synthesis of 3-substituted 2-fluoro- and 2,2-difluoroaziridines

A new route for the synthesis of stable 3-alkyl- and 3-aryl-2(,2)-(di)fluoroaziridines was developed by hydride reduction of novel alpha-bromo- and alpha-chloro-alpha(,alpha)-(di)fluoroketimines and subsequent ring closure of beta-fluorinated beta-chloro- and beta-bromoamines. This is the first report on the synthesis of 2,2-difluoroaziridines sensu stricto.     

Influence of ionic charges on the bilayers of lamellar phases

The influence of ionic charges on the mesophases in the ternary system of C(12-16)E(6) (LA 070), ethylhexylglycerid (EHG), and water was studied. The charge was introduced by adding the ionic surfactant SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate). The single lamellar phase (5 wt % LA 070 and 240 mM EHG in water) yields a bluish homogeneous solution. With the addition of SDS, the samples become more and more clear. Rheology measurements indicate that increased charge density increases the storage modulus G', and the lamellar phases show typical behavior of a viscoelastic fluid with a yield stress at higher SDS concentration. SAXS measurements show that the interlamellar distance D decreases with SDS concentration. The addition of ionic surfactants suppresses the Helfrich undulations, flattens the bilayers, and decreases interbilayer spacing due to electrostatic repulsions of the ionic surfactant head groups. Furthermore, the L(alpha) phase transforms into vesicle phases as the SDS concentration is increased. Second, it is shown that with added NaCl electrolyte the phase with charged surfactant behaves again in the same way as the initial uncharged system. The addition of salt screens the electrostatic interaction, which leads to a higher flexibility of the bilayers and a decrease of the storage modulus G'. Theoretical calculations show that the shear moduli of the L(alpha) phases are much smaller than the osmotic pressure of the systems. Several models are proposed for the explanation of the shear moduli. The model due to Lekkerkerker for the electric contribution of the bending constant of the bilayer seems to yield good results for the transition to vesicles.