SERS detection of streptavidin/biotin monolayer assemblies

A two-dimensional array of gold nanotriangles inscribed onto glass coverslips were optimized for the surface-enhanced Raman detection of streptavidin/biotin monolayer assemblies. The nanostructures were fabricated by electron beam lithography, and its optical parameters were optimized to be probed under a Raman microscope with a linearly polarized He-Ne laser with an excitation wavelength of λ = 632.8 nm. The platforms were first tested against a monolayer of biotinylated alkanethiols (BAT) functionalized over the gold nanostructure, showing that good-quality spectra could be acquired with a short acquisition time. The supramolecular interaction of streptavidin (strep) with BAT showed subsequent modification of the Raman spectrum that implies a change in the secondary structure of the host biomolecule (streptavidin). Compared to gold surfaces without nanoscale structures, the local enhancement that results from our nanostructured surfaces allows one to detect the vibrational signal of monolayers within a time on the order of seconds and under modest laser intensity, further demonstrating the utility of using plasmonic metallic nanostructures for molecular recognition.     

Aryl-aryl bond formation by the fluoride-free cross-coupling of aryldisiloxanes with aryl bromides

The prevalence of the biaryl structural motif in biologically interesting and synthetically important molecules has inspired considerable interest in the development of methods for aryl-aryl bond formation. Herein we describe a novel strategy for this process involving the fluoride-free, palladium-catalysed cross-coupling of readily accessible aryldisiloxanes and aryl bromides. Using a statistical-based optimisation process, preparatively useful reaction conditions were formulated to allow the cross-coupling of a wide range of different substrates. This methodology represents an attractive, cost-efficient, flexible and robust alternative to the traditional transition-metal-catalysed routes typically used to generate molecules containing the privileged biaryl scaffold.     

A measurement of the azimuthal angle dependence of the process ep → enπ+ near threshold

The azimuthal angle dependence of the process ep → enπ⁺ has been measured by detecting the electron and neutron in coincidence. Data are presented for momentum transfers (?k²) between 0.08 and 0.32 $\text{(}\text{GeV}\text{c}\text{)}{}^2$ and at energies close to threshold. Fixed-t dispersion relation models give predictionsin good qualitative agreement with the data.     

Nitro group participation in the formation of heterocycles

Benzoyl bromide (2-nitrophenyl) hydrazone (2) was treated with sodium ethoxide and ethyl cyanoacetate and two unexpected products were obtained. These products were ultimately shown to be 6-bromo-3-phenyl-1,2,4-benzotriazine (32) and 5-bromo-2-phenylbenzoxazole (38), by comparison with authentic samples which were synthesized. A mechanism is presented for the formation of these two heterocyclic systems (32 and 38) from 2.     

Interaction of O2 with Pt(100): I. Equilibrium measurements

Two newly discovered phases on the Pt(100) surface produced by the adsorption of oxygen have been investigated using Rutherford baekscattering (RBS), nuclear microanalysis (NMA), work function changes (Δφ) and LEED. One phase is associated with the oxygensaturated surface (0.63 ± 0.03 monolayers0.81 × 10¹⁵ O atoms cm^?2), where a very complex LEED pattern is observed; the other is observed at an average coverage of 0.44 ± 0.05 monolayers and gives rise to a (3 × 1) LEED pattern (when observed at room temperature). For both surfaces, RBS measurements indicate large (? 0.025 nm) Pt atom displacements. Also discussed is a new method for preparing the “clean” (1 × 1)-Pt(100) surface without the need for NO adsorption/decomposition.     

The oxidation of CO on pt(100): Mechanism and structure

Using dynamic LEED measurements of spot intensities and profiles, together with thermal desorption data, we have investigated the oxidation of CO on Pt(100)?(1 × 1). At T = 355 K, either CO or O was preadsorbed and reacted off with the other species. Results from both titration sequences point to the following conclusions: Titration of preadsorbed oxygen with CO_g leads to rapid reaction, with a reaction probability of unity for each chemisorbed CO. Adsorbed CO does not accumulate on the surface until θ_o ? 0.05, i.e. an intermediate, rather clean (1 × 1) Pt surface is obtained. Further evidence for this clean intermediate is provided by the fact that characteristics of the diffraction spots of the c(2 × 2) of CO develop identically during this reaction sequence and during adsorption of CO on a clean (1 × 1) Pt surface. In the reverse case, titration of preadsorbed CO with O_2,g, the reaction rate is slower than the oxygen adsorption rate, leading to a pressure-dependent development of coexisting O_ad and CO_ad domains, which we observe directly with LEED. The stable phases coexisting are the c(2 × 2) of CO and the oxygen-related (3 × 1). Thermal desorption peak shapes, together with LEED observations, indicate that the CO in this case is held in c(2 × 2) islands by a matrix of surrounding oxygen atoms. In no case do mixed structures form, nor is an existing structure compressed by subsequent adsorption of the second species. Starting from a Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism, the differences between the two reaction sequences are discussed in terms of different activation barriers for reaction and different sticking coefficients of the adsorbing species. Special attention is given to the mobilities of the adsorbed reactants.     

Chemical shift nonequivalence of sulfinates: Structural,solvent and temperature effects

The structural, solvent and temperature effects on the PMR spectra of several alkyl alkanesulfinates and arenesulfinates are discussed. A low order intrinsic nonequivalence was observed in substituents alpha to the sulfinate sulfur atom, the nonequivalence being significantly less than in sulfoxides, and solvent and temperature dependent. Nonequivalence of diastereotopic substituents on the ester oxygen exceeded nonequivalence in similar sulfoxides and is largely insensitive to temperatures from 25° to 120°C. Benzene complexes with sulfinates greatly enhancing the proton nonequivalence of alpha substituents apparently by causing a further shielding of the already more shielded nonequivalent protons.     

Absolute coverage and isostemc heat of adsorption of deuterium on Pt(111) studied by nuclear microanalysis

The absolute coverage (θ) of deuterium adsorbed on Pt(111) in the ranges 180< T<440 K and 5 × 10^?6 < P < 5 × 10^?2 Pa D₂ has been determined by nuclear microanalysis using the D(³He, p)⁴He reaction. From these data, the isosteric heat of adsorption (E_a) has been determined to be 67 ± 7 kJ mol^?1 at θ ? 0.3. This heat of adsorption yields values of the pre-exponential for desorption (10^?5 to 10^?2 cm² atom^?1 s^?1) that lie much closer to the normal range for a second order process than those determined from previous isosteric heat measurements. The E_a versus θ relationship indicates that the adsorbed D atoms are mobile and that there is a repulsive interaction of 6–8 kJ mol^?1 at nearest neighbour distances. At 300 K the coverage decreases to ? 0.05 monolayer (? 8 × 10¹³ D atoms cm^?2) as P→ 0, apparently invalidating a recent model of site exchange in the adsorbed layer.