Torsional lattice vibrations in molecular crystals

Atom-atom interaction potential energies derived from various sources have been used to calculate the torsional lattice vibration frequencies of crystalline benzene. The results are compared with available experimental data. The usefulness of this type of model potential is discussed.     

Chemical tools selectively target components of the PKA system

Background  

In the eukaryotic cell the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is a key enzyme in signal transduction and represents the main target of the second messenger cAMP. Here we describe the design, synthesis and characterisation of specifically tailored cAMP analogs which can be utilised as a tool for affinity enrichment and purification as well as for proteomics based analyses of cAMP binding proteins.     

Novel U-Shaped Systems Containing an Imide-Functionalized Cleft for the Study of Solvent-Mediated Electron Transfer and Energy Transfer: Synthesis and Binding Studies

A solution to the vexing problem of investigating solvent-mediated electron transfer under conditions of frozen solvent motion may be at hand with the synthesis of novel U-shaped systems such as 1 (R=CO(2)Me) and 2 (R=CH(2)OMe), in which the imide-functionalized cleft provides the point of attachment of the "solvent" molecule, either covalently or by hydrogen bonding.     

Modeling of Phase Separation in Alloys with Coherent Elastic Misfit

Elastic interactions arising from a difference of lattice spacing between two coherent phases can have a strong influence on the phase separation (coarsening) behavior of alloys. If the elastic moduli are different in the two phases, the elastic interactions may accelerate, slow down or even stop the phase separation process. If the material is elastically anisotropic, the precipitates can be shaped like plates or needles instead of spheres and can arrange themselves into highly correlated patterns. Tensions or compressions applied externally to the specimen may have a strong effect on the shapes and arrangement of the precipitates. In this paper, we review the main theoretical approaches that have been used to model these effects and we relate them to experimental observations. The theoretical approaches considered are (i) macroscopic models treating the two phases as elastic media separated by a sharp interface, (ii) mesoscopic models in which the concentration varies continuously across the interface, and (iii) microscopic models which use the positions of individual atoms.     

High-throughput synthesis of N3-acylated dihydropyrimidines combining microwave-assisted synthesis and scavenging techniques

[reaction: see text] The solution-phase synthesis of N3-acylated dihydropyrimidines was achieved utilizing microwave flash heating both in the synthesis (acylation) and purification (scavenging) steps. Quenching times for excess anhydrides using polystyrene or silica-supported diamine sequestration reagents were reduced from several hours to minutes utilizing microwave irradiation. The use of water as sequestration agent, coupled with an efficient solid-phase extraction workup technique allowed the rapid generation of a 20-member library of N3-acylated dihydropyrimidines.     

C2-symmetric bissulfoximines as ligands in copper-catalyzed enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions

[reaction: see text] Bissulfoximines have been used as chiral ligands in copper-catalyzed enantioselective Diels-Alder reactions between acryloyl-2-oxazolidinones and cyclopentadiene. After optimizing the ligand structure, the metal source, the counterions, and the solvent, products with up to 93% ee have been obtained.     

The cation-deficient Ruddlesden-Popper oxysulfide Y2Ti2O5S2 as a layered sulfide: topotactic potassium intercalation to form KY2Ti2O5S2

Potassium intercalation into the cation-deficient n = 2 Ruddlesden-Popper oxysulfide Y(2)Ti(2)O(5)S(2) to form KY(2)Ti(2)O(5)S(2) has been carried out by reaction of the oxysulfide with potassium vapor in sealed metal tubes at 400 degrees C, potassium naphthalide in THF at 50 degrees C, or potassium in liquid ammonia at temperatures as low as -78 degrees C. Insertion of potassium is topotactic, and although a site 12-coordinate by oxide ions is vacant in the perovskite-type oxide slabs of the structure, potassium is too large to enter this site via the 4-coordinate window, and instead enters the rock-salt-type sulfide layers of the structure which necessitates a 30% increase in the lattice parameter c normal to the layers. In contrast with one of the sodium intercalates of Y(2)Ti(2)O(5)S(2) (beta-NaY(2)Ti(2)O(5)S(2)) in which sodium occupies a tetrahedral site in the sulfide layers, potassium favors an 8-coordinate site which necessitates a relative translation of adjacent oxide slabs. KY(2)Ti(2)O(5)S(2) is tetragonal: P4/mmm, a = 3.71563(4) A, c = 14.8682(2) A (at 298 K), Z = 1. Although the resistivity (3.4(1) x 10(3) Omega cm) is larger than would be expected for a metal, temperature independent paramagnetism dominates the magnetic susceptibility, and the material is electronically very similar to the analogous sodium intercalate beta-NaY(2)Ti(2)O(5)S(2) which features reduced-titanium-containing oxide layers of very similar geometry and electron count.     

Structural diversity and polytypism of lead phenylphosphonates: BING-6 and BING-9

We report the solvothermal synthesis and characterization of a series of layered lead phenylphosphonates. The crystals were suitable for single crystal X-ray diffraction data, and the two new structures we denote BING-6 [SUNY at Binghamton, Structure No. 6, Pb(PO(3)C(6)H(5)).0.25C(5)H(5)N, triclinic space group Ponemacr;, Z = 2, a = 7.0770(4) A, b = 9.3113(6) A, c = 14.6785(9) A, alpha = 80.456(1) degrees, beta = 78.023(1) degrees, gamma = 73.265(1)(o)] and BING-9 [Pb(PO(3)HC(6)H(5))(PO(3)HC(6)H(4)CH(3)), monoclinic space group C2/c, Z = 4, a = 32.663(8) A, b = 5.6220(13) A, c = 8.3307(19) A, beta = 101.419(4)(o)]. The third structure, a polytype of BING-9, was previously known only from powder X-ray diffraction methods and is denoted 3 [Pb(PO(3)HC(6)H(5))(2), monoclinic space group C2/c, Z = 4, a = 31.681(6) A, b = 5.5639(11) A, c = 8.2515(16) A, beta = 101.814(4)(o)]. All three structures possess Pb(II) and P centers connected by doubly and triply bridging oxygens. The phenyl groups cap and separate the charge-neutral layers. The phosphonates of BING-6 are nonprotonated, and the structure therefore has a Pb/P ratio of 1:1. Neutral, partially disordered pyridine solvent molecules also reside in the interlamellar space, increasing the layer to layer distance. BING-9 and 3 are polytypes and contain singly protonated phosphonates, for a Pb/P ratio of 1:2. Further characterization methods are discussed, including powder X-ray diffraction, in-situ variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Related work in the Ge, Sn, and Mn systems is also discussed. These low-dimensional materials may be useful intercalation compounds for ion-exchange or sensor applications.