Second-order nonlinear optical properties of the Ag(111)/electrolyte interface in the presence of self-assembled monolayers containing conjugated pi systems. I. Alpha-functionalized terthiophene films on Ag(111)

The nonlinear optical properties of self-assembled monolayers obtained from bonding two different alpha-functionalized terthiophenes (alpha-T3) to (111) silver electrode surfaces have been investigated using second harmonic generation (SHG). The two (alpha-T3) compounds used were functionalized with alkane chains of different lengths (C8 and C4), and each was terminated with a thiol anchoring group. A nitrile group was attached to the terminal thiophene ring of the (alpha-T3) compound with the C4 chain. The orientation of the polarization of the incident beam was changed systematically and gradually between "p" and "s" orientation and the SH signal (isotropic and anisotropic contributions) analyzed in both directions ("P" and "S"). The symmetry of the system was reduced by the presence of the adlayers from C3v to C3. The dependence on the applied potential and the incident wavelength has also been studied. The relative magnitudes and phases of the various second-order tensor elements have been estimated and compared with the values for a bare surface. A resonance process in the (alpha-T3) pi moiety has been investigated, and from this, the effective "band-gap" energies of the organic semiconductor SAMs (i.e., the energy difference between the pi-pi bands) have been estimated.     

Rydberg fingerprint spectroscopy: a new spectroscopic tool with local and global structural sensitivity

Rydberg spectra are shown to provide a spectral fingerprint that is sensitive to molecular structure in unique ways. The concepts are demonstrated using a set of isomeric fluorophenols and a sequence of aliphatic diamines. In the fluorophenols, the sensitivity extends to the placement of a single hydrogen atom and can be traced to the molecular charge distributions associated with the locations of atoms and functional groups with respect to the charge center. Experiments on tetramethyl diamines demonstrate that the structural sensitivity encompasses the extended molecular structure, including parts of the molecule that are remote from the ionization center. This global structure sensitivity makes Rydberg fingerprint spectroscopy uniquely suited to characterize structures of large-scale molecular systems.     

A concise synthesis of β-lactam-sulfonamide hybrids

Using ring closing metathesis (RCM) as the key operation, a rapid access to β-lactams fused to a sultam moiety of variable ring size was developed from low cost, commercially available starting materials. An efficient RCM of 4-vinyl-azetidin-2-ones to give 1-aza-bicyclo[4.2.0]oct-4-en-8-ones is also reported.     

Chemically modified electrode for the determination of gold — an electrochemical and spectrophotometric study

The voltammetric determination of trace amounts of gold has been studied using a chemically modified electrode. The role played by the host molecule attached to a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), i.e. 8,9,17,18-dibenzo-1,7-dioxa-10,13,16-triazacyclooctadecane (DDTC), was examined by electrochemical and spectrochemical techniques. Cathodic stripping voltammetry (CSV) was applied to study the various parameters affecting the affinity of gold ions by a DDTC modified electrode as well as the interference by other ions. Finally, the method has been successfully applied to determine gold traces in a geological sample. In addition, the formation of an AuCl ₄ ^– -DDTC complex was followed and its formation constant was determined by spectrophotometry.     

Collision-induced dissociations of substituted benzyl anions: Deprotonated 2-Phenyl-1,3-dithiane

Deprotonated 2-phenyl-1,3-dithiane undergoes competitive losses of H˙, C₃H₆ C₂H₄S, C₃H₄S, C₇H₆S, C₁₀H₁₀ and C₁₀H₁₀S upon collisional activation. The elimination of H occurs from the phenyl ring. The loss of C₃H₆ occurs by simple cleavage of the dithiane ring. All other processes involve specific proton transfer followed by either cleavage or internal nucleophilic displacement.     

Kinetics of two-step nucleation of crystals

When the nucleation of a stable crystalline phase directly in a supersaturated old phase is greatly retarded, the crystal nuclei might nucleate within faster-forming particles of an intermediate phase. Here we present a theoretical investigation of the kinetics of this two-step nucleation of crystals and derive general expressions for the time dependence of the number of crystals nucleated within the particles of the intermediate phase. The results reveal that crystal nucleation can be strongly delayed by the slow growth of the particles and/or by the slow nucleation of the crystals in them. Furthermore, the linear part of the time dependence of the number of nucleated crystals is determined by the formation rate of the intermediate particles. This is in contrast with the one-step nucleation of crystals when this linear part is determined by the rate of crystal nucleation directly in the old phase. Criteria are proposed for distinction between the one- and two-step nucleation mechanisms, based on the supersaturation dependence of the delay time for nucleation. The application of the theoretical approach to the analysis of experimental data on the nucleation of crystals and other ordered aggregates of protein and other soluble materials is discussed.     

High-resolution laser spectroscopy of the AΠu-XΠg system of Br2

The laser excitation spectrum of the Br₂⁺ molecular ion was observed at rotational resolution for the first time, with the ions being generated by Penning ionization. In contrast to Cl₂⁺ and F₂⁺ but in agreement with recent theoretical work, no vibrational or rotational perturbations are observed. The data from a number of vibrational bands are fitted simultaneously to give reliable estimates of the Dunham rotational and vibrational constants. This fit indicates that the vibrational numbering used in previous studies should be increased by 1 in the upper state.     

Characterization and application of supported metal catalysts with well-tailored pore systems and metal dispersions

Silica supported silver catalysts were prepared by sol-gel techniques and characterized by physisorption, in-situ ESCA measurements and transmission electron microscopy. Compared to conventional supported group VIII metal catalysts, these Ag/SiO₂ catalysts exhibited a superior performance for the selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to allylic alcohols.     

Configurationally and conformationally homogeneous cyclicN-aryl sulfimides. II.13C-and1H NMR spectra

The configuration and (in case of mobile ring systems) the preferred conformation in a series of thiane- and ofcis-andtrans-1-thiadecalin-1-N-4-chlorophenyl imides were assigned by means of¹³C- and¹H nmr spectroscopy.¹H nmr criteria known to be valid for determination of the stereochemistry of cyclic sulfoxides may be applied (with limitations) to cyclicN-aryl sulfimides, if both isomers (S–N bond equatorial and axial, respectively) are known. The assignments are easier, and unambiguous for single isomers, by comparison of¹³C nmr chemical shifts of ring carbon atoms of sulfimides and sulfides. The influence of equatorially and axially oriented sulfimide groups on the chemical shifts of neighbouring protons, and on the carbon atoms of the heterocyclic rings are discussed in detail.

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Konfigurativ und konformationell einheitliche cyclische N-Aryl-sulfimide. II.¹³C- und¹H-NMR-Spektroskopie

Zusammenfassung Die Konfiguration und (bei beweglichen Ringsystemen) die bevorzugte Konformation einer Reihe von Thian- und voncis- undtrans-1-Thiadekalin-1-N-4-chlorophenylimiden wurde durch¹³C- und¹H-NMR-Spektroskopie bestimmt. Bekannte¹H-NMR-Kriterien zur Festlegung der Stereochemie cyclischer Sulfoxide sind (mit Einschränkungen) auch bei cyclischenN-Arylsulfimiden anwendbar, wenn beide Isomere (S–N-Bindung äquatorial bzw. axial) bekannt sind. Leichter, und auch bei Vorliegen von nur einem Isomeren eindeutig, gelingt die Zuordnung durch Vergleich der¹³C-NMR-Verschiebungen der Ringkohlenstoffatome von Sulfimiden und Sulfiden. Die Einflüsse äquatorial oder axial orientierter Sulfimidgruppen auf die chemischen Verschiebungen benachbarter Wasserstoffe und der Kohlenstoffe des Heterorings werden diskutiert.

     

An improved cyclization protocol for the synthesis of diazabicyclo[4.3.0]alkanes

We have recently described the synthesis of diazabicyclo[4.X.0]alkanes and their use as ligands for the prostate specific membrane antigene (PSMA). The key step of our synthetic route toward these diazabicycloalkanes is an oxidative cleavage of a bicyclic diol moiety followed by the attack of a nitrogen nucleophile to the resulting intermediate bisaldehyde. We herein describe the mechanism of this ring closure and its stereochemical consequences. In addition, we report a convenient method for trapping intermediate bisaldehydes by Wittig reagents. This trapping allows the synthesis of 3,5-disubstituted proline derivatives, which are shown to be versatile precursors for functionalized diazabicycloalkane dipeptide mimetics.