A maximum likelihood estimator to distinguish single molecules by their fluorescence decays

We have developed a maximum likelihood estimator to distinguish between similar molecules at the single molecule level based upon fluorescence decay measurements. Time resolved fluorescence measurements for single Rhodamine 6G and tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate molecules in fluid flow are derived from time-correlated single photon counting. A maximum likelihood estimator is developed and applied to data from a mixture of molecules. Single molecules are identified and distinguished by their fluorescence time decays. Comparison is made between identification error rates and theoretical predictions. To our knowledge, this is the first reported example of single molecule identification by fluorescence decay in a mixture.     

Recent syntheses and reactions of cyclic imidic esters

Δ²-Oxazolines and 4H-5,6-dihydrooxazines are readily obtainable from carboxylic acids and 2- or 3-amino alcohols by gas-phase dehydration, and 4H-dihydrooxazines can also be obtained by condensation of N-(hydroxymethyl) carboxamides with olefins. These cyclic imidic esters undergo reactions in which the ring is cleaved; these reactions include a new type of polymerization. The behavior of alkyl groups in position 2 and the cyclodditions in the 2,3-position also have been studied. Reactions in side chains on position 2 and addition experiments on the sulfur analogues of the cyclic imidic esters are also reported. A table shows the principal infrared bands of substituted Δ²-oxazolines.     

Boride-based nano-laminates with MAX-phase-like behaviour

MAX-phases being usually composed of transition metals, group A elements and carbon/nitrogen are considered interesting materials for many applications because of their tremendous bulk modulus, “reversible” plasticity, and machinability. This is mainly due to their unique kind of bonding comprising covalent, ionic as well as metallic bonds providing “easy” planes of rupture and deformability due to the layered crystal structures.In transition metal boride systems, similar types of bonding are available. In particular the W₂B₅-structure type and its stacking variations allow the synthesis of strongly layered crystal structures exhibiting unique delamination phenomena.The paper presents ab initio calculations showing the similarities of bonding between the ternary carbides and the corresponding ternary or quaternary borides. Formation of boride-based nano-laminates from auxiliary liquid phases, from the melt as well as during sintering and precipitation from supersaturated solid solutions will be discussed by means of SEM and TEM studies. The role of impurities weakening the interlayer bonding will be addressed in particular. The pronounced cleavage parallel to the basal plane gives rise for crack deflection and pull-out mechanisms if the laminates are dispersed in brittle matrices such as boron carbide, silicon carbide or other transition metal borides.     

Synthesis of functional Δ-1,3,5-oxazaphospholene and 2H-1,4,2-diazaphosphole complexes via catalytic ring expansion reactions of a 2H-azaphosphirene complex

Catalytically-induced ring expansion of 2H-azaphosphirene complex 1 using ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate and acetone (2), diethylketone (3), cyclohexanone (4), benzaldehyde (5) or para-hydroxy-benzaldehyde (6) furnished selectively the Δ³-1,3,5-oxazaphospholene complexes 7-11, whereas with ortho- and para-hydroxy- or ortho- and para-amino-substituted benzonitriles the 2H-1,4,2-diazaphosphole complexes 16-19 were obtained. Two further findings are noteworthy: (1) The significant decreased reaction time in the case of the sterically more demanding carbonyl derivatives 2-4 and (2) the formation of diastereomers in the case of 10 and 11 with a ratio of 8:1 and 9:1, respectively. All products were characterized by NMR, MS and elemental analysis and the configuration of complexes 7 and 10a were determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis.     

Analysis of Toxic Aluminium Species in Natural Waters

Aluminium is known to be toxic to a wide range of aquatic organisms under certain conditions. Monomeric hydroxy ions have been found to be primarily responsible for aluminium aquatic toxicity.A survey of aluminium toxicity and a brief discussion of speciation schemes are presented. The fast reaction of Al³⁺ with pyrocatechol violet (PCV) followed by spectrophotometric analysis is a frequently used method for aluminium speciation. By using a flow system, one obtains fairly exact and reproducible control of the reaction time, and as a result it provides a direct method of analysis for free aluminium (including inorganic monomeric aluminium).The PCV-method has been adapted for the determination of aluminium in carbonate-rich natural waters using an improved buffering system. Thus it is possible to monitor aluminium concentrations in lake water as well as in pore water of the sediments of eutrophicated hardwater lakes that has been treated with aluminium salts as a restoration measure.     

Structure,Chemical Bonding,and Properties of Sc2Ni2In

Sc₂Ni₂In was prepared by a reaction of the elemental components in an are furnace and subsequent annealing at 1070 K. Sc₂Ni₂In is a Pauli paramagnet and a poor metallic conductor with a specific resistivity of 224 mΩcm at room temperature. Its crystal structure was refined from X-ray powder data: P4/mbm, a = 716.79(1) pm, c = 333.154(8) pm, Z = 2, R_wp = 0.040, and R_B(I) = 0.026. Sc₂Ni₂In crystallizes with a ternary ordered version of the U₃Si₂-type structure. The nickel and indium atoms occupy [NiSc₆] trigonal prisms and [InSc₈] square prisms, respectively. These structural fragments are derived from the AlB₂ and CsCl-type structures. Semi-empirical band structure calculations reveal Sc₂Ni₂In to be a nickelide, and the strongest bonding interactions are found for the Sc? Ni contacts, followed by Sc? In and Ni? In. A rigidband model suggests the existence of the isotypic phase Sc₂Ni₂Sb.     

Reaktionen von Uranpentabromid Die Kristallstrukturen von PPh4[UBr6], PPh4 [UBr6] · 2CCl4, (PPh4)2[UBr6] · 4CH3CN und (PPh4)2[UO2Br4] · 2CH2Cl2

Reactions of Uranium Pentabromide. Crystal Structures of PPh₄[UBr₆], PPh₄[UBr₆] · 2CCl₄, (PPh₄)₂[UBr₆] · 4CH₃CN, and (PPh₄)₂[UO₂Br₄] · 2CH₂Cl₂ PPh₄[UBr₆] and PPh₄[UBr₆] · 2CCl₄ were obtained from UBr₅ · CH₃CN and tetraphenylphosphonium bromide in dichloromethane, the latter being precipitated by CCl₄. Their crystal structures were determined by X-ray diffraction. PPh₄[UBr₆]: 2101 observed reflexions, R = 0.090, space group C2/c, Z = 4, a = 2315.5, b = 695.0, c = 1805.2 pm, β = 96.38°. PPh₄[UBr₆] · 2CCl₄: 2973 reflexions, R = 0.074, space group P2₁/c, Z = 4, a = 1111.5, b = 2114.2, c = 1718.7 pm, β = 95.42°. Hydrogen sulfide reduces uranium pentabromide to uranium tetrabromide. Upon evaporation, bromide is evolved from solutions of UBr₅ with 1 or more then 3 mol equivalents of acetonitrile in dichlormethane yielding UBr₄ · CH₃CN and UBr₄ · 3CH₃CN, respectively. These react with PPh₄Br in acetonitrile affording (PPh₄)₂[UBr₆] · 4CH₃CN, the crystal structure of which was determined: 2663 reflexions, R = 0.050, space group P2₁/c, Z = 2, a = 981.8, b = 2010.1, c = 1549.3 pm, β = 98.79°. By reduction of uranium pentabromide with tetraethylammonium hydrogen sulfide in dichloromethane (NEt₄)₂[U₂Br₁₀] was obtained; (PPh₄)₂[U₂Br₁₀] formed from UBr₄ and PPh₄Br in CH₂Cl₂. Both compounds are extremely sensitive towards moisture and oxygen. The crystal structure of the oxydation product of the latter compound, (PPh₄)₂[U0₂Br₄]· 2 CH₂Cl₂, was determined: 2163 reflexions, R = 0.083, space group C2/c, Z = 4, a = 2006.3, b = 1320.6, c = 2042,5 pm, β = 98.78°. Mean values for the UBr bond lengths in the octahedral anions are 266.2 pm for UBr₆-, 276.7 pm for UBr₆^2? and 282.5 pm for UO₂Br₄^2?     

Darstellung,Ramanspektren und Kristallstrukturen von V2O3(SO4)2, K[VO(SO4)2] und NH4[VO(SO4)2]

Preparation, Raman Spectra, and Crystal Structures of V₂O₃(SO₄)₂, K[VO(SO₄)₂], and NH₄[VO(SO₄)₂] The oxo-sulfato-vanadates(V) V₂O₃(SO₄)₂, K[VO(SO₄)₂], and NH₄[VO(SO₄)₂] have been prepared as crystals suitable for X-ray structure determination. In all structures sulfate acts as an unidentate ligand only toward a single vanadium atom. The structure of V₂O₃(SO₄)₂ consists of a threedimensional network of pairs of cornershared VO₆ octahedra with one terminal oxygen atom each, and SO₄ tetrahedra. All oxygen atoms of the sulfate ions are coordinated. NH₄[VO(SO₄)₂] and K[VO(SO₄)₂] are isostructural. VO₆ octahedra with one terminal oxygen atom and pairs of sulfate tetrahedra form infinite chains by corner sharing. The chains are weakly interlinked to layers. The sulfate ions are distorted towards planar SO₃ molecules and single oxygen atoms attached to vanadium. This structural detail gives an explanation for the mechanism of the reversible reaction K[VO(SO₄)₂] ? K[VO₂(SO₄)] + SO₃ at 400°C. Raman spectra of the compounds have been recorded and interpreted with respect to their structures. Crystal data: V₂O₃(SO₄)₂, monoclinic, space group P2₁/a, a = 947.2(4), b = 891.3(3), c? 989.1(4) pm, β = 104.56(3)°, Z = 4, 878 unique data, R(R_w) = 0.039(0,033); K[VO(SO₄)₂], orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁, a = 495.3(2), b = 869.6(9), c = 1 627(1)pm, Z = 4, 642 unique data, R(R_w) = 0,11(0,10); NH₄[VO(SO₄)₂], orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁, a = 495.3(1), b = 870.0(2), c = 1 676.7(4)pm, Z = 4, 768 unique data, R(R_w) = 0.088(0.083).