Dissociative electron attachment to furan, tetrahydrofuran, and fructose

We study dissociative electron attachment to furan (FN) (C(4)H(4)O), tetrahydrofuran (THF) (C(4)H(8)O), and fructose (FRU) (C(6)H(12)O(6)) using crossed electron/molecular beams experiments with mass spectrometric detection of the anions. We find that FN and THF are weak electron scavengers and subjected to dissociative electron attachment essentially in the energy range above 5.5 eV via core excited resonances. In striking contrast to that, FRU is very sensitive towards low energy electrons generating a variety of fragment ions via a pronounced low energy feature close to 0 eV. These reactions are associated with the degradation of the ring structure and demonstrate that THF cannot be used as surrogate to model deoxyribose in DNA with respect to the attack of electrons at subexcitation energies (<3 eV). The results support the picture that in DNA the sugar moiety itself is an active part in the initial molecular processes leading to single strand breaks.     

X-ray diffraction and STM study of reactive surfaces under electrochemical control: Cl and I on Cu(100)

The surface structure of Cu(100) modified by chloride and iodide has been studied in an electrochemical environment by means of in-situ scanning tunneling microscopy in combination with in-situ surface X-ray diffraction with a particular focus on adsorbate and potential dependent surface relaxation phenomena. For positive potentials close to the on-set of the copper dissolution reaction, the X-ray data disclose an extraordinarily large Cu-Cl bond length of 2.61 A for the c(2 x 2)-Cl phase. This finding points to a largely ionic character of the Cu-Cl interaction at the Cu(100) surface, with chloride particles likely to retain their full charge upon adsorption. Together with the positive surface charging at these high potentials, this ionic Cu-Cl bond drives the observed 2.2% outward relaxation between the first two copper layers. These results indicate that the bond between the first and the second copper layer is significantly weakened which appears as the crucial prerequisite for the high surface mobility of copper-chloride species under electrochemical annealing conditions at these high potentials. With 2.51 A the Cu-I bond is 4% shorter than the Cu-Cl bond implying that the nature of the Cu-I bond is mainly covalent. Accordingly, we observe a significant inward relaxation of the top Cu layers upon substituting chloride by iodide at the same electrode potential, which suggests that the iodide adsorption involves charge transfer from the halide to the copper substrate.     

From the Lithium‐2‐anilide‐2‐fluoro‐1,3‐diaza‐2‐sila‐cyclopentene‐GaCl3 Adduct to 1,4,6‐Triaza‐5‐gallium‐7‐sila‐cyclo‐3‐heptene ‐ Experimental and Quantum‐chemical Results

The lithium salt (HC–NCMe₃)₂SiFNLiR ( 1 ) R = C₆H₃(2,6‐CHMe₂)₂ reacts with trichlorogallium under displacement of the lithium ion by GaCl₃ to give the adduct [(HC–NCMe₃)₂SiFN]^– [(GaCl₃)R·Li(thf)₄]⁺ ( 1 ). Compound 1 thermally loses LiCl and forms the bicyclic ring intermediates V and VI . Compound  VI adds the aniline H₂NC₆H₃(2,6‐CHMe₂)₂ and the unsaturated, seven‐membered ring compound –NCMe₃–CH₂–CH=NCMe₃GaCl₂–NR–SiFNHR– ( 2 ) is obtained. The addition is accompanied by an enamine‐imine‐tautomerism and proves the Lewis acid character of the silicon atom in an unknown 3‐center‐2‐electron interaction of one nitrogen atom with the silicon and gallium atoms. Quantum chemical calculations of the thermal isomerisation process and crystal structures of 1 and 2 are reported.     

Portfolio optimization with early announced discrete dividends

In this article we include discrete dividends in the stock price model and solve the corresponding generalized portfolio optimization problem. For this, we develop a new discrete dividend model that allows for the possibility of early announcement and ensures that the drop of the stock price at the ex-dividend date equals the dividend. The resulting portfolio problem can be solved explicitly for both the wealth and the trading strategy. We find that the resulting optimal portfolio process differs from the Merton strategy.     

Synthesis,characterization and solubility studies of four new highly water soluble 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) salts and their gold(I) complexes

The synthesis of new water soluble N-alkylated derivatives of 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane is presented. The compounds were characterized by means of NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, high resolution mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis. The water solubility of these compounds was found to be up to an astonishing 1450 g/L. Several different reactions were performed utilizing these highly interesting compounds as starting materials. It was shown that the substitution of the counter ion can be performed easily. Also transformations at the PTA framework were possible, as shown by an ester cleavage example. To prove that the resulting PTA derivatives are competent as ligands for transition metals, gold(I) complexes were synthesized, using Au(tht)Cl as the metal source. The resulting gold(I) complexes were characterized by ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopy, mass and high resolution mass spectrometry or elemental analysis.     

The first Pd(II) complex of a non-heteroatom stabilised carbene ligand

Di(p-tolyl)diazomethane reacts with the tripyrrinate TrpyPdOAc(F) 1 after activation with NaBAr(F) to yield the first stable Pd(II) complex 2 of a non-Arduengo type carbene ligand, which could be characterised by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of spherical polymer and titania photonic crystallites

The fabrication of small structured spherical particles that are essentially small photonic crystals is described. The particles are 1-50 microm in diameter and are porous with nearly close-packed monodisperse pores whose size is comparable to the wavelength of light. The solid matrix of the particles is titania, which provides a large refractive index contrast between the particle matrix and pores. The particles are made by encapsulating polymer colloidal particles in emulsion droplets of hexanes in which a titanium alkoxide precursor is dissolved. Subsequent osmotic removal of the hexanes from the droplets and condensation of the alkoxide precursor leads to spherical aggregates of polymer spheres with titania filling the spaces between the polymer spheres. The polymer particles are then burned out leaving behind the desired porous titania particles. The size and structure of the pores and high refractive index of the titania matrix are expected to produce particles that are very efficient scatterers of light, making them useful as pigments.