Optical imaging of excited-state tautomerization in single molecules

Tautomerism process of single fluorescent molecules was studied by means of confocal microscopy in combination with azimuthally or radially polarized laser beams. During a tautomerism process the transition dipole moment (TDM) of a molecule changes its orientation which can be visualized by the fluorescence excitation image of the molecule. We present experimental and theoretical studies of two porphyrazine-type molecules and one type of porphyrin molecule: a symmetrically substituted metal-free phthalocyanine and porphyrin, and nonsymmetrically substituted porphyrazine. In the case of phthalocyanine the fluorescence excitation patterns show that the angle between the transition dipole moments of the two tautomeric forms is near 90°, in agreement with quantum chemical calculations. For porphyrazine we find that the orientation change of the TDM is less than 60° or larger than 120°, as theoretically predicted. Most of the porphyrin molecules show no photoinduced tautomerization, while for 7% of the total number of investigated molecules we observed excitation patterns of two different trans forms of the same single molecule. We demonstrate for the first time that a molecule, undergoing a tautomerism process stays in one tautomeric trans conformation during a time comparable with the acquisition time of one excitation pattern. This allowed us to visualize the existence of each of the two trans forms of one single porphyrin molecule, as well as the sudden switching between these tautomers.     

Mechanically activated rupture of single covalent bonds: evidence of force induced bond hydrolysis

We have used temperature-dependent single molecule force spectroscopy to stretch covalently anchored carboxymethylated amylose (CMA) polymers attached to an amino-functionalized AFM cantilever. Using an Arrhenius kinetics model based on a Morse potential as a one-dimensional representation of covalent bonds, we have extracted kinetic and structural parameters of the bond rupture process. With 35.5 kJ mol(-1), we found a significantly smaller dissociation energy and with 9.0 × 10(2) s(-1) to 3.6 × 10(3) s(-1) also smaller Arrhenius pre-factors than expected for homolytic bond scission. One possible explanation for the severely reduced dissociation energy and Arrhenius pre-factors is the mechanically activated hydrolysis of covalent bonds. Both the carboxylic acid amide and the siloxane bond in the amino-silane surface linker are in principle prone to bond hydrolysis. Scattering, slope and curvature of the scattered data plots indicate that in fact two competing rupture mechanisms are observed.     

A new linker for solid-phase synthesis of heparan sulfate precursors by sequential assembly of monosaccharide building blocks

A novel ester type linker which upon cleavage releases the glycans as carbamate protected aminoglycosides was successfully employed in the sequential assembly of L-idose and azido glucose monosaccharide building blocks to heparan sulfate precursors.     

Size-controlled flow synthesis of gold nanoparticles using a segmented flow microfluidic platform

Segmented flow is often used in the synthesis of nanomaterials to achieve narrow particle size distribution. The narrowness of the distribution is commonly attributed to the reduced dispersion associated with segmented flows. On the basis of the analysis of flow fields and the resulting particle size distribution, we demonstrate that it is the slip velocity between the two fluids and internal mixing in the continuous-phase slugs that govern the nature of the particle size distribution. The reduction in the axial dispersion has less impact on particle growth and hence on the particle size distribution. Synthesis of gold nanoparticles from HAuCl(4) with rapid reduction by NaBH(4) serves as a model system. Rapid reduction yields gold nuclei, which grow by agglomeration, and it is controlled by the interaction of the nuclei with local flow. Thus, the difference in the physical properties of the two phases and the inlet flow rates ultimately control the particle growth. Hence, a careful choice of continuous and dispersed phases is necessary to control the nanoparticle size and size distribution.     

ChemInform Abstract: Polychloride Monoanions from [Cl3]‐ to [Cl9]‐: A Raman Spectroscopic and Quantum Chemical Investigation.

Polychloride monoanions [Cl_n]^‐ (n = 3, 5, 7, 9) stabilized by quaternary ammonium salts are obtained through the addition or condensation of an excess of dry chlorine to [NMe₄]Cl, [NEt₄]Cl, [NPr₄]Cl, or [NBu₄]Cl and characterized by Raman spectroscopy and state‐of‐the‐art quantum chemical calculations up to the CCSD(T) level.     

Synthesis of Bis(imidazole‐2‐thion‐4‐yl)phosphanes

Novel bis(imidazole‐2‐thion‐4‐yl)‐ phosphanes ( 2a–d ) were synthesized via lithiation of the precursor imidazole‐2‐thiones followed by the phosphanylation reaction. Oxidation of bis(imidazole‐2‐thion‐4‐yl)phosphane 2b–d with elemental sulfur and selenium led selectively and in good yields to the P‐thio ( 3b–d ) and P‐seleno ( 4c ) derivatives of bis(imidazole‐2‐thion‐4‐yl)phosphanes, respectively. The treatment of 2a,c with phosphorus trichloride gives the corresponding P‐chloro derivatives 5a,c . These compounds were unambiguously characterized by elemental analyses, spectroscopic and spectrometric methods, in addition by single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis in the case of 2d . © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 00:1–7, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10.1002/hc.21043     

5-Iodo-1,2,3-triazolium-based multidentate halogen-bond donors as activating reagents

Bi- and tridentate polycationic halogen bond donors based on 5-iodo-1,2,3-triazolium groups have been synthesized by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions. These halogen-based Lewis acids have been evaluated as activators in a halide-abstraction benchmark reaction.     

Mathematical analysis and numerical simulation of multi-phase multi-component flow in heterogeneous porous media

Multi-phase multi-component flow processes are fundamental to engineering applications in hydrocarbon and geothermal reservoirs but also to many classical geological processes. This review will highlight recent developments in the mathematical modelling and numerical simulations of the underlying physical processes from the pore- to the reservoir scale. Many modern approaches now rely on integrating numerical and analytical methods and incorporate results across the different length scales. This provides new insights into the fundamental properties of multi-phase multi-component flow and helps to mitigate some of the inherent difficulties in quantifying them in subsurface reservoirs.