Electron spin density distribution in the special pair triplet of Rhodobacter sphaeroides R26 revealed by magnetic field dependence of the solid-state photo-CIDNP effect

Photo-CIDNP (photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization) can be observed in frozen and quinone-blocked photosynthetic reaction centers (RCs) as modification of magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR signal intensity under illumination. Studying the carotenoidless mutant strain R26 of Rhodobacter sphaeroides, we demonstrate by experiment and theory that contributions to the nuclear spin polarization from the three-spin mixing and differential decay mechanism can be separated from polarization generated by the radical pair mechanism, which is partially maintained due to differential relaxation (DR) in the singlet and triplet branch. At a magnetic field of 1.4 T, the latter contribution leads to dramatic signal enhancement of about 80,000 and dominates over the two other mechanisms. The DR mechanism encodes information on the spin density distribution in the donor triplet state. Relative peak intensities in the photo-CIDNP spectra provide a critical test for triplet spin densities computed for different model chemistries and conformations. The unpaired electrons are distributed almost evenly over the two moieties of the special pair of bacteriochlorophylls, with only slight excess in the L branch.     

General max-stable laws

We review the work on max-stable laws and their max domains of attraction introduced by Pancheva (Lect Notes Math 1155:284–309, 1984). We introduce the concept of general max domain of strict attraction of the general max-stable laws, a subclass of the general max domain of attraction and prove new results. Some interesting examples also are discussed.      

Investigations on Binary Mixtures of Propan-2-ol with Methyl Benzoate and Ethyl Benzoate

The molecular interactions between the polar systems propan-2-ol with alkyl benzoates (methyl benzoate and ethyl benzoate), for various mole fractions and different temperatures, were studied by determining the dielectric permittivity using a LF impedance analyzer and Abbe’s refractometer in the static and optical frequency regions, respectively. The effective Kirkwood correlation factor, corrective Kirkwood correlation factor, dipole moment, excess dipole moment, and excess Helmholtz free energy were calculated using the experimental data. Hamiltonian quantum mechanical calculations (ab initio and semiempirical) were performed using PC Spartan and Argus lab Modeling software for both pure and equimolar binary systems of propan-2-ol with alkyl benzoates.     

Novel method for order parameter of ferroelectric liquid crystals by image analysis

A novel method for temperature dependence of order parameter calculations at different wavelengths through birefringence measurements for ferroelectric liquid crystals (S)-(-)-2-methylbutyl 4′-(4″-n-alkanoyloxy benzoyloxy) biphenyl-4-carboxylates (where n?=?16 and 18) has been proposed using image analysis and linear regression method of Kuczynski equation. Measurements are made for its liquid crystal phases (SmecticC*, SmecticA) to the isotropic phase of the sample. The birefringence values of the samples at different wavelengths are obtained from the textural analysis of liquid crystal as a function of temperature using MATLAB software.     

Existence and stability of new nanoreactors: highly swollen hexagonal liquid crystals

We report the preparation of direct hexagonal liquid crystals, constituted of oil-swollen cylinders arranged on a triangular lattice in water. The volume ratio of oil over water, rho can be as large as 3.8. From the lattice parameter measured by small-angle X-ray scattering, we show that all the oil is indeed incorporated into the cylinders, thus allowing the diameter of the cylinders to be controlled over one decade range, provided that the ionic strength of the aqueous medium and rho are varied concomitantly. These hexagonal swollen liquid crystals (SLCs) have been first reported with sodium dodecyl sulfate as anionic surfactant, cyclohexane as solvent, 1-pentanol as co-surfactant, and sodium chloride as salt (Ramos, L.; Fabre, P. Langmuir 1997, 13, 13). The stability of these liquid crystals is investigated when the pH of the aqueous medium or the chemical nature of the components (salt and surfactant) is changed. We demonstrate that the range of stability is quite extended, rendering swollen hexagonal phases potentially useful for the fabrication of nanomaterials. As illustrations, we finally show that gelation of inorganic particles in the continuous aqueous medium of a SLC and polymerization within the oil-swollen cylinders of a SLC can be conducted without disrupting the hexagonal order of the system.     

Polymerization of para-xylylene derivatives (parylene polymerization). II. Heat effects during deposition of parylene C at different temperatures

Thermal effects accompanying vacuum deposition of poly(chloro-para-xylylene) in the temperature range between ?196 and 0°C have been studied using two separate methods. One is based on the recording of the rate of evaporation of liquid nitrogen and it is used for the deposition at ?196°C, and the second involves the recording of changes in the substrate temperature and is used for the deposition in the range of ?162 to 0°C. These methods enable us to observe two distinct effects: fast (discrete), resulting in the appearance of sharp, exothermic spikes; and slow (continuous), resulting in the shift of the baseline. The shift of the baseline exhibits a well-defined maximum at about ?65°C and this temperature is attributed to the melting point of the monomer. The fast process always occurs below this temperature and is explained as a solid state, chain addition polymerization. The quantification of the heat effect at ?196°C strongly suggests that the quinonoid form of the monomer participates in the propagation step of this chain reaction. The fast (solid state) and the continuous modes of polymerization may occur simultaneously in the range of about ?140 and ?65°C. The frequency of the initiation which is the formation of dimer radical seems to control the occurrence of these two modes of polymerization.     

Polymerization of para-xylylene derivatives. V. Effects of the sublimation rate of di-p-xylylene on the crystallinity of parylene C deposited at different temperatures

Poly(chloro-p-xylylene) was synthesized in a manner similar to poly(p-xylylene) using Gorham's method at various cryogenic temperatures. The effect of the sublimation rate of dimer on the kinetics of deposition, crystallinity, and crystalline structure was studied. Increasing the sublimation rate of the dimer increases the deposition rate similar to that of poly(p-xylylene). However, an increase in crystallinity, in contrast to Parylene N, is observed, although, in general, Parylene C has lower crystallinity relative to Parylene N. No polymorphism is observed either by decreasing the deposition temperature or by increasing the sublimation rate of the dimer. Solution annealing and isothermal annealing both bring about crystallization without any structural transformation. Solution annealing removes the oligomers and dimers, but no crystalline oligomers are ever detected under the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The surface topology of films synthesized from ambient temperature to ?40°C is very similar to Parylene N. At lower temperatures, in the region ?50 to ?60°C, a rod-type morphology is observed similar to Parylene N. The surface topology of samples synthesized at ?196°C is totally different from that of Parylene N. All low temperature synthesized samples are amorphous.     

Highly stereoselective chlorination of beta-substituted cyclic alcohols using PPh3-NCS: factors that control the stereoselectivity

A variety of trans-beta-substituted cyclic alcohols were stereoselectively chlorinated to either the corresponding cis-chloride or trans-chloride (inversion or retention of configuration) with good to excellent yields; the stereochemical outcome is determined by the size of the ring and the nature of the beta-substituents, especially the electronegativity of the substituted atom.     

Molecular Symmetry and Related Properties

Abstract

The molecular rotational symmetry number, [sgrave], is defined and evaluated for a wide range of rigid organic compounds. Molecular symmetry is an important determinant of a variety of properties of crystalline substances. It is shown that the entropy of melting, ΔS_m, is related to symmetry by ΔS_m = 13.5–R In[sgrave]. Since molecular symmetry plays an important role in the determination of the entropy of melting it is also important in determining vapor pressure and ideal solubility, both of which depend upon entropy of melting.     

固态Photo-CIDNP效应

光化学诱导动态核极化(photo-CIDNP)是一种在光照条件下由于产生非玻尔兹曼核自旋极化而使核磁共振(NMR)波谱信号强度发生明显变化的效应。这种效应在液体NMR中已为人所熟知,并通过经典的自由基对机理得到解释。固态photo-CIDNP效应发现的较晚,本文介绍了在光合反应中心及蓝光受体中发现的固态photo-CIDNP效应,详细阐述了固态photo-CIDNP效应产生的自由基对自旋动力学的机理,包括三旋混合(TSM)、衰变差异(DD)和弛豫差异(DR),重点介绍了类球红杆菌光合反应中心固态photo-CIDNP效应的磁场依赖性,这种场依赖性在同一分子中的不同核之间表现出明显的差异。本文综述了固态photo-CIDNP效应的现象、理论及其磁场依赖特性的最新进展。