Forward four-wave interactions in bismuth silicon oxide-theory and experiment

The interaction between two strong pump beams and two signal beams is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. It is shown that the frequencies of the beams need to satisfy the relation that the sum of the pump beam frequencies should be equal to the sum of the signal beam frequencies. The gain is shown to depend on the detuning of the pump beams relative to the incident signal beam and on the direction of the signal beam. Maximum gain is obtained when the signal beams bisect the pump beams.     

Quantification of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Avian Dried Blood Spots by Ultra-performance Liquid Chromatography with Simple Liquid Extraction and Phospholipid Solid-phase Extraction Preparation

Here, a simple, reliable method for the quantification of the 16 EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in dried blood spots is outlined using liquid extraction and phospholipid solid-phase sample cleanup coupled with analysis by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet–visible detection. Whole blood spotted on Whatman FTA cards was efficiently quantified by extraction into acidified methanol and passed through a phospholipid solid-phase extraction well plate before injection into a liquid chromatography under reverse-phase conditions. The analyte recoveries in quality control samples ranged from 63.4 to 104.1%, with relative standard deviations from 0.48 to 2.04%. These figures of merit are comparable with measurements in whole blood or serum using similar techniques. The method detection limits were from 45.0?ng·g^?1 for benzo[g,h,i]perylene to 118.7?ng·g^?1 for chrysene, with matrix spike recoveries from 64.3 to 99.4%, demonstrating acceptable sensitivity and low matrix interference. With a simple liquid extraction approach and short 16-min liquid chromatography, the dried blood spots were effectively and rapidly analyzed.     

A radioxenon detection system using CdZnTe,an array of SiPMs,and a plastic scintillator

This paper presents the design and characterization of a prototype compact beta–gamma radioxenon detection system that utilizes a coplanar CdZnTe crystal, an array of SiPMs, and a plastic scintillator. The detector is directly mounted on a custom PCB. The system provides the advantage of room-temperature operation, while being compact, low noise, and with simple readout electronics. Preliminary measurements using ¹³⁷Cs, ¹³⁵Xe, and ^133/133mXe were conducted to optimize various system parameters to achieve optimal resolution of key photopeaks. The purpose of this research was to explore the potential of these radiation detection elements for use in beta–gamma coincidence applications.     

Non-linear normal modes,invariance, and modal dynamics approximations of non-linear systems

Non-linear systems are here tackled in a manner directly inherited from linear ones, that is, by using proper normal modes of motion. These are defined in terms of invariant manifolds in the system's phase space, on which the uncoupled system dynamics can be studied. Two different methodologies which were previously developed to derive the non-linear normal modes of continuous systems — one based on a purely continuous approach, and one based on a discretized approach to which the theory developed for discrete systems can be applied-are simultaneously applied to the same study case-an Euler-Bernoulli beam constrained by a non-linear spring-and compared as regards accuracy and reliability. Numerical simulations of pure non-linear modal motions are performed using these approaches, and compared to simulations of equations obtained by a classical projection onto the linear modes. The invariance properties of the non-linear normal modes are demonstrated, and it is also found that, for a pure non-linear modal motion, the invariant manifold approach achieves the same accuracy as that obtained using several linear normal modes, but with significantly reduced computational cost. This is mainly due to the possibility of obtaining high-order accuracy in the dynamics by solving only one non-linear ordinary differential equation.     

Synthesis, photophysical and electrophosphorescent properties of fluorene-based platinum(II) complexes

A series of platinum(II) complexes bearing tridentate cyclometalated C^N^N (C^N^N=6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine and π-extended R-C^N^N=3-[6'-(naphthalen-2'-yl)pyridin-2'-yl]isoquinoline) ligands with fluorene units have been synthesised and their photophysical properties have been studied. The fluorene units are incorporated into the cyclometalated ligands by a Suzuki coupling reaction. An increase in the π-conjugation of the cyclometalated ligands confers favourable photophysical properties compared to the 6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine analogues. The fluorene-based platinum(II) complexes display vibronic-structured emission bands with λ(max)=558-601 nm, and high emission quantum yields up to 0.76 in degassed dichloromethane. Their emissions are tentatively assigned to excited states with mixed (3)IL/(3)MLCT parentage (IL=intraligand, MLCT=metal-to-ligand charge transfer). The crystal structures of these platinum(II) complexes reveal extensive Pt(II)···π and/or π-π interactions. The fluorene-based platinum(II) complexes are soluble in organic solvents, have high thermal stability with decomposition temperature >350 °C, and can be thermally vacuum-sublimed or solution-processed as phosphorescent dopants for the fabrication of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). A monochromic OLED with 3d as dopant (2 wt%) fabricated by vacuum deposition gave a current efficiency of 14.7 cd A(-1) and maximum brightness of 27000 cd m(-2). A high current efficiency (9.2 cd A(-1)) has been achieved in a solution-processed OLED using complex 3f (5 wt%) doped in a PVK (poly(9-vinylcarbazole)) host.     

Preactivation‐Based,One‐Pot Combinatorial Synthesis of Heparin‐like Hexasaccharides for the Analysis of Heparin–Protein Interactions

Heparin (HP) and heparan sulfate (HS) play important roles in many biological events. Increasing evidence has shown that the biological functions of HP and HS can be critically dependent upon their precise structures, including the position of the iduronic acids and sulfation patterns. However, unraveling the HP code has been extremely challenging due to the enormous structural variations. To overcome this hurdle, we investigated the possibility of assembling a library of HP/HS oligosaccharides using a preactivation‐based, one‐pot glycosylation method. A major challenge in HP/HS oligosaccharide synthesis is stereoselectivity in the formation of the cis‐1,4‐linkages between glucosamine and the uronic acid. Through screening, suitable protective groups were identified on the matching glycosyl donor and acceptor, leading to stereospecific formation of both the cis‐1,4‐ and trans‐1,4‐linkages present in HP. The protective group chemistry designed was also very flexible. From two advanced thioglycosyl disaccharide intermediates, all of the required disaccharide modules for library preparation could be generated in a divergent manner, which greatly simplified building‐block preparation. Furthermore, the reactivity‐independent nature of the preactivation‐based, one‐pot approach enabled us to mix the building blocks. This allowed rapid assembly of twelve HP/HS hexasaccharides with systematically varied and precisely controlled backbone structures in a combinatorial fashion. The speed and the high yields achieved in glycoassembly without the need to use a large excess of building blocks highlighted the advantages of our approach, which can be of general use to facilitate the study of HP/HS biology. As a proof of principle, this panel of hexasaccharides was used to probe the effect of backbone sequence on binding with the fibroblast growth factor‐2 (FGF‐2). A trisaccharide sequence of 2‐O‐sulfated iduronic acid flanked by N‐sulfated glucosamines was identified to be the minimum binding motif and N‐sulfation was found to be critical. This provides useful information for further development of more potent compounds towards FGF‐2 binding, which can have potential applications in wound healing and anticancer therapy.     

Hydrogen bonding versus van der Waals interactions: competitive influence of noncovalent interactions on 2D self-assembly at the liquid-solid interface

The structures of the self-assembled monolayers of various 4-alkoxybenzoic acids physisorbed at the liquid-solid interface were established by employing scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). This study has been essentially undertaken to explore the competitive influence of van der Waals and hydrogen-bonding interactions on the process of two-dimensional self-assembly. These acid derivatives form hydrogen-bonded dimers as expected; however, the dimers organise themselves in the form of relatively complex lamellae. The characteristic feature of these lamellae is the presence of regular discommensurations or kinks along the lamella propagation direction. The formation of kinked lamellae is discussed in light of the registry mechanism of the alkyl chains with the underlying graphite substrate. The location of the kinks along a lamella depends on the number (odd or even) of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain. This result indicates that concerted van der Waals interactions of the alkyl chain units introduce the odd/even chain-length effect on the surface-assembled supramolecular patterns. The odd/even effects are retained even upon complexation with a hydrogen-bond acceptor. However, as the solvent is changed from 1-phenyloctane to 1-octanoic acid, the kinked lamellae as well as the odd/even effects disappear. This solvent-induced convergence of supramolecular patterns is attained by means of co-crystallisation of octanoic acid molecules in the 2D crystal lattice, which is evident from high-resolution STM images. The solvent co-adsorption phenomenon is discussed in terms of competing van der Waals and hydrogen-bonding interactions.     

β‐Diketiminate‐Stabilized Magnesium(I) Dimers and Magnesium(II) Hydride Complexes: Synthesis,Characterization, Adduct Formation,and Reactivity Studies

The preparation and characterization of a series of magnesium(II) iodide complexes incorporating β‐diketiminate ligands of varying steric bulk and denticity, namely, [(ArNCMe)₂CH]^? (Ar=phenyl, (^PhNacnac), mesityl (^MesNacnac), or 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl (Dipp, ^DippNacnac)), [(DippNCtBu)₂CH]^? (^tBuNacnac), and [(DippNCMe)(Me₂NCH₂CH₂NCMe)CH]^? (^DmedaNacnac) are reported. The complexes [(^PhNacnac)MgI(OEt₂)], [(^MesNacnac)MgI(OEt₂)], [(^DmedaNacnac)MgI(OEt₂)], [(^MesNacnac)MgI(thf)], [(^DippNacnac)MgI(thf)], [(^tBuNacnac)MgI], and [(^tBuNacnac)MgI(DMAP)] (DMAP=4‐dimethylaminopyridine) were shown to be monomeric by X‐ray crystallography. In addition, the related β‐diketiminato beryllium and calcium iodide complexes, [(^MesNacnac)BeI] and [{(^DippNacnac)CaI(OEt₂)}₂] were prepared and crystallographically characterized. The reductions of all metal(II) iodide complexes by using various reagents were attempted. In two cases these reactions led to the magnesium(I) dimers, [(^MesNacnac)MgMg(^MesNacnac)] and [(^tBuNacnac)MgMg(^tBuNacnac)]. The reduction of a 1:1 mixture of [(^DippNacnac)MgI(OEt₂)] and [(^MesNacnac)MgI(OEt₂)] with potassium gave a low yield of the crystallographically characterized complex [(^DippNacnac)Mg(μ‐H)(μ‐I)Mg(^MesNacnac)]. All attempts to form beryllium(I) or calcium(I) dimers by reductions of [(^MesNacnac)BeI], [{(^DippNacnac)CaI(OEt₂)}₂], or [{(^tBuNacnac)CaI(thf)}₂] have so far been unsuccessful. The further reactivity of the magnesium(I) complexes [(^MesNacnac)MgMg(^MesNacnac)] and [(^tBuNacnac)MgMg(^tBuNacnac)] towards a variety of Lewis bases and unsaturated organic substrates was explored. These studies led to the complexes [(^MesNacnac)Mg(L)Mg(L)(^MesNacnac)] (L=THF or DMAP), [(^MesNacnac)Mg(μ‐AdN₆Ad)Mg(^MesNacnac)] (Ad=1‐adamantyl), [(^tBuNacnac)Mg(μ‐AdN₆Ad)Mg(^tBuNacnac)], and [(^MesNacnac)Mg(μ‐tBu₂N₂C₂O₂)Mg(^MesNacnac)] and revealed that, in general, the reactivity of the magnesium(I) dimers is inversely proportional to their steric bulk. The preparation and characterization of [(^tBuNacnac)Mg(μ‐H)₂Mg(^tBuNacnac)] has shown the compound to have different structural and physical properties to [(^tBuNacnac)MgMg(^tBuNacnac)]. Treatment of the former with DMAP has given [(^tBuNacnac)Mg(H)(DMAP)], the X‐ray crystal structure of which disclosed it to be the first structurally authenticated terminal magnesium hydride complex. Although attempts to prepare [(^MesNacnac)Mg(μ‐H)₂Mg(^MesNacnac)] were not successful, a neutron diffraction study of the corresponding magnesium(I) complex, [(^MesNacnac)MgMg(^MesNacnac)] confirmed that the compound is devoid of hydride ligands.     

The stereochemical assignment of acyclic polyols: a computational study of the NMR data of a library of stereopentad sequences from polyketide natural products

The reliable stereochemical assignment of flexible molecules, such as acyclic polypropionates is an enormously challenging task. This is illustrated by the NMR chemical shifts for a complete set of sixteen diastereomeric stereopentads whose experimental data is reported here for the first time. Although the experimental spectra are very similar to each other, analysis of the similarity between the shifts of different diastereoisomers reveals that some diastereoisomers are much more distinctive than others. In addition, the NMR shifts of the sixteen compounds have also been calculated using DFT GIAO calculations, and the use of our recently developed CP3 parameter for structure assignment is illustrated for these molecules. Even in cases where the experimental spectra are very similar, our CP3 parameter makes possible the correct assignment of pairs of diastereoisomers with high confidence.