Corrected asymmetry plots

Presenting experimental data as asymmetry plotsA _i (t), rather than as single histogramsN _±i (t), removes the muon lifetime which allows the time dependence of the ensemble muon polarization to be viewed directly (particularly useful for longitudinal and zero field experiments). The combining of two histograms effectively increases the statistical accuracy by a factor of 2. However, differences in efficiency within a pair of counters, differences in solid angle subtended by a pair of counters, counter pairs which are not exactly 180 degrees apart and errors in the random background estimate can distort the calculation of the asymmetry. This paper describes the expected distortions and explains how to correct for them.     

Full vector treatment of the polarization evolution in an arbitrary field distribution

This paper presents a vector representation of the ensemble muon polarizationP(t) for static field distributions which emphasizes the different behavior resulting from correlated and non-correlated field distributions. For example, with most local field distributions, such as random dipolar fields, the net muon polarization in the limit of infinite timeP(t) is parallel to the initial muon spin direction when the using transverse field (TF) or longitudinal field (LF) geometries. In general, however, it need not be; this will be demonstrated using the field distribution of an anisotropic superconductor.     

Tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)‐Bridged Resorcin[4]arene Cavitands: Towards New Electrochemical Molecular Switches

We report the synthesis of novel resorcin[4]arene‐based cavitands featuring two extended bridges consisting of quinoxaline‐fused TTF (tetrathiafulvalene) moieties. In the neutral form, these cavitands were expected to adopt the vase form, whereas, upon oxidation, the open kite geometry should be preferred due to Coulombic repulsion between the two TTF radical cations (Scheme 2). The key step in the preparation of these novel molecular switches was the P(OEt)₃‐mediated coupling between a macrocyclic bis(1,3‐dithiol‐2‐thione) and 2 equiv. of a suitable 1,3‐dithiol‐2‐one. Following the successful application of this strategy to the preparation of mono‐TTF‐cavitand 3 (Scheme 3), the synthesis of the bis‐TTF derivatives 2 (Scheme 4) and 19 (Scheme 5) was pursued; however, the target compounds could not be isolated due to their insolubility. Upon decorating both the octol bowl and the TTF cavity rims with long alkyl chains, the soluble bis‐TTF cavitand 23 was finally obtained, besides a minor amount of the novel cage compound 25a featuring a highly distorted TTF bridge (Scheme 6). In contrast to 25a , the deep cavitand 23 undergoes reversible vase → kite switching upon lowering the temperature from 293 to 193 K (Fig. 1). Electrochemical studies by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) provided preliminary evidence for successful vase → kite switching of 23 induced by the oxidation of the TTF cavity walls.     

New isomerization operations for fullerene graphs

The problem of topological isomerization operations for fullerenes is considered. Two basic classes of isomerization transformations admissible for fullerene graphs are proposed: rotation and mirror reflection of a chosen part of fullerene graph. Pyracylene and generalized Stone-Wales rearrangements are only the specific cases of extended isomerization operations for the fullerene graphs.     

Assembly of crystalline halogen-bonded materials by physical vapor deposition

Polycrystalline halogen-bonded assemblies fabricated by physical vapor deposition (PVD) exhibit controllable morphologies and microstructures. Although the solid-state packing may vary going from a solution crystal growth process (used for chromophore single-crystal determination) to a vapor-phase deposition process (used for PVD film fabrication), the corresponding film microstructures are independent of the substrate surface chemistry.     

Photochemical upconversion approach to broad-band visible light generation

The sensitized triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) of 9,10-dimethylanthracene (DMA) upon selective excitation of [Ru(dmb)3]2+ (dmb = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine) at 514.5 nm in dimethylformamide (DMF) resulted in upconverted and downconverted DMA excimer photoluminescence. The triplet excited state of [Ru(dmb)3]2+ is efficiently quenched by 11 mM DMA in DMF resulting in photon upconversion but no excimer formation. The bimolecular quenching constant of the dynamic quenching process is 1.4 x 109 M-1 s-1. At 90 mM DMA, both upconversion and downconversion processes are readily observed in aerated DMF solutions. The TTA process was confirmed by the quadratic dependence of the upconverted and downconverted emission emanating from the entire integrated photoluminescence profile (400-800 nm) of DMA measured with respect to incident light power. Time-resolved emission spectra of [Ru(dmb)3]2+ and 90 mM DMA in both aerated and deaerated DMF clearly illustrates the time-delayed nature of both types of singlet-state emission, which interestingly shows similar decay kinetics on the order of 14 mus. The emission quantum yields (Phi) measured using relative actinometry increased with increasing DMA concentrations, reaching a plateau at 3.0 mM DMA (Phi = 4.0%), while at 90 mM DMA, the overall quantum yield diminished to 0.5%. The dominant process occurring at 3.0 mM DMA is upconversion from the singlet excited state of DMA, whereas at 90 mM DMA, both upconversion and excimeric emission are observed in almost equal portions, thereby resulting in an overall broad-band visible light-emission profile.     

Theoretical study of the gas-phase chemiionization reactions La + O and La + O2

The La + O and La + O 2 chemiionization reactions have been investigated with quantum chemical methods. For La + O 2(X (3)Sigma g) and La + O 2(a (1)Delta g), the chemiionization reaction La + O 2 --> LaO 2 (+) + e (-) has been shown to be endothermic and does not contribute to the experimental chemielectron spectra. For the La + O 2(X (3)Sigma g) reaction conditions, chemielectrons are produced by La + O 2 --> LaO + O, followed by La + O --> LaO (+) + e (-). This is supported by the same chemielectron band, arising from La + O --> LaO (+) + e (-), being observed from both the La + O( (3)P) and La + O 2(X (3)Sigma g) reaction conditions. For La + O 2(a (1)Delta g), a chemielectron band with higher electron kinetic energy than that obtained from La + O 2(X (3)Sigma g) is observed. This is attributed to production of O( (1)D) from the reaction La + O 2(a (1)Delta g) --> LaO + O( (1)D), followed by chemiionization via the reaction La + O( (1)D) --> LaO (+) + e (-). Potential energy curves are computed for a number of states of LaO, LaO* and LaO (+) to establish mechanisms for the observed La + O --> LaO (+) + e (-) chemiionization reactions.     

Conway’s Wizards

I present and discuss a puzzle about wizards invented by John H. Conway.     

Acetone promoted 1,4-migration of an alkoxycarbonyl group on a syn-1,2-diamine

A 2-protected cis-amino mitosene undergoes an irreversible acetone promoted isomerization and converts to the 1-isomer. Kinetic studies and DFT calculations of the reaction are reported. An organocatalytic mechanism is proposed, involving a covalent intermediate formed by reaction of the mitosene and acetone.     

Iron oxide nanoparticles supported on ultradispersed diamond powders: Effect of the preparation procedure

The state of the iron oxide nanoparticles, supported on ultradispersed diamond (UDD) powders is studied by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption, temperature-programmed reduction, FTIR and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Methanol decomposition to hydrogen and CO is used as a catalytic test. The peculiarities of the iron oxide species strongly depend on the detonation procedure used for the UDD powders preparation as well as on the iron modification procedure.