Locally enhanced relative humidity for scanning probe nanolithography

The formation of a water meniscus between a sharp tip and a solid surface is one of the prevailing requirements for scanning probe microscope (SPM)-based lithographies, such as dip-pen nanolithography (DPN) and conductive tip induced oxidation. The water meniscus functions as a medium for the oxidation of or mass transfer to the solid surface. Here we report a simple, efficient, and effective approach to enhance the local relative humidity and thus increase the size of the water meniscus by bringing a water-containing capillary tube to the proximity of the tip-surface contact area. The enhancement in local relative humidity is confirmed via an increase in the measured tip-surface adhesion forces and the widths of DPN generated parallel lines. Compared to the global control of relative humidity for the whole lithography system, the short distance between the "water reservoir" and the tip-surface contact area enables rapid increase in the local vapor pressure of water, less perturbation, and minimal erosion to the state-of-the-art electronics. As a result, most scanning probe lithography experiments at high relative humidity can now be performed in a reasonable time frame.     

Different approaches toward an automatic structural alignment of drug molecules: Applications to sterol mimics,thrombin and thermolysin inhibitors

Summary A relative comparison of the binding properties of different drug molecules requires their mutual superposition with respect to various alignment criteria. In order to validate the results of different alignment methods, the crystallographically observed binding geometries of ligands in the pocket of a common protein receptor have been used. The alignment function in the program SEAL that calculates the mutual superposition of molecules has been optimized with respect to these references. Across the reference data set, alignments could be produced that show mean rms deviations of approximately 1 Å compared to the experimental situation. For structures with obvious skeletal similarities a multiple-flexible fit, linking common pharmacophoric groups by virtual springs, has been incorporated into the molecular mechanics program MOMO. In order to combine conformational searching with comparative alignments, the optimized SEAL approach has been applied to sets of conformers generated by MIMUMBA, a program for conformational analysis. Multiple-flexible fits have been calculated for inhibitors of ergosterol biosynthesis. Sets of different thrombin and thermolysin inhibitors have been conformationally analyzed and subsequently aligned by a combined MIMUMBA/SEAL approach. Since for these examples crystallographic data on their mutual alignment are available, an objective assessment of the computed results could be performed. Among the generated conformers, one geometry could be selected for the thrombin and thermolysin inhibitors that approached reasonably well the experimentally observed alignment.     

Hydrogenation without a transition-metal catalyst: on the mechanism of the base-catalyzed hydrogenation of ketones

The hydrogenation of unsaturated organic substrates such as olefins and ketones is usually effected by homogeneous or heterogeneous transition-metal catalysts. On the other hand, a single case of a transition-metal-free and purely base-catalyzed hydrogenation of ketones was reported by Walling and Bollyky some 40 years ago. Unfortunately, the harsh reaction conditions (ca. 200 degrees C, >100 bar H(2), potassium tert-butoxide as base) limit the substrate spectrum of this reaction to robust, nonenolizable ketones such as benzophenone. We herein present a mechanistic study of this process as a basis for future rational improvement. The base-catalyzed hydrogenation of ketones was found to be irreversible, and it shows first-order kinetics with respect to the substrate ketone, hydrogen, and catalytic base. The rate of the reaction depends on the type of alkali ion present (Cs > Rb - K > Na > Li). Using D(2) instead of H(2) revealed a rapid base-catalyzed isotope exchange/equilibration between the gas phase and the solvent as a concomitant reaction. The degree of deuteration of the product alcohols did not indicate a significant kinetic isotope effect. It is proposed that both ketone reduction and isotope exchange proceed via similar six-membered cyclic transition states involving the H(2)(D(2))-molecule, the alkoxide base, and the ketone (solvent alcohol in the case of isotope exchange). Mechanistic analogies are pointed out which apparently exist between the base-catalyzed hydrogenation of ketones studied here and the Ru-catalyzed asymmetric ketone hydrogenation developed by Noyori. In both cases, heterolysis of the hydrogen molecule appears to be assisted by a Br?nsted-base (i.e., alkoxide), the latter being bound to the substrate ketone or the catalyst ligand, respectively, by a bridging Lewis-acidic alkali ion.     

LiTiCl3: Synthesis and thermal behaviour

LiTiCl₃ is obtained as one example within an ample solid solution, Li_24–2nTi_nCl₂₄ (?4?n?10), by synpropotionation of TiCl₃ and Ti in the presence of LiCl (2:1:3 molar ratio) in sealed tantalum tubes at 750°C. It crystallizes with the inverse spinel-type structure according to (Li_0.67)^[4](Li_0.67Ti_1.33)^[4]Cl₄ with, at 25°C, a = 1048.62(4) pm, space group Fd3m. Thermal expansion is linear with α = 4.85 × 10^?5K^?1 up to about 300°C and thereafter, when the migration of Li⁺ from tetrahedral to octahedral interstices becomes increasingly important, it exhibits a relative decrease resulting, finally, in the phase transition to a NaCl-type structure that is observed for the first time at about 575°C.     

NMR studies of conformations and dynamic processes—II : [26]Bicyclophanes with ethylene bridges

The conformations and dynamic processes in two bicyclophanes have been analysed on the basis of temperature-dependent ¹H NMR spectra. Both bicyclophanes are suggested to have a lowest-energy conformation of D₃ symmetry in which the substituents at all ethylene bridges are gauche⁺ (or gauche^?) oriented. The interconversion of the mirror image conformers of each bicyclophane equilibrates the two hydrogens in each methylene group, the barriers being ca 36 and 37 kJ mol^?1, respectively, as determined by line-shape analysis.     

CHEMISTRY OF SINGLET OXYGEN—XXVI. PHOTOOXYGENATION OF PHENOLSy†

Abstract— The aerobic dye-sensitized photooxygenation of monohydric phenols proceeds by way of singlet oxygen under the conditions studied. Various phenols give different proportions of reaction with and quenching of singlet oxygen. Para-substituted 2,6-di-t-butylphenols show a linear correlation between the log of the total rate of singlet oxygen removal and their halfwave oxidation potentials; the same correlation is given for certain phenol methyl ethers. A Hammett plot using s?⁺ gives ρ - 1.72 ± 0.12, consistent with development of some charge in the quenching step. Reaction of photo-chemically generated singlet oxygen with 2,4,6-triphenylphenol gives 2,4,6-triphenylphenoxy radical as an intermediate in singlet oxygen quenching, although no overall reaction occurs. Kinetic analysis indicates that the radical is derived exclusively from the interaction of 2,4,6-triphenylphenol with singlet oxygen. A charge-transfer mechanism for quenching of singlet oxygen by phenols is proposed.     

New Molybdenyl Iodates: Hydrothermal Preparation and Structures of Molecular K2MoO2(IO3)4 and Two-Dimensional β-KMoO3(IO3)

Two new molybdenyl iodates, K₂MoO₂(IO₃)₄ (1) and β-KMoO₃(IO₃) (2), have been prepared from the reactions of MoO₃ with KIO₄ and NH₄Cl at 180°C in aqueous media. The structure of 1 consists of molecular [MoO₂(IO₃)₄]²⁻ anions separated by K⁺ cations. The Mo(VI) centers are ligated by two cis-oxo ligands and four monodentate iodate anions. Both terminal and bridging oxygen atoms of the iodate anions form long ionic contacts with the K⁺ cations. β-KMoO₃(IO₃) (2) displays a two-dimensional layered structure constructed from ²_∞[(MoO₃(IO₃)]¹⁻ anionic sheets separated by K⁺ cations. These sheets are built from one-dimensional chains formed from corner-sharing MoO₆ octahedra that run along the b-axis that are linked together through bridging iodate groups. K⁺ cations separate the layers from one another and form long contacts with oxygen atoms from both the iodate anions and molybdenyl moieties. Crystallographic data: 1, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a=12.8973(9) Å, b=6.0587(4) Å, c=17.694(1) Å, β=102.451(1)°, Z=4, MoKα, λ=0.71073, R(F)=2.64% for 97 parameters with 1584 reflections with I>2σ(I); 2, monoclinic, space group P2₁/n, a=7.4999(6) Å, b=7.4737(6) Å, c=10.5269(8) Å, β=109.023(1)°, Z=4, MoKα, λ=0.71073, R(F)=2.73% for 83 parameters with 1334 reflections with I>2σ(I).     

Size-dependent chemistry: properties of nanocrystals

Properties of materials determined by their size are indeed fascinating and form the basis of the emerging area of nanoscience. In this article, we examine the size dependent electronic structure and properties of nanocrystals of semiconductors and metals to illustrate this aspect. We then discuss the chemical reactivity of metal nanocrystals which is strongly dependent on the size not only because of the large surface area but also a result of the significantly different electronic structure of the small nanocrystals. Nanoscale catalysis of gold exemplifies this feature. Size also plays a role in the assembly of nanocrystals into crystalline arrays. While we owe the beginnings of size-dependent chemistry to the early studies of colloids, recent findings have added a new dimension to the subject.     

The utilization of chemical shift and spin-lattice (T1) relaxation time data for the discrimination of isomeric indenoisoxazoles

Treatment of 2-pivaloyl-1,3-indandione with hydroxylamine leads to the formation of a pair of isomeric indenoisoxazoles, the product formed dependent upon the cyclization conditions. Under acidic conditions, 8-t-butylindeno[1,2-c]isoxazol-7-one ( 5 ) is formed while under neutral or basic conditions, an oxime, 2 , is generated which may then be cyclized under acidic conditions to give 3-t-butylindeno[1,2-c]isoxazol-4-one ( 4 ). Although these isomeric indenoisoxazoles may be discriminated by chemical means, we were interested in developing an unequivocal method for distinguishing these and potentially other isomeric pairs by spectroscopic means. A ¹³C-nmr based method for the discrimination of these isomers which is based on the utilization of chemical shift arguments and spin-lattice relaxation data is thus presented.     

A general synthesis of bis(n6−[2n]cyclophane)ruthenium(II) compounds

Hydride reduction of (n⁶-arene)(n⁶?[2_n]cyclophane)ruthenium(II) compounds, followed by treatment with acid, gives (n⁶?[2_n]cyclophane)ruthenium(II) solvates and thus provides a general synthesis for bis(n⁶?[2_n]cyclophane)ruthenium(II) compounds.