Revealing Excited-State Trajectories on Potential Energy Surfaces with Atomic Resolution in Real Time

Photoexcited molecular trajectories on potential energy surfaces (PESs) prior to thermalization are intimately connected to the photochemical reaction outcome. The excited-state trajectories of a diplatinum complex featuring photo-activated metal–metal σ-bond formation and associated Pt−Pt stretching motions were detected in real time using femtosecond wide-angle X-ray solution scattering. The observed motions correspond well with coherent vibrational wavepacket motions detected by femtosecond optical transient absorption. Two key coordinates for intersystem crossing have been identified, the Pt−Pt bond length and the orientation of the ligands coordinated with the platinum centers, along which the excited-state trajectories can be projected onto the calculated PESs of the excited states. This investigation has gleaned novel insight into electronic transitions occurring on the time scales of vibrational motions measured in real time, revealing ultrafast nonadiabatic or non-equilibrium processes along excited-state trajectories involving multiple excited-state PESs.     

The Crucial Role of Sb2F10 in the Chemical Synthesis of F2

The purely chemical synthesis of fluorine is a spectacular reaction which for more than a century had been believed to be impossible. In 1986, it was finally experimentally achieved, but since then this important reaction has not been further studied and its detailed mechanism had been a mystery. The known thermal stability of MnF₄ casts serious doubts on the originally proposed hypothesis that MnF₄ is thermodynamically unstable and decomposes spontaneously to a lower manganese fluoride and F₂. This apparent discrepancy has now been resolved experimentally and by electronic structure calculations. It is shown that the reductive elimination of F₂ requires a large excess of SbF₅ and occurs in the last reaction step when in the intermediate [SbF₆][MnF₂][Sb₂F₁₁] the addition of one more SbF₅ molecule to the [SbF₆]⁻ anion generates a second tridentate [Sb₂F₁₁]⁻ anion. The two tridentate [Sb₂F₁₁]⁻ anions then provide six fluorine bridges to the Mn atom thereby facilitating the reductive elimination of the two fluorine ligands as F₂.     

On the Reactivity of Phosphaalumenes towards C−C Multiple Bonds

Heterocycles containing group 13 and 15 elements such as borazines are an integral part of organic, biomedical and materials chemistry. Surprisingly, heterocycles containing P and Al are rare. We have now utilized phosphaalumenes in reactions with alkynes, alkenes and conjugated double bond systems. With sterically demanding alkynes 1,2-phosphaalumetes were afforded, whereas the reaction with HCCH or HCCSiMe₃ gave 1,4-phosphaaluminabarrelenes. Using styrene saturated 1,2-phosphaalumates were formed, which reacted further with additional styrene to give different regio-isomers of 1,4-aluminaphosphorinanes. Using ethylene, a 1,4-aluminaphosphorinane is obtained, while with 1,3-butadiene a bicyclic system containing an aluminacyclopentane and a phosphirane unit was synthesized. The experimental work is supported by theoretical studies to shed light on the mechanism governing the formation of these heterocycles.     

Modification of Branched Poly(ethylene imine) with d-Fructose for Selective Delivery of siRNA into Human Breast Cancer Cells

Branched poly(ethylene imine) (bPEI) is frequently used in RNA interference (RNAi) experiments as a cationic polymer for the delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) because of its ability to form stable polyplexes that facilitate siRNA uptake. However, the use of bPEI in gene delivery is limited by its cytotoxicity and a need for target specificity. In this work, bPEI is modified with d- fructose to improve biocompatibility and target breast cancer cells through the overexpressed GLUT5 transporter. Fructose-substituted bPEI (Fru−bPEI) is accessible in three steps starting from commercially available protected fructopyranosides and bPEI. Several polymers with varying molecular weights, degrees of substitution, and linker positions on d- fructose (C1 and C3) are synthesized and characterized with NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, and elemental analysis. In vitro biological screenings show significantly reduced cytotoxicity of 10 kDa bPEI after fructose functionalization, specific uptake of siRNA polyplexes, and targeted knockdown of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) compared to noncancer cells (HEK293T).     

Immobilization and Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. gracilis</Emphasis> Extract with Enriched Laminaribiose Phosphorylase Activity for Bienzymatic Production of Laminaribiose

Immobilization methods and carriers were screened for immobilization of Euglena gracilis extract with laminaribiose phosphorylase activity. The extract was successfully immobilized on three different carriers via covalent linkage. Suitable immobilization carriers were Sepabeads EC-EP/S and ECR 8209M with epoxy groups and ECR 8309M with amino groups as functional units. Immobilization on Sepabeads EC-EP/S resulted in highest retained activity (65%). The immobilizates were characterized for pH, temperature, and buffer molarity preferences. The immobilized enzyme lost 48% of its activity when used seven times. Together with sucrose phosphorylase, laminaribiose phosphorylase was successfully applied for bienzymatic production of laminaribiose from sucrose and glucose with a final laminaribiose concentration of 14.3 ± 2.1 g/L (20% yield).     

Optimizing the Size of Platinum Nanoparticles for Enhanced Mass Activity in the Electrochemical Oxygen Reduction Reaction

High oxygen reduction (ORR) activity has been for many years considered as the key to many energy applications. Herein, by combining theory and experiment we prepare Pt nanoparticles with optimal size for the efficient ORR in proton‐exchange‐membrane fuel cells. Optimal nanoparticle sizes are predicted near 1, 2, and 3 nm by computational screening. To corroborate our computational results, we have addressed the challenge of approximately 1 nm sized Pt nanoparticle synthesis with a metal–organic framework (MOF) template approach. The electrocatalyst was characterized by HR‐TEM, XPS, and its ORR activity was measured using a rotating disk electrode setup. The observed mass activities (0.87±0.14 A mg_Pt^?1) are close to the computational prediction (0.99 A mg_Pt^?1). We report the highest to date mass activity among pure Pt catalysts for the ORR within similar size range. The specific and mass activities are twice as high as the Tanaka commercial Pt/C catalysis.     

Building Blocks for High-Efficiency Organic Photovoltaics: Interplay of Molecular,Crystal, and Electronic Properties in Post-Fullerene ITIC Ensembles

Accurate single-crystal X-ray diffraction data offer a unique opportunity to compare and contrast the atomistic details of bulk heterojunction photovoltaic small-molecule acceptor structure and packing, as well as provide an essential starting point for computational electronic structure and charge transport analysis. Herein, we report diffraction-derived crystal structures and computational analyses on the n-type semiconductors which enable some of the highest efficiency organic solar cells produced to date, 3,9-bis(2-methylene-(3-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)-indanone))-5,5,11,11-tetrakis(4-hexylphenyl)-dithieno[2,3-d:2′,3′-d′]-s-indaceno[1,2-b:5,6-b′]dithiophene ( ITIC ) and seven derivatives (including three new crystal structures: 3,9-bis(2-methylene-(3-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)-indanone))-5,5,11,11-tetrakis(4-propylphenyl)-dithieno[2,3-d:2′,3′-d′]-s-indaceno[1,2-b:5,6-b′]dithiophene ( ITIC-C3 ), 3,9-bis(2-methylene-(3-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)-indanone))-5,5,11,11-tetrakis(3-hexylphenyl)-dithieno[2,3-d:2′,3′-d′]-s-indaceno[1,2-b:5,6-b′]dithiophene ( m -ITIC-C6 ), and 3,9-bis(2-methylene-((3-(1,1-dicyanomethylene)-6,7-difluoro)-indanone))-5,5,11,11-tetrakis(4-butylphenyl)-dithieno[2,3-d:2′,3′-d′]-s-indaceno[1,2-b:5,6-b′]dithiophene ( ITIC-C4-4F ). IDTT acceptors typically pack in a face-to-face fashion with π–π distances ranging from 3.28–3.95 Å. Additionally, edge-to-face packing is observed with S⋯π interactions as short as 3.21–3.24 Å. Moreover, ITIC end group identities and side chain substituents influence the nature and strength of noncovalent interactions (e. g. H-bonding, π–π) and thus correlate with the observed packing motif, electronic structure, and charge transport properties of the crystals. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal relatively large nearest-neighbor intermolecular π-π electronic couplings (5.85–56.8 meV) and correlate the nature of the band structure with the dispersion interactions in the single crystals and core–end group polarization effects. Overall, this combined experimental and theoretical work reveals key insights into crystal engineering strategies for indacenodithienothiophene (IDTT) acceptors, as well as general design rules for high-efficiency post-fullerene small molecule acceptors.     

The Four-Connected Net in the CeCu(2) Structure and Its Ternary Derivatives. Its Electronic and Structural Properties

The crystallochemistry of and the bonding in the orthorhombic four-connected nets of BaIn(2) (CeCu(2) structure) and of CaPtSn (TiNiSi structure, a derivative of the CeCu(2) structure) are analyzed with approximate molecular orbital calculations. Following the Zintl concept, in BaIn(2) the In(-) ions are isoelectronic with group IV tin and should adopt a four-connected structure. In contrast to alpha-tin, which has a cubic diamond structure, the indium ions in BaIn(2) build up an orthorhombic three-dimensional four-connected net containing distorted tetrahedra and ladder polymers of four-membered rings. In the CeCu(2) structure (space group Imma) two bond angles in these distorted tetrahedra are fixed at 90 degrees. The four-connected net in the CeCu(2) structure is topologically related to the layers in black phosphorus (space group Cmca). In CaPtSn (TiNiSi structure) the orthorhombic four-connected net is formed by (PtSn)(2)(-) ions in an ordered arrangement. Calculations on BaIn(2) and CaPtSn show that the four-connected nets are increasingly stabilized as the valence electron count is increased from 16 to 30 valence electrons per 4 formula units. For more than 30e, the nets are destabilized due to filling of M-E antibonding states. Structural data obtained by precise single crystal investigations for the TiNiSi series CaPdIn (20e), CaPdSn (24e), CaPdSb (28e), and CaAgSb (32e), confirm the results of the extended Hückel calculations. We find an interesting and understandable angular asymmetry of the tetrahedral sites in these ternary compounds.     

Synthesis of benzopyran derivatives,XV Preparation of arylsulfonyloxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromenes

Summary Arylsulfonyloxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromenes (26–35) have been synthesized by reduction of arylsulfonyloxy-2,2-dimethyl-4-chromanones (6–15) followed by dehydration.

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Synthese von Benzopyranderviaten. 15. Mitt.: Darstellung von Arylsulfonyloxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromenen

Zusammenfassung Reduktion von Arylsulfonyloxy-2,2-dimethyl-4-chromanonen (6–15) und anschließende Dehydratisierung liefert Arylsulfonyloxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-chromene (26–35).