Layered Synthetic Microstructures (LSM): Reflecting media for X-ray optic elements and diffracting structures for the study of condensed matter

During the past two decades techniques for synthesis of superlattices, Layered Synthetic Microstructures (LSM) in the following, have been developed to a sufficiently high level for the product structures to be used as reflecting media in x-ray optics. Additionally, since this application requires high absolute reflectivity, LSMs may be used in both traditional and unique ways to study condensed matter. A short review of synthesis processes will be given as background, with emphasis on process parameters important in LSM deposition. A short review of the reflectivity/wavelength relationship over the spectral range 1 to 500 Å is then given. Experimental results for simple planar LSM structures are then discussed with emphasis on the effects of structural imperfections and engineered variations such as those necessary to construct LSM Fabry-Perot etalons. Results for experiments in which LSMs were used as reflecting/diffracting structures for evanescent and standing wave fluorescent scattering studies will be presented and the implications of these results discussed.     

Intermittency regions at high energies

We investigate the non-statistical multiplicity fluctuations (intermittency) of hadrons produced in high-energy collisions. Within the framework of the two-mechanism model, we determine the limits of the intermittent regions. We observe that these regions decrease in extent with increasing total energy $\sqrt s$ . In addition, we determine the value of the exponent from the universal scaling law (discovered recently by R. Hwa et al.). The value of this exponent is close to corresponding experimental data.     

Ammonia laser desorption/chemical ionization with ammonium bromide: Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry of aromatic hydrocarbons

Laser desorption/ionization combined with Fourier transform ion cylcotron resonance mass spectrometry (LD/FT/ICR/MS) is a proven technique for the analysis of nonvolatile materials. Unfortunately, LD tends to produce a large excess of neutral species compared to ions. Laser desorption followed by chemical ionization (LD/CI) by use of a reagent gas is a seIective and sensitive means of control in the analysis of nonvolatile compounds. In this article we demonstrate the technique of ammonia LD/CI by addition of a small amount of ammonium bromide (NH₄Br) to an involatile sample, i.e., the ammonium salt is used in place of ammonia reagent gas. For various aromatic hydrocarbons, abundant (M + H)⁺ ions are produced as a result of CI A primary advantage of this method in FT/ICR/MS is that selective LD/CI experiments may be conducted at low pressure as in pulsed valve CI (but without the need for pulsed valve operation), thereby providing the potential for obtaining high-resolution FT/ICR mass spectra.     

Stereoselective addition of dimethyl thiophosphite to imines

Dimethyl thiophosphite (DMTP) was synthesized from dimethyl phosphite, and the diastereoselective addition of DMTP to benzaldimines bearing chiral auxiliary groups was examined. Yields of the product alpha-aminophosphonothionates ranged from 17% to 75% after chromatography. The addition of DMTP to the benzaldimine derived from (S)-phenylglycinol afforded the highest diastereoselectivity (83:17), whereas addition of DMTP to the benzaldimine derived from threonine methyl ester and alanine methyl ester were far less diastereoselective, affording 38:62 and 61:39 ratios, respectively. Addition of DMTP to the benzaldimine derived from (R)-alpha-methylbenzylamine (78:22) and (S)-serine methyl ester (73:27) were intermediate in selectivity. DMTP addition to the imines formed between serine methyl ester and acetaldehyde and isobutyraldehyde gave 55:45 and 70:30 ratios, respectively, with the diastereoselectivity corresponding roughly to the size of the alpha-alkyl group. The stereochemistry of the newly formed alpha-stereocenters resulting from the addition of DMTP to (S)- and (R)-phenylglycinol benzaldimines was confirmed by conversion of the product alpha-aminophosphonothionates to the known enantiomers of phosphonophenylglycine.     

Spectroscopic and computational studies of the ATP:corrinoid adenosyltransferase (CobA) from Salmonella enterica: insights into the mechanism of adenosylcobalamin biosynthesis

CobA from Salmonella enterica is a member of an enzymatic system responsible for the de novo biosynthesis of adenosylcobalamin (AdoCbl), catalyzing the formation of the essential Co-C bond by transferring the adenosyl group from a molecule of ATP to a transient Co(1+)corrinoid species generated in the enzyme active site. A particularly fascinating aspect of this reaction is that the flavodoxin in vivo reducing agent that serves as the electron donor to CobA possesses a reduction potential that is considerably more positive than that of the Co(2+/1+) couple of the corrinoid substrate. To explore how CobA may overcome this challenge, we have employed electronic absorption, magnetic circular dichroism, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies to probe the interaction between Co(3+)- and Co(2+)corrinoids and the enzyme active site. Our data reveal that while Co(3+)corrinoids interact only weakly with CobA, Co(2+)corrinoids undergo partial conversion to a new paramagnetic species that can be obtained in nearly quantitative yield when CobA is preincubated with the co-substrate ATP. This "activated" species is characterized by a distinct set of ligand field transitions in the near-IR spectral region and EPR parameters that are unprecedented for Co(2+)corrinoids. Analysis of these data on the basis of qualitative spectral correlations and density functional theory computations reveals that this unique Co(2+)corrinoid species possesses an essentially square-planar Co(2+) center that lacks any significant axial bonding interactions. Possible implications of these findings for the mechanism of Co(2+) --> Co(1+) reduction employed by CobA and Co-C bond-forming enzymes in general are explored.     

Comparison of the X-ray crystal structures of four closely related Mo(CO)5(R2PXR′) (R2 = OCH2CMe2CH2O, XR′ = S-2-Pr, NHC6H4-4-Me; R2 = Ph2, XR′ = NHC6H4-2-Me, OC6H4-4-SMe) complexes

The X-ray crystal structures of four closely related Mo(CO)₅(R₂PXR) (R₂ = OCH₂CMe₂CH₂O, XR = S-2-Pr, NHC₆H₄-4-Me; R₂ = Ph₂, XR = NHC₆H₄-2-Me, OC₆H₄-4-SMe) complexes have been determined. The R₂PXR ligands are oriented so that the P—X bond and one of the Mo—C bonds are nearly eclipsed. This results in the distortion of the octahedral coordination geometry via tilting of the Mo(CO)₅ group away from the XR group. As observed in related complexes, the Mo—C bond of the carbonyl trans to the phosphorus-donor group is shorter than are the Mo—C bonds of the carbonyls trans to carbonyls. In contrast, no significant differences were observed between the Mo—C bonds of carbonyls trans to phosphites and the Mo—C bonds of carbonyls trans to phosphinites. The conformations of the 1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinanes were distorted chairs with the P end of the chair significantly flattened relative to the seat of the chair. This conformation is similar to that which has been observed for 1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinanes in other transition metal complexes.     

Selective parent ion axialization for improved efficiency of collision-induced dissociation in laser desorption-ionization fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

We have systematically established the excitation frequency, amplitude, duration, and buffer gas pressure for optimal axialization efficiency and mass selectivity of quadrupolar excitation-collisional cooling for isolation of parent ions for collision-induced dissociation in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. For example, at high quadrupolar excitation amplitude, ion axialization efficiency and selectivity are optimal when the applied quadrupolar excitation frequency is lower than the unperturbed ion cyclotron frequency by up to several hundred hertz. Moreover, at high buffer gas pressure (10^?6 Torr), quadrupolar excitation duration can be quite short because of efficient collisional cooling of the cyclotron motion produced by magnetron-to-cyclotron conversion. Efficiency, detected signal magnitude, and mass resolving power for collision-induced dissociation (CID) product ions are significantly enhanced by prior parent ion axialization. With this method, we use argon CID to show that C ₉₄ ⁺ (m/z 1128) formed by Nd:YAG laser desorption-ionization behaves as a closed-cage structure.