Zwei Tetrachlorothiotantalate: [Na‐15‐Krone‐5][TaSCl4 · Dioxan] und [Na‐15‐Krone‐5]2[(TaSCl4)2Dioxan] · S8

Two Tetrachlorothiotantalates: [Na‐15‐crown‐5][TaSCl₄ · dioxane] and [Na‐15‐crown‐5]₂[(TaSCl₄)₂dioxane] · S₈ During the reaction of Na₂S₄, TaCl₅ and 15‐crown‐5 in dichloromethane the crown ether partly suffers degradation to 1,4‐dioxane. Aside from sulfur, [Na‐15‐crown‐5][TaSCl₄ · dioxane] was the first product obtained. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with a = 1066.1, b = 1781.3, c = 1258.3 pm, β = 97.14°, Z = 4. In the [TaSCl₄ · dioxane]^– ion a dioxane molecule is loosely bonded to a square‐pyramidal TaSCl₄^– unit; two chlorine atoms are in contact with an Na⁺ ion. Upon standing with the mother liquor [Na‐15‐crown‐5]₂[(TaSCl₄)₂dioxane] · S₈ was formed. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/m; a = 1768.5, b = 1084.0, c = 1517.3 pm, β = 118.46°, Z = 4. In this case a dioxane molecule is coordinated with two TaSCl₄^– units. The [(TaSCl₄)₂ · dioxane]^2– ions and S₈ molecules alternate in the stacking direction b.     

Calcium,Strontium, and Barium Acetylides—New Evidence for Bending in the Structures of Heavy Alkaline Earth Metal Derivatives

An unprecedented ligand bending mode is displayed by the acetylide ligands in the first structurally characterized σ‐bound organometallic strontium and barium complexes [M([18]crown‐6)(CCSiPh₃)₂] (M=Sr, Ba). Furthermore, the observed decrease of the angle at the sp‐hybridized C atom on descending Group 2 (see structures depicted) affords new information that will lead to a better understanding of the bonding in alkaline earth metal compounds.     

Formation of Novel Dinuclear Mixed-Valence Rhodium Complexes by Intramolecular Migration of a Chelating Ligand

Significantly different coordination spheres are displayed by the two central atoms of 2 , the first representative of a novel type of mixed-valence dinuclear Rh⁰–Rh^II compound, which was synthesized from the stibane-bridged complex 1 . The Rh−Rh distance determined by an X-ray crystal structure analysis of 2 indicates a metal–metal interaction between the two metal centers.     

Identification of Triplet States in Carotenoids by Intracavity Absorption Spectroscopy and Measurements of Delayed Fluorescence

Owing to the low quantum yield of phosphorescence , triplet states of carotenoids have been very difficult to identify. These states can be characterized by intracavity absorption spectroscopy, which allows the direct measurement of the spin-forbidden singlet–triplet transitions in low concentrated solutions, and by delayed fluorescence measurements.     

On-Line Coupling of Separation Techniques to NMR

The hyphenation of chromatographic separation techniques with NMR spectroscopy is one of the most powerful and time-saving methods for the separation and structural elucidation of unknown compounds and molecular compositions of mixtures. Most of the routinely used NMR flow-cells have detection volumes between 40–180 μL for conventional separations with analytical columns, and the newest designs employ detection volumes in the order of 200 nL for capillary separations. The low flow rates used in capillary chromatography permit the use of deuterated solvents. Unequivocal structural assignment of unknown chromatographic peaks is possible by two-dimensional stopped-flow capillary HPLC-NMR experiments.     

A Novel Interface for Optimized Coupling of Gas Chromatography and Supersonic Jet Spectroscopy

The laser-based methods Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) and Resonance-Enhanced Multi-Photon Ionization (REMPI) can be used as highly selective detection modes for gas chromatography (GC). One major prerequisite for successful application of these detection methods is the availability of appropriate and reliable interfaces between the GC effluent and the molecular beam inlet. When a pulsed supersonic molecular beam (jet) source is used, the analyte molecules are efficiently cooled, allowing maximum selectivity of the laser spectroscopic detection methods. However, several technical problems have to be solved for practical realization of a GC-supersonic jet valve hyphenation. The pulsed jet interface should not interfere with the GC properties and the supersonic molecular beam properties. Further a good working cycle for the conversion from the continuously flowing GC current to the pulsed jet gas flow should be attained. This paper presents a novel setup of a GC-pulsed jet interface. The construction allows temporal and spatial compression of the analyte molecules in jet gas pulse and thus an increase of the detection sensitivity. Moreover, the GC effluent comes into contact only with glass surfaces and not with valve parts like plungers and seals. This reduces memory effects and sample decomposition. The valve setup is tested with a REMPI-TOFMS instrument.     

Non-feedback technique to directly control multistability in nonlinear oscillators by dual-frequency driving

A novel method to control multistability of nonlinear oscillators by applying dual-frequency driving is presented. The test model is the Keller–Miksis equation describing the oscillation of a bubble in a liquid. It is solved by an in-house initial-value problem solver capable to exploit the high computational resources of professional graphics cards. During the simulations, the control parameters are the two amplitudes of the acoustic driving at fixed, commensurate frequency pairs. The high-resolution bi-parametric scans in the control parameter plane show that a period-2 attractor can be continuously transformed into a period-3 one (and vice versa) by proper selection of the frequency combination and by proper tuning of the driving amplitudes. This phenomenon has opened a new way to drive the system to a desired, pre-selected attractor directly via a non-feedback control technique without the need of the annihilation of other attractors. Moreover, the residence in transient chaotic regimes can also be avoided. The results are supplemented with simulations obtained by the boundary-value problem solver AUTO, which is capable to compute periodic orbits directly regardless of their stability, and trace them as a function of a control parameter with the pseudo-arclength continuation technique.     

Metal–Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles for Correlative High‐Resolution Light and Electron Microscopy

The combination of fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy promises a deeper insight into the ultrastructural features of cell organelles, e.g., after drug administration. Both methods complement each other and provide, as a correlative approach, a keen insight into the fate of nanoparticles within the cell. Moreover, it represents a promising tool to determine alterations of the cellular environment as a response to particle uptake. However, the availability of suitable correlative markers is mandatory for such correlative approaches. In this contribution, the utilization of poly(ethylene imine) based metal–polymer hybrid particles labeled with small gold nanoparticles and Rhodamine B facilitating the observation of the particles by means of fluorescence as well as by transmission electron microscopy is suggested. Correlative light and electron microscopy is used to study uptake and intracellular fusion processes of endosomal/lysosomal structures.     

Toward Main Chain Metallo‐Terpyridyl Supramolecular Polymers: “The Metal Does the Trick”

Metallo‐supramolecular chemistry offers possibilities for the construction of stimuli‐responsive polymeric materials where the environment can have a large impact on the reversibility and strength of interactions between the individual components. The potential of manipulating the strength of the intermolecular non‐covalent bonds can result in impressive modifications of the metallo‐supramolecular structure and, subsequently, produces changes in the properties of the designed material. The present feature article provides an overview on recent developments in the field of metallo‐polymerization of chelating terpyridyl and analogues ligands. Synthetic strategies are described followed by a discussion regarding the characterization and the application of the reviewed metallo‐supramolecular structures, mainly based on terpyridines.