Ultrafast ring-closure reaction of photochromic indolylfulgimides studied with UV-pump-IR-probe spectroscopy

The ring-opening and ring-closure reactions of a photochromic indolylfulgimide are investigated with femtosecond vibrational spectroscopy. Spectral signatures due to excited-state decay and vibrational cooling are seen in the mid-IR region. For the ring-opening reaction triggered with visible pulses, a lifetime of the excited electronic state of 4 ps was obtained in polar solution. In a nonpolar solvent, this time constant is reduced to 2 ps. The ring-closure reaction induced with UV pulses displays an excited-state lifetime and thus a building of the photoproduct of roughly 0.5 ps. For all processes, the subsequent cooling occurs on a 15-ps time scale lasting up to approximately 50 ps. The time-resolved IR measurements do not support the existence of any long-living intermediate states.     

Shapes and noncovalent interactions of oligomers: the rotational spectrum of the difluoromethane trimer

The trimer of difluoromethane, (CH2F2)3, has been characterized by supersonic jet Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. The rotational spectrum displays all types (mu(a), mu(b), and mu(c)) of transitions, showing that the adduct does not possess any element of molecular symmetry. The investigation of the three 13C species in natural abundance indicates that the three carbon atoms form a triangle where the C-C distances are 3.648(2), 3.825(8), and 3.942(6) A, respectively. The three subunits are held together by nine CH...F weak hydrogen bonds.     

Hole tunneling and hopping in a Ru(bpy)3(2+)-phenothiazine dyad with a bridge derived from oligo-p-phenylene

A molecular dyad was synthesized in which a Ru(bpy)(3)(2+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) photosensitizer and a phenothiazine redox partner are bridged by a sequence of tetramethoxybenzene, p-dimethoxybenzene, and p-xylene units. Hole transfer from the oxidized metal complex to the phenothiazine was triggered using a flash-quench technique and investigated by transient absorption spectroscopy. Optical spectroscopic and electrochemical experiments performed on a suitable reference molecule in addition to the above-mentioned dyad lead to the conclusion that hole transfer from Ru(bpy)(3)(3+) to phenothiazine proceeds through a sequence of hopping and tunneling steps: Initial hole hopping from Ru(bpy)(3)(3+) to the easily oxidizable tetramethoxybenzene unit is followed by tunneling through the barrier imposed by the p-dimethoxybenzene and p-xylene spacers. The overall charge transfer proceeds with a time constant of 41 ns, which compares favorably to a time constant of 1835 ns associated with equidistant hole tunneling between the same donor-acceptor couple bridged by three identical p-xylene units. The combined hopping/tunneling sequence thus leads to an acceleration of hole transfer by roughly a factor of 50 when compared to a pure tunneling mechanism.     

Dielektrische Messungen an bituminösen Stoffen,III

Zusammenfassung Für die in vorstehendem Abschnitt beschriebenen großtechnisch hergestellten Steinkohlenteerpeche läßt sich die Brauchbarkeit dielektrischer Untersuchungen dahin formulieren, daß die Bestimmung des Absolutwertes der Dielektrizitätskonstante der Mischungskomponenten und die Lagebestimmung des Gebietes anomaler Dispersion Voraussagen über den Lösungs- bzw. Quellungszustand der erhaltenen Weichpeche und über ihr Verhalten bei mechanischer Deformation ermöglicht. Die bei den Teersonderpechen festgestellte Verschiebung des Dispersionsgebietes nach tiefen Temperaturen eröffnet aber auch Ausblicke auf weitere Auswertungsmöglichkeiten dielektrischer Messungen bei der Erforschung der für die Verarbeitung und den Bestand bituminöser Schutzfilme gleichwichtigen Benetzungs-, Verdrängungs- und Adhäsionserscheinungen. Es ist bekannt, wie sehr z. B. die Benetzung von Grenzflächen nicht nur durch die chemische Zusammensetzung, sondern vor allem durch die Konfiguration der Moleküle der benetzenden Flüssigkeit und damit ihre Ladungsverteilung gelenkt wird. Es erscheint deshalb wahrscheinlich, daß eine bei Einwirkung eines elektrischen Wechselfeldes erkennbare stärkere Molekülbeweglichkeit auch bei tieferen Temperaturen, wie sie sich aus der Lage des Dispersionsgebietes ergibt, sich auch bei Situationen und Vorgängen günstig bemerkbar machen muß, die mit der für die Wirksamkeit eines Schutzfilms so wesentlichen Eigenschaft der Adhäsion zusammenhängen.Die Durchrechnungsbeziehungen zwischen Dielektrizitätskonstante und absoluter Viskosität ergab bei allen untersuchten Steinkohlenteeren und-pechen bei niedrigen und mittleren Viskositäten einen einfachen quantitativen Zusammenhang.     

Kinetik und mechanismus der elektrochemischen reduktion von 2,2′-dipyridyl I. Primärprozesse: Vorgelagerte isomerisierung eines komplexes

Polarography and chronopotentiometry are used to study the primary processes of the reduction of 2,2′-bipyridine at mercury electrodes in aqueous solutions (12 < pH < 14). Bipyridine and its first reduction product are strongly adsorbed. The reduction is preceded by a complex equilibrium between bipyridine and the cation of the supporting electrolyte (Li, Na, K, Ba). Due to the great excess of the cations, the equilibrium is shifted completely to the side of the complex, which exists as cis- and trans-isomer. The cis-form is more stable, forming a chelate, the trans-form however is more easily reducible. The kinetic and thermodynamic data of the isomerization are determined. The first reduction product reacts irreversibly giving a substance which can be reoxidized to bipyridine via a radical intermediate.     

Towards an efficient atomic frequency comb quantum memory

We present an efficient photon-echo experiment based on atomic frequency combs [Phys. Rev. A 79 (2009) 052329]. Echoes containing an energy of up to 35% of that of the input pulse are observed in a Pr³⁺-doped Y₂SiO₅ crystal. This material allows for the precise spectral holeburning needed to make a sharp and highly absorbing comb structure. We compare our results with a simple theoretical model with satisfactory agreement. Our results show that atomic frequency combs has the potential for high-efficiency storage of single photons as required in future long-distance communication based on quantum repeaters.     

Über die thermischen Eigenschaften von Heteropolysäuren des Typs H3+n[PVnMo12−nO40] · x H2O (n = 0, 1, 2, 3) II. Raman- und IR-spektroskopische Untersuchungen

On the Thermal Behaviour of Heteropoly Acids of the Type H_3+n[PV_nMo_12?nO₄₀] · x H₂O (n = 0, 1, 2, 3). II. Raman and Infrared Spectroscopic Investigations The investigation of de- and rehydratization of the heteropoly acids H_3+n[PV_nMo_12?nO₄₀] · x H₂O (n = 0, 1, 2, 3) shows typical changes in the region of valence and bridging vibrations in the Raman and infrared spectra, in particular during the existence of ?anhydrous”? forms. The time dependence of rehydratization is also demonstrated well with a special Raman sample technique.     

Lewis Pair Polymerization of Epoxides via Zwitterionic Species as a Route to High‐Molar‐Mass Polyethers

A dual catalytic setup based on N‐heterocyclic olefins (NHOs) and magnesium bis(hexamethyldisilazide) (Mg(HMDS)₂) was used to prepare poly(propylene oxide) with a molar mass (M_n) >500 000 g mol^?1, in some cases even >10⁶ g mol^?1, as determined by GPC/light scattering. This is achieved by combining the rapid polymerization characteristics of a zwitterionic, Lewis pair type mechanism with the efficient epoxide activation by the Mg^II species. Transfer‐to‐monomer, traditionally frustrating attempts at synthesizing polyethers with a high degree of polymerization, is practically removed as a limiting factor by this approach. NMR and MALDI‐ToF MS experiments reveal key aspects of the proposed mechanism, whereby the polymerization is initiated via nucleophilic attack by the NHO on the activated monomer, generating a zwitterionic species. This strategy can also be extended to other epoxides, including functionalized monomers.     

MDGC–MS: A powerful tool for enantioselective flavor analysis

This paper reports the differentiation between the enantiomers of theaspiranes and theaspirones, potent flavor compounds widely used in the flavor industry. Optically pure reference compounds of isomeric theaspiranes were obtained by enantioselective synthesis. Enantiomerically pure reference theaspirones were isolated from quince fruit; their absolute stereochemistry was assigned by CD spectroscopy. For both types of compounds the order of elution was elucidated by using authentic reference compounds. These data enabled the determination of the enantiomeric distribution of both types of compounds in a variety of plant tissues. Because of the complexity of the natural flavor isolates, compounds were identified by mass spectrometry after multidimensional gas chromatography employing a Sichromat 2 double oven chromatograph. After separation of the target compounds on the first, achiral, column (DB-5), they were transferred to a chiral column (C-Dex B) for determination of the enantiomeric distribution. Multiple ion detection (MID) enabled the determination of the enantiomeric distribution even for complex mixtures containing the target compounds at extremely low levels.