The surface trans effect: influence of axial ligands on the surface chemical bonds of adsorbed metalloporphyrins

The chemical bond between an adsorbed, laterally coordinated metal ion and a metal surface is affected by an additional axial ligand on the metal ion. This surface analogon of the trans effect was studied in detail using monolayers of various M(II)-tetraphenylporphyrins (MTTPs, M = Fe, Co, Zn) and their nitrosyl complexes on a Ag(111) surface. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows that the oxidation state of the Fe and Co (but not Zn) ions in the MTPP monolayers is reduced because of the interaction with the substrate. This partial reduction is accompanied by the appearance of new valence states in the UV photoelectron and scanning tunneling spectra (UPS and STS), revealing the covalent character of the ion-substrate bond. Subsequent coordination of nitric oxide (NO) to the metal ions (Fe, Co) reverses these surface-induced effects, resulting in an increase of the oxidation states and the disappearance of the new valence states. Removal of the NO ligands by thermal desorption restores the original spectroscopic features, indicating that the described processes are fully reversible. The NO coordination also changes the spin state and thus the magnetic properties of the metal ions. Density-functional theory (DFT) calculations on model systems provide structural and energetic data on the adsorbed molecules and the surface chemical bond. The calculations reveal that competition effects, similar to the trans effect, play a central role and lead to a mutual interference of the two axial ligands, NO and Ag, and their bonds to the metal center. These findings have important implications for sensor technology and catalysis using supported planar metal complexes, in which the activity of the metal center is sensitively influenced by the substrate.     

Site specific chemoselective labelling of proteins with robust and highly sensitive Ru(II) bathophenanthroline complexes

The bioorthogonal and chemoselective fluorescence labelling of several cell-free synthesized proteins containing a site-specifically incorporated azido amino acid was possible using different alkyne-functionalized Ru(II) bathophenanthroline complexes. We were able to achieve a selective labelling even in complex mixtures of proteins despite the fact that ruthenium dyes normally show a high tendency for unspecific interactions with proteins and are commonly used for total staining of proteins. Since the employed Ru complexes are extremely robust, photo-stable and highly sensitive, the approach should be applicable to the production of labelled proteins for single molecule spectroscopy and fluorescence-based interaction studies.     

Observation of magnetized soliton remnants in the wake of intense laser pulse propagation through plasmas

Slowly evolving, regularly spaced patterns have been observed in proton projection images of plasma channels drilled by intense (?101? W?cm?2) short (～1 ps) laser pulses propagating in an ionized gas jet. The nature and geometry of the electromagnetic fields generating such patterns have been inferred by simulating the laser-plasma interaction and the following plasma evolution with a two-dimensional particle-in-cell code and the probe proton deflections by particle tracing. The analysis suggests the formation of rows of magnetized soliton remnants, with a quasistatic magnetic field associated with vortexlike electron currents resembling those of magnetic vortices.     

Perfluorinated Bis(dihydrooxazole) Complexes Immobilized on Fluorous Reversed‐Phase Silica Gel as Recyclable Catalysts for Enantioselective Diels?Alder Reactions

The three different perfluoroalkyl‐tagged bis(dihydrooxazole)copper complexes 19 – 21 were synthesized and immobilized noncovalently on fluorous reversed‐phase silica gel (FRPSG) by fluorous? fluorous interactions (Schemes 2 and 3). These supported catalysts were successfully applied to asymmetric Diels? Alder reactions in H₂O and in CH₂Cl₂ (Scheme 4). Besides high conversion of the dienophile, we observed enantiomer excesses of up to 88% in H₂O and 97% in CH₂Cl₂, and we were able to recover and re‐use these catalytic systems several times. Despite the relatively high catalyst loading, the leaching of copper was remarkably low ranging from 2.4 to 5.9 ppm.