Crystal Structure of LiRh-type IrZn Determined by Powder X-ray and Selected Area Electron Diffraction

The LiRh-type crystal structure of the equiatomic intermetallic compound IrZn turns out to be a competitor to the otherwise energetically favored CsCl-type structures of congeneric transition metal zinc phases, thus enlightening the structural impact of element-specific factors beyond the Hume-Rothery concept.     

Photo-crosslink analysis in nonribosomal peptide synthetases reveals aberrant gel migration of branched crosslink isomers and spatial proximity between non-neighboring domains

Nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are large, multi-modular enzyme templates for the biosynthesis of important peptide natural products. Modules are composed of a set of semi-autonomous domains that facilitate the individual reaction steps. Only little is known about the existence and relevance of a higher-order architecture in these mega-enzymes, for which contacts between non-neighboring domains in three-dimensional space would be characteristic. Similarly poorly understood is the structure of communication-mediating (COM) domains that facilitate NRPS subunit docking at the boundaries between epimerization and condensation domains. We investigated a COM domain pair in a minimal two module NRPS using genetically encoded photo-crosslinking moieties in the N-terminal acceptor COM domain. Crosslinks into the C-terminal donor COM domain of the partner module resulted in protein products with the expected migration behavior on SDS-PAGE gels corresponding to the added molecular weight of the proteins. Additionally, an unexpected apparent high-molecular weight crosslink product was revealed by mass spectrometric analysis to represent a T-form isomer with branched connectivity of the two polypeptide chains. Synthesis of the linear L-form and branched T-form isomers by click chemistry confirmed this designation. Our data revealed a surprising spatial proximity between the acceptor COM domain and the functionally unrelated small subdomain of the preceding adenylation domain. These findings provide an insight into three-dimensional domain arrangements in NRPSs in solution and suggest the described photo-crosslinking approach as a promising tool for the systematic investigation of their higher-order architecture.

Photo-crosslink analysis reveals unexpected insights into the higher-order architecture of NRPS and the nature of crosslink isomers.     

Determining nonuniformities of core-shell nanoparticle coatings by analysis of the inelastic background of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy survey spectra

Most real core-shell nanoparticle (CSNP) samples deviate from an ideal core-shell structure potentially having significant impact on the particle properties. An ideal structure displays a spherical core fully encapsulated by a shell of homogeneous thickness, and all particles in the sample exhibit the same shell thickness. Therefore, analytical techniques are required that can identify and characterize such deviations. This study demonstrates that by analysis of the inelastic background in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) survey spectra, the following types of deviations can be identified and quantified: the nonuniformity of the shell thickness within a nanoparticle sample and the incomplete encapsulation of the cores by the shell material. Furthermore, CSNP shell thicknesses and relative coverages can be obtained. These results allow for a quick and straightforward comparison between several batches of a specific CSNP, different coating approaches, and so forth. The presented XPS methodology requires a submonolayer distribution of CSNPs on a substrate. Poly(tetrafluoroethylene)-poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(tetrafluoroethylene)-polystyrene polymer CSNPs serve as model systems to demonstrate the applicability of the approach.     

About the Reaction of C(PPh3)2 with [M(CO)6] (M = Cr,Mo): Unusual Formation of μ-Carbonato Complexes of Mo under Participation of THF

Attempts to synthesize complexes of group 6 carbonyl compounds [M(CO)₆] (M = Cr, Mo, W) with the carbone C(PPh₃)₂ ( 1 ) via the photo chemically created adducts [(CO)₅M(THF)] lead to quantitative formation of the salts [HC(PPh₃)₂]₂[M₂(CO)₁₀] ( 2 , Cr; 3 , Mo; 4 , W). Alternatively, a long-time thermal reaction of [Mo(CO)₆] performed with 1 in THF generates a series of products initiated by a Wittig-type reaction. In addition to 3 , minor amounts of [(CO)₅MoCCPPh₃] ( 8 ), [(CO)₅MoO₂CC{PPh₃}₂] ( 5 ), and the carbonate complexes [HC(PPh₃)₂]₂[(CO)₅Mo(CO₃)Mo(CO)₄] ( 6 ) and [HC(PPh₃)₂]₂[(CO)₄Mo(CO₃)Mo(CO)₄] ( 7 ) were found. Compounds 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , and 7 were characterized by X-ray analyses, ³¹P NMR, and IR spectroscopy. The water, necessary for the formation of the carbonate, stems from decomposition of THF.     

Color-Changing Sparks from Rare Earth Metal Powders

Commonly, sparks emit light according to the well-known black (gray) body radiation. Recently, we reported on color-changing sparks based on erbium powder, which switch their light emission between black body emission (surface combustion) and element-specific emission (vapor phase combustion). Herein, we investigated the spark formation from the adjacent rare-earth elements. The corresponding boiling points are significantly below (Yb, Sm, Tm) or above (Y, Lu) the boiling point of Er. While Yb and Sm evaporate too fast to form longer sparks, Y, Lu and Tm form color-changing sparks with varying length of the element-specific emission phase. The sparks were investigated by time-resolved emission spectroscopy, long-time exposures, and NIR/MIR imaging. The same basic pyrotechnic formulation containing one of these metal powders reveals a strongly differing burning behavior depending on the boiling point of the metal. The burning characteristics change from a green strobe (Yb) to intense colorful crackling (Tm) and finally a sparkling fountain with long-flying sparks (Lu, Y, Er).     

Electron transfer at different electrode materials: Metals,semiconductors, and graphene

Electron transfer reactions are the most important processes at electrochemical interfaces. They are determined by the interplay between the interaction of the reactant with the solvent and the electronic levels of the electrode surface. Theoretical treatments only based on Density Functional Theory calculations are not sufficient. This review emphasizes mainly the effect of the electronic structure of the electrode material on electron transfer under different kinetic regimes. Our goal is to understand experimental results in the framework of a theory valid for arbitrary strengths of electronic coupling.     

The Crystal Structure of Sr2TiSi2O8

Sr₂TiSi₂O₈ single crystals were grown by Czochralski pulling and from a high-temperature solution. X-ray diffractometry revealed the modulated crystal structure of Sr₂TiSi₂O₈ to belong to the 5D superspace group P4bm (−α, α, 1/2; α, α, 1/2) with α=0.3. Atomic positions, anisotropic displacement factors and positional modulation parameters for Sr₂TiSi₂O₈ are determined and discussed. The positional modulation is further investigated by electron diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. In the latter experiments, the 2D modulation appears to be superimposed by some 1D modulation waves. This effect is discussed in terms of growth conditions.     

High alpha/beta-anomer selectivity in molecular recognition of carbohydrates by artificial receptors

[structure: see text] New effective, acyclic, pyridine-based receptors 1-3 show remarkable alpha/beta binding selectivity in the recognition of monosaccharides. They are able to participate in cooperative and bidentate hydrogen bonds with sugar hydroxyls as well as in CH-pi interactions with CH's of sugar molecules.     

Ruthenium alkylidenes: modulation of a new class of catalysts for controlled radical polymerization of vinyl monomers

Air-stable and readily available ruthenium benzylidene complexes of the general type [RuCl2(=CHPh)(L)(L')] (L, L' = PCy3 and/or N-heterocyclic carbene) constitute a new class of catalyst precursors for atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of methyl methacrylate and styrene, and provide an unprecedented example for the involvement of ruthenium alkylidenes in radical reactions. They promote the polymerization of various monomers with good to excellent yields, and in a controlled way with methyl methacrylate and styrene. Variations of their basic structural motif provide insights into the essential parameters responsible for catalytic activity. The ligands L (PCy3 and/or N-heterocyclic carbene) turned out to play a particularly important role in determining the rate of the polymerizations. A similarly pronounced influence is exerted by the substituents on the N-heterocyclic carbene. Our results indicate that the catalysts decompose quickly under ATRP conditions, and polymerizations are mediated by both [RuCl2(=CHPh)(L)(L')] complexes and ruthenium species bereft of the benzylidene moiety, through a pathway in which both tricyclohexylphosphane and/or N-heterocyclic carbene ligands remain bound to the metal center. Polymerization of n-butyl acrylate and vinyl acetate is not controlled and most probably takes place through a redox-initiated free-radical process.     

Synthese und Strukturen neuer Ringverbindungen des Bismuts mit Tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl und ‐stannylresten – [(Me3Si)3Si]4Bi4 und [(Me3Si)3Sn]6Bi8

Synthesis and Structures of Novel Ring Compounds of Bismuth with Tris(trimethylsilyl)silyl and ‐stannyl Substituents – [(Me₃Si)₃Si]₄Bi₄ and [(Me₃Si)₃Sn]₆Bi₈ A bicyclo[3.3.0]octane‐like core consisting of eight bismuth atoms is found in the novel octabismuthane Bi₈[Sn(SiMe₃)₃]₆. It is prepared like Bi₄[Si(SiMe₃)₃]₄ by reduction of BiBr₃ with Li(thf)₃E(SiMe₃)₃ (E = Si, Sn) together with (Me₃Si)₆E₂. Both bismuth ring compounds have been characterized by single crystal X‐ray crystallography.