H2S-induced reorganization of mixed monolayer of carboxylic derivatives on silver surface

The structure of self-assembled monolayers ofp-terphenyl-4-carboxylic acid and the mixed monolayers of this acid with n-hexadecanoic acid on silver surface were studied by reflection-IR spectroscopy, near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) measurement, X-ray photoemission electron microscopy (X-PEEM), and atomic force microscopy. Exposure of the p-terphenyl-4-carboxylate monolayer to H2S vapor resulted in reorganization of the film structure into clusters of the corresponding free acids, in tens of nanometer dimension. Exposure of the mixed monolayer to H2S resulted in reorganization of the mixed monolayer film into phase-separated clusters of respective component molecules. The saturated aliphatic acid formed clusters of submicrometer size, whereas the p-terphenyl-4-carboxylic acid formed clusters of tens of nanometer size, presumably due to different surface mobility and/or intermolecular interaction of the two types of molecule. Restoration of the monolayer film from the clusters, driven by the reaction between the free acid molecules and the basic surface sites, proceeded at different speeds for the two types of molecules. The saturated acid monolayer was restored much faster than the p-terphenyl-4-carboxylic acid monolayer. A domain-separated monolayer in several micrometers scale was obtained. The process was imaged by tapping mode atomic force microscopy.     

A self-assembling protein template for constrained synthesis and patterning of nanoparticle arrays

Self-assembling biomolecules that form highly ordered structures have attracted interest as potential alternatives to conventional lithographic processes for patterning materials. Here, we introduce a general technique for patterning nanoparticle arrays using two-dimensional crystals of genetically modified hollow protein structures called chaperonins. Constrained chemical synthesis of transition metal nanoparticles is initiated using templates functionalized with polyhistidine sequences. These nanoparticles are ordered into arrays because the template-driven synthesis is constrained by the nanoscale structure of the crystallized protein. We anticipate that this system may be used to pattern different classes of nanoparticles based on the growing library of sequences shown to specifically bind or direct the growth of materials.     

Synthesis, Characterization, and Comparative Properties of [PPN](2)[Re(6)C(CO)(18)Mo(CO)(4)] and [PPN](2)[Re(6)C(CO)(18)Ru(CO)(3)

The reaction of [PPN](2)[Re(6)C(CO)(19)] with Mo(CO)(6) and Ru(3)(CO)(12) under sunlamp irradiation provided the new mixed-metal clusters [PPN](2)[Re(6)C(CO)(18)Mo(CO)(4)] and [PPN](2)[Re(6)C(CO)(18)Ru(CO)(3)], which were isolated in yields of 85% and 61%, respectively. The compound [PPN](2)[Re(6)C(CO)(18)Mo(CO)(4)] crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 20.190 (7) ?, b = 16.489 (7) ?, c = 27.778 (7) ?, beta = 101.48 (2) degrees, and Z = 4 (at T = -75 degrees C). The cluster anion is composed of a Re(6)C octahedral core with a face capped by a Mo(CO)(4) fragment. There are three terminal carbonyl ligands coordinated to each rhenium atom. The four carbonyl ligands on the molybdenum center are essentially terminal, with one pair of carbonyl ligands (C72-O72 and C74-O74) subtending a relatively large angle at molybdenum (C72-Mo-C74 = 147.2(9) degrees ), whereas the remaining pair of carbonyl ligands (C71-O71 and C73-O73) subtend a much smaller angle (C71-Mo-C73 = 100.5(9) degrees ). The (13)C NMR spectrum of (13)CO-enriched [PPN](2)[Re(6)C(CO)(18)Mo(CO)(4)] shows signals for four sets of carbonyl ligands at -40 degrees C, consistent with the solid state structure, but the carbonyl ligands undergo complete scrambling at ambient temperature. The (13)C NMR spectrum of (13)CO-enriched [PPN](2)[Re(6)C(CO)(18)Ru(CO)(3)] at 20 degrees C is consistent with the expected structure of an octahedral Re(6)C(CO)(18) core capped by a Ru(CO)(3) fragment. The visible spectrum of [PPN](2)[Re(6)C(CO)(18)Mo(CO)(4)] shows a broad, strong band at 670 nm (epsilon = 8100), whereas all of the absorptions of [PPN](2)[Re(6)C(CO)(18)Ru(CO)(3)] are at higher energy. An irreversible oxidation wave with E(p) at 0.34 V is observed for [PPN](2)[Re(6)C(CO)(18)Mo(CO)(4)], whereas two quasi-reversible oxidation waves with E(1/2) values of 0.21 and 0.61 V (vs Ag/AgCl) are observed for [PPN](2)[Re(6)C(CO)(18)Ru(CO)(3)]. The molybdenum cap in [Re(6)C(CO)(18)Mo(CO(4))](2-) is cleaved by heating in donor solvents, and by treatment with H(2), to give largely [H(2)Re(6)C(CO)(18)](2-). In contrast, [Re(6)C(CO)(18)Ru(CO)(3)](2-) shows no tendency to react under similar conditions.     

Efficient light harvesting and energy transfer in organic-inorganic hybrid multichromophoric materials

Thin films of silica hybrid materials consisting of two to three covalently bound organic chromophores at different ratios were conveniently synthesized and fabricated. The photophysical properties of these materials have been studied. The fluorescence spectra reveal complete fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from donor to acceptor, and the light-harvesting ability of these hybrid materials increases with increasing the molar fraction of donor chromophore. In a three-chromophore system, the energy is transferred from 300 to 530 nm successfully. Time-resolved fluorescence experiments are employed to elucidate the average rates and efficiencies (84-97%) of energy transfer in these organic/inorganic hybrid systems. The hybrid materials have been shown to provide antenna effect to facilitate energy transfer and light harvesting.     

Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Metal‐Chelator‐Bearing Flavone,Carbazole, Dibenzofuran,Xanthone, and Anthraquinone

2‐(Aryloxymethyl)‐5‐benzyloxy‐1‐methyl‐1H‐pyridin‐4‐ones 8a – 8g , 2‐(aryloxymethyl)‐5‐hydroxy‐4H‐pyran‐4‐ones 9a – 9g , and 2‐(aryloxymethyl)‐5‐hydroxy‐1‐methyl‐1H‐pyridin‐4‐ones 10a – 10g were prepared from the known 5‐benzyloxy‐2‐(hydroxymethyl)pyran‐4‐one ( 3 ) in a good overall yield. These compounds were evaluated in vitro against a three‐cell lines panel consisting of MCF7 (breast), NCI‐H460 (lung), and SF‐268 (CNS), and the active compounds passed on for evaluation in the full panel of 60 human tumor cell lines derived from nine cancer cell types. The results indicated that 5‐hydroxy derivatives are more favorable than their corresponding 5‐benzyloxy precursors ( 10a – 10g vs. 8a – 8g ), and 1‐methyl‐1H‐pyridin‐4‐ones are more favorable than their corresponding pyran‐4(1H)‐ones ( 10a – 10g vs. 9a – 9g ). Among these three types of compounds, 2‐(aryloxymethyl)‐5‐hydroxy‐1‐methyl‐1H‐pyridin‐4‐ones 10a – 10g were the most cytotoxic; they inhibited the growth of almost all the cancer cells tested. On the contrary, compound 8a (a mean GI₅₀=27.8 μM ), 8b (38.5), 8d (11.0), and 8e (30.5) are especially active against the growth of SK‐MEL‐5 (a melanoma cancer cell) with a GI₅₀ of <0.01, 5.65, 0.55, and 0.03 μM , respectively (cf. Table 2).     

Comparison of gas chromatographic and gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric techniques for the analysis of TNT and related nitroaromatic compounds

The use of capillary column gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for the analysis of a series of standard solutions (0.1 to 10 μg/ml) of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and eight other nitroaromatic components was evaluated. The techniques included gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC/ECD), full scan and selected ion monitoring gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with electron impact ionization (EI/FS and EI/SIM), full scan and selected ion monitoring gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with positive ion chemical ionization using methane reagent gas (PICI/FS and PICI/SIM), and full scan and selected ion monitoring gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with negative ion chemical ionization using methane reagent gas (NICI/FS and NICI/SIM). The performance of the techniques was comapared by determining the linear response range, precision, and detection limits of the analyses.     

Supercollisions and energy transfer of highly vibrationally excited molecules

Collisional energy-transfer probability distribution functions of highly vibrationally excited molecules and the existence of supercollisions remain as the outstanding questions in the field of intermolecular energy transfer. In this investigation, collisional interactions between ground state Kr atoms and highly vibrationally excited azulene molecules (4.66 eV internal energy) were examined at a collision energy of 410 cm-1 using a crossed molecular beam apparatus and time-sliced ion imaging techniques. A large amount of energy transfer (1000-5000 cm-1) in the backward direction was observed. We report the experimental measurement for the shape of the energy-transfer probability distribution function along with a direct observation of supercollisions.     

Semiempirical Molecular Orbital Studies of the Acylation Step in the Lipase‐Catalyzed Ester Hydrolysis

In this study, we present the results from the semiempirical molecular orbital calculations for the acylation step in the lipase‐catalyzed ester hydrolysis. The results reveal that the lowest energy path for the formation of the tetrahedral intermediate is for the serine residue of the catalytic triad to attack the substrate, followed by coupling heavy atom movement and proton transfer. The calculations of four active site models show that the cooperation of the aspartate group and the oxyanion hole is capable of lowering the activation energy by about 16 kcalmol^?1. Our results further suggest that the lipase‐catalyzed ester hydrolysis adopts the single proton transfer mechanism.     

Electrophoresis of concentrated mercury drops

The electrophoretic behavior of concentrated monodispersed, positively charged mercury drops is investigated theoretically. The present study extends previous analyses by considering arbitrary surface potentials, double-layer polarization, and the interaction between adjacent double layers. The coupled equations describing the spatial variations in the flow field, the electric field, and the concentration field are solved by a pseudo-spectral method. For a low surface potential phi(r), the mobility increases monotonically with kappaalpha; kappa and alpha are respectively the reciprocal Debye length and the radius of a mercury drop. For medium and high phi(r), the mobility curve has a reflection point, which arises from the interaction of adjacent double layers, for kappaalpha. Also, if phi(r) is high, the mobility curve may exhibit a local minimum as kappaalpha varies. This phenomenon is pronounced if the concentration of the dispersed phase is high. If the double layer is thick, the mobility increases with phi(r), and the reverse is true if it is thin. We show that the higher the concentration of the dispersed phase the smaller the mobility, and as kappaalpha becomes large the mobility approaches a constant value, which is independent of the concentration of the dispersed phase. The mobility of mercury drops is larger than that of the corresponding rigid particles.     

Calculation of local insulating structure of CaCuO2 with interplanar oxygen defects

The electronic band structures of CaCuO₂ with various planar structures have been computed with the spin polarized, full potential pseudofunction method. The perfect tetragonal structure has metallic bands. If the CuO plane is puckered as proposed on the basis of pulsed neutron experiments, a semi-metallic-like behavior is found. When some of the oxygen atoms are moved from the basal plane into interplanar sites that are coplanar with Ca, an insulating ground state is obtained with antiferromagnetic moments of 0.21 _B . Around this interplanar oxygen defect site, the charge and magnetic moment distributions resemble those of a CuO chain structure with strong coupling to Cu atoms from different basal planes. Small displacements of defect oxygens at interplanar sites along the CaO planar directions produces large changes in band shape near E _F , suggesting strong electron-lattice coupling. The coupling is much weaker for displacements of O atoms within the CuO basal plane. Such interplanar defects could occur in superconducting cuprates and thus create small insulating regions for the pinning of magnetic flux lines.