SpecInfo—A multidimensional spectroscopic interpretation system

Formerly developed inside the BASF company for inhouse use, Spec-Info is now available to the public due to a project of the German Federal Ministry of Research and Technology (BMFT). The system is meant as a supporting tool for interpreting spectroscopists elucidating the structure of chemical compounds. SpecInfo supports the synergistic use of NMR-, IR- and MS-spectra for the correlation between structure and spectral patterns, based on a large spectroscopic databank. Additionally, statistical evaluations on this database are used to link spectral patterns to (sub-) structures responsible for these patterns.     

Topological analysis of complex molecular surfaces

An algorithm for the calculation of local and global curvatures of molecular surfaces is presented. The analysis is based on a surface representation as a set of points in 3-D space (“dotted surface” representation). The surface data are used to subdivide the surfac into domains with different curvatures. All domains are characterized by a reference point with a corresponding curvature profile specifiying the topological properties in its neighborhood. The curvature profiles provide a method for a systematic comparison of the shapes of different molecules. Such a strategy is important for the treatment of molecular recognition problems. The enzyme-inhibitor complex trypsin/BPTI was chosen to demonstrate the scopes of the method.     

Polymer-bound osmium oxide catalysts

Polymer-supported oxidic osmium catalysts based on cross-linked poly(4-vinyl pyridine) were synthesized by various routes and characterized by a number of physical techniques (Raman, IR, XPS, ¹³C and ¹⁵N solid-state NMR spectroscopy). Model compounds of type Os₂O₆L₄ (L = pyridine, 4-iso-propyl pyridine, and 4-tert-butyl pyridine) were obtained under the conditions of the catalyst synthesis. The catalytic systems were successful in the dihydroxylation of alkenes.     

Helicity Induction in Helicate Self-Organisation from Chiral Tris(bipyridine) Ligand Strands

The chiral tris, and pentakis(bipyridine) ligand strands 3a and 4 were synthesised, each in optically pure form with (S,S)-configuration. Ligand 3a yielded substituted double-helical metal complexes, derived from the parent trihelicate structure 2 , with Cu^I and Ag^I ions. The spectral data, in particular the ¹H-NMR spectra and the large positive Cotton effect, indicate that helicate formation occurs with very high induction of helicity. Together with consideration of the steric effects in the two possible helical diastereoisomers (P)- 1 and (M)- 1 that may be formed, the data favour the preferential generation of the right-handed double helicate (P)- 1 from the tris(bipyridine) strand 3a of(S,S)-configuration.     

The interdeparture-time distribution for each class in the ∑ i M i /G i /1 queue

A stationary queueing system is described in which a single server handles several competing Poisson arrival streams on a first-come first-served basis. Each class has its own generally distributed service time characteristics. The principal result is the Laplace-Stieltjes transform, for each class, of the interdeparture time distribution function. Examples are given and applications are discussed.     

Determining the geometry of hydrogen bonds in solids with picometer accuracy by quantum-chemical calculations and NMR spectroscopy.

The structure of multiply hydrogen-bonded systems is determined with picometer accuracy by a combined solid-state NMR and quantum-chemical approach. On the experimental side, advanced 1H-15N dipolar recoupling NMR techniques are capable of providing proton-nitrogen distances of up to about 250 pm with an accuracy level of +/-1 pm for short distances (i.e., around 100 pm) and +/-5 pm for longer ones (i.e., 180 to 250 pm). The experiments were performed under fast magic-angle spinning, which ensures sufficient dipolar decoupling and spectral resolution of the 1H resonance lines. On the quantum-chemical side, the structures of the hydrogen-bonded systems were computationally optimised, yielding complete sets of nitrogen-proton and proton-proton distances, which are essential for correctly interpreting the experimental NMR data. In this way, nitrogen-proton distances were determined with picometer accuracy, so that vibrational averaging effects on dipole-dipole couplings need to be considered. The obtained structures were finally confirmed by the complete agreement of computed and experimental 'H and '5N chemical shifts. This demonstrates that solid-state NMR and quantum-chemical methods ideally complement each other and, in a combined manner, represent a powerful approach for reliable, high-precision structure determination whenever scattering techniques are inapplicable.