Synthetic metals based on tetramethyltetraselenafulvalene(TMTSF): Varied anisotropy in the low temperature (125K) structures of (TMTSF)2X,X=C104-, PF6-, and AsF6-.

The low temperature (125K) X-ray crystal structures of (TMTSF)₂X, X=C10₄^-, PF₆^-, and AsF₆^- reveal decreases in the intermolecular interand intrastack Se-Se contact distances upon cooling (298K to 125K) which are highly anisotropic and different from one salt to another. The changes in the interstack distances, which are normal to the stacking direction, are approximately twice those involving intrastack Se-Se interactions. These observations establish that the anisotropic structural changes which accompany decreased temperature are common to numerous (TMTSF)₂X radical cation conducting salts.     

Improved synthesis of arachno-6,9-C2B8H14 and its halogenation under electrophilic conditions

A convenient synthesis of arachno-6,9-C₂B₈H₁₄, based on the reduction of nido-5,6-C₂B₈H₁₂ with sodium tetrahydroborate, is reported. Electrophilic halogenation of the former carborane produced a series of 1-X-6,9-C₂B₈H₁₃ (X = Cl, Br and I) derivatives whose constitution was established on the basis of their ¹H and ¹¹B NMR spectra.     

Manipulating atoms and molecules with evanescent-wave mirrors

We explore how atoms and polar molecules can be manipulated using evanescent-wave mirrors (EWM). We review the simpler case of ultracold atoms incident on EWM, and show that quantum effects such as tunneling, above barrier reflection, and Casimir retardation corrections, can be probed. We show that it is possible to enhance significantly quantum effects by engineering sharp features in the effective atom-EWM potential. We illustrate the concept with a bichromatic EWM created by using red and blue detuned lasers. Finally, we extend the treatment to ultracold diatomic polar molecules. Quantum reflection and molecular state selection are demonstrated under attainable physical conditions. By facilitating the manipulation and trapping of ultracold molecules, such molecular mirrors could have several applications, e.g., as devices to filter and select state for ultracold chemistry, or to manipulate states for quantum information processing.     

A review of oxygen-17 solid-state NMR of organic materials--towards biological applications

¹⁷O solid state NMR of organic materials is developing rapidly. This article provides a snapshot of the current state of development of this field. The NMR techniques and enrichment protocols that are driving this progress are outlined. The ¹⁷O parameters derived from solid-state NMR experiments are summarized and the structural sensitivity of the approach to effects such as hydrogen bonding highlighted. The prospects and challenges for ¹⁷O solid-state NMR of biomolecules are discussed.     

Supported ionic liquids: ordered mesoporous silicas containing covalently linked ionic species

Ordered mesoporous silicas with hexagonal or lamellar architectures incorporating covalently bound ionic species were synthesized via a template directed hydrolysis-polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) with triethoxysilylated imidazole [(EtO)(3)Si(CH(2))(3)-Im] or alkylimidazolium halides [(EtO)(3)Si(CH(2))(3)-Im(+)-R Hal(-)].