Asymmetric benzoin reaction catalyzed by benzoylformate decarboxylase

Aromatic aldehydes are converted into benzoins by benzoylformate decarboxylase catalyzed C–C bond formation. The reaction affords (R)-benzoins with high enantiomeric excess and in good chemical yields. A broad range of aromatic aldehydes can be used as substrates in aqueous buffer or buffer/DMSO-solutions.     

Poly(cyclohexene oxide)/clay nanocomposites by photoinitiated cationic polymerization via activated monomer mechanism

Poly(cyclohexene oxide) (PCHO)/clay nanocomposites were prepared by in situ photoinitiated activated monomer cationic polymerization. The polymerization of cyclohexene oxide through the interlayer galleries of the clay can provide distribution of the clay layers in the polymer matrix homogenously and results in the formation of PCHO/clay nanocomposites. The exfoliated structures were characterized by X‐ray diffraction spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5328–5335, 2009     

Effective cut-offs for modes on helical fibres

Every mode of a single-mode or multimode helical fibre is always leaky but, for practical purposes, can be treated as being bound with an effective cut-off wavelength. The leakage loss for each mode is quantified, showing that, for fixed core offset and source wavelength, the cut-off pitch increases with increasing mode order. The value of the cut-off pitch for each mode is in agreement with experimental measurements.     

Zinc perchlorate catalyzed one-pot amination-annulation of α-cyanomethyl-β-ketoesters in water. Regioselective synthesis of 2-aminopyrrole-4-carboxylates

In this paper, we report the efficient and regioselective synthesis of 2-aminopyrrole-4-carboxylates as derivatives of conformationally restricted analogues of γ-amino butyrates (GABA) via a zinc perchlorate catalyzed amination-annulation of α-cyanomethyl-β-ketoesters under mild reaction conditions in water.     

EPR Studies of the Binding Properties,Guest Dynamics,and Inner‐Space Dimensions of a Water‐Soluble Resorcinarene Capsule

Nitroxide free radicals have been used to study the inner space of one of Rebek’s water‐soluble capsules. EPR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, ESI‐MS, and DFT calculations showed a preference for the formation of 1:2 complexes. EPR titrations allowed us to determine binding constants (K_a) in the order of 10⁷ M ^?2. EPR spectral‐shape analysis provided information on the guest rotational dynamics within the capsule. The interplay between optimum hydrogen bonding upon capsule formation and steric strain for guest accommodation highlights some degree of flexibility for guest inclusion, particularly at the center of the capsule where the hydrogen bond seam can be barely distorted or slightly disturbed.     

Heat capacity measurements on BaTa<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>6</Subscript> and derivation of its thermodynamic functions

Heat capacity measurements of barium tantalate (BaTa₂O₆) were carried out by using a differential scanning calorimeter at temperatures between 323 and 1323 K. From the heat capacity values of BaTa₂O₆, other thermodynamic functions (enthalpy and entropy increments) were derived between 298.15 and 1323 K. The C _p,m (298.15) value of BaTa₂O₆ was computed as 184.857 J mol^?1 K^?1. Moreover, fitted heat capacities exhibited good agreement with Neumann–Kopp rule at the temperatures between 298.15 and 1300 K.     

Identification of broad specificity P450CAM variants by primary screening against indole as substrate

High-throughput screening of cytochrome P450CAM libraries, for their ability to oxidise indole to indigo and indirubin, has resulted in the identification of variants with activity towards the structurally unrelated substrate diphenylmethane.     

Probing the substrate specificity of the catalytically self-sufficient cytochrome P450 RhF from a Rhodococcus sp

Analysis of the substrate specificity of the self-sufficient cytochrome P450 RhF revealed that the enzyme tends to catalyse the dealkylation of substituted alkyl-aryl ethers with shorter alkyl moieties more readily than equivalent compounds with longer alkyl groups.