Self-assembled monolayer and multilayer films of the nanocluster [HxPMo12O40 subsetH4Mo72Fe30(O2CMe)15O254(H2O)68] on gold

Films of the molybdenum-iron nanocluster [H x PMo 12O 40 subsetH 4Mo 72Fe 30(O 2CMe) 15O 254(H2O) 68] (FeMoC) were generated on gold via the self-assembly technique using two divergent routes. The first route entails the self-assembly of unfunctionalized FeMoC onto a preprepared carboxyl-terminated SAM on gold. The second route involves the preparation of thiol-terminated functionalized FeMoC clusters, which are then allowed to self-assemble onto bare gold surfaces. Monolayer films of FeMoC clusters are attained via both routes, with the second route requiring shorter immersion times (2 days) than the first route (6 days). Multilayer films of FeMoC are formed via the second route for immersion times longer than 2 days. Characterization of these films using optical ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy confirm the self-assembly of the clusters on the surfaces.     

Lipid composition greatly affects the in vitro surface activity of lung surfactant protein mimics

A crucial aspect of developing a functional, biomimetic lung surfactant (LS) replacement is the selection of the synthetic lipid mixture and surfactant proteins (SPs) or suitable mimics thereof. Studies elucidating the roles of different lipids and surfactant proteins in natural LS have provided critical information necessary for the development of synthetic LS replacements that offer performance comparable to the natural material. In this study, the in vitro surface-active behaviors of peptide- and peptoid-based mimics of the lung surfactant proteins, SP-B and SP-C, were investigated using three different lipid formulations. The lipid mixtures were chosen from among those commonly used for the testing and characterization of SP mimics--(1) dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine:palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylglycerol 7:3 (w/w) (PCPG), (2) dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine:palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylglycerol:palmitic acid 68:22:9 (w/w) (TL), and (3) dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine:palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylcholine:palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylglycerol:palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine:palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylserine:cholesterol 16:10:3:1:3:2 (w/w) (IL). The lipid mixtures and lipid/peptide or lipid/peptoid formulations were characterized in vitro using a Langmuir-Wilhelmy surface balance, fluorescent microscopic imaging of surface film morphology, and a pulsating bubble surfactometer. Results show that the three lipid formulations exhibit significantly different surface-active behaviors, both in the presence and absence of SP mimics, with desirable in vitro biomimetic behaviors being greatest for the TL formulation. Specifically, the TL formulation is able to reach low-surface tensions at physiological temperature as determined by dynamic PBS and LWSB studies, and dynamic PBS studies show this to occur with a minimal amount of compression, similar to natural LS.     

Double layer effects on metal nucleation in deep eutectic solvents

The electrodeposition of zinc has been studied in two deep eutectic solvents. Unlike the metals studied to date in these liquids, zinc electrodeposition is not mass transport limited and the morphology of the deposit differs in the two liquids. This study shows that changing the concentration of solute affects the physical properties of the liquid to different extents although this is found to not effect the morphology of the metal deposited. EXAFS was used to show that the speciation of zinc was the same in both liquids. Double layer capacitance studies showed differences between the two liquids and these are proposed to be due to the adsorption of a species on the electrode which is thought to be chloride. The differences in zinc morphology is attributed to blocking of certain crystal faces leading to deposition of small platelet shaped crystals in the glycol based liquid.     

Raman optical activity comes of age

The theory and applications of Raman optical activity (ROA), which measures vibrational optical activity by means of a small difference in the intensity of Raman scattering from chiral molecules in right- and left-circularly polarized incident light or, equivalently, a small circularly polarized component in the scattered light, are briefly reviewed. Thanks to new developments in instrumentation, ROA may be applied to a wide range of chiral molecular species. As well as providing the absolute configuration of small chiral molecules, the application of ab initio methods to the analysis of experimental ROA spectra holds great promise for the determination of the three-dimensional structure and conformational distribution in unprecedented detail. The many structure-sensitive bands in the ROA spectra of aqueous solutions of biomolecules provide detailed structural information including, in the case of proteins, the tertiary fold in addition to secondary structure elements such as helix and sheet. ROA studies of unfolded and partially folded proteins are providing new insight into the residual structure in denatured proteins and the aberrant behaviour of proteins responsible for misfolding diseases. It is even possible to measure the ROA spectra of most intact viruses, from which information about the folds of the major coat proteins and the structure of the nucleic acid core may be obtained. Hopefully this review will stimulate interest in the molecular physics aspects of the subject, and will encourage further theoretical work aimed at extracting maximum information from the plethora of structure-sensitive bands in typical ROA spectra.     

Probing gunshot residue, sweat and latent human fingerprints with capillary-scale ion chromatography and suppressed conductivity detection

An investigation into capillary-scale ion chromatography with suppressed conductivity detection is presented for the identification of low molecular weight anions in samples of limited size. Both particle-packed and polymer monolith capillary ion exchange resins were compared with respect to their chromatographic efficiencies, operating back-pressures and thermal selectivities. Using a multistep hydroxide gradient, it was possible to separate a large selection of inorganic and organic anions in <23 mins using both phases with an injection volume of only 0.4 μL. Method performance was tested with respect to linearity, range, reproducibility and sensitivity and compared to a micro-bore (2 mm) IC method. Limits of mass sensitivity improved by factors up to 1,800-fold using the capillary IC system and lay in the range 0.3-26.2 pg. The finalised analytical method was applied to the determination of both endogenous and exogenous species in sweat and fingermark deposits. It was possible to determine presence of elevated levels of thiocyanate and benzoate in the sweat of three moderate smokers (5-10 cigarettes/day) in comparison to non-smokers. A controlled firing experiment was also conducted to assess the transfer of gunshot residue into fingerprints of a firer. Similarly, identification of direct contact with a black powder substitute is presented via analysis of latent fingermarks. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first study of sweat and fingerprints using capillary-scale suppressed ion chromatography.     

Epicatechin B-ring conjugates: first enantioselective synthesis and evidence for their occurrence in human biological fluids

Herein, the first enantioselective total synthesis of a number of biologically relevant (-)-epicatechin conjugates is described. The success of this synthesis relied on (i) optimized conditions for the stereospecific cyclization step leading to the catechin C ring; on (ii) efficient conjugation reactions; and on (iii) optimized deprotection sequences. These standard compounds have been subsequently used to elucidate for the first time the pattern of (-)-epicatechin conjugates present in four different human biological fluids following (-)-epicatechin absorption.     

Molecular Structure of Quinolin-1-(2-quinolyl)-2-one mesitylimine: An Unusual Amination Product of 2,4,6-Trimethylaniline and 2-Chloroquinoline

Abstract  The molecular structure of quinolin-1-(2-quinolyl)-2-one mesitylimine has been determined. The Buchwald-Hartwig amination of mesitylaniline with two equivalents of 2-chloroquinoline results in dearomatization of one quinoline heterocycle, forming an imine with the mesitylaniline nitrogen and aminating the second 2-chloroquinoline via the cyclic nitrogen. The mesityl and quinoline moieties are nearly perpendicular to the plane of the central quinolyl structure. Rationalization of the imine formation is found by a consideration of the relative stability of the syn and anti conformations of the reaction intermediate. Crystal data: space group P2₁/c, a = 12.609(3), b = 15.010(3), c = 12.456(3) ?, β = 112.68(3)°; V = 2,175.3(8) ?³, Z = 4, R = 0.0649, wR₂ = 0.1498. Graphical Abstract  The amination of mesitylaniline with two equivalents of 2-chloroquinoline results in dearomatization of one quinoline heterocycle, forming an imine with the mesitylaniline nitrogen and aminating the second 2-chloroquinoline via the cyclic nitrogen.      

Axiomatic Aspects of N = 2 Vertex Superalgebras with Odd Formal Variables

We formulate the notion of “N = 2 vertex superalgebra with two odd formal variables” using a Jacobi identity with odd formal variables in which an N = 2 superconformal shift is incorporated into the usual Jacobi identity for a vertex superalgebra. It is shown that as a consequence of these axioms, the N = 2 vertex superalgebra is naturally a representation of the Lie superalgebra isomorphic to the three-dimensional algebra of superderivations with basis consisting of the usual conformal operator and the two N = 2 superconformal operators. In addition, this superconformal shift in the Jacobi identity dictates the form of the odd formal variable components of the vertex operators, and allows one to easily derive the useful formulas in the theory. The notion of N = 2 Neveu–Schwarz vertex operator superalgebra with two odd formal variables is introduced, and consequences of this notion are derived. In particular, we develop the duality properties which are necessary for a rigorous treatment of the correspondence with the underlying supergeometry. Various other formulations of the notion of N = 2 (Neveu–Schwarz) vertex (operator) superalgebra appearing in the mathematics and physics literature are discussed, and several mistakes in the literature are noted and corrected.