Monolithic 160 Gbit/s optical time-division multiplexer

We present the design and experimental characterization of a monolithic optical time-division multiplexer (MUX) for 160 Gbit/s operation based on periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguides. Its key figures of merit agree well with theoretical predictions and meet or exceed those of a previously demonstrated PPLN-planar-light-wave-circuit hybrid MUX. The monolithic design has a simpler layout and higher efficiency while keeping the cross talk low.     

Tailoring Chimeric Ligands for Studying and Biasing ErbB Receptor Family Interactions

Described is the development and application of a versatile semisynthetic strategy, based on a combination of sortase‐mediated coupling and tetrazine ligation chemistry, which can be exploited for the efficient incorporation of tunable functionality into chimeric recombinant proteins. To demonstrate the scope of the method, the assembly of a set of bivalent ligands, which integrate members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) ligand family, is described. By using a series of bivalent EGFs with variable intraligand spacing, the differences in structure were correlated with the ability to bias signaling in the ErbB receptor family in a cell motility assay. Biasing away from EGFR‐HER2 dimerization with a bivalent EGF was observed to reduce cell motility in an intraligand distance‐dependent fashion, thus demonstrating the utility of the approach for acutely perturbing receptor‐mediated cell signaling pathways.     

Acylsilanes in Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Directed Aromatic C–H Alkenylations and Siloxycarbene Reactions with CC Double Bonds

Acylsilanes are known to undergo a 1,2‐silicon‐to‐oxygen migration under thermal or photochemical conditions to form siloxycarbenes. However, there are few reports regarding the application of siloxycarbenes in organic synthesis and surprisingly, their reaction with C? C double or triple bonds remains virtually unexplored. To facilitate such a study, previously inaccessible aromatic acylsilanes containing an ortho‐tethered C? C double bond were identified as suitable substrates. To access these key intermediates, we developed a new synthetic method utilizing a rhodium‐catalyzed oxidative Heck‐type olefination involving the application of an acylsilane moiety as a directing group. When exposed to visible‐light irradiation, the ortho‐olefinated acylsilanes underwent a smooth intramolecular cyclization process to afford valuable indanone derivatives in quantitative yields. This result paves the way for the development of new transformations involving siloxycarbene intermediates.     

Catalytic,Asymmetric Synthesis of Phosphonic γ‐(Hydroxyalkyl)butenolides with Contiguous Quaternary and Tertiary Stereogenic Centers

A procedure that enables high yielding access to phosphonic γ‐(hydroxyalkyl)butenolides with excellent regio‐, diastereo‐ and enantiocontrol is reported. The simultaneous construction of up to two adjacent quaternary stereogenic centers by a catalytic asymmetric vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction unites biologically and medicinally relevant entities, namely α‐hydroxy phosphonates and γ‐(hydroxyalkyl)butenolides. This is achieved by utilizing a readily available chiral copper‐sulfoximine catalyst showing a broad functional group tolerance for both the electrophilic and nucleophilic reactants. A discussion about potential factors affecting the observed level of enantioselectivity, which stems from the enantiopure sulfoximine ligand, is also included.     

A Molecular Placeholder Strategy To Access a Family of Transition‐Metal‐Functionalized Vanadium Oxide Clusters

Systematic access to metal‐functionalized polyoxometalates has thus far been limited to lacunary tungsten oxide and molybdenum oxide clusters. The first controlled, stepwise bottom‐up assembly route to metal‐functionalized molecular vanadium oxides is now presented. A di‐vacant vanadate cluster with two metal binding sites, (DMA)₂[V₁₂O₃₂Cl]^3? (DMA=dimethylammonium) is formed spontaneously in solution and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, ESI mass spectrometry, ⁵¹V NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analyses. In the cluster, the metal binding sites are selectively blocked by hydrogen‐bonded DMA placeholder cations. Reaction of the cluster with transition metals TM (Fe³⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺) gives access to mono‐functionalized vanadate clusters (DMA)[{TM(L)}V₁₂O₃₂Cl]^n? (L=ligand). Metal binding is accomplished by significant distortions of the vanadium oxide framework reminiscent of a pincer movement. Cluster stability under technologically relevant conditions in the solid‐state and solution is demonstrated.     

Exploring the Synthesis of a New Group of Chiral Ammonium Salts with Specific Configurations at the Stereogenic Nitrogen Centers

A group of new chiral dications with a fixed, specific configuration at the stereogenic nitrogen center was created. Stereoselective synthesis and recrystallization give the diastereomerically and enantiomerically pure dications, including a chiral amphiphile with surface‐active properties.     

Radical S‐Adenosyl Methionine Epimerases: Regioselective Introduction of Diverse D‐Amino Acid Patterns into Peptide Natural Products

PoyD is a radical S‐adenosyl methionine epimerase that introduces multiple D ‐configured amino acids at alternating positions into the highly complex marine peptides polytheonamide A and B. This novel post‐translational modification contributes to the ability of the polytheonamides to form unimolecular minimalistic ion channels and its cytotoxic activity at picomolar levels. Using a genome mining approach we have identified additional PoyD homologues in various bacteria. Three enzymes were expressed in E. coli with their cognate as well as engineered peptide precursors and shown to introduce diverse D ‐amino acid patterns into all‐L peptides. The data reveal a family of architecturally and functionally distinct enzymes that exhibit high regioselectivity, substrate promiscuity, and irreversible action and thus provide attractive opportunities for peptide engineering.     

A Rapidly Reversible Chemical Dimerizer System to Study Lipid Signaling in Living Cells

Chemical dimerizers are powerful tools for non‐invasive manipulation of enzyme activities in intact cells. Here we introduce the first rapidly reversible small‐molecule‐based dimerization system and demonstrate a sufficiently fast switch‐off to determine kinetics of lipid metabolizing enzymes in living cells. We applied this new method to induce and stop phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) activity, allowing us to quantitatively measure the turnover of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5‐trisphosphate (PIP₃) and its downstream effectors by confocal fluorescence microscopy as well as standard biochemical methods.     

Electro-Mechanochemical Atom Transfer Radical Cyclizations using Piezoelectric BaTiO3

The formation and regeneration of active Cu^I species is a fundamental mechanistic step in copper-catalyzed atom transfer radical cyclizations (ATRC). Typically, the presence of the catalytically active Cu^I species in the reaction mixture is secured by using high Cu^I catalyst loadings or the addition of complementary reducing agents. In this study it is demonstrated how the piezoelectric properties of barium titanate (BaTiO₃) can be harnessed by mechanical ball milling to induce electrical polarization in the strained piezomaterial. This strategy enables the conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy, leading to the reduction of a Cu^II precatalyst into the active Cu^I species in copper-catalyzed mechanochemical solvent-free ATRC reactions.     

C–F Bond Cleavage Reactions with Beryllium,Magnesium, Gallium,Hafnium, and Thorium Halides

The work describes unexpected stoichiometric C–F bond cleavage reactions of beryllium, magnesium, gallium, hafnium and thorium halides with α,α,α-trifluorotoluene. The reaction of BeBr₂ / GaBr₃ or MgBr₂ / GaBr₃ mixtures as well as neat GaI₃ with α,α,α-trifluorotoluene in the presence of (OSi₂Me₄)₂ ( I ) yields the carbenium ion containing compounds [Ph-C(O₂Si₂Me₄)][GaX₄] (X = Br: 1 , X = I/F: 2 ). Both compounds were successfully characterized and a defluorination type reaction under incorporation of a siloxy unit was observed. Compound 1 was also characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The conversion of α,α,α-trifluorotoluene with BeI₂, HfI₄ or ThI₄ turned out to be a halodefluorination-type reaction with formation of α,α,α-triiodotoluene ( 3 ). An adequate NMR spectroscopic and the X-ray crystallographic characterization of 3 were performed for the first time.