Quantification of the push-pull character of azo dyes and a basis for their evaluation as potential nonlinear optical materials

The push-pull characters of a large series of donor-acceptor substituted azo dyes—71 structures in all—have been quantified by the NN double bond lengths, d_NN, the ¹⁵N NMR chemical shift differences, Δδ_15N, of the two nitrogen atoms and the quotient, π^∗/π, of the occupations of the antibonding π^∗, and bonding π orbitals of this partial NN double bond. The excellent correlation of the occupation quotients with the bond lengths strongly infers that both π^∗/π and d_NN are excellent parameters for quantifying charge alternation in the push-pull chromophore and the molecular hyperpolarizability, β₀, of these compounds. By this approach, selected compounds can be appropriately considered as viable candidates for nonlinear optical (NLO) applications.     

Probing the exohedral magnetic properties of C20 derivatives by through space NMR shieldings (TSNMRS)

The through space NMR shieldings (TSNMRS) of dodecahedrane C₂₀H₂₀, of the isomeric hydrocarbons C₂₀H₁₂, of the ions C₂₀H₁₂²⁺ and C₂₀H₁₂^2?, of the fluxional fullerene C₂₀ and of its dication C₂₀²⁺ have been ab initio calculated employing the NICS concept on basis of MP2/6-31G1 geometries and visualized as iso-chemical-shielding/deshielding surfaces (ICSSs). TSNMRS values were employed to study the exohedral magnetic properties of the compounds studied. Hereby, the curved π-conjugation in the compounds studied could be quantified.     

Mechanical Behavior of Polymer Gels for RDCs and RCSAs Collection: NMR Imaging Study of Buckling Phenomena

Anisotropic NMR parameters, such as residual dipolar couplings (RDCs), residual chemical shift anisotropies (RCSAs) and residual quadrupolar couplings (RQCs or Δν_Q), appear in solution‐state NMR when the molecules under study are subjected to a degree of order. The tunable alignment by reversible compression/relaxation of gels (PMMA and p‐HEMA) is an easy, user‐friendly, and very affordable method to measure them. When using this method, a fraction of isotropic NMR signals is observed in the NMR spectra, even at a maximum degree of compression. To explain the origin of these isotropic signals we decided to investigate their physical location inside the NMR tube using deuterium 1D imaging and MRI micro‐imaging experiments. It was observed that after a certain degree of compression the gels start to buckle and they generate pockets of isotropic solvent, which are never eliminated. The amount of buckling depends on the amount of cross‐linker and the length of the gel.     

Polarization inscription in ferroelectric (111) PZT and (100) SBT films

Ferroelectric thin films form an equilibrium domain structure compatible with their respective crystallographic symmetry. In tetragonal (111) PZT, 90° domains prevail; in (pseudo-tetragonal) (100) SBT both 90° and 180° domains are present. The size of 90° domains has been measured for e.g., PZT as slabs of 15 nm width. Domain size is a result of stress minimization in the film during the paraelectric (PE) → ferroelectric (FE) transition. A precise and regular domain pattern for (111) PZT and (100) SBT films has been investigated in detail by TMSFM. Single domains can be addressed mechanically with the tip of an AFM. Such single domain switching corresponds to a data storage density of 200 Gbit/inch². Applications of ferroelectric and high- paraelectric materials for e.g., non-volatile data storage replacing DRAM devices or as sensors in infrared cameras are increasingly becoming popular.     

The stereodynamics of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,3,5-oxadiazinane and 1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,3,5-triazinane—an experimental and theoretical study

Multinuclear dynamic NMR spectroscopy of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,3,5-oxadiazinane (3) revealed the existence of two conformers with differently oriented CF₃ groups with respect to the ring, and two dynamic processes: ring inversion and restricted rotation about the N-S bond. Two transition states connecting the two conformers and corresponding to clockwise and counterclockwise rotations about the N-S bond were found; the calculated activation barriers of about 12 kcal/mol are in excellent agreement with those measured experimentally for the related molecule 1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,3,5-triazinane (1). X-ray analysis proved the existence of the symmetric isomer of 3, which is the minor isomer in solutions but the only one in the crystal due to packing effects. The normal Perlin effect (JCH_ax<JCH_eq) was observed for 2(6)-CH₂ in 3, whereas the reversed Perlin effect was found for the 4-CH₂ group in 3 as well as for all CH₂ groups in 1 both experimentally and theoretically. The latter effect in compounds 1, 3, and 1-(methylsulfonyl)-3,5-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-1,3,5-triazinane (2) can be considered as a genuine reverse Perlin effect since larger values of ¹J_CH are observed for longer C-H bonds.     

Quantitative validation of different protein precipitation methods in proteome analysis of blood platelets

For the preparation of proteins for proteome analysis, precipitation is frequently used to concentrate proteins and to remove interfering compounds. Various methods for protein precipitation are applied, which rely on different chemical principles. This study compares the changes in the protein composition of human blood platelet extracts after precipitation with ethanol (EtOH) or trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Both methods yielded the same amount of proteins from the platelet preparations. However, the EtOH-precipitated samples had to be dialyzed because of the considerable salt content. To characterize single platelet proteins, samples were analyzed by two-dimensional fluorescence differential gel electrophoresis. More than 90% of all the spots were equally present in the EtOH- and TCA-precipitated samples. However, both precipitation methods showed a smaller correlation with nonprecipitated samples (EtOH 74.9%, TCA 79.2%). Several proteins were either reduced or relatively enriched in the precipitated samples. The proteins varied randomly in molecular weight and isoelectric point. This study shows that protein precipitation leads to specific changes in the protein composition of proteomics samples. This depends more on the specific structure of the protein than on the precipitating agent used in the experiment.     

Diastereoselective intermolecular rhodium-catalyzed [4 + 2 + 2] carbocyclization reactions: computational and experimental evidence for the intermediacy of an alternative metallacycle intermediate

Intermolecular rhodium-catalyzed [m + n + o] reactions of 1,6-enynes and various pi-components (carbon monoxide, alkynes, 1,3-butadienes, etc.) provide an expeditious approach for the construction of polycyclic fragments that represent important synthons for target-directed synthesis. We present computational and experimental evidence for the existence of a previously undescribed reaction pathway for the rhodium-catalyzed [4 + 2 + 2] reaction involving a 1,6-enyne. This model clearly demonstrates the origin of the excellent diastereoselectivity in this type of reaction and the remarkable tolerance of both (E)- and (Z)-isomers within the 1,6-enyne, which is generally prone to competitive ene-cycloisomerization.     

Configuration and E/Z interconversion mechanism of O(S)-allyl-S(O)-methyl-N-(acridin-9-yl) iminothiocarbonate

The configuration and dynamic behavior of O-allyl-S-methyl-N-(acridin-9-yl)iminothiocarbonate (1) and its S-allyl-O-methyl regioisomer (2) were studied using quantum chemical calculations and by applying a novel graphical method to scatter maps obtained from MD simulations for evaluation of an NOE-weighted internuclear distance (r(NOE)). Energy calculations indicated that the Z configuration was predominant for each compound and, further, this was supported both by the calculated chemical shifts and the r(NOE). Both N-inversion- and rotation-type transition-state structures were also calculated for the E/Z isomerization process, the results indicating that the preferred interconversion mechanism for 1 is N-inversion, but contrastingly, interconversion via rotation is equally as probable as N-inversion for 2. This supports the notion that one or the other or both pathways can be active and each system needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.     

SynCar: an approach to automated synthesis

The automation of all aspects of manual solution-phase synthesis into one integrated, efficient, and reliable system could be regarded as something of an unmet challenge in organic chemistry. The requirements for modern solution-phase libraries in mainstream drug discovery is typically 50-250 high-purity compounds on a 10-100-mg scale, whether for target class libraries or lead optimization, and short cycle time in combination with high capacity is critical. To achieve these goals, in a codevelopment between Aventis and Accelab GmbH, Kusterdingen, Germany, we designed a completely novel system of independent workstations connected by a shuttle transfer system produced by Montech, Derendingen, Switzerland. Seven modular workstations process four reactions on each shuttle in parallel, with the ability to perform synthesis (temperature control and liquid reagent handling), filtration, liquid-liquid extraction, evaporation, weighing, solid-phase extraction, and HPLC/MS analysis. The modular design enables the continuous loading of shuttles at any time, and each shuttle can have its own workflow. The design also allows easy expansion for future needs. The result is a combination of high flexibility and high throughput.