Iron-Catalyzed Oxidative C−C Cross-Coupling Reaction of Tertiary Anilines with Hydroxyarenes by Using Air as Sole Oxidant

A mild procedure for the oxidative C−C cross-coupling of tertiary anilines with phenols is described which provides the products generally in high yields and with excellent selectivity. The reaction is catalyzed by the hexadecafluorinated iron–phthalocyanine complex FePcF₁₆ in the presence of substoichiometric amounts of methanesulfonic acid and ambient air as sole oxidant.     

An Imidazolium-Based Lipid Analogue as a Gene Transfer Agent

A dicationic imidazolium salt is described and investigated towards its application for gene transfer. The polar head group and the long alkyl chains in the backbone contribute to a lipid-like behavior, while an alkyl ammonium group provides the ability for crucial electrostatic interaction for the transfection process. Detailed biophysical studies regarding its impact on biological membrane models and the propensity of vesicle fusion are presented. Fluorescence spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and confocal fluorescence microscopy show that the imidazolium salt leads to negligible changes in lipid packing, while displaying distinct vesicle fusion properties. Cell culture experiments reveal that mixed liposomes containing the novel imidazolium salt can serve as plasmid DNA delivery vehicles. In contrast, a structurally similar imidazolium salt without a second positive charge showed no ability to support DNA transfection into cultured cells. Thus, we introduce a novel and variable structural motif for cationic lipids, expanding the field of lipofection agents.     

The net distribution of elements in multiphase polymer materials via element-specific electron microscopy

Applications of the Electron Spectroscopic Imaging technique (ESI) within the field of multiphase polymer materials are discussed. Imaging with elastically scattered electrons as well as imaging with electrons with defined energy loss are presented. From the latter the net distribution of elements can be derived. Several examples are given: Glassy diblock copolymers polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinyl pyridine), polyethylenes, interpenetrating networks, interdiffusion couples, blends of polystyrene and polystyrene-graft-poly(oxyethylene), carbon black reinforced natural rubber, and epitactic growth of poly(1-pentenylene) on isotactic poly (propylene) surface. Visualization of the rigid amorphous phase in polyethylene is presented, as well as electron spectroscopic diffraction (ESD) of oriented PE. One of the features of ESI is due to the fact that discrimination between true morphology and artefacts is possible in an unbiased manner, even for minor details: Heavy metal staining is abandonable, and structural analysis by one element may be proved by analysis with other elements, which may be present in the sample or which may be added by chemical reaction or interaction with groups within the molecules.