Stability of the gold(i)-phosphine bond. A comparison with other group 11 elements

The stability of gold phosphine complexes of the form [Au(PH(3))(n)()](+) (n = 1-4) and [AuCl(PH(3))(n)()] (n = 1-3) is analyzed in detail by applying quantum theoretical methods and compared to the coordination behavior of the lighter group 11 elements copper and silver. It is shown that, once [M(PH(3))(2)](+) or [MClPH(3)] (M = Cu, Ag, and Au) is formed, further coordination by PH(3) ligands is relatively weak; i.e., the energy gain to form [M(PH(3))(3)](+) from [M(PH(3))(2)](+) is less than 60 kJ mol(-)(1), and less than 100 kJ mol(-)(1) to form [MCl(PH(3))(2)] from [MClPH(3)]. Relativistic effects in gold significantly influence these factors and reduce the tendency for phosphine coordination beyond two-coordination. This implies that the most favored coordination number for gold is two with either a linear P-Au-P or P-Au-X arrangement (X = a strongly coordinating ligand like Cl(-)). Instead, X-Au-PH(3) units prefer to interact via close Au-Au contacts (aurophilic interactions) keeping the linear structure approximately intact, while the corresponding copper and silver compounds prefer PH(3) coordination to strongly bound M(2)Cl(2) units (M = Cu or Ag) where two chlorine atoms bridge the two metal atoms thus having the formal coordination number of three for copper or silver.     

Control of Excited‐State Conformations in B,N‐Acenes

We present a new concept to control the conformations of molecules in the excited state through harvesting negative hyperconjugation. The strategy was realized with the 2,3,1,4‐benzodiazadiborinane scaffold, which was prepared by a new synthetic procedure. Photochemical studies identified dual light emission, which was assigned to well‐defined conformers. The emission at longer wavelength can be switched off by restricting the rotational degrees of freedom in the solid state as well as by controlling the energy levels of the excited states through adjusting the solvent polarity.     

On the stoichiometry of mass transfer from solid to plasma during pulsed laser ablation of brass

We have performed spectroscopic analysis of the plasma produced by pulsed laser ablation of brass in a low pressure argon atmosphere. The intensities of several spectral lines of copper, zinc and lead were measured for succeeding laser pulses applied to the same irradiation site. The intensities and spectral shapes of the observed transitions were compared to the spectral radiance computed for plasma in local thermal equilibrium. At a delay of 600 ns after the laser pulse, the plasma is characterized by typical values of temperature and electron density of 1.1 × 10⁴ K and 1.2 × 10¹⁷ cm^− 3, respectively, and an elemental composition equal to that of the sample. Small changes of spectral line intensities were observed with increasing number of applied laser pulses. They were attributed to the alteration of the plume expansion dynamics as a consequence of crater formation on the sample surface. The results indicate that the mass transfer from the solid to the plasma is stoichiometric.     

Study of the development of thermoresistance in human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines using proteome analysis

In order to find candidate proteins that are potentially associated with the thermoresistant phenotype in combination with drug resistance, we analyzed the differential protein expression in vitro in the human pancreatic cancer cell line EPP85-181-P and classical and atypical multidrug-resistant variants and their thermoresistant counterparts using proteomics. This study identifies sets of proteins that may lead to the development of thermoresistance. These results provide a fundamental basis to elucidate the molecular mechanism of thermoresistance and chemoresistance phenomena that may assist the therapy of inoperable cancers.     

The facile reduction of carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide with an amido-digermyne

Taking the fizz out: A digermyne compound with a Ge?Ge single bond has been shown to quantitatively reduce CO(2) to CO at temperatures as low as -40?°C. The mechanism of this unprecedented reaction has been probed by spectroscopic and computational techniques and involves a metastable intermediate (see picture; Ar*=C(6) H(2) {C(H)Ph(2) }(2) Me-2,6,4).     

Phosphorus and Energy Recovery from Manure and Digestion Residues

Abstract

Human and animal excrements, in particular manure, stand for a significant and undisputable source of plant nutrients and renewable energy. In Europe, only 36% of P-inputs to soils originate from primary resources (rock phosphate) whereas 63% come from animal and human excretions applied to cropland as manure, digestion residues and sewage sludge. Simultaneously these waste flows represent a potential hazard to human health and aquatic bodies because of pathogens and eutrophication. Management of these waste flows is far from being sustainable, in part due to the lack of efficient processing technologies. A cooperative InnoEnergy—EIT financed KIC Knowledge and Innovation Community—research project pursues development and demonstration of highly efficient technologies to overcome the constraints and to yield renewable phosphate fertilizers and energy from waste flows that may have a combined technical energy potential of 3,600 PJ/year and an annual phosphate recovery potential of 4.5–5.5 million tonnes (as P₂O₅) in Europe.     

Reactivity of 5,10:8,14-Disecosteroids: An unusual rearrangement of cyclodecene-1,4-dione systems to five-membered-ring spiro-γ-lactones

Upon heating in AcOH, the stereoisomeric (Z)- and (R)-6,9-dioxocyclodex-3-enyl derivatives, 5 and 6 , respectively, obtained by HgO/I₂ oxidation of 5-hydroxy-8-oxo-8,14-seco-5α-androstane-3β,17β-diyl diacetate ( 3 ), undergo an unusual intramolecular rearrangement to give the corresponding unsaturated (5R,9R)- and (5R,9S)-spiro-lactones 7 and 8 , respectively. Hydroxylation of the C?C bond in 7 and 8 , and subsequent glycol cleavage of the resulting diols 9 and 10 afforded the epimeric spiro-lactones (5R,9S)- 11 and (5R,9R)- 14 , respectively, and in both cases, the ring-D-containing fragments 12 and 13 .     

Stöber silica particles as basis for redox modifications: particle shape, size, polydispersity, and porosity

The synthesis of Stöber silica particles as basis for redox modifications is optimized for desired properties, in particular diameter in a wide sub-micrometer range, spherical shape, monodispersity, the absence of porosity, and aggregation free isolability for characterization and later covalent modification. The materials are characterized by SEM, DLS, nitrogen sorption isotherms, helium as well as Gay-Lussac (water) pycnometry, and DRIFT spectroscopy. Particles with diameters between approximately 50 and 800 nm are obtained by varying the concentrations of the reagents and reactants, the type of solvent as well as the temperature. The use of high water concentrations and post-synthetic calcination at 600 °C results in silica particles that can be considered as nonporous with respect to the size of the active molecules to be immobilized. The effect of reaction temperature on size distribution is identified. Low polydispersity is achieved by performing the reaction in a temperature range in which a change in temperature has only a weak or no effect on the final particle diameter. Upon optimization of the sol–gel process, the shape of the particles is still spherical. The agreement between experimental and geometric data is within the expected precision of the characterization techniques.     

Short Syntheses of some ‘Decalin‐1,8‐diones’ and their Derivatives: Breaking the Pretended Symmetry

A cheap synthesis of the so‐called ‘decalin‐1,8‐diones’ started with the conjugate (1,4‐) addition of cyclohex‐2‐en‐1‐one derivatives to the γ‐position of the dilithium derivative (buta‐1,3‐diene‐1,1‐bis(olate)) of crotonic acid. Hydrogenation of these ‘1,4‐γ’ adducts and final cyclization afforded the enol tautomers of decalin‐1,8‐diones. Nucleophilic substitutions at these 3‐oxoenols by NH₃ or primary amines created only monoamino products (namely, 3‐oxoenamines) whose reactions with OPCl₃ yielded dihydro(1,3,2)oxazaphosphinin‐2‐one derivatives. The two regioisomers of a trimethyl‐3‐oxoenamine served as models for the constitutional assignments of the two rapidly interconverting (hence, individually NMR‐invisible), tautomeric trimethyl‐3‐oxoenols. Such methyl substitutions served to break the ‘pretended’ symmetry of ‘decalin‐1,8‐dione’. Hydrazine and 3‐oxoenols furnished oxygen‐free indazole derivatives whose N?H bonds exchanged with t_1/2=ca. 0.00035 s at ca. ?58(9) °C.