Gas-phase structure of protonated histidine and histidine methyl ester: combined experimental mass spectrometry and theoretical ab initio study

Gas-phase H/D exchange experiments with CD3OD and D2O and quantum chemical ab initio G3(MP2) calculations were carried out on protonated histidine and protonated histidine methyl ester in order to elucidate their bonding and structure. The H/D exchange experiments show that both ions have three equivalent fast hydrogens and one appreciably slower exchangeable hydrogen assigned to the protonated amino group participating in a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond (IHB) with the nearest N(sp2) nitrogen of the imidazole fragment and to the distal ring NH-group, respectively. It is taken for granted that the proton exchange in the IHB is much faster than the H/D exchange. Unlike in other protonated amino acids (glycine, proline, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan) studied earlier, the exchange rate of the carboxyl group in protonated histidine is slower than that of the amino group. The most stable conformers and the enthalpies of neutral and protonated histidine and its methyl ester are calculated at the G3(MP2) level of theory. It is shown that strong intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the amino group and the imidazole ring nitrogen sites is responsible for the stability and specific properties of the protonated histidine. It is found that the proton fluctuates between the amino and imidazole groups in the protonated form across an almost vanishing barrier. Proton affinity (PA) of histidine calculated by the G3(MP2) method is 233.2 and 232.4 kcal mol(-1) for protonation at the imidazole ring and at the amino group nitrogens, respectively, which is about 3-5 kcal mol(-1) lower than the reported experimental value.     

Development of Polar Order in the Liquid Crystal Phases of a 4‐Cyanoresorcinol‐Based Bent‐Core Mesogen with Fluorinated Azobenzene Wings

A bent‐core mesogen consisting of a 4‐cyanoresorcinol unit as the central core and laterally fluorinated azobenzene wings forms four different smectic LC phase structures in the sequence SmA–SmC_s–SmC_sP_AR–M, all involving polar SmC_sP_S domains with growing coherence length of tilt and polar order on decreasing temperature. The SmA phase is a cluster‐type de Vries phase with randomized tilt and polar direction; in the paraelectric SmC_s phase the tilt becomes uniform, although polar order is still short‐range. Increasing polar correlation leads to a new tilted and randomized polar smectic phase with antipolar correlation between the domains (SmC_sP_AR) which then transforms into a viscous polar mesophase M. As another interesting feature, spontaneous symmetry breaking by formation of a conglomerate of chiral domains is observed in the non‐polar paraelectric SmC_s phase.     

ChemInform Abstract: A Matrix Isolation and Computational Study of Molecular Palladium Fluorides: Does PdF6 Exist?

Binary palladium fluorides from PdF to PdF₆ are investigated by matrix‐isolation methods using thermal evaporation and laser ablation to generate Pd atoms for reaction with F₂‐doped Ar and Ne matrices as well as neat F₂ matrices.     

From Polyhalides to Polypseudohalides: Chemistry Based on Cyanogen Bromide

Pseudohalogens are defined as molecular entities that resemble the halogens in their chemistry. While our understanding of polyhalogen chemistry has increased over the last years, research on polypseudohalogen compounds is lacking. The pseudohalogen BrCN possesses a highly pronounced σ‐hole at the bromine side of the molecule, inducing strong halogen bonding. This allows the synthesis and characterization of new polypseudohalogen anions, as shown by the single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction of [PNP][Br(BrCN)] and [PNP][Br(BrCN)₃]. Both the nearly linear anion [Br(BrCN)]^? and the distorted pyramidal anion [Br(BrCN)₃]^? were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and quantum‐chemical calculations. The behavior of the polypseudohalogen compounds in solution and as room‐temperature ionic liquids (RT‐ILs) using the [NBu₄]⁺ cation was studied by ¹³C and ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy. These types of ILs are capable of dissolving elemental gold and offer themselves as promising compounds in metal recycling.     

Preparation and Characterisation of Nano-Structured WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Layers for Photoelectrochromic Devices

Nano-structured WO₃-TiO₂ layers were prepared by the sol-gel route. To obtain transparent, porous and crack free layers up to 0.8 μ m with a single dipping cycle a templating strategy was used. As a template three-dimensionally network based on organically modified silane was introduced to the WO₃ and TiO₂ sols. The WO₃ layers were dip-coated onto the conductive glass substrate (TCO) and the TiO₂ layers on the top of the WO₃ layer. The morphology and the structure of the layers were determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDXS), Auger and Infrared spectroscopy. SEM image of the WO₃-TiO₂ layer confirmed the nano-porosity of the layers and give the size of the particles of about 10 nm for TiO₂ and 30 nm for WO₃ layer. Further analysis indicated that the titanium sol penetrates the WO₃ layer. Particles in the WO₃ layer consist of a crystalline monoclinic WO₃ core surrounded by a 5–10 nm amorphous phase consisting of WO₃, TiO₂ and SiO₂. The WO₃-TiO₂ layers were used to assemble all solid state photoelectrochromic (PE) devices. Under 1 sun irradiation (1000 W/m²) the visible transmittance of the PE device changes from 62% to 1.6%. The colouring and bleaching processes last about 10 minutes.     

Computer generation of chemical structures from known fragments

The interactive generation of chemical structures from given fragments is described and discussed. It is implemented as a part of our expert system CARBON, based on C-13 NMR spectra. As it is designed, this program can also be a useful tool in the structure elucidation process when information on parts of the structure is obtained by other means (IR, mass and other spectrometries, chemical analysis, other relevant information). The topological characteristics of candidate fragments are first chosen interactively and then the elements are connected in all topologically possible ways. In the following step, the topological building blocks are substituted by chemical structural fragments resulting in a set of all chemical structures consistent with the input information.     

Antioxidants and stabilizers: Part IC—Hydroperoxide deactivation by aliphatic sulfides. A model study

The hydroperoxide decomposing efficiencies of dioctadecylsulfide (I), dioctadecyldisulfide (IV) and dioctadecyl 3,3-thio-dipropionate (VII) have been compared at 75°C and 85°C. The formation of oxidation products from (I) and (IV) has been checked. Experimental evidence is given of the important rôle of the activation of the molecule of (IV) by the presence of two sulfidic sulfur atoms compared with the activation of the sulfur atom in (VII) by the alkoxycarbonyl group in the beta position. The explanation of the high efficiency of disulfide has been based on the formation of thiosulfinate—the key intermediate for the generation of peroxidolytic species—in the first reaction step.     

Insights on the Lewis Superacid Al(OTeF5)3: Solvent Adducts,Characterization and Properties**

Preparation and characterization of the dimeric Lewis superacid [Al(OTeF₅)₃]₂ and various solvent adducts is presented. The latter range from thermally stable adducts to highly reactive, weakly bound species. DFT calculations on the ligand affinity of these Lewis acids were performed in order to rank their remaining Lewis acidity. An experimental proof of the Lewis acidity is provided by the reaction of solvent-adducts of Al(OTeF₅)₃ with [PPh₄][SbF₆] and OPEt₃, respectively. Furthermore, their reactivity towards chloride and pentafluoroorthotellurate salts as well as (CH₃)₃SiCl and (CH₃)₃SiF is shown. This includes the formation of the dianion [Al(OTeF₅)₅]²⁻.