Ab initio study of exciton transfer dynamics from a core–shell semiconductor quantum dot to a porphyrin-sensitizer

The observed resonance energy transfer in nanoassemblies of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots and pyridyl-substituted free-base porphyrin molecules [Zenkevich et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 109 (2005) 8679] is studied computationally by ab initio electronic structure and quantum dynamics approaches. The system harvests light in a broad energy range and can transfer the excitation from the dot through the porphyrin to oxygen, generating singlet oxygen for medical applications. The geometric structure, electronic energies, and transition dipole moments are derived by density functional theory and are utilized for calculating the Förster coupling between the excitons residing on the quantum dot and the porphyrin. The direction and rate of the irreversible exciton transfer is determined by the initial photoexcitation of the dot, the dot–porphyrin coupling and the interaction to the electronic subsystem with the vibrational environment. The simulated electronic structure and dynamics are in good agreement with the experimental data and provide real-time atomistic details of the energy transfer mechanism.     

A convenient route to 1-(2-oxiranyl)-1,4-diketones and their application to the synthesis of endo-brevicomin, endo-isobrevicomin, frontalin and related compounds via alkylated 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-ones

1-(2-Oxiranyl)-1,4-alkanediones were prepared from the ethylene acetals of ethyl 4-oxoalkanoates via the oxidation of the intermediate 1,2-dialkylcyclopropanols having a protected carbonyl group in an aliphatic chain. Intramolecular acetalization of these epoxy dicarbonyl compounds gave alkylated 6,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-2-ones in good yields. The latter were found suitable to be precursors for (±)-endo-brevicomin and its 2-hydroxy derivative, as well as (±)-endo-isobrevicomin and (±)-frontalin.     

Ab initio nonadiabatic molecular dynamics of the ultrafast electron injection across the alizarin-TiO2 interface

The observed 6-fs photoinduced electron transfer (ET) from the alizarin chromophore into the TiO2 surface is investigated by ab initio nonadiabatic (NA) molecular dynamics in real time and at the atomistic level of detail. The system derives from the dye-sensitized semiconductor Gr?tzel cell and addresses the problems of an organic/inorganic interface that are commonly encountered in photovoltaics, photochemistry, and molecular electronics. In contrast to the typical Gr?tzel cell systems, where molecular donors are in resonance with a high density of semiconductor acceptor states, TiO2 sensitized with alizarin presents a novel case in which the molecular photoexcited state is at the edge of the conduction band (CB). The high level ab initio analysis of the optical absorption spectrum supports this observation. Thermal fluctuations of atomic coordinates are particularly important both in generating a nonuniform distribution of photoexcited states and in driving the ET process. The NA simulation resolves the controversy regarding the origin of the ultrafast ET by showing that although ultrafast transfer is possible with the NA mechanism, it proceeds mostly adiabatically in the alizarin-TiO2 system. The simulation indicates that the electron is injected into a localized surface state within 8 fs and spreads into the bulk on a 100-fs or longer time scale. The molecular architecture seen in the alizarin-TiO2 system permits efficient electron injection into the edge of the CB by an adiabatic mechanism without the energy loss associated with injection high into the CB by a NA process.     

Enantioselective total syntheses of belactosin A, belactosin C, and its homoanalogue

[reaction: see text] Enantioselective total syntheses of belactosin A, belactosin C, and its homoanalogue have been accomplished in high overall yields (32% for belactosin A from the amino acid 10, and 35 and 36% for belactosin C and its homoanalogue, respectively). This concise approach comprises a novel sequential acylation/beta-lactonization reaction and allows a facile alteration of the substituents, thus providing a flexible route to a new family of highly active belactosin-based proteasome inhibitors.     

Analysis of NAD(P) and NAD(P)H cofactors by means of imprinted polymers associated with Au surfaces:: A surface plasmon resonance study

Crosslinked films consisting of the acrylamide-acrylamidophenylboronic acid copolymer that are imprinted with recognition sites for β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺), β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate NADP⁺, and their reduced forms (NAD(P)H), are assembled on Au-coated glass supports. The binding of the oxidized cofactors NAD⁺ or NADP⁺ or the reduced cofactors NADH or NADPH to the respective imprinted sites results in the swelling of the polymer films through the uptake of water. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy is employed to follow the binding of the different cofactors to the respective imprinted sites. The imprinted recognition sites reveal selectivity towards the association of the imprinted cofactors. The method enables the analysis of the NAD(P)⁺ and NAD(P)H cofactors in the concentration range of 1×10⁻⁶ to 1×10⁻³ M. The cofactor-imprinted films associated with the Au-coated glass supports act as active interfaces for the characterization of biocatalyzed transformations that involve the cofactor-dependent enzymes. This is exemplified with the characterization of the biocatalyzed oxidation of lactate to pyruvate in the presence of NAD⁺ and lactate dehydrogenase using the NADH-imprinted polymer film.     

Formation of {Cu6[S2P(OC2H5)2]6} on Cu2S surfaces from aqueous solutions of the KS2P(OC2H5)2 collector: scanning electron microscopy and solid-state 31P cross-polarization/magic angle spinning and static 65Cu NMR studies

The interactions of synthetic chalcocite surfaces with diethyldithiophosphate, potassium salt, K[S2P(OC2H5)2], were studied by means of 31P cross-polarization/magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). To identify the species formed on the Cu2S surfaces, a polycrystalline {CuI6[S2P(OC2H5)2]6} cluster was synthesized and analyzed by SEM, powder X-ray diffraction techniques and solid-state 31P CP/MAS NMR and static 65Cu NMR spectroscopy. 31P chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) parameters, delta(cs) and eta(cs), were estimated and used for assigning the bridging type of diethyldithiophosphate ligands in the {CuI6[S2P(OC2H5)2]6} cluster. The latter data were compared to 31P CSA parameters estimated from the spinning sideband patterns in 31P NMR spectra of the collector-treated mineral surfaces: formation of polycrystalline {CuI6[S2P(OC2H5)2]6} on the Cu2S surfaces is suggested. The second-order quadrupolar line shape of 65Cu was simulated, and the NMR interaction parameters, CQ and etaQ, for the copper(I) diethyldithiophosphate cluster were obtained.     

Double silyl migration converting ORe[N(SiMe(2)CH(2)PCy(2))(2)] to NRe[O(SiMe(2)CH(2)PCy(2))(2)] substructures

The reaction of (R(2)PCH(2)SiMe(2))(2)NM (PNP(R)M; R = Cy; M = Li, Na, MgHal, Ag) with L(2)ReOX(3) [L(2) = (Ph(3)P)(2) or (Ph(3)PO)(Me(2)S); X = Cl, Br] gives (PNP(Cy))ReOX(2) as two isomers, mer,trans and mer,cis. These compounds undergo a double Si migration from N to O at 90 degrees C to form (POP(Cy))ReNX(2) as a mixture of mer,trans and fac,cis isomers. Additional thermolysis effects migration of CH(3) from Si to Re, along with compensating migration of halide from Re to Si. DFT calculations on various structural isomers support the greater thermodynamic stability of the POP/ReN isomer vs PNP/ReO and highlight the influence of the template effect on the reactivities of these species.     

Wetting: Inverse Dynamic Problem and Equations for Microscopic Parameters

Movement of a liquid meniscus in a low-diameter capillary while it is being filled or emptied is considered. The liquid is nonvolatile. Assuming low Reynolds number and low capillary number, the liquid-gas interface shape is studied. Angles of inclination of this boundary to the solid near the contact line are small. Consideration is given to the inverse problem in wetting dynamics: to establish an analytic expression for the universal constant that influences the dynamics of a three-phase contact line. Inverse relations for microscopic parameters in terms of macroscopic measured values obtained in experiments with a meniscus moving through a capillary are derived. The inverse relations are substantiated independently. To do so, numerical experiments for a van der Waals liquid have been carried out, using the de Gennes model of partial wetting. General formulas for microparameters agree well with numerical experiments. The article provides the similarity criterion which influences the wetting in the case of a van der Waals liquid meniscus. The inverse dynamic problem for both an advancing and a receding meniscus is solved. A relation for the critical speed of meniscus recession is proposed. Two contact angles for a meniscus are discussed. Behavior of dynamic contact angles in the vicinity of the critical speed is studied. One of the angles is shown to vanish at less than the critical speed, and the other one, exactly at the critical speed. In the case of an advancing meniscus the equations for microparameters are valid for both partial and complete wetting. The proposed inverse expression for complete wetting allows determination of the maximum precursor film thickness and its dependence on the motion speed (also determination of the Hamaker constant in the case of a van der Waals liquid). Copyright 2000 Academic Press.