Infrared Evidence for Hoffman Reaction During Calcination of Surfactant-Templated Silica Films and Analysis of the Resulting Surface Sites

Fourier Transform Infrared transmission spectroscopy is used to characterize surfactant-templated silica films on glass. The calcination process is followed in situ and evidence for the removal of the surfactant along the Hoffman reaction is given. Once calcined, the surface of the pores of the mesoporous films is proven by deuteration experiment to be hydroxylated. Bands are attributed to isolated and hydrogen-bonded silanols. Silylation reaction with hexamethyldisilazane only occurs with isolated silanol groups.     

Why downfield proton chemical shifts are not reliable aromaticity indicators

Traces of magnetizability, traces of magnetic shielding at the hydrogen nuclei, and nucleus-independent chemical shift are not reliable aromaticity quantifiers for planar conjugated hydrocarbons. A measure of aromaticity is provided by the out-of-plane tensor components, whose magnitude is influenced by the pi-ring currents. The failure of nucleus-independent chemical shift in this regard was proved for the molecule shown in the abstract graphic, sustaining a diatropic pi-current. The validity of the ring-current model is reaffirmed. [structure: see text]     

EFFECT OF MOLYBDENUM PROMOTER ON THE Cu-Co BASED CATALYSTS

The synthesis of mixed alcohols (C1-C5) from syngas has been studied at 6. 0 MPa over modified Co/CuLaZr catalysts. The molybdenum addition enhanced greatly the activity and the selectivity to alcohols. The improvement of hydrogenation capacity of the system via a reversible spillover effect of hydrogen could explain this effect, together with a great capacity of CO insertion, illustrated by the effect of C2H4 addition as a probe to syngas. Under our experimental conditions, a mixed alcohol production of 147.1g/kg. cat/h containing a proportion of 33. 1% of higher alcohols (C2 OH) was obtained with a selectivity to ROH of 52. 8%.     

cis-UROCANIC ACID FAILED TO AFFECT in vitro HUMAN LANGERHANS CELL ALLOSTIMULATORY FUNCTION

Abstract— -Urocanic acid (UCA) represents the major ultraviolet B (UVB, 290–320 nm)-absorbing component of the skin. Trans-UCA is naturally produced in the stratum corneum and converts to the cis isomer upon UVB irradiation. In this study, we examined the effect of purified cis -UCA (about 99% of cis isomer) on the human Langerhans cell (LC) allostimulatory function by using the mixed epidermal cell-lymphocyte reaction (MELR). We found that addition of increasing amounts (6.5–400 μg/mL) of purified cis-UCA or (rara-UCA did not modify the T-cell response supported by enriched LC (eLC: 8–25% LC) as well as purified LC (pLC: 70–90% LC) suspensions. Because cis-UCA had no effect on the allostimulatory function of untreated LC, we investigated whether this compound could modify T-cell proliferation induced by UVB-irradiated LC. The UVB exposure of eLC or pLC to 100 J/m² significantly inhibited the capacity of both suspensions to mount a T-cell response. However, addition of cis- UCA did not potentiate this UVB-induced immunosuppression. The eLC or pLC were then incubated with cis-UCA for 18 h at 37°C and washed before adding to allogeneic T cells. The obtained proliferative response was similar to that induced by control LC incubated in medium alone, demonstrating that pretreatment with cis -UCA did not alter human LC function. In conclusion, these results strongly suggest that cis-UCA has no direct effect on human LC antigen-presenting function.     

Enantioselective Preparation of 2‐Aminomethyl Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: Solving the β2‐Amino Acid Problem with the Chiral Auxiliary 4‐Isopropyl‐5,5‐diphenyloxazolidin‐2‐one (DIOZ). Preliminary Communication

Multigram amounts of suitably protected β²‐amino acids with 17 of the 20 proteinogenic side chains are prepared by diastereoselective reactions of Li, B, or Ti enolates of the corresponding 3‐acyl‐4‐isopropyl‐5,5‐diphenyloxazolidin‐2‐ones (acyl‐DIOZ; 1 ) with appropriate electrophiles (amidomethylation, hydroxyalkylation, (benzyloxycarbonyl)methylation) in yields of 55–90% and with diastereoselectivities of 80 to >97% (Scheme). The primary products 2 – 8 thus obtained are converted to protected β²‐amino acids by standard procedures (Table 1). Many of the DIOZ derivatives are highly crystalline compounds (31 X‐ray crystal structures in Table 2). The chiral auxiliary DIOZ, readily prepared in either enantiomeric form, is recovered with high yield.     

How metallylenes activate small molecules

We have studied the activation of dihydrogen by metallylenes using relativistic density functional theory (DFT). Our detailed activation strain and Kohn–Sham molecular orbital analyses have quantified the physical factors behind the decreased reactivity of the metallylene on going down Group 14, from carbenes to stannylenes. Along this series, the reactivity decreases due to a worsening of the back-donation interaction between the filled lone-pair orbital of the metallylene and the σ*-orbital of H₂, which, therefore, reduces the metallylene–substrate interaction and increases the reaction barrier. As the metallylene ligand is varied from nitrogen to phosphorus to arsenic a significant rate enhancement is observed for the activation of H₂ due to (i) a reduced steric (Pauli) repulsion between the metallylene and the substrate; and (ii) less activation strain, as the metallylene becomes increasingly more predistorted. Using a rationally designed metallylene with an optimal Group 14 atom and ligand combination, we show that a number of small molecules (i.e. HCN, CO₂, H₂, NH₃) may also be readily activated. For the first time, we show the ability of our H₂ activated designer metallylenes to hydrogenate unsaturated hydrocarbons. The results presented herein will serve as a guide for the rational design of metallylenes toward the activation of small molecules and subsequent reactions.

Quantum chemical analyses reveal how model metallylene catalysts activate H₂. This is the first step towards the rational design of metallylenes for the activation of small molecules and subsequent reactions.     

Inclusion complexes of trivalent lutetium cations with an acidic derivative of per(3,6-anhydro)-alpha-cyclodextrin

The cyclodextrin derivative (hexakis (2-O-carboxymethyl-3,6-anhydro)-alpha-cyclodextrin) forms mono- and bimetallic complexes with lutetium(III) in aqueous solution; the X-ray structure of the binuclear complex [Lu2(ACX)(H2O)2] is the first example of a lanthanide-cyclodextrin inclusion complex.     

Preparation of block copolymers by use of peroxide-terminated prepolymer

Block copolymers containing poly(tetramethylene oxide) and poly(methyl methacrylate) segments were prepared. A commercially available poly(tetramethylene oxide) terminated with tolylene diisocyanate was capped with tert-butyl hydroxymethyl peroxide and the resulting prepolymer peroxide was used as a free-radical initiator of vinyl polymerization. Block copolymers formed in temperature-programmed vinyl polymerizations possessed improved impact strengths over poly(methyl methacrylate) from 0.35 to 1.18 for a fixed (nonoptimized) block length of poly(tetramethylene oxide).     

Thin film platinum cuff electrodes for neurostimulation: in vitro approach of safe neurostimulation parameters

Thin film technology takes more and more importance in the development of biomedical devices dedicated to functional neurostimulation. Our research about the design of implant neurostimulating electrode is oriented toward thin film cuff electrodes based on a polyimide substrate covered by a chromium/gold/Pt film. The chromium/gold sputtered film serves as adhesion layer and current collector whereas platinum acts as an electrochemical actuator. The electrode surface has been designed to obey safe stimulation criteria (i.e. chemically inert noble metal, low electrode-electrolyte impedance, high electrochemical reversibility, high corrosion stability). The electrochemical behaviour of such platinum electrodes has been assessed and compared to a foil of platinum. Extensive in vitro characterisations of the both electrode types were carried out using AFM, SEM and electrochemical techniques. The role of enhanced surface roughness enabling high double layer capacitances to be achieved was clearly highlighted. The obtained results are discussed, with particular reference to thin film electrodes stability under in vitro electrical stimulation in NaCl 0.9% (physiological serum). Therefore, these thin film devices showed reversible PtOH formation and decomposition making them potentially attractive for the fabrication of implant stimulation cuff electrodes.     

A theoretical study of the formation of the parent phosphinine C5H5P from the flash vacuum thermolysis of diallylvinylphosphine

The gas-phase decomposition of diallylvinylphosphine 1 into C5H5P 12 is studied by DFT/6-311+G(d,p) calculations with the B3LYP functional, followed by single-point energy-only calculations at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(d,p) level. According to these calculations, the first step involves a retro-ene elimination that yields 3-phosphahexatrienes 2Z and 2E. Both compounds equilibrate through the formation of 1,2- and 3,4-dihydrophosphetes 3 and 4, and it is shown that the formation of 2Z is favored by the exothermic formation of the 3,4-dihydrophosphinine 5 through a 6pi-electrocyclization. Though 5 can easily isomerize into 2,3- (6) and 1,2-diyhydrophosphinines (7) by successive 1,5-hydrogen shifts, the formation of 12 from 5, 6, or 7 through an elimination of H2 is found to be a high energy process. It is also shown that the elimination of H2 from lambda5-phosphinine 8 following a C2v pathway is a symmetry-forbidden process. Finally, 1,4-dihydrophosphinine 9, which can be formed through a 1,4-hydrogen shift from lambda5-phosphinine 8, is found to be a convenient precursor of 12 through a 1,4-elimination of H2. The formation of 9 from 5 involves the intermediary formation of 3-phosphabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-2-ene 10. The mechanism eventually proposed for the formation of 12 from 2Z is given in Scheme 16 at the CCSD(T) level.