Similarities and differences in the structures of 5‐bromo‐6‐hydroxy‐7,8‐dimethylchroman‐2‐one and 6‐hydroxy‐7,8‐dimethyl‐5‐nitrochroman‐2‐one

The title compounds, C₁₁H₁₁BrO₃, (I), and C₁₁H₁₁NO₅, (II), respectively, are derivatives of 6‐hydroxy‐5,7,8‐trimethylchroman‐2‐one substituted at the 5‐position by a Br atom in (I) and by a nitro group in (II). The pyranone rings in both molecules adopt half‐chair conformations, and intramolecular O—H...Br [in (I)] and O—H...O_nitro [in (II)] hydrogen bonds affect the dispositions of the hydroxy groups. Classical intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds are found in both molecules but play quite dissimilar roles in the crystal structures. In (I), O—H...O hydrogen bonds form zigzag C(9) chains of molecules along the a axis. Because of the tetragonal symmetry, similar chains also form along b. In (II), however, similar contacts involving an O atom of the nitro group form inversion dimers and generate R₂²(12) rings. These also result in a close intermolecular O...O contact of 2.686 (4) Å. For (I), four additional C—H...O hydrogen bonds combine with π–π stacking interactions between the benzene rings to build an extensive three‐dimensional network with molecules stacked along the c axis. The packing in (II) is much simpler and centres on the inversion dimers formed through O—H...O contacts. These dimers are stacked through additional C—H...O hydrogen bonds, and further weak C—H...O interactions generate a three‐dimensional network of dimer stacks.     

A mild and efficient process for detoxifying polychlorinated biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were effectively dechlorinated to biphenyl under mild conditions using an aqueous solution of sodium hypophosphite in the presence of a palladium catalyst.     

Some aspects of the dependence of solid-state structure on electron count

The method of moments is used to show how the structures of molecules and solids is sensitive to the number of valence electrons.     

Fluorescence enhancement of several hallucinogenic drugs in cyclodextrin media

The fluorescence characteristics of selected hallucinogenic drugs dissolved in solutions of α-cyclodextrin and β-cyclodextrin are reported. Fluorescence intensity enhancements in cyclodextrin media relative to aqueous solution range from 1.2 to 4.0, probably because inclusion of the drugs into cyclodextrin increases the quantum yield. Calibration graphs are linear over 2–3 orders of magnitude; limits of detection are 6–13 μg l^?1 for ibogaine and N,N-dimethyltryptamine. The mescaline derivatives show limits of detection in the 0.8–1.4 ppm range. The role of cyclodextrin in enhancing the fluorescence intensities and some of the criteria for this fluorescence enhancement are discussed.     

Dual Gold Catalysis: σ,π‐Propyne Acetylide and Hydroxyl‐Bridged Digold Complexes as Easy‐To‐Prepare and Easy‐To‐Handle Precatalysts

A series of dinuclear gold σ,π‐propyne acetylide complexes were prepared and tested for their catalytic ability in dual gold catalysis that was based on the reaction of an electrophilic π‐complex of gold with a gold acetylide. The air‐stable and storable catalysts can be isolated as silver‐free catalysts in their activated form. These dual catalysts allow a fast initiation phase for the dual catalytic cycles without the need for additional additives for acetylide formation. Because propyne serves as a throw‐away ligand, no traces of the precatalyst are generated. Based on the fast initiation process, side products are minimized and reaction rates are higher for these catalysts. A series of test reactions were used to demonstrate the general applicability of these catalysts. Lower catalyst loadings, faster reaction rates, and better selectivity, combined with the practicability of these catalysts, make them ideal catalysts for dual gold catalysis.     

At-line bioprocess monitoring by immunoassay with rotationally controlled serial siphoning and integrated supercritical angle fluorescence optics

In this paper we report a centrifugal microfluidic “lab-on-a-disc” system for at-line monitoring of human immunoglobulin G (hIgG) in a typical bioprocess environment. The novelty of this device is the combination of a heterogeneous sandwich immunoassay on a serial siphon-enabled microfluidic disc with automated sequential reagent delivery and surface-confined supercritical angle fluorescence (SAF)-based detection. The device, which is compact, easy-to-use and inexpensive, enables rapid detection of hIgG from a bioprocess sample. This was achieved with, an injection moulded SAF lens that was functionalized with aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) using plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) for the immobilization of protein A, and a hybrid integration with a microfluidic disc substrate. Advanced flow control, including the time-sequenced release of on-board liquid reagents, was implemented by serial siphoning with ancillary capillary stops. The concentration of surfactant in each assay reagent was optimized to ensure proper functioning of the siphon-based flow control. The entire automated microfluidic assay process is completed in less than 30 min. The developed prototype system was used to accurately measure industrial bioprocess samples that contained 10 mg mL⁻¹ of hIgG.     

Perylene diimide copolymers with dithienothiophene and dithienopyrrole: Use in n‐channel and ambipolar field‐effect transistors

Solution‐processable polymers consisting of perylene diimide (PDI) acceptor moieties alternating with dithienothiophene (DTT), N‐dodecyl‐dithienopyrrole (DTP), or oligomers of these donor groups have been synthesized. We have, in addition to varying the donor, varied the N,N′ substituents of the PDIs. The thermal, optical, electrochemical, and charge‐transport properties of the polymers have been investigated. The polymers show broad absorption extending from 300 to 1000 nm with optical band gaps as low as 1.2 eV; the band gap decreases with increasing the conjugation length of donor block, or by replacement of DTT by DTP. The electron affinities of the polymers, estimated from electrochemical data, range from ?3.87 to ?4.01 eV and are slightly affected by the specific choice of donor moiety, while the estimated ionization potentials (?5.31 to ?5.92 eV) are more sensitive to the choice of donor. Bottom‐gate top‐contact organic field‐effect transistors based on the polymers generally exhibit n‐channel behavior with electron mobilities as high as 1.7 × 10^–2 cm²/V/s and on/off ratios as high as 10⁶; one PDI‐DTP polymer is an ambipolar transport material with electron mobility of 4 × 10^–4 cm²/V/s and hole mobility of 4 × 10^–5 cm²/V/s in air. There is considerable variation in the charge transport properties of the polymers with the chemical structures. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Mechanisms of Autocatalysis

Self‐replication is a fundamental concept. The idea of an entity that can repeatedly create more of itself has captured the imagination of many thinkers from von Neumann to Vonnegut. Beyond the sciences and science fiction, autocatalysis has found currency in economics and language theory, and has raised ethical fears memorably summed up by the “gray goo” trope. Autocatalysis is central to the propagation of life and intrinsic to many other biological processes. This includes the modern conception of evolution, which has radically altered humanity’s image of itself. Organisms can be thought of as imperfect self‐replicators which produce closely‐related species, allowing for selection and evolution. Hence, any consideration of self‐replication raises one of the most profound questions of all: what is life? Minimal self‐replicating systems have been studied with the aim of understanding the principles underlying living systems, allowing us to refine our concepts of biological fitness and chemical stability, self‐organization and emergence, and ultimately to discover how chemistry may become biology.