Site-directed molecular assembly on templates structured with electron-beam lithography

We describe a simple method for patterning biomolecular films on surfaces with high resolution. A conventional polymeric resist is structured by electron-beam lithography. The exposed and developed patterns are then used for the directed self-assembly (SA) of a first molecule from solution. Removal of the remaining resist allows the SA of a second species. We illustrate the potential of the approach by assembling on gold (Au) substrates two alkanethiols of contrasting terminal functionality. The patterns have dimensions from the micrometer range down to 40 nm and an edge resolution of 3.5 nm.     

Chlorthionitrenkomplexe des Wolframs Die Kristallstruktur von [WCl4(NSCl)]2

Chlorothionitrene Complexes of Tungsten. Crystal Structure of [WCl₄(NSCl)]₂ Tungsten hexachloride reacts with trithiazyl chloride, (NSCl)₃, yielding the chlorothionitrene complex [WCl₄(NSCl)]₂, from which AsPh₄[WCl₅(NSCl)] can be obtained by reaction with AsPh₄Cl. Both complexes are characterized by their i.r. spectra. The crystal structure of [WCl₄(NSCl)]₂ was determined and refined with X-ray diffraction data (1059 reflexes, R = 0.055). It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/n with the lattice constants a = 1523, b = 904, c = 583 pm and β = 91.35°. In the unit cell there are two centrosymmetric [WCl₄(NSCl)]₂ molecules in which the W atoms are linked via two chloro bridges; short and long W? Cl distances (244 and 265 pm) alternate in the W₂Cl₂ ring, the NSCl groups are found in the trans positions to the longer W? Cl bonds. The WNS bond angle (175°) and short bond distances correspond to a formulation .     

Synthesen und chemisches Reaktionsverhalten von neuen Azapseudophenalenonen,Azapseudophenaleniumsalzen und ihren Fulvenen sowie Fulvalenen

Alkylation of the aza-pseudophenalenone1 with trialkyloxoniumtetrafluoroborates yield the azapseudophenaleniumsalts2 a,2 b, reactions with C-nucleophiles the compounds3 a 3 e, the dihydro-azapseudophenalenone4 reacts with malodinitrile-sodium to5,1 b and1 d with tetrachlorocyclopentadiene to the fulvalenes6 a,6 b,1 b was olefinated withtert. butyl-cyano-ketene to theZ-isomer7.

Meinem lieben Kollegen und Freund, Herrn Prof. Dr.Werner Heimann, Karlsruhe, mit herzlichen Wünschen zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Reaction of early transition metal complexes with macrocycles. II. Synthesis and structure of TiCl3(H2O) · 18-crown-6, a compound with a unique bidentate bonding mode for the 18-crown-6 molecule

18-crown-6 reacts with TiCl₃ in CH₂Cl₂ to form a complex in which the crown ether functions as a tridentate ligand. Addition of moist hexane affords a molecular complex in which the crown ether functions as a bidentate ligand. A water molecule is bonded directly to the titanium atom and is further hydrogen bonded to three of the oxygen atoms of the crown. The deep blue crystals of the CH₂Cl₂ adduct belong to the monoclinic space groupP2₁/n witha=13.481(8),b=8.021(5),c=21.425(9) Å, =97.32(5)°, and _calc = 1.51 g cm^–3 forZ=4. Refinement led to a conventionalR value of 0.040 based on 873 observed reflections. The Ti–O bond distances for the crown oxygen atoms are 2.123(8) and 2.154(9) Å, while the oxygen atom of the water molecule is bonded at 2.072(8) Å. The octahedral coordination sphere of the titanium atom is completed by the three chlorine atoms at distances of 2.340(5), 2.352(4), and 2.373(4) Å. Supplementary Data relating to this article are deposited with the British Library as Supplementary Publication No. SUP 82034 (10 pages).     

Physical and Chemical Properties of Dissolved Electrons (Excess Electrons)

Electrons produced in a gaseous, liquid, or solid solvent are called dissolved electrons or excess electrons. These excess electrons can exist as quasi-free particles of high mobility in a delocalized state, comparable with electrons in a metal; or as bound particles of low mobility they can be localized within narrow limits—in a solvent cavity formed by repulsive forces. Localized electrons can also be solvated like normal ions. Characteristically, such solvated electrons exhibit broad and extensive absorption spectra in the visible to near infrared spectral range. The localized and delocalized states of the excess electrons can be in equilibrium with each other, such that a continuous transition of the properties between the limiting extremes can be observed. The reactions of the excess electrons with suitable acceptors (substrates) are initiated by an attachment-detachment equilibrium A + e^? ? A^? which is followed by further chemical rearrangements. The rate constants of these reactions vary by more than 15 powers of ten depending on the substrates and the solvents. Most of the properties of excess electrons in solution can be interpreted by means of a model which is easily understandable but quantitatively evaluated only with considerable effort.     

Synthesis and functional studies of THF-gramicidin hybrid ion channels

THF-gramicidin hybrids 2-4 with the L-THF amino acid 1 in positions 11 and 12 and compounds 5-8 with the D-THF amino acid ent-1 in positions 10 and 11 were synthesized and their ion channel properties were studied by single-channel-current analysis. The replacement of positions 11 and 12 by the L-THF amino acid 1 gave a strongly reduced channel performance. In contrast, replacement of positions 10 and 11 by the D-THF amino acid ent-1 gave rise to new and interesting channel properties. For the permeability ratios, the ion selectivity shifts from Eisenman I towards Eisenman III selectivity and the channels display ms-dynamics. Most remarkable is the asymmetric compound 8, which inserts selectively into a DPhPC membrane and displays voltage-directed gating dynamics.     

Inkjet printing of well-defined polymer dots and arrays

Inkjet printing represents a highly promising polymer deposition method, which is used for, for example, the fabrication of multicolor polyLED displays and polymer-based electronics parts. The challenge is to print well-defined polymer structures from dilute solution. We have eliminated the formation of ring stains by printing nonvolatile acetophenone-based inks on a perfluorinated substrate using different polymers. (De)pinning of the contact line of the printed droplet, as related to the choice of solvent, is identified as the key factor that determines the shape of the deposit, whereas the choice of polymer is of minor importance. Adding 10 wt % or more of acetophenone to a volatile solvent (ethyl acetate)-based polymer solution changes the shape of the deposit from ring-like to dot-like, which may be due to the establishment of a solvent composition gradient. Arrays of closely spaced dots have also been printed. The size of the dots is considerably smaller than the nozzle diameter. This may prove a potential strategy for the inkjet printing of submicrometer structures.     

Evaluation of a new multiple-layer spotting technique for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry of synthetic polymers

A new multiple-layer matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) sample-spotting technique is described. This fast and easy technique was evaluated with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) standards and optimized conditions for these synthetic polymers were obtained. PEGs up to 35 kDa were detectable with this approach and single monomer resolution was observed up to 20 kDa. The spotting was performed using a multiple-layer approach, which offers the capability of complex sample preparation without the requirement of premixing the different matrix, analyte and doping salt solutions. The technique reduces the time required for sample preparation and offers high flexibility with respect to sample composition and solvents utilized for the crystallization of the compounds. The technique is thus perfectly suited for applications in combinatorial material research.     

Stille Cross‐Coupling of a Racemic Planar‐Chiral Ferrocene and Crystallographic Trace Analysis of Catalysis Intermediates and By‐products

A pressure‐controlled procedure for the S_N1 reaction of rac‐1‐[(dimethylamino)methyl]‐2‐(tributylstannyl)ferrocene ( 1 ) to rac‐1‐(phthalimidomethyl)‐2‐(tributylstannyl)ferrocene ( 2 ) was developed. Pd⁰‐Catalyzed Stille coupling of 2 with iodobenzene afforded rac‐1‐phenyl‐2‐(N‐phthalimidomethyl)ferrocene ( 5 ) in 74% yield; after trace enrichment by crystallization of the combined mother liquors, one single crystal of each, 5 , catalysis intermediate trans‐iodo(σ‐phenyl)bis(triphenylarsino)palladium(II) ( 7 ), trans‐diiodobis(triphenylarsino)palladium(II) ( 8 ), and rac‐2,2′‐bis(phthalimidomethyl)‐1,1′‐biferrocene ( 9 ) could be isolated by crystal sorting under a microscope and characterized by X‐ray crystal structure analysis. Furthermore, 5 was deprotected to amine ( 11 ), which does even survive the Birch reduction to rac‐1‐(aminomethyl)‐2‐(cyclohexa‐2,5‐dienyl)ferrocene ( 12 ).     

Duplex-promoted platination of adenine-N3 in the minor groove of DNA: challenging a longstanding bioinorganic paradigm

The interactions of [Pt(en)Cl(ACRAMTU-S)](NO3)2 (PT-ACRAMTU, en = ethane-1,2-diamine, ACRAMTU = 1-[2-(acridin-9-ylamino)ethyl]-1,3-dimethylthiourea) with adenine in DNA have been studied using a combination of analytical and high-resolution structural methods. For the first time, a cytotoxic platinum(II) complex has been demonstrated to form adducts in the minor groove of DNA through platination of the adenine-N3 endocyclic nitrogen. An acidic depurination assay was developed that allowed the controlled and selective (pH 2, 60 degrees C, 12 h) release of platinum-modified adenine from drug-treated nucleic acid samples. From the digested mixtures, three adducts were isolated by semipreparative reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography and studied by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (in-line LC-MS), variable-pH 1H NMR spectroscopy, and, where applicable, X-ray crystallography. The three species were identified as the N7 (A-I), N3 (A-II), and N1 (A-III) linkage isomers of [Pt(en)(ACRAMTU-S)(adenine)]3+ (A). Incubations carried out with the single- and double-stranded model sequences, d(TA)5 and d(TA)15, as well as native DNA indicate that the adduct profiles (A-I:A-II:A-IIIratios) are sensitive to the nature of the nucleic acid template. A-II was found to be a double-strand specific adduct. The crystal structure of this adduct has been determined, providing ultimate evidence for the N3 connectivity of platinum. A-II crystallizes in the triclinic space group P in the form of centrosymmetric dimers, {[Pt(en)(ACRAMTU-S)(adenine-N3)]2}6+. The cations are stabilized by a combination of adenine-adenine base pairing (N6...N1 2.945(5) A) and mutual acridine-adenine base stacking. Tandem mass spectra and 1H chemical shift anomalies indicate that this type of self-association is not merely a crystal packing effect but persists in solution. The monofunctional platination of adenine at its N7, N3, and N1 positions in a significant fraction of adducts breaks a longstanding paradigm in platinum-DNA chemistry, the requirement for nucleophilic attack of guanine-N7 as the principal step in cross-link formation. The biological consequences and potential therapeutic applications of the unique base and groove recognition of PT-ACRAMTU are discussed.