Transients in all-optical bistability using transverse optical pumping: Observation of critical slowing down

We report on the transient response of an all-optical bistable device to step-inputs of light. The nonlinear mechanism used for bistable switching relies on transverse optical pumping within the Zeeman sublevels of the sodium ground state. Our measurements demonstrate the crucial role of critical slowing down for switching time. We also find that time-dependent diffusion processes can strongly affect the dynamics of this bistable device. Numerical calculations are shown to yield results in satisfactory agreement with experimental data.     

Koplienko Spectral Shift Function on the Unit Circle

The note shows that, for every pair of contractions, a trace formula of Koplienko holds with a summable spectral shift function, see Theorem 1 below. This answers a question by F. Gesztesy, A. Pushnitski, B. Simon (see Zh Mat Fiz Anal Geom 4(1):63–107, 202, 2008, Open Question 11.2).     

Homogeneous nucleophilic radiofluorination and fluorination with phosphazene hydrofluorides

A series of phosphazenium hydrofluorides, P(1)(tBu)·[(18/19)F]HF, P(1)(tOct)·[(18/19)F]HF, P(2)(Et)·[(18/19)F]HF, and P(4)(tBu)·[(18/19)F]HF, was synthesized. The radioactive phosphazenium [(18)F]hydrofluorides were obtained by the one-step formation and trapping of gaseous [(18)F]HF with the respective phosphazene bases. The [(19)F] isotopomers were prepared from the corresponding phosphazene bases and Et(3)N·3HF. Under the design of experiment (DoE)-optimized conditions, P(2)(Et)·HF and P(4)(tBu)·HF fluorinated alkyl chlorides, bromides, and pseudohalides in 76-98% yield, but gave lower yields with iodides and electron-deficient arenes. DoE models showed that fluorination can be performed in glass vessels, and that the reactivity of P(2)(Et)·HF and P(4)(tBu)·HF is dominated by solvent polarity but is insensitive to water to at least 2 equiv. In contrast, P(1)(tBu)·HF and P(1)(tOct)·HF were unstable towards autofluorolysis. DFT calculations were performed to rationalize this finding in terms of diminished steric bulk, higher Parr's electrophilicity, and chemical hardness of P(1)(R)H(+). The corresponding radiofluorination reaction gave no valid DoE model but displayed similar substrate scope. High specific activity and excellent radiochemical yields with various pseudohalides (81-91%) suggest that the proposed radiofluorination methodology can complement the current [(18)F]KF/Kryptofix methods, particularly in the areas for which nonpolar reaction conditions are required.     

Pyrazolyc 3-hydroxychromones: Regulation of ESIPT reaction by the “flavonol-like” intramolecular hydrogen bonding to carbonyl group oxygen,which dominates over the “alternative” H-bond to heterocyclic nitrogen

Two isomeric pyrazole derivatives of 3-hydroxychromone (3HC) with and without the possibility of the multiple intramolecular hydrogen bonds formation were compared theoretically and experimentally with the aim to find out whether the excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) reaction follows the traditional to the most of 3HCs “flavonol-like” direction towards the CO group oxygen or an “alternative” direction towards the heterocyclic nitrogen atom.Quantum-chemical modeling and comparative study of the experimental spectral parameters of the title compounds indicated the preferential realization of “flavonol-like” ESIPT to oxygen channel.The 3HC systems with the “alternative” intramolecular hydrogen bond to nitrogen were characterized as low fluorescent and practically unable to ESIPT with participation of the nitrogen containing heterocyclic unit.     

Rescue of an abasic hairpin ribozyme by cationic nucleobases: evidence for a novel mechanism of RNA catalysis

The hairpin ribozyme catalyzes a reversible phosphodiester cleavage reaction. We examined the roles of conserved nucleobases in catalysis using an abasic ribozyme rescue strategy. Loss of the active site G8 nucleobase reduced the cleavage rate constant by 350-fold while loss of A9 and A10 nucleobases reduced activity less than 10-fold. Certain heterocyclic amines restored partial activity when provided in solution to the variant lacking G8. Heterocyclic amines that were capable of rescue shared the exocyclic amine and cyclic amide in common with the Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding face of guanine. In contrast to the shallow pH dependence of unmodified ribozyme activity, rescue activity increased sharply with decreasing pH. These results support a novel model for RNA catalysis in which a cationic nucleobase contributes electrostatic stabilization to negative charge developing in the transition state.