Towards molecular-scale electronics and biomolecular self-assembly

This paper provides an overview of recent research developments in the field of nanoelectronics with organic materials such as carbon nanotubes and DNA-templated nanowires. Carbon nanotubes and gold electrodes are chemically functionalized in order to contact carbon nanotubes by self-assembly. The transport properties of these nanotubes are dominated by charging effects and display clear Coulomb blockade behaviour. A different approach towards nanoscale electronics is based on the molecular recognition properties of biomolecules such as DNA. As an example, DNA is stretched between electrodes using a molecular combing technique. A two-step metallization procedure leads to the formation of highly conductive gold nanowires.     

A parametric representation of linguistic hedges in Zadeh’s fuzzy logic

This paper proposes a model for the parametric representation of linguistic hedges in Zadeh’s fuzzy logic. In this model each linguistic truth-value, which is generated from a primary term of the linguistic truth variable, is identified by a real number r depending on the primary term. It is shown that the model yields a method of efficiently computing linguistic truth expressions accompanied with a rich algebraic structure of the linguistic truth domain, namely De Morgan algebra. Also, a fuzzy logic based on the parametric representation of linguistic truth-values is introduced.     

Graphitized carbon black in quartz tubes for the sampling of indoor air nicotine and analysis by microwave thermal desorption-capillary gas chromatography

Nicotine in a smoky indoor air environment can be determined using graphitized carbon black as a solid sorbent in quartz tubes. The temperature stability, high purity, and heat absorption characteristics of the sorbent, as well as the permeability of the quartz tubes to microwaves, enable the thermal desorption by means of microwaves after active sampling. Permeation and dynamic dilution procedures for the generation of nicotine in the vapor phase at low and high concentrations are used to evaluate the performances of the sampler. Tube preparation is described and the microwave desorption temperature is measured. Breakthrough volume is determined to allow sampling at 0.1-1 L/min for definite periods of time. The procedure is tested for the determination of gas and paticulate phase nicotine in sidestream smoke produced in an experimental chamber.     

Aerobic oxidation of methyl p-tolyl sulfide catalyzed by a remarkably labile heteroscorpionate RuII-aqua complex,fac-[RuII(H2O)(dpp)(tppm)]2+

fac-[RuII(Cl)(dpp)(L3)]+ (L3 = tris(pyrid-2-yl)methoxymethane (tpmm) = [1A]+ and tris(pyrid-2-yl)pentoxymethane (tppm) = [1B]+ and dpp = di(pyrazol-1-yl)propane) rapidly undergo ligand substitution with water to form fac-[RuII(H2O)(dpp)(L3)]2+ (L3 = tpmm = [2A]2+ and tppm = [2B]2+). In the structure of [2A]2+, the distorted octahedral arrangement of ligands around Ru is evident by a long Ru(1)-O(40) of 2.172(3) A and a large angle O(40)-Ru(1)-N(51) of 96.95(14) degrees . The remarkably short distance between O(40) of H2O and H(45a) of dpp confirms the heteroscorpionate ligand effect of dpp on H2O. [2B]2+ aerobically catalyzes methyl p-tolyl sulfide to methyl p-tolyl sulfoxide in 1,2-dichlorobenzene at 25.0 +/- 0.1 degrees C under 11.4 psi of O2. Experimental facts in support of this aerobic sulfide oxidation are the absence of H2O2 and the oxidative reactivity of the putative Ru(IV)-oxo intermediate toward methyl p-tolyl sulfide, 2-propanol, and allyl alcohol. This study provides the first documented example of aerobic-sulfide oxidation catalyzed by the remarkably labile heteroscorpionate Ru(II)-aqua complex without the formation of a highly reactive peroxide as an intermediate.     

The [4Fe-4S](2+) cluster in reconstituted biotin synthase binds S-adenosyl-L-methionine

The combination of resonance Raman, electron paramagnetic resonance and M?ssbauer spectroscopies has been used to investigate the effect of S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) on the spectroscopic properties of the [4Fe-4S]2+ cluster in biotin synthase. The results indicate that SAM interacts directly at a unique iron site of the [4Fe-4S]2+ cluster in BioB and support the hypothesis of a common inner-sphere mechanism for the reductive cleavage of SAM in the radical SAM family of Fe-S enzymes.     

Sampling unfolding intermediates in calmodulin by single-molecule spectroscopy

We used single-pair fluorescence resonance energy transfer (spFRET) measurements to characterize denatured and partially denatured states of the multidomain calcium signaling protein calmodulin (CaM) in both its apo and Ca(2+)-bound forms. The results demonstrate the existence of an unfolding intermediate. A CaM mutant (CaM-T34C-T110C) was doubly labeled with fluorescent probes AlexaFlour 488 and Texas Red at opposing globular domains. Single-molecule distributions of the distance between fluorophores were obtained by spFRET at varying levels of the denaturant urea. Multiple conformational states of CaM were observed, and the amplitude of each conformation was dependent on urea concentration, with the amplitude of an extended conformation increasing upon denaturation. The distributions at intermediate urea concentrations could not be adequately described as a combination of native and denatured conformations, showing that CaM does not denature via a two-state process and demonstrating that at least one intermediate is present. The intermediate conformations formed upon addition of urea were different for Ca(2+)-CaM and apoCaM. An increase in the amplitude of a compact conformation in CaM was observed for apoCaM but not for Ca(2+)-CAM upon the addition of urea. The changes in the single-molecule distributions of CaM upon denaturation can be described by either a range of intermediate structures or by the presence of a single unfolding intermediate that grows in amplitude upon denaturation. A model for stepwise unfolding of CaM is suggested in which the domains of CaM unfold sequentially.     

Iminic N-bound iminophosphorano versus nitrilic n-bound iminophosphorano Os(IV) complexes: a new double derivatization of the nitrido ligand

The reactions between trans-[Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(NCN)] (1) and PPh(3) and between trans-[Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(NPPh(3))](+) (2) and CN(-) provide new examples of double derivatization of the nitrido ligand in an Os(VI)-nitrido complex (Os(VI)N). The nitrilic N-bound product from the first reaction, trans-[Os(II)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(NCNPPh(3))] (3), is the coordination isomer of the first iminic N-bound product from the second reaction, trans-[Os(II)(tpy)(Cl)(2)(N(CN)(PPh(3)))] (4). In CH(3)CN at 45 degrees C, 4 undergoes isomerrization to 3 followed by solvolysis and release of (N-cyano)iminophosphorane, NCNPPh(3). These reactions demonstrate new double derivatization reactions of the nitrido ligand in Os(VI)N with its implied synthetic utility.     

Mechanistic control of product selectivity. Reactions between cis-/trans cis-/trans-[OsVI(tpy)(Cl)2(N)]+ and triphenylphosphine sulfide

Reactions between the Os(VI)-nitrido complexes cis- and trans-[Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)2(N)]+ (tpy is 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine) and triphenylphosphine sulfide, SPPh3, give the corresponding Os(IV)-phosphoraniminato, [Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)2(NPPh3)]+, and Os(II)-thionitrosyl, [Os(II)(tpy)(Cl)2(NS)]+, complexes as products. The Os-N bond length and Os-N-P angle in cis-[Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)2(NPPh3)](PF6) are 2.077(6) A and 138.4(4) degrees. The rate law for formation of cis- and trans-[Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)2(NPPh3)]+ is first order in both [Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)2(N)]+ and SPPh3 with ktrans(25 degrees C, CH3CN) = 24.6 +/- 0.6 M(-1) s(-1) and kcis(25 degrees C, CH3CN) = 0.84 +/- 0.09 M(-1) s(-1). As found earlier for [Os(II)(tpm)(Cl)2(NS)]+, both cis- and trans-[Os(II)(tpy)(Cl)2(NS)]+ react with PPh3 to give [Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)2(NPPh3)]+ and SPPh3. For both complexes, the reaction is first order in each reagent with ktrans(25 degrees C, CH3CN) = (6.79 +/- 0.08) x 10(2) M(-1) s(-1) and kcis(25 degrees C, CH3CN) = (2.30 +/- 0.07) x 10(2) M(-1) s(-1). The fact that both reactions occur rules out mechanisms involving S atom transfer. These results can be explained by invoking a common intermediate, [Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)2(NSPPh3)]+, which undergoes further reaction with PPh3 to give [Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)2(NPPh3)]+ and SPPh3 or with [Os(VI)(tpy)(Cl)2(N)]+ to give [Os(IV)(tpy)(Cl)2(NPPh3)]+ and [Os(II)(tpy)(Cl)2(NS)]+.     

Donor-stabilized cations and imine transfer from N-silylphosphoranimines

A series of donor-stabilized N-silylphosphoranimine salts [DMAP.PCl2=NSiMe3]+X- (DMAP = 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine) were prepared by the reaction of Cl3P=NSiMe3 with DMAP in the presence of silver salts AgX (X = OSO2CF3, BF4, and SbF6). Repeating the reaction in the absence of AgX gave the chloride salt [DMAP.PCl2=NSiMe3]Cl which has been shown to be in equilibrium with free DMAP and Cl3P=NSiMe3. Attempts to stabilize a N-silylphosphoranimine cation with phosphine donors led to unexpected imine transfer chemistry. For example, Cl3P=NSiMe3 reacts with phosphines, R3P (R = nBu and Ph), to produce the metathesis products PCl3 and R3P=NSiMe3 which subsequently react together to afford the N-phosphinophosphoranimines R3P=N-PCl2 and ClSiMe3 as a byproduct.