Broadband and band-selective IMPRESS-gHMBC: compensation of refocusing inefficiency with synchronized inversion sweep

Compensation of refocusing inefficiency in a gHMBC experiment by replacing the rectangular pi pulse with a pair of adiabatic pulses with synchronized inversion sweep (CRISIS) significantly improves the performance of the gHMBC experiment. The CRISIS-gHMBC experiment retains the pure absorptive shapes in F1 and hence results in better lineshape and higher resolution than the current versions of magnitude mode gHMBC spectra. When used as a broadband experiment, CRISIS-gHMBC, owing to better refocusing efficiency of the adiabatic pulse pairs, gives improved performance across the 13C spectral width. Moreover, it is shown that CRISIS-gHMBC is a robust and improved alternative and when used along with the IMPRESS (Improved Resolution using Symmetrically Shifted pulses) technique further increases the sensitivity and resolution without additional experimental time. The IMPRESS-CRISIS combination is demonstrated for broadband gHMBC and band-selective gHMBC experiments. The ICbs-gHMBC [IMPRESS-CRISIS-band-selective gHMBC] experiment is an attractive and better alternative to individual band-selective gHMBC.     

Characterization of amyloidogenic immunoglobulin light chains directly from serum by on-line immunoaffinity isolation

Primary systemic amyloidosis (AL) is characterized by the overproduction of immunoglobulin light chain proteins by a monoclonal, terminally differentiated B-lymphocyte or plasma cell clone. The free immunoglobulin light chains are deposited in an abnormal conformation as amyloid in a variety of organs in the body. The mechanism of amyloid formation is not well understood, but appears to be associated with some form of cleavage of the immunoglobulin light chain with subsequent aggregate formation. In an attempt to characterize the structure of amyloid-forming light chain proteins we developed an on-line immunoaffinity purification and subsequent characterization of free kappa and free lambda immunoglobulin light chains by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The methodology is totally automated and requires 20 micro L of serum. Mass spectral analysis of Bence Jones proteins under non-denaturing conditions was also utilized to examine the tertiary and quaternary structure of light chain proteins and clearly shows covalent dimer formation of lambda type light chain. This type of on-line assay may prove helpful in elucidating distinguishing features capable of discriminating AL from benign monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance as well as diagnosing AL.     

Molecular and crystal structures of ruthenium and osmium arene clusters

The molecular and crystal structures of a number of ruthenium and osmium clusters of nuclearity between three and six containing arene fragments such as C₆H₆, C₆H₃Me₃, C₆H₄Me₂ and C₆H₅Me have been investigated. Attention has been focused on the relationship between the terminal ( ⁶-coordination) and face-capping ( ₃: ²: ²: ²-coordination) bonding modes. Empirical packing potential energy calculations have been employed to investigate the intermolecular organization in the crystal. It has been shown that the arene fragments in mono-arene clusters form ribbons, while in bis-arene clusters graphitic-like interactions throughout the crystal are established. The factors controlling the ease of arene reorientational motion in the solid state has also been investigated in relation to the shape, size and geometry of the molecules and of their interlocking modes.     

Mechanistic studies of nickel(II) alkyl agostic cations and alkyl ethylene complexes: investigations of chain propagation and isomerization in (alpha-diimine)Ni(II)-catalyzed ethylene polymerization

The synthesis of a series of (alpha-diimine)NiR(2) (R = Et, (n)Pr) complexes via Grignard alkylation of the corresponding (alpha-diimine)NiBr(2) precursors is presented. Protonation of these species by the oxonium acid [H(OEt(2))(2)](+)[BAr'(4)](-) at low temperatures yields cationic Ni(II) beta-agostic alkyl complexes which model relevant intermediates present in nickel-catalyzed olefin polymerization reactions. The highly dynamic nature of these agostic alkyl cations is quantitatively addressed using NMR line broadening techniques. Trapping of these complexes with ethylene provides cationic Ni alkyl ethylene species, which are used to determine rates of ethylene insertion into primary and secondary carbon centers. The Ni agostic alkyl cations are also trapped by CH(3)CN and Me(2)S to yield Ni(R)(L)(+) (L = CH(3)CN, Me(2)S) complexes, and the dynamic behavior of these species in the presence of varied [L] is discussed. The kinetic data obtained from these experiments are used to present an overall picture of the ethylene polymerization mechanism for (alpha-diimine)Ni catalysts, including effects of reaction temperature and ethylene pressure on catalyst activity, polyethylene branching, and polymer architecture. Detailed comparisons of these systems to the previously presented analogous palladium catalysts are made.     

Dendritic nanowire ultraviolet laser array

Self-organized dendritic crystal growth is explored to assemble uniform semiconductor nanowires into highly ordered one-dimensional microscale arrays that resemble comb structures. The individual ZnO nanowires have uniform diameters ranging from 10 to 300 nm. They are evenly spaced on a stem with a regular periodicity of 0.1-2 micrometer. Under optical excitation, each individual ZnO nanowire serves as a Fabry-Perot optical cavity, and together they form a highly ordered nanowire ultraviolet laser array.     

High-speed microwave-promoted hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of 2(1H)-pyrazinones in ionic liquid doped solvents

Inter- and intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder reactions in a series of functionalized 2(1H)-pyrazinones were investigated under controlled microwave irradiation. The cycloaddition reactions were efficiently performed in sealed tubes, utilizing either a combination of 1,2-dichloroethane and a thermally stable ionic liquid, or 1,2-dichlorobenzene as reaction medium. In all cases, a significant rate-enhancement using microwave flash heating as compared to thermal heating was observed.     

Student-Designed Multistep Synthesis Projects in Organic Chemistry

The incorporation of research projects into undergraduate chemistry courses provides a perspective that is fundamentally unavailable in most laboratory experiences. While independent, multistep synthesis projects in organic chemistry have been reported previously, most efforts have been directed at relatively restricted, closely guided research plans with modest student participation in the experimental design. We have implemented a more open-ended synthesis project, limited principally by cost, safety and availability of materials. In the second semester of the sophomore organic sequence, students develop multiple drafts of a plan for a three-to-four-step synthesis. Subsequently, students obtain their own literature protocols for the individual steps. The synthesis is performed over three four-hour laboratory periods. The students conclude this project with a poster presentation of the results at the end of the semester. Evaluation of the students work focuses not only on the successful synthesis of the target but also on planning, troubleshooting, purification, and spectral analysis.     

Some reactions of copper(I) pentafluorothiophenolate as a nucleophile

Several aromatic compounds containing one or two C₆F₅S groups have been prepared by nucleophilic displacement reactions using CuSC₆F₅ in DMF solution. Aromatic iodine or bromine, rather than chlorine of fluorine is replaced by the SC₆F₅ group using CuSC₆F₅. A mechanism is postulated. New compounds prepared include $\text{p}$-(C₆F₆F₅S)₂C₆H₄, $\text{o}$- and $\text{m}$-(C₆F₅S)₂C₆F₄ and $\text{p}$XC₆H₄SC₆F₅(X=C1, NO₂, I, CH₃, CO₂C₂H₅).     

Reactions of triosmium clusters with organic azides; x-ray crystal structures of [Os3(CO)10(NCMe)(N3COPh)], [Os3(μ-H)(CO)10(HN3Ph)], and [Os3(μ-H)2(CO)9(μ3-NPh)]

Organic azides [N₃R] react with [Os₃(CO)₁₁(NCMe)] and with [Os₃(μ-H)₂(CO)₁₀] to form [Os₃(CO)₁₀(NCMe)(N₃COR)] (R  Ph) and [Os₃(μ-H)(CO)₁₀(HN₃R)] (R  Ph, n-Bu, CH₂Ph, cyclo-C₆H₁₁), respectively; the latter may be converted to [Os₃(μ-H)₂(CO)₉(μ₃-NR)] by thermolysis; the molecular structure of the phenyl derivative of each class of compound has been confirmed by x-ray analysis.