The rotational spectrum and theoretical study of a dinuclear complex, MnRe(CO)(10)

The first rotational spectrum of a dinuclear complex, MnRe(CO)(10), has been obtained using a high-resolution pulsed beam microwave spectrometer. Sixty-four hyperfine components of the J=11-->J(')=12 and J=12-->J(')=13 rotational transitions were measured for two rhenium isotopomers. The B values obtained from the experiment are B=200.36871(18) MHz for the (187)Re isotopomer and B=200.5561(10) MHz for the (185)Re isotopomer. The measured rotational constants are in reasonably good agreement with the B values calculated from the x-ray diffraction structural data, and from theoretical calculations. The gas-phase Mn-Re bond distance is approximately 2.99 A, and the calculated value is only slightly longer. The experimental quadrupole coupling constant for the manganese atom is eQq(aa) ((55)Mn)=-16.52(5) MHz, and the corresponding quadrupole coupling constants for the two rhenium isotopomers are eQq(aa) ((187)Re)=370.4(4) MHz and eQq(aa) ((185)Re)=390.9(6) MHz. The quadrupole coupling constants were also determined from a variety of theoretical calculations, with very large Gaussian orbital bases. The best estimates, at a nonrelativistic level, are eQq(aa) ((55)Mn)=0.68 MHz and eQq(aa) ((187)Re)=327.6 MHz with a 874 GTO basis set, but the results are very basis set dependent, especially the sign of the Mn quadrupole coupling. Very slight bending of angles MnC(eq)O(eq) and ReC(eq)O(eq) angles is found in the calculations.     

Structural changes and chain radius of gyration in cold-drawn polyethylene after annealing: small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering and small-angle neutron scattering studies

Samples made from linear polyethylene were drawn at room temperature and subsequently annealed at high temperatures below the melting point. The structural changes of the crystalline lamellae and lamellar superstructures as well as the single chain radius of gyration were studied by means of combined small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). After drawing, the polymeric chain segments in the crystalline phase are preferentially oriented along the drawing direction with a high degree of orientation whereas the lamellae in the samples are found to be slightly sheared exhibiting oblique surfaces as evidenced by X-ray scattering. SANS indicates that the chains are highly elongated along the drawing direction. Annealing the deformed samples at temperatures where the mechanical alpha-process of polyethylene is active leads to a thickening of both crystalline lamellae and amorphous layers. The chains in the crystalline phase retain their high degree of orientation after annealing while the lamellae are sheared to a larger extent. In addition, there is also lateral growth of the crystalline lamellae during high-temperature annealing. Despite the structural changes of the crystalline and amorphous regions, there is no evidence for global chain relaxation. The global anisotropic shape of the chains is preserved even after prolonged annealing at high temperatures. The results indicate that the mobility of polyethylene chains-as seen, e.g., by 13C NMR-is a local phenomenon. The results also yield new insight into mechanical properties of drawn PE, especially regarding stress relaxation and creep mechanisms.     

Rotational and hyperfine spectra for a sandwich titanium complex, C5H5TiC7H7

Microwave spectroscopy measurements and density functional theory calculations are reported for the cyclopentadienyl cycloheptatrienyl titanium complex, C₅H₅TiC₇H₇. Rotational transition frequencies for this symmetric-top complex were measured in the 4-13 GHz range using a Flygare-Balle-type pulsed beam spectrometer. The spectroscopic constants obtained for the normal C₅H₅⁴⁸TiC₇H₇ isotopomer are B = 771.78907(38), D_J = 0.0000295(41), and D_JK = 0.001584(73) MHz. The quadrupole hyperfine splittings for C₅H₅⁴⁷TiC₇H₇ were clearly observed and the measured constants are B = 771.79024(32) MHz, D_J = 0.0000395(33), D_JK = 0.001646(24), and eQq_aa = 8.193(40) MHz. Analysis of the experimental and theoretical rotational constants indicates that the η⁷-C₇H₇Ti and η⁵-C₅H₅Ti bond lengths in the gas phase are about 0.02 Å longer than those reported for the solid-state X-ray structure. The calculated Ti-C bond lengths are shorter for the C₇H₇ ligand (r(Ti-C) = 2.21 Å) than for the C₅H₅ ligand (r(Ti-C) = 2.34 Å), and the C₇H₇ H atoms are displaced 0.15 Å out of the C₇ plane, toward the Ti atom.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of amphiphilic dimers at a liquid-vapor interface

Molecular dynamics simulations are utilized to simulate a model liquid-vapor-amphiphile system. Amphiphilic surfactant molecules are modeled as dimers composed of a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail. Three dimer models with three different head sizes and two different head-to-tail size ratios are studied. The surfactant molecules distribute preferentially at the interfaces at low concentrations and form micelles in the bulk liquid phase as the concentration increases. We find that the surface tension decreases as molecular concentration increases, with a reduction in the rate of decrease after micellization occurs. The extent to which a surfactant can reduce the surface tension at a given concentration is found to depend on the head size. Furthermore, the head size and concentration dependence of the surfactant tilt-angle distribution is studied and compared to experimental data.     

Control of traveling waves in the Mammalian cortex

We experimentally confirmed predictions that modulation of the neuronal threshold with electrical fields can speed up, slow down, and even block traveling waves in neocortical slices. The predictions are based on a Wilson-Cowan-type integro-differential equation model of propagating neocortical activity. Wave propagation could be modified quickly and reversibly within targeted regions of the network. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of direct modulation of the threshold to control wave propagation in a neural system.     

Zur Geometrie der partiellen Differentialgleichung 2. Ordnung

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Control of skeletal connectivity in indium promoted reactions: 1,2-additions and cope rearrangements en route to lactol formation

Indium promoted coupling reactions between propargyl aldehydes (3) and allyl halides under aqueous and organic conditions are reported. Coupling reactions under aqueous conditions occur via 1,2-addition with excellent yields to afford 4-hydroxy-1-ene-5-ynes (8). Coupling reactions under organic conditions also add in a 1,2-fashion, but the initial products can be induced to undergo oxy-Cope rearrangements giving 2,5-hexadienals (9). Oxy-Cope rearrangement of 8 followed by a secondary addition step under highly basic conditions leads to lactol formation (10) in good to excellent yields. This paper reveals the versatility and control of product formation which may be attained when working with propargyl aldehyde (3) and allyl halide systems under indium promoted coupling conditions.     

Determination of domoic acid in seawater and phytoplankton by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Domoic acid (DA) is an algal neurotoxin produced by diatoms primarily of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia and is responsible for the human intoxication syndrome known as amnesic shellfish poisoning. A method has been developed to determine DA in seawater and phytoplankton matrices by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for both quantitation and confirmation purposes. Sample extraction and clean-up was achieved on a C18 solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. An acidic condition is critical for retaining hydrophilic DA on the cartridge. Direct injection of SPE eluate for analysis is recommended in order to avoid loss of DA by drying with heat prior to resuspension and injection. DA was quantified using the fragments produced from the protonated DA ion through multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Recoveries exceeded 90% for all seawater samples spiked with DA and approximated 98% of toxin standard added to cultured phytoplankton material. Acceptable reproducibility (ca. 5% or less) was obtained for all intra-day and inter-day samples. The detection limit was 30 pg/ml level with a 20 microl injection volume, which demonstrated the value of this method for not only confirming DA production by minimally toxic phytoplankton species, but also for investigating the potentially important role of dissolved DA in marine food webs.     

Synthesis of isotopomers of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-cyano-l-phenylalanine methyl ester: choice of cyanation solvent

N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-4-cyano-l-phenylalanine methyl ester and three isotopomers (C¹⁵N, ¹³CN, and ¹³C¹⁵N) were successfully synthesized in two steps to expand the utility of the nitrile symmetric stretch vibration of this modified amino acid as a vibrational reporter of local environments. The choice of cyanation solvent directly impacted the level of isotopic enrichment of the isotopomers. The commonly used solvent acetonitrile resulted in an isotopic enrichment of only ∼80% with a cyanation reaction time of 4.5 h, however, the cyanation solvent N,N-dimethylformamide afforded the isotopomers with >98% isotopic enrichment.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Diethyl Fumarate‐1,4‐Cyclohexanedimethanol Polyesters for Use in Bioresorbable Bone Cement Composites

Unsaturated polyesters are prepared by transesterification polymerization of diethyl fumarate and 1,4‐cyclohexanedimethanol. The structure of the polyesters was characterized by FT‐IR and ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy. Semicrystalline morphology of the polymers is suggested by DSC analysis with T_g at 21°C and melting at 140°C. The thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the onset of degradation takes place at 300°C. The polyester's structure has significant impact on the properties of the composites prepared by crosslinking the fumarate double bonds with N‐vinyl pyrrolidone in the presence of an inorganic filler, calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the addition of a radical initiator, benzoyl peroxide, at ambient temperatures. The compressive strength and hydrolytic stability of the cement compositions was correlated with structure of the polyesters.