b1Σ+ Emissions from group V–VII diatomic molecules. b 0+ → X1 0+, X2 1 emissions of AsI and SbI

Chemiluminescence from the b 0⁺ → X₁ 0⁺ band system of AsI and of the b 0⁺ → X₁ 0⁺, X₂ 1 systems of SbI in the near-infrared spectral region has been observed in a discharge flow system. Analysis of the spectra led to the spectroscopic constants (in cm^?1) of AsI: ω_e(X₁, X₂) = 257 ± 2, ω_ex_e(X₁, X₂) = 0.82 ± 0.2, T_e(b 0⁺) = 11738 ± 5, ω_e(b 0⁺) = 271 ± 2, ω_ex_e(b 0⁺) = 0.66 ± 0.2, and of SbI: T_e(X₂ 1) = 965 ± 10, ω_e(X₁, X₂) = 206 ± 6, T_e(b 0⁺) = 12328 ± 10, ω_e(b 0⁺) = 211 ± 6. The intensity ratio of the two sub-systems b 0⁺ → X₂ 1 and b 0⁺→ X₁ 0⁺ was found to be ≈0.013 in the case of SbI and ? 0.01 for AsI.     

Size effects in the CO-oxidation over supported Pd particles

Low pressure CO oxidation was studied over small supported Pd particles by means of static secondary ion mass spectrometry (SSIMS). The SSIMS spectra of adsorbed layers on Pd particles with diameters below ～7nm contained, besides other species, Pd _n X⁺ ions (X=C, O, CO;n=1–3). In experiments with Pd films, Pd _n C⁺ species were much less abundant or even absent from the mass spectra. We conclude that CO decomposed in appreciable amounts only on Pd particles. No significant influence of the support material (mica, MgO,α-Al₂O₃) was seen and posthumous TEM analysis revealed well defined particle morphologies with largely (111) and (100) facets. At total pressures below 10^?4 Pa, the relative carbidic intensities Pd _n C⁺/Pd _n ⁺ , which were taken as proportional to the carbon surface concentrations, first increased with increasing temperatures and then decreased after they passed a maximum at T=400–440 K. The smaller the particle size, the more intense were the maxima. For T ?440 K, carbon was removed from the surface via reaction with oxygen. Strong hysteresis effects in the C_ad and CO_ad concentrations occurred during temperature variation measurements. The Pd _n C⁺/Pd _n ⁺ ratios displayed maxima during heating but not during cooling. While the Pd _n CO⁺/Pd _n ⁺ ratios were always high at 300 K and always low at T>550 K, they were more intense in the medium temperature range when subjecting the samples to heating. These hysteresis effects are discussed in terms of asymmetric adsorption and reaction behaviour of CO/O₂ mixtures, involving inhibition of CO₂ formation by adsorbed carbon and carbon monoxide.     

Influence of the pH Value on the Hydrothermal Degradation of Fructose

The hydrothermal treatment of sugars features a promising technology for the production of fine and platform chemicals from renewable resources. In this work the hydrothermal decomposition of fructose was studied in a buffered medium at a pH range between 2.2 and 8.0. It is demonstrated that at lower pH values mainly 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), levulinic acid and humin are generated, while lactic acid and acetic acid are produced at higher pH values. The work shows that the use of moderate acidic conditions may have advantages for the hydrothermal HMF production over the use of strongly acidic conditions, as especially the degradation into levulinic acid is suppressed. Besides, this study deals with a rather complex reaction network, hence limitations and need for adaption of the kinetic model are discussed.     

Novel Tripod Amphiphiles for Membrane Protein Analysis

Integral membrane proteins play central roles in controlling the flow of information and molecules across membranes. Our understanding of membrane protein structures and functions, however, is seriously limited, mainly due to difficulties in handling and analysing these proteins in aqueous solution. The use of a detergent or other amphipathic agents is required to overcome the intrinsic incompatibility between the large lipophilic surfaces displayed by the membrane proteins in their native forms and the polar solvent molecules. Here, we introduce new tripod amphiphiles displaying favourable behaviours toward several membrane protein systems, leading to an enhanced protein solubilisation and stabilisation compared to both conventional detergents and previously described tripod amphiphiles.     

A Molecular Photosensitizer in a Porous Block Copolymer Matrix-Implications for the Design of Photocatalytically Active Membranes

Recently, porous photocatalytically active block copolymer membranes were introduced, based on heterogenized molecular catalysts. Here, we report the integration of the photosensitizer, i. e., the light absorbing unit in an intermolecular photocatalytic system into block copolymer membranes in a covalent manner. We study the resulting structure and evaluate the orientational mobility of the photosensitizer as integral part of the photocatalytic system in such membranes. To this end we utilize transient absorption anisotropy, highlighting the temporal reorientation of the transition dipole moment probed in a femtosecond pump-probe experiment. Our findings indicate that the photosensitizer is rigidly bound to the polymer membrane and shows a large heterogeneity of absolute anisotropy values as a function of location probed within the matrix. This reflects the sample inhomogeneity arising from different protonation states of the photosensitizer and different intermolecular interactions of the photosensitizers within the block copolymer membrane scaffold.     

Prebiotic Nucleoside Synthesis: The Selectivity of Simplicity

Ever since the discovery of nucleic acids 150 years ago,^[1] major achievements have been made in understanding and decrypting the fascinating scientific questions of the genetic code.^[2] However, the most fundamental question about the origin and the evolution of the genetic code remains a mystery. How did nature manage to build up such intriguingly complex molecules able to encode structure and function from simple building blocks? What conditions were required? How could the precursors survive the unhostile environment of early Earth? Over the past decades, promising synthetic concepts were proposed providing clarity in the field of prebiotic nucleic acid research. In this Minireview, we show the current status and various approaches to answer these fascinating questions.     

Coulomb-nuclear interference for inelastic deuteron scattering

The interference between Coulomb excitation and nuclear excitation has been observed for ^{54, 56}Fe, ⁶⁰Ni, ¹¹⁴Cd, ¹⁵²Sm, and ¹⁹²Os by measuring excitation functions of elastic and inelastic deuteron scattering at back angles. The interference is strongly constructive, indicating a predominantly imaginary nuclear form factor. DWBA calculations using the collective model, although predicting constructive interference, are unable to predict the magnitude of the observed effect.