Observation of multiple superconducting gaps in the infrared reflectivity spectra of Ba(Fe<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>As<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The results of infrared reflectivity measurements for the iron-based high-temperature superconductor Ba(Fe_0.9Co_0.1)₂As₂ are reported. The reflectivity is found to be close to unity at frequencies ω lower than 2Δ/h (2Δ is the superconducting gap and h is Planck’s constant). This is evidence for the s ^+/− or s ^+/+ symmetry of the superconducting order parameter in the studied compound. The infrared reflectivity spectra of Ba(Fe_0.9Co_0.1)₂As₂ manifest opening of several superconducting gaps at temperatures lower than critical T _c .     

Diastereoselective synthesis of hydantoin- and isoxazoline-substituted dispirocyclobutanoids

Synthetic strategies for constructing novel achiral cyclobutanoid isoxazolidinoimidazolidinedione heterocycles, with a generalized structure of II, have been developed via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition and carbanilide cyclization transformations from methylenecyclobutane 13. The exo methylene cyclobutane system has made the realization of some diasteroselectivity possible, such that the H-bond (Boc-NH) directed product (i.e., 14) was obtained with 3:1 selectivity relative to the non-H-bond directed product (i.e., 15).     

Achiral and chiral determination of tramadol and its metabolites in urine by capillary electrophoresis

An achiral and chiral separation for the determination of tramadol and its main metabolite O-demethyltramadol in urine samples by CE with UV detection was developed. It was possible to separate tramadol and its phase I and phase II metabolites in one single run using a borate buffer. Furthermore, the simultaneous chiral separation of tramadol and the phase I metabolites was achieved using carboxymethyl-beta-cyclodextrin as chiral selector. To reach the required limits of quantification for the analytes, a preconcentration by solid-phase extraction for the achiral assay and by liquid-liquid extraction for the chiral assay was used. The methods were validated and their applicability was shown by the determination of tramadol and O-demethyltramadol in urine samples.     

Metallosupramolecular Thin Polyelectrolyte Films

Molecular recognition and electrostatic interaction of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes are combined in the fabrication of ultrathin metallosupramolecular multilayers [shown schematically in the picture, PEI=polyethyleneimine, PSS=poly(styrene sulfonate)]. The layers between the PSS layers are composed of an iron(II ) bis(terpyridine) coordination polymer.     

Functional Polyoxometalate Thin Films via Electrostatic Layer-by-Layer Self-Assembly

Polyoxometalates (POMs) comprise a structurally diverse class of inorganic transition metal oxygen clusters which—owing to their unique electronic properties—hold promise for a host of technological applications such as electrochromic windows, sensors, or heterogeneous catalysts, prototypic examples of which will be briefly exemplified. The integration of POMs into functional architectures and devices, however, necessitates the development of general methods that allow positioning these clusters in well-defined supramolecular architectures, thin films, or mesophases. This short review highlights recent advances in the preparation of composite multilayers fabricated by electrostatic layer-by-layer self-assembly (ELSA) of POMs and a variety of water-soluble cationic species, including transition metal complexes, cationic surfactants, polycations and bipolar pyridine.     

Structure and properties of the dendron-encapsulated polyoxometalate (C(52)H(60)NO(12))(12)[(Mn(H(2)O))(3)(SbW(9)O(33))(2)], a first generation dendrizyme

Combining analytical and theoretical methods, we present a detailed study of a heteropolytungstate cluster encapsulated in a shell of dendritically branching surfactants, namely (C(52)H(60)NO(12))(12)[(Mn(H(2)O))(3)(SbW(9)O(33))(2)], 3. This novel surfactant-encapsulated cluster (SEC) self-assembles spontaneously from polyoxometalate-containing solutions treated with a stoichiometric amount of dendrons. Compound 3 exhibits a discrete supramolecular architecture in which a single polyoxometalate anion resides in a compact shell of dendrons. Our approach attempts to combine the catalytic activity of polyoxometalates with the steric properties of tailored dendritic surfactants into size-selective catalytic systems. The structural characterization of the SEC is based on analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The packing arrangement of dendrons at the cluster surface is gleaned from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, which suggests a highly porous shell structure due to the dynamic formation of internal clefts and cavities. From analysis of the MD trajectory of 3, a theoretical neutron-scattering function is derived that is in good agreement with experimental SANS data. Force field parameters used in MD simulations are partially derived from a quantum mechanical geometry optimization of [(Zn(H(2)O))(3)(SbW(9)O(33))(2)](12)(-), 2b, at the density functional theory (DFT) level. DFT calculations are corroborated by X-ray structure analysis of Na(6)K(6)[(Zn(H(2)O))(3)(SbW(9)O(33))(2)].23H(2)O, which is isostructural with the catalytically active Mn derivative 2a. The combined use of theoretical and analytical methods aims at rapidly prototyping smart catalysts ("dendrizymes"), which are structurally related to naturally occurring metalloproteins.