Left-handed interfaces for electromagnetic surface waves

We show that surface electromagnetic waves (SEMWs) propagating along two-dimensional (2D) interfaces separating different metamaterials can behave analogously to 3D electromagnetic waves in either usual or left-handed media, depending on the permeabilities and/or permittivities of the two materials forming the interface. We derive the conditions when SEMWs carry energy opposite to the phase velocity. In analogy to three-dimensional (3D) left-handed media, we derive both an anomalous Cherenkov emission and a reversed Doppler effect. We also predict a negative refraction at the boundary between two different interfaces, which can be useful for perfect 2D lensing.     

Intrinsic gas-phase reactivity of ionized 6-(oxomethylene)cyclohexa-2,4-dienone: evidence pointing to its neutral alpha-oxoketene counterpart as a proper precursor of various benzopyran-4-ones and analogues

Despite its unique structure and potential use as an important building block in organic synthesis, the title alpha-oxoketene 1 has been formed mostly under very special conditions as a short-lived species. The reactivity of 1 is, therefore, nearly unexplored. In great contrast, it seemed that its ionized gaseous form 1*+ is stable and easily accessible. In this study, we used multiple-stage pentaquadrupole mass spectrometry to probe the formation of gaseous 1*+ and explore its stability and intrinsic reactivity. With water and methanol, gaseous 1*+ was found to react similarly to solvated 1, which indicates that there is a close parallel between their reactivities. Gaseous 1*+ was also found to react promptly via polar [3 + 2] cycloadditons with various dienophiles including alkenes, alkynes, isocyanates, ketones and esters, thus forming a series of benzopyran-4-ones (flavones, 4-chromanones, 4-chromenones, benzo[1,3]dioxin-4-ones, and analogues) that are common structural units in many natural products. The present availability of 1 at room temperature and the gas-phase findings reported herein for gaseous 1*+ indicate that solvated 1 should undergo many [4 + 2] cycloadditions and functions as a versatile precursor of a variety of biologically active molecules.     

Dendritic Pseudorotaxanes

Self-organization is the key . A series of dendritic pseudorotaxanes were efficiently constructed from complementary building blocks—namely, a three-armed, triply charged ammonium salt and the first, second, and third generations of benzyl ether dendrons bearing the dibenzo[24]crown-8 moiety. The pseudorotaxane arising from the third-generation dendron is shown in the picture.     

Quantum Zeno and anti-Zeno effects measured by transition probabilities

Using numerical calculations, we compare the transition probabilities of many spins in random magnetic fields, subject to either frequent projective measurements, frequent phase modulations, or a mix of modulations and measurements. For various distribution functions, we find the transition probability under frequent modulations is suppressed most if the pulse delay is short and the evolution time is larger than a critical value. Furthermore, decay freezing occurs only under frequent modulations as the pulse delay approaches zero. In the large pulse-delay region, however, the transition probabilities under frequent modulations are highest among the three control methods.     

Relativistic Hall effect

We consider the relativistic deformation of quantum waves and mechanical bodies carrying intrinsic angular momentum (AM). When observed in a moving reference frame, the centroid of the object undergoes an AM-dependent transverse shift. This is the relativistic analogue of the spin-Hall effect, which occurs in free space without any external fields. Remarkably, the shifts of the geometric and energy centroids differ by a factor of 2, and both centroids are crucial for the Lorentz transformations of the AM tensor. We examine manifestations of the relativistic Hall effect in quantum vortices and mechanical flywheels and also discuss various fundamental aspects of this phenomenon. The perfect agreement of quantum and relativistic approaches allows applications at strikingly different scales, from elementary spinning particles, through classical light, to rotating black holes.     

The mer-[RuCl3(dppb)(H2O)] complex: A versatile tool for synthesis of Ru compounds

The complex mer-[RuCl₃(dppb)(H₂O)] [dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane] was used as a precursor in the synthesis of the complexes tc-[RuCl₂(CO)₂(dppb)], ct-[RuCl₂(CO)₂(dppb)], cis-[RuCl₂(dppb)(Cl-bipy)], [RuCl(2Ac4mT)(dppb)] (2Ac4mT = N(4)-meta-tolyl-2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazone ion) and trans-[RuCl₂(dppb)(mang)] (mang = mangiferin or 1,3,6,7-tetrahydroxyxanthone-C2-β-D-glucoside) complexes. For the synthesis of Ru^II complexes, the Ru^III atom in mer-[RuCl₃(dppb)(H₂O)] may be reduced by H₂(g), forming the intermediate [Ru₂Cl₄(dppb)₂], or by a ligand (such as H2Ac4mT or mangiferin). The X-ray structures of the cis-[RuCl₂(dppb)(Cl-bipy)], tc-[RuCl₂(CO)₂(dppb)] and [RuCl(2Ac4mT)(dppb)] complexes were determined.     

N(4)-tolyl-2-benzoylpyridine-derived thiosemicarbazones and their palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes: Cytotoxicity against human solid tumor cells

Complexes [Pt(2Bz4oT)Cl], [Pt(2Bz4mT)Cl], and [Pt(2Bz4pT)Cl] were prepared with N(4)-ortho-(H2Bz4oT), N(4)-meta-(H2Bz4mT), and N(4)-para-(H2Bz4pT) tolyl-2-benzoylpyridine-derived thiosemicarbazones. The thiosemicarbazones exhibited moderate anti-proliferative activity against HepG2 (hepatoma) and UACC-62 (melanoma) cancer cell lines, but showed high anti-proliferative effect against A431 (epithelial carcinoma) cancer cell lines. Upon coordination to platinum(II) the anti-proliferative activity decreases in all cases. The cytotoxicity of the previously prepared palladium(II) analogues [Pd(2Bz4oT)Cl], [Pd(2Bz4mT)Cl], and [Pd(2Bz4pT)Cl] was also investigated. As in the case of the platinum(II) complexes, coordination to palladium(II) did not lead to activity improvement. Investigations on the mechanism of cytotoxic action against A431 cells revealed that [Pd(2Bz4oT)Cl] induced DNA fragmentation and apoptosis while H2Bz4oT did not present this effect. The high anti-proliferative effect of the thiosemicarbazones and [Pd(2Bz4oT)Cl] against A431 cells, together with the pro-apoptotic effect of [Pd(2Bz4oT)Cl] suggests that these compounds have potential as chemotherapeutic drug candidates.