Structure and spectroscopic properties of the dimeric copper(I) N‐heterocyclic carbene complex [Cu2(CNCt‐Bu)2](PF6)2

In recent years, the use of copper N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes has expanded to fields besides catalysis, namely medicinal chemistry and luminescence applications. In the latter case, multinuclear copper NHC compounds have attracted interest, however, the number of these complexes in the literature is still quite limited. Bis[μ‐1,3‐bis(3‐tert‐butylimidazolin‐2‐yliden‐1‐yl)pyridine]‐1κ⁴C²,N:N,C^2′;2κ⁴C²,N:N,C^2′‐dicopper(I) bis(hexafluoridophosphate), [Cu₂(C₁₉H₂₅N₅)₂](PF₆)₂, is a dimeric copper(I) complex bridged by two CNC, i.e. bis(N‐heterocyclic carbene)pyridine, ligands. Each Cu^I atom is almost linearly coordinated by two NHC ligands and interactions are observed between the pyridine N atoms and the metal centres, while no cuprophilic interactions were observed. Very strong absorption bands are evident in the UV–Vis spectrum at 236 and 274 nm, and an emission band is observed at 450 nm. The reported complex is a new example of a multinuclear copper NHC complex and a member of a compound class which has only rarely been reported.     

Spatially resolved dynamic eigenmode spectrum of Co rings

The spatially resolved eigenmode spectrum of micrometer-sized Co ring elements has been determined by means of combined vector network analyzer ferromagnetic resonance and time resolved magneto-optic Kerr effect measurements. Up to 5 resonant eigenmodes were observed in the frequency range from 45 MHz to 20 GHz as a function of an external magnetic bias field. A well-defined mode structure was found for the two equilibrium states (vortex and onion) which correspond to distinctive spatial modes. The effect of dynamic inter-ring coupling on the modes in the remanent states was evinced. The experimental results are found to be in good agreement with those of micromagnetic simulations. Our results demonstrate that, in analogy to the well-defined static equilibrium magnetic states of ring elements, the eigenmode spectra of this high symmetry geometry consist of a well-defined and simple mode structure.     

Mechanism of UV-induced formation of Dewar lesions in DNA

The importance of a backbone: The mechanism of formation of Dewar lesions has been investigated by using femtosecond IR spectroscopy and ab?initio calculations of the exited state. The 4π?electrocyclization is rather slow, occurs with an unusual high quantum yield, and--surprisingly--is controlled by the phosphate backbone.     

Spin-wave eigenmodes of permalloy squares with a closure domain structure

Quantized spin-wave eigenmodes in single, 16 nm thick and 0.75 to 4 mum wide square permalloy islands with a fourfold closure domain structure have been investigated by microfocus Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy and time resolved scanning magneto-optical Kerr microscopy. Up to six eigenmodes were detected and classified. The main direction of the spin-wave quantization in the domains was found to be perpendicular to the local static magnetization. An additional less pronounced quantization along the direction parallel to the static magnetization was also observed.     

The Effect of the Molecular Weight of Polyvinylpyrrolidone and the Model Drug on Laser-Induced In Situ Amorphization

Laser radiation has been shown to be a promising approach for in situ amorphization, i.e., drug amorphization inside the final dosage form. Upon exposure to laser radiation, elevated temperatures in the compacts are obtained. At temperatures above the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the polymer, the drug dissolves into the mobile polymer. Hence, the dissolution kinetics are dependent on the viscosity of the polymer, indirectly determined by the molecular weight (M_w) of the polymer, the solubility of the drug in the polymer, the particle size of the drug and the molecular size of the drug. Using compacts containing 30 wt% of the drug celecoxib (CCX), 69.25 wt% of three different M_w of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP: PVP12, PVP17 or PVP25), 0.25 wt% plasmonic nanoaggregates (PNs) and 0.5 wt% lubricant, the effect of the polymer M_w on the dissolution kinetics upon exposure to laser radiation was investigated. Furthermore, the effect of the model drug on the dissolution kinetics was investigated using compacts containing 30 wt% of three different drugs (CCX, indomethacin (IND) and naproxen (NAP)), 69.25 wt% PVP12, 0.25 wt% PN and 0.5 wt% lubricant. In perfect correlation to the Noyes–Whitney equation, this study showed that the use of PVP with the lowest viscosity, i.e., the lowest M_w (here PVP12), led to the fastest rate of amorphization compared to PVP17 and PVP25. Furthermore, NAP showed the fastest rate of amorphization, followed by IND and CCX in PVP12 due to its high solubility and small molecular size.     

A candidate reference measurement procedure for Cyclosporine A in whole blood

Monitoring of Cyclosporine A (CsA) concentrations in whole blood is widely performed due to the narrow therapeutic index of the drug. Required standardisation for routine analysis of CsA is still missing. The candidate reference measurement procedure presented here is designated for the assignment of CsA values in hemolysed blood associated with expanded measurement uncertainty. Separate stock solutions for calibration and control materials were prepared by spiking hemolysed blood with CsA under gravimetric control. The essential sample pretreatment step was protein precipitation. Analysis was performed using isotope dilution LC-MS/MS with online solid phase extraction. Interference by matrix components was investigated. Using [²H₄]-CsA as the internal standard, no interference from the investigated matrices were detected. Measurement repeatability using three pools of whole blood as samples revealed coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 1.0 % to 1.6 %. Intermediate measurement precision was determined by repeated analysis of self-prepared control materials taken from different stock solutions of pooled whole blood. CVs were between 0.8 % and 2.4 %. Measurement accuracy was checked using three control materials prepared from three different stock solutions. The recoveries of the mean of mean values obtained on four measurement days ranged from 99.4 % to 101.3 %. The combined expanded uncertainty of measurement based on 5 days of measurement and was evaluated according to the GUM as U = 2.0 % (k = 2).