QMX: A versatile environment for hybrid calculations applied to the grafting of Al2Cl3Me3 on a silica surface

We present a new software to easily perform QM:MM and QM:QM' calculations called QMX. It follows the subtraction scheme and it is implemented in the Atomic Simulation Environment (ASE). Special attention is paid to couple molecular calculations with periodic boundaries approaches. QMX inherits the flexibility and versatility of the ASE package: any combination of methods namely force field, semiempirical, first principle, and ab initio, can be used as hybrid potential energy surface (PES). Its ease of use is demonstrated by considering the adsorption of Al₂Cl₃Me₃ on silica surface and by combining different levels of theory (from standard DFT to MP2 calculations) for the so‐called High Level cluster with standard PW91 density functional theory calculations for the Low Level environment. It is shown that the High Level cluster must contain the silanol group close to the aluminum atoms. The bridging adsorption is favored by 58 kJ mol^?1 at the MP2:PW91 level with respect to the terminal position. Using large clusters at the MP2:PW91 level, it is shown that PW91 calculations are sufficient for structure optimization but that embedded methods are required for accurate energy profiles. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A Microgel Construction Kit for Bioorthogonal Encapsulation and pH‐Controlled Release of Living Cells

pH‐Cleavable cell‐laden microgels with excellent long‐term viabilities were fabricated by combining bioorthogonal strain‐promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition (SPAAC) and droplet‐based microfluidics. Poly(ethylene glycol)dicyclooctyne and dendritic poly(glycerol azide) served as bioinert hydrogel precursors. Azide conjugation was performed using different substituted acid‐labile benzacetal linkers that allowed precise control of the microgel degradation kinetics in the interesting pH range between 4.5 and 7.4. By this means, a pH‐controlled release of the encapsulated cells was achieved upon demand with no effect on cell viability and spreading. As a result, the microgel particles can be used for temporary cell encapsulation, allowing the cells to be studied and manipulated during the encapsulation and then be isolated and harvested by decomposition of the microgel scaffolds.     

Fumed silica – rheological additive for adhesives,resins, and paints

Fumed silica, a synthetic silicon dioxide, is a powerful rheological additive for resins and paints to introduce thixotropy or even a yield point. The rheological effectiveness of fumed silica is based on its ability to form percolating networks which immobilize large volumes of liquid. By a combination of advanced rheological experiments, spectroscopical investigations, and quantum chemical calculations it could be demonstrated that the formation and stability of the silica network is strongly influenced by particle-resin interactions. The results can be used to develop comprehensive models, which explain the rheological performance of different grades of fumed silica in different resins.     

An Improved Method for Preparation of Carboxylic Esters Using CsF-Celite/Alkyl Halide/Ch3Cn Combination

Preparations of compound 4 and of truxene derivatives 5, 6a,b, 7, 8, 10a, b, 11, 12a,b, and 13a,b are described. These substances are potential starting materials for the synthesis of bowl shaped polyaromatic compounds containing structural elements of fullerenes.     

Tetracyanoborate salts M[b(CN)4] with M = singly charged cations: properties and structures

A series of tetracyanoborate salts M[B(CN)4] with the singly charged cations of Li+, Na+, Rb+, Cs+, [NH4]+, Tl+, and Cu+ as well as the THF solvate tetracyanoborates Na[B(CN)4] x THF and [NH4][B(CN)4] x THF were synthesized and their X-ray structures, vibrational spectra, solubilities in water, and thermal stabilities determined and compared with already known M[B(CN)4] salts. Crystallographic data for these compounds are as follows: Na[B(CN)4], cubic, Fd3m, a = 11.680(1) A, Z= 8; Li[B(CN)4], cubic, P43m, a = 5.4815(1) A, Z= 1; Cu[B(CN)4], cubic, P43m, a = 5.4314(7) A, Z= 1; Rb[B(CN)4], tetragonal, /4(1)/a, a = 7.1354(2) A, c= 14.8197(6) A, Z= 4; Cs[B(CN)4], tetragonal, /4(1)/a, a = 7.300(2) A, c = 15.340(5) A, Z= 4; [NH4][B(CN)4], tetragonal, /4(1)/a, a = 7.132(1) A, c = 14.745(4) A, Z= 4; Tl[B(CN)4], tetragonal, /4(1)/a, a = 7.0655(2) A, c = 14.6791(4) A, Z= 4; Na[B(CN)4] x THF, orthorhombic, Pnma, a = 13.908(3) A, b = 9.288(1) A, c = 8.738(1) A, Z= 4; [NH4][B(CN)4] x THF, orthorhombic, Pnma, a = 8.831(1) A, b = 9.366(2) A, c = 15.061(3) A, Z= 4. The cubic Li+, Na+, and Cu+ salts crystallize in a structure consisting of two interpenetrating independent tetrahedral networks of M cations and [B(CN)4]- ions. The compounds with the larger countercations (Rb+, Cs+, Tl+, and [NH4]+) crystallize as tetragonal, also with a network arrangement. The sodium and ammonium salts with the cocrystallized THF molecules are both orthorhombic but are not isostructural. In the vibrational spectra the two CN stretching modes A1 and T2 coincide in general and the band positions are a measure for the strength of the interionic interaction. An interesting feature in the Raman spectrum of the copper salt is the first appearance of two CN stretching modes.     

Hierarchical porous silica materials with a trimodal pore system using surfactant templates

Porous silica exhibiting a hierarchically ordered trimodal pore system with a well-defined reverse opal microstructure and bimodal mesoporosity in the walls has been prepared by using polystyrene latex spheres, a novel block copolymer and an ionic liquid surfactant as templates. The resulting materials exhibit hierarchical order at three length scales (small mesopores: 2-3 nm; large mesopores: 11-12 nm; macropores: 360 nm).     

Ultrafast proton-coupled electron-transfer dynamics in pyrene-modified pyrimidine nucleosides: model studies towards an understanding of reductive electron transport in DNA.

5-(Pyren-1-yl)-2'-deoxyuridine (PydU) and 5-(Pyren-1-yl)-2'-deoxycytidine (PydC) were used as model nucleosides for DNA-mediated reductive electron transport (ET) in steady-state fluorescence and femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy studies. Excitation of the pyrene moiety in PydU and PydC leads to an intramolecular electron transfer that yields the pyrenyl radical cation and the corresponding pyrimidine radical anion (dU.- and dC.-. By comparing the excited state dynamics of PydC and PydU, we derived information about the energy difference between the two pyrimidine radical anion states. To determine the influence of protonation on the rates of photoinduced intramolecular ET, the spectroscopic investigations were performed in acetonitrile, MeCN, and in water at different pH values. The results show a significant difference in the basicity of the generated pyrimidine radical anions and imply an involvement of proton transfer during electron hopping in DNA. Our studies revealed that the radical anion dC.- is being protonated even in basic aqueous solution on a picosecond time scale (or faster). These results suggest that protonation of dC.- may also occur in DNA. In contrast, efficient ET in PydU could only be observed at low pH values (< 5). In conclusion, we propose--based on the free energy differences and the different basicities--that only dT.- but not dC.- can participate as an intermediate charge carrier for excess electron migration in DNA.     

Short and stereoselective synthesis of C-glycosylated glycine derivatives from glycals by radical addition and reduction

Only three steps are required for the convenient synthesis of 2-C-branched glyco-amino acids from glycals with good yields and stereoselectivities.