Water-soluble oligomer dimers based on paracyclophane: a new optical platform for fluorescent sensor applications

Water soluble paracyclophane chromophore dimers provide optical reporters that show little sensitivity to surfactants and thus are ideal for biosensor design. Strong intramolecular delocalization circumvents complications from intermolecular delocalization in spontaneously formed aggregates. The synthesis of 2 involves a novel TBAT deprotection/butane sultone ring-opening sequence, which should be general for the preparation of water-soluble conjugated oligomers and polymers.     

Adsorption and interaction of ethylene on RuO2(110) surfaces

Ethylene (C2H4) adsorbed on the stoichiometric and oxygen-rich RuO2(110) surfaces, exposing coordinatively unsaturated Ru-cus and O-cus atoms, is investigated by applying high-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy and thermal desorption spectroscopy in combination with isotope labeling experiments. On the stoichiometric RuO2(110) surface C2H4 adsorbs and desorbs molecularly. In contrast, on the oxygen-rich RuO2(110) surface ethylene adsorbs molecularly at 85 K and is completely oxidized through interaction with O-cus and O-bridge upon annealing to 500 K. The first couple of reactions are observed at 200 K taking place on Ru-cus: A change from pi- to sigma-bonding, formation of -C=O and -C-O groups, and dehydrogenation giving rise to H2O adsorbed at Ru-cus. Maximum reaction rate is reached for C2H4 chemisorbed at Ru-cus with O-cus neighbors on each side. A model for the first couple of reactions is sketched. For the final combustion, C2H4 reacts both with O-cus and O-bridge. Ethylene oxide is not detected under any circumstance.     

Selective nitrogen protection of hydroxyalkylbenzimidazoles using 2,2,2-trichloroethylchloroformate

A method for selective N-protection of hydroxyalkylbenzimidazoles using 2,2,2-trichloroethylchloroformate (Troc-Cl) applicable to various alkyl chain lengths has been developed. In the specific case of 5-(1-[2,2,2-trichloroethyl formyl]-benzimidazol-2-yl)-propan-1-ol, migration of Troc from the benzimidazole to the primary alcohol occurs in the presence of triethylamine, allowing the choice of selective N-Troc or O-Troc protection.     

Lateral interactions and multi-isotherms: nitrogen recombination from Rh(111)

Lateral adsorbate-adsorbate interactions result in variation of the desorption rate constants with coverage. This effect can be studied in great detail from the shape of a multi-isotherm. To produce the multi-isotherm, the temperature is increased in a (semi)stepwise fashion to some temperature, followed by maintaining this temperature for a prolonged time. Then, the temperature is stepped to a higher value and held constant at this new temperature. This cycle is continued until all of the adsorbates have desorbed. Using a detailed kinetic Monte Carlo model and an optimization algorithm based on Evolutionary Strategy, we are able to reproduce the shape of the experimentally measured multi-isotherm of nitrogen on Rh(111) and obtain the lateral interactions between the nitrogen atoms.     

A Robust and Efficient Method for the Computation of Equilibrium Composition in Gaseous Mixtures

This paper presents in detail a robust, efficient and accurate methodology for the computation of equilibrium composition in gaseous mixtures. The methodology is founded on the concept of the chemical basis, which is defined and formalized using a powerful matricial approach. The method is specially designed to be general, thus providing basic thermodynamic data in several areas, such as combustion, plasma chemistry and, more generally speaking, computational fluid dynamics. The performance of the method is given in terms of CPU usage and the computed results are compared with those in the published literature. The method is shown to yield results of very high quality in terms of accuracy and smoothness.     

Synthesis of aryl ketones by the PD-catalyzed C-H activation of arenes and intermolecular carbopalladation of nitriles

The palladium-catalyzed reaction of simple arenes and nitriles provides good to excellent yields of aryl ketones or the corresponding hindered imines. The addition of a small amount of DMSO increases the yields dramatically. Both intermolecular and intramolecular examples of this process are successful. This novel chemistry is believed to involve palladium-catalyzed C-H activation, followed by carbopalladation of the nitrile.     

Gamma-radiolysis of chiral molecules: R(+)-limonene, S(-)-limonene and R(-)-a-phellandrene

Three isomeric chiral terpenes, R(+)-limonene, S(-)-limonene and R(-)-a-phellandrene were γ-radiolyzed in sealed vials at room temperature with a total radiation dose of 317 kGy. The radiolyzed samples were analyzed by FT-IR, electronic absorption spectroscopy, liquid chromatography using a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) and by polarimetry. Despite a relatively high radiation dose used, all the chiral molecules selected have shown a low radioracemization rate. This fact and the role played by the impurities in the selective radio-degradation of one of the two enantiomers has been discussed in the context of the origin of chirality in prebiotic molecules and the chirality enhancement in a prebiotic world. The results were also discussed in the frame of the radiosterilization technique of chiral drugs, perfumes and food components. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Determination of Aroma Compounds in Blackberry by GC/MS Analysis

The aromatic composition of five blackberry cultivars (Bursa 2, Navaho, Nessy, Chester Thornless, and Jumbo) was studied. The Im-SPME (Immersion Solid Phase Micro Extraction) extraction technique was applied and the samples were analyzed by GC/MS. Furfural and its derivatives were found to be the major aromatic compounds and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural was the most abundant compound in all the blackberry varieties.     

Origin and development of the International Confederation for Thermal Analysis (ICTA)

The history of ICTA, from its conception at the First International Conference on Thermal Analysis in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1965 through the subsequent eight Conferences to the 10th ICTA Congress in Hatfield, England, in 1992, is outlined. Brief biographies of Past-Presidents are appended.