Superstructure in RE2-xFe4Si14-y (RE = Y, Gd-Lu) characterized by diffraction, electron microscopy, and Mössbauer spectroscopy

Ternary rare-earth iron silicides RE(2-x)Fe4Si(14-y) (RE = Y, Gd-Lu; x approximately equal to 0.8; y approximately equal to 4.1) crystallize in the hexagonal system with a approximately equal to 3.9 A, c approximately equal to 15.3 A, Pearson symbol hP20-4.9. Their structures involve rare-earth silicide planes with approximate compositions of "RE1.2Si1.9" alternating with beta-FeSi2-derived slabs and are part of a growing class of rare-earth/transition-metal/main-group compounds based on rare-earth/main-group element planes interspersed with (distorted) fluorite-type transition-metal/main-group element layers. The rare-earth silicide planes in the crystallographic unit cells show partial occupancies of both the RE and Si sites because of interatomic distance constraints. Transmission electron microscopy reveals a 4a x 4b x c superstructure for these compounds, whereas further X-ray diffraction experiments suggest ordering within the ab planes but disordered stacking along the c direction. A 4a x 4b structural model for the rare-earth silicide plane is proposed, which provides good agreement with the electron microscopy results and creates two distinct Fe environments in a 15:1 ratio. Fe-57 M?ssbauer spectra confirm these two different iron environments in the powder samples. Magnetic susceptibilities suggest weak (essentially no) magnetic coupling between rare-earth elements, and resistivity measurements indicate poor metallic behavior with a large residual resistivity at low temperatures, which is consistent with disorder. First-principles electronic-structure calculations on model structures identify a pseudogap in the densities of states for specific valence-electron counts that provides a basis for a useful electron-counting scheme for this class of rare-earth/transition-metal/main-group compounds.     

A semiclassical adiabatic calculation of state densities for molecules exhibiting torsion: application to hydrogen peroxide and its isotopomers

A practical computational method is discussed for obtaining the rotational–vibrational molecular state densities of molecules with large amplitude torsional degrees of freedom (DoFs). This method goes beyond the traditional harmonic oscillator/rigid rotor or separable hindered rotor approximations in that it includes coupling between the torsion, the remaining vibrational modes, and the overall rotation. The method is based on the vibrationally adiabatic approximation whereby the torsional motion is assumed to be slow compared to the remaining vibrational DoFs although the nonseparability may be large. The torsional coordinate therefore parameterizes the rotational constants and the effective vibrational potential. A semiclassical method is then introduced to calculate the total state density in which the torsion is treated classically while the remaining coordinates are treated quantum mechanically. The method is also formulated for reactive problems in which the density of states is parameterized by a second large amplitude degree of freedom, the reaction coordinate. The performance of the method is assessed using the dissociation reaction of the hydrogen peroxide molecule and its isotopomers. It is found that the method performs well based on numerical tests. The torsional nonseparability is found to yield errors of factors of 2–3 in the statistical rate coefficient when compared with results of traditional separable models.     

A Novel Rearrangement Reaction of N‐Acyliminium Ions Leading to Heterobicycles Arylated at Bridgehead Atom

Starting with thiazolines, an important class of heterocyclic imines, a novel rearrangement reaction of corresponding N‐acyliminium ions is described. Furthermore, a new class of heterobicyclic compounds arylated at a single bridgehead atom is obtained diastereospecifically.     

N‐Alkoxyheterocycles As Irreversible Photooxidants

Irreversible photooxidation based on N–O bond fragmentation is demonstrated for N‐methoxyheterocycles in both the singlet and triplet excited state manifolds. The energetic requirements for bond fragmentation are studied in detail. Bond fragmentation in the excited singlet manifold is possible for ππ* singlet states with energies significantly larger than the N–O bond dissociation energy of ca 55 kcal mol^?1. For the nπ* triplet states, N–O bond fragmentation does not occur in the excited state for orbital overlap and energetic reasons. Irreversible photooxidation occurs in the singlet states by bond fragmentation followed by electron transfer. Irreversible photooxidation occurs in the triplet states via bimolecular electron transfer to the donor followed by bond fragmentation. Using these two sensitization schemes, donors can be irreversibly oxidized with oxidation potentials ranging from ca 1.6–2.2 V vs SCE. The corresponding N‐ethylheterocycles are characterized as conventional reversible photooxidants in their triplet states. The utility of these sensitizers is demonstrated by irreversibly generating the guanosine radical cation in buffered aqueous solution.     

Reductive Insertion of Elemental Chalcogens into Boron–Boron Multiple Bonds

The syntheses of sulfur‐ and selenium‐bridged cyclic compounds containing boron stabilized by N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have been achieved by the reductive insertion of elemental chalcogens into boron–boron multiple bonds. The three pairs of bonding electrons between the boron atoms in the triply bonded diboryne enabled six‐electron reduction reactions, resulting in the formation of [2.2.1]‐bicyclic systems wherein bridgehead boron atoms are spanned by three chalcogen bridges. A similar reaction using a diborene (boron–boron double bond) resulted in the reductive transfer of both pairs of bonding electrons to three sulfur atoms, yielding a NHC‐stabilized trisulfidodiborolane. The demonstration of these six‐ and four‐electron reductions lends support to the presence of three and two pairs of bonding electrons between the boron atoms of the diboryne and diborene, respectively, a fact that may be useful in future discussions on bond order.     

Oxidation stability of crosslinked polyethylene. Isothermal DTA method

Isothermal differential thermal analysis has been used to study the thermooxidative stability of two grades of crosslinked polyethylene in the temperature range from 120°C to 230°C. Induction times of thermooxidative degradation were measured from 2 minutes up to 3590 hours. Oxidation Induction time and mechanical failure in oven ageing experiments coincided over the measured temperature range. The degree of crosslinking was not strongly affected by the oxidative reaction. The Arrhenius-plots of DTA results showed curvature at 150°C, so straight line extrapolations from short-term experiments at elevated temperatures to low temperatures and long times are not possible. Thermoanalytically measured residual thermooxidative stability decreased linearly with ageing time and showed great scattering of the results.

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Zusammenfassung Die isotherme Differentialthermoanalyse ist als Methode zur Abschätzung der thermooxidativen Beständigkeit von Polyolefinen seit längerem bekannt. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird über isotherme DTA-Messungen an Proben aus vernetztem Polyäthylen im Temperaturbereich von 230°C bis 120°C berichtet, wobei Oxidationsinduktionszeiten bis zu 3590 Stunden gemessen wurden. Die Auftragung der Oxidationsinduktionszeiten in Arrhenius-Diagrammen zeigte für vernetztes Polyäthylen keine für Extrapolationszwecke geeignete Linearität des Logarithmus der Oxidationsinduktionszeiten über der reziproken absoluten Temperatur über weitere Bereiche der Meßzeiten bzw. Prüftemperaturen. Die thermoanalytisch bestimmten Oxidationsinduktionszeiten stimmten mit dem Steilabfall der Reißdehnung in Ofenalterungsversuchen überein während der über den Gelgehalt ermittelte Vernetzungsgrad vom thermooxidativen Abbau nicht signifikant beeinflußt wurde. Somit können aufwendige Ofenalterungsversuche durch experimentell einfache isotherme DTA-Versuche ersetzt werden. Die Messung der thermooxidativen Restbeständigkeit im isothermen DTA-Versuch bei erhöhter Prüftemperatur ermöglicht einen wesentlich deutlicheren Einblick in den thermooxidativen Schädigungszustand eines Polyolefins während der Induktionsperiode des thermooxidativen Abbaus als die Messungen des Vernetzungsgrades oder der Reißdehnung. Die Abnahme der thermooxidativen Restbeständigkeit erfolgt im Fall des vernetzten Polyäthylen in allen Fällen linear über der Alterungszeit.

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120–230°. 2 3590 . . . 150°, . .

     

Metal-free halonium mediated acetate shifts of ynamides to access α-halo acrylamides/acrylimides

A metal-free acetate shift of 3-acetoxy ynamides to access α-iodo, bromo, and chloro acrylamides/acrylimides under very mild conditions is demonstrated. The inherent alkyne activation of ynamides is sufficient to ensure the α-halo acrylamides/acrylimides in high yields without the addition of a catalyst. In all cases high Z-stereoselectivity is observed.     

Activity-based chemical proteomics accelerates inhibitor development for deubiquitylating enzymes

Converting lead compounds into drug candidates is a crucial step in drug development, requiring early assessment of potency, selectivity, and off-target effects. We have utilized activity-based chemical proteomics to determine the potency and selectivity of deubiquitylating enzyme (DUB) inhibitors in cell culture models. Importantly, we characterized the small molecule PR-619 as a broad-range DUB inhibitor, and P22077 as a USP7 inhibitor with potential for further development as a chemotherapeutic agent in cancer therapy. A striking accumulation of polyubiquitylated proteins was observed after both selective and general inhibition of cellular DUB activity without direct impairment of proteasomal proteolysis. The repertoire of ubiquitylated substrates was analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry, identifying distinct subsets for general or specific inhibition of DUBs. This enabled identification of previously unknown functional links between USP7 and enzymes involved in DNA repair.