Preparation and photoelectron spectrum of the glycine molecular anion: assignment to a dipole-bound electron species with a high-dipole moment, non-zwitterionic form of the neutral core

We report the gas-phase preparation of negatively charged glycine as well as the Gly(H(2)O)(1,2) (-) complexes by entrainment of the neutral precursor into an ionized supersonic expansion tuned to optimize the (H(2)O)(n) (-)Ar(m) clusters. The photoelectron spectrum of Gly(-) displays the signature of a dipole-bound species, with sufficient vibrational fine structure to characterize the core neutral as a higher energy, non-zwitterionic isomer of the amino acid.     

Synthesis of a selective estrogen receptor β-modulator via asymmetric phase-transfer catalysis

An efficient asymmetric synthesis of selective estrogen receptor β-modulator (S)-4-bromo-9a-butyl-8-chloro-6-fluoro-7-hydroxy-1,2,9,9a-tetrahydro-fluoren-3-one was developed. The route features a chemoselective aromatic chlorination reaction, an asymmetric phase-transfer-catalyzed alkylation of an indanone with efficient ee upgrade by racemate crystallization, and a robust bromination reaction using imidazole as an in situ bromine trap to avoid overreaction. The synthesis proceeds in 34% yield over 8 steps from 2-fluoroanisole, and provides material with >99.5% ee.     

Powerful simulated-annealing algorithm locates global minimum of protein-folding potentials from multiple starting conformations

Protein-folding potentials, designed with the explicit goal that the global energy minimum correspond to crystallographically observed conformations of protein molecules, may offer great promise toward calculating native protein structures. Achieving this promise, however, depends on finding an effective means of dealing with the multiple-minimum problem inherent in such potentials. In this study, a protein-folding-potential test system has been developed that exhibits the properties of general protein-folding potentials yet has a unique well-defined global energy minimum corresponding to the crystallographically determined conformation of the test molecule. A simulated-annealing algorithm is developed that locates the global minimum of this potential in four of eight test runs from random starting conformations. Exploration of the energy-conformation surface of the potential indicates that it contains the numerous local minima typical of protein-folding potentials and that the global minimum is not easily located by conventional minimization procedures. When the annealing algorithm is applied to a previously developed actual folding potential to analyze the conformation of avian pancreatic polypeptide, a new conformer is located that is lower in energy than any conformer located in previous studies using a variety of minimization techniques.     

Counterexamples to some results on the existence of field copies

Several criteria are known for determining which connectionsA are determined uniquely by their curvatureF, or byF and its covariant derivatives. On a principal bundle with semi-simple gauge groupG over a 4-manifoldM, a sufficient condition forF to determineA uniquely is that the linear mapB [F B] from Lie algebra-valued 1-forms to 3-forms (pulled back toM via a local gauge) be invertible on an open dense set inM. Recently F. A. Doria has claimed that this condition is also necessary. We present counterexamples to this claim, and also to his assertion thatF determinesA uniquely if the restriction of the bundle to every open subset ofM has holonomy group equal toG andF is not degenerate as a 2-form over spacetime.This research was supported in part by N. S. F. grant MCS80-03419 (first author) and by an NSERCC operating grant (second author)     

Synthesis of lead magnesium niobate and La-modified lead magnesium niobate using different Mg precursors

Summary In the present study, the effect of the partial replacement of Pb²⁺ by La³⁺ in the lead magnesium niobate Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ (PMN) perovskite structure was examined, taking into account the Mg-source. Pure lead magnesium niobate (PMN) and lanthanum-modified lead magnesium niobate (PLMN) having composition (Pb_1-xLa_x) (Mg_1+x/3Nb_2-x/3)O₃ with x=0.2 were elaborated. The phase formation was investigated by DTA/TG methods correlated with X-ray diffraction, performed on materials obtained in non-isothermal conditions. The diffraction data for the ceramics obtained by isothermal treatments emphasized the influence of the lanthanum on the crystal structure, inducing the doubling of the unit cell parameter. SEM investigations pointed out the lanthanum inhibitor effect on the grain growth process, leading to an uniform grain distribution.     

Adsorption of 1,10-phenanthroline within a dodecanethiol monolayer: an approach to a switchable electrode surface

A simple method was used to prepare a "switchable" electrode surface by using self-assembled monolayers of dodecanethiol on a gold electrode. The dodecane-modified electrode was electrochemically inactive until the monolayer was soaked in solutions of 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2'-bipyridine. The electroactive form of the electrode could be reverted back to the nonelectroactive form by rinsing the electrode. Surface IR results showed that both dodecanethiol and 1,10-phenanthroline exist in the mixed monolayer.     

Insertion of a bis(phosphine)platinum group into the S-S bond of Mn(2)(CO)(7)(mu-S(2))

The reaction of Mn(2)(CO)(7)(mu-S(2)), 1, with Pt(PPh(3))(2)(PhC(2)Ph) yielded the new complex, Mn(2)(CO)(6)Pt(PPh(3))(2)(mu(3)-S)(2), 3, by loss of CO and insertion of a Pt(PPh(3))(2) group into the S-S bond of 1. Complex 3 was characterized crystallographically and was found to consist of an open Mn(2)Pt cluster with one Mn-Mn bond, 2.8154(14) A, one Mn-Pt bond, 2.9109(10) A, and two triply bridging sulfido ligands. Compound 3 reacts with CO to form adduct Mn(2)(CO)(6)(mu-CO)Pt(PPh(3))(2)(mu(3)-S)(2), 4. Compound 4 also contains an open Mn(2)Pt cluster with two triply bridging sulfido ligands but has only one metal-metal bond, Mn-Mn = 2.638(2) A. Under nitrogen, compound 4 readily loses CO and reverts back to 3.     

Synthesis, X-ray structure and properties of a new nitrite-bound copper(II) complex with 2-(3,5- dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine in a CuN4(O) coordination

Synthesis and characterization of a nitrite-bound copper(II) compound [CuL⁴)₂(ONO)]ClO₄ have been achieved (L⁴ = 2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine]. The bidentate ligand L⁴ provides a pyridine and a pyrazole donor site; however, they are separated by a methylene spacer. The complex has been structurally characterized and it belongs to only a handful of complexes having nitrito-bound mononuclear copper(II) centre. The metal atom has a distorted square pyramidal geometry with the copper atom displaced from the equatorial plane by 0.25 Å. In MeCN solution the green complex exhibits a broad ligand-field transition at 655 nm with a shoulder at 675 nm and in dichloromethane-toluene glass (80 K) it exhibits an EPR spectral feature characteristic of the unpaired electron in the d_x²−y² orbital. Variable-temperature (80–300 K) magnetic susceptibility measurements in the solid state as well as room temperature measurement in MeCN solution reveal mononuclear magnetically dilute copper(II) centre. When examined by cyclic voltammetry (MeCN solution) it displays electrochemically irreversible Cu^II---Cu^I response [cathodic peak potential, E_pc (V vs saturated calomel electrode (SCE)): −0.32]. An oxidative response is observed at 1.14 V, probably due to bound-nitrite oxidation and is partially removed to generate a solvated complex at the electrode surface. The latter species gives rise to reversible Cu^II---Cu^I redox response [ ].     

Multipole plasmon resonances of submicron silver particles

Single crystal, silver particles of 215 +/- 10 nm size were synthesized in solution using the hydrogen reduction method and were characterized by UV-visible extinction spectroscopy and electron microscopy. The extinction spectra reveal the presence of higher order multipoles of the plasmon resonance, such as quadrupole, octupole, and hexadecapole, in addition to the dipole. The formation of higher order multipoles was continuously monitored during the particles growth. Mie extinction calculations were performed and are in good agreement with the measured extinction spectra. The frequency shift of all plasmon modes was measured as a function of the refractive index of the surrounding dielectric medium.     

3-Azido-1,2,4-triazine N-Oxides. Syntheses and structure elucidation

Several 3-azido-1,2,4-triazine 1-oxides were prepared by treating the appropriate 3-hy-drazino derivatives with nitrous acid. 3-Azido-1,2,4-triazine 2-oxide was prepared by reaching the corresponding 3-bromo derivative with either tetramethylguanidinium azide in chloroform or sodium azide in aqueous acetone. The azido derivatives which could cyclize to form the tetra-zolo isomers were proven to exist enitrely in the open chain form by a ¹³C nmr, ¹H nmr and infrared spectroscopic study.