Insertion Reactions of Heterocumulenes with Zincocene Cp*2Zn

Zincocene Cp*₂Zn reacts with carbodiimides C(NR)₂ with insertion into the Zn–Cp* bond and formation of [(Cp*C(NR)₂]₂Zn [R = Et ( 1 ), iPr ( 2 ), Cy ( 3 )]. In addition, the reaction of Cp*₂Zn with CS₂ under dry conditions gives (Cp*CS₂)₂Zn ( 4 ), whereas in the presence of a small amount of water [Zn₄(μ₄‐O)(S₂CCp*)₆] ( 5 ) is obtained. Compounds 1 – 4 were characterized by NMR (¹H, ¹³C) and IR spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction ( 2 – 4 , 5 of poor quality). The solid‐state structure of 5 is comparable to the carboxylate complex previously obtained from the reaction of Cp*₂Zn with CO₂.     

Derivatives of Bis(diphenylphosphino)maleic Anhydride as Ligands in Polynuclear Gold(I) Complexes

Based on the new binuclear gold(I) complex [(AuCl)₂(L1)] (1) (L1?=?2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)maleic anhydride) four new polynuclear compounds were synthesized by reactions of 1 with E(SiMe₃)₂ (E?=?S, Se). During the formation of these new compounds the initial ligand L1 undergoes various transformations (e.g. substitution, hydration or hydrogenation) leading to the new ligands: trans-2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)succinic anhydride (L2), 2-diphenylphosphino-3-mercapto-maleic anhydride anion (L3), 2-diphenylphosphino-3-selenolato-maleic anhydride anion (L4) and 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)succinic acid (L5). In case of using the sulfur species S(SiMe₃)₂ a pentanuclear cluster, [Au₅(PPh₂)₃(L3)₂] (2), and a 24-nuclear cluster, [Au₂₄S₆(PPh₂)₄(L3)₈] (3), could be obtained. With Se(SiMe₃)₂ the binuclear complex, [(AuCl)₂(L2)] (4), and the dodecanuclear cluster, [Au₁₂Se₄(L4)₄(L5)₂] (5), were yielded.     

Characterization of rhinovirus subviral A particles via capillary electrophoresis, electron microscopy and gas-phase electrophoretic mobility molecular analysis: Part I

During infection, enteroviruses, such as human rhinoviruses (HRVs), convert from the native, infective form with a sedimentation coefficient of 150S to empty subviral particles sedimenting at 80S (B particles). B particles lack viral capsid protein 4 (VP4) and the single-stranded RNA genome. On the way to this end stage, a metastable intermediate particle is observed in the cell early after infection. This subviral A particle still contains the RNA but lacks VP4 and sediments at 135S. Native (150S) HRV serotype 2 (HRV2) as well as its empty (80S) capsid have been well characterized by capillary electrophoresis. In the present paper, we demonstrate separation of at least two forms of subviral A particles on the midway between native virions and empty 80S capsids by CE. For one of these intermediates, we established a reproducible way for its preparation and characterized this particle in terms of its electrophoretic mobility and its appearance in transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the conversion of this intermediate to 80S particles was investigated. Gas-phase electrophoretic mobility molecular analysis (GEMMA) yielded additional insights into sample composition. More data on particle characterization including its protein composition and RNA content (for unambiguous identification of the detected intermediate as subviral A particle) will be presented in the second part of the publication.     

Analytic calculation of isotropic hyperfine structure constants using the normalized elimination of the small component formalism

Based on the normalized elimination of the small component relativistic formalism, a new approach to the calculation of hyperfine structure parameters of paramagnetic molecules is developed and implemented. The new method is tested in the calculation of the isotropic hyperfine structure constant for a series of open-shell molecules containing mercury. The results of calculations carried out in connection with ab initio methods of increasing complexity demonstrate the high accuracy of the formalism developed. In view of its computational simplicity, the new approach provides the basis for an efficient and accurate calculation of the HFS parameters of large molecules.     

Iso-surface Computation in 3D using a graph-theoretical Approach

The existing combinatorial methods for iso-surface computation are efficient for pure visualization purposes, but it is known that the resulting iso-surfaces can have holes, and topological problems like missing or wrong connectivity can appear. To avoid such problems, we introduce a graph-theoretical method for the computation of iso-surfaces on cuboid meshes in ℝ³. (© 2012 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Novel Cu–Te Clusters Synthesised from tBuTeSiMe3: [Cu18Te6(TetBu)6(PPh2Et)7], [Cu19Te6(TetBu)7(PEt3)8], [Cu27Te15(PiPr2Me)12] and [Cu58Te32(PtBu2nBu)14]

The reactions of CuCl and tBuTeSiMe₃ in the presence of phosphine ligands result in the formation of four new Cu/Te cluster complexes, [Cu₁₈Te₆(TetBu)₆(PPh₂Et)₇], [Cu₁₉Te₆(TetBu)₇(PEt₃)₈], [Cu₂₇Te₁₅(PiPr₂Me)₁₂] and [Cu₅₈Te₃₂(PtBu₂ nBu)₁₄], which have been structurally characterized by single crystal structural analysis. The former two clusters show a layer-type tellurium frameworks in which the copper atoms are asymmetrically spread. The latter two clusters possess a tellurium framework in a body-centered Te₁₄-Frank-Kasper polyhedron or a Te₂₈ polyhedron with four interstitial tellurium atoms and belong to mixed-valence Cu/Te compounds.     

Tetragonal polymorphic modification of tetrakis­(N,N‐diethyl­di­thio­carbam­ato‐S,S′)­tellurium(IV)

During an investigation of the W/Te/Br₂ system, we prepared crystals of the title compound, C₂₀H₄₀N₄S₈Te, from aceto­nitrile solution by slow addition of diethyl ether. It appeared to be a new tetragonal modification. The calculated density of the tetragonal modification (1.513 Mg m^?3) is slightly greater than found for the known orthorhombic modification (1.46 Mg m^?3). The bond distances and angles are practically the same.     

Preparation of Cr2O3-Al2O3 Solid Solutions by Reactive Magnetron Sputtering

 (Al,Cr)₂O₃ layers were deposited on cemented carbide insert tips at a substrate temperature of 500 °C by means of reactive magnetron sputtering. An Al target was sputtered in RF mode and a Cr target in DC mode simultaneously in an oxygen/argon plasma. The influence of the Al and Cr sputter power and of the oxygen partial pressure on composition and structure of the (Al,Cr)₂O₃ layers as well as on the binding states of their components were investigated. Special attention was paid to the interpretation of the O ls and O-KLL fine structure and peak shifts. For the binary phases γ-Al₂O₃ and Cr₂O₃, a good agreement with literature values was observed in each case. In case of the ternary phases a continuous shift of the energetic position of the O1s peak, the O-KL₂₃L₂₃ transition and the modified Auger parameter α ′ of oxygen between the two binary phases γ-Al₂O₃ and Cr₂O₃ could be detected, indicating a wide range of solid solubility between Al₂O₃ and Cr₂O₃. As revealed by grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, the crystallinity of the ternary phases is less pronounced as compared to the binaries and increases with increasing oxygen flow rate.     

Nanocellulose Polymer Composites as Innovative Pool for (Bio)Material Development

Summary: Using a “never-dried” procedure (according to Figure 4) shaped bacterial nanocellulose (BC, 1% cellulose, 99% water) has been modified by the formation of BC-polymer composites. For this purpose, acrylate and methacrylate monomers and methacrylate crosslinkers were photopolymerized inside an ethanol-swollen nanofiber network. Using the ethanol as solvent and as confirmed by model reactions the synthetic polymer (SP) part of the composites is constructed of crosslinked polymers (number of repeating units in the range of 500). As part of ongoing work on the development of (bio)materials from the innovative pool of BC composites these investigations are recently directed towards the creation of collagen-like materials. Thus, for these purposes, mainly water absorption capacity, strength, and elasticity have to be controlled, whilst still retaining essential features of BC like shape, nanofiber network, pore system, and proved biocompatibility. Using acrylic acid, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, N-vinyl pyrrolidone as acrylate monomers and triethylene glycol dimethacrylate and 1,4-butandiol dimethacrylate as crosslinkers of different concentrations either a filling of the pores or a coating of the fibers in the BC nanocomposites could be achieved. The small cellulose content of the composites significantly increases the water absorption value and the strength of the material as well as the ability of re-swelling in the case of fiber coated composites. Sample 12 is an optimized BC-SP composite regarding important properties of hyaline cartilage like Young's modulus in the range of 5–20 MPa using the well-known Simplex-method.     

Structure of Polymer Brushes in Cylindrical Tubes: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Summary: Molecular dynamics simulations of a coarse‐grained bead‐spring model of flexible macromolecules tethered with one end to the surface of a cylindrical pore are presented. Chain length N and grafting density σ are varied over a wide range and the crossover from “mushroom” to “brush” behavior is studied for three pore diameters. The monomer density profile and the distribution of the free chain ends are computed and compared to the corresponding model of polymer brushes at flat substrates. It is found that there exists a regime of N and σ for large enough pore diameter where the brush height in the pore exceeds the brush height on the flat substrate, while for large enough N and σ (and small enough pore diameters) the opposite behavior occurs, i.e. the brush is compressed by confinement. These findings are used to discuss the corresponding theories on polymer brushes at concave substrates.

Snapshot picture of a brush grafted inside of a cylinder, for , , displaying different chains in distinct colors in order to be able to distinguish them. Top shows a side view of the cylinder, and the lower part a view of the cross‐section. Note that the particles forming the cylindrical wall are not displayed.