Hyphenation of column liquid chromatography and Raman spectroscopy via a liquid-core waveguide: chemometrical elimination of spectral eluent background

In column liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to conventional Raman spectroscopy (RS) removal of the spectral background of the eluent is often demanding, because of the strong signals of the organic modifier. A new chemometrical method is proposed, called the eluent background subtraction (EBS) method, which can correct for small shape and intensity differences of the eluent spectra. The variations in the eluent spectra are modelled using principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA loading vectors are subsequently used for eluent background correction of the elution spectra of the analyte. The loading vectors are fitted under these spectra by an asymmetric least-squares method. This method was successfully applied under various experimental conditions and performed much better than conventional background correction methods. Analyte detectability was improved by (weighted) averaging of all elution spectra and smoothing via a p-spline function.     

Conformational studies by dynamic NMR spectroscopy. Part 96: Stereomutations of highly hindered naphthylphenyl atropisomers in solution and in the solids

When a benzene ring bears two 2-methyl-1-naphthyl moieties in the para, meta or ortho positions as in 1,4-bis(2-methyl-1-naphthyl)benzene, 1, 1,3-bis(2-methyl-1-naphthyl)benzene, 2 and 1,2-bis(2-methyl-1-naphthyl)benzene 3, two rotational isomers (atropisomers) are generated, with the two naphthyl substituents in a syn or anti relationship. In the case of the para and meta derivatives (1 and 2, respectively) these atropisomers could not be separated but were detected by NMR spectroscopy, that also allowed the determination of their syn-anti interconversion barriers in solution (19.5 and 20.4 kcal mol⁻¹, respectively) and, in the case of 2, also in the solid state (26.7 kcal mol⁻¹). In the more hindered ortho derivative 3, the syn (meso) and anti (racemic) atropisomers interconvert in solution with a barrier (31.2 kcal mol⁻¹) sufficiently high to allow their physical separation. The racemic form could also be separated (by enantioselective HPLC) into the PP and MM enantiomers. Analysis of the corresponding CD spectra allowed the assignment of the absolute configuration. When three such naphthyl substituents are bonded to the phenyl in a meta relationship, two atropisomers in statistical proportions were observed: the anti (C_s symmetry) and the syn (C_3v symmetry) display a 3:1 ratio at the equilibrium in solution. This ratio is different in the solid state, as is the interconversion barrier (22.1 and 32.1 kcal mol⁻¹ in solution and in the solid, respectively).     

Electrochemical characterization of Ni–Fe alloy codeposition under MHD control

The nickel–iron alloy electrodeposition is affected by a superimposed magnetic field. Some previous papers [Msellak et al., Magnetohydrodynamics, 39:487–493, 2003 and Msellak et al., J Magn Magn Mat, 281:295–304, 2004] have exhibited some dramatic changes in iron amount and morphology of these deposits. As it is usual for a magnetic field up to 1 T, no charge transfer effect can be expected, and the observed modifications can be explained by the magnetohydrodynamic convection that controls the iron species flux during the electrochemical reaction. By electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and physical investigations (scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and inductively coupled plasma), the reduction process is analyzed, the characteristic parameters of the mechanism are determined, and the magnetic field effects can be quantified. Contribution to special issue on “Magnetic field effects in Electrochemistry”.     

Photophysics of eumelanin: ab initio studies on the electronic spectroscopy and photochemistry of 5,6-dihydroxyindole.

Excited-state reaction paths and energy profiles of 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI), one of the elementary building blocks of eumelanin, have been determined with the approximated singles-and-doubles coupled-cluster (CC2) method. 6-Hydroxy-4-dihydro-indol-5-one (HHI) is identified as a photochromic species, which is formed via nonadiabatic hydrogen migration from the dangling OH group of DHI to the neighboring carbon atom of the six-membered ring. It is shown that HHI is a typical excited-state hydrogen-transfer (ESIHT) system. HHI absorbs strongly in the visible range of the spectrum. A barrierless hydrogen transfer in the (1)pipi* excited state, followed by barrierless torsion of the hydroxyl group, lead to a low-lying S(1)-S(0) conical intersection and thus to ultrafast internal conversion. This very efficient mechanism of excited-state deactivation provides HHI with a high degree of intrinsic photostability. It is suggested that the metastable photochemical product HHI plays an essential role for the photoprotective biological function of eumelanin.     

Redox and Conformational Equilibria and Dynamics of Cytochrome c at High Electric Fields

Cytochrome c (Cyt‐c) adsorbed in the electrical double layer of the Ag electrode/electrolyte interface has been studied by stationary and time‐resolved surface‐enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy to analyse the effect of strong electric fields on structure and reaction equilibria and dynamics of the protein. In the potential range between +0.1 and ?0.55 V (versus saturated calomel electrode), the adsorbed Cyt‐c forms a potential‐dependent reversible equilibrium between the native state B1 and a conformational state B2. The redox potentials of the bis‐histidine‐coordinated six‐coordinated low‐spin and five‐coordinated high‐spin substates of B2 were determined to be ?0.425 and ?0.385 V, respectively, whereas the additional six‐coordinated aquo‐histidine‐coordinated high‐spin substate was found to be redox‐inactive. The redox potential for the conformational state B1 was found to be the same as in solution in agreement with the structural identity of the adsorbed B1 and the native Cyt‐c. For all three redox‐active species, the formal heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants are small and of the same order of magnitude (3–13 s^?1), which implies that the rate‐limiting step is largely independent of the redox‐site structure. These findings, as well as the slow and potential‐dependent transitions between the various conformational (sub‐)states, can be rationalized in terms of an electric field‐induced increase of the activation energy for proton‐transfer steps linked to protein structural reorganisation. Further increasing the electric field strength by shifting the electrode potential above +0.1 V leads to irreversible structural changes that are attributed to an unfolding of the polypeptide chain.     

Solvothermal Synthesis and Characterization of the New Iron Thioantimonates(III) [Fe(C6H18N4)]FeSbS4 and [Fe(C4H13N3)2]Fe2Sb4S10 Containing FeII and FeIII and Protein‐Analogous [2FeIII‐2S]2+ Clusters

The two new compounds [Fe(tren)]FeSbS₄ ( 1 ) (tren = tris(2‐aminoethyl)amine) and [Fe(dien)₂]Fe₂Sb₄S₁₀ ( 2 ) (dien = diethylendiamine) were prepared under solvothermal conditions and represent the first thioantimonates(III) with iron cations integrated into the anionic network. In both compounds Fe³⁺ is part of a [2Fe^III‐2S] cluster which is often found in ferredoxines. In addition, Fe²⁺ ions are present which are surrounded by the organic ligands. In ( 1 ) the Fe²⁺ ion is also part of the thioantimonate(III) network whereas in ( 2 ) the Fe²⁺ ion is isolated. In both compounds the primary SbS₃ units are interconnected into one‐dimensional chains. The mixed‐valent character of [Fe(tren)]FeSbS₄ was unambiguously determined with Mössbauer spectroscopy. Both compounds exhibit paramagnetic behaviour and for ( 1 ) a deviation from linearity is observed due to a strong zero‐field splitting. Both compounds decompose in one single step.     

Two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy. A new tool for interpreting infrared spectra

Two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy is used to study atactic polystyrene. 2D IR is a technique based on time-resolved detection of IR signals in response to an external perturbation, such as mechanical strain. Since different chemical functional groups respond to the applied perturbation at unique and often different rates, characteristic time-dependent variations of the IR-band intensities are observed. Correlation analysis of the dynamic variation of the IR signals yields a new spectrum defined by two independent wave numbers. Peaks located on a 2D IR spectral plane imply interactions and connectivities among chemical functional groups. By spreading convoluted IR bands over two dimensions, the spectral resolution is also greatly enhanced.     

Novel biotransformation of pentacyclic triterpenoid acids by Nocardia sp. NRRL 5646

Six pentacyclic triterpene acids, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, betulinic acid, 23-hydroxybetulinic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid, and senegenin, were metabolized by the microbe Nocardia sp. NRRL 5646 to selectively furnish their corresponding 28-methyl esters. Notably, ursolic acid (1) was converted to oleanolic acid methyl ester (4) via two intermediates, oleanolic acid (2), and ursolic acid methyl ester (3), which are formed by participation of ‘retro-biosynthetic’ methyl migration from C-19 to C-20. Senegenin (11) was selectively converted to a nortriterpene methyl ester, senegenic acid methyl ester (12), via an unprecedented C-C bond cleavage. The stereochemical assignments of compounds 11 and 12 were made unambiguously for the first time using 2D NMR spectroscopy.     

过渡金属表面有机官能团硅烷膜的研究——镍电极表面γ-氨丙基三甲氧基硅烷膜的结构

在镍电极表面制备了γ-氨丙基三甲摒在硅烷膜并对其形成和结构进行了研究 。镍电极表面有机官能团硅烷膜的X射线光电子能谱（XPS）结果表明氮、硅等元素 在电极表面的存在，并且氨基在膜中有若干种存在方式，包括自由氨基和质子化的 氨基。通过对表面增强拉曼散射光谱（SERS）谱图的分析，发现与电极表面作用的 吸附基团硅醇羟基和氨基发生了竞争吸附，它们及其邻近基团的拉曼谱几随着电位 的负称除了相对强度发生变化以外，还发生了一定的位移，这缘于吸咐基团吸附的 量和吸附取向随电极电位发生了变化并形成的更为复杂的界面结构；氨基不同存在 方式之间也会随之发生转变，这一结果与X射线光电子能谱分析的结果相符合。原 子力显微镜（AFM）结果表明镍电极表面的有机官能团硅烷膜呈现为一种较规则的 多孔结构。