Formation of tetra(ethylene oxide) terminated Si-C linked monolayers and their derivatization with glycine: an example of a generic strategy for the immobilization of biomolecules on silicon

Surface modification with oligo(ethylene oxide) functionalized monolayers terminated with reactive headgroups constitutes a powerful strategy to provide specific coupling of biomolecules with simultaneous protection from nonspecific adsorption on surfaces for the preparation of biorecognition interfaces. To date, oligo(ethylene oxide) functionalized monolayer-forming molecules which can be activated for attachment of biomolecules but which can selectively form monolayers onto hydrogen terminated silicon have yet to be developed. Here, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) containing tetra(ethylene oxide) moieties protected with tert-butyl dimethylsilyl groups were formed by thermal hydrosilylation of alkenes with single-crystal Si(111)-H. The protection group was used to avoid side reactions with the hydride terminated silicon surface. Monolayer formation was carried out using solutions of the alkene in the high-boiling-point solvent 1,3,5-triethylbenzene. The protecting group was removed under very mild acidic conditions to yield a free hydroxyl functionality, a convenient surface moiety for coupling of biological entities via carbamate bond formation. The chemical composition and structure of the monolayers before and after deprotection were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray reflectometry. To demonstrate the utility of this surface for covalent modification, two reagents were compared and contrasted for their ability to activate the surface hydroxyl groups for coupling of free amines, carbonyl diimidazole (CDI), and disuccinimidyl carbonate (DSC). Analysis of XP spectra before and after activation by CDI or DSC, and after subsequent reaction with glycine, provided quantitative information on the extent of activation and overall coupling efficiencies. CDI activated surfaces gave poor coupling yields under various conditions, whereas DSC mediated activation followed by aminolysis at neutral pH was found to be an efficient method for the immobilization of amines on tetra(ethylene oxide) modified surfaces.     

Colloidal nano-MOFs nucleate and stabilize ultra-small quantum dots of lead bromide perovskites

The development of synthetic routes to access stable, ultra-small (i.e. <5 nm) lead halide perovskite (LHP) quantum dots (QDs) is of fundamental and technological interest. The considerable challenges include the high solubility of the ionic LHPs in polar solvents and aggregation to form larger particles. Here, we demonstrate a simple and effective host–guest strategy for preparing ultra-small lead bromide perovskite QDs through the use of nano-sized MOFs that function as nucleating and host sites. Cr₃O(OH)(H₂O)₂(terephthalate)₃ (Cr-MIL-101), made of large mesopore-sized pseudo-spherical cages, allows fast and efficient diffusion of perovskite precursors within its pores, and promotes the formation of stable, ∼3 nm-wide lead bromide perovskite QDs. CsPbBr₃, MAPbBr₃ (MA⁺ = methylammonium), and (FA)PbBr₃ (FA⁺ = formamidinium) QDs exhibit significantly blue-shifted emission maxima at 440 nm, 446 nm, and 450 nm, respectively, as expected for strongly confined perovskite QDs. Optical characterization and composite modelling confirm that the APbBr₃ (A = Cs, MA, FA) QDs owe their stability within the MIL-101 nanocrystals to both short- and long-range interfacial interactions with the MOF pore walls.

We demonstrate a simple and effective host–guest strategy for preparing ultra-small lead bromide perovskite QDs through the use of nano-sized MOFs that function as nucleating and host sites.     

Synthesis of (chlorovinyl)cobaloxime complexes,model complexes of proposed intermediates in the B12-catalyzed dehalogenation of chlorinated ethylenes

(Chlorovinyl)cobaloxime complexes, (dmgH)2(py)CoR (R = cis-dichlorovinyl, trans-2-chlorovinyl or 1-chlorovinyl, dmgH = dimethylglyoximate) were synthesized from the reaction of chlorinated ethylenes with in situ generated (dmgH)2Co(I) in the presence of pyridine.     

Ribosomal synthesis of unnatural peptides

Combinatorial libraries of non-biological polymers and drug-like peptides could in principle be synthesized from unnatural amino acids by exploiting the broad substrate specificity of the ribosome. The ribosomal synthesis of such libraries would allow rare functional molecules to be identified using technologies developed for the in vitro selection of peptides and proteins. Here, we use a reconstituted E. coli translation system to simultaneously re-assign 35 of the 61 sense codons to 12 unnatural amino acid analogues. This reprogrammed genetic code was used to direct the synthesis of a single peptide containing 10 different unnatural amino acids. This system is compatible with mRNA-display, enabling the synthesis of unnatural peptide libraries of 10(14) unique members for the in vitro selection of functional unnatural molecules. We also show that the chemical space sampled by these libraries can be expanded using mutant aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases for the incorporation of additional unnatural amino acids or by the specific posttranslational chemical derivitization of reactive groups with small molecules. This system represents a first step toward a platform for the synthesis by enzymatic tRNA aminoacylation and ribosomal translation of cyclic peptides comprised of unnatural amino acids that are similar to the nonribosomal peptides.     

Kinetics and mechanistic details of bulk ZnO dissolution using a thiol–imidazole system

Oxide dissolution is important for metal extraction from ores and has become an attractive route for the preparation of inks for thin film solution deposition; however, oxide dissolution is often kinetically challenging. While binary “alkahest” systems comprised of thiols and N-donor species, such as amines, are known to dissolve a wide range of oxides, the mechanism of dissolution and identity of the resulting solute(s) remain unstudied. Here, we demonstrate facile dissolution of both bulk synthetic and natural mineral ZnO samples using an “alkahest” that operates via reaction with thiophenol and 1-methylimidazole (MeIm) to give a single, pseudotetrahedral Zn(SPh)₂(MeIm)₂ molecular solute identified by X-ray crystallography. The kinetics of ZnO dissolution were measured using solution ¹H NMR, and the reaction was found to be zero-order in the presence of excess ligands, with more electron withdrawing para-substituted thiophenols resulting in faster dissolution. A negative entropy of activation was measured by Eyring analysis, indicating associative ligand binding in, or prior to, the rate determining step. Combined experimental and computational surface binding studies on ZnO reveal stronger, irreversible thiophenol binding compared to MeIm, leading to a proposed dissolution mechanism initiated by thiol binding to the ZnO surface with the liberation of water, followed by alternating MeIm and thiolate ligand additions, and ultimately cleavage of the ligated zinc complex from the ZnO surface. Design rules garnered from the mechanistic insight provided by this study should inform the dissolution of other bulk oxides into inks for solution processed thin films.

Oxide dissolution is important for metal extraction from ores and has become an attractive route for the preparation of inks for thin film solution deposition; however, oxide dissolution is often kinetically challenging.     

Multiple-magnetic field 139La NMR and density functional theory investigation of the solid lanthanum(III) halides

Results from a solid-state ¹³⁹La NMR spectroscopic investigation of the anhydrous lanthanum(III) halides (LaX₃; X=F, Cl, Br, I) at applied magnetic fields of 7.0, 9.4, 11.7, 14.1, and 17.6 T are presented and highlight the advantages of working at high applied magnetic field strengths. The ¹³⁹La quadrupolar coupling constants are found to range from 15.55 to 24.0 MHz for LaCl₃ and LaI₃, respectively. The lanthanum isotropic chemical shifts exhibit an inverse halogen dependence with values ranging from −135 ppm for LaF₃ to 700 ppm for LaI₃, which represents nearly half of the total lanthanum chemical shift range. The spans of the magnetic shielding tensors also vary widely, from 35 to 650 ppm for the solid LaF₃ through LaI₃. DFT calculations of the ¹³⁹La electric field gradient and magnetic shielding tensors have been performed and provide a qualitative interpretation of the trends observed experimentally.     

Nonnegatively Curved Metrics on S 2 × ℝ2

We classify the complete metrics of nonnegative sectional curvature on M ² × ², where M ² is any compact 2-manifold.     

The effect of time step,thermostat, and strain rate on ReaxFF simulations of mechanical failure in diamond,graphene, and carbon nanotube

As the sophistication of reactive force fields for molecular modeling continues to increase, their use and applicability has also expanded, sometimes beyond the scope of their original development. Reax Force Field (ReaxFF), for example, was originally developed to model chemical reactions, but is a promising candidate for modeling fracture because of its ability to treat covalent bond cleavage. Performing reliable simulations of a complex process like fracture, however, requires an understanding of the effects that various modeling parameters have on the behavior of the system. This work assesses the effects of time step size, thermostat algorithm and coupling coefficient, and strain rate on the fracture behavior of three carbon‐based materials: graphene, diamond, and a carbon nanotube. It is determined that the simulated stress‐strain behavior is relatively independent of the thermostat algorithm, so long as coupling coefficients are kept above a certain threshold. Likewise, the stress‐strain response of the materials was also independent of the strain rate, if it is kept below a maximum strain rate. Finally, the mechanical properties of the materials predicted by the Chenoweth C/H/O parameterization for ReaxFF are compared with literature values. Some deficiencies in the Chenoweth C/H/O parameterization for predicting mechanical properties of carbon materials are observed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Pulse FT NMR of non-equilibrium states of half-integer spin quadrupolar nuclei in single crystals

For quadrupolar nuclei with spin quantum numbers equal to 3/2, 5/2 and 7/2, the intensities of the NMR transitions in a single crystal are examined as a function of the rf excitation flip angle. Single-quantum NMR intensities are calculated using density matrix theory beginning under various non-equilibrium conditions and are compared with those determined experimentally. As a representative spin-3/2 system, the flip-angle dependence of the ²³Na NMR intensities of a single crystal of NaNO₃ was investigated beginning with the inversion of the populations associated with one of the satellite transitions. Subsequently, the populations of both satellite transitions were inverted using highly frequency-selective hyperbolic secant pulses. Calculated and experimental intensities are in good agreement. As an example of a spin-5/2 system, the flip-angle dependence of the ²⁷Al NMR transition intensities was determined using a single crystal of sapphire, Al₂O₃, starting under different nuclear spin population conditions. The experimental trends mimicked those predicted by the density matrix calculations but the agreement was not as good as for the spin-3/2 case. Some SIMPSON simulations were also carried out to confirm the results generated by our density matrix calculations. The theoretical flip-angle behavior of the NMR transition intensities obtained from a spin-7/2 spin system is also discussed.