About Regularity of Collections of Sets

The paper continues investigations of stationarity and regularity properties of collections of sets in normed spaces. It contains a summary of different characterizations (both primal and dual) of regularity and a list of sufficient conditions for a collection of sets to be regular.     

A molecular dynamics study of the pentacyclo-undecane cage amino acid tripeptide

In this paper, we report on the conformational profile of the pentacyclo-undecane (PCU) cage tripeptide carried out by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation using water as an explicit solvent. The MD solution phase studies carried on the model peptide analogues (A)=Ac–Ala–Ala–Ala–NHMe; (B)=Ac–Cage–Cage–Cage–NHMe; (C)=Ac–Ala–Cage–Ala–NHMe and (D)=Ac–Ala–Pro–Ala–NHMe, are used as a complimentary technique to the corresponding gas phase simulated annealing (SA) study previously carried out in our laboratory. No significant structural changes were observed over the MD trajectories. However, the results reported here provide further evidence that the (PCU) cage amino acid exhibits C_7eq, C_7aq, _R and _L conformations, and the theoretical results suggest that the PCU cage amino acid is a strong β-turn inducer. These results support the prediction that when the PCU cage residues are in the (i) and (i+2) positions, the β-turn can be extended in either direction to form anti-parallel β-pleated sheets, thereby forming the basis of the mechanism for the folding back of the chain in a cross-β-turn structure.     

Unusual photophysical switching in a Ru(II) diimine DNA probe caused by amide functionalisation

Whereas the complex [Ru(phen)2Medpq]2+(phen=1,10-phenanthroline; Medpq=2-methyldipyrido[3,2-f:2',3'-h]-quinoxaline) is luminescent in both aqueous and nonaqueous solutions, [Ru(phen)2dpqa]2+(2-pentylamidodipyrido[3,2-f:2',3'-h]-quinoxaline) does not emit in water but does so strongly in organic solvents or when bound to DNA--suggesting its use as a photochemical and photophysical probe for nucleic acids.     

The ligand, the metal and the 'Holey'-host: Synthesis, structural and magnetic characterisation of Co(II), Ni(II) and Mn(II) metal-organic frameworks incorporating 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine

We report herein the single crystal structures of four metal-organic framework complexes incorporating the 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine ligand, H(2)dcbp: alpha-[Co(dcbp)(H(2)O)(2)], 1; beta-[Co(dcbp)(H(2)O)(2)], 2, [Ni(dcbp)(H(2)O)(2)], and [[Mn(dcbp)].1/2DEF], 4 (DEF = diethylformamide). In each complex the ligand is deprotonated giving neutral species with 1:1 stoichiometry that form three-dimensional coordination polymers. Supramolecular isomerism (polymorphism) in 1 and 2 arises from the different ligand connectivity around the octahedral Co(II) centres. The two coordinated water molecules in 1 occupy cis positions, which are trans to the chelating bipyridine nitrogen atoms, leaving the carboxylate oxygen atoms in axial trans positions. In 2 all like donors occupy cis positions. Different modes of carboxylate coordination in 1 and 2 give dissimilar network topologies. A rare example of two interpenetrating 6(4)8(2)-b (quartz-like) chiral networks in 1 results from both dcbp carboxylate groups coordinating in a monodentate fashion to adjacent Co(II) centres, whereas in 2 only one carboxylate group bridges between adjacent Co(II) centres giving rise to a single chiral (10,3)-a net. In 1 and 2 the coordinated water molecules hydrogen bond to the non-coordinated carboxylate oxygen atoms. These interactions give rise to water-carboxylate double helices in , and support the coordination network in 2. Strikingly for a pair of dimorphs the crystal densities of 1 and 2 differ by ca. 0.3 g cm(-3)(1.654 vs. 1.940 g cm(-3), respectively). Compound 3 is isomorphous with 1 and likewise features two chiral interpenetrating nets of quartz topology. In 4, chelating bipyridine nitrogen atoms and four carboxylate oxygen atoms from a total of five adjacent dcbp ligands provide distorted octahedral geometry around Mn(II). The carboxylate groups bridge adjacent Mn(II) centres to produce bis-carboxylato chains which cross-link and generate a 3D network that is perforated with channels. The channels are occupied with disordered DEF molecules. The network topology in 4 is quite different to 1-3 and has a (4.6(2))(4(2).6)(4(3).6(6).8(6)) Schlafli notation. Magnetic susceptibility studies performed on 1, 2, [[Mn(dcbp)].1/2DMF] 5 (DMF = dimethylformamide) and [[Mn(dcbp)].2H(2)O] 6 reveal very weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the metal centres in each case.     

The 'Trinity' helix: synthesis and structural characterisation of a C3-symmetric tris-bidentate ligand and its coordination to Ag(I)

The synthesis and structural characterisation of a novel C3-symmetric tris-bidentate ligand, L, featuring a triphenylamine core appended by pyridylimine coordination sites is reported: 1H NMR compleximetric titration studies with Ag(I) and ESMS indicate the presence of [Ag3L2]3+ species in solution, consistent with the formation of a trinuclear double helicate complex: the Trinity helix.     

Highly efficient electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution promoted by O–Mo–C interfaces of ultrafine β-Mo2C nanostructures

Optimizing interfacial contacts and thus electron transfer phenomena in heterogeneous electrocatalysts is an effective approach for enhancing electrocatalytic performance. Herein, we successfully synthesized ultrafine β-Mo₂C nanoparticles confined within hollow capsules of nitrogen-doped porous carbon (β-Mo₂C@NPCC) and found that the surface layer of molybdenum atoms was further oxidized to a single Mo–O surface layer, thus producing intimate O–Mo–C interfaces. An arsenal of complementary technologies, including XPS, atomic-resolution HAADF-STEM, and XAS analysis clearly reveals the existence of O–Mo–C interfaces for these surface-engineered ultrafine nanostructures. The β-Mo₂C@NPCC electrocatalyst exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in water. Theoretical studies indicate that the highly accessible ultrathin O–Mo–C interfaces serving as the active sites are crucial to the HER performance and underpinned the outstanding electrocatalytic performance of β-Mo₂C@NPCC. This proof-of-concept study opens a new avenue for the fabrication of highly efficient catalysts for HER and other applications, whilst further demonstrating the importance of exposed interfaces and interfacial contacts in efficient electrocatalysis.

Ultrafine β-Mo₂C nanostructures encapsulated in N-doped carbon capsules featuring O–Mo–C interfaces as the active sites for HER have been unveiled.     

Asymmetric conjugate addition of thioglycolate to a range of chalcones using tetrahydroisoquinoline (TIQ) N,N′-dioxide ligands

A series of novel TIQ based N,N′-oxide ligands were synthesised and screened for their catalytic activity in the enantioselective conjugate addition of thioglycolate to chalcones. Bulky groups on the side chain of the TIQ backbone provided the highest enantioselectivity of up to 88% with 10 mol % catalyst loading. It was also observed that these reactions proceeded optimally in the presence of dichloromethane as a solvent. Screening of various metals emphasized La(OTf)₃ as the ideal pre-catalyst for this particular reaction.     

Cycloaddition Reactions of the Metal Phosphorus Double Bonded Complexes CP(CO)2M=PR2 (M = MO,W; R = Alkyl,Aryl)

Abstract

The reaction of the metal phosphorus double bonded species Cp(CO)₂M=PR₂ (M = Mo, W; R = aryl, alkyl) (1)¹⁾ with diverse diazoalkanes, alkenes, alkines and dienes results in the facile formation of the [2+1]-, [2+2]1- and [2+4]-cycloaddition products 2a-c.     

Au, Ge, and AuGe nanoparticles fabricated by laser ablation

A eutectic AuGe target immersed in distilled water was ablated by pulsed ultraviolet laser light. The structure of the ablated material was investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The images show formation of nanowire structures of AuGe up to 100 nm in length, with widths of 5–10 nm. These nanostructures have Ge content significantly lower than the target material. Electron diffraction demonstrates that they crystallize in the α-AuGe structure. For comparison, laser ablation of pure Au and pure Ge targets was also performed under the same conditions. HRTEM shows that Ge forms spherical nanoparticles with a characteristic size of ~30 nm. Au forms spherical nanoparticles with diameters of ~10 nm. Similar to AuGe, it also forms chainlike structures with substantially lower aspect ratio.