Stark effect and generalized Bloch-Siegert shift in a strongly driven two-level system

A superconducting qubit was driven in an ultrastrong fashion by an oscillatory microwave field, which was created by coupling via the nonlinear Josephson energy. The observed Stark shifts of the "atomic" levels are so pronounced that corrections even beyond the lowest-order Bloch-Siegert shift are needed to properly explain the measurements. The quasienergies of the dressed two-level system were probed by resonant absorption via a cavity, and the results are in agreement with a calculation based on the Floquet approach.     

Persistent droplet motion in liquid-liquid dewetting

When a nonvolatile liquid film dewets from a partly compatible liquid substrate, the advancing dewetting front leaves behind droplets formed through a Rayleigh instability mechanism at its rim. We have found that these droplets continue to move in the direction of the dewetting front for extended periods (of order one day) with an initial droplet velocity varying linearly with the droplet size, and a displacement varying logarithmically with time. We attribute this persistent motion to a transient surface tension gradient on the substrate liquid surface trailing the dewetting front.     

Quantum-chemical gas-phase calculations on the protonation forms oftrans- andcis-urocanic acid

The neutral, cationic, and anionic structures of both prototropic tautomers oftrans- andcis-urocanic acid [(E)- and (Z)-3-(1H-imidazol-4(5)-yl)propenoic acid, respectively] were studied by using semiempirical andab initio gas-phase calculations. Potential energy surfaces of the structures were calculated by using the semiempirical AM1 method, and the geometries corresponding to global minima on these surfaces were optimized up to the MP2/6-31G^* level of theory. The calculated protonation forms of each urocanic acid isomer have a planar molecular structure due to a delocalized -electron system, and all of them prefer thes-trans conformation with respect to the bond between the imidazole and the propenoic acid moieties. Thecis-urocanic acid structures are stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond. The chargedcis-urocanic acid isomers have a lower molecular energy than the correspondingtrans-isomers, whereas the neutral molecules have, after inclusion of thermodynamic corrections, approximately the same energy. The cationic urocanic acid structures have about 2500 kJ mol^–1 lower energy than the anionic ones and about 1000 kJ mol^–1 lower energy than the neutral ones. The nonzwitterionic forms of the neutral urocanic acid isomers have about 200 kJ mol^–1 lower energy than the zwitterionic ones. These energy differences are explained by the proton affinities of the imidazole and the propenoic acid moieties of the urocanic acid structures.     

Ab initio study of the conformations of chloromethyl formate and fluoromethyl formate

Ab initio calculations are reported for the conformational potential energy surfaces of chloromethyl formate and fluoromethyl formate at minimal basis set level. The halomethyl group is shown to lie Z to the carbonyl group. A plateau on the potential energy surface demonstrates that the halomethyl group can rotate freely. The halogen atom therefore moves from an antiperiplanar (ap) to a synclinal (sp) position with respect to the carbonyl group. The effects on IR spectra and dipole moments are discussed.     

Analysis of eleven iridoid glycosides by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) and screening of plant samples by partial filling (MECC)-electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

Of ammonium, lithium and sodium salts of dodecyl sulfate studied as surfactants in the separation of iridoid glycosides by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC), the last one gave the best results. Eleven neutral iridoid glycosides were separated by MECC with sodium dodecyl sulfate as surfactant, and the water–micelle partition coefficients of the compounds were calculated. The separation system was coupled via a coaxial sheath flow electrospray interface to a mass spectrometer, and the partial filling technique was used in the on-line analysis. Seven plant species belonging to five genera (Plantago, Veronica, Melampyrum, Succisa and Valeriana) were screened for the iridoid glycosides by the new method that was developed. The findings confirmed those of an earlier study on five of the iridoid glycosides. Some new iridoid glycosides were found in Plantago lanceolata, Veronica spicata and V. chamaedrys.     

Assembly of the Au-diphosphine helical cage molecules via alkynyl-μ4-methylydine ligand transformation

The assembly of the gold(I)-diphosphine cages occurs via unprecedented transformation of the alkynyls into the μ(4)-methylydine ligands under basic conditions. These compounds demonstrate the equilibrium between the P?M helical isomers and serve as hosts to accommodate small molecules (CH(2)Cl(2) and CS(2)).     

Synthesis, structural characterization, photophysical properties and theoretical analysis of gold(I) thiolate-phosphine complexes

A series of luminescent dinuclear neutral complexes of stoichiometry [(AuSPh)(2)(PPh(2)-(C(6)H(4))(n)-PPh(2))] (n = 1, 2, 3) as well as their tetranuclear cationic derivatives [(Au(2)SPh)(2)(PPh(2)-(C(6)H(4))(n)-PPh(2))(2)](PF(6))(2) are reported. Their crystal structures have been elucidated by X-ray studies. These studies indicate that, for the dinuclear species, only when n = 1 the molecules exhibit intermolecular aurophilic interactions. None of the tetranuclear species crystallizes in their molecular form, due to the formation of aggregates through Au···Au interactions. The origin of the luminescence has been analyzed by computational studies indicating that the presence or absence of aurophilic interactions does not affect the luminescent behavior and that intraligand charge transfer processes which involve the thiolate and the diphosphine are responsible for the emissions. The result is in contrast with the thiolate-gold charge transfer processes which dominate the photophysics of gold-thiolate compounds and reveals the influence of the phenylene spacers in the emissive behavior of these compounds.     

Towards new molecular photocatalysts for CO2 reduction: photo-induced electron transfer versus CO dissociation within [Os(NN)(CO)2Cl2] Complexes

Optical excitation in the visible region of trans-(Cl)-[Os(bpy)(CO)(2)Cl(2)] (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine; C1) and trans-(Cl)-[Os(dmbpy)(CO)(2)Cl(2)] (dmbpy=4,4'-dimethyl 2,2'-bipyridine; C2) is known to induce the common CO dissociation reaction. However, the quantum yield of the reactions is less than 0.15, although C1 and C2 display pronounced photoluminescence in the visible region at room temperature with a lifetime of few tens of nanoseconds. Taking into account the characteristics of their emitting state, we have investigated the capability of C1 and C2 to act as a photosensitiser in redox reactions in different solvents (MeCN, PrCN and DMF). The efficient oxidation and reduction of both complexes under continuous irradiation in the presence of a sacrificial electron acceptor or donor is reported here. The photo-induced transformations and the nature of the resulting compounds were analysed by UV/Vis and IR spectroscopies and cyclic voltammetry. Photo-induced oxidation of C1 and C2 leads to the corresponding monocarbonyl oxidised species, whereas photo-induced reduction under argon leads mainly to the formation of the corresponding Os-bonded molecular wires P1 and P2 after exchange of two electrons associated with the loss of two chloro ligands. The chemical yield of the latter reaction (around 65%) becomes quantitative by adding [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) as an external redox photosensitiser. This behaviour has been used to photocatalyse the two electron, two proton conversion of CO(2) to CO. Turnover numbers (TON) of 11.5 and 19.5 have been obtained respectively for C1 and C2 after 4.5 h of irradiation under CO(2) in DMF with triethanolamine as the electron donor. TON can be slightly increased by adding [Ru(bpy)(3)](2+) to the solution.     

Rapid Autoxidation Forms Highly Oxidized RO2 Radicals in the Atmosphere

Gas‐phase oxidation routes of biogenic emissions, mainly isoprene and monoterpenes, in the atmosphere are still the subject of intensive research with special attention being paid to the formation of aerosol constituents. This laboratory study shows that the most abundant monoterpenes (limonene and α‐pinene) form highly oxidized RO₂ radicals with up to 12 O atoms, along with related closed‐shell products, within a few seconds after the initial attack of ozone or OH radicals. The overall process, an intramolecular ROO→QOOH reaction and subsequent O₂ addition generating a next R′OO radical, is similar to the well‐known autoxidation processes in the liquid phase (QOOH stands for a hydroperoxyalkyl radical). Field measurements show the relevance of this process to atmospheric chemistry. Thus, the well‐known reaction principle of autoxidation is also applicable to the atmospheric gas‐phase oxidation of hydrocarbons leading to extremely low‐volatility products which contribute to organic aerosol mass and hence influence the aerosol–cloud–climate system.