Neutron powder diffraction in molecule-based magnetic materials: Long- and short-range magnetic order

Neutron scattering has long been the ultimate technique of choice for defining the structures and excitations in magnetically ordered solids. Hence, it is surprising that neutron diffraction has not played a larger part in the rapidly growing field of molecule-based magnets. There are several reasons for this: large-volume unit-cells, frequency of low symmetry, containing a relatively low concentration of magnetic centers meaning that the magnetic contribution is a small fraction of the total scattering while the need to deuterate the organic ligands limits the available molecules. Nevertheless, it is possible to get information about short- and long-range ordering and this brief review summarizes the recent work on contrasting molecular magnetic materials: the weakly ferromagnetic Mn(II) organo-phosphonates; the bimetallic oxalato- and dithio-oxalato-honeycomb layer ferro- and ferrimagnets and a prototype for π-d ferrimagnetism in ion-radical salts.     

Electronic,transport, magnetic,and optical properties of graphene nanoribbons and their optical sensing applications: A comprehensive review

Low dimensional materials have attracted great research interest from both theoretical and experimental point of views. These materials exhibit novel physical and chemical properties due to the confinement effect in low dimensions. The experimental observations of graphene open a new platform to study the physical properties of materials restricted to two dimensions. This featured article provides a review on the novel properties of quasi one-dimensional (1D) material known as graphene nanoribbon. Graphene nanoribbons can be obtained by unzipping carbon nanotubes (CNT) or cutting the graphene sheet. Alternatively, it is also called the finite termination of graphene edges. It gives rise to different edge geometries, namely zigzag and armchair, among others. There are various physical and chemical techniques to realize these materials. Depending on the edge type termination, these are called the zigzag and armchair graphene nanoribbons (ZGNR and AGNR). These edges play an important role in controlling the properties of graphene nanoribbons. The present review article provides an overview of the electronic, transport, optical, and magnetic properties of graphene nanoribbons. However, there are different ways to tune these properties for device applications. Here, some of them, such as external perturbations and chemical modifications, are highlighted. Few applications of graphene nanoribbon have also been briefly discussed.     

Electronic, magnetic and optical properties of Cu, Ag, Au-doped Si clusters

The structural, optical and magnetic properties of Cu, Ag, Au-doped Si₇ Clusters have been systematically investigated using density functional theory calculations. The global optimized structures of Cu, Ag, Au-doped Si clusters are predicted to have a lower HOMO–LUMO gap and higher magnetic moment. M-doping (M?=?Cu, Ag, Au) in Si cluster widens a range of adsorption wavelength, especially Au-doping. The characteristics in electronic density of states (DOSs) show that C_5v-Si₆Cu has a big asymmetrical spin-up and spin-down. The average atomic moment is 0.428 mμ_B per atom for the Si₆Cu cluster with C_5v symmetry, while the average paramagnetic moment is 0.143 mμ_B per atom for other M-doped (M?=?Cu, Ag, Au) Si₇ clusters.     

Condensed tannins. Optically active diastereoisomers of (+)-mollisacacidin by epimerization

1. (+)-Mollisacacidin [(+)-3′,4′,7-trihydroxy-2,3-trans-flavan-3,4-trans- diol] is converted by autoclaving into the optically active free phenolic 2,3-trans-3-4-cis (12% yield), 2,3-cis-3,4-trans (11%) and 2,3-cis-3,4-cis (2·8%) diastereoisomers through epimerization at C-2 and C-4. 2. The relative configurations of the epimeric forms were determined by nuclear-magnetic-resonance spectrometry and paper ionophoresis in comparison with synthetic reference compounds, and was confirmed by chemical interconversions. 3. From this a scheme of epimerization is inferred and their absolute configurations are assigned as (2R:3S:4S), (2S:3S:4R) and (2S:3S:4S) respectively from the known absolute configuration (2R:3S:4R) of (+)-mollisacacidin.     

Tuning magnetic properties using targeted structural distortion: New additions to a family of Mn6 single-molecule magnets

We report the synthesis and magnetic properties of three hexametallic Mn clusters: [Mn₆O₂(Et-sao)₆(O₂C-Naphth)₂(EtOH)₄(H₂O)₂] (1) (HO₂C-Naphth = 1-naphthoic acid, Et-saoH₂ = 2-hydroxyphenylpropanone oxime), [Mn₆O₂(Et-sao)₆(O₂C-Anthra)₂(EtOH)₄(H₂O)₂] · 0.66EtOH · 0.33H₂O (HO₂C-Anthra = anthracene-9-carboxylic acid) (2 · 0.66EtOH · 0.33H₂O) and [Mn₆O₂(Et-sao)₆(O₂CPhCCH)₂(EtOH)₄(H₂O)₂] · 1.7EtOH · 0.3H₂O (HO₂CPhC  CH = 4-ethynylbenzoic acid) (3 · 1.7EtOH · 0.3H₂O). Clusters 1–3 exhibit ferromagnetic exchange between all six Mn^III centres resulting in S = 12 ground spin states. Ac magnetic susceptibility and single crystal micro-SQUID measurements on 1–3 confirm SMM behaviour with barriers to magnetisation reversal of 60.12 (1), 60.10 (2) and 66.79 (3) K.     

Optically active trans-2-aminocyclopentanols: chemoenzymatic preparation and application as chiral ligands

Optically active trans-2-(N,N-dialkylamino)cyclopentanols and their acetates derivatives were obtained with very good chemical yields and enantiomeric excesses (95->/=99%), through a chemoenzymatic methodology based on the lipase-catalyzed acylation of the hydroxyl group. The utility of these compounds was shown by the preparation of the cyclopentylic analog of vesamicol and by their use as ligands in the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde.     

Optically active β-ketoiminato manganese(III) complexes as efficient catalysts in enantioselective aerobic epoxidation of unfunctionalized olefins

A novel manganese(III) complex having an optically active N, N′-ethylenebis-β-ketoimine ligand was prepared and characterized crystallographically. The manganese(III) complexes behave as effective catalysts in enantioselective epoxidation of unfunctionalized olefins by combined use of molecular oxygen, an oxidant, and pivalaldehyde, a reductant. Dihydronaphthalene derivatives were converted into the corresponding optically active epoxides with good to high enantioselectivities.     

Optically detected zero field magnetic resonance studies of proflavine-DNA and 3,4-benzpyrene-DNA complexes.

Optical detection of magnetic resonance has been used to observe the photoexcited triplet state zero-field transitions of proflavine in DNA and 3,4-benzpyrene in DNA at 2°K. The results suggest that optically detected magnetic resonance may be utilized for determining the local site distribution of small molecules bound to DNA.     

Optically active: microwave-assisted synthesis and characterization of L-lysine-derived poly (amide-imide)s

l-lysine hydrochloride was transformed to ethyl l-lysine dihydrochloride. This salt was reacted with trimellitic anhydride to yield the corresponding diacid (1). Microwave-assisted polycondensation results a series of novel Poly (amide-imide)s (PAI _a–i ). These polymers have inherent viscosities in the range of 0.23–0.66 dl g⁻¹, display optical activity from +8.02 to +15.11 (as there is no obvious regioselectivity between alpha and epsilon amino groups of the chiral diacid during the polymerization step then random orientation of diacid moieties along the polymer backbone can be predicted and the concept of “tacticity” cannot be addressed in this research), and are readily soluble in polar aprotic solvents. They start to decompose (T _10%) above 362°C and display glass-transition temperatures at 119–153°C. All of the above polymers were fully characterized by UV, FT-IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analyses, DSC, inherent viscosity measurement and specific rotation.     

Polymeric gadolinium chelate magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents: design, synthesis, and properties.

We have synthesized and evaluated five series of polymeric gadolinium chelates which are of interest as potential MRI blood pool contrast agents. The polymers were designed so that important physical properties including molecular weight, relaxivity, metal content, viscosity, and chelate stability could be varied. We have shown that, by selecting polymers of the appropriate MW, extended blood pool retention can be achieved. In addition, relaxivity can be manipulated by changing the polymer rigidity, metal content affected by monomer selection, viscosity by polymer shape, and chelate stability by chelator selection.     

Acid-base and optical properties of heparin.

Sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) can be removed from protein by gel electrophoresis. This principle is useful for separating protein bands which are close to each other in SDS gel electrophoresis. We accomplished this by “two-stage” gel electrophoresis. In this system, SDS gel electrophoresis was carried out as the first step. Gel electrophoresis was then continued (after replacing the buffer) without SDS. SDS was then eluted from the gel into the lower buffer during the second stage. Separation of the subunits was significantly improved relative to simple SDS gel electrophoresis.     

Temperature and pH effects on biophysical and morphological properties of self-assembling peptide RADA16-I.

It has been found that the self-assembling peptide RADA 16-I forms a beta-sheet structure and self-assembles into nanofibers and scaffolds in favor of cell growth, hemostasis and tissue-injury repair. But its biophysical and morphological properties, especially for its beta-sheet and self-assembling properties in heat- and pH-denatured conditions, remain largely unclear. In order to better understand and design nanobiomaterials, we studied the self-assembly behaviors of RADA16-I using CD and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements in various pH and heat-denatured conditions. Here, we report that the peptide, when exposed to pH 1.0 and 4.0, was still able to assume a typical beta-sheet structure and self-assemble into long nanofiber, although its beta-sheet content was dramatically decreased by 10% in a pH 1.0 solution. However, the peptide, when exposed to pH 13.0, drastically lost its beta-sheet structure and assembled into different small-sized globular aggregates. Similarly, the peptide, when heat-denatured from 25 to 70 degrees C, was still able to assume a typical beta-sheet structure with 46% content, but self-assembled into small-sized globular aggregates at much higher temperature. Titration experiments showed that the peptide RADA16-I exists in three types of ionic species: acidic (fully protonated peptide), zwitterionic (electrically neutral peptide carrying partial positive and negative charges) and basic (fully deprotonated peptide) species, called 'super ions'. The unordered structure and beta-turn of these 'super ions' via hydrogen or ionic bonds, and heat Brownian motion under the above denatured conditions would directly affect the stability of the beta-sheet and nanofibers. These results help us in the design of future nanobiomaterials, such as biosensors, based on beta-sheets and environmental changes. These results also help understand the pathogenesis of the beta-sheet-mediated neuronal diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and the mechanism of hemostasis.     

Synthesis,characterisation, optical and nonlinear optical properties of thiazole and benzothiazole derivatives: a dual approach

In the present investigation, we employ a dual approach consisting of experimental and computational techniques to synthesise and characterise the Schiff-base including the moieties of nitrophenyl (3), nitrothiazole (5) and nitrobenzothiazole (7). The synthesised Schiff bases are confirmed by FT-IR, ¹H-NMR and UV-visible spectroscopic techniques. The experimental UV-visible spectroscopic results are compared to the theoretically calculated TD-DFT results. There is a reasonably good agreement between the experimental and the theoretically calculated spectroscopic results. We also calculate the third-order nonlinear optical (NLO) polarizability (γ) of above entitled derivatives using finite field (FF) approach and DFT methods. The compound 7 shows an amplitude of γ as large as 124.15×10⁴ a. u., which is found to be several times larger than that of para-nitroaniline. Moreover, the partial and total density of states (PDOS and TDOS) along with electrostatic potential maps are calculated to get more physical insights into the structure-property relationship and electronic communications between terminal donor and central core acceptor moieties in the synthesised compounds. The present investigation highlights the significance of indigenously synthesised nitrothiazole and nitrobenzothiazole compounds as efficient NLO materials, which may evoke the interest of scientific community in such efficient NLO materials for their potential utilization in device applications.     

Self-association of N-protected α-amino acids. Optically active and racemic N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-alanine

The ir absorption and x-ray diffraction analysis of N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-DL -alanine (t-Boc-DL -Ala-OH) in the solid state has revealed a new mode of self-association for a N-urethanyl-α-amino acid, i.e., ribbons of hydrogen-bonded cyclic dimers formed through the —COOH groups. In contrast to the recemate, a water molecule, incorporated into the crystal of the chiral t-Boc-D -Ala-OH, alters in part that hydrogen-bonding scheme. In the two independent molecules of the unit cell of the optically active alanine derivative, as in that of the racemic derivative: (i) the conformation of the —CONH group is trans, also a new observation for a N-urethanyl-α-amino acid, and (ii) the overall conformation is quasi-extended. These findings exclude the occurrence of an oxy-C₇ peptide conformation. In solvents of high polarity, strongly solvated species predominate, as shown by ir absorption spectroscopy. In deuterochloroform nonassociated and associated species occur simultaneously. No differences were observed between the optically active and racemic derivatives. The type of self-association near saturation seems to differ, at least in part, from that found in the anhydrous racemic compound in the crystal state.