Search

Novel nanocarbons such as fullerenes, nanotubes, graphene, and nanodiamond reside at the cutting edge of nanoscience and technology. Along with chemical functionalization, geometric constraints (such as extreme curvature in nanotubes or defects within or at the surfaces of diamond nanoparticles) significantly alter the electronic states of the nanocarbon material. Understanding the effects of steric strain on the electronic structure is critical to developing nanoelectronic applications based on these materials. This paper presents a fundamental study of how strain affects the electronic structure in a benchmark series of some fundamental saturated carbon cage compounds. Adamantane, C10H16, the smallest diamondoid and arguably the smallest nanodiamond crystallite, has carbon atoms essentially commensurate with diamond lattice positions and possesses by far the least molecular strain of this series. Twistane also is a C10H16 isomer but the fixed cyclohexane twist conformation of the central ring introduces additional strain into the cage. Octahedrane [(CH)12] and cubane [(CH)8] are considerably more strained, culminating in cubane where carbon–carbon bonds lie either parallel or orthogonal to one another. Using gas-phase near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy to probe the unoccupied electronic states, we observe two major progressions across this series. First, a broad C–C σ* resonance in the absorption splits into two more narrow and intense resonances with increasing strain. Second, the first manifold of states previously associated with tertiary C–H σ* in the diamondoid series appears to broaden and shift to lower energy. This feature is more than twice as intense in cubane than in octahedrane, even though these two molecules have only tertiary carbons, with the chemical formula (CH)x. The spectral differences are entirely due to the shape of the molecules; in particular, in cubane, the features arise from a high degree of p-p interaction between parallel C–C bonds. In contrast to the conventional wisdom that near-edge x-ray absorption is primarily an atomically localized spectroscopy, molecular shape and associated strain lead to the dominant features in spectra acquired from this fundamental series of carbon cage structures.

Substituted alkylidenecyclopropanes reacted with 5 equivalents each of Me3Al and CH2I2 at room temperature in hexane to give 1-mono- and 1,1-disubstituted spiro[2.2]pentanes in high yields. Surprisingly, the same reaction with substituted alkylidenecyclopropanes in CH2Cl2 afforded exclusively 1,1-disubstituted spiro[2.3]hexanes. The transformation of 1,1-diphenylspiro[2.2]pentane into 1,1-diphenylspiro[2.3]hexane was studied with the use of CD2I2 and a plausible mechanism was suggested. The reaction of substituted alkylidenecyclobutanes with the Me3Al/CH2I2 reagent in CH2Cl2 gave only 1,1-disubstituted spiro[2.3]hexanes.

A new and efficient approach to five- and six-membered benzannelated sultams by intramolecular C-arylation of tertiary 1-(methoxycarbonyl)methanesulfonamides under palladium catalysis is described. In case of the α-toluenesulfonamide derivative, an unexpected formation of a 2,3-diarylindole was observed under the same conditions.

Propellanes are a unique class of compounds with well over 10000 members with an inverted tetrahedral configuration featuring a weak single bond between two carbon atoms linked by three additional bridge. Not only structurally interesting, these propella-type compounds exhibit unusual reactivities. In this review, we highlight their synthesis and applications in material sciences, natural product chemistry and medicinal chemistry. We feature the chemistry of [1.1.1]propellane like the synthesis of oligomeric and polymeric structures derived from it such as bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes and staffanes. A selected number of natural products are discussed in detail. Heteropropellanes and inorganic propellanes are also addressed. The historical background is given in brief showing the pioneering work of David Ginsburg, Gunther Snatzke, Gunter Szeimies, Kenneth Wiberg and others.

Single brain enhancing lesions (SEL) are the most common presentation of neurocysticercosis (NCC) observed on neuroimaging in people presenting with epileptic seizures not only on the Indian sub-continent and in travelers returning from cysticercosis-endemic regions, but are also present in other parts of the world. The aim of this study, which consisted of a systematic review (CRD42019087665), a meta-analysis and an expert group consultation, was to reach consensus on the best anti-seizure medication and anti-inflammatory treatment for individuals with SEL NCC. Standard literature review methods were used. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used and random effects model meta-analyses were performed. The quality of the body of evidence was rated using GRADE tables. The expert committee included 12 gender and geographically balanced members and recommendations were reached by applying the GRADE framework for guideline development. The 1–1.5-year cumulative incidence of seizure recurrence, cyst resolution or calcification following anti-seizure medication (ASM) withdrawal was not statistically different between ASM of 6, 12 or 24 months. In contrast, in persons whose cyst calcified post treatment, longer ASM decreased seizure recurrence. The cumulative incidence ratio (CIR) 1–1.5 years after stopping ASM was 1.79 95% CI: (1.00, 3.20) for patients given 6 versus 24 months treatment. Anti-inflammatory treatment with corticosteroids in patients treated with ASM compared to patients treated with ASM only showed a statistically significant beneficial effect on seizure reduction (CIR 0.44, 95% CI 0.23, 0.85) and cyst resolution (CIR 1.37, 95%CI: 1.07, 1.75). Our results indicate that ASM in patients with SEL NCC whose cysts resolved can be withdrawn, while patients whose cysts calcified seem to benefit from prolonged anti-seizure medication. Additional corticosteroid treatment was found to have a beneficial effect both on seizure reduction and cyst resolution., Author summary Neurocysticercosis is an infection of the brain with the tapeworm Taenia solium. On the Indian sub-continent, the majority of people suffering from neurocysticercosis only show one cyst (larval form of the parasite) in their brain and often present at clinics with epileptic seizures. There is still some debate on the best way to treat these cases to reduce the risk for seizure recurrence. The goal of this study was to review the literature on how well different durations of treatment with anti-seizure medication (ASM), combined or not with corticosteroids, work in order to reduce the seizure recurrence and eliminate the cyst from the brain. The results show that ASM for 24 months compared to 6 months favors reduced seizure recurrence in patients whose cysts calcified post treatment. Concerning anti-inflammatory treatment, corticosteroids were also found to have beneficial effects on seizure reduction. However, further high-quality randomized controlled trials with adequately long follow-up time are required for better evidence on best drug(s), dose and duration of ASM and corticosteroids for individuals with SEL NCC.

An original synthesis of the acetogenin muricadienin, the bioprecursor of solamin, has been developed. The key step in the five-step 41% overall yield synthesis is the catalytic cross-cyclomagnesiation reaction of functionally substituted 1,2-dienes with EtMgBr in the presence of Cp2TiCl2 and magnesium metal. It has been demonstrated for the first time that muricadienin exhibits a moderate in vitro inhibitory activity against topoisomerases I and IIα, key cell cycle enzymes. Using flow cytometry, muricadienin was shown to have high cytotoxicity toward the HEK293 kidney cancer cells (IC50 0.39 μM).

Retarding field energy analyzers (RFEAs) are used routinely for the measurement of ion energy distribution functions. By contrast, their ability to measure ion flux densities has been considered unreliable because of lack of knowledge about the effective transmission of the RFEA grids. In this work, we simulate the ion trajectories through a three-gridded RFEA using the simulation software SIMION. Using idealized test cases, it is shown that at high ion energy (i.e., >100 eV) the transmission is equal to the optical transmission rather than the product of the individual grid transparencies. Below 20 eV, ion trajectories are strongly influenced by the electric fields in between the grids. In this region, grid alignment and ion focusing effects contribute to fluctuations in transmission with ion energy. Subsequently the model has been used to simulate the transmission and energy resolution of an experimental RFEA probe. Grid misalignments reduce the transmission fluctuations at low energy. The model predicts the minimum energy resolution, which has been confirmed experimentally by irradiating the probe with a beam of ions with a small energy bandwidth.

This work reports on the measurements of ion flux composition and ion energy distribution functions (IEDFs) at surfaces in contact with hydrogen plasmas induced by extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation. This special type of plasma is gaining interest from industries because of its appearance in extreme ultraviolet lithography tools, where it affects exposed surfaces. The studied plasma is induced in 5 Pa hydrogen gas by irradiating the gas with short (30 ns) pulses of EUV radiation (λ= 10-20 nm). Due to the low duty cycle (10 -4), the plasma is highly transient. The composition and IEDF are measured using an energy resolved ion mass spectrometer. The total ion flux consists of H+, H2+, and H3+. H3+ is the dominant ion as a result of the efficient conversion of H2+ to H3+ upon collision with background hydrogen molecules. The IEDFs of H2+ and H3+ appear similar, showing a broad distribution with a cut-off energy at approximately 8 eV. In contrast, the IEDF of H + shows an energetic tail up to 18 eV. Most probably, the ions in this tail gain their energy during their creation process by photoionization and dissociative electron impact ionization.