Technical University of Berlin

About: Technical University of Berlin is a education organization based out in Berlin, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Quantum dot & Laser. The organization has 27292 authors who have published 59342 publications receiving 1414623 citations. The organization is also known as: Technische Universität Berlin & TU Berlin.

Recent Developments in Olefin Cross-Metathesis

Abstract: Among the many types of transition-metal-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reactions, olefin metathesis has come to the fore in recent years owing to the wide range of transformations that are possible with commercially available and easily handled catalysts. Consequently, olefin metathesis is now widely considered as one of the most powerful synthetic tools in organic chemistry. Until recently the intermolecular variant of this reaction, cross-metathesis, had been neglected despite its potential. With the evolution of new catalysts, the selectivity, efficiency, and functional-group compatibility of this reaction have improved to a level that was unimaginable just a few years ago. These advances, together with a better understanding of the mechanism and catalyst-substrate interactions, have brought us to a stage where more and more researchers are employing cross-metathesis reactions in multistep procedures and in the synthesis of natural products. The recent inclusion of alkynes and hindered bicyclic olefins as viable substrates for bimolecular metathesis coupling, the discovery of enantioselective cross-metathesis and cross-metathesis in water, and the successful marriage of metathesis and solid-phase organic synthesis has further widened the scope of this versatile reaction.

Two-State Reactivity as a New Concept in Organometallic Chemistry§

Abstract: It is proposed that spin-crossing effects can dramatically affect reaction mechanisms, rate constants, branching ratios, and temperature behaviors of organometallic transformations. This phenomenon is termed two-state reactivity (TSR) and involves participation of spin inversion in the rate-determining step. While the present analysis is based on studies of transition metals under idealized conditions, several recent reports imply that TSR is by no means confined to the gas phase. In fact, participation of more than a single spin surface in the reaction pathways is proposed as a key feature in organometallic chemistry.

Carcinogenic metal compounds : recent insight into molecular and cellular mechanisms

Abstract: Mechanisms of carcinogenicity are discussed for metals and their compounds, classified as carcinogenic to humans or considered to be carcinogenic to humans: arsenic, antimony, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lead, nickel and vanadium. Physicochemical properties govern uptake, intracellular distribution and binding of metal compounds. Interactions with proteins (e.g., with zinc finger structures) appear to be more relevant for metal carcinogenicity than binding to DNA. In general, metal genotoxicity is caused by indirect mechanisms. In spite of diverse physicochemical properties of metal compounds, three predominant mechanisms emerge: (1) interference with cellular redox regulation and induction of oxidative stress, which may cause oxidative DNA damage or trigger signaling cascades leading to stimulation of cell growth; (2) inhibition of major DNA repair systems resulting in genomic instability and accumulation of critical mutations; (3) deregulation of cell proliferation by induction of signaling pathways or inactivation of growth controls such as tumor suppressor genes. In addition, specific metal compounds exhibit unique mechanisms such as interruption of cell-cell adhesion by cadmium, direct DNA binding of trivalent chromium, and interaction of vanadate with phosphate binding sites of protein phosphatases.

Particle Size Effects in the Catalytic Electroreduction of CO2 on Cu Nanoparticles

Abstract: A study of particle size effects during the catalytic CO2 electroreduction on size-controlled Cu nanoparticles (NPs) is presented. Cu NP catalysts in the 2–15 nm mean size range were prepared, and their catalytic activity and selectivity during CO2 electroreduction were analyzed and compared to a bulk Cu electrode. A dramatic increase in the catalytic activity and selectivity for H2 and CO was observed with decreasing Cu particle size, in particular, for NPs below 5 nm. Hydrocarbon (methane and ethylene) selectivity was increasingly suppressed for nanoscale Cu surfaces. The size dependence of the surface atomic coordination of model spherical Cu particles was used to rationalize the experimental results. Changes in the population of low-coordinated surface sites and their stronger chemisorption were linked to surging H2 and CO selectivities, higher catalytic activity, and smaller hydrocarbon selectivity. The presented activity–selectivity–size relations provide novel insights in the CO2 electroreduction r...

Observation of blue phases in chiral networks

Abstract: We report the first observation of cholesteric blue phases in chiral anisotropic polymer networks. In two-component mixtures of a chiral and a non-chiral diacrylate, we observed typical textures of BPI, BPII and BPIII phases. By photopolymerization of these materials at constant temperature we obtained blue phase networks. After polymerization, the blue phases were stored, which enabled us to further study them without any temperature control.