A Gene for Genetic Background in Zea mays: Fine-Mapping enhancer of teosinte branched1.2 to a YABBY Class Transcription Factor.

The effects of an allelic substitution at a gene often depend critically on genetic background, i.e., the genotypes at other genes in the genome.

Understanding molecular self-assembly of a diol compound by considering competitive interactions.

With a combination of scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory, effects on molecular self-assembly involving two distinct chemical groups were investigated. We analyzed the influence of the individual functional units in the adsorbate and extracted the dominating contributions to the adsorption behaviour. The viability of such a systematic approach to study self-assembled structures by considering the interplay between substrate effects and molecular design is demonstrated.

Black-box determination of temperature-dependent susceptibilities for crystalline organic radicals with complex magnetic topologies.

In all but the simplest crystal structures, the identification of all relevant interactions between magnetic sites as well as the setup of magnetic model spaces, which are necessary for modeling macroscopic magnetism, are tedious and error-prone tasks. Here, we present a procedure to generate magnetic susceptibility versus temperature curves using only a crystal structure as input. The procedure, which is based on the first-principles bottom-up approach [Deumal et al.

Sodium-Ketyl Radical Anions by Reverse Pinacol Reaction and Their Coupling with Iodoarenes.

Transition-metal-free C-C bond formation between aryl iodides and pinacols is presented. Pinacols are readily transformed by deprotonation with NaH to their Na-pinacolates. C-C-bond homolysis at room temperature generates in situ the corresponding Na-ketyl radical anions which react with various aryl iodides in a homolytic aromatic substitution reaction to form tertiary Na-alcoholates.

Iodinated (Perfluoro)alkyl Quinoxalines by Atom Transfer Radical Addition Using ortho-Diisocyanoarenes as Radical Acceptors.

A simple method for the preparation of functionalized quinoxalines is reported. Starting from readily accessible ortho-diisocyanoarenes and (perfluoro)alkyl iodides, the quinoxaline core is constructed during (perfluoro)alkylation by atom transfer radical addition (ATRA), resulting in 2-iodo-3-(perfluoro)alkylquinoxalines. The radical cascades are readily initiated either with visible light or by using α,α'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN).

Cross species selection scans identify components of C4 photosynthesis in the grasses.

C photosynthesis is perhaps one of the best examples of convergent adaptive evolution with over 25 independent origins in the grasses (Poaceae) alone. The availability of high quality grass genome sequences presents new opportunities to explore the mechanisms underlying this complex trait using evolutionary biology-based approaches. In this study, we performed genome-wide cross-species selection scans in C lineages to facilitate discovery of C genes.

On-Surface Domino Reactions: Glaser Coupling and Dehydrogenative Coupling of a Biscarboxylic Acid To Form Polymeric Bisacylperoxides.

Herein we report the on-surface oxidative homocoupling of 6,6'-(1,4-buta-1,3-diynyl)bis(2-naphthoic acid) (BDNA) via bisacylperoxide formation on different Au substrates. By using this unprecedented dehydrogenative polymerization of a biscarboxylic acid, linear poly-BDNA with a chain length of over 100 nm was prepared. It is shown that the monomer BDNA can be prepared in situ at the surface via on-surface Glaser coupling of 6-ethynyl-2-naphthoic acid (ENA).

Electron-Catalyzed Fluoroalkylation of Vinyl Azides.

The transition-metal free fluoroalkylation of vinyl azides is herein reported. This operationally simple reaction employs the Togni reagent as a CF3 source, Bu4 NI as an initiator, and occurs under electron catalysis. A range of readily prepared starting materials are functionalized using this approach to produce both phenanthridines and quinoxalin-2-ones.

Poly(paraphenylene sulfide) and Poly(metaphenylene sulfide) via Light-Initiated SRN 1-Type Polymerization of Halogenated Thiophenols.

In this work, the synthesis of various halogenated thiophenol derivatives is presented. These thiophenols are used as monomers in light-initiated SRN 1-type radical polymerization reactions. The method provides easy access to industrially relevant poly(paraphenylene sulfide) and poly(metaphenylene sulfide).

Piezoelectricity and rotostriction through polar and non-polar coupled instabilities in bismuth-based piezoceramics.

Coupling of order parameters provides a means to tune functionality in advanced materials including multiferroics, superconductors, and ionic conductors. We demonstrate that the response of a frustrated ferroelectric state leads to coupling between order parameters under electric field depending on grain orientation. The strain of grains oriented along a specific crystallographic direction, 〈h00〉, is caused by converse piezoelectricity originating from a ferrodistortive tetragonal phase.

Fluorescent Detection of Lipid Droplets and Associated Proteins.

Excess lipid is stored in intracellular organelles known as lipid droplets. This unit discusses techniques for the visualization of lipid droplets and associated proteins in cultured mammalian cells. Protocols for the detection of lipid droplets in fixed or live cells with BODIPY 493/503 are included.

Susceptible Ferroelectric/Antiferroelectric Phase Transition near the Surface of Nb-Doped Lead Zirconate Stannate Titanate from Surface Processing.

This work systematically investigated the structure and property of the near-surface and bulk regions of Pb0.99(Nb0.02Zr0.

Tetrahydroquinolines via Stereospecific [3 + 3]-Annulation of Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes with Nitrosoarenes.

A stereospecific [3 + 3]-annulation of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes with nitrosoarenes under the influence of MgBr2 as a stoichiometric Lewis acid and reagent offers a novel approach to various structurally diverse C-8-brominated tetrahydroquinolines. In these cascades C-C, C-N, and C-Br bonds are formed. The reactions are easy to conduct and proceed under mild conditions, and the products can readily be further functionalized, rendering the method highly valuable.

Synthesis of Chiral Piperazinones Using Amphoteric Aziridine Aldehyde Dimers and Functionalized Isocyanides.

We have evaluated a range of functionalized isocyanides in the aziridine aldehyde-driven multicomponent synthesis of piperazinones. High diasteroselectivity for each isocyanide was observed. A theoretical evaluation of the reaction course corroborates the experimental data.

Radical Hydrodeiodination of Aryl, Alkenyl, Alkynyl, and Alkyl Iodides with an Alcoholate as Organic Chain Reductant through Electron Catalysis.

A simple and efficient method for radical hydrodeiodination is reported. The novel approach uses electron catalysis. In situ generated Na-alcoholates are introduced as radical chain reducing reagents and reactions work with O2 as cheap initiator.

Radical perfluoroalkylation - easy access to 2-perfluoroalkylindol-3-imines via electron catalysis.

Arylisonitriles (2 equivalents) react with alkyl and perfluoroalkyl radicals to form 2-alkylated indole-3-imines via two sequential additions to the isonitrile moiety followed by homolytic aromatic substitution. The three component reaction comprises three C-C bond formations. The endocyclic imine functionality in the products is more reactive in follow up chemistry and hydrolysis of the exocyclic imine leads to 3-oxindoles that show fluorescence properties.

Effect of the C(3)-Substituent in Verdazyl Radicals on their Profluorescent Behavior.

Methods for the detection of reactive intermediates such as transient radicals are important in organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, biology or medicine. Along these lines we recently reported that 1,5-diphenyl-6-oxo verdazyl radicals can be used as fluorescent spin sensors. In situ generated C-centered radicals are efficiently trapped by the verdazyls, which in turn undergo transformation from a paramagnetic non-fluorescent state to a diamagnetic fluorescent state.

Exploring Cooperative Effects in Oxidative NHC Catalysis: Regioselective Acylation of Carbohydrates.

The utility of oxidative NHC catalysis for both the regioselective and chemoselective functionalization of carbohydrates is explored. Chiral NHCs allow for the highly regioselective oxidative esterification of various carbohydrates using aldehydes as acylation precursors. The transformation was also shown to be amenable to both cis/trans diol isomers, free amino groups, and selective for specific sugar epimers in competition experiments.

Electric-field-induced AFE-FE transitions and associated strain/preferred orientation in antiferroelectric PLZST.

Electric-field-induced, antiferroelectric-ferroelectric (AFE-FE) phase transitions are common for AFE materials. To date, the strain and preferred orientation evolution as well as the role of the intermediate FE state during the successive AFE-FE-AFE phase transitions has not been clear. To this end, we have herein studied a typical AFE Pb0.

3-Alkylperoxy-3-cyano-oxindoles from 2-Cyano-2-diazo-N-phenyl-acetamides via Cyclizing Carbene Insertion and Subsequent Radical Oxidation.

A transition-metal-free one-pot sequence for the synthesis of 3-peroxy-substituted oxindoles from readily prepared 2-cyano-2-diazo-acetamides is reported. The two-step tandem process includes a highly efficient thermal intramolecular C-H-carbene insertion followed by a tetrabutylammonium iodide (TBAI) catalyzed radical C3-peroxy-functionalization. The protocol provides easy access to a new class of 3-cyano-3-peroxy-disubstituted oxindoles.

Extreme compressibility in LnFe(CN)6 coordination framework materials via molecular gears and torsion springs.

The mechanical flexibility of coordination frameworks can lead to a range of highly anomalous structural behaviours. Here, we demonstrate the extreme compressibility of the LnFe(CN)6 frameworks (Ln = Ho, Lu or Y), which reversibly compress by 20% in volume under the relatively low pressure of 1 GPa, one of the largest known pressure responses for any crystalline material. We delineate in detail the mechanism for this high compressibility, where the LnN6 units act like torsion springs synchronized by rigid Fe(CN)6 units performing the role of gears.

Regio- and Stereoselective Cyanotriflation of Alkynes Using Aryl(cyano)iodonium Triflates.

A novel, mild, and versatile approach for regioselective syn-addition of both the CN and OTf groups of aryl(cyano)iodonium triflates to alkynes is described. The reaction uses Fe-catalysis and can be conducted in gram scale. Products of the vicinal cyanotriflation can be stereospecifically readily further functionalized, rendering the method highly valuable.

Complex Field-Induced States in Linarite PbCuSO4(OH)2 with a Variety of High-Order Exotic Spin-Density Wave States.

Low-temperature neutron diffraction and NMR studies of field-induced phases in linarite are presented for magnetic fields H∥b axis. A two-step spin-flop transition is observed, as well as a transition transforming a helical magnetic ground state into an unusual magnetic phase with sine-wave-modulated moments ∥H. An effective J[over ˜]_{1}-J[over ˜]_{2} single-chain model with a magnetization-dependent frustration ratio α_{eff}=-J[over ˜]_{2}/J[over ˜]_{1} is proposed.

Generation of Aryl Radicals through Reduction of Hypervalent Iodine(III) Compounds with TEMPONa: Radical Alkene Oxyarylation.

A novel method for selective generation of aryl radicals from diaryliodonium salts and iodanylidene malonates with sodium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPONa) as a single-electron transfer (SET) reducing reagent is described. In the presence of various alkenes, aryl radicals formed after SET-reduction of hypervalent iodine compounds undergo alkene addition and the adduct radicals that are thus generated are efficiently trapped by the concomitantly generated TEMPO radical to eventually afford oxyarylated products in moderate to very good yields. The efficiency of aryl radical generation of various iodine(III) reagents is studied and the generation of an iodanylidene malonate aryl radical is also investigated by computational methods.

A Forward Regridding Method With Minimal Oversampling for Accurate and Efficient Iterative Tomographic Algorithms.

Reconstruction of underconstrained tomographic data sets remains a major challenge. Standard analytical techniques frequently lead to unsatisfactory results due to insufficient information. Several iterative algorithms, which can easily integrate a priori knowledge, have been developed to tackle this problem during the last few decades.