TY - JOUR A1 - Weiser, Jonas A1 - Cui, Jingjing A1 - Dewhurst, Rian D. A1 - Braunschweig, Holger A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe T1 - Structure and bonding of proximity‐enforced main‐group dimers stabilized by a rigid naphthyridine diimine ligand JF - Journal of Computational Chemistry N2 - The development of ligands capable of effectively stabilizing highly reactive main‐group species has led to the experimental realization of a variety of systems with fascinating properties. In this work, we computationally investigate the electronic, structural, energetic, and bonding features of proximity‐enforced group 13–15 homodimers stabilized by a rigid expanded pincer ligand based on the 1,8‐naphthyridine (napy) core. We show that the redox‐active naphthyridine diimine (NDI) ligand enables a wide variety of structural motifs and element‐element interaction modes, the latter ranging from isolated, element‐centered lone pairs (e.g., E = Si, Ge) to cases where through‐space π bonds (E = Pb), element‐element multiple bonds (E = P, As) and biradical ground states (E = N) are observed. Our results hint at the feasibility of NDI‐E2 species as viable synthetic targets, highlighting the versatility and potential applications of napy‐based ligands in main‐group chemistry. KW - bond theory KW - computational chemistry KW - density functional calculations KW - main group elements KW - N ligands Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-312586 VL - 44 IS - 3 SP - 456 EP - 467 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Steinbacher, Andreas A1 - Buback, Johannes A1 - Nürnberger, Patrick A1 - Brixner, Tobias T1 - Precise and rapid detection of optical activity for accumulative femtosecond spectroscopy JF - Optics Express N2 - We present polarimetry, i.e. the detection of optical rotation of light polarization, in a configuration suitable for femtosecond spectroscopy. The polarimeter is based on common-path optical heterodyne interferometry and provides fast and highly sensitive detection of rotatory power. Femtosecond pump and polarimeter probe beams are integrated into a recently developed accumulative technique that further enhances sensitivity with respect to single-pulse methods. The high speed of the polarimeter affords optical rotation detection during the pump-pulse illumination period of a few seconds. We illustrate the concept on the photodissociation of the enantiomers of methyl p-tolyl sulfoxide. The sensitivity of rotatory detection, i.e. the minimum rotation angle that can be measured, is determined experimentally including all noise sources to be 0.10 milli-degrees for a measurement time of only one second and an interaction length of 250 μm. The suitability of the presented setup for femtosecond studies is demonstrated in a non-resonant two-photon photodissociation experiment. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-85913 UR - http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/fulltext.cfm?uri=oe-20-11-11838&id=233249 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schürger, Peter A1 - Engel, Volker T1 - Differential Shannon entropies characterizing electron–nuclear dynamics and correlation: momentum-space versus coordinate-space wave packet motion JF - Entropy N2 - We calculate differential Shannon entropies derived from time-dependent coordinate-space and momentum-space probability densities. This is performed for a prototype system of a coupled electron–nuclear motion. Two situations are considered, where one is a Born–Oppenheimer adiabatic dynamics, and the other is a diabatic motion involving strong non-adiabatic transitions. The information about coordinate- and momentum-space dynamics derived from the total and single-particle entropies is discussed and interpreted with the help of analytical models. From the entropies, we derive mutual information, which is a measure for the electron–nuclear correlation. In the adiabatic case, it is found that such correlations are manifested differently in coordinate- and momentum space. For the diabatic dynamics, we show that it is possible to decompose the entropies into state-specific contributions. KW - differential Shannon entropy KW - correlation KW - electron–nuclear dynamics Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-362670 SN - 1099-4300 VL - 25 IS - 7 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schmidt, Paul A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe A1 - Klopf, Jonas A1 - Schröder, Niklas B. A1 - Dewhurst, Rian D. A1 - Braunschweig, Holger A1 - Engel, Volker A1 - Engels, Bernd T1 - Twisting versus delocalization in CAAC- and NHC-stabilized boron-based biradicals: the roles of sterics and electronics JF - Chemistry - A European Journal N2 - Twisted boron-based biradicals featuring unsaturated C\(_2\)R\(_2\) (R=Et, Me) bridges and stabilization by cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes (CAACs) were recently prepared. These species show remarkable geometrical and electronic differences with respect to their unbridged counterparts. Herein, a thorough computational investigation on the origin of their distinct electrostructural properties is performed. It is shown that steric effects are mostly responsible for the preference for twisted over planar structures. The ground-state multiplicity of the twisted structure is modulated by the σ framework of the bridge, and different R groups lead to distinct multiplicities. In line with the experimental data, a planar structure driven by delocalization effects is observed as global minimum for R=H. The synthetic elusiveness of C\(_2\)R\(_2\)-bridged systems featuring N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) was also investigated. These results could contribute to the engineering of novel main group biradicals. KW - chemistry KW - radicals KW - ab initio calculations KW - boron KW - carbene ligands KW - density functional calculations Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-256636 VL - 27 IS - 16 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schleier, Domenik A1 - Reusch, Engelbert A1 - Lummel, Lisa A1 - Hemberger, Patrick A1 - Fischer, Ingo T1 - Threshold photoelectron spectroscopy of IO and IOH JF - ChemPhysChem N2 - Iodine oxides appear as reactive intermediates in atmospheric chemistry. Here, we investigate IO and HOI by mass‐selective threshold photoelectron spectroscopy (ms‐TPES), using synchrotron radiation. IO and HOI are generated by photolyzing iodine in the presence of ozone. For both molecules, accurate ionization energies are determined, 9.71±0.02 eV for IO and 9.79±0.02 eV for HOI. The strong spin‐spin interaction in the 3Σ− ground state of IO+ leads to an energy splitting into the Ω=0 and Ω=±1 sublevels. Upon ionization, the I−O bond shortens significantly in both molecules; thus, a vibrational progression, assigned to the I−O stretch, is apparent in both spectra. KW - ionization potential KW - radicals KW - reactive intermediates KW - photolysis KW - synchrotron radiatoren Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-204751 VL - 20 IS - 19 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Saalfrank, Christian A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe A1 - Kupfer, Thomas A1 - Ritschel, Benedikt A1 - Hammond, Kai A1 - Krummenacher, Ivo A1 - Bertermann, Rüdiger A1 - Wirthensohn, Raphael A1 - Finze, Maik A1 - Schmid, Paul A1 - Engel, Volker A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Braunschweig, Holger T1 - cAAC‐Stabilized 9,10‐diboraanthracenes—Acenes with Open‐Shell Singlet Biradical Ground States JF - Angewandte Chemie International Edition N2 - Narrow HOMO–LUMO gaps and high charge‐carrier mobilities make larger acenes potentially high‐efficient materials for organic electronic applications. The performance of such molecules was shown to significantly increase with increasing number of fused benzene rings. Bulk quantities, however, can only be obtained reliably for acenes up to heptacene. Theoretically, (oligo)acenes and (poly)acenes are predicted to have open‐shell singlet biradical and polyradical ground states, respectively, for which experimental evidence is still scarce. We have now been able to dramatically lower the HOMO–LUMO gap of acenes without the necessity of unfavorable elongation of their conjugated π system, by incorporating two boron atoms into the anthracene skeleton. Stabilizing the boron centers with cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes gives neutral 9,10‐diboraanthracenes, which are shown to feature disjointed, open‐shell singlet biradical ground states. KW - acenes KW - biradicals KW - bond Activation KW - boron KW - heterocycles Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-217795 VL - 59 IS - 43 SP - 19338 EP - 19343 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Roy, Dipak Kumar A1 - Tröster, Tobias A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe A1 - Dewhurst, Rian D. A1 - Lenczyk, Carsten A1 - Radacki, Krzysztof A1 - Pranckevicius, Conor A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Braunschweig, Holger T1 - Isolation and Reactivity of an Antiaromatic s‐Block Metal Compound JF - Angewandte Chemie International Edition N2 - The concepts of aromaticity and antiaromaticity have a long history, and countless demonstrations of these phenomena have been made with molecules based on elements from the p, d, and f blocks of the periodic table. In contrast, the limited oxidation‐state flexibility of the s‐block metals has long stood in the way of their participation in sophisticated π‐bonding arrangements, and truly antiaromatic systems containing s‐block metals are altogether absent or remain poorly defined. Using spectroscopic, structural, and computational techniques, we present herein the synthesis and authentication of a heterocyclic compound containing the alkaline earth metal beryllium that exhibits significant antiaromaticity, and detail its chemical reduction and Lewis‐base‐coordination chemistry. KW - antiaromaticity KW - aromaticity KW - beryllium KW - heterocycles KW - s-block metals Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-224447 VL - 60 IS - 7 SP - 3812 EP - 3819 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Roeding, Sebastian A1 - Brixner, Tobias T1 - Coherent two-dimensional electronic mass spectrometry JF - Nature Communications N2 - Coherent two-dimensional (2D) optical spectroscopy has revolutionized our ability to probe many types of couplings and ultrafast dynamics in complex quantum systems. The dynamics and function of any quantum system strongly depend on couplings to the environment. Thus, studying coherent interactions for different environments remains a topic of tremendous interest. Here we introduce coherent 2D electronic mass spectrometry that allows 2D measurements on effusive molecular beams and thus on quantum systems with minimum system-bath interaction and employ this to identify the major ionization pathway of 3d Rydberg states in NO2. Furthermore, we present 2D spectra of multiphoton ionization, disclosing distinct differences in the nonlinear response functions leading to the ionization products. We also realize the equivalent of spectrally resolved transient-absorption measurements without the necessity for acquiring weak absorption changes. Using time-of-flight detection introduces cations as an observable, enabling the 2D spectroscopic study on isolated systems of photophysical and photochemical reactions. KW - Atomic and molecular interactions with photons KW - Excited states KW - Reaction kinetics and dynamics KW - Optical spectroscopy Y1 - 2018 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-226458 VL - 9 IS - 2519 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rewitz, Christian A1 - Keitzl, Thomas A1 - Tuchscherer, Philip A1 - Goetz, Sebastian A1 - Geisler, Peter A1 - Razinskas, Gary A1 - Hecht, Bert A1 - Brixner, Tobias T1 - Spectral-interference microscopy for characterization of functional plasmonic elements JF - Optics Express N2 - Plasmonic modes supported by noble-metal nanostructures offer strong subwavelength electric-field confinement and promise the realization of nanometer-scale integrated optical circuits with well-defined functionality. In order to measure the spectral and spatial response functions of such plasmonic elements, we combine a confocal microscope setup with spectral interferometry detection. The setup, data acquisition, and data evaluation are discussed in detail by means of exemplary experiments involving propagating plasmons transmitted through silver nanowires. By considering and experimentally calibrating any setup-inherent signal delay with an accuracy of 1 fs, we are able to extract correct timing information of propagating plasmons. The method can be applied, e.g., to determine the dispersion and group velocity of propagating plasmons in nanostructures, and can be extended towards the investigation of nonlinear phenomena. Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-85922 UR - http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/fulltext.cfm?uri=oe-20-13-14632&id=238393 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Reusch, Engelbert A1 - Holzmeier, Fabian A1 - Gerlach, Marius A1 - Fischer, Ingo A1 - Hemberger, Patrick T1 - Decomposition of Picolyl Radicals at High Temperature: A Mass Selective Threshold Photoelectron Spectroscopy Study JF - Chemistry - A European Journal N2 - The reaction products of the picolyl radicals at high temperature were characterized by mass‐selective threshold photoelectron spectroscopy in the gas phase. Aminomethylpyridines were pyrolyzed to initially produce picolyl radicals (m /z =92). At higher temperatures further thermal reaction products are generated in the pyrolysis reactor. All compounds were identified by mass‐selected threshold photoelectron spectroscopy and several hitherto unexplored reactive molecules were characterized. The mechanism for several dissociation pathways was outlined in computations. The spectrum of m /z =91, resulting from hydrogen loss of picolyl, shows four isomers, two ethynyl pyrroles with adiabatic ionization energies (IE\(_{ad}\)) of 7.99 eV (2‐ethynyl‐1H ‐pyrrole) and 8.12 eV (3‐ethynyl‐1H ‐pyrrole), and two cyclopentadiene carbonitriles with IE′s of 9.14 eV (cyclopenta‐1,3‐diene‐1‐carbonitrile) and 9.25 eV (cyclopenta‐1,4‐diene‐1‐carbonitrile). A second consecutive hydrogen loss forms the cyanocyclopentadienyl radical with IE′s of 9.07 eV (T\(_0\)) and 9.21 eV (S\(_1\)). This compound dissociates further to acetylene and the cyanopropynyl radical (IE=9.35 eV). Furthermore, the cyclopentadienyl radical, penta‐1,3‐diyne, cyclopentadiene and propargyl were identified in the spectra. Computations indicate that dissociation of picolyl proceeds initially via a resonance‐stabilized seven‐membered ring. KW - ionization energy KW - photoelectron spectroscopy KW - pyrolysis KW - radicals KW - synchrotron radiation Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-208132 VL - 25 IS - 72 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rest, Christina A1 - Philips, Divya Susan A1 - Dünnebacke, Torsten A1 - Sutar, Papri A1 - Sampedro, Angel A1 - Droste, Jörn A1 - Stepanenko, Vladimir A1 - Hansen, Michael Ryan A1 - Albuquerque, Rodrigo Q. A1 - Fernández, Gustavo T1 - Tuning Aqueous Supramolecular Polymerization by an Acid‐Responsive Conformational Switch JF - Chemistry – A European Journal N2 - Besides their widespread use in coordination chemistry, 2,2’‐bipyridines are known for their ability to undergo cis–trans conformational changes in response to metal ions and acids, which has been primarily investigated at the molecular level. However, the exploitation of such conformational switching in self‐assembly has remained unexplored. In this work, the use of 2,2’‐bipyridines as acid‐responsive conformational switches to tune supramolecular polymerization processes has been demonstrated. To achieve this goal, we have designed a bipyridine‐based linear bolaamphiphile, 1, that forms ordered supramolecular polymers in aqueous media through cooperative aromatic and hydrophobic interactions. Interestingly, addition of acid (TFA) induces the monoprotonation of the 2,2’‐bipyridine moiety, leading to a switch in the molecular conformation from a linear (trans) to a V‐shaped (cis) state. This increase in molecular distortion along with electrostatic repulsions of the positively charged bipyridine‐H\(^{+}\) units attenuate the aggregation tendency and induce a transformation from long fibers to shorter thinner fibers. Our findings may contribute to opening up new directions in molecular switches and stimuli‐responsive supramolecular materials. KW - acid-sensitive KW - amphiphilic systems KW - π-conjugated systems KW - noncovalent interactions KW - self-assembly Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-218118 VL - 26 IS - 44 SP - 10005 EP - 10013 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Rang, Maximilian A1 - Fantuzzi, Felipe A1 - Arrowsmith, Merle A1 - Krummenacher, Ivo A1 - Beck, Eva A1 - Witte, Robert A1 - Matler, Alexander A1 - Rempel, Anna A1 - Bischof, Tobias A1 - Radacki, Krzysztof A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Braunschweig, Holger T1 - Reduktion und Umlagerung eines Bor(I)‐Carbonylkomplexes JF - Angewandte Chemie N2 - Bei der Einelektronenreduktion eines durch eine cyclisches (Alkyl)(amino)carben (CAAC) stabilisierten Arylborylen-Carbonylkomplexes erfolgt die Bildung eines dimeren Borylketyl-Radikalanions, bedingt durch eine intramolekulare Arylmigration zum CO Kohlenstoffatom. Computergestützte Analyse liefert Hinweise auf eine radikalanionische [(CAAC)B(CO)Ar]\(^{.-}\) Zwischenstufe. Weiterführende Reduktion des entstandenen Komplexes liefert ein hoch nukleophiles (Boranyliden)methanolat. KW - Biradikale KW - Bor-Carbonylkomplexe KW - Dichtefunktionalrechnungen KW - Reduktionen KW - Umlagerungen Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-224409 VL - 133 IS - 6 SP - 3000 EP - 3005 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Preitschopf, Tobias A1 - Sturm, Floriane A1 - Stroganova, Iuliia A1 - Lemmens, Alexander K. A1 - Rijs, Anouk M. A1 - Fischer, Ingo T1 - IR/UV Double Resonance Study of the 2‐Phenylallyl Radical and its Pyrolysis Products JF - Chemistry – A European Journal N2 - Isolated 2‐phenylallyl radicals (2‐PA), generated by pyrolysis from a nitrite precursor, have been investigated by IR/UV ion dip spectroscopy using free electron laser radiation. 2‐PA is a resonance‐stabilized radical that is considered to be involved in the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in combustion, but also in interstellar space. The radical is identified based on its gas‐phase IR spectrum. Furthermore, a number of bimolecular reaction products are identified, showing that the self‐reaction as well as reactions with unimolecular decomposition products of 2‐PA form several PAH efficiently. Possible mechanisms are discussed and the chemistry of 2‐PA is compared with the one of the related 2‐methylallyl and phenylpropargyl radicals. KW - free electron laser KW - free jet KW - IR spectroscopy KW - PAH formation KW - radical reactions Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-312338 VL - 29 IS - 13 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Ojha, Animesh K. A1 - Forster, Stefan A1 - Kumar, Sumeet A1 - Vats, Siddharth A1 - Negi, Sangeeta A1 - Fischer, Ingo T1 - Synthesis of well–dispersed silver nanorods of different aspect ratios and their antimicrobial properties against gram positive and negative bacterial strains JF - Journal of Nanobiotechnology N2 - In the present contribution, we describe the synthesis of highly dispersed silver nanorods (NRs) of different aspect ratios using a chemical route. The shape and size of the synthesized NRs were characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and UV-visible spectroscopy. Longitudinal and transverse absorptions bands confirm the rod type structure. The experimentally recorded UV-visible spectra of NRs solutions were fitted by using an expression of the extinction coefficient for rod like nano structures under the dipole approximation. Simulated and experimentally observed UV-visible spectra were compared to determine the aspect ratios (R) of NRs. The average values of R for NR1, NR2 and NR3 solutions are estimated to be 3.0 ± 0.1, 1.8 ± 0.1 and 1.2 ± 0.1, respectively. These values are in good agreement with those obtained by TEM micrographs. The silver NRs of known aspect ratios are used to study antimicrobial activities against B. subtilis (gram positive) and E. coli (gram negative) microbes. We observed that the NRs of intermediate aspect ratio (R = 1.8) have greater antimicrobial effect against both, B. subtilis (gram positive) and E. coli (gram negative). The NRs of aspect ratio, R = 3.0 has better antimicrobial activities against gram positive than on the gram negative. KW - antimicrobial activities KW - silver KW - nano rods KW - TEM Y1 - 2013 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-132222 VL - 11 IS - 42 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Müller, Patrick A1 - Meta, Mergim A1 - Meidner, Jan Laurenz A1 - Schwickert, Marvin A1 - Meyr, Jessica A1 - Schwickert, Kevin A1 - Kersten, Christian A1 - Zimmer, Collin A1 - Hammerschmidt, Stefan Josef A1 - Frey, Ariane A1 - Lahu, Albin A1 - de la Hoz-Rodríguez, Sergio A1 - Agost-Beltrán, Laura A1 - Rodríguez, Santiago A1 - Diemer, Kira A1 - Neumann, Wilhelm A1 - Gonzàlez, Florenci V. A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Schirmeister, Tanja T1 - Investigation of the compatibility between warheads and peptidomimetic sequences of protease inhibitors — a comprehensive reactivity and selectivity study JF - International Journal of Molecular Sciences N2 - Covalent peptidomimetic protease inhibitors have gained a lot of attention in drug development in recent years. They are designed to covalently bind the catalytically active amino acids through electrophilic groups called warheads. Covalent inhibition has an advantage in terms of pharmacodynamic properties but can also bear toxicity risks due to non-selective off-target protein binding. Therefore, the right combination of a reactive warhead with a well-suited peptidomimetic sequence is of great importance. Herein, the selectivities of well-known warheads combined with peptidomimetic sequences suited for five different proteases were investigated, highlighting the impact of both structure parts (warhead and peptidomimetic sequence) for affinity and selectivity. Molecular docking gave insights into the predicted binding modes of the inhibitors inside the binding pockets of the different enzymes. Moreover, the warheads were investigated by NMR and LC-MS reactivity assays against serine/threonine and cysteine nucleophile models, as well as by quantum mechanics simulations. KW - covalent inhibitors KW - in vitro study KW - protease inhibitors KW - peptidomimetic sequence KW - warhead KW - reactivity and selectivity study Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-313596 SN - 1422-0067 VL - 24 IS - 8 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Muessig, Jonas H. A1 - Lisinetskaya, Polina A1 - Dewhurst, Rian D. A1 - Bertermann, Rüdiger A1 - Thaler, Melanie A1 - Mitric, Roland A1 - Braunschweig, Holger T1 - Tetraiododiborane(4) (B\(_2\)I\(_4\)) is a Polymer based on sp\(^3\) Boron in the Solid State JF - Angewandte Chemie International Edition N2 - Herein we present the first solid‐state structures of tetraiododiborane(4) (B\(_2\)I\(_4\)), which was long believed to exist in all phases as discrete molecules with planar, tricoordinate boron atoms, like the lighter tetrahalodiboranes(4) B\(_2\)F\(_4\), B\(_2\)Cl\(_4\), and B\(_2\)Br\(_4\). Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, solid‐state NMR, and IR measurements indicate that B\(_2\)I\(_4\) in fact exists as two different polymeric forms in the solid state, both of which feature boron atoms in tetrahedral environments. DFT calculations are used to simulate the IR spectra of the solution and solid‐state structures, and these are compared with the experimental spectra. KW - boron tetraiodide KW - boron KW - density functional theory KW - diborane KW - halides KW - solid-state sturcture Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-209428 VL - 59 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Malý, Pavel A1 - Brixner, Tobias T1 - Fluorescence‐Detected Pump–Probe Spectroscopy JF - Angewandte Chemie International Edition N2 - We introduce a new approach to transient spectroscopy, fluorescence‐detected pump–probe (F‐PP) spectroscopy, that overcomes several limitations of traditional PP. F‐PP suppresses excited‐state absorption, provides background‐free detection, removes artifacts resulting from pump–pulse scattering, from non‐resonant solvent response, or from coherent pulse overlap, and allows unique extraction of excited‐state dynamics under certain conditions. Despite incoherent detection, time resolution of F‐PP is given by the duration of the laser pulses, independent of the fluorescence lifetime. We describe the working principle of F‐PP and provide its theoretical description. Then we illustrate specific features of F‐PP by direct comparison with PP, theoretically and experimentally. For this purpose, we investigate, with both techniques, a molecular squaraine heterodimer, core–shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dots, and fluorescent protein mCherry. F‐PP is broadly applicable to chemical systems in various environments and in different spectral regimes. KW - femtochemistry KW - FL spectroscopy KW - time-resolved spectroscopy KW - transient absorption Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-244811 VL - 60 IS - 34 SP - 18867 EP - 18875 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Klein, Philipp A1 - Johe, Patrick A1 - Wagner, Annika A1 - Jung, Sascha A1 - Kühlborn, Jonas A1 - Barthels, Fabian A1 - Tenzer, Stefan A1 - Distler, Ute A1 - Waigel, Waldemar A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Hellmich, Ute A. A1 - Opatz, Till A1 - Schirmeister, Tanja T1 - New cysteine protease inhibitors: electrophilic (het)arenes and unexpected prodrug identification for the Trypanosoma protease rhodesain JF - Molecules N2 - Electrophilic (het)arenes can undergo reactions with nucleophiles yielding π- or Meisenheimer (σ-) complexes or the products of the S\(_N\)Ar addition/elimination reactions. Such building blocks have only rarely been employed for the design of enzyme inhibitors. Herein, we demonstrate the combination of a peptidic recognition sequence with such electrophilic (het)arenes to generate highly active inhibitors of disease-relevant proteases. We further elucidate an unexpected mode of action for the trypanosomal protease rhodesain using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, enzyme kinetics and various types of simulations. After hydrolysis of an ester function in the recognition sequence of a weakly active prodrug inhibitor, the liberated carboxylic acid represents a highly potent inhibitor of rhodesain (K\(_i\) = 4.0 nM). The simulations indicate that, after the cleavage of the ester, the carboxylic acid leaves the active site and re-binds to the enzyme in an orientation that allows the formation of a very stable π-complex between the catalytic dyad (Cys-25/His-162) of rhodesain and the electrophilic aromatic moiety. The reversible inhibition mode results because the S\(_N\)Ar reaction, which is found in an alkaline solvent containing a low molecular weight thiol, is hindered within the enzyme due to the presence of the positively charged imidazolium ring of His-162. Comparisons between measured and calculated NMR shifts support this interpretation KW - cysteine protease KW - rhodesain KW - electrophilic (het)arene KW - nucleophilic aromatic substitution KW - Meisenheimer complex KW - π-complex KW - prodrug Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-203380 SN - 1420-3049 VL - 25 IS - 6 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Klein, Philipp A1 - Barthels, Fabian A1 - Johe, Patrick A1 - Wagner, Annika A1 - Tenzer, Stefan A1 - Distler, Ute A1 - Le, Thien Anh A1 - Schmid, Paul A1 - Engel, Volker A1 - Engels, Bernd A1 - Hellmich, Ute A. A1 - Opatz, Till A1 - Schirmeister, Tanja T1 - Naphthoquinones as covalent reversible inhibitors of cysteine proteases — studies on inhibition mechanism and kinetics JF - Molecules N2 - The facile synthesis and detailed investigation of a class of highly potent protease inhibitors based on 1,4-naphthoquinones with a dipeptidic recognition motif (HN-l-Phe-l-Leu-OR) in the 2-position and an electron-withdrawing group (EWG) in the 3-position is presented. One of the compound representatives, namely the acid with EWG = CN and with R = H proved to be a highly potent rhodesain inhibitor with nanomolar affinity. The respective benzyl ester (R = Bn) was found to be hydrolyzed by the target enzyme itself yielding the free acid. Detailed kinetic and mass spectrometry studies revealed a reversible covalent binding mode. Theoretical calculations with different density functionals (DFT) as well as wavefunction-based approaches were performed to elucidate the mode of action. KW - protease KW - rhodesain KW - covalent reversible inhibition KW - 1,4-naphthoquinone KW - nucleophilic addition KW - prodrug Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-203791 SN - 1420-3049 VL - 25 IS - 9 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hirsch, Florian A1 - Pachner, Kai A1 - Fischer, Ingo A1 - Issler, Kevin A1 - Petersen, Jens A1 - Mitric, Roland A1 - Bakels, Sjors A1 - Rijs, Anouk M. T1 - Do Xylylenes Isomerize in Pyrolysis? JF - ChemPhysChem N2 - We report infrared spectra of xylylene isomers in the gas phase, using free electron laser (FEL) radiation. All xylylenes were generated by flash pyrolysis. The IR spectra were obtained by monitoring the ion dip signal, using a IR/UV double resonance scheme. A gas phase IR spectrum of para‐xylylene  was recorded, whereas ortho‐ and meta‐xylylene were found to partially rearrange to benzocyclobutene and styrene. Computations of the UV oscillator strength  for all molecules were carried out and provde an explanation for the observation of the isomerization products. KW - biradicals KW - high-temperature chemistry KW - IR spectroscopy KW - pyrolysis KW - xylylene Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-218316 VL - 21 IS - 14 SP - 1515 EP - 1518 ER -