Homologous size-extension of hybrid vanadate capsules - solid state structures, solution stability and surface deposition.

The dimensions and cavity sizes of the molecular capsules with the general formula [V10O18L4](10-) can be controlled modularly through the nature of the bifunctional, rigid organophosphonate ligands L(1) and L(2) (L(1) = bis(4-phosphonatophenyl)ethyne and L(2) = bis(4-phosphonatophenyl)butadiyne); the solution stability of the molecular entities as demonstrated by ESI-MS studies permits their assembly on the Au(111) surface on a sub-monolayer scale giving rise to a 2D supramolecular structure that is comparable to the packing arrangements of the capsules in the crystal structures.

Tetra-butyl-ammonium hydrogen phenyl-arsonate-phenyl-arsonic acid (1/1).

The structure of the title salt adduct, (C(4)H(9))(4)N(+)·C(6)H(5)AsO(3)H(-)·C(6)H(5)AsO(3)H(2), features chains along the a axis comprising alternating hydrogen phenyl-arsonate anions and phenyl-arsonic acid mol-ecules linked by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

catena-Poly[[[dichlorido(pyridin-1-ium-3-yl)arsenic(III)]-µ-chlorido] mono-hydrate].

The crystal structure of the title compound, {[AsCl3(C5H5N)]·H2O} n , is characterized by polymeric chains consisting of alternating arsenic and chlorine atoms running parallel to the a axis. O-H⋯Cl and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds mediated by non-coordinating water mol-ecules assemble these chains into a three-dimensional framework. The As(III) atom, the atoms of the pyridinium ring and the water O atom have m site symmetry and the bridging Cl atom has site symmetry 2. This is the first reported organotrichloro-arsenate(III) in which arsenic adopts a ψ-octa-hedral fivefold coordination.

Electroformation of giant phospholipid vesicles on a silicon substrate: advantages of controllable surface properties.

We introduce the use of silicon (Si) as a substrate for the electroformation of giant phospholipid vesicles. By taking advantage of the tunability of silicon surface properties, we varied the organization of the phospholipid film on the electrode and studied the consequences on vesicle formation. In particular, we investigated the effects of Si surface chemistry and microtopology on the organization of the phospholipid film and the properties of the final vesicles. We established correlations between chemical homogeneity, film defects, and resulting vesicle size distribution. By considering phospholipid films that are artificially fragmented by electrode microstructures, we showed that the characteristic size of vesicles decreases with a decrease in microstructure dimensions. We finally proposed a way to control the vesicle size distribution by using a micropatterned silicon dioxide layer on a Si substrate.