Surface terminations control charge transfer from bulk to surface states in topological insulators.

Topological insulators (TI) hold significant potential for various electronic and optoelectronic devices that rely on the Dirac surface state (DSS), including spintronic and thermoelectric devices, as well as terahertz detectors. The behavior of electrons within the DSS plays a pivotal role in the performance of such devices. It is expected that DSS appear on a surface of three dimensional(3D) TI by mechanical exfoliation. However, it is not always the case that the surface terminating atomic configuration and corresponding band structures are homogeneous. In order to investigate the impact of surface terminating atomic configurations on electron dynamics, we meticulously examined the electron dynamics at the exfoliated surface of a crystalline 3D TI (Bi 2 Se 3 ) with time, space, and energy resolutions. Based on our comprehensive band structure calculations, we found that on one of the Se-terminated surfaces, DSS is located within the bulk band gap, with no other surface states manifesting within this region. On this particular surface, photoexcited electrons within the conduction band effectively relax towards DSS and tend to linger at the Dirac point for extended periods of time. It is worth emphasizing that these distinct characteristics of DSS are exclusively observed on this particular surface.

Time of flight-photoemission electron microscope for ultrahigh spatiotemporal probing of nanoplasmonic optical fields.

Nanoplasmonic excitations as generated by few-cycle laser pulses on metal nanostructures undergo ultrafast dynamics with timescales as short as a few hundred attoseconds (1 as = 10(-18) s). So far, the spatiotemporal dynamics of optical fields localized on the nanoscale (nanoplasmonic field) have been hidden from direct access in the real space and time domain. An approach which combines photoelectron emission microscopy and attosecond streaking spectroscopy and which provides direct and non-invasive access to the nanoplasmonic field with nanometer-scale spatial resolution and temporal resolution of the order of 100 as has been proposed (Stockman et al 2007 Nat. Photon. 1 539). To implement this approach, a time of flight-photoemission electron microscope (TOF-PEEM) with ∼25 nm spatial and ∼50 meV energy resolution, which has the potential to detect a nanoplasmonic field with nanometer spatial and attosecond temporal resolution, has been developed and characterized using a 400 nm/60 ps pulsed diode laser. The first experimental results obtained using this newly developed TOF-PEEM in a two-photon photoemission mode with a polycrystalline Cu sample and an Ag microstructure film show that the yield and the kinetic energy of the emitted photoelectrons are strongly affected by the nanolocalized plasmonic field.

Three-dimensional characterization of extreme ultraviolet mask blank defects by interference contrast photoemission electron microscopy.

A photoemission electron microscope based on a new contrast mechanism "interference contrast" is applied to characterize extreme ultraviolet lithography mask blank defects. Inspection results show that positioning of interference destructive condition (node of standing wave field) on surface of multilayer in the local region of a phase defect is necessary to obtain best visibility of the defect on mask blank. A comparative experiment reveals superiority of the interference contrast photoemission electron microscope (Extreme UV illumination) over a topographic contrast one (UV illumination with Hg discharge lamp) in detecting extreme ultraviolet mask blank phase defects. A depth-resolved detection of a mask blank defect, either by measuring anti-node peak shift in the EUV-PEEM image under varying inspection wavelength condition or by counting interference fringes with a fixed illumination wavelength, is discussed.

In vitro studies of 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinones and their glycosylated derivatives as potential agents for Alzheimer's disease.

Glycosides of 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinones were synthesized and characterized by mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, and in one case by X-ray crystallography. The Cu(2+) complex of a novel 3-hydroxy-4-pyridinone was synthesized and characterized by IR and X-ray crystallography, showing the ability of these compounds to chelate potentially toxic metal ions. An MTT cytotoxicity assay of a selected glycosylated compound showed a relatively low toxicity of IC(50) = 570 +/- 90 microM in a human breast cancer cell line. The pyridinone glycosides could be cleaved by a broad specificity beta-glycosidase, Agrobacterium sp.beta-glucosidase, and for one compound k(cat) and K(m) were determined to be 19.8 s(-1) and 1.52 mM, respectively. Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) values were determined for the free pyridinones, indicating the good antioxidant properties of these compounds. Metal-Abeta(1-40) aggregates with zinc and copper were resolubilized by the non-glycosylated pyridinone ligands.

At-wavelength inspection of sub-40 nm defects in extreme ultraviolet lithography mask blank by photoemission electron microscopy.

A new at-wavelength inspection technology to probe nanoscale defects buried underneath Mo/Si multilayers on an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography mask blank has been implemented using EUV photoemission electron microscopy (EUV-PEEM). EUV-PEEM images of programmed defect structures of various lateral and vertical sizes recorded at an ~13.5 nm wavelength show that 35 nm wide and 4 nm high buried line defects are clearly detectable. The imaging technique proves to be sensitive to small phase jumps, enhancing the edge visibility of the phase defects, which is explained in terms of a standing wave enhanced image contrast at resonant EUV illumination.

Synthesis, characterization, and metal coordinating ability of multifunctional carbohydrate-containing compounds for Alzheimer's therapy.

Dysfunctional interactions of metal ions, especially Cu, Zn, and Fe, with the amyloid-beta (A beta) peptide are hypothesized to play an important role in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition to direct effects on A beta aggregation, both Cu and Fe catalyze the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the brain further contributing to neurodegeneration. Disruption of these aberrant metal-peptide interactions via chelation therapy holds considerable promise as a therapeutic strategy to combat this presently incurable disease. To this end, we developed two multifunctional carbohydrate-containing compounds N,N'-bis[(5-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-2-hydroxy)benzyl]-N,N'-dimethyl-ethane-1,2-diamine (H2GL1) and N,N'-bis[(5-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-3-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy)benzyl]-N,N'-dimethyl-ethane-1,2-diamine (H2GL2) for brain-directed metal chelation and redistribution. Acidity constants were determined by potentiometry aided by UV-vis and 1H NMR measurements to identify the protonation sites of H2GL1,2. Intramolecular H bonding between the amine nitrogen atoms and the H atoms of the hydroxyl groups was determined to have an important stabilizing effect in solution for the H2GL1 and H2GL2 species. Both H2GL1 and H2GL2 were found to have significant antioxidant capacity on the basis of an in vitro antioxidant assay. The neutral metal complexes CuGL1, NiGL1, CuGL2, and NiGL2 were synthesized and fully characterized. A square-planar arrangement of the tetradentate ligand around CuGL2 and NiGL2 was determined by X-ray crystallography with the sugar moieties remaining pendant. The coordination properties of H2GL1,2 were also investigated by potentiometry, and as expected, both ligands displayed a higher affinity for Cu2+ over Zn2+ with H2GL1 displaying better coordinating ability at physiological pH. Both H2GL1 and H2GL2 were found to reduce Zn2+- and Cu2+- induced Abeta1-40 aggregation in vitro, further demonstrating the potential of these multifunctional agents as AD therapeutics.

Synthesis, structure, and biological activity of ferrocenyl carbohydrate conjugates.

Seven ferrocenyl carbohydrate conjugates were synthesized. Coupling reactions of monosaccharide derivatives with ferrocene carbonyl chloride produced {6-N-(methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-amino-6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside)}-1-ferrocene carboxamide (3), {1-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-glucopyranose)}-1-ferrocene carboxylate (4), and {6-O-(1,2,3,4-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranose)}-1-ferrocene carboxylate (5). Similarly, 1,1'-bis(carbonyl chloride)ferrocene was coupled with the appropriate sugars to produce the disubstituted analogues bis{6-N-(methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-amino-6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside)}-1,1'-ferrocene carboxamide (8), bis{1-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-D-glucopyranose)}-1,1'-ferrocene carboxylate (9), and bis{6-O-(1,2,3,4-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranose)}-1,1'-ferrocene carboxylate (10). {6-N-(Methyl-6-amino-6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside)}-1-ferrocene carboxamide monohydrate (12) was synthesized via amide coupling of an activated ferrocenyl ester with the corresponding carbohydrate. All compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, 1H NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. X-ray crystallography confirmed the solid-state structure of three ferrocenyl carbohydrate conjugates: 2-N-(1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose)-1-ferrocene carboxamide (1), 1-S-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-deoxy-1-thio-D-glucopyranose)-1-ferrocene carboxylate (2), and 12. The above compounds, along with bis{2-N-(1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose)}-1,1'-ferrocene carboxamide (6), bis{1-S-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-deoxy-1-thio-D-glucopyranose)}-1,1'-ferrocene carboxylate (7), and 2-N-(2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose)-1-ferrocene carboxamide (11) were examined for cytotoxicity in cell lines (L1210 and HTB-129) and for antimalarial activity in Plasmodium falciparum strains (D10, 3D7, and K1, a chloroquine-resistant strain). In general, the compounds were nontoxic in the human cell line tested (HTB-129), and compounds 4, 7, and 9 showed moderate antimalarial activity in one or more of the P. falciparum strains.

Chelate ring size variations and their effects on coordination chemistry and catechol dioxygenase reactivity of iron(III) complexes.

The catechol dioxygenase reactivity of iron(III) complexes using tripodal ligands was investigated. Increasing, as well as decreasing, chelate ring sizes in the highly active complex [Fe(tmpa)(dbc)]B(C6H5)4 (tmpa = tris[(2-pyridyl)methyl]amine; dbc = 3,5-di-tert-butylcatecholate dianion), using related ligands, only resulted in decreased reactivity of the investigated compounds. A detailed low-temperature stopped-flow investigation of the reaction of dioxygen with [Fe(tmpa)(dbc)]B(C6H5)4 was performed, and activation parameters of DeltaH++ = 23 +/- 1 kJ mol(-1) and DeltaS++ = -199 +/- 4 J mol(-1) K(-1) were obtained. Crystal structures of bromo-(tetrachlorocatecholato-O,O')(bis((2-pyridyl)methyl)-2-pyridylamine-N,N',N'')-iron(III), (mu-oxo)-bis(bromo)(bis((2-pyridyl)methyl)-2-pyridylamine-N,N',N' ',N''')-diiron(III), dichloro-((2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl)bis((2-pyridyl)methyl)amine-N,N',N' ',N''')-iron(III) and (tetrachlorocatecholato-O,O')((2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl)bis((2-pyridyl)methyl)amine-N,N',N' ',N''')-iron(III) are reported.

Less symmetrical dicopper(II) complexes as catechol oxidase models--an adjacent thioether group increases catecholase activity.

Three new unsymmetrical compartmental dinucleating ligands, 4-bromo-2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-ylmethyl)-6-[{2-(1-piperidyl)ethyl}aminomethyl]phenol (HL1), 4-bromo-2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-ylmethyl)-6-[{2-(morpholin-4-yl)ethyl}aminomethyl]phenol (HL2), and 4-bromo-2-(4-methylpiperazin-1-ylmethyl)-6-[{2-(thiomorpholin-4-yl)ethyl}aminomethyl]phenol (HL3), have been synthesized in order to model the active site of type 3 copper proteins. The dicopper(II) complexes of these ligands give first hints about the influence of a thioether group close to the metal site. The bromophenol-based ligands have one piperazine arm and one other bidentate arm in positions 2 and 6 of the phenolic ring, respectively. With each ligand a dinuclear copper(II) complex was prepared and structurally characterized. The copper ions were found to have square pyramidal environments and a mixture of endogenous phenoxo and exogenous acetate bridging. The influence of a heteroatom in one arm of the ligand on catecholase activity and speciation in solution was studied by UV/Vis spectroscopy, ESI-MS experiments and, DFT calculations.