Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Kohse‐Höinghaus, Katharina; Oßwald, Patrick; Cool, Terrill A.; Kasper, Tina; Hansen, Nils; Qi, Fei; Westbrook, Charles K.; Westmoreland, Phillip R.

doi: 10.1002/anie.201001648pmid: N/A

Biodiesel a mixture of esters, is produced from rapeseed; other potential biofuels are alcohols and ethers. As K. Kohse‐Höinghaus et al. describe in their Review on page 3572 ff., the structure of a fuel molecule has a significant influence on its combustion chemistry. The complex chemical reaction pathways of the fuel decomposition and oxidation can be revealed by mass spectrometry and laser diagnostics.

Mugridge, Jeffrey S.; Bergman, Robert G.; Raymond, Kenneth N.

doi: 10.1002/anie.201001707pmid: N/A

Kinetic isotope effects are observed in the guest exchange process in a supramolecular host–guest system. As reported by J. S. Mugridge, R. G. Bergman, and K. N. Raymond in their Communication on page 3635 ff., deuteration of the guest molecule results in up to an 11 % increase in the rate of guest ejection from the host cavity. The observed isotope effects are consistent with the smaller size of deuterated guest molecules, but are more fully explained by changes in guest CH/D vibrational modes at the sterically crowded transition state for guest exchange.

doi: 10.1002/anie.201090062pmid: N/A

doi: 10.1002/anie.201090063pmid: N/A

doi: 10.1002/anie.201000970pmid: N/A

“When I was eighteen I wanted to be the first person to live on the moon. If I could be anyone for a day, I would be a scientist 1000 years from now …︁” This and more about Tetsuro Majima can be found on page 3564.

Åkermark, Björn

doi: 10.1002/anie.201001596pmid: N/A

Lorke, Axel

doi: 10.1002/anie.201000651pmid: N/A

Harvard University Press 2009. 192 pp., hardcover € 27.95.—ISBN 978‐0674035669

Knappke, Christiane E. I.; Jacobi von Wangelin, Axel

doi: 10.1002/anie.201001028pmid: 20391553

Twice as good: This highlight illustrates the development of new protocols for the efficient synthesis of polysubstituted arenes. The dual role of carbamate and sulfamate substituents as directing and leaving groups has been exploited in efficient reaction sequences of directed ortho‐metalation and chemoselective nickel‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reactions (see structure).

Kohse‐Höinghaus, Katharina; Oßwald, Patrick; Cool, Terrill A.; Kasper, Tina; Hansen, Nils; Qi, Fei; Westbrook, Charles K.; Westmoreland, Phillip R.

doi: 10.1002/anie.200905335pmid: 20446278

Biofuels, such as bio‐ethanol, bio‐butanol, and biodiesel, are of increasing interest as alternatives to petroleum‐based transportation fuels because they offer the long‐term promise of fuel‐source regenerability and reduced climatic impact. Current discussions emphasize the processes to make such alternative fuels and fuel additives, the compatibility of these substances with current fuel‐delivery infrastructure and engine performance, and the competition between biofuel and food production. However, the combustion chemistry of the compounds that constitute typical biofuels, including alcohols, ethers, and esters, has not received similar public attention. Herein we highlight some characteristic aspects of the chemical pathways in the combustion of prototypical representatives of potential biofuels. The discussion focuses on the decomposition and oxidation mechanisms and the formation of undesired, harmful, or toxic emissions, with an emphasis on transportation fuels. New insights into the vastly diverse and complex chemical reaction networks of biofuel combustion are enabled by recent experimental investigations and complementary combustion modeling. Understanding key elements of this chemistry is an important step towards the intelligent selection of next‐generation alternative fuels.

Szyc, Łukasz; Yang, Ming; Nibbering, Erik T. J.; Elsaesser, Thomas

doi: 10.1002/anie.200905693pmid: 20446279

Biochemical processes occur mainly in aqueous environments, where interactions with water molecules play a key role for both the structure and function of biomolecules. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the basic carrier of genetic information, is characterized by an equilibrium double helix structure which is held together by intermolecular hydrogen bonds between base pairs and hydrated by an environment of water molecules with fluctuating hydrogen bonds. Basic vibrational motions of hydrated DNA and the fastest changes in the DNA–water interactions and hydration geometries occur in less than 1 ps. These processes can be accessed by mapping the vibrational dynamics of DNA and water in a time‐resolved way by nonlinear ultrafast vibrational spectroscopy. Recent studies provide a detailed understanding of DNA vibrations and their dynamics, and give insight into nonequilibrium properties and structures of hydrated DNA.