Thermal and electrochemical properties of poly(butylene sulfite)-based polymer electrolyte

Poly(butylene sulfite) (poly-1) was synthesized by cationic ring-opening polymerization of butylene sulfite (1), which was prepared by the reaction of 1,4-butanediol and thionyl chloride, with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) in bulk. The polymer electrolytes composed of poly-1 with lithium salts such as bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiN(SO₂CF₃)₂, LiTFSI) and bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiN(SO₂F)₂, LiFSI) were prepared, and their ionic conductivities, thermal, and electrochemical properties were investigated. Ionic conductivities of the polymer electrolytes for the poly-1/LiTFSI system increased with lithium salt concentrations, reached maximum values at the [LiTFSI]/[repeating unit] ratio of 1/10, and then decreased in further more salt concentrations. The highest ionic conductivity values at the [LiTFSI]/[repeating unit] ratio of 1/10 were 2.36?×?10^?4 S/cm at 80 °C and 1.01?×?10^?5 S/cm at 20 °C. On the other hand, ionic conductivities of the polymer electrolytes for the poly-1/LiFSI system increased with an increase in lithium salt concentrations, and ionic conductivity values at the [LiFSI]/[repeating unit] ratio of 1/1 were 1.25?×?10^?3 S/cm at 80 °C and 5.93?×?10^?5 S/cm at 20 °C. Glass transition temperature (T _g) increased with lithium salt concentrations for the poly-1/LiTFSI system, but T _g for the poly-1/LiFSI system was almost constant regardless of lithium salt concentrations. Both polymer electrolytes showed high transference number of lithium ion: 0.57 for the poly-1/LiTFSI system and 0.56 for the poly-1/LiFSI system, respectively. The polymer electrolytes for the poly-1/LiTFSI system were thermally more stable than those for the poly-1/LiFSI system.     

Some exact solutions of the local induction equation for the motion of a vortex in a Bose–Einstein condensate with a Gaussian density profile

The dynamics of a vortex filament in a Bose–Einstein condensate whose equilibrium density in the reference frame rotating at the angular velocity Ω is Gaussian with the quadratic form r·D?r has been considered. It has been shown that the equation of motion of the filament in the local-induction approximation permits a class of exact solutions in the form R(β, t) = βM(t) + N(t) of a straight vortex, where β is the longitudinal parameter and is the time. The vortex slips over the surface of an ellipsoid, which follows from the conservation laws N · D?N=C ₁ and M · D?N=C ₀=0. The equation of the evolution of the tangential vector M(t) appears to be closed and has integrals of motion M ·D?M=C ₂ and (|M| ? M· G?Ω) = C, with the matrix G? = 2(I?TrD? ? D?)^?1. Crossing of the respective isosurfaces specifies trajectories in the phase space.     

An efficient and facile synthesis of new tetracyclic fused pyrazolo[4,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis>][1,2,4]triazino[4,5-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]quinolin-4(5<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>)-ones

Reaction of amidrazones 1a–1i with (1,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-4H-pyrazol-4-ylidene)propanedinitrile (2) in ethyl acetate solution in one-step reaction led to the formation of unprecedented pyrazolo[4,3-c][1,2,4]triazino[4,5-a]quinolin-4(5H)-ones 3a–3g along with pyrazolo[4,3-c][1,2,4]triazino[4,5-a]quinolin-12b-oles 3h–3m in moderate to excellent yields. These novel heterocycles were formed via a Michael addition reaction followed by intramolecular cyclization via a dearomatization process.     

Special features of the electric components of acoustic waves in the vicinity of nonpiezoactive directions in crystals

The conditions of existence of the zero components of electric field E and electric induction D accompanying a volume acoustic wave propagating in a piezoelectric medium have been studied. General equations describing the positions of the zero-field lines E(m) = 0 and the zero-induction points m₀, such that D(m₀) = 0 on the unit sphere (m² = 1) of the wave propagation directions, are obtained. General theorems determining the conditions ensuring the existence of such lines and points, even in triclinic crystals, are formulated. The relationship between such directions and various elements of the crystal symmetry is analyzed. The vector fields D(m), which are always orthogonal to the wave normals m, in the vicinity of the zero-induction points m₀ exhibit certain orientational singularities characterized by the Poincaré indices n = 0, ±1, ±2. The general analytical expressions are obtained for the n values in crystals with arbitrary anisotropy and specified for a number of crystals belonging to various symmetry classes. The conditions of stability of the orientational singularities with respect to small perturbations of the material moduli and a change in the crystal symmetry are considered.     

Synthesis of new chiral 1,3,4-thiadiazole-based di- and tri-arylsulfonamide residues and evaluation of in vitro anti-HIV activity and cytotoxicity

A series of new chiral 1,3,4-thiadiazole-based bis-sulfonamides 4a–4w and tri-sulfonamide analogue 5 was synthesized and evaluated as anti-HIV agents. The reaction of chiral amino acids 1 with sulfonyl chlorides 2, followed by subsequent reaction of resultant N-protected amino acids 2a–2f with thiosemicarbazide in the presence of excess phosphorous oxychloride afforded N-(1-(5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)alkyl)-4-arylsulfonamides 3a–3f. Treatment of 2a–2f with substituted sulfonyl chlorides in portions furnished the target bis-sulfonamide analogues 4a–4w in good yields, together with the unexpected 5. The new compounds were assayed against HIV-1 and HIV-2 in MT-4 cells. Compounds 4s were the most active in inhibiting HIV-1 with IC₅₀?=?9.5 μM (SI?=?6.6), suggesting to be a new lead in the development of an antiviral agent. Interestingly, compound 5 exhibited significant cytotoxicity of >?4.09 μM and could be a promising antiproliferative agent.     

Microwave-assisted Synthesis and antifungal activity of coumarin[8,7-<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">e</Emphasis>][1,3]oxazine derivatives

The synthesis of novel coumarin[8,7-e][1,3]oxazine derivatives through a microwave-assisted three-component one-pot Mannich reaction is described in this study. All the target compounds were evaluated in vitro for their antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum capsici, Alternaria solani, Gibberella zeae, Rhizoctonia solani, and Alternaria mali. The preliminary bioassays showed that 5e, 5m, and 5s exhibited good antifungal activity and the most active compound was 5m with an \(\hbox {EC}_{50}\) value as low as 2.1 nM against Botrytis cinerea.     

Short-range order and twins in ordered titanium monoxide

The structure of annealed titanium monoxide TiO_1.087 containing monoclinic ordered phase Ti₅O₅ was studied by electron diffraction. Along with the set of structural, superstructural, and extra reflections, the diffraction pattern of titanium monoxide shows a set of plane diffuse fringes in the (112)_B1* section of the reciprocal lattice of the basis cubic structure B1. It is shown that some of the extra reflections are due to the twinning of the monoclinic superstructure along the (?1?11) plane of the reciprocal lattice of the basis cubic structure. The diffuse contours enclose plane areas of the reciprocal space with the fixed values of wave vectors K₁₀₀ ～ ±(h+0.07)k₁₀₀, K₀₁₀ ～ ±(k+0.07)k₀₁₀, and K₀₀₁ ～± (l+0.07)k₀₀₁ of the B1 structure. Their appearance is associated with the short-range displacement order.     

Radiation of electromagnetic waves by a dipole in an external uniform electrostatic field

Exact solution for the electromagnetic field densities E and H of a dipole of uniformly accelerated point-charges with identical masses is discussed. It is shown that, for any fixed time t and a large distance R between the center of the dipole and the fieldpoint, |E| ~ R ^?4, |H| ~ R ^?5, while for large c|t| ~ R, |E| ~ |H| ~1/R as in spherical electromagnetic waves. Nevertheless, any irreversible radiation of electromagnetic waves is absent since the wave zone does not exist.     

The dynamic structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis> conformers of substituted phosphinous acids

The potential energy surfaces of bis-(trifluoromethyl)-phosphinous (III), diemthylphosphinous (IV), and bis-(pentafluorophenyl)-phosphinous (V) acids, the geometric parameters of the cis and trans conformers of these acids, and their P-O and O-H stretching vibration frequencies were calculated by the density functional theory method (PBE, 4Z). The potential energy surface sections corresponding to internal rotations about the P-O bonds were constructed, and dynamic problems for such a motion of the proton in a cyclic potential were solved by the Ritz method using a basis set of 100 trigonometric functions. According to calculations, the energy differences between the cis and trans conformers of acids III–V were of 4–7 kJ/mol, and the heights of potential barriers separating these conformers were of from 11 to 16 kJ/mol. In acids III and V, the cis, and, in IV, the trans conformer was stabler. At 298 K, only the ground vibrational states were populated for both rotamers of IV and V and the cis conformer of III. The special features of the potential of III were such that, at 298 K, the first excited vibrational level of its trans conformer was also noticeably populated.     

Analytic Structure of Many-Body Coulombic Wave Functions

We investigate the analytic structure of solutions of non-relativistic Schrödinger equations describing Coulombic many-particle systems. We prove the following: Let ψ(x) with \({{\bf x} = (x_{1},\dots, x_{N})\in \mathbb {R}^{3N}}\) denote an N-electron wavefunction of such a system with one nucleus fixed at the origin. Then in a neighbourhood of a coalescence point, for which x ₁ = 0 and the other electron coordinates do not coincide, and differ from 0, ψ can be represented locally as ψ(x) = ψ ⁽¹⁾(x) + |x ₁|ψ ⁽²⁾(x) with ψ ⁽¹⁾, ψ ⁽²⁾ real analytic. A similar representation holds near two-electron coalescence points. The Kustaanheimo-Stiefel transform and analytic hypoellipticity play an essential role in the proof.     

Identification of a novel putative inhibitor of the <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Plasmodium falciparum</Emphasis> purine nucleoside phosphorylase: exploring the purine salvage pathway to design new antimalarial drugs

Malaria, a tropical parasitic disease caused by Plasmodium spp., continues to place a heavy social burden, with almost 200 million cases and more than 580,000 deaths per year. Plasmodium falciparum purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PfPNP) can be targeted for antimalarial drug design since its inhibition kills malaria parasites both in vitro and in vivo. Although the currently known inhibitors of PfPNP, immucillins, are orally available and of low toxicity to animals and humans, to the best of our knowledge, none of these compounds has entered clinical trials for the treatment of malaria. Using a pharmacophore-based virtual screening coupled to a consensual molecular docking approach, we identified 59 potential PfPNP inhibitors that are predicted to be orally absorbed in a Caco-2 cell model. Although most of these compounds are predicted to have high plasma protein binding levels, poor water solubility (except for compound 25) and CYP3A4 metabolic stability (except for 4, 7 and 8), four structures (4, 7, 8 and 25) remain as potential leads because of their plausible interaction with a specific hydrophobic pocket of PfPNP, which would confer them higher selectivity for PfPNP over human PNP. Additionally, both predicted Gibbs free energies for binding and molecular dynamics suggest that compound 4 may form a more stable complex with PfPNP than 5\(^{\prime }\)-methylthio-immucillin-H, a potent and selective inhibitor of PfPNP.     

Synthesis and three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship study of quinazoline derivatives containing a 1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety as efficient inhibitors against <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri</Emphasis>

A series of quinazoline derivatives containing a 1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety were synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial activities against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac) and Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs). Antibacterial bioassays indicated that most of target compounds exhibited significant antibacterial activities against Xac and Rs in vitro. Strikingly, compounds 6d–6i, 6m–6r and 6u–6x showed antibacterial activity against Xac, with \(\hbox {EC}_{50}\) values ranging from 14.42 to 38.91 \(\upmu \)g/mL, which are better than that of bismerthiazol (39.86 \(\upmu \)g/mL). Based on the antibacterial activity against Xac, comparative molecular filed analysis and comparative molecular similarity index analysis models were generated to investigate the structure-activity relationship of title compounds against Xac. The analytical results indicated that the above models exhibited good predictive accuracy and could be used as practical tools for guiding the design and synthesis of more potent quinazoline derivatives containing a 1,3,4-oxadiazole moiety.     

On the Negative Spectrum of the Two-Dimensional Schrödinger Operator with Radial Potential

For a two-dimensional Schrödinger operator H _{α V}  = ?Δ ?αV with the radial potential V(x) = F(|x|), F(r) ≥ 0, we study the behavior of the number N _?(H _{α V} ) of its negative eigenvalues, as the coupling parameter α tends to infinity. We obtain the necessary and sufficient conditions for the semi-classical growth N _?(H _{α V} ) = O(α) and for the validity of the Weyl asymptotic law.     

Galvanomagnetic properties of atomically disordered Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>RuO<Subscript>4</Subscript> single crystals

The effect of neutron-bombardment-induced atomic disorder on the galvanomagnetic properties of Sr₂RuO₄ single crystals has been experimentally studied in a broad range of temperatures (1.7–380 K) and magnetic fields (up to 13.6 T). The disorder leads to the appearance of negative temperature coefficients for both the in-plane electric resistivity (ρ_a) and that along the c axis (ρ_c), as well as the negative magnetoresistance Δρ, which is strongly anisotropic to the magnetic field orientation (H ∥ a and H ∥ c), with the easy magnetization direction along the c axis and a weak dependence on the probing current direction in the low-temperature region. The experimental ρ_a(T) and ρ_c(T) curves obtained for the initial and radiation-disordered samples can be described within the framework of a theoretical model with two conductivity channels. The first channel corresponds to the charge carriers with increased effective masses (～10m _e , where m _e is the electron mass) and predominantly electron-electron scattering, which leads to the quadratic temperature dependences of ρ_a and ρ_c. The second channel corresponds to the charge carriers with lower effective masses exhibiting magnetic scattering at low temperatures, which leads to the temperature dependence of the ρ_{a, c}(T) ∝ 1/T type.     

Synthesis and antibacterial evaluation of new N- and S-glycosides analogues with dinitrophenyl-substituted heterocyclic bases

Four N- and S-glycosides 13–16 having nucleobases 7–12 binding to sugar molecules from one side and to 3,5-dinitrophenyl moieties from another side were synthesized from 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid 2. The synthetic intermediates, hydrazide 5 and thiosemicarbazide 6 regarded as important key compounds for the synthesis of nucleobases 7–12, each was obtained by two approaches. Structures of synthesized compounds were determined spectroscopically. Antibacterial activities for synthetic intermediates and glycosides were assessed using the paper disk diffusion method against Gram-negative bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Escherichia coli and Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. Some of the synthetic compounds showed variant activity against some of the microorganisms tested. Nucleobases 8–10 and 12 showed moderate to slight activity against microorganisms under test at relatively high concentration, while the N-glycosides 14 and 15 exhibited persistent effect even at lower concentrations. Commercially available antibiotics polymyxine and oxytetracycline were used as positive controls.     

Synthesis,structural, and spectroscopic (FT-IR,NMR, and UV) Characterization of 1-(Cyclohexylmethyl)-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-benzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">d</Emphasis>]imidazole by experimental techniques and quantum chemical calculations

The title compound (II), 1-(cyclohexylmethyl)-2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole (C₁₉H₂₁N₃), was synthesized via N-alkylation of 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole (I). Both compounds I and II were characterized by IR, NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy. Solid-state structure of compound II was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction technique. Furthermore, quantum chemical calculations employing density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) method with the 6–311++G(d, p) basis set were performed for the theoretical characterization of the molecular and spectroscopic features of the compounds. Using the TD-DFT method, electronic absorption spectra of the compounds have been predicted at same level. When the obtained results were compared with the experimental findings, it is seen that theoretical results support the experimental data and a good agreement exists between them.     

Temperature dependence of the spectrum of electrons levitating above solid hydrogen

A theory of photoresonance transitions for the electrons localized above the solid H₂ surface is proposed on the basis of the experimental data obtained by V. V. Zav’yalov and I. I. Smol’yaninov [Pis’ma Zh. Éksp. Teor. Fiz. 44, 142 (1986); Zh. Éksp. Teor. Fiz. 92, 339 (1987); Zh. Éksp. Teor. Fiz. 94, 307 (1988)] and a simple model of condensed hydrogen, H₂. A new explanation is offered for the strong dependence of the transition frequency v on the hydrogen vapor pressure revealed in the above-cited works. In contrast to the notions that were proposed by V. V. Zav’yalov and I. I. Smol’yaninov [Zh. Éksp. Teor. Fiz. 92, 339 (1987); Zh. Éksp. Teor. Fiz. 94, 307 (1988)]; and V. B. Shikin and S. N. Nazin [Pis’ma Zh. Éksp. Teor. Fiz. 82, 752 (2005)] and based on the effects of the quantum refraction of electrons by hydrogen vapor atoms, the temperature dependence of the frequency ν = ν (T) is attributed here to the H₂ vapor inhomogeneity. The nonanalytic dependence of ν on the vapor density n _ν , ν(n _ν ) ? ν(0) ～ n _ν ^γ ～ e^?Δ/T , γ ? 0.56 has been revealed from the experimental data. The activation energy Δ corresponds to the “incomplete evaporation” of solid hydrogen [see J. I. Frenkel, Z. Phys. 26, 37 (1924); Kinetic Theory of Liquids (Nauka, Leningrad, 1945; Clarendon, Oxford, 1946)]. The parameter Δ is lower than the energy of the “complete evaporation” of solid H₂ equal to 92.6 K.     

Formation of the incommensurate ordered phase in TaC<Subscript>y</Subscript> carbide

Structural neutron diffraction studies indicate that only one ordered phase arises after the disorder-order transition in nonstoichiometric cubic tantalum carbide TaC_y. This phase arises in the composition range y = 0.79–0.89 due to long-term annealing with a decrease in temperature from 1600 to 300 K. It is incommensurate in the [1–11]_B1 direction, but it is close to commensurate M₆C₅ structures (C2/m and P3₁ space groups) in mutual arrangement of atoms and vacancies in nonmetallic (1–11)_B1 planes. The disorder-order transition channel that is associated with the formation of the incommensurate superstructure in TaC_y carbide includes two arms k ₅ ⁽⁶⁾ ≈ 0.473b₂ and k ₅ ⁽⁵⁾ = ?k ₅ ⁽⁶⁾ of the {k₅} star and arms of the {k₄} and {k₃} stars. The translation period of the incommensurate phase in the [1–11]_B1 direction is 8.9–9.1 nm, which is larger than that in the commensurate phase M₆C₅ by a factor of about 18.     

Liquid-crystalline dendrimer Cu(II) complexes and Cu(0) nanoclusters based on the Cu(II) complexes: An electron paramagnetic resonance investigation

New nanostructured materials, namely, the liquid-crystalline copper(II) complexes that contain poly(propylene imine) dendrimer ligands of the first (ligand 1) and second (ligand 2) generations and which have a columnar mesophase and different copper contents (x = Cu/L), are investigated by EPR spectroscopy. The influence of water molecules and nitrate counterions on the magnetic properties of complex 2 (x = 7.3) is studied. It is demonstrated that water molecules can extract some of the copper ions from dendrimer complexes and form hexaaqua copper complexes with free ions. The dimer spectra of fully hydrated complex 2 (x = 7.3) are observed at temperatures T < 10 K. For this complex, the structure is identified and the distance between the copper ions is determined. It is shown that the nitrate counterion plays the role of a bridge between the hexaaqua copper(II) complex and the dendrimer copper(II) complex. The temperature-induced valence tautomerism attended by electron transport is revealed for the first time in blue dendrimer complexes 1 (x = 1.9) with a dimer structure. The activation energy for electron transport is estimated to be 0.35 meV. The coordination of the copper ion site (NO₄) and the structural arrangement of green complexes 1 (x = 1.9) in the columnar mesophase are determined. Complexes of this type form linear chains in which nitrate counterions serve as bridges between copper centers. It is revealed that green complexes 1 (x = 1.9) dissolved in isotropic inert solvents can be oriented in the magnetic field (B ₀ = 8000 G). The degree of orientation of these complexes is rather high (S _z = 0.76) and close to that of systems with a complete ordering (S _z = 1) in the magnetic field. Copper(0) nanoclusters prepared by reduction of complex 2 (x = 7.3) in two reducing agents (NaBH₄, N₂H₄ · H₂O) are examined. A model is proposed for a possible location of Cu(0) nanoclusters in a dendrimer matrix.     

Substituent Dependent Optical Properties of <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-phenyl Substituted ethenyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>-thiophenes

Various electron donor and acceptor substituted (NO₂, CN, Cl, H, OCH₃, NH₂) p-phenyl ethenyl-E- thiophenes (1–6) were synthesized and substituent dependent optical properties (dipole moment, transition dipole moment, oscillator strength, optical band gap, hyperpolarizability) were studied using Solvatochromism and Density functional theory. It is shown that thiophene acts as a weak electron donor in presence of an electron withdrawing p-phenyl substituent (NO₂, CN, Cl), whereas thiophene acts as a weak electron acceptor in presence of an electron donating p-phenyl substituent (OCH₃, NH₂). In comparison to ethenyl thiophene 4, the HOMO-LUMO energy band gap is decreased upon increasing the electron donating or electron withdrawing capacity of p-phenyl substituent. From the excited state dipole moment calculation, it is shown that the excited state is highly dipolar for nitro and amino compounds 1 and 6, whereas compounds 2–5 show a non-polar excited state. As compared to the ethenyl thiophene 4, the first hyperpolarizability (β) increases upon substitution either with a strong electron withdrawing or strong electron donating p-phenyl substituent. A large β value is found for p-nitro phenyl ethenyl-E-thiophene and p-amino phenyl ethenyl-E- thiophene. Overall, these studies provide useful information in understanding the optical properties of phenyl and heterocyclic based ethenyl systems.