Reactions of meso-hydroxyhemes with carbon monoxide and reducing agents in search of the elusive species responsible for the g = 2.006 resonance of carbon monoxide-treated heme oxygenase. Isolation of diamagnetic iron(II) complexes of octaethyl-meso-hydroxyporphyrin

To examine possible models for the g = 2.006 resonance seen when the hydroxylated heme-heme oxygenase complex in the Fe(III) state is treated with CO, the reactivities of CO and reducing agents with (py)(2)Fe(III)(OEPO) and [Fe(III)(OEPO)](2) (OEPO is the trianion of octaethyl-meso-hydroxyporphyrin) have been examined. A pyridine solution of (py)(2)Fe(III)(OEPO) reacts in a matter of minutes with zinc amalgam (or with hydrazine) under an atmosphere of dioxygen-free dinitrogen to produce bright-red (py)(2)Fe(II)(OEPOH).2py.0.33H(2)O, which has been isolated in crystalline form. The (1)H NMR spectrum of (py)(2)Fe(II)(OEPOH) in a pyridine-d(5) solution is indicative of the presence of a diamagnetic compound, and no EPR resonance was observed for this compound. Treatment of a solution of (py)(2)Fe(II)(OEPOH) in pyridine-d(5) with carbon monoxide produces spectral changes after a 30 s exposure that are indicative of the formation of diamagnetic (OC)(py)Fe(II)(OEPOH). Treatment of a green pyridine solution of (py)(2)Fe(III)(OEPO) with carbon monoxide reveals a slow color change to deep red over a 16 h period. Although a resonance at g = 2.006 was observed in the EPR spectrum of the sample during the reaction, the isolated product is EPR silent. The spectroscopic features of the final solution are identical to those of a solution formed by treating (py)(2)Fe(II)(OEPOH) with carbon monoxide. Addition of hydrazine to solutions of (OC)(py)Fe(II)(OEPOH) produces red, diamagnetic (OC)(N(2)H(4))Fe(II)(OEPOH).py in crystalline form. The X-ray crystal structures of (py)(2)Fe(II)(OEPOH).2py.0.33H(2)O and (OC)(N(2)H(4))Fe(II)(OEPOH).py have been determined. Solutions of diamagnetic (OC)(N(2)H(4))Fe(II)(OEPOH).py and (OC)(py)Fe(II)(OEPOH) are extremely air sensitive and are immediately converted in a pyridine solution into paramagnetic (py)(2)Fe(III)(OEPO) in the presence of dioxygen.     

Synthesis and reaction of alpha-dithiolactone

Treatment of di-tert-butylthioketene S-oxide (5 a) with Lawesson reagent at room temperature resulted in the formation of 3,3-di-tert-butylthiirane-2-thione (4 a) in high yield. The oxidation of 4 a with mCPBA (mCPBA=m-chloroperbenzioc acid) gave 3,3-di-tert-butylthiirane-2-thione S-oxide (6) almost quantitatively. The reactions of 4 a with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) and benzyne afforded dimethyl 2-(2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentan-3-ylidene)-1,3-dithiole-4,5-dicarboxylate (13) and 2-(2,2,4,4-tetramethylpentan-3-ylidene)benzo[d][1,3]dithiole (15), respectively, in high yields, suggesting that 4 a is an excellent 1,3-dipole. The reaction of 4 a with ethylenebis(triphenylphosphine)platinum (16) gave dithiolato-platinum complex (22) in high yield. The structure of 22 was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Aminolysis of Y-substituted phenyl diphenylphosphinates and benzoates: effect of modification of electrophilic center from C=O to P=O

The effect of modification of the electrophilic center from C=O to P=O on reactivity and reaction mechanism has been investigated for aminolysis of Y-substituted phenyl diphenylphosphinates (1a-j) and benzoates (2a-i). The phosphinates 1a-j are less reactive than the benzoates 2a-i. The reactions of 2,4-dinitrophenyl diphenylphosphinate (1a) with alicyclic secondary amines resulted in a linear Br?nsted-type plot with a beta(nuc) value of 0.38, while the corresponding reactions of 2,4-dinitrophenyl benzoate (2a) yielded a curved Br?nsted-type plot. Similarly, a linear Br?nsted-type plot with a beta(lg) value of -0.66 was obtained for the reactions of 1a-j with piperidine, while the corresponding reactions of 2a-i gave a curved Br?nsted-type plot. The linear Br?nsted-type plots for the reactions of 1a-j have been taken as evidence for a concerted mechanism, while the curved Br?nsted-type plots for the reactions of 2a-i have been suggested to indicate a change in the rate-determining step of a stepwise mechanism. The Hammett plot for the reactions of 1b-j exhibited a poor correlation with sigma(-) constants (R(2) = 0.962) but slightly better correlation with sigma(o) (R(2) = 0.986). However, the Yukawa-Tsuno plot for the same reactions resulted in an excellent correlation (R(2) = 0.9993) with an r value of 0.30. The aminolysis of 1a-j has been suggested to proceed through a concerted mechanism with an early transition state on the basis of the small beta(nuc) and small r values.     

Chalcogenide-Lewis acid mediated reactions of electron-deficient alkynes with aldehydes

Reactions of but-3-yn-2-one (2) with aldehydes 1 in the presence of a Lewis acid and dimethyl sulfide (3 a) predominantly gave (E)-alpha-(halomethylene)aldols 4-5 in high yields, while reactions of methyl propiolate (6 a) mainly afforded (Z)-3-halogeno-2-(hydroxymethyl)acrylates 7-8 in low to moderate yields. A reaction of dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (10) with 1 a in the presence of TiCl(4) and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylthiourea (3 c) produced maleate (E)-11 (40 %) and butenolide 12 (40 %). When a reaction of 6 a with 1 a was carried out in the presence of TiBr(4) and 3 a (0.2 equiv) at -20 degrees C for 60 h, 3-(methylthio)-2-(hydroxyalkyl)acrylate 9 a was obtained in an 8 % yield. Experiments were conducted in order to elucidate the formation mechanism of 9 a, and it was made clear that 9 a was formed via the processes of the Michael addition of sulfide 3 a to alkynoate 6 a and an aldol reaction with 1 a and demethylation.     

Calculation of the fine structure and intensity of the singlet-triplet transitions in the imidogen radical

The singlet-triplet transition moments are calculated for the NH radical by multiconfiguration self-consistent field (MCSCF) method with a quadratic response (QR) technique. The band systems in the visible region (b(1)Sigma(+)-->X(3)Sigma(-) and a(1)Delta-->X(3)Sigma(-)) of the NH radical are analyzed in comparison with previous ab initio treatments and with the recent experimental data in attempt to solve some discrepancies. The b(1)Sigma(+)-->X(3)Sigma(Omega)(-) transition moments ratio for the two spin sublevels Omega = 1 and Omega=0 of the ground state is well reproduced and the radiative lifetime of the b(1)Sigma(+) state (tau(b)=58 ms) is obtained in a good agreement with the experimental value tau(b)=53((-13)(+17)) ms. The A(3)Pi<--a(1)Delta transition probability is calculated for the first time and found to be in an excellent agreement with the recent optical pumping measurements of the NH radical in a molecular beam, where population transfer from the metastable a(1)Delta state to the ground X(3)Sigma(-) state is achieved. For the a(1)Delta-->X(3)Sigma(-) transition some improvement is achieved in comparison with the previous ab initio results, but the calculated radiative lifetime (tau(a)=3.9 s) is still much lower than the recent measurement provides (tau(a)=12.5 s). The zero field splitting and spin-rotation coupling constants are calculated for the ground state by different methods and advantage of the density functional theory is stressed.     

Orientational effect of surface-confined cyclodextrin on the inclusion of bisphenols

The molecular recognition of various kinds of bisphenols (BPs) and a bisphenol A-polymer conjugate (BPA-polymer) by a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of thiolated beta-cyclodextrin (CD) on a gold electrode was examined using cyclic voltammetry (CV). Based on the inhibitory effect of BPs on the inclusion of hydroquinone (HQ) as a probe by the surface-confined CD, the association constants (K(assoc)) of BPs with the immobilized beta-CD were estimated. The K(assoc) values for BPs with the SAM of 3-dithiobis(undecanoylamido)-3-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin (DTUA-beta-CD) were smaller than those in the free beta-CD system reported previously. A similar tendency was obtained when 6-(lipoylamido)-6-deoxy-beta-cyclodextrin (LP-beta-CD) was used in place of DTUA-beta-CD. The K(assoc) values for all the BPs except for bisphenol B with the SAM of LP-beta-CD were always larger than those with the SAM of DTUA-beta-CD, due to a difference in the orientation of the beta-CD moiety in the SAMs. Furthermore, adsorption and desorption processes of the BPA-polymer from the surface-confined beta-CD was followed using local surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy.     

Synthesis of phthalide derivatives using nickel-catalyzed cyclization of o-haloesters with aldehydes

The reaction of o-bromobenzoate (1 b) with benzaldehyde (2 a) in the presence of [NiBr(2)(dppe)] (dppe=1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane) and zinc powder in THF (24 hours, reflux temperature), afforded 3-phenyl-3H-isobenzofuran-1-one (3 a) in an 86 % yield. Similarly, o-iodobenzoate reacts with 2 a to give 3 a, but in a lower yield (50 %). A series of substituted aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes (2 b, 4-MeC(6)H(4)CHO; 2 c, 4-MeOC(6)H(4)CHO; 2 d, 3-MeOC(6)H(4)CHO; 2 e, 2-MeOC(6)H(4)CHO; 2 f, 4-CNC(6)H(4)CHO; 2 g, 4-(Me)(3)CC(6)H(4)CHO; 2 h, 4-C(6)H(5)C(6)H(4)CHO; 2 i, 4-ClC(6)H(4)CHO; 2 j, 4-CF(3)C(6)H(4)CHO; 2 k, CH(3)(CH(2))(5)CHO; 2 l, CH(3)(CH(2))(2)CHO) also underwent cyclization with o-bromobenzoate (1 b) producing the corresponding phthalide derivatives in moderate to excellent yields and with high chemoselectivity. Like 1 b, methyl 2-bromo-4,5-dimethoxybenzoate (1 c) reacts with tolualdehyde (2 b) to give the corresponding substituted phthalide 3 m in a 71 % yield. The methodology can be further applied to the synthesis of six-membered lactones. The reaction of methyl 2-(2-bromophenyl)acetate (1 d) with benzaldehyde under similar reaction conditions afforded six-membered lactone 3 o in a 68 % yield. A possible catalytic mechanism for this cyclization is also proposed.     

Nucleophilic substitution reactions of aryl dithioacetates with pyridines in acetonitrile

Kinetic studies of the pyridinolysis (XC(5)H(4)N) of aryl dithioacetates (CH(3)C(=S)SC(6)H(4)Z) are carried out in acetonitrile at 60.0 degrees C. A biphasic Br?nsted plot is obtained with a change in slope from a large value (beta(X) congruent with 0.9) to a small value (beta(X) congruent with 0.4) at pK(a) degrees = 5.2, which is attributed to a change in the rate-limiting step from breakdown to formation of a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate, T(+/-), in the reaction path as the basicity of the pyridine nucleophile increases. A clear-cut change in the cross-interaction constants rho(XZ) from a large positive value (rho(XZ) = +1.34) to a small negative value (rho(XZ) = -0.15) supports the mechanistic change proposed.     

Origin of Aldehydes in Sediments of Qinghai Lake

This paper has analysed the aldehyde fractions in sediments and living organisms of Qinghai Lake using GC-MS and discussed their origin, n-Aldehydes detected in the sediments ranged from C_(16) to C_(32) with a maximum at C_(22) C_(24) or C_(26) and showed a strong even over odd predominance. n-Aldehydes in the living organisms analysed ranged from C_(16) to C_(32) with a maximum at C_(26) or C_(28). The authors believed that aldehydes in modern sediments may directly derive from biosynthesis.     

Molten flux synthesis of an analogous series of layered alkali samarium selenogermanate compounds

In this work, we used the molten chalcogenide flux synthetic method to form an analogous series of alkali samarium selenogermanates, with the general formula ASmGeSe(4) (A = K, Rb, Cs). Using a constant reactant stoichiometry, we relate the monoclinic KLaGeSe(4) structure type to the orthorhombic CsSmGeS(4) structure type. KSmGeSe(4) [in space group P2(1) with cell parameters a = 6.774(1) A, b = 6.994(1) A, c = 8.960(2) A, beta = 108.225(3) degrees, and V = 403.2(1) A(3) (Z = 2)], RbSmGeSe(4) [in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with cell parameters a = 6.7347(8) A, b = 7.0185(9) A, c = 17.723(2) A, and V = 837.7(2) A(3) (Z = 4)], and CsSmGeSe(4) [in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with cell parameters a = 6.707(2) A, b = 7.067(2) A, c = 18.334(6) A, and V = 869.1(5) A(3) (Z = 4)] were formed under identical synthetic conditions by changing the identity of the alkali ion from K to Rb or Cs, respectively. Additionally, with the substitution of sodium into the reaction, a triclinic structure with the approximate formula NaSmGeSe(4) was found with the cell parameters a = 6.897(2) A, b = 9.919(2) A, c = 11.183(2) A, alpha = 84.067(4) degrees, beta = 88.105(4) degrees, gamma = 73.999(4) degrees, and V = 731.5(3) A(3). In addition to single-crystal diffraction, Raman and diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopic measurements have been used to characterize these compounds.     

Crystal Structures of a Family of New Copper(I) Cyanide Complexes of Thiourea and Substituted Thioureas

The syntheses and crystal structures of the first cyanide, sulfur mixed ligand copper(I) complexes are reported. The first complex of the family was discovered when (CuCN)(3)(C(6)H(12)N(4))(2) (1) (C(6)H(12)N(4) = hexamethylenetetramine) was treated with aqueous thiourea. The sulfur ligands include thiourea (tu), 1,3-dimethyl-2-thiourea (dmtu), 1,3-diethyl-2-thiourea (detu), 1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-2-thiourea (tmtu), and 2-imidazolidinethione (N,N'-ethylenethiourea, etu). Synthesis was effected by adding the ligand to a solution of CuCN in aqueous sodium thiosulfate. Complex 2, (CuCN)(2)(tu)(3)(H(2)O), crystallizes in the triclinic space group P&onemacr;with unit cell dimensions a = 7.696(5) ?, b = 9.346(2) ?, c = 10.772(2) ?, alpha = 106.53(2) degrees, beta = 91.11(4) degrees, gamma = 98.42(3) degrees, and Z = 2. Complex 3, (CuCN)(3)(dmtu)(2), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group Cc with unit cell dimensions a = 10.082(3) ?, b = 14.984(5) ?, c = 11.413(3) ?, beta = 104.50(2) degrees, and Z = 4. Complex 4, (CuCN)(2)(detu)(H(2)O), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with unit cell dimensions a = 7.969(5) ?, b = 11.559(4) ?, c = 13.736(5) ?, beta = 100.48(4) degrees, and Z = 4. Complex 5, (CuCN)(tmtu) (polymorph a), crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit cell dimensions a = 8.653(1) ?, b = 9.426(1) ?, c = 11.620(3) ?, and Z = 4. Complex 6, (CuCN)(tmtu) (polymorph b), which has the same connectivity as 5, crystallizes in the triclinic space group P&onemacr; with unit cell dimensions a = 9.660(4) ?, b = 14.202(4) ?, c = 16.03(1) ?, alpha = 101.68(5) degrees, beta = 107.08(6) degrees, gamma = 70.07(2) degrees, and Z = 8. The difference between the polymorphs is that 5 has a zig-zag chain with a repeat unit of two while 6 has a 4-fold helix. Complex 7, (CuCN)(2)(etu), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)( )()with unit cell dimensions a = 3.994(2) ?, b = 13.886(3) ?, c = 7.556(1) ?, beta = 97.07(2) degrees, and Z = 2.     

Structural evolution and properties of solid solutions of hexagonal InMnO3 and InGaO3

Solid solutions InMn(1-x)Ga(x)O(3) (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) have been investigated using magnetic, dielectric, specific heat, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and high-temperature powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction (HT-SXRD) measurements. It was found that samples with 0.5 ≤ x ≤ 1 crystallize in space group P6(3)/mmc with a ~ 3.32 ? and c ~ 11.9 ?, and samples with 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4 crystallize in space group P6(3)cm with a ~ 5.8 ? and c ~ 11.6 ? at room temperature. HT-SXRD data revealed the existence of a P6(3)cm-to-P6(3)/mmc phase transition at about 480 K in InMn(0.6)Ga(0.4)O(3) and at 950 K in InMn(0.7)Ga(0.3)O(3). However, no dielectric, phonon, second-harmonic-generation, or DSC anomalies were found to be associated with these phase transitions. The phase transition should be improper ferroelectric from the symmetry point of view, but the above-mentioned experimental facts, together with the absence of ferroelectric hysteresis loops, revealed no evidence for ferroelectricity in the low-temperature P6(3)cm structure. We suggest that InMn(1-x)Ga(x)O(3) corresponds to a nonferroelectric phase of hexagonal RMnO(3) with P6(3)cm symmetry. The antiferromagnetic phase-transition temperature decreases from 118 K for x = 0 to 105 K for x = 0.1 and 73 K for x = 0.2, and no long-range magnetic ordering could be found for x ≥ 0.3. Specific heat anomalies associated with short-range magnetic ordering were observed for 0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5. InMn(1-x)Ga(x)O(3) with small Mn contents (0.8 ≤ x ≤ 0.98) has a bright-blue color.     

Kinetic study of the aminolysis and pyridinolysis of O-phenyl and O-ethyl O-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) thiocarbonates. A remarkable leaving group effect

The reactions of a series of secondary alicyclic (SA) amines with O-phenyl and O-ethyl O-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) thiocarbonates (1 and 2, respectively) and of a series of pyridines with the former substrate are subjected to a kinetic investigation in water, at 25.0 degrees C, ionic strength 0.2 M (KCl). Under amine excess over the substrate, all the reactions obey pseudo-first-order kinetics and are first-order in amine. The Br?nsted-type plots are biphasic, with slopes (at high pK(a)) of beta(1) = 0.20 for the reactions of SA amines with 1 and 2 and beta(1) = 0.10 for the pyridinolysis of 1 and with slopes (at low pK(a)) of beta(2) = 0.80 for the reactions of SA amines with 1 and 2 and beta(2) = 1.0 for the pyridinolysis of 1. The pK(a) values at the curvature center (pK(a)(0)) are 7.7, 7.0, and 7.0, respectively. These results are consistent with the existence of a zwitterionic tetrahedral intermediate (T++) and a change in the rate-determining step with the variation of amine basicity. The larger pK(a)(0) value for the pyridinolysis of 1 compared to that for 2 (pK(a)(0) = 6.8) and the larger pK(a)(0) value for the reactions of SA amines with 1 relative to 2 are explained by the greater inductive electron withdrawal of PhO compared to EtO. The larger pK(a)(0) values for the reactions of SA amines with 1 and 2, relative to their corresponding pyridinolysis, are attributed to the greater nucleofugalities of SA amines compared to isobasic pyridines. The smaller pK(a)(0) value for the reactions of SA amines with 2 than with O-ethyl S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) dithiocarbonate (pK(a)(0) = 9.2) is explained by the greater nucleofugality from T(++) of 2,4-dinitrophenoxide (DNPO(-)) relative to the thio derivative. The stepwise reactions of SA amines with 1 and 2, in contrast to the concerted mechanisms for the reactions of the same amines with the corresponding carbonates, is attributed to stabilization of T(++) by the change of O(-) to S(-). The simple mechanism for the SA aminolysis of 2 (only one tetrahedral intermediate, T(++)) is in contrast to the more complex mechanism (two tetrahedral intermediates, T(++) and T(-), the latter formed by deprotonation of T(++) by the amine) for the same aminolysis of the analogous thionocarbonate with 4-nitrophenoxide (NPO(-)) as nucleofuge. To our knowledge, this is the first example of a remarkable change in the decomposition path of a tetrahedral intermediate T by replacement of NPO(-) with DNPO(-) as the leaving group of the substrate. This is explained by (i) the greater leaving ability from T(++) of DNPO(-) than NPO(-) and (ii) the similar rates of deprotonation of both T(++) (formed with DNPO and NPO).     

Conversion of tricoordinate to hexacoordinate phosphorus. Formation of a phosphorane-phosphatrane system

Reaction of RPCl(2) with tris(2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-methylbenzyl)amine (4) led to the formation of a tricoordinated phosphonite (1) when R = Ph and to a hexacoordinated phosphorane-phosphatrane (2) when R = Et. The X-ray structures showed that the unreacted hydroxyl group in 1 oxidatively added to phosphorus in 2 leading to the formation of three additional bonds, a P[bond]O, a P[bond]H, and a P[bond]N linkage. In solution, (31)P measurements assisted by solid-state (31)P measurements revealed that each of the compounds existed in both structural forms. VT (31)P established equilibria where the solid-state structures predominated in each case. This is the first example of a conversion of three-coordinate to six-coordinate phosphorus on going from the solid to the solution state and the existence of these two disparate geometries in equilibrium with one another in solution. In the absence of steric protection with the use of an analogous amine (5) without tert-butyl groups, a hydrolysis reaction occurred with PhPCl(2). X-ray analysis revealed an anionic phenylphosphinate structure (3) hydrogen bonded in a cage-like arrangement with the protonated amine. Similar hydrolysis reactions take place with 1 and 2 but much more slowly.     

Effect of Alcohols on the Photooxidative Behavior of Diethyl Sulfide

The reactions of singlet oxygen with diethyl sulfide (Et(2)S) in benzene alcohol mixtures have been examined. The salient discoveries include: (1) the rate constants of product formation, k(r), in benzene/methanol mixtures are a function of the concentration of methanol, (2) the ability of alcohols to supress physical quenching are a function of their pK(a)'s, and (3) trapping experiments with diphenyl sulfoxide are consistent with two distinct intermediates. A mechanism which involves formation of a persulfoxide followed by reaction with methanol to give a hydroperoxy-methoxy sulfurane is consistent with all of the results.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the pyridinolysis of aryl furan-2-carbodithioates in acetonitrile

Kinetic studies on the pyridinolysis of aryl furan-2-carbodithioates 1 are carried out at 60.0 degrees C in acetonitrile. The biphasic rate dependence on the pyridine basicity with a breakpoint at pK(a) degrees = 5.2 is interpreted to indicate a change of the rate-limiting step from breakdown (beta(X) = 0.7-0.8) to formation (beta(X) = 0.2) of the tetrahedral intermediate, T(+/-), at the breakpoint as the basicity of the pyridine nucleophile is increased. Observation of the breakpoint is possible with pyridines since the expulsion rate of the pyridine (k(-)(a)) from T(+/-) is sufficiently low, with the low k(-)(a)/k(b) ratio leading to a low breakpoint, pK(a) degrees. The clear-cut change in the cross-interaction constants, rho(XZ), from a positive (rho(XZ) = +0.86) to a small negative (rho(XZ) = -0.11) value at the breakpoint supports the mechanistic change proposed. The magnitudes of rho(Z) and activation parameters are also consistent with the proposed mechanism.     

Influence of counter-ions on the self-assembly of ZrO2 nanodisks

In three strong inorganic acidic conditions (HNO(3), HCl and H(2)SO(4)), we have prepared a series of air-water interfacial zirconium dioxide (ZrO(2)) films at normal temperature via a self-assembly technique, by using dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) as template and Zr(OC(4)H(9))(4) as precursor. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), UV-vis and fluorescence spectra have been used to characterize the ZrO(2) films. Results show that a number of worm-like mesoporous nanodisks and ambiguously mesoporous nanodisks are observed in the ZrO(2) films with NO(3)(-) and SO(4)(2-) counter-ions, respectively. Remarkably, a great many perfect target-like multiring nanodisks are obtained in the ZrO(2) sample with Cl(-) counter-ion. The self-assembly mechanism for ZrO(2) nanodisks has been purposely discussed. A model based on the structural changes with respect to the influence of counter-ions on the self-assembly of ZrO(2) nanodisks is therefore proposed. In addition, the structural changes for the ZrO(2) films self-assembled at a higher temperature have been discussed in combination with the influence of counter-ions.     

Collective mechanical behavior of multilayer colloidal arrays of hollow nanoparticles

The collective mechanical behavior of multilayer colloidal arrays of hollow silica nanoparticles (HSNP) is explored under spherical nanoindentation through a combination of experimental, numerical, and theoretical approaches. The effective indentation modulus E(ind) is found to decrease with an increasing number of layers in a nonlinear manner. The indentation force versus penetration depth behavior for multilayer hollow particle arrays is predicted by an approximate analytical model based on the spring stiffness of the individual particles and the multipoint, multiparticle interactions as well as force transmission between the layers. The model is in good agreement with experiments and with detailed finite element simulations. The ability to tune the effective indentation modulus, E(ind), of the multilayer arrays by manipulating particle geometry and layering is revealed through the model, where E(ind) = (0.725m(-3/2) + 0.275)E(mon) and E(mon) is the monolayer modulus and m is number of layers. E(ind) is seen to plateau with increasing m to E(ind_plateau) = 0.275E(mon) and E(mon) scales with (t/R)(2), t being the particle shell thickness and R being the particle radius. The scaling law governing the nonlinear decrease in indentation modulus with an increase in layer number (E(ind) scaling with m(-3/2)) is found to be similar to that governing the indentation modulus of thin solid films E(ind_solid) on a stiff substrate (where E(ind_solid) scales with h(-1.4) and also decreases until reaching a plateau value) which also decreases with an increase in film thickness h. However, the mechanisms underlying this trend for the colloidal array are clearly different, where discrete particle-to-particle interactions govern the colloidal array behavior in contrast to the substrate constraint on deformation, which governs the thickness dependence of the continuous thin film indentation modulus.     

Origin of Ketones in Sediments of Qinghai Lake

This paper analysed the ketone fractions in sediments and living organisms of Qinghai Lake using GC-MS and discussed their origin,n-Alkan-2-ones detected in the sediments ranged from C_(12) to C_(33) with a maximum at n-C_(25) or n-C_(29) and showed a strong odd predominance, n-Alkan-2-ones in the living organisms analysed ranged from C_(15) to C_(31) with a maximum at n-C_(27).The authors believed that ketones in modern sediments may directly derive from biosynthesis.     

Mode selective tunneling dynamics observed by high resolution spectroscopy of the bending fundamentals of 14NH2D and 14ND2H

High resolution (0.004 and 0.01 cm(-1) instrumental bandwidth) interferometric Fourier transform infrared spectra of (14)NH2D and (14)ND2H were measured on a Bomem DA002 spectrometer in a supersonic jet expansion and at room temperature. We report the analysis of the bending fundamentals of (14)NH2D with term values Tv(s)=1389.9063(2) cm(-1) and Tv(a)=1390.4953(2) cm(-1) for the nu(4b) fundamental and Tv(s)=1605.6404(7) cm(-1) and Tv(a)=1591.0019(7) cm(-1) for the nu(4a) fundamental, and of (14)ND2H with term values of Tv(s)=1233.3740(2) cm(-1) and Tv(a)=1235.8904(2) cm(-1) for the nu(4a) fundamental and Tv(s)=1461.7941(9) cm(-1) and Tv(a)=1461.9918(19) cm(-1) for the nu(4b) fundamental. In all cases Tv(s) gives the position of the symmetric inversion sublevel (with positive parity) and Tv(a) the position of the antisymmetric inversion sublevel (with negative parity). The notation for the fundamentals nu(4a) and nu(4b) is chosen by correlation with the degenerate nu(4) mode in the C(3v) symmetric molecules NH3 and ND3. The degeneracy is lifted in Cs symmetry and a indicates the symmetric, b the antisymmetric normal mode with respect to the Cs symmetry plane in NH2D and ND2H. Assignments were established with certainty by means of ground state combination differences. About 20 molecular parameters of the effective S-reduced Hamiltonian could be determined accurately for each fundamental. In particular, the effect of Fermi resonances of the 2nu(2) overtone with the nu(4a) bending mode was observed, leading to an increased inversion splitting in the case of ND2H and to a strongly increased inversion splitting and an inverted order of the two inversion levels in NH2D. Rotational perturbations observed with the nu(4b) bending fundamentals are probably due to Coriolis interactions with the inversion overtone 2nu(2). The results are important for understanding isotope effects on the inversion in ammonia as well as its selective catalysis and inhibition by excitation of different vibrational modes, as treated by quantum dynamics on high dimensional potential hypersurfaces of this molecule.