Role of elemental fluorine in nuclear field

The preparation of fluorine gas by Henri Moissan by electrolysis of molten fluorides can be considered as one of the most important discoveries during the last centuries. Indeed, in addition to its use in many industrial fields (microelectronic, surface cleaning, pharmacology, medicine, …), fluorine gas is strongly involved in nuclear field for the preparation of UF₆. The latter allows the natural uranium enrichment via the gaseous diffusion process. Due to the increase of the energy demand in industrialised and emergent countries, the production of UF₆ and consequently of F₂ should increase drastically during the next decades. The aim of this paper is to summarise the evolution of the process to produce fluorine from its discovery to the present process. Few aspects on the researches done for a better understanding of the fluorine evolution reaction are presented. The use of fluorine in the nuclear field is also discussed.     

Improvement of the spinning electrophorometer for zeta potential measurements

In this study, bubbles are held by centripetal force at the center of a rotating cylinder filled with an aqueous solution. Their velocities along the axe of rotation, after application of an electrophoretic force, are used for the calculation of the so-called electrokinetic potential. But this process necessitates the elimination of the electro-osmosis which occurs on the interior sides of the glass cylinder by superposing a concurrent force on the bubble. Efficiency of DEAE-Dextran reticulated with 1,4 Butanediol Diglycidyl Ether can be tested by the observation of a cloud of latex microspheres injected in the interior of the tube and allowed to move in respect with the application of an electric field. The experimental control of these velocity profiles proves the adequacy of the polymer for many cases such as surfactant solutions, presence of electrolytes, utilization with moderate pH.The dynamic interpretation of the electrophoretic motion of bubbles is possible by considering that small ones behave like rigid spheres moving in a rotating fluid. In the second part of this paper and in a previous publication, we have experimentally proved that the use of the theoretical expressions of the forces involved for rigid spheres is justified for small bubbles. So, the electrokinetic potential can be expressed versus the velocity, leading to possible interpretations of the adsorption on gas-water interfaces.     

Preparation of Re(I)- and (99m)Tc(I)-metallocarboranes in water under weakly basic reaction conditions

A new method for the preparation of Re- and (99m)Tc-metallocarboranes in water under mild reaction conditions was developed. Three nido-carborane ligands were reacted with [Re(CO)(3)Br(3)](2)(-) in the presence of aqueous potassium fluoride to give the corresponding eta(5)-Re(CO)(3)-carborane complexes. The use of KF as a base afforded the desired Re-metallocarboranes in good yields while avoiding the formation of Re clusters, which are byproducts commonly observed when reactions are carried out in the presence of strong aqueous bases. The reaction was also performed at the tracer level producing the first (99m)Tc-carborane complex, which was isolated in 80% radiochemical yield following a simple Sep-Pak purification process. The resulting organometallic complex was stable to cysteine and histidine challenges for more than 24 h.     

An Absence of Non-specific Immune Response towards para-Sulphonato-calix[n]arenes

The effects of para-Sulphonato-calix[4]arene, para-Sulphonato-calix[6]arene and para-Sulphonato-calix[8]arene on the activation of NADPH oxidase in neutrophils has been studied. All three molecules do not induce NADPH oxidase activation, and hence do not stimulate neutrophils. Measurement of cell viability demonstrates that these three water-soluble calix[n]arene derivatives are not cytotoxic.     

Mechanistic study of thermal behavior and combustion performance of epoxy resins: I homopolymerized TGDDM

Tetraglycidyl 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (TGDDM) undergoes homopolymerization on heating. Intramolecular reactions which compete with crosslinking favor the formation of cyclic structures with increasing thermal and fire resistance of the resin, whereas physical mechanical properties tend to decrease. The mechanism of thermal decomposition of TGDDM is studied by thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and thermal volatilization analysis with characterization of volatiles evolved and residue left. Thermal degradation of poly-(TGDDM) starts at 260°C with elimination of water from secondary alcoholic groups which is a typical pathway for epoxy resin degradation. Resulting unsaturations weaken bonds in the β-position and provoke the first chain breaking at allyl–amine and allyl–either bonds. With increasing temperature, saturated alkyl–ether bonds and alkyl carbon–carbon bonds are broken first, followed by the most stable alkyl–aryl bonds at T>365°C. The combustion performance of TGDDM is discussed on the basis of the thermal degradation behavior.     

Competitive Complexation of Lanthanide Cations by Xylitol and Nitrate Anion in Aqueous Solution: A Microcalorimetric Investigation

The apparent equilibrium constants and enthalpies of complexation of Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺, and Gd³⁺ by xylitol in aqueous solutions containing NaNO₃ at an ionic strength of 2.0 mol-kg^–1 have been determined by microcalorimetry at 25°C. Since nitrate anion weakly complexes the lanthanide cations, these values are analyzed in terms of competition between xylitol and NO ₃ ^- The method leads to the apparent equilibrium constants and enthalpies of complexation of the lanthanide cations by NO ₃ ^- at this particular ionic strength. Despite the difficulties encountered in characterizing rather weak associations, the results are, whenever comparison is possible, in good agreement with those obtained by direct microcalorimetry. The advantage of this competition method is that it can be used when the enthalpic effects are too weak and insufficiently concentration dependent for direct microcalorimetric determination. In the present case, it allows us to thermodynamically characterize the formation of SmNO ₃ ²⁺ and EuNO ₃ ²⁺ , processes we have not been able to study directly.     

Channel-Type Molecular Structures. Part 2. Synthesis of Bouquet-Shaped Molecules Based on a β-Cyclodextrin Core

A new series of channel-type molecules presenting the features of potential transmembrane structures is described. They result from the grafting of amphiphilic side chains on a β-cyclodextrin derivative 3 that constitutes the organizing core. They belong to the ‘bouquet’ family (B). Compounds bearing poly(oxyethylene) side chains, B 16 and 17 , and their polymethylene analogues B 18 and 19 , were synthesized. The properties investigated emphasize the suitability of such molecules to be incorporated into lipid bilayer membranes.     

Methodology for the calculation of the potential of mean force for a cation-pi complex in water.

We report potential of mean force (PMF) calculations on the interaction between the p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene and a monovalent cation (Cs(+)). It has been recently shown from microcalorimetry and (133)Cs NMR experiments that the association with Cs(+) is governed by favourable cation-pi interactions and is characterized by the insertion of the cation into the cavity of the macrocycle. We show that the PMF calculation based upon a classical model is not able to reproduce both the thermodynamic properties of association and the insertion of the cation. In order to take into account the different contributions of the cation-pi interactions, we develop a new methodology consisting of changing the standard PMF by an additional contribution resulting from quantum calculations. The calculated thermodynamic properties of association are thus in line with the microcalorimetry and (133)Cs NMR experiments and the structure of the complex at the Gibbs free-energy minimum shows the insertion of the cation into the cavity of the calixarene.     

Mise en évidence d'un désordre statistique dans les structures chalcogénoiodures d'étain et d'antimoine

The crystal structures of Sn₂SbX₂I₃, with X = S or Se, and Sn₃SbSe₂I₅ are characterized by a statistical disorder of part of the [Sb] and [Sb, Sn] sites. All these crystal structures are built up from infinite ribbons (Sn₂X₄)_n of SnX₅ pyramids where X = ((S, Se) and I). The ribbons are weakly linked through Sn … I interactions to give infinite sheets. Between sheets are located [Sb] or [Sb, Sn] atoms in twinned sites.     

Synthèse de flavones et de xanthones dans la série du benzo[4,5]thiophène

We describe the first synthesis of 2-arylbenzo[4,5]thieno-[2,3-b]pyran-4-one and of 2-arylbenzo [4,5] thieno [3,2-b] pyran-4-one, from benzo [4,5] thiophene and we have extended these cyclizations to obtain the heterocyclic analogs of the xanthones.