Structural phase transition in substituted La2CuO4 and Pr2CuO4−y

The structural phase transition from orthorhombic (T) phase to tetragonal (T′) phase in substituted La_2−x R _x CuO₄ (R = Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd) and T′ to T-phase in Pr_2−x M _x CuO_4−y (M = Sr, Ca) has been studied by X-ray diffraction technique. The T-phase of La₂CuO₄ is transferred to T′ phase abruptly atx=0.8, 0.4, 0.4, 0.3 and 0.4 respectively for substitution of Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu and Gd for La in La₂CuO₄ without evidence of the T* phase. The T′ structure of Pr₂CuO₄ (x = 0.0) gets transformed to the T* structure at 30% Ca doping (x=0.6) and then to the T structure at 50% Ca doping (x=1.0), while for Sr-contentx=0.0, 0.4 and 1.0 it shows T′, T* and T structure respectively.     

Extraction behavior of uranium(VI), plutonium(IV), zirconium(IV), ruthenium(III) and europium(III) with γ-pre-irradiated solutions of N,N′-methylbutyl substituted amides in n-dodecane

The extraction of plutonium(IV), uranium(VI), zirconium(IV), europium(III) and ruthenium(III) with -pre-irradiated n-dodecane solutions of methylbutyl substituted hexanamide (MBHA), octanamide (MBOA) and decanamide (MBDA) from 3.5M HNO₃ has been studied as a function of absorbed dose up to 184×10⁴ Gray. The distribution ratios (K_d) of uranium(VI) decreased gradually up to a dose of 50×10⁴ Gray and became almost constant thereafter, while ruthenium(III) and europium(III) were not extracted in the entire dose range studied. The K_d values of Pu(IV) decreased gradually up to 10×10⁴ Gray, for MBOA, and 30×10⁴ Gray for MBHA and MBDA and then increased up to a dose of 72×10⁴ Gray, indicating the synergistic effect of radiolytic products at higher doses. The extraction of zirconium(IV) was found to increase gradually up to 72×10⁴ Gray. However, the steep fall in K_d values of plutonium(IV), zirconium(IV) beyond a dose of 72×10⁴ Gray was atrributed to third phase formation. The radiolytic degradation of amides was monitored by quantitative IR spectroscopy and was found to follow the order MBOA>MBDA>MBHA at 184×10⁴ Gray having the amines and carboxylic acids as the main radiolytic products.     

Formation of YAG from coprecipitated yttrium aluminium hydroxides

Thermal decomposition of the amorphous coprecipitate of yttrium and aluminium hydroxides forming yttrium aluminium garnet has been investigated employing thermal analyses, X-ray diffraction and IR spectroscopy. On heating, the coprecipitate progressively loses water forming a stable but highly disordered hydroxy garnet which crystallizes at 1180 K and decomposes to YAG at 1290 K. Nucleation of the crystalline phase appears to begin at 800 K.The authors thank Dr. P. V. Ravindran of the Analytical Chemistry and Shri N. K. Kulkarni of the Fuel Chemistry Divisions of BARC for their assistance in the thermoanalytical experiments.     

Studies on plutonium(IV) hydroxosuccinate

The precipitation behaviour of basic plutonium(IV) compounds from dilute nitric acid medium with aliphatic dicarboxylic acids has been investigated. Unlike plutonium(IV) oxalate, which is precipitated in acid medium (1–4M), the higher dicarboxylates precipitate in 0.9–2.5 pH range and their elemental analysis indicate Pu/dicarboxylate ratio of 11. The mode of formation, composition, solubility and thermal degradation behaviour for plutonium(IV) hydroxosuccinate has been studied. The hydroxy group determination by kinetic titration using fluoride complexing revealed that the compound has a Pu:OH ratio of 11 and determination of bridging oxygen group gave a Pu:O ratio of 10.5 suggest its formation as hydroxysuccinate having an oxobridged formula.     

Formation and stability of a Janus-Wedge type of DNA triplex

A new type of DNA targeting with the formation of a Janus-Wedge (J-W) triple helix is described. The "wedge" residue (W) attached to a PNA backbone is designed to insert itself into double-stranded DNA and base pair with both Watson-Crick faces. To study the stability of such an assembly, we have examined the formation of the J-W triplex with dC8 - T8 target sequence. The use of this target sequence permits the study of this new helix form without competing Watson-Crick interactions between the two target residues. Studies indicate that the W strand binds to both target strands, with defined polarity and a stability (-15.2 kcal/mol) that is roughly the sum of the two independent duplex interactions.     

Synthesis, Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Some Transition Metal cis-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadiensemicarbazone Complexes

The synthesis and characterization of some transition metal cis-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadiensemicarbazone (CDOSC) complexes are reported. The ligand CDOSC yields: [ML₂ Cl₂] and [ML₂ Cl₂] Cl type complexes, where M = Cr^III, Mn^II, Fe^III, Co^II, Ni^II, Cu^II, Zn^II, Cd^II and Hg^II, L = CDOSC. Structures of the complexes were determined using elemental analysis, molar conductivity, magnetic measurements, i.r. and electronic, as well as n.m.r spectra. CDOSC acts as a bidentate ligand in all the complexes. All the newly synthesized metal complexes, as well as the ligand, were screened for their antibacterial activity. All the complexes exhibit strong inhibitory action against Gram (+) bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Gram (−) bacteria Escherichia coli. The antibacterial activities of the complexes are stronger than those of the ligand CDOSC itself.     

Effect of bovine serum albumin on the surface properties of ionic liquid-type Gemini surfactant

The effect of bovine serum albumin on the surface properties of IL-type gemini surfactant ([C₁₀-4-C₁₀im]Br₂), have been investigated by surface tension method. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) as a function of BSA concentrations at various temperatures was investigated. The CMC of [C₁₀-4-C₁₀im]Br₂ increases with increasing the concentration of BSA as well as the temperature of the system. The interfacial parameters viz; maximum surface excess concentration (Γ_max), the minimum area per molecule (A_min), and surface pressure at CMC (Π_cmc) were calculated. In addition, thermodynamic parameters of adsorption and micellization were evaluated by using surface tension data. The results indicated that the binding of [C₁₀-4-C₁₀im]Br₂ to BSA is spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The process is entropy driven and hydrophobic interactions are the major driving forces.     

Quantitative Relationships Between Molecular Descriptors,Chromatographic Retention Behavior,and In Vitro Antituberculosis Activity of Phytol Derivatives

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - The lipophilic character of phytol derivatives has been studied using reverse-phase planar chromatographic procedures....