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.     

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.     

Synthesis,Structural, and Antibacterial Studies of Some Mixed Ligand Complexes of Zn(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) Derived From Citral Thiosemicarbazone and N-Phthaloyl Amino Acids

A series of new mixed ligand complexes of Zn(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) with cis-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienthiosemicarbazone (CDOTSC; LH) and N-phthaloyl amino acids (AH) have been synthesized by the reaction of metal dichloride with ligands CDOTSC and N-phthaloyl derivative of DL-glycine (A₁H), L-alanine (A₂H), or L-valine (A₃H) in a 1:1:1 molar ratio in dry refluxing ethanol. All the isolated complexes have the general composition [M(L)(A)]. The plausible structure of these newly synthesized complexes has been proposed on the basis of elemental analyses, molar conductances, molecular weight measurement, and various spectral (IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR) studies, and four coordinated geometries have been assigned to these complexes. All the complexes and ligands have been screened for their antibacterial activity.     

Combined OX40 Agonist and PD-1 Inhibitor Immunotherapy Improves the Efficacy of Vascular Targeted Photodynamic Therapy in a Urothelial Tumor Model

Purpose: Vascular targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP) is a nonsurgical tumor ablation approach used to treat early-stage prostate cancer and may also be effective for upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) based on preclinical data. Toward increasing response rates to VTP, we evaluated its efficacy in combination with concurrent PD-1 inhibitor/OX40 agonist immunotherapy in a urothelial tumor-bearing model. Experimental design: In mice allografted with MB-49 UTUC cells, we compared the effects of combined VTP with PD-1 inhibitor/OX40 agonist with those of the component treatments on tumor growth, survival, lung metastasis, and antitumor immune responses. Results: The combination of VTP with both PD-1 inhibitor and OX40 agonist inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival to a greater degree than VTP with either immunotherapeutic individually. These effects result from increased tumor infiltration and intratumoral proliferation of cytotoxic and helper T cells, depletion of Treg cells, and suppression of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that VTP synergizes with PD-1 blockade and OX40 agonist to promote strong antitumor immune responses, yielding therapeutic efficacy in an animal model of urothelial cancer.     

Synthesis and characterization of some acetoxime-modified hetero-metal alkoxide precursors of zinc(II) and aluminum(III) for sol–gel transformation to nano-sized ZnAl2O4

Reactions of [ZnAl₂(OPr_i)₈] [A] with acetoxime in different molar ratios in refluxing anhydrous benzene, yield complexes of the type [ZnAl₂(OPrⁱ)_8?n{(CH₃)₂CNO}_n] {where, n = 1–4}. All the complexes are transparent viscous/foamy solids. They were characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR and NMR (¹H, ¹³C {¹H}) spectral studies. ²⁷Al NMR spectrum of [ZnAl₂(OPrⁱ)₄{(CH₃)₂CNO}₄] [4] in CDCl₃ suggests presence of four coordination around both the aluminum atoms. IR spectra suggest that the oximato ligands bind the aluminum atoms in a side on manner in all the complexes. The ESI-mass spectrum of the representative derivative [4] suggests its monomeric nature while the thermo-gravimetric curve shows its low thermal stability. Sol–gel transformations of the precursors (A), (1), and (4) yielded nano-sized ZnAl₂O₄ samples (a), (b) and (c) at ~500 °C, respectively. The XRD patterns of (a), (b) and (c) indicate formation of cubic phase nano-sized zinc aluminate in all the samples. Surface morphologies of these samples were investigated by SEM images. IR spectra as well as EDX analyses indicate formation of pure zinc aluminate in all the cases. TEM image of sample (c) shows spherical (~5–8 nm) morphology.     

Syntheses and characterization of a new class of vanadia precursors of oxime-modified oxovanadium(V) isopropoxide,crystal and molecular structure of [VO{ONC10H16}3]

Modification of [VO(OPrⁱ)₃] with oximes in different molar ratios, yielded new class of vanadia precursors, [VO{OPrⁱ}_3?n{L}_n] {where, n = 1–3 and LH = C₉H₁₆C=NOH (1–3) and (CH₃)₂C=NOH (4–6)}.All the products are yellow in colour. (1) and (2) are liquid/viscous liquid, while others are solids. Molecular weight measurements of all these derivatives and the ESI-mass spectral studies of (1), (2), (3) and (5) indicate their monomeric nature. ¹H and ¹³C{¹H} NMR spectra suggest that the oximato moieties are monodentate in solution which was further confirmed by the ⁵¹V NMR signals, appeared in the region expected for tetra-coordinated oxo-vanadium atoms. On ageing, a disproportionation reaction occurs in (1) and some crystals appeared. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of the crystals obtained from (1) as well as from (3) were found to be the same and indicate the presence of side-on {dihapto η ²-(N, O)} binding modes of the oximato ligands, leading to the formation of seven coordination environment around the vanadium atom. Thermogravimetric curve of (1) exhibits multi-step decomposition with the formation of V₂O₅ as the final product at ~850 °C. Sol–gel transformation of (3) yielded (a) VO₂ sintered at 300 °C and (b) V₂O₅ at 600 °C. Similarly, sol–gel transformations of (1) and (2) yielded V₂O₅ (c) and (d) at 600 °C, respectively. Formation of monoclinic phase in (a) and orthorhombic phase in (b), (c) and (d) were confirmed by powder XRD patterns.