Formation of SrSnO3 shell-like inclusions in the Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+x superconductor via chemical reaction

Superconducting composites Bi-2212–SrSnO₃ have been prepared by reacting between the Bi–Sr–Ca–Cu–O precursor and Sr₂SnO₄ or Ca₂SnO₄ at 800–950°C, followed by crystallisation of Bi-2212 from the partial melt at decreasing temperature. The samples have been characterised by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and magnetic measurements. The materials consist of large Bi-2212 lamellae and complex-shaped fine inclusions of SrSnO₃. The composite obtained using Sr₂SnO₄ contains almost all the SrSnO₃ phase in the form of micron-sized spherical shells, which are partly included in Bi-2212 lamellae, partly agglomerated in-between. The shells are perforated, thus allowing the Bi-2212 crystals to grow through them. It has been found that the shell-like grains form at an early stage of the precursor thermal treatment between 800 and 850°C. A mechanism of the SrSnO₃ shell formation is proposed. The composites exhibit T_c in the range of 82–87 K and reveal up to five times better magnetic flux pinning at T≥30 K in comparison with the undoped Bi-2212 sample prepared using the same experimental procedure.     

Investigation of the rate coefficient for O(3p) + NO2 → O2 + NO

Measurements of the rate coefficient of the reaction (O³P) + NO₂ → O₂ + NO have been made at 296°K and 240°K, using the technique of NO₂* chemiluminescent decay. Values of 9.3 × 10^?12 cm³ molec^?1 sec^?1 at 296°K and 10.5 × 10^?12 cm³ molec^?1 sec^?1 at 240°K were obtained, in excellent agreement with the recent results of Davis, Herron, and Huie [1]. The earlier lower values may have resulted from loss of NO₂ on surfaces.     

Dependence of the rate constants on the treatment of internal rotation modes: the reaction OH + CH3SH --> CH3S + H2O as an example

The title reaction has been used as an example to test the importance of using a hindered rotor treatment instead of a harmonic oscillator model for calculating vibrational partition functions corresponding to low-frequency internal rotation modes. First, a normal-mode analysis according to the Ayala and Schlegel's algorithm has been used to identify the internal rotation modes of methanethiol and the transition state structure. Then, after calculation of the energy barrier for each internal rotation, the corresponding hindered rotor partition functions have been calculated following the CW scheme of Chuang and Truhlar. The results show that the anharmonic treatment produces a rather modest improvement of the rate constants at room temperature or below.     

An Easy Access to the Synthesis of Sugar‐Based N‐Methyl‐Pyrrolidine via [3 + 2] Cycloaddition Methodology

Sugar‐based N‐methyl‐pyrrolidine derivatives have been synthesized by the cycloaddition reaction of the ylide generated from sarcosine and paraformaldehyde with the sugar‐derived dipolarophile. All the newly synthesized products were characterized by NMR (¹H, ¹³C), mass spectroscopy and elemental analysis.     

Multiple-site exchange in proteins studied with a suite of six NMR relaxation dispersion experiments: an application to the folding of a Fyn SH3 domain mutant

The three-site exchange folding reaction of an (15)N-labeled, highly deuterated Gly48Met mutant of the Fyn SH3 domain has been characterized at 25 degrees C using a suite of six CPMG-type relaxation dispersion experiments that measure exchange contributions to backbone (1)H and (15)N transverse relaxation rates in proteins. It is shown that this suite of experiments allows the extraction of all the parameters of this multisite exchange process in a robust manner, including chemical shift differences between exchanging states, from a data set recorded at only a single temperature. The populations of the exchanging folded, intermediate, and unfolded states that are fit are 94, 0.7, and 5%, respectively. Despite the small fraction of the intermediate, structural information is obtained for this state that is consistent with the picture of SH3 domain folding that has emerged from other studies. Taken together, the six dispersion experiments facilitate the complete reconstruction of (1)H-(15)N correlation spectra for the unfolded and intermediate states that are "invisible" in even the most sensitive of NMR experiments.     

Quantum chemical study of 4f-->5d excitations of trivalent lanthanide ions doped in the cubic elpasolite Cs2NaYCl6. Ce3+ to Tb3+

Wave-function-based ab initio calculations on the lowest states of the 4f(n),4f(n-1)5d(t2g)1, and 4f(n-1)5d(e(g))1 configurations of (LnCl6)3- clusters (Ln=Ce to Tb) embedded in the cubic elpasolite Cs2NaYCl6 have been performed, in an attempt to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the 4f-->5d excitations of lanthanide ions in crystals. Reliable data are provided on the changes of bond lengths and breathing mode vibrational frequencies upon 4f-->5d(t2g) and 4f-->5d(e(g)) excitations, as well as on minimum-to-minimum and vertical absorption and emission transitions, and on the Stokes shifts. The available experimental data are discussed and predictions are made. The stabilization of the 4f-->5d(baricenter) excitation of the doped ions with respect to the 4f-->5d excitations of the free ions, which is a key variable for the understanding of these excitations in solid hosts, is analyzed and found to be due, in two-thirds, to dynamic ligand correlation effects and, in one-third, to orbital relaxation, charge transfer, and covalency effects present in a mean-field approximation.     

Torsion angle relationship of the 17O NMR chemical shift in α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds

The torsion angle effect on the isotropic shielding of ¹⁷O nucleus in α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl groups is studied by means of density functional theory (DFT) calculations using a polarizable continuum model (PCM) for the solvent, employing the PBE0 functional together with the 6‐311G(d,p) basis set for geometry optimization, and the 6‐311+G(2d,p) basis set for calculating the NMR shielding with the gauge‐including atomic orbitals (GIAO) method. This study adds new information on the sensitivity of the ¹⁷O nucleus to conformational changes, revealing a strong dependence of the ¹⁷O NMR chemical shift on the dihedral angle between the carbonyl and the vinyl moiety in all studied compounds; remarkable differences are observed with the data reported for α‐diketones. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Combined application of 2D NMR correlation methods and ab initio chemical shift calculations to the structure determination of new heterocyclic compounds

The combined use of 2D NMR correlation methods and ab initio chemical shift calculations is efficient and, in some cases, virtually the only way to determine the structures of new organic compounds. This approach enabled us to establish the structure of the major unusual product of the three-component reaction of imidazo[1,5-a]quinoxalin-4-one, bis(2-chloroethyl)amine hydrochloride, and potassium carbonate in DMF. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2172–2179, December, 2006. Dedicated to Professor A. V. Il’yasov on the occasion of his 70th birthday.     

Formation of coordination compounds with aniline in the interlayer space of Ca<Superscript>2+</Superscript>-, Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>- and Fe<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-exchanged montmorillonite

The influence of Ca²⁺-, Cu²⁺- and Fe³⁺-exchanged montmorillonite (MMT) on the type of interaction with aniline in the interlayer space of MMT has been studied by means of X-ray powder diffraction and infrared spectra. Results of X-ray diffraction showed that aniline was successfully intercalated into the interlayer space of MMT. Based on IR spectra evaluation, aniline was indirectly coordinated through a water-bridge in Ca²⁺- and Fe³⁺-MMT and it was indirectly coordinated through a water-bridge as well as protonated in Cu²⁺-MMT (the spectrum of protonated aniline showed deformation and changes in the NH ₃ ⁺ absorption at approximately 1521 cm^?1). It is important to point out that Cu²⁺-MMT indirect coordination and protonation occur simultaneously.     

Development and validation of LC‐MS/MS method for the estimation of β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate in rat plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic studies

A simple, sensitive and specific high‐performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantification of β‐hydroxy‐β‐methyl butyrate (HMB) in small volumes of rat plasma using warfarin as an internal standard (IS). The API‐4000 LC‐MS/MS was operated under the multiple reaction‐monitoring mode using the electrospray ionization technique. A simple liquid–liquid extraction process was used to extract HMB and IS from rat plasma. The total run time was 3 min and the elution of HMB and IS occurred at 1.48 and 1.75 min respectively; this was achieved with a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid in a water–acetonitrile mixture (15:85, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min on a Agilent Eclipse XDB C₈ (150 × 4.6, 5 µm) column. The developed method was validated in rat plasma with a lower limit of quantitation of 30.0 ng/mL for HMB. A linear response function was established for the range of concentrations 30–4600 ng/mL (r > 0.998) for HMB. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision values for HMB were acceptable as per Food and Drug Administration guidelines. HMB was stable in the battery of stability studies, viz. bench‐top, autosampler freeze–thaw cycles and long‐term stability for 30 days in plasma. The developed assay method was applied to a bioavailability study in rats. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Substituent chemical shifts of the organotin moiety in compounds of the type RSnMenCl3 − n (n = 0 to 3; R = n-alkyl)

The ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectra of 33 organotin compounds of the type RSnMe_nCl_{3 ? n} and related types are discussed. The substituent effects of the groups SnMe₃, SnMe₂Cl, SnMeCl₂ and SnCl₃ (and of some related groups) on the carbon chemical shifts in the alkyl group R have been determined; the SnMe₃ group causes a small upfield shift of the carbon attached to it, while the other groups cause downfield shifts. The shifts show a monotonic change on replacing methyl groups in Me₃Sn by chlorine atoms. The effects on carbons further removed from the tin atom are discussed. Variation in R causes little change in ⁿJ(Sn? C) or δ(¹¹⁹Sn).     

Dimerization of Dimethyl 2‐(Naphthalen‐1‐yl)cyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylate in the Presence of GaCl3 to [3+2], [3+3], [3+4], and Spiroannulation Products

In the presence of a catalytic amount of GaCl₃, dimethyl 2‐(naphthalen‐1‐yl)cyclopropane‐1,1‐dicarboxylate 5 undergoes selective [3+2]‐annulation‐type dimerization to give a polysubstituted cyclopentane containing two naphthalenyl substituents in the vicinal position (Scheme 2). Treatment of the same cyclopropane with an equimolar amount of GaCl₃?THF results in dimerization with electrophilic attack on each of the benzene rings to give [3+3] and [3+4] annulation products. The latter represent a new type of dimerization of donor? acceptor cyclopropanes. Finally, under conditions of double catalysis with GaCl₃, 3,3,5,5‐tetrasubstituted 4,5‐dihydropyrazole, this cyclopropane‐dicarboxylate undergoes stereospecific dimerization as a result of electrophilic ipso‐attack to give a tetracyclic pentaleno[6a,1‐a]naphthalene derivative (Scheme 5). Possible reaction mechanisms are proposed.     

Development of diamidophosphite ligands and their application to the palladium-catalyzed vinyl-substituted trimethylenemethane asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition

A palladium-catalyzed asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition of a vinyl-substituted trimethylenemethane (TMM) donor with α,β-unsaturated acyl imidazoles is described. A newly designed bisdiamidophosphite ligand derived from (S,S)-trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine and (2R,4R)-pentanediol has been instrumental for the development of this process. This transformation generates tetrasubstituted cyclopentanes bearing three contiguous stereocenters in high yields, with good diastereo- and enantioselectivity.     

A new chemical access for 3′-acetyl-4′-hydroxychalcones using borontrifluoride-etherate via a regioselective Claisen-Schmidt condensation and its application in the synthesis of chalcone hybrids

A new chemical access has been developed for the synthesis of 3′-acetyl-4′-hydroxychalcones from 1-(5-acetyl-2-hydroxy-phenyl)-ethanone and various substituted benzaldehydes via a regioselective Claisen-Schmidt condensation using borontrifluoride-etherate (BF₃·OEt₂) at room temperature, in good to excellent yields within 12-24 h. Application of this methodology has also been demonstrated in the synthesis of chalcone hybrids.     

The development and validation of a high‐throughput LC–MS/MS method for the analysis of endogenous β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate in human plasma

A high‐throughput, sensitive, and rugged liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for the rapid quantitation of β ‐hydroxy‐β ‐methylbutyrate (HMB) in human plasma has been developed and validated for routine use. The method uses 100 μL of plasma sample and employs protein precipitation with 0.1% formic acid in methanol for the extraction of HMB from plasma. Sample extracts were analyzed using LC–MS/MS technique under negative mode electrospray ionization conditions. A ¹³C–labeled stable isotope internal standard was used to achieve accurate quantitation. Multiday validation was conducted for precision, accuracy, linearity, selectivity, matrix effect, dilution integrity (2×), extraction recovery, freeze–thaw sample stability (three cycles), benchtop sample stability (6 h and 50 min), autosampler stability (27 h) and frozen storage sample stability (146 days). Linearity was demonstrated between 10 and 500 ng/mL. Inter‐day accuracies and coefficients of variation (CV) were 91.2–98.1 and 3.7–7.8%, respectively. The validated method was proven to be rugged for routine use to quantify endogenous levels of HMB in human plasma obtained from healthy volunteers.     

Syntheses and structures of Me3Sb+CH2COO−·H2O,the monohydrate of the antimony analogue of betaine,and related compounds

The syntheses of the antimony analogue of betaine, Me₃Sb⁺CH₂COO^? (1), of the precursor [Me₃SbCH₂COOH][Br] (2) and of [Me₃SbCH₂COOCH₂CH₃][Br] (3) are reported. A new method for the synthesis of solvent‐free Me₃Sb is described. The structures of 1·H₂O and 3 were determined by single crystal X‐ray diffractometry. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intermolecular electron transfer from photogenerated Ru(bpy)3+ to [2Fe2S] model complexes of the iron-only hydrogenase active site

Visible light-driven intermolecular electron transfer was observed from a reduced species Ru(bpy)3+, photogenerated via a reductive quenching of the ruthenium photosensitizer by a diethyldithiocarbamate anion, to bioinspired [2Fe2S] model complexes of the iron-only hydrogenase active site. The results indicate that Ru(bpy)32+ can act as a photoactive functional model of the [4Fe4S] cluster, playing the role of an electron-transfer relay. The photogenerated FeIFe0 species, which is proposed to be a crucial intermediate for proton reduction catalyzed electrochemically by the [2Fe2S] complexes, gives promise in the light-driven dihydrogen evolution using diiron complexes as surrogates of noble platinum catalysts.     

Nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to study the dissociation of the p53·MDM2/X complex by potentially anticancer compounds

A new analytical method to study the dissociation of the complexes between the oncosuppressor p53 and its negative modulators murine double‐minute protein 2 (MDM2) or MDMX, is proposed. This technique is reliable to determine the dissociative power exerted by small molecules on the complex taking advantage of the appearance of migrating MDM2 or MDMX in a native polyacrylamide gel, when inhibitors are added to the complex mixture. Therefore, we propose this new approach to easily screen library of compounds, with potential pharmacological anticancer activity.