Studies of UV photochemistry of psoralen and angelicin by infrared spectroscopy

The UV homodimerization reaction of psoralen and angelicin in crystalline thin layers has been investigated by means of transmission infrared and infrared ATR (attenuated total reflection) spectroscopy.

In the case of psoralen layers isoorientation was found. Dichroic ratios for several vibrational bands have been obtained. After irradiation, cis-syn photodimers were found for both psoralen and angelicin.     

Vibrational spectra and rotational isomerism of ethyl trichloroacetate

The IR and Raman spectra of ethyl trichloroacetate (E-TCA) and its deuterate (E-TCA-d₅) have been measured in the liquid, glassy and crystalline states. Vibrational assignment was made by referring to isotopic wavenumber-shift, characteristic group frequencies of related esters and with the aid of a normal coordinate calculation on E-TCA and E-TCA-d₅. It is suggested that in the liquid and glassy states there exist two molecular forms (trans—trans—trans and trans—trans—gauche) with regard to the internal rotations about the ClC---C---O---CH₂CH₃ axis, and that the former persists in the crystalline state. The band pairs of E-TCA and the other ethyl esters are discussed in relation to the nature and number of rotational axes, effect of the heavy trichloromethyl group, and enhancement of band intensity by vibrational coupling.     

Transition metal complexes with long-chain amines thermal behaviour and crystal structure of (n-CaH2a+1NH2)2ZnCl2

The thermal behaviour of (n-C_aH_2n+1NH₂)₂ZnCl₂ complexes with n = 6, 8, … 16 has been investigated by DSC and by temperature variable IR and X-ray powder diffraction techniques. Complexes with n = 12,14,16 show solid—solid phase transition which are “melting” transitions of the hydrocarbon regions of the structure. The crystal structure of both the low and the high temperature polymorphs is characterized by the piling of sandwiches, each formed by an “inorganic” layer sandwiched between two alkylammonium layers.     

The vibrational spectra, molecular structure and conformation of organic azides : Part IV. An ab initio study of hydrazoic acid, azidomethane, azidoethane, azidoethene and azidomethanal

Fully optimized geometries have been calculated for the title compounds at the Hartree—Fock SCF level and compared with existing experimental data. A basis set of double zeta quality has been employed. For hydrazoic acid, a calculation with a larger basis set, expected to give results near the Hartree—Fock limit, has also been performed. All of the calculations show the azide group to be slightly bent with a trans configuration around the central NN bond. Azidoethane is predicted to exist in two conformations, gauche (71°) and anti, with a negligible energy difference of 0.26 kJ mol⁻¹ between them. Azidoethene and azidomethanal both prefer the syn orientation of the azide group with respect to the C---C or C---O bonds, the computed energy difference between the anti and syn conformations being 3.31 and 30.3 kJ mol⁻¹ respectively.

The barrier to rotation around the C---N bond has been calculated to be 3.75 kJ mol⁻¹ in azidomethane while in azidoethane it was 3.30 and 9.40 kJ mol⁻¹ in the eclipsed anti-clinal (120°) and syn positions, respectively.

Complete harmonic force fields and dipole moment derivatives have been calculated for hydrazoic acid, azidomethane and for the two stable conformations of azidoethane. For azidoethane and azidomethanal only the azide part of the harmonic force field has been calculated. The theoretical harmonic force fields have been modified through scaling by a least squares refinement to the observed wavenumbers of hydrazoic acid, azidomethane and azidoethane (anti and gauche). Infrared vapour phase intensities have been calculated and theoretical spectra are presented for azidomethane and azidoethane.     

X-ray diffraction study of the smectic mesophase of some azobenzene-containing polyacrylates

An X-ray study is performed on powder specimens and on stretched oriented fibres of two liquid crystalline polyacrylates containing the azobenzene mesogenic unit with either a 4'-n-pentyloxy (sample 1-4) or 4'-n-hexyloxy (sample 1-5) substituent. The X-ray diffraction patterns of both samples showed the presence of a bilayer smectic C mesophase with the mesogneic groups tilted by an angle β ∼ 45° (1-4) or β ∼ 38° (1-5) with respect to the layer normal. The electron density profile p(z) along the direction normal to the smectic layers was calculated by Fourier inversion and possible structural models of the smectic mesophase are discussed. A partial interdigitation of the terminal alkyloxy substituents appears to occur.     

The structure of δ-cadinol

Albicaulol, a crystalline cadinol isolated from the oleoresin of Pinus albicaulis and Pinus armandi, has been found to be identical with δ-cadinol. The structure of δ-cadinol has been shown to be Δ⁸-cadinene-3-ol rather than the Δ⁹-structure assigned by Motl, Sýkora, Herout and orm.     

Structure and dynamics of rodlike polyester with long n-alkyl side chains over a wide range of temperatures by solid state C NMR

Solid state ¹³C NMR experiments on poly(p-biphenylene terephthalate) with long n-dodecyl side chains have been carried out over a wide range of temperatures, in order to elucidate conformational and dynamical behavior of the polyester in the crystalline state and thermotropic liquid crystalline state. From these experimental results, it is found that at temperatures from room temperature to 80 °C the n-alkyl side chains take both of the immobile and the mobile regions, and at temperatures above 120 °C take only the mobile region. In the immobile region the n-alkyl side chains are in the all-trans zigzag conformation and in the mobile state are undergoing fast exchange between the trans and gauche conformations. On the other hand, the terephthalate moiety of the main chain undergoes rotational motion after the melt of n-alkyl side chains as the temperature is increased.     

Structural and magnetic properties of thin manganite films grown on silicon substrates

Polycrystalline La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ manganite thin films were grown on silicon substrates covered by SiO_x amorphous native oxide. Unusual splitting of the manganite layer was found: on the top of an intermediate layer characterised by lower crystalline order, a magnetic robust layer is formed. Curie temperatures of about 325 K were achieved for 70 nm thick films. A strong room temperature XMCD signal was detected indicating high spin polarisation near the surface.     

Organonickel chemistry in the catalytic hydrodechlorination of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs): ligand steric effects and molecular structure of reaction intermediates

Soluble homogeneous organophosphorus—nickel complexes have been used to detoxify polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by catalyzed hydrodechlorination using NaBH₂(OCH₂CH₂OCH₃)₂ as the hydrogen source. The reactions appear to proceed by NiL₃ oxidative addition into C---Cl bonds followed by hydrogenolysis of the metal---carbon bond. In model experiments with decachlorobiphenyl, the cone angle of the organophosphorus ligand L was shown to be a key factor controlling the magnitude and position of chlorine displacement. Hence, ligands leading to para displacement (e.g. (o-MeC₆H₄O)₃P), meta—para displacement (e.g. (EtO)₃P and (PhO)₃P), and ortho—meta—para displacement (e.g. Me₃P and Et₃P) were found. Significantly, the highly toxic, coplanar dioxin precursor 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl, a meta—para chlorine-substituted congener, was dechlorinated quantitatively with the Et₃P catalyst system. Evidence for the presence of organonickel intermediates in the reaction mixtures was obtained by mass spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction studies. Of particular interest is the isolation of square planar complexes p-C₆Cl₅C₆Cl₄Ni(PEt₃)₂Cl from the reaction of decachlorobiphenyl with NaBH₂(OCH₂CH₂OCH₃)₂—(Et₃P)₂NiCl₂ as the catalyst precursor and m-C₆Cl₅C₆Cl₄Ni(PEt₃)₂Cl from decachlorobiphenyl—Ni(1,5-C₈H₁₂)₂—PEt₃ at room temperature. All are oxidative addition intermediates and precursors for decachlorobiphenyl hydrodechlorination.     

Synthesis and molecular structure of the optically active organoaluminium dimer (S)-(—)-(S)-(—)- [(C6H5)CH(CH3)NHA1(CH3)2]2

Reaction of the optically active primary amine (S)-(—)--methylbenzylamine with trimethylaluminium in heptane affords the crystalline organoaluminium dimer (S)-(—)-(S)-(—)-[(C₆H₅)CH(CH₃)NHA1(CH₃)₂]₂. Isolated as large, colourless, extremely air-sensitive prismatic crystals, the title compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P2₁2₁2₁ with unit cell parameters a = 8.406(3), b = 15.505(4), c = 17.547(5) Å, V = 2287 ų and p = 1.03 g cm⁻³ for Z = 4. Least-squares refinement based on 1477 observed reflections converged at R = 0.056, R_w = 0.058. Methane was eliminated during the course of the reaction due to cleavage of A1---C and N---H bonds resulting in an asymmetric A1₂N₂ fragment at the core of the organoaluminium dimer. The mean A1---C bond distance in the dimethylaluminium units is 1.930(8), while the mean A1---N bond distance is 1.950(5) Å. Specific rotation ([]_D²⁵ in CH₂C1₂)of the dimer is determined to be - 20.6°.     

The formation and stability of hydrated and anhydrous uranyl phosphates

The stabilities of the hydrated uranyl phosphates (UO₂)₃(PO₄)₂ · 4 H₂O, UO₂HPO₄ · 4 H₂O, and UO₂(H₂PO₄) · 3 H₂O have been reinvestigated. The compounds identified by thermal analysis have been prepared isothermally and characterized by their strongest X-ray reflections. During dehydration, oxygen was not evolved and the crystalline compounds (UO₂)₃(PO₄)₂, (UO₂)₂P₂O₇, UO₂(PO₃)₂, and probably (UO₂)₃P₄O)₁₃ were found.

At still higher temperatures, the uranyl phosphates are reduced. The decomposition products lose phosphorus oxide above 1300–1400°C. The present results are summarized in a tentative pseudo-binary phase diagram UO_x(x = 3 to 2)—UO₂(PO₃)₂.     

Enantioselective inclusion of (R)-phenylglycyl-(R)-phenylglycine with benzyl methyl sulfoxides

A crystalline dipeptide, (R)-phenylglycyl-(R)-phenylglycine (RR-1), recognized p-halobenzyl methyl sulfoxides with high R-enantioselectivity (86–99% ee) to form inclusion compounds. The single-crystal X-ray analyses showed that RR-1 molecules are arranged in parallel and zigzags via hydrogen bonding to construct a pleated sheet. The guest molecules that form hydrogen bond with ⁺NH₃ of RR-1 are accommodated in the channel cavity between the layers. In contrast to the inclusion crystals of parent benzyl methyl sulfoxide, in which a rectangular cavity is formed, the cavity including p-halobenzyl methyl sulfoxides becomes rhomboidal. We also examine the guest exchange in these inclusion compounds and it was found that the guest exchanges occur when the host structure changes.     

A self consistent field molecular orbital study of the lithium-formaldehyde system

The nature of the lithium—oxygen bond in the lithium—formaldehyde system (a prototype of the ketyl radical—alkali metal ion pairs) is examined by unrestricted Hartree—Fock calculations using minimum and extended Slater-type bases and ghost orbital methods. Two states of the equilibrium C_2v symmetry structure are considered: ²B₁, which is a π radical, and ²A₁, Which is a σ radical. In contrast with the results of Ha et al. [10], the ²B₁, state is found to have a slightly lower energy than ²A ₁, When only s-type basis functions are used for the lithium atom; the ²B₁, state is further stabilized if 2p functions at the lithium centre are included. Inclusion of 2p orbitals on lithium greatly exaggerates the charge density at the lithium atom in single-ζ basis calculations on the ²B₁ state, and earlier calculations by Bernardi and Pedulli [8, 9] are found severely to underestimate the polarity of this state. A much better wave-function is obtained from double-ζ basis calculations, and it is concluded that the net charge of Li in the ²B₁, state is close to + 1. The ²A₁, state, on the other hand, is essentially homopolar.     

Supercooling phenomena in binary mixtures of acetamide and inorganic salts

Liquid—solid equilibrium temperatures are measured in binary mixtures of acetamide and inorganic salts [NaClO₄, LiCNS, LiNO₃, CH₃COOLi, Ca(NO₃)₂, (CH₃)₄ NCl, (C₂H ₅)₄ NBr]. In some ranges of concentration all these systems (with the exception of CH₃COOLi, R₄NX) exhibit supercooling phenomena and crystallization occurs only through vigorous agitation and in the presence of crystalline nuclei, or does not occur at all, according to the type of salt. A probable explanation is presented on the basis of the trend of ΔT/νmK vs. m.     

Rotational relaxation of homonuclear diatomic molecules by classical trajectory computation

The rotational relaxation times of molecular nitrogen and molecular chlorine have been obtained using an exact classical mechanical calculation and Wang Chang—Uhlenbeck's theory of polyatomic gases. The intermolecular potential used was an extended Lennard-Jones potential of the form V(R,_X1, _X2) = C₁₂R⁻¹² _1+b [P ₂(cos_X1)+P₂(cos_X2)]-C₆R⁻⁶ 1+ a[P₂(cos_X1) + P₂(cos_X2)]. Numerical results were obtained for a number ef values of the anisotropy parameters (a,b) for nitrogen and for a single set of values for chlorine. Comparison with experimental ultrasonic results for nitrogen gave very good agreement for (a,b) around (0.1, 0.7). Using a box-quantization procedure we have furthermore obtained detailed cross sections for inelastic collisions from which a surprisal analysis was carried out. The analysis showed that our results follow the exponential gap law of Polanyi, Ding and Woodall reasonably well although this law was suggested for atom—diatom collisions.     

Fragmentation characteristic of glutathione conjugates activated by high-energy collisions

Product ion spectra of fifteen monoglutathione and diglutathione conjugates have been measured using activation by 6000-eV collisions with helium in the third field-free region of a four-sector tandem mass spectrometer of EBEB configuration. Fragmentation patterns in the cation spectra have been analyzed for decompositions of the glutathione moiety that would permit recognition of an unknown as a glutathione conjugate. Five spectra from an earlier study of high-energy collisional activation on a BEEB four-sector instrument have also been included in this analysis. A suite of appropriate ions was found to occur consistently, including ions of m/z 307 comprising the glutathione tripeptide and the complementary ion [MH — 307]⁺ or the ion radical [MH — 306]^+’.     

The molecular and crystal structures of a homologous series of bipolar, mesogenic biphenyls-HO(CH2)nOC6H4.C6H4CN

The crystal and molecular structures of eight 4,4'-disubstituted biphenyls of the general formula HO-(CH₂)_n-O-C₆H₄-C₆H₄-CN (n=3-5, 7-11) (HnCBPs) have been determined. All compounds investigated have a nearly parallel molecular arrangement in the crystalline state, with dipole-dipole interactions between the molecules. For n≥7, isomorphic layered structures are observed. The inter-molecular packing is different for odd and even numbers of methylene units in the spacer.     

New organogold(I) complexes: Synthesis, structure, and dynamic behavior of the polynuclear organogold diphenylmethane and diphenylethane derivatives

Two organogold derivatives of diphenylmethane and diphenylethane, Ph₃PAu(o-C₆H₄)CH₂(C₆H₄-o)AuPPh₃ (1) and Ph₃PAu(o-C₆H₄)(CH₂)₂(C₆H₄-o)AuPPh₃ (2), have been synthesized by the reaction of ClAuPPh₃ with Li(o-C₆H₄)CH₂(C₆H₄-o)Li and Li(o-C₆H₄)(CH₂)₂(C₆H₄-o)Li respectively. The interaction of 1 with dppe results in the replacement of the two PPh₃ groups to give a macrocyclic compound (3) that includes an Au Au bond. Compounds 1 and 2 react with one or two equivalents of [Ph₃PAu]BF₄ to form new types of cationic complex [CH₂(C₆H₄-o)₂(AuPPh₃)₃]BF₄ (4), [CH₂(C₆H₄-o)₂(AuPPh₃)₄](BF₄)₂ (5), and [(CH₂)₂(C₆H₄-o)₂(AuPPh₃)₄](BF₄)₂ (6). Complexes 1–6 have been characterized by X-ray diffraction studies, FAB MS, and IR as well as by ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy. A complicated system of Au H-C agostic interactions, involving the bridging alkyl groups (—CH₂— and CH₂-CH₂—) of diphenylmethane and diphenylethane ligands, has been found to occur in complexes 1–3 and 6.     

Thermal switching of the optical anisotropy of a macroscopically aligned film of a discotic liquid crystal

We have studied the temperature dependence of anisotropy in the optical absorption and charge transport properties of an aligned film of hexakis-dodecyl-hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (HBC-C12) formed by zone-casting on a quartz substrate. At room temperature the film displays a large anisotropy in (photo)conductivity, as determined using the flash photolysis time-resolved microwave conductivity technique, with charge transport in the casting direction favoured by a factor of at least 10. The anisotropy in the optical absorption is however negligible. At the temperature corresponding to the transition from the crystalline solid to the liquid crystalline mesophase (c. 110°C), the optical anisotropy increases abruptly, with absorption of light polarized in the direction perpendicular to the alignment direction favoured by a factor of c. 3. On cooling, the dichroism reverts to its initial very low value with a hysteresis of c. 30°C. The results are explained in terms of a reversible change in the orientation of the molecules with respect to the axis of the aligned columnar stacks from tilted (at c. 45°) in the crystalline phase to close to orthogonal in the liquid crystalline phase.     

Determination of thermoluminescence kinetic parameters of terbium-doped zirconium oxide

In recent years considerable importance has been attached to zirconium oxide doped with rare earth (ZrO₂ : RE) thin films due to their desirable characteristics for use in UV dosimetry. In our laboratories we have developed a method to prepare ZrO₂ : RE thin films. Dosimetric characteristics of these materials have been reported previously (Azorin et al., Radiat. Meas. 29 (1998) 315; Radiat. Prot. Dosim. 85 (1999) 317) and results of these have stimulated continued development and analysis of the thermoluminescence mechanism. Two important parameters to be determined in TL studies are the activation energy (E) and the frequency factor (s). This paper presents the results of determining kinetic parameters of terbium-doped zirconium oxide (ZrO₂ : Tb) thin films, exposed to 260 nm UV light, using the Lushchik (Sov. Phys. JETF 3 (1956) 390) and Chen (J. Appl. Phys. 40 (1969) 570; J. Electrochem. Soc. 166 (1969) 1254) methods. Kinetic analysis of the glow curve shows second order kinetics for both the first and second glow peaks.