Structure of Galactomannans from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gleditsia delavayi</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">G. aquatica</Emphasis> by <Superscript>1</Superscript>H and <Superscript>13</Superscript>C NMR Spectroscopy

The structure of galactomannans isolated from seeds of G. delavayi and G. aquatica was studied by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. It was found that the galactomannans consisted mainly of β-1-4-bound mannopyranoses, a part of which was substituted on the C-6 hydroxyl by terminal units of α-galactopyranose.__________Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 12–13, January–February, 2005.     

Removal of <Superscript>60</Superscript>Co<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions from low radioactive solutions using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Azolla caroliniana</Emphasis> willd. water fern

This study concerns the removal of the ¹³⁷Cs⁺ and ⁶⁰Co²⁺ β+γ-radioactive ions in Azolla caroliniana Willd. water fern. The living fern and two different types of biosorbent prepared from Azolla caroliniana were tested to remove the above-mentioned radioactive ions from dilute solutions, in the absence and in the presence of the ionic competition. Effective ¹³⁷Cs⁺ and ⁶⁰Co²⁺ ions removal from low radioactive wastewaters was demonstrated. The time dependent K _d (t) values were calculated from the absorption data. These results indicate that removal process achieved equilibrium in about 120 min and that it involves two steps: rapid and slow absorption; the active process (metabolic bioaccumulation on the living fern) was responsible for above one half of the total removal process. A thin layer radiochromatography study leads to the conclusion that the biochemical components in which ¹³⁷Cs⁺ and ⁶⁰Co²⁺ place themselves are of a polysaccharide and lipoid fractions.     

Quantitative <Superscript>2</Superscript>H NMR spectroscopy

The selectivity of deuterium distribution between the nonequivalent positions in 3-carene (1), 4-α-acetyl-2-carene (2), and 4-(1-hydroxyethyl)-2-carene (3) has been measured by ²H-{¹H} NMR spectroscopy at the natural abundance of deuterium. These “H/D-isotope portraits” were shown to be typical of terpenes and terpenoids produced in plants via the biosynthetic DXP pathway. The mechanism of acylation of 1 was studied by the density functional theory method (PBE functional, TZ2p basis set). The six-membered ring in compound 1 is planar. However, the endo attack of electrophiles on this ring is more favorable both kinetically and thermodynamically. It was shown both experimentally and theoretically that the elimination of a hydrogen atom in the second reaction step proceeds stereoselectively at the C(2) atom from the anti position with respect to the three-membered ring and occurs with pronounced nucleophilic assistance from the carbonyl group. For Part 2, see Ref. 1. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1657–1664, August, 2008.     

Development of a PVC-membrane ion-selective bulk optode,for UO<Stack><Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>2+</Superscript></Stack> ion,based on tri-<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-octylphosphine oxide and dibenzoylmethane

A novel uranyl ion-selective bulk optode membrane, incorporating tri-n-octylphosphine oxide for cation recognition and a lipophilic chromoionophore dibenzoylmethane, has been prepared. The PVC membrane composition was optimized to result in the widest working concentration range. The response range of the proposed optode is 4.1×10^–6 to 2.0×10^–4 mol L^–1 UO₂²⁺. The probe works at pH 4.0. Ion interference is low and selectivity, reproducibility, and stability are good.     

Functionalization of one or two methyl groups in the [Cp*<Subscript>2</Subscript>RuBr]<Superscript>+</Superscript>Br<Superscript>−</Superscript> complex in the reaction with bromine

The reaction of [Cp*₂RuBr]⁺Br⁻ with bromine in CH₂Cl₂ (CD₂Cl₂) in an inert atmosphere at room temperature produces the complexes [Cp*Ru(Br)C₅Me₄CH₂Br]⁺Br₃ ⁻ (syn conformer), [Cp*Ru(Br)C₅Me₃(CH₂Br)₂]⁺ (syn and anti conformers), and [Ru(Br)(C₅Me₄CH₂Br)₂]⁺ (syn conformer). All complexes were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy; the former complex, by elemental analysis. These complexes were also prepared by the reaction of [Cp*RuC₅Me₄CH₂]⁺BF₄ ⁻ with bromine in CH₂Cl₂. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2712–2718, December, 2005.     

Local structure and photoluminescent characteristics of Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript> in ZnO–SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> glasses

The photoluminescence properties of xZnO–(100−x)SiO₂ (x = 0, 5, 10, 20) containing 1% Eu₂O₃ prepared by a sol–gel method were systematically investigated. The results indicated that the relative proportion of f–f transitions to charge transfer (CT) absorption decreased with the increase of ZnO concentration. The intensity of ⁵D₀–⁷F_J transitions of Eu³⁺ ions was enhanced with the increase of ZnO content due to local structure changes and decreased quantities of Eu³⁺ ions clusters. The results of fluorescence line narrow (FLN) spectra indicated that Eu³⁺ ions occupied one site in SiO₂ glass and two sites in ZnO–SiO₂ glasses. The second-order crystal field parameters were calculated. B₂₀ and B₂₂ for site 1 increased with excitation energy, while ones hardly changed for site 2.     

[1-B<Subscript>10</Subscript>H<Subscript>9</Subscript>N<Subscript>2</Subscript>]<Superscript>−</Superscript> and [1-CB<Subscript>9</Subscript>H<Subscript>10</Subscript>]<Superscript>−</Superscript> anions: an attempt of quantum chemical calculations

Comparative quantum chemical calculations of structural parameters, chemical shifts of ¹¹B NMR spectra, and atomic charges in 10-vertex boron hydride anions [1-CB₉H₁₀]⁻ and [1-B₁₀H₉N₂]⁻ were performed using the restricted Hartree-Fock method with the 6-31++G(D,P) basis set. Dedicated to Academician G. A. Abakumov on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1853–1855, September, 2007.     

Synthesis of Schiff bases and benzylamino derivatives containing [1-B<Subscript>10</Subscript>H<Subscript>9</Subscript>NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>]<Superscript>−</Superscript> anion

Reactions of an amino derivative of the closo-decaborate anion [1-B₁₀H₉NH₃]^– with aromatic aldehydes afforded Schiff bases [1-B₁₀H₉NH=CHAr]^– (Ar=Ph, C₆H₄-2-OMe, or C₆H₄-4-NHCOMe). The reduction of the latter with sodium borohydride gave the corresponding benzylamino derivatives [1-B₁₀H₉NH₂CH₂Ar]^–.Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 2004–2007, September, 2004.     

Regioselective Reaction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis><Superscript>1</Superscript>-Benzyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis><Superscript>2</Superscript>-(4-nitrophenyl)ethanediamide and Acetylenic Esters

Summary. The regioselective reaction of N¹-benzyl-N²-(4-nitrophenyl)ethanediamide with dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates or alkyl propiolates in the presence of triphenylphosphine leads to dialkyl 4-benzylamino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-oxo-2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2,3-dicarboxylates or alkyl 4-benzylamino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-oxo-5-pyrrolidinecarboxylates in good yields.     

Quantum-Chemical Investigation of Keto-enol-enethiol Tautomerism in 3-oxo-3-R<Superscript>1</Superscript>-N-R<Superscript>2</Superscript>-propanethioamides

The keto-enol-enethiol tautomerism in 3-oxo-3-R¹-N-R²-propanethioamides under vacuum and in acetone was studied in terms of density functional theory. It was established that the equilibrium depends on the structure of the 3-oxo-3-R¹-N-R²-propanethioamides and on the nature of the solvent, but the most stable form is as a rule the keto form stabilized by an intramolecular hydrogen bond. __________ Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Eksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 41, No. 5, pp. 272–277, September–October, 2005.     

Accumulation of <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs and <Superscript>40</Superscript>K in aboveground organs of tropical woody fruit plants

Distribution of ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs in tissues of the Citrus aurantifolia was measured by gamma spectrometry. A simple theoretical model is also proposed to describe the temporal evolution of ⁴⁰K activity concentration in such tropical woody fruit species. This model exhibits close agreement with the ⁴⁰K experimental results, in the leaf growing and fruit ripening processes of lemon trees.     

<Superscript>13</Superscript>C NMR and mass spectrometry of soil organic matter

Liquid state, high resolution ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry were used to study the composition and structure of soil organic matter (SOM) using soil extracts from two long-term experiments at the Rothamsted Experimental Station. Both one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques were applied. ¹³C NMR sub-spectra of the CH _n (n=0...3) groups, obtained by the Distortionless Enhancement by Polarisation Transfer (DEPT) technique, were used for the elucidation of the qualitative and quantitative composition of humic and fulvic acids in the soils. The chemical structure of SOM was further analysed at the molecular level through Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry (FABMS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). Humic and fulvic extract results were not only compared to each other, but also to the solid state ¹³C NMR results for the complete soil sample.     

Ion-exchange selectivity of a network calixarene-containing polymer obtained by the template synthesis on Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>, K<Superscript>+</Superscript>, and Ba<Superscript>2+</Superscript> matrices

The ion-exchange equilibrium in network polymers obtained from cis-2,8,14,20-tetraphenyl-4,6,10,12,16,18,22,24-octahydroxycalix[4]arene by template synthesis on cations Na⁺, K⁺, and Ba²⁺ as matrices was studied. The selectivity coefficients of ion exchanges Ba²⁺-H⁺, Na⁺-H⁺, K⁺-H⁺, Na⁺-K⁺, and Na⁺-NH₄ ⁺ were determined. The template synthesis enhanced the affinity of the polymers to matrix-forming cations by 6–8 kJ mol⁻¹. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1919–1922, August, 2005.     

A new phosphor with flower-like structure and luminescent properties of Sr<Subscript>2</Subscript>MgSi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript>: Eu<Superscript>2+</Superscript>, Dy<Superscript>3+</Superscript> long afterglow materials by sol–gel method

The flower-like phosphors of Sr₂MgSi₂O₇: Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ with high brightness and long afterglow were obtained by sol–gel method. X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) shows that single-phased Sr₂MgSi₂O₇ phosphor is prepared by sol–gel method under 1250 °C. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) indicates that the phosphor consists of nano-sized whiskers which are detected for the first time in Eu²⁺ and Dy³⁺ co-doped long-lasting phosphorescence silicates. Furthermore, the investigation on the mechanism indicates that the internal structure and gas, liquid and solid phase effect play important roles in the formation of flower-like Sr₂MgSi₂O₇: Eu²⁺, Dy³⁺ nanostructure. Finally, the optical properties of flower-like Sr₂MgSi₂O₇ nanostructure have been characterized by photoluminescence (PL) spectra.     

Effects of La<Superscript>3+</Superscript> on inward K<Superscript>+</Superscript> channels at plasma membrane in guard cells

The effects of La³⁺ on inward K⁺ channels at plasma membrane in vicia guard cells are investigated using the whole-cell patch-clamp recording mode. It is shown that La³⁺ on both sides of plasma membrane blocks inward K⁺ currents in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that La³⁺ binding sites may exist on both sides of plasma membrane in guard cells in vicia. The dose response is fitted by the Michaelis-Menten relation characterized by an inhibitor constant K _i of 2.56±0.25 μmol · L⁻¹ (outside membrane) and (1.18±0.11)×10⁻¹⁵ mol · L⁻¹ (inside membrane). Intracellular La³⁺ has much stronger inhibitory effect on inward K⁺ currents than extracellular La³⁺ does, suggesting there may exist stronger binding sites inside membrane than outside membrane. Since ion channel activities of guard cells directly affect plant stomatal movement and water status, our results imply that rare earth elements might have potential practical values in regulating plant water status and strengthening plant drought endurance.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Alkylation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-halosuccinimides in ionic reactions with 1-phenyltricyclo [4.1.0.0<Superscript>2,7</Superscript>]heptane

N-Bromo and N-chlorosuccinimides add to 1-phenyltricyclo[4.1.0.0^2,7]heptane in CH₂Cl₂ with cleavage of the C(1)-C(7) bond to give isomeric 1 : 1 Markownikoff-type endo, anti-adducts of the norpinane structure in a ∼3 :7 ratio corresponding to N and O alkylation of succinimide.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No.2, pp. 457–460, February, 2005     

Theoretical study of the mechanism for C-H bond activation in spin-forbidden reaction between Ti<Superscript>+</Superscript> and C<Subscript>2</Subscript>H<Subscript>4</Subscript>

The mechanism of the spin-forbidden reaction Ti⁺(⁴F, 3d²4s¹) + C₂H₄→TiC₂H₂ ⁺ (²A₂) + H₂ on both doublet and quartet potential energy surfaces has been investigated at the B3LYP level of theory. Crossing points between the potential energy surfaces and the possible spin inversion process are discussed by means of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) calculations. The strength of the SOC between the low-lying quartet state and the doublet state is 59.3 cm⁻¹ in the intermediate complex IM1-⁴B₂. Thus, the changes of its spin multiplicity may occur from the quartet to the doublet surface to form IM1-²A₁, leading to a sig-nificant decrease in the barrier height on the quartet PES. After the insertion intermediate IM2, two distinct reaction paths on the doublet PES have been found, i.e., a stepwise path and a concerted path. The latter is found to be the lowest energy path on the doublet PES to exothermic TiC₂H₂ ⁺(²A₂) + H₂ products, with the active barrier of 4.52 kcal/mol. In other words, this reaction proceeds in the following way: Ti⁺+C₂H₄→⁴IC→IM1-⁴B₂→^4,2ISC→IM1-²A₁→[²TS_ins]→IM2→[²TS_MCTS]→IM5→TiC₂H₂ ⁺(²A₂)+H₂. Supported by ‘Qinglan’ Talent Engineering Funds by Tianshui Normal University.     

PMR and <Superscript>13</Superscript>C NMR spectra of biologically active compounds. XIII.* Structure and stereochemistry of a new phenylpropanoid glycoside isolated from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Onopordum acanthium</Emphasis> seeds

The structure of a new compound was determined using PMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy (HHCOSY, HSBC, HMBC, ROESY) as 2-[3′-methoxy,4-O-β-D-galactopyranos-1-yl)benzyl]-3-(3″,4″-dimethoxybenzyl)-4hydroxybutyric acid, which was isolated for the first time from seeds of Scotch thistle Onopordum acanthium L. *For No. XII, see [1]. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 53–55, January–February, 2009.     

Eu<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-fluorescence properties in nano-crystallized SnO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> glass-ceramics

Fluorescence and spectral hole burning properties of Eu³⁺ ions were studied in nanocrystals-precipitated SnO₂-SiO₂ glasses. The glasses were prepared to contain various amount of Eu₂O₃ using the sol-gel method, in which SnO₂ nanocrystals were precipitated by heating in air. In the glasses containing Eu₂O₃ less than 1%, the Eu³⁺ ions were preferentially doped in the SnO₂ nanocrystals and their fluorescence intensities were enhanced by the energy transfer due to the recombination of electrons and holes excited in SnO₂ crystals. The SnO₂ nanocrystals-precipitated glasses exhibited the persistent spectral holes with the depth of ∼25% of the total fluorescence intensities of the Eu³⁺ ions. With the increasing Eu₂O₃ concentration, the amount of SnO₂ nanocrystals decreased and the Sn⁴⁺ ions formed the random glass structure together with the silica network. This structure change induced the fluorescence intensities and the hole depth to decrease.