Investigation of the triplet states of DNA by optical detection of magnetic resonance using a new slow passage technique

A new method to obtain slow passage ODMR signals under otherwise impeding conditions is described. The technique is applied to identify the triplet state of DNA as thymine. The zero field splitting constants measured are |D| = (0.203 ± 0.003) cm^?1, and |E| ? (0.0123 ± 0.0005) cm^?1. From microwave-induced delayed phosphorescence and slow passage measurements a preliminary kinetic scheme for the triplet state is derived.     

Allycyanide gauche revisited

The microwave spectrum of the ground state of the gauche rotamer of allylcyanide (CH₂=CHCH₂ CN) has been remeasured. The obtained rotational constants A = 19 707.9 ± 0.1, B = 2 619.74 ± 0.05 and C = 2 497.43 ± 0.05 (in MHz) were in good agreement with a structural model. The dipole moment components were also fitted as |μ_a| = 3.50 ± 0.05, |μ_b| = 1.70 ± 0.02 and |μ_c| = 0.19 ± 0.04 (in Debye). The results are in both cases in good agreement with a CCCC dihedral angle near the expected 120°.     

Microwave and far-IR spectra,conformational stability,molecular structure,barriers to internal rotation and ab initio calculations for the anticlinal conformer of trans-1-fluoro-2-butene

The microwave spectrum of trans-1-fluoro-2-butene, trans-(CH₃)HCCH(CH₂F), has been recorded in the region of 18.0–39.0 GHz. Both a-type R- and b-type Q-branch assignments have been made for the ground and first two vibrationally excited states of the asymmetric torsion for the gauche (anticlinal) conformer. The ground state rotational constants for this conformer are found to have the following values: A = 19,938.33±0.48, B = 2071.37±0.01, C = 2022.17±0.01 MHz. From an analysis of the internal rotational splittings of the Q-branches, the three-fold rotational barrier for the methyl group is determined to be 596±7 cm⁻¹ (1.70±0.02 kcal/mol). From the Stark effect the dipole moment components for the gauche conformer were determined to be |μ_a| = 1.86±0.01, |μ_b| = 1.16±0.01, |μ_c| = 0.31±0.05, and |μ_t = 2.21±0.01 D. The fundamental asymmetric torsion for the cis (synclinal) conformer has been observed in the far-IR spectrum of the vapor at 123.95 cm⁻¹ whereas that for the gauche conformer has been determined to occur at 82.8±5 cm⁻¹ based on relative intensity measurements obtained from the microwave spectrum. From these data the potential function which governs the internal rotation of the asymmetric top has been determined and the following potential constants have been evaluated: V₁ = −191±10, V₂ = 598±10, V₃ = 786±13, V₄ = 59±5, and V₆ = 79±5 cm⁻¹. These data are consistent with the more stable conformer having the fluorine atom cis (synclinal) to the double bond and lying 300±33 cm⁻¹ (858±94 cal/mol) lower in energy than the gauche rotamer. Utilizing ab initio calculations with the MP2/6-31G* basis set and the three rotational constants, r₀ structural parameters are estimated. Also, the barriers to conformer interconversion have been calculated with the RHF/3-21G, RHF/6-31G*, and MP2/6-31G* basis sets. All of these results have been compared to the similar quantities of some corresponding molecules.     

Electric dipole moment of the diatomic AgBr molecule

Stark effect measurements on hyperfine components of the J = 3 – 2 rotational transition of ¹⁰⁷ Ag ⁷⁹ Br and ¹⁰⁹ Ag⁷⁹ Br at 11.5 GHz were carried out. The electric dipole moment derived for AgBr in its ground electronic and vibrational state is |μ_o| = 5.620 ± 0.030 D.     

The structure of low temperature triplet energy traps in organic solids from pmdr spectroscopy 11. 1,3,5-Trichloro and hexachlorobenzenes

The new technique of polarized microwave PMDR spectroscopy is used to determine the structure of the low temperature (1.6 – 4.2°K) triplet energy traps. The structure of 1.3,5-trichlorobenzene (Tri-CB) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) molecules in hexamethylbenzene (HMB) host as well as in their own neat crystals (present as x-traps) is determined from the linear polarization characteristics of their optically detected microwave zerofield (zf) transitions as well as from the analysis of their phosphorescence emission. The former technique gives the direction of the principal magnetic axes of these trap molecules in the crystal as well as the relative order of their zf levels.ln HMB host, deviation from trigonal symmetry is found to be only slight for HCB and absent for Tri-CB. ln the neat crystals, large deviations from trigonal symmetry are observed for the traps of both HCB and Tri-CB. In HCB x- traps, the HCB molecule is found to be slightly contracted along the CCl axis near parallel to the c′ crystal axes. Deviation From planarity is also strongly suggested by the large value of the zf parameter D. ln addition, the principal magnetic axis of the 2|E| moment for HCB x-traps is found to lie only 5° off the molecular N axis. The |D| + |E| and |D| — |E| moments, however, are 15° away from the A and B molecular axis, respectively.In Tri-CB neat crystal. two traps are observed optically with their phosphorescence origins 10 cm^?1 apart. The zf parameter E is found to have a non-zero value and is opposite in sign for the two traps. If the distortion is to be blamed on pseudo-Jahn-Teller forces, the results lead to the conclusion that the x-(shallow) trap is contracted while the y- (deep) trap is expanded along an in-plane axis going through the CCl bonds near parallel to the a axis of the Tri-CB crystal. The plane containing the |D| + |E| and |D| — |E| moments of the x-trap suffers a rotation around the N-molecular axis, which is almost parallel to the 2|E| moment. Th |D| + |E| moment is 10° off the A axis and the |D| — |E| moment is 10° off the B axis. The 2|E| transition moment of the y-trap lies off the molecular N axis and the plane containing the |D| + |E| and |D| — |E| moments moves upward from theThe results of these and other studies suggest that low temperature trapping in neat crystals of this type results from crystal induced geometrical and orientational changes in the molecules at point defects. The observed traps are those molecules for which the crystal field induced deformation leads to a lowering in their singlet-triplet transition energy as compared with that for the host lattice.     

Mössbauer effect of FeOCl-pyridine complex

A Mössbauer effect study has been conducted on FeOCl-pyridine complex in the temperature range between 4.2° and 298°K. The isomer shift relative to Fe metal and the quadrupole splitting at 298°K are 0.36 ± 0.01 and 0.92 ± 0.01 mm/sec, respectively. An antiferromagnetic ordering occurs at 65 ± 3°K. The internal magnetic field is 435 ± 10 kOe at 4.2°K. The z axis of the electric field gradient tensor (|V_zz|> |V_xx| ? |V_yy|, η being small) is shown to be parallel to the direction of the internal magnetic field and perpendicular to the crystalline b axis.     

Iridoids : Novel total synthesis of (±)- isoiridomyrmecin and of (±)-verbenalol

A novel synthesis of the iridoids (±)-isoiridomyrmecin $\text{1}$ and (±verbenalol $\text{2}$ is described starting from the tricyclo |3.3.0.0^2,8|octan-3-one $\text{3}$ using cis fused bicyclo |3.3.0|octenes as intermediates. The heterocyclic ring of the iridoids was formed in the final stages of the syntheses.     

Standard pH values for potassium hydrogenphthalate reference buffer solutions in 10, 30 and 50% (w/w) 1,4-dioxane/water mixed solvents at temperatures from 288.15 to 318.15 K

Standard pH(S) values for 0.05 mol kg^?1 potassium hydrogenphthalate (KHpH) reference buffer solutions in 10, 30 and 50% (w/w) 1,4-dioxane/water solvent mixtures within the temperature range 288.15–318.15 K are determined from e.m.f. measurements of the cell without transference Pt|H₂|KHPh + KCl|AgCl|Ag|Pt. The consistency of the results is analysed by a recently described method of multilinear regression of the quantity p(a_Hγ_Cl) as a function of both solution composition and temperature. The standard pH(S) determined can be reproduced to within ±0.01 by the equation pH(S) - 4.004 + 3.309w + 0.408z + 1.037w³ - 14.95zw² + 27.1zw³, where w is the weight fraction of dioxane in the solvent mixture,z = (T –θ)/θ, and θ - 298.15 K. Values of the first ionization constant of phthalic acid (H₂Ph; benzene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid) in the above solvent mixtures are also determined from e.m.f. measurements of the cell without transference Pt|H₂|H₂Ph + KHPh + KCl|AgCl|Ag|Pt.     

THE PHOTOEXCITED TRIPLET STATE OF TETRAPHENYL CHLORIN, MAGNESIUM TETRAPHENYL PORPHYRIN AND WHOLE CELLS OF CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDI. A LIGHT MODULATION-EPR STUDY

Abstract— The photoexcited triplet states of frozen solutions of tetraphenyl chlorin (TPC), magnesium tetraphenyl porphyrin (MgTPP) and whole cells of Chlamydomonas reinhardi have been studied by light modulation-EPR spectroscopy. The porphyrins were chosen to be studied as model compounds for chlorophyll molecules, From EPR spectra the zero field splitting parameters (ZFS) were calculated. For TPC, |D| = 0.0364 ± 0.0002 cm^-1, |E| = 0.0063 ± 0.0002 cm^-1. For MgTPP, |D| = 0.0310 ± 0.0002 cm^-1. For chloroplasts, |D| = 0.0280 ± 0.0004 cm^-1, |E| = 0.0032 ± 0.0004 cm^-1. In all compounds studied, except MgTPP, electron spin polarization (ESP) was observed. From the analysis of the kinetic curves at each canonical orientation we evaluated the spin lattice relaxation rate W, the depopulation rate constants k_p, and the ratio between the population rate constants, A_p, at zero magnetic field. For TPC in ethanol-toluene (5:1) k_x= (0.70 ± 0.10) × 10³ s^-1, k_y= (0.40 ± 0.07) × 10³ s^-1, k_x= (0.24 ± 0.05) × 10³ s^-1; A_x:A_y:A_z? 1.0:0.6:0.4; W= (2.60 ± 0.40) × 10³ s^-1. For MgTPP, only the total decay rate constant, k_T, was calculated: (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10 s^-1 in n-octane and (4.8 ± 0.8) × 10 s^-1 in ethanol. The results for TPC and MgTPP are compared to those reported previously for chlorophyll. It is concluded that the dynamics of the photoexcited triplet state in chlorophylls are mainly governed by the chlorin macrocycle. From the EPR spectrum and ZFS parameters of chloroplasts, we propose that both chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b are the main constituents of the EPR spectrum. From the analysis of the kinetic curves we obtain separately the kinetic parameters for chlorophylls a and b, k^a_x= (1.30 ± 0.20) × 10³ s^-1, k^a_y;= (0.85 ± 0.15) × 10³ s^-1k^a_x= (0.32 ± 0.05) × 10³ s^-1; A^a_x:A^a_y:A^a_z? 1.0:0.7:0.2; W^a= (1.20 ± 0.20) × 10³ s^-1; k^b_x= (0.56 ± 0.09) × 10³ s^-1, k^b_y= (0.30 ± 0.04) × 10³ s^-1, k^b_z= (0.06 ± 0.01) × 10³ s^-1; A^b_x:A^b_y:A^b_x? 1.0:0.6:0.1; W^b= (5.00 ± 0.80) × 10³ s^-1. These results are very close to those found separately for chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b oligomers in vitro.     

Determination of porphyrin dimer in a mixed monolayer of porphyrin/phospholipid transferred on ITO electrodes

The Langmuir–Blodgett method has been used to transfer mixed monolayers of a porphyrin (TMPyP) and a phospholipid (DMPA) from the air|water interface onto optically transparent indium–tin oxide (ITO) electrodes. The surface concentration of porphyrin, Γ, transferred on the ITO surface, has been obtained by integration of the reduction current from the cyclic voltammograms. The experimental Γ values ranged from Γ_m=5.19×10⁻¹¹ mol cm⁻², and corresponding to a compact monolayer of porphyrin monomers in a plane orientation with respect to the surface, to Γ_d=8.65×10⁻¹¹ mol cm⁻², and equivalent to the total amount of the porphyrin molecules at the air|water interface under a compression of 35 mN m⁻¹. Prior to the electrochemical experiments, the transmission spectrum was recorded. The surface concentration obtained of the porphyrin is not directly proportional to the transmission of the film, ΔT. This phenomenon is assigned to the dimer formation and, depending on the surface activity of the ITO electrodes, toward porphyrin adsorption. The dimer structure of TMPyP on an intact ITO electrode is altered with respect to that found at the air|water interface. A simple model has been developed to evaluate the contribution of monomer and dimer phases of the porphyrin in the mixed monolayer. Furthermore, spectroscopic measurements with linearly polarized light under oblique incidence have been performed in order to infer the plane orientation of the TMPyP molecules with respect to the ITO surfaces.     

Angular distribution for the major photoelectron bands of nitrogen below 45 eV binding energy

High-resolution optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) and optically detected electron—electron double resonance (ODEEDOR) have been performed on the lowest excited triplet states of pyrazine-h₄ and pyrazine-d₄, as dilute guests in polycrystalline benzene and cyclohexane host matrices. Computer simulated spectra have been fitted to those experimentally observed, using a spin hamiltonian which takes into account the ¹⁴N and ¹H (or ²D) nuclei of the pyrazine guest molecule. Good agreement is obtained when one ¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole energy difference, |ε_y^N - ε_z^N| ? 1.3 MHz, and the remaining component, |ε_x^N| = 0.6 ± 0.2 MHz for pyrazine-d₄ in benzene-d₆.     

Adsorption of ions in the diffuse part of an electrical double layer at ionic surfactant solution-air interfaces in the presence of background electrolytes

The equations are derived for the calculation of adsorption values Γ _± ^d of coions and counterions in the diffuse part of an electrical double layer characterized by Ψ_d potential in the presence of a background electrolyte. The case of arbitrary |Ψ_d| values is considered. Based on the known experimental data, the contributions of adsorption values Γ _± ^d to the surface excesses of ions, as determined by the Gibbs method for the solution-air interfaces, are quantitatively estimated. It is shown that the adsorption of counterions in the diffuse part of the electrical double layer is significantly lower than that in its dense part; however, the orders of these values are comparable. At potentials |Ψ_d| > 25 mV, surface-active ions are mainly located near the interface, and their adsorption values Γ _? ^d cannot noticeably affect the calculated surface excesses.     

The molecular Zeeman effect in HCP,HCN, and HCCBr and a comparison with similar molecules

The molecular Zeeman effect has been observed in the J = 0 → 1 ΔM = 0, and ± 1 transitions in H¹²CP, D¹²CP, H¹²C¹⁵N, H¹²C¹²C⁷⁹Br, and H¹²C¹²C⁸¹ Br giving the molecular g-values, magnetic susceptibility anisotropies, and corresponding molecular quadrupole moments. The results are g_⊥(HCP) = ?0.0430 ± 0.0010, g_⊥(DCP) = ?0.0353 ± 0.0010, x_⊥ - x_| = (8.4 ± 0.9) × 10^?6 erg/G² mole and Q_|(HCP) = (4.4 ± 1.2) × 10^?26 esu; g_⊥(HC¹⁵N) = ?0.0904 ± 0.0003, x_⊥ - x_| = (7.2 ± 0.4) × 10^?6 erg/G² mole, and Q_|(HC¹⁵N) = (3.1 ± 0.6) × 10^?26 esu; g_⊥(HCC⁷⁹Br) = ?0.00395 ± 0.00032, g_⊥(HCC⁸¹Br) = ?0.00388 ± 0.00014, x_⊥ - x_| = (9.5 ± 0.9) × 10^?6 erg/G² mole, and Q_| = (8.5 ± 1.1) × 10^?26 esu. The results in HCN agree very well with an earlier prediction of the magnetic properties. The new results presented here are compared to other members in the acetylene and cyanide series of molecules and we conclude that the sign of the g-value in acetylene should be positive.The deuterium nuclear quadrupole coupling constant was also determined in DCP to be x_D = 233 ± 40 kHz.     

The influence of an electric field on the wetting of an SiO2 film by ionic liquids

The electrowetting of a dielectric SiO₂ film 100 nm thick by drops (D = 2–3 mm) of [C₄mIm][PF₆], [C₆mIm][PF₆], and [C₆mIm][BTI] ionic liquids was studied at |U| ≤ 60 V in a ～10^?8 mbar vacuum. Electrocapillary curves of the dependence of the wetting angle on electric field potential were constructed with an accuracy of ±1 deg. In conformity with the Young-Lippman equation, the wetting angle θ° decreased by the parabolic law from 51° to 43° for [C₄mIm][PF₆], from 48° to 38° for [C₆mIm][PF₆], and from 35° to 27° for [C₆mIm][BTI] as |U| increased at 298 K. The electrocapillary curve branches were situated symmetrically in the (θ°, U) coordinates with respect to the line passing through the point U = 0; that is, zero-charge potential is zero for the electrowetting of the dielectric film by the ionic liquids. The capacitance of the double electrical layer at the ionic liquid-dielectric interface was determined. This value was found to be 4.65, 2.93, and 1.73 μF/m² for the electrowetting of the SiO₂ film at 298 K by the ionic liquids specified, respectively.     

Syntheses and thermal analyses of curium trichloride

Curium trichloride was synthesized by the solid state reaction of curium nitride with cadmium chloride heated up to 748 K in a dynamic vacuum. The product was hexagonal ²⁴⁴CmCl₃, of which lattice parameters were determined to be a = 0.7385 ± 0.0005 and c = 0.4201 ± 0.0005 nm. The melting temperature of the ²⁴⁴CmCl₃ sample was determined to be 970 ± 3 K by differential thermal analyses using a gold crucible. These values are close to those reported in literature. The results show that mg-scale CmCl₃ samples for thermochemical measurements were prepared from the purified oxide sample without the use of corrosive reagents.     

Electrochemical studies of complex fluorides in non-aqueous solvents

Electrochemical studies on hydrolytically unstable complex fluorides have been shown to be possible in highly purified acetonitrile. The techniques of study will be described briefly. A survey of the results obtained to date wille given.MoF₆ is a stronger oxidising agent than WF₆ by 1.06 volts. Neither |MoF₆|^? nor |WF₆|^? can be reduced below |MF₆|^? in acetonitrile. |UF₆|^? can be reduced to the transient species |UF₆|^2? which is unstable in solution. |OsF₆|^? undergoes successive reduction to |OsF₆|^2? and |OsF₆|^3?.|MF₆L|^? undergoes complex electrochemical behaviour involving reduction to |MF₆L|^2? with subsequent dissociation to |MF₆|^? and L^?. Reoxidation is in the presence of L^? and hence none of the redox steps are fu]ly reversible. The relation between the electrode potentials and the ligand L will be discussed.We thank NATO for a grant in support of this work.     

Thermodynamic properties of the intermediate phases of the Ag-Sb-Se system

The emf (?) dependence of C|Ag|AgI|glass Ag₂GeS₃|D|C galvanic elements on temperature is studied in the range of 470 to 575 K (C represents current electrodes, D denotes equilibrium three-phase alloys of individual Ag-Sb-Se systems, and AgI|glass Ag₂GeS₃ is a bilayer membrane with purely ionic (Ag⁺) electroconductivity). Analytical equations ? = ?(T) are used to calculate the thermodynamic functions of saturated solid solutions of the AgSbSe₂, Sb₂Se₃, and Ag₂Se phases of the Ag-Sb-Se system in the standard state.     

Electric dipole moment of BrCl

The electric dipole moment of the BrCl molecule has been determined by a study of the Stark effect on nine hyperfine components of the J = 1 ← 0 rotational transition lying at 9 GHz. A direct diagonalisation procedure of the energy matrix of the total hamiltonian has been used and the electric dipole moment derived for the ground vibrational state of BrCl is |μ_o| = 0.519 ± 0.004 D.     

Lanthanum-strontium cuprate: A promising cathodic material for solid oxide fuel cells

Samples of lanthanum-strontium cuprate LaSrCuO_3.61 are synthesized by a solid-phase method at 1473 K, in air. Electron diffraction patterns reveal low-intensity satellites whose position is described in the reciprocal space by the (3 + 2)-dimensional space group I4/mmm(αα0, α-α0)00mg. Using a five-layer cell LaSrCuO_4-δ|YSZ|LaSrCuO_4-δ|YSZ|LaCuO_4-δ prepared by isostatic hot pressing, the ionic component of conductivity of LaSrCuO_4-δ is determined (σ_{1179 K} = 3.8 × 10^?3 S cm^?1), which is commensurate with other mixed conductors based on complex oxides of cobalt and iron.     

Magnetic investigation of Er(C2O4) (C2O4)·3H2O

Single crystal susceptibilities of Er(C₂O₄) (C₂O₄H)·3H₂O are reported over the 1.5–20 K interval, and EPR spectra at 4.2 K of Y (C₂O₄) (C₂O₄H·3H₂O doped with Er³⁺ are also reported. The susceptibilities follow the CurieWeiss law, with g_| = 12.97 ± 0.05, g_⊥ = 2.98 ± 0.05, θ_| = ?0.25 ± 0.05 K, and θ_⊥ = ?0.12 ± 0.05 K.