The synthesis of a pyrrole-functionalized cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) derivative and its corresponding [2]rotaxane and [2]catenane and their subsequent deposition onto an electrode surface

We report the convenient synthesis of a pyrrole-functionalized tetracationic cyclophane, [2]rotaxane, and [2]catenane. X-ray crystallography has confirmed the interlocked structure of the catenane. We have investigated the solution properties of these systems using solution electrochemistry, NMR, and UV-vis spectroscopy. We have also demonstrated that it is possible to immobilize these systems onto a platinum working electrode surface. We have shown that films of the cyclophane have the ability to undergo complexation with a dialkyloxynaphthalene derivative.     

Electrical transport properties of semiconducting lithium molybdate glass nanocomposites

We have reported the formation of lithium molybdate glass nanocomposites embedded with lithium molybdate nanophases from the x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopic studies. We have investigated the dc electrical conductivity in a wide temperature range for these glass nanocomposites, which exhibit semiconducting behavior. We have analyzed the dc electrical data in the light of polaronic conduction models of Mott and Schnakenberg. We have also studied ac electrical conductivity of these glass nanocomposites in wide temperature and frequency ranges. The experimental ac results have been analyzed with reference to various theoretical models based on quantum-mechanical tunneling and hopping over the barrier. We have observed that the temperature dependence of the dc conductivity is consistent with the polaronic hopping models, while the temperature and frequency dependence of the ac conductivity is consistent with the polaronic tunneling models.     

Approximate additivity of anion-pi interactions: an ab initio study on anion-pi, anion-pi(2) and anion-pi(3) complexes

We have studied the additivity of the anion-pi interaction using high level ab initio calculations. We have optimized chloride and bromide complexes with one, two and three aromatic units (such as trifluoro-s-triazine and s-triazine). We have analyzed the interaction using the atoms in molecules theory and studied the charge transfer using several methods for deriving atomic charges. The results revealed additivities of both the geometries and the binding energies. We have also proposed a neutral receptor for chloride based on multiple anion-pi interactions. Finally, we have simulated solvent effects within the self-consistent reaction field model.     

Kinetic investigation of small systems using different algorithms

We have investigated different algorithms for the simulation of kinetics of small systems. We have simulated the first order reversible reaction with the Gillespie, Gibson and Bruck time simulation as a function of Poisson distribution and compared the results of three algorithms. We have also simulated intracellular viral kinetics for a genome with Gillespie and Poisson distribution algorithms.     

Energetics and metastability of the adenine dication observed in proton-adenine collisions

We present here a study that deals with the correlated fragmentation of a doubly charged adenine molecular target induced by a 100 keV proton beam. We have elucidated part of the dissociation dynamics for several channels and have obtained the corresponding kinetic energy released values. We have extracted activation energies by combining our experimental data with computations using the ab initio GAMESS code. We have observed metastability patterns against fragmentation, for which we have extracted the temporal mechanism (one or two steps). Subsequently, we have obtained lifetimes in the 100-200 ns range. In the simplest case of two-body fragmentation with the emission of mass 28, the determination of transition states and reaction paths has showed that emission of the H-C-N-H fragment is preferred to that of C-N-H(2). From the calculated activation barriers and lifetimes, we have deduced an equivalent temperature of the dication that we have compared with the existing models.     

Ab initio calculation of vibrational frequencies and Raman spectra of barium peroxide glass including comparison of tetrahedral BaO4 with GeO4 and SiO4

We have calculated the vibrational frequencies of clusters of atoms from the first principles by using the density-functional theory in the local density approximation (LDA). We are also able to calculate the electronic binding energy for all of the clusters of atoms from the optimized structure. We have made clusters of BanOm (n, m=1-6) and have determined the bond lengths, vibrational frequencies as well as intensities in each case. We find that the peroxide cluster BaO2 occurs with the O-O vibrational frequency of 836.3 cm(-1). We also find that a glass network occurs in the material which explains the vibrational frequency of 67 cm(-1). The calculated values agree with those measured from the Raman spectra of barium peroxide and Ba-B-oxide glass. We have calculated the vibrational frequencies of BaO4, GeO4 and SiO4 each in tetrahedral configuration and find that the vibrational frequencies in these systems depend on the inverse square root of the atomic mass.     

Solid-Phase Transformations in Tetraamine and Hexaamine Mixed-Ligand Complexes of Chromium(III) with Cyclic Tetraamines

We have studied solid-phase transformations in mixed-ligand complexes of chromium(III) with cyclic tetraamines. We have established that tetraamine complexes of chromium(III) with 14-membered tetraaza macrocyclic ligands are relatively thermally stable, and do not undergo isomerization in the solid state. We have observed that solid-phase reactions of ammonia substitution in hexaamine complexes with outer-sphere iodide and boron hydride anions may be accompanied by dehydrogenation processes.     

Size-dependent properties of Zn(m)S(n) clusters: a density-functional tight-binding study

We present the results of our theoretical calculations on structural and electronic properties of ligand-free Zn(n)S(n) [with n ranging from 4 to 104 (0.8-2.0-nm diameter)] clusters as a function of size of the clusters. We have optimized the structure whereby our initial structures are spherical parts of either zinc-blende or wurtzite structure. We have also considered some hollow bubblelike structures. The calculations are performed by using a parametrized linear combination of atomic orbitals-density-functional theory-local-density approximation-tight-binding method. We have focused on the variation of radial distribution function, Mulliken populations, electronic energy levels, band gap, and stability as a function of size for both zinc-blende and wurtzite-derived ZnS clusters. We have also reported the results of some nonstoichiometric Zn(m)S(n) (with m+n=47, 99, 177) clusters of zinc-blende modification.     

Dynamics of lithium ions in bismuthate glasses: influence of strontium ions

The influence of strontium ions on the relaxation dynamics of lithium ions in bismuthate glasses has been investigated in the frequency range of 10 Hz to 2 MHz. We have observed that the conductivity increases and the activation energy decreases with the increase of SrO content in the glass compositions with fixed Li2O content. We have also observed that the conductivity increases and the activation energy decreases when Sr2+ ions are replaced by Li+ ions, keeping the glass former content fixed. We have shown that the estimated mobile ion concentration is almost independent of temperature and SrO content in the compositions. We have further shown that a fraction of total lithium ions are mobile for all glass compositions. The results have been interpreted on the basis of the modification of the bismuthate network by the addition of SrO, which enhances the mobility of Li ions, without altering the mobile Li+ ion concentration. We have also shown that the conductivity relaxation in these glasses is independent of temperature and composition, and the nonexponential parameter is less than that for the lithium bismuthate glasses without SrO.     

Cyclocondensation of 3-Amino-1,2,4-triazoles with Esters of Substituted Cinnamic Acids and Aromatic Unsaturated Ketones

We have studied the reactions of 3-amino, 3,5-diamino-, and 3-amino-5-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-triazole with esters of substituted cinnamic acids and aromatic unsaturated ketones; we have established the directionality of formation of the tetrahydrooxopyrimidine ring. We have carried out hydrolysis and hydrazinolysis of 7-phenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-5-one. We have conducted an X-ray diffraction study of isopropylidene hydrazide of 3-(5-amino-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-3-phenylpropionic acid.     

Effect of atmospheric pressure variations on the <Superscript>222</Superscript>Rn activity concentration in the air of a wine cellar

We have measured the variation of atmospheric pressure and of ²²²Rn activity concentration in the air of a wine cellar with an AlphaGAURD type ionization chamber radon monitor. We have found that the ²²²Rn activity concentration varies inversely with pressure. To explain this behavior we have done model calculations. We have compared the results of model calculations with the results of experimental measurements, and we have found that the model is capable to reproduce some part of the variation of ²²²Rn activity concentration.     

Volumetric and infrared measurements on amorphous ice structure

We have simultaneously used adsorption isotherm volumetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in order to take the investigations on amorphous ice structure a step further, especially concerning porosity and annealing-induced modifications. We have studied surface reorganization during annealing and found that the number of surface sites decreases before crystallization, their relative ratios being different for amorphous and crystalline ice. We also present results confirming that ice can have a large specific surface area and nevertheless be non-microporous.     

Molecular dynamics comparative study of methane–nitrogen and methane–nitrogen–ethane systems

This work concerns the site–site interaction study of 256 particles using the Buckingham potential model. We have calculated the new parameters of the Buckingham potential using an iterative algorithm with a mean square method. This adapted model allows determining the characteristics for each state point. We have applied this model to study the liquefied natural gas LNG properties for methane-nitrogen and methane–nitrogen–ethane mixtures by molecular dynamics. We have calculated the thermodynamic, dynamic and structural properties for both the microcanonical NVT and the isothermal-isobaric NPT ensembles of binary and ternary systems from the SP₁ to SP₉ points. Then, we have compared the results between binary and ternary systems. We have obtained a good prediction on transport properties. From the calculated values of self-diffusion coefficient and viscosity, we have confirmed the liquid state of the liquefied natural gas LNG system.     

Proton transference in hydrogen bonded systems. I. Uracil tautomerism

We have made a detailed analysis of the adequacy of different theoretical approaches to the study of uracil tautomerism. We have considered the effect of molecular relaxation and the ability of several methods to reproduce it. We have also considered their performance in predicting the tautomerization energy barrier. We found that semiempirical methods are not adequate for predicting the energy value but that they can be used for obtaining geometry optimizations. We also found a strong discrepancy between the energy values predicted by a minimal basis set and a 2ζ basis set, the last one being 24.9 kcal/mol. The implications of these findings are discussed and the results compared with experimental evidence.     

Annelation of 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines by 3-acyl-5,5-dimethylthiopyran-2,4-diones. Synthesis and properties of 8-aza-17-thia-d-homogona-12,17a-diones

We have used annelation of 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines by 3-acyl-5,5-dimethylthiopyran-2,4-diones to obtain the corresponding 8-aza-17-thia-D-homogonanes, which are novel representatives of heterosteroids. We have studied the tautomerism of 3-acylthiopyran-2,4-diones using NMR spectroscopy and H/D-isotope exchange. We have obtained 2H-isotopomers of 3-acylthiopyran-2,4-diones.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1572–1583, October, 2004.     

Synthesis of Quinoline-8-selenol, Its Complex Compounds with Metals and Their Cytotoxic Activity

We have developed a novel method for synthesis of quinoline-8-selenol using selenourea instead of the previously used potassium selenocyanate. We have synthesized a series of metal quinoline-8-selenolates. We have studied the cytotoxic activity of the synthesized compounds against HT-1080, MG-22A, B16, Neuro 2A tumor cells. Mercury quinoline-8-selenolate is distinguished by high cytotoxicity for the three cell lines; the cadmium complex is most effective against B16 melanoma cells.     

Studies in Quinazoline Chemistry. 3. Synthesis of 2-(2-Pyridon-3-yl)- and 2-[Thieno[2,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]pyridin-2(3)-yl]-3,4-dihydroquinazolines

We have studied the reaction of o-aminophenyldiphenylcarbinol with substituted cyanothienopyridine, cyanopyridines, cyanopyridones, and cyanopyridinethiones. We have shown that in the case of pyridine derivatives, the reaction occurs with formation of 3,4-dihydroquinazolines, which exist in solution in two tautomeric forms. We have determined the general characteristics of initial fragmentation of the indicated products under electron impact. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 8, pp. 1222–1229, August, 2005.     

Ion dynamics in mixed alkali cadmium fluoride glasses

We have investigated ion dynamics in cadmium fluoride nonoxide glasses, in the frequency range from 10 Hz to 2 MHz and in the temperature range from room temperature to just below the glass transition temperature. We have established the existence of mixed alkali effect for these glasses from different aspects of relaxation dynamics. We have observed lower dimensionality of the conduction pathways in mixed alkali cadmium fluoride glasses compared to that in the single alkali glasses. Although, both n and beta represent the interaction between the charge carriers, we have not found any theoretical correlation between them. Using different scaling approaches we have shown that the relaxation dynamics in mixed alkali cadmium fluoride glasses is independent of temperatures.     

Catalytic, asymmetric alpha-chlorination of acid halides

We present a full account of a tandem catalytic, asymmetric chlorination/esterification process that produces highly optically enriched alpha-chloroesters from inexpensive, commercially available acid halides using cinchona alkaloid derivatives as catalysts and polychlorinated quinones as halogenating agents. We have performed kinetics and control experiments to investigate the reaction mechanism and establish conditions under which the reactions can be best performed. We have developed NaH and NaHCO3 shuttle base systems as the easiest and most cost-effective ways of conducting the reactions, rendering the methodology economically competitive with known chiral halogenation procedures. We have also demonstrated the utility of our reactions by converting the products to synthetically useful derivatives.     

Effect of External Acidity of Mordenite-Supported Catalysts on the 2,2-Dimethylbutane Content in Hydroisomerization Products of n-Hexane

We have used potentiometric titration with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide to determine the acid center content on the outer surface of dealuminated natural and synthetic mordenites. We have established a symbatic relationship between the 2,2-dimethylbutane content in the hydroisomerization products of n-hexane on dealuminated palladium-containing mordenites and the number of their external acid centers. We have studied the possibility of partial deactivation of such centers during ion-exchange deposition of palladium on the catalysts, using a tetraammine palladium solution.