<Superscript>13</Superscript>C-labeled bilirubin: synthesis of 3<Superscript>1</Superscript>(3<Superscript>2</Superscript>),17<Superscript>1</Superscript>(17<Superscript>2</Superscript>)-di-[<Superscript>13</Superscript>C]-mesobilirubin-XIIIα

Abstract  The title compound, labeled with ¹³C in the ethyl groups was synthesized from K¹³CN and low-molecular-weight components. The synthetic relay compound was 3¹(3²)[¹³C]-xanthobilirubinic acid methyl ester in a synthetic route that leads to a label in the ethyl β-substituent of a dipyrrinone model for bilirubin. This labeled dipyrrinone was oxidatively coupled to the dimethyl ester of mesobiliverdin-XIIIα, thereby providing a route to a ¹³C-labeled mesobiliverdin and mesobilirubin, with one carbon of each ethyl being 98% ¹³C-enriched. Graphical Abstract        

Identification of Anionic Supramolecular Complexes of Sulfonamide Receptors with Cl<Superscript>−</Superscript>, NO<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack>, Br<Superscript>−</Superscript>, and I<Superscript>−</Superscript> by APCI-MS

As part of a mass spectrometric investigation of the binding properties of sulfonamide anion receptors, an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometric (APCI-MS) method involving direct infusion followed by thermal desorption was employed for identification of anionic supramolecular complexes in dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂). Specifically, the dansylamide derivative of tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren) (1), the chiral 1,3-benzenesulfonamide derivatives of (1R,2S)-(+)-cis-1-amino-2-indanol (2), and (R)-(+)-bornylamine, (3), were shown to bind halide and nitrate ions in the presence of (n−Bu)₄N⁺X⁻ (X⁻ = Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, Br⁻, I⁻). Solutions of receptors and anions in CH₂Cl₂ were combined to form the anionic supramolecular complexes, which were subsequently introduced into the mass spectrometer via direct infusion followed by thermal desorption. The anionic supramolecular complexes [M+X]⁻, (M=1–3, X⁻=Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, Br⁻, I⁻) were observed in negative mode APCI-MS along with the deprotonated receptors [M−H]⁻. Full ionization energy of the APCI corona pin (4.5 kV) was necessary for obtaining mass spectra with the best signal-to-noise ratios.     

Interactions between AuCl<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript> and CTA<Superscript>+</Superscript> ions in water

The solubility of hexadecyltrimethylammonium tetrachloroaurate (CTA·AuCl₄) in water was measured at different temperatures of 288.2, 293.2, 298.2, 303.2, and 308.2 K. The enthalpy change associated with the formation of the CTA·AuCl₄ precipitate was estimated on the basis of the van’t Hoff equation and was found to be −42.5 ± 2.8 kJ mol⁻¹ at 298.2 K. The calorimetric enthalpy change for the CTA·AuCl₄ precipitate formation was directly determined by isothermal titration calorimetry performed at 298.2 K and was found to agree well with that estimated from the van’t Hoff equation.     

Photochemistry of PtBr<Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript> in aqueous solution

Photochemistry of the PtBr₆ ²⁻ complex in aqueous solution was studied by steady-state and laser flash photolysis (308 nm). The multistep photoaquation of the complex occurs in the nano-and microsecond time intervals without the formation of intermediate platinum(III) complexes. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 12, pp. 2277–2283, December, 2007.     

Theoretical evaluation of the radiative lifetimes of LiCs and NaCs in the A<Superscript>1</Superscript>Σ<Superscript>+</Superscript> state

Calculations of the adiabatic potential energy curves and the transition dipole moments between the ground (A¹Σ⁺) and the first excited (A¹Σ⁺) states have been determined for the LiCs and NaCs molecules. The calculations are performed using an ab initio approach based on non-empirical pseudopotentials for Cs⁺, Li⁺ and Na⁺ cores, parameterized l-dependent polarization potentials and full configuration interaction calculations. The potential energy curves and the transition dipole moment are used to estimate the radiative lifetimes of the vibrational levels of the A⁺Σ⁺ state using the Franck–Condon (FC) approximation and the approximate sum rule method. The radiative lifetimes associated with the A⁺Σ⁺ state are presented here for the first time. These data can help experimentalists to optimize photoassociative formation of ultracold molecules and their longevity in a trap or in an optical lattice.     

Relativistic coupled cluster calculations of the electronic structure of KrH<Superscript>+</Superscript>, XeH<Superscript>+</Superscript> and RnH<Superscript>+</Superscript>

Potential energy curves of NgH⁺ cations (Ng = Kr, Xe, Rn) were obtained by using four-component relativistic CCSD(T) coupled cluster calculations. Dissociation energies, equilibrium bond lengths, electronic properties, such as dipole moments and electric field gradients at the nuclei, and the related spectroscopic parameters of the electronic ground state have been determined. The results obtained for KrH⁺ and XeH⁺ are in good agreement with available experimental data, while those for RnH⁺ have been determined for the first time at this level of theory.     

A study of the hydrolysis of ZrF<Stack><Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript></Stack> and the structure of intermediate hydrolysis products by <Superscript>19</Superscript>F and <Superscript>91</Superscript>Zr NMR in the 9.4 T field

The high-field ¹⁹F and ⁹¹Zr NMR method is used to study the hydrolysis and polycondensation of hexafluorozirconate ZrF₆²⁻ in aqueous and water-peroxide solutions. During hydrolysis in aqueous solutions only ZrF₆²⁻ and F⁻ ions were observed by NMR, however, in the water-peroxide medium, an intermediate product of hydrolysis ([F₅Zr-OO-ZrF₅]⁴⁻ dimer) was detected. The dimer structure is confirmed by ¹⁹F and ⁹¹Zr NMR. In high fields (¹⁹F NMR frequency > 200 MHz), the fluorine exchange between ZrF₆²⁻ and F⁻ is slow in the ¹⁹F NMR scale and has a multisite character.     

Isotope effects on band intensities in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis><Superscript>2</Superscript>Σ<Superscript>+</Superscript>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">X</Emphasis><Superscript>2</Superscript>Σ<Superscript>+</Superscript> system of GaO isotopomers

Relative intensities of eight vibronic bands, belonging to the Δυ = −2 sequence of the B ²Σ⁺ −X ²Σ⁺ electronic transition of four GaO isotopomers have been measured and interpreted in terms of possible isotope effects on the parameters governing the band intensity. Obtained results showed very small isotope effect on the Franck-Condon factors and r-centroids and revealed that the observed intensity ratios of the corresponding isotope bands are controlled mainly by the isotope abundance of ⁶⁹Ga and ⁷¹Ga in natural gallium. The article is published in the original.     

Experimental Determination of the Isotherm at 15°C of the System Mg<Superscript>2+</Superscript>/Cl<Superscript>−</Superscript>, SO<Subscript>4</Subscript><Superscript>2</Superscript>–H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

Summary.  The diagram of the ternary system Mg²⁺/Cl⁻, SO₄ ²⁻–H₂O was established at 15°C by means of analytical and conductimetric measurements. Three compounds were found in this diagram, which are MgSO₄·6H₂O, MgSO₄·7H₂O, and MgCl₂·6H₂O. The solubility field of MgSO₄·7H₂O is important whereas those of MgSO₄·6H₂O and MgCl₂·6H₂O are small. The compositions (mass-%) of the two invariant points determined by the two methods are: MgSO₄:MgCl₂=2.73:33.80 and MgSO₄: MgCl₂=3.38:28.91. Both the measured and the calculated isotherm at 15°C have been used for modelling of the diagram Mg²⁺/Cl⁻, SO₄ ²⁻–H₂O between 0 and 35°C. The polythermal invariant point was approximately located between 15 and 10°C.  Corresponding author. E-mail: ariguib@planet.tn Received October 16, 2002; accepted (revised) December 3, 2002 Published online April 24, 2003 RID="a" ID="a" Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Heinz Gamsj?ger on the occasion of his 70^th birthday     

The effect of NO<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> and OH<Superscript>−</Superscript> ions on the laser ablation of Cs<Superscript>+</Superscript> ion on Type 304 stainless steel

Type 304 stainless steel specimens artificially contaminated with CsCl solution were treated with KOH solution and KNO₃ solution, respectively. Cs⁺ ion removal tests by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm at a given fluence of 57.3 J/cm² were performed. The surface morphology and the relative atomic mole ratio of the specimen surface were investigated by SEM and EPMA. The order of Cs⁺ ion removal efficiency of laser was no-treatment < KOH < KNO₃ during the 42 shots. From the investigation of XPS peaks around 532.7 and 292.9 eV, KNO₃ on a surface of specimen was found to be fully decomposed during the laser irradiation. It was suggested that Cs₂O particulates formed by the reaction between the reactive oxygen generated from the nitrate ion and Cs⁺ ion on the metal surface could be easily suspended. For the KOH system, FeOOH was formed during the laser irradiation and it changed into Fe₂O₃. It was also suggested that Cs₂O particulates were formed by the reaction between the reactive oxygen generated from the decomposition of K₂O and Cs⁺ ion on the metal surface..     

Influence of ion size on the stability of chloroplumbates containing PbCl<Stack><Subscript>5</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack> or PbCl<Stack><Subscript>6</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript></Stack>

The enthalpies of formation of PbCl₄, PbCl₅⁻ and PbCl₆²⁻, originating from quantum mechanics, have enabled the thermodynamic behaviour of these ions with respect to Cl-detachment to be assessed. The stability of salts containing PbCl₅⁻ and PbCl₆²⁻ as a function of the dimensions of these anions and complementary cations was studied using an approach combining the Kapustinskii-Yatsimirskii equation with basic thermochemical relationships. It was found that hexachloroplumbates of monovalent metal cations will not dissociate into metal chlorides and PbCl₄, provided the complementary cations are suitably large in size. Hexachloroplumbates of divalent metal cations have not yet been synthesised since no known metal cations attain the requisite large size. Such salts will not dissociate if the divalent metal cations are able to complex suitably large electron-donating ligands. The pentachloroplumbates of both monovalent and divalent metal cations are unstable, since no known metal cations have appropriately large ionic radii. The approach adopted appears to be useful for the examination of the thermal behaviour, stability and reactivity of chloroplumbates.     

Triboluminescence of zirconium η<Superscript>5</Superscript>-complexes

This work describes a comparative study of tribo- and photoluminescence of metallocenes (Cp₂HfCl₂, Cp₂TiCl₂, Cp₂ZrCl₂, (CpMe)₂ZrCl₂, rac-Me₂C(3-Bu^t-Cp)₂ZrCl₂, Ind*₂ZrCl₂). Occurring under mechanodestruction of polycrystals, triboluminescence of zirconium bis-cyclopentadienyl complexes, Cp₂ZrCl₂, (CpMe)₂ZrCl₂, and rac-Me₂C(3-Bu^t-Cp)₂ZrCl₂ has been revealed for the first time. The triboluminescence spectrum in air is similar to the photoluminescence spectrum of zirconocene polycrystals. The triboluminescence spectrum does not show *N₂ luminescence. Ne and Ar lines are observed in the triboluminescence spectrum in the atmosphere of these gases. An increase in the number of substituents in zirconocene ligands leads to a bathochromic shift of the emission band maximum in triboluminescence spectra of the complexes. Possible mechanisms of zirconocene triboluminescence excitation are discussed.     

Cis→Trans Isomerization of Pro<Superscript>7</Superscript> in Oxytocin Regulates Zn<Superscript>2+</Superscript> Binding

Ion mobility/mass spectrometry techniques are employed to investigate the binding of Zn²⁺ to the nine-residue peptide hormone oxytocin (OT, Cys¹-Tyr²-Ile³-Gln⁴-Asn⁵-Cys⁶-Pro⁷-Leu⁸-Gly⁹-NH₂, having a disulfide bond between Cys¹ and Cys⁶ residues). Zn²⁺ binding to OT is known to increase the affinity of OT for its receptor [Pearlmutter, A. F., Soloff, M. S.: Characterization of the metal ion requirement for oxytocin-receptor interaction in rat mammary gland membranes. J. Biol. Chem. 254, 3899–3906 (1979)]. In the absence of Zn²⁺, we find evidence for two primary OT conformations, which arise because the Cys⁶–Pro⁷ peptide bond exists in both the trans- and cis-configurations. Upon addition of Zn²⁺, we determine binding constants in water of K_A = 1.43 ± 0.24 and 0.42 ± 0.12 μM^?1, for the trans- and cis-configured populations, respectively. The Zn²⁺ bound form of OT, having a cross section of Ω = 235 Ų, has Pro⁷ in the trans-configuration, which agrees with a prior report [Wyttenbach, T., Liu, D., Bowers, M. T.: Interactions of the hormone oxytocin with divalent metal ions. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 5993–6000 (2008)], in which it was proposed that Zn²⁺ binds to the peptide ring and is further coordinated by interaction of the C-terminal, Pro⁷-Leu⁸-Gly⁹-NH₂, tail. The present work shows that the cis-configuration of OT isomerizes to the trans-configuration upon binding Zn²⁺. In this way, the proline residue regulates Zn²⁺ binding to OT and, hence, is important in receptor binding.

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Graphical Abstract ?

     

Invar<Superscript>®</Superscript> oxidation in CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

In this article, corrosion of Invar^® in a static carbon dioxide atmosphere \( 2\times 1 0^{4} \le P_{{{\text{CO}}_{ 2} }} \le 10^{5} \,{\text{Pa}} \) has been studied between 1163 and 1263 K. At the beginning, after a short initial deceleration for weight gains Δm/S <0.5 mg cm^?2, oxidation kinetics were linear up to weight gains of about 4.0 mg cm^?2, and only wüstite Fe_1?x O was formed with a constant rate r (mg cm^?2 s^?1) \( r = \frac{{{\text{d}}\left( {\frac{\Updelta m}{S}} \right)}}{{{\text{d}}t}} = 0.41 \times P_{{{\text{CO}}_{ 2} }} \exp \left( {\frac{ - 198000}{RT}} \right) \) where R is the gas constant and t the time (s). Reaction mechanism is similar to that of the pure iron in analogous conditions, with the same rate limiting step i.e. external reaction of CO₂ with wüstite and outward diffusion of ions Fe²⁺ (not limiting). For weight gains Δm/S higher than 4 mg cm^?2, the limiting step changes, with an increase of the reaction rate and an internal oxidation. The origin of this mechanism change lies in the microcracks appearing in the oxide during its growth. Then, wüstite is no longer bound to the substrate; outward diffusion of ions Fe²⁺ stops and a topotactic transformation converts wüstite into magnetite.     

Crystallinity of Dynasan<Superscript>®</Superscript>114 and Dynasan<Superscript>®</Superscript>118 matrices for the production of stable Miglyol<Superscript>®</Superscript>-loaded nanoparticles

This study focuses on the physicochemical characterization of lipid materials useful for the production of the so-called solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC). The chosen lipids were Dynasan^®114 (glyceril trimyristate) and Dynasan^®118 (glyceril tristearate) as solid lipids (SL), melting temperature above 80 °C, and Miglyol^®812 (caprylic/capric triglyceride) and Miglyol^®840 (propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate) as liquid lipids (LL), crystallizing below ?15 °C. Raw lipids (pure or SL:LL mixtures) were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM), before and after tempering at 80 °C for 1 h. The selected SL:LL combination was 70% (Dynasan^®114 and 118) and 30% (Miglyol^®812 and 840) for the production of SLN and NLC by high-pressure homogenization (HPH), respectively. Particles with a mean size of 200 nm (polydispersity index <0.329) and zeta potential of ?15 mV were obtained, and their long-term stability was confirmed for 3 months of storage at 7 °C.     

Isomeric yield ratio of <Superscript>152m1</Superscript>Eu(8<Superscript>−</Superscript>)–<Superscript>152m2</Superscript>Eu(0<Superscript>−</Superscript>) produced in (γ, n) photonuclear reaction in the giant dipole resonance region

In this work, the isomeric ratio of ^152m1Eu(8^?)–^152m2Eu(0^?) produced from the ¹⁵³Eu(γ, n)¹⁵²Eu reaction have been measured in the whole giant dipole resonance region by the activation method. In order to improve the accuracy of the experimental results, the necessary corrections were made in the gamma activity measurements and data analysis. The results were discussed and compared with the similar data from literature to examine the excitation energy, the spin difference and the nuclear reaction channel effects and can be used for the interpretation on the structure of the nucleus and the mechanisms of nuclear reactions. The data for bremsstrahlung end-point energies of 19–23 MeV are first-time measurements.     

Production possibility of <Superscript>186</Superscript>Re via the <Superscript>192</Superscript>Os(p,α3n)<Superscript>186</Superscript>Re nuclear reaction

Experimentally measured cross-sections are presented for the first time for the ¹⁹²Os(p,α3n)¹⁸⁶Re nuclear reaction up to 67 MeV. Highly enriched thin ¹⁹²Os targets (15 pcs), prepared by electro-deposition onto Cu backings, were irradiated with an external proton beam delivered by the SSC cyclotron of iThemba LABS. The excitation function curve of the ¹⁹²Os(p,α3n)¹⁸⁶Re reaction shows a maximum cross-section of ~82 mb at about 24 MeV. According to the yield calculations based on the present results, the available cumulative no-carrier-added ¹⁸⁶Re yield is 7.76 MBq/μAh (0.21 mCi/μAh) over the energy region 13.4 → 27.3 MeV.     

Cyclotron production of <Superscript>211</Superscript>At/<Superscript>211g</Superscript>Po by <Superscript>209</Superscript>Bi(α,2n) reaction

Astatine-211 (T _1/2 = 7.214 h) is an α-emitter at secular equilibrium by EC with its ultra-short-lived α-emitting daughter, polonium-211g (T _1/2 = 0.516 s), with a high Linear Energy Transfer (LET — 130 eV·nm⁻¹) and a half-life suitable for metabolic radiotherapy; the overall α branching of the ²¹¹At/^211gPo system is 100%. The direct production of ²⁰⁹Bi(α,2n)²¹¹At/^211gPo seems the most satisfactory method; Bi targets were irradiated at JRC-Ispra Cyclotron of European Commission, EC, using α-energy higher than 28.61 MeV in order to produce, via ²⁰⁹Bi(α,3n) reaction, small amounts of the γ-emitter ²¹⁰At (used as internal spike).     

Formation of charged H<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Superscript>+</Superscript> and OH<Superscript>–</Superscript> fragments at consistent shifts of protons in water clusters

Probable paths of consistent shifts of bridge protons within the hexamolecular rings of dodecamer water cluster at different arrangement of neighboring molecules are determined. As with individual rings, consistent shifts of protons in molecular cages are found to be promoted by contraction/extension of the oxygen skeleton. Transition states characterized by the formation of different numbers of such charged fragments as H₃O^δ+, H₅O₂^δ+, and OH^–, are identified. Conditions of the relatively long-term (about picoseconds) existence of the fragments in cluster systems are determined.     

Validation of <Superscript>239,240</Superscript>Pu, <Superscript>238</Superscript>Pu separation method using molecular recognition product AnaLig<Superscript>®</Superscript> Pu02 gel and extraction chromatography TRU<Superscript>®</Superscript> resin

Two separation techniques for plutonium determination using AnaLig^® Pu02 molecular recognition technology product (MRT) and extraction chromatography TRU^® resin were tested. The methods performance was investigated by analysis of National Physical Laboratory (NPL-Alpha-Beta High, ABH 2003, 2005) intercomparison test samples. The results obtained for both procedures were compared in terms of activities and recoveries. Data analysis showed good agreement with the reference values. The AnaLig^® Pu02 separation method for ^239,240Pu, ²³⁸Pu determination was successfully validated with the same performance as the TRU^® resin method.