Crystal structure of the pyrovanadate K4V2O7

The crystal structure of anhydrous K₄V₂O₇ (I) is determined by powder X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system (a = 10.222(1) Å, b = 6.2309(8) Å, c = 7.282(1) Å, β = 101.31(1)°, space group C2/m, Z = 2). The structure contains layers of isolated V₂O₇ pyrovanadate groups separated by layers of potassium cations. The hydration and dehydration of I are studied by thermal analysis and high-temperature X-ray diffraction. The dehydration is accompanied by decomposition of the starting crystal hydrate to give intermediate compounds. Anhydrous compound I undergoes a reversible phase transition at 740°C. The high-temperature phase is assumed to have a hexagonal unit cell (a = 6.169(4) Å, c = 15.72(1) Å, Z = 2).     

Structural relations between weberite and zirconolite polytypes—refinements of doped 3T and 4M Ca2Ta2O7 and 3T CaZrTi2O7

New weberite-type Ca₂Ta₂O₇ and zirconolite-type CaZrTi₂O₇ polytypes have been prepared by doping with Nd/Zr and Th/Al, respectively, and their structures have been refined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction intensity data. The 3T zirconolite polytype, Ca_0.8Ti_1.35Zr_1.3Th_0.15Al_0.4O₇, has a=7.228(1), c=16.805(1) Å. The 3T weberite-type polytype, Ca_1.92Ta_1.92Nd_0.08Zr_0.08O₇, has a=7.356(1), c=18.116(1) Å. Both 3T polytypes have space group P3₁21, Z=6. The 4M Ca₂Ta₂O₇ polytype has the same composition, from electron microprobe analyses, as the 3T polytype, and has cell parameters: a=12.761(1), b=7.358(1), c=24.565(1) Å, β=100.17(1)°, space group C2, Z=16. The structural relationships between the different zirconolite and weberite polytypes are discussed. A consideration of the structures from the viewpoint of anion-centered tetrahedral arrays shows that zirconolite can be considered as an anion-deficient fluorite derivative phase. However, the fluorite-type topology of edge-shared OM₄ tetrahedra is not maintained in the Ca₂Ta₂O₇ weberite-type polytypes, even though they have a fluorite-like fcc packing of metal atoms. One of the oxygen atoms moves from a tetrahedral Ta₃Ca interstice to an adjacent Ta₂Ca₄ octahedral interstice in the weberite polytypes.     

Design,Synthesis and Cytotoxic Activity Evaluation of Newly Synthesized Amides-Based TMP Moiety as Potential Anticancer Agents over HepG2 Cells

A novel series of amides based TMP moiety was designed, synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative as well as enzyme inhibition activity. Compounds 6a and 6b showed remarkable cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cells with IC₅₀ values 0.65 and 0.92 μM, respectively compared with SAHA and CA-4 as reference compounds. In addition, compound 6a demonstrated good HDAC-tubulin dual inhibition activity as it showed better HDAC activity as well as anti-tubulin activity. Moreover, compound 6a exhibited G2/M phase arrest and pre-G1 apoptosis as demonstrated by cell cycle analysis and Annexin V assays. Further apoptosis studies demonstrated that compound 6a boosted the level of caspase 3/7. Caspase 3/7 activation and apoptosis induction were evidenced by decrease in mitochondrial permeability suggesting that activation of caspase 3/7 may occur via mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.     

The phase equilibria study in the system Na4P2O7Mg2P2O7

The phase equilibria in the system Na₄P₂O₇Mg₂P₂O₇ were studied by means of DTA, hot stage microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. There is one intermediate compound in the system which melts congruently at 832°C of chemical composition Na₇Mg_4.5(P₂O₇)₄. It crystallizes in the triclinic system with unit cell constants: a = 10.882(1), b = 9.734(1), c = 6.372(1) Å; α = 112.49(1), β = 99.63(1), γ = 107.40(1)°.     

Structural and magnetic properties of the Kagomé antiferromagnet YbBaCo4O7

The mixed-valent compound YbBaCo₄O₇ is built up of Kagomé sheets of CoO₄ tetrahedra, linked in the third dimension by a triangular layer of CoO₄ tetrahedra in an analogous fashion to that found in the known geometrically frustrated magnets such as pyrochlores and SrCr_9xGa_12−9xO₁₉ (SCGO). We have undertaken a study of the structural and magnetic properties of this compound using combined high-resolution powder neutron and synchrotron X-ray diffraction. YbBaCo₄O₇ undergoes a first-order trigonal→orthorhombic phase transition at 175 K. We show that this transition occurs as a response to a markedly underbonded Ba²⁺ site in the high-temperature phase and does not appear to involve charge ordering of Co²⁺/Co³⁺ ions in the tetrahedra. The symmetry lowering relieves the geometric frustration of the structure, and a long-range-ordered 3-D antiferromagnetic state develops below 80 K.     

Platinum and molybdenum oxide deposited carbon electrocatalyst for oxidation of hydrogen containing carbon monoxide

Carbon-supported Pt/MoO_x catalysts for use in PEFC anodes were prepared and their catalytic activity for the oxidation of CO-contaminated H₂ was examined based on the fuel cell performance in PEFC single cell arrangements. Based on the XRD pattern and XPS measurements of the prepared Pt/MoO_x/C catalysts, it was found that the deposited MoO_x exists as an amorphous oxide phase. The MoO_x phase shows a redox peak at around 0.45 V, which was revealed by the cyclic voltammogram of the Pt/MoO_x/C in sulfuric acid solution. The PEFC performance of the cell with Pt/MoO_x/C was improved under 100 ppm CO-contaminated H₂ conditions compared to the Pt/C catalyst, and was almost comparable to the PtRu(1:1)/C catalyst.     

Effect of biphase on dielectric properties of Bi-doped lead strontium titanate thin films

Pb_0.4Sr_0.6TiO₃ (PST) thin films doped with various concentration of Bi were prepared by a sol-gel method. The phase status, surface morphology and dielectric properties of these thin films were measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and impedance analyzer, respectively. Results showed that the thin films with the maximum dielectric constant and minimum dielectric loss were obtained for x=0.15. For x<0.15, only pure PST perovskite phase were in the thin films. For 0.2<x<0.4, the PST/Bi₂Ti₂O₇ biphase were obtained. The thin films with pure Bi₂Ti₂O₇ pyrochlore phase were obtained for x=0.67. The biphase thin films had high tunability and high figure of merit (FOM). The FOM of PST/Bi₂Ti₂O₇ biphase thin film was about 6 times higher than that thin films formed with pure perovskite phase or pure pyrochlore phase.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of mixed metal(III) tungstenyl(VI) ortho-pyrophosphates

The series of isotypic anhydrous ortho-pyrophosphates M^III(W^VIO₂)₂(P₂O₇)(PO₄) (M: Sc, V, Cr, Fe, Mo, Ru, Rh, In, Ir) was obtained via vapor phase moderated solid state reactions in sealed ampoules. The crystal structure of the phosphates M^III(W^VIO₂)₂(P₂O₇)(PO₄) (M: V, Ru, Rh) was solved from single crystal X-ray data (C2/c, Z = 16). Fairly regular MO₆ and distorted WO₆ octahedra share vertices with PO₄ and P₂O₇ units to form a 3D network. For the ortho-pyrophosphates with M: V³⁺, Cr³⁺, and Fe³⁺ the oxidation state of M is confirmed by magnetic measurements. ³¹P-MAS-NMR spectra of the diamagnetic phosphates M^III(W^VIO₂)₂(P₂O₇)(PO₄) (M: Sc, In, Ir) show surprisingly different isotropic chemical shifts for the seven phosphorus sites. V^III(W^VIO₂)₂(P₂O₇)(PO₄) occurs as equilibrium phase in the quasi-binary system (V_1–xW_x)OPO₄ at x = 0.67 and exhibits a small homogeneity range 0.60 ≤ x ≤ 0.67. The scandium compound shows a fully inverted occupancy of the M sites according to the formulation W(Sc_1/2W_1/2O₂)₂(P₂O₇)(PO₄).     

Design and Synthesis of (2-oxo-1,2-Dihydroquinolin-4-yl)-1,2,3-triazole Derivatives via Click Reaction: Potential Apoptotic Antiproliferative Agents

A mild and versatile method based on Cu-catalyzed [2+3] cycloaddition (Huisgen-Meldal-Sharpless reaction) was developed to tether 3,3’-((4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)phenyl)methylene)bis(4-hydroxyquinolin-2(1H)-ones) with 4-azido-2-quinolones in good yields. This methodology allowed attaching three quinolone molecules via a triazole linker with the proposed mechanism. The products are interesting precursors for their anti-proliferative activity. Compound 8g was the most active one, achieving IC₅₀ = 1.2 ± 0.2 µM and 1.4 ± 0.2 µM against MCF-7 and Panc-1 cell lines, respectively. Moreover, cell cycle analysis of cells MCF-7 treated with 8g showed cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase (supported by Caspase-3,8,9, Cytochrome C, BAX, and Bcl-2 studies). Additionally, significant pro-apoptotic activity is indicated by annexin V-FITC staining.     

Tb/Na tobermorite: Thermal behaviour and high temperature products

By heating a sample of Tb/Na tobermorite we obtained a phase which was identified through its X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern, as terbium silicate apatite. Subsequently this compound has been directly prepared by solid state reaction and we carried out a structural refinement from XRD data in space group P6₃/m obtaining cell parameters a=9.39199(4) Å and c=6.84041(5) Å. Terbium silicate apatite heated in melted NaF led to Tb₄O₇ crystals.     

Phase transition between two anhydrous modifications of NaHSO4 mediated by heat and water

The phase transition between the two anhydrous modifications of NaHSO₄ (α and β) was studied using Raman spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. These measurements indicate that β-NaHSO₄ is a metastable phase and readily undergoes phase transition to thermodynamically stable α-NaHSO₄ with an exothermic enthalpy change of 3.5 kJ/mol. Both thermal (temperatures >434 K) and chemical (exposure to H₂O) pathways were identified for this transition. The transition is irreversible, and α-NaHSO₄ is an intermediate phase between β-NaHSO₄ and NaHSO₄·H₂O. The possible mechanism of the phase transition is discussed.     

Flux growth of a new cobalt-zinc-tin ternary phase Co7+xZn3−xSn8 and its relationship to CoSn

The intermetallic compound Co_7+xZn_3−xSn₈ (−0.2<x<0.2) forms from the reaction of cobalt in zinc/tin eutectic flux. This phase has a new structure type in orthorhombic space group Cmcm, with unit cell parameters a=4.138(1) Å, b=12.593(4) Å, and c=11.639(4) Å (Z=2; R₁=0.0301). Varying the amount of cobalt in the synthesis leads to formation of a superstructure in space group Pnma, with lattice parameters a=12.5908(2) Å, b=11.6298(3) Å, and c=8.2704(2) Å (Z=4; R₁=0.0347). A Co/Zn mixed site and a partially occupied Co site in the Cmcm structure order to form the Pnma supercell. TGA/DSC studies indicate that the binary phase CoSn initially forms in the flux at 1173 K, and then reacts with the zinc in the cooling solution to form the ternary structure at 823 K. This phase exhibits Pauli paramagnetic behavior.     

Phase equilibria,thermal analysis,and reactivity of tin tungsten bronzes and related phases

Crystal chemistry and phase relations of the bronze forming region of the SnWO system have been investigated. Above 780°C the tin bronzes Sn_xWO₃ are shown to be thermally unstable and an equilibrium diagram is established at 700°C which shows that the composition limits of the tetragonal phase are 0.21 ? x ? 0.29. Below x = 0.21 a series of single and two phase regions containing orthorhombic bronzes exists for which the composition limits have been established. In the range 0.29 ? x ? 0.76 the system comprises the tetragonal bronze, Sn₂W₃O₈ and SnWO₄, while above 0.76 there is no bronze, only Sn₂W₃O₈, SnWO₄ and free Sn. The phase Sn₂W₃O₈ has been isolated and shown to have a hexagonal unit cell, a = 7.696 Å, c = 18.654 Å. The evidence of differential thermal analysis and X-ray studies suggests that this hexagonal phase arises from the decomposition of the tungsten bronze phase and is itself decomposed to cubic SnWO₄ above 700°C. Small thermal effects observed in the DTA scans of tin-containing tetragonal bronzes are interpreted in terms of an order-disorder phenomenon arising from asymmetric tunnel occupancy by Sn²⁺ ions caused by the presence of the lone pair of electrons. Hydrogen reduction of Sn_xWO₃ has been shown to result in complete removal of oxygen, producing Sn + α-W in the range 600–850°C. Some activation energy data are given for the reduction process.     

Structure and Phase Transitions of SnP2O7

SnP₂O₇ is a member of the ZrP₂O₇ family of materials, several of which show unusual thermal expansion behavior over certain temperature ranges and which show a number of displacive phase transitions on cooling from high temperature. Here we describe the structural properties of SnP₂O₇ from 100 to 1243 K as determined by X-ray and neutron powder diffraction. These studies reveal that SnP₂O₇ shows two phase transitions in this temperature range. At room temperature the material has a pseudo-cubic 3×3×3× superstructure. Electron diffraction studies show that the symmetry of this structure is P2₁3 or lower. On warming to ∼560 K it undergoes a phase transition to a structure in which the subcell reflections show a triclinic distortion; above 830 K the subcell reflections show a rhombohedral distortion. Significant hysteresis in cell parameters is observed between heating and cooling. The structure of SnP₂O₇ is discussed with references to other members of the AM₂O₇ family of materials.     

Preparation, phase transition and thermal expansion studies on low-cristobalite type Al1−xGaxPO4 (x=0.0, 0.20, 0.50, 0.80 and 1.00)

The orthorhombic (α) low-cristobalite type AlPO₄ and GaPO₄ and their solid solutions are prepared by co-precipitation followed by high temperature annealing of the precipitate. The single phasic nature of the products is ascertained by powder XRD at room temperature. The high temperature behavior of these samples is studied by HT-XRD over the temperature range of 25-1000°C. All these compositions undergo an orthorhombic to cubic (β, high-cristobalite) phase transition at elevated temperature. The unit cell parameters at different temperatures are determined by refining the observed powder diffraction profiles. The phase transition is accompanied by a significant increase in the unit cell volume, leading to the formation of a low dense structure. The variation of unit cell volume with temperature for each composition shows that the orthorhombic phase has a significantly larger thermal expansion than the cubic (high temperature) phase. The high temperature behavior of all the compositions except the GaPO₄ is similar. GaPO₄ undergoes a phase separation to a more stable quartz type phase above 800°C. However, the quartz type phase again transforms to the high cristobalite (β) phase at 1000°C. Thermal expansions of all these phases are explained in term of the variation of M-O-P angle as a function of temperature.     

A novel inhibitor, 2-cyano-3-(1-phenyl-3-(thiophen-2-yl)-pyrazol-4-yl)acrylamide linked to sulphamethoxazole,blocks anti-apoptotic proteins via molecular docking and strongly induced apoptosis of HCT116 cell line by different molecular tools

A new series of cyanoacrylamides incorporating sulphamethoxazol were prepared and confirmed by different spectral tools. Anticancer screening of the new compounds was done against three different types of carcinoma cell lines involving (A₅₄₉, HCT₁₁₆, and MDA) using MTT assay. Compound 7 among all tested derivatives achieved the best cytotoxic effect against all tested carcinoma cell lines. HCT₁₁₆ revealed the best sensitivity and cytotoxic activity toward compound 7 relative to 5-FU. The target compound offered less toxic effect when tested on normal melanocytes (HFB4). Simulation modeling studies revealed strong binding affinity toward the following domains (1dls, 2c6o, and 2wgj) and moderate binding modes toward (3eyl, 4kmp, 2w3l, and 5lab) domains with different binding energy scores. Gene expression profile outlined that caspase-3, BAX, and P53 genes were strongly upregulated relative to their control, while BCL2, MMP1, and CDK2 were effectively down regulated assuming the activation of the apoptotic pathway. Flow cytometry technique revealed that compound 7 stimulated cell cycle arrests at the G2/M phase. Other extensive molecular diagnostic tools were utilized in this report as ELISA, DPA, SEM, and TEM assays which confirmed that our target novel compound 7 was a very promising and interesting chemotherapeutic agent with less toxic effect. Also, authors herein suggested that additional sulphamethoxazole linked to 3-(1-phenyl-3-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)acrylonitrile in compound 7 was responsible for its promising cytotoxic activity against colorectal carcinoma cell line.     

New barium bismuth oxides: BaBi<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> and BaBi<Subscript>15</Subscript>O<Subscript>23.5</Subscript>

New barium bismuth oxides have been synthesized under an argon atmosphere at 530 and 430°C, respectively: a Ba: Bi = 1 : 4 phase has a tetragonal perovskite structure, and a 1 : 15 phase has a rhombohedral structure. For the 1 : 4 phase, the unit cell parameters are a = 4.297(2) Å and c = 4.472(2) Å as determined by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Electron diffraction (ED) patterns show superstructure reflections with the vectors q ₁= 1/17[530], q ₂ = 1/17[3\(\bar 5\)0], and q ₃ = 1/5[002]. These reflections point to an ordered arrangement of barium and bismuth ions in the supercell with the parameters √17a and 5c. The supercell of the 1 : 4 phase includes a ten-layer stack of metal-oxygen planes along the c axis. The rhombohedral 1 : 15 phase has the following hexagonal unit cell parameters as determined by XRD: a= 6.018(2) Å, c = 4.070(2) Å. In view of the superstructure on the ED patterns, the supercell parameters of the rhombohedral phase are 4a and 2c. The supercell of the 1 : 15 phase contains a six-layer stack of planes along the c axis.     

Crystal structure and phonon properties of noncentrosymmetric LiNaB4O7

A new borate, LiNaB₄O₇, has been synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure determination. The material crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, noncentrosymmetric space group Fdd2, with unit cell dimensions a=13.325(2), b=14.099(2), c=10.243(2) Å, Z=16, and V=1924.3(7) Å³. Like Li₂B₄O₇, the structure is built of two symmetrically independent, interpenetrating polyanionic frameworks built from condensation of the B₄O₉ fundamental building block, which is comprised of two distorted BO₄ tetrahedra and two BO₃ triangles. The interpenetrating frameworks produce distinct tunnels that are selectively occupied by the Li and Na atoms. Large single crystals exhibiting an optical absorption edge with λ<180 nm have been grown via the top-seeded-solution-growth method. The SHG signal (0.15× potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP)) is consistent with the calculated components of the SHG tensor and the approximate centrosymmetric disposition of the independent and interpenetrating frameworks. A complete analysis of polarized IR and Raman spectra confirms a close relationship between the title compound and Li₂B₄O₇.     

Structural and vibrational studies of Li[Kx(NH4)1−x]SO4 and Li2KNH4(SO4)2 mixed crystals

Mixed crystals of Li[K_x(NH₄)_1−x]SO₄ have been obtained by evaporation from aqueous solution at 313 K using different molar ratios of mixtures of LiKSO₄ and LiNH₄SO₄. The crystals were characterized by Raman scattering and single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. Two types of compound were obtained: Li[K_x(NH₄)_1−x]SO₄ with x?0.94 and Li₂KNH₄(SO₄)₂. Different phases of Li[K_x(NH₄)_1−x]SO₄ were yielded according to the molar ratio used in the preparation. The first phase is isostructural to the room-temperature phase of LiKSO₄. The second phase is the enantiomorph of the first, which is not observed in pure LiKSO₄, and the last is a disordered phase, which was also observed in LiKSO₄, and can be assumed as a mixture of domains of two preceding phases. In the second type of compound with formula Li₂KNH₄(SO₄)₂, the room-temperature phase is hexagonal, symmetry space group P6₃ with cell-volume nine times that of LiKSO₄. In this phase, some cavities are occupied by K⁺ ions only, and others are occupied by either K⁺ or NH₄⁺ at random. Thermal analyses of both types of compounds were performed by DSC, ATD, TG and powder X-ray diffraction. The phase transition temperatures for Li[K_x(NH₄)_1−x]SO₄x?0.94 were affected by the random presence of the ammonium ion in this disordered system. The high-temperature phase of Li₂KNH₄(SO₄)₂ is also hexagonal, space group P6₃/mmc with the cell a-parameter double that of LiKSO₄. The phase transition is at 471.9 K.     

Structure cristalline de SmZrF7. Relations structurales avec le type ReO3

The crystal structure of the fluorozirconate SmZrF₇ has been determined from single crystal X-ray data; the final R value is 0.028. In this compound, isotypic with all the fluorozirconates LnZrF₇ (Ln = rare earth), the symmetry of the cell is monoclinic (space group: P₂₁). The Zr atoms are surrounded by six fluorine atoms forming an almost perfect octahedron: the average distance ZrF is 2.006 Å. The Sm atoms are surrounded by a 8 fluorine atoms polyhedron, the distances SmF lie from 2.221 to 2.411 Å. The association of these two polyhedra by sharing corner forms slabs with an approximately ReO₃ type arrangement: the thickness of the slabs is two octahedra.These slabs with the composition M₂X₇ are held together so that the top fluorine atoms at the surface of a slab increase the coordination of the Sm atom of an adjacent slab. This MX_3.5 phase corresponds to a new structural type between MX₃ (ReO₃ type) and MX₄ (SnF₄ type).