An MNDO SCF MO investigation of some structural isomers of the perfluoro diazines (pyrimidine,pyrazine, and pyridazine) of relevance to their plasma polymerization

Extensive MNDO SCF MO calculations were made to determine the heats of formation of the ground state of geometry-optimized perfluorodiazabenzenes (pyridazine, pyrimidine, and pyrazine) and some of their structural isomers (Dewar benzene, benzvalene, prismane, fulvene, and hexadienyne). The heats of formation of the cation, singlet, and triplet states, were derived for the ground-state geometry of 1,3-diaza isomers to gain some insight into the excited state manifolds. These results were used to interpret various experimental observations that relate to the plasma polymerization of the diazines. In particular, the interconversion of the parent heteroaromatic, the relative energies of interconversion and polymerization, and the possibility of the elimination of a small stable molecule were considered. Comparison is made with results reported for the tetrafluorobenzenes.     

Preparation and thermal decomposition of certain. Substituted bis-(thenoyl) peroxides

The effect of various substituents on the rates of thermal decomposition of substituted bis-(thenoyl) peroxides has been investigated. Nine unreported peroxides were prepared, including derivatives of 2- and 3-thenoic acids. The thermal decomposition rates of these peroxides were examined, in the presence of styrene as a free radical scavenger. First order kinetics were observed in all cases studied. In general it was found that electron releasing substituents increase, while electron withdrawing groups decrease, the decomposition rate; the only exception being bis-(5-nitro-3-thenoyl) peroxide. Entropies and energies of activation were determined and found to be linearly related for the peroxides studied.     

Open metal-organic framework containing cuprate chains

A three-dimensional Cu(II) metal-organic framework, copper hydroxide p-pyridinecarboxylate hydrate, [Cu(OH)(C5H4NCO2).H2O], was synthesized by hydrothermally reacting copper nitrate with p-pyridinecarboxylic acid. The crystals were suitable for single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, which showed that the Cu(II) centers adopt a slightly distorted square pyramidal geometry. They coordinate to both the pyridyl and carboxylate functionalities of the pyridinecarboxylate bridging ligands. Infinite copper oxide chains run through the structure and are connected by p-pyridinecarboxylate (p-PyC) ligands. Crystal data: monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 3.5521(2) A, b = 15.8665(11) A, c = 12.9977(9) A, beta = 95.285(2) degrees , and Z = 4. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the guest H2O molecules in the channels may be removed, and the material is stable to ca. 245 degrees C. Magnetic measurements indicated the material has one-dimensional (1D) antiferromagnetic ordering within the Cu2+ chains with a Néel temperature of ca. 51 K. Data fitting to the Bonner-Fisher model yielded a coupling constant, J, of -7.3 cm(-1) and g factor of 2.15. The Curie tail below 20 K is due to a small amount of paramagnetic impurities, calculated to be approximately 0.2% in concentration. Further characterization of crystallinity and morphology are discussed, including powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), elemental analysis, and optical microscopy.     

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles within a supramolecular gel-phase network

Gold nanoparticles with diameters of ca. 13 nm were synthesised by UV irradiation of a supramolecular organogel into which HAuCl4 and tetraoctylammonium bromide had been diffused-the gel network plays an essential role in nanoparticle stabilisation.     

Palladium asymmetric allylic alkylation of prochiral nucleophiles: horsfiline

[reaction; see text] The asymmetric synthesis of the oxindole alkaloid horsfiline is described. A palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) is used to set the spiro(pyrrolidine-oxindole) stereogenic center.     

Atomic hydrogen cleaning of In0.53Ga0.47As studied using synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy

The removal of the native oxides from the In_0.53Ga_0.47As surface by exposure to atomic hydrogen has been investigated by highly surface sensitive synchrotron radiation based photoelectron spectroscopy. This shows that it is possible to fully remove the arsenic oxides at low temperatures, while still leaving a low concentration of stable Ga₂O and In₂O at the surface, and no evidence of indium loss from the substrate. The removal of surface carbon contamination is also seen, however full removal is only detected in the absence of prior substrate annealing. (© 2013 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On the use of two classical series expansion methods to determine the vibration of harmonically excited pure cubic oscillators

An analytical approach to determine the steady-state response of a damped and undamped harmonically excited oscillator with no linear term and with cubic non-linearity is presented. The governing equation is transformed into a form suitable for the application of a classical series expansion technique. The Linstedt–Poincaré method and the method of multiple scales are then used to determine the amplitude-frequency response and approximate solution for the response at the excitation frequency. The results obtained are compared with numerical solutions and analytical solutions found in the literature for the case when there is strong non-linearity.     

A Paper Sensor Printed with Multifunctional Bio/Nano Materials

We report a paper‐based aptasensor platform that uses two reaction zones and a connecting bridge along with printed multifunctional bio/nano materials to achieve molecular recognition and signal amplification. Upon addition of analyte to the first zone, a fluorescently labelled DNA or RNA aptamer is desorbed from printed graphene oxide, rapidly producing an initial fluorescence signal. The released aptamer then flows to the second zone where it reacts with printed reagents to initiate rolling circle amplification, generating DNA amplicons containing a peroxidase‐mimicking DNAzyme, which produces a colorimetric readout that can be read in an equipment‐free manner or with a smartphone. The sensor was demonstrated using an RNA aptamer for adenosine triphosphate (a bacterial marker) and a DNA aptamer for glutamate dehydrogenase (Clostridium difficile marker) with excellent sensitivity and specificity. These targets could be detected in spiked serum or feacal samples, demonstrating the potential for testing clinical samples.