Diffuse phase transition from the superionic to non-superionic state in Cu1.8Se single crystal

The phase transition from the superionic to non-superionic state in a Cu_1.8Se single crystal is studied by neutron diffraction. In the superionic state, a diffuse halo related to the disordering of the cation subsystem is observed. It is established that the phase transition from the superionic to non-superionic state is the diffuse first-order phase transition occurring in the temperature range 250–180 K.     

Modular,Homochiral, Porous Coordination Polymers: Rational Design,Enantioselective Guest Exchange Sorption and Ab Initio Calculations of Host–Guest Interactions

Two new, homochiral, porous metal–organic coordination polymers [Zn₂(ndc){(R)‐man}(dmf)]?3DMF and [Zn₂(bpdc){(R)‐man}(dmf)]?2DMF (ndc=2,6‐naphthalenedicarboxylate; bpdc=4,4′‐biphenyldicarboxylate; man=mandelate; dmf=N,N′‐dimethylformamide) have been synthesized by heating Zn^II nitrate, H₂ndc or H₂bpdc and chiral (R)‐mandelic acid (H₂man) in DMF. The colorless crystals were obtained and their structures were established by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. These isoreticular structures share the same topological features as the previously reported zinc(II) terephthalate lactate [Zn₂(bdc){(S)‐lac}(dmf)]?DMF framework, but have larger pores and opposite absolute configuration of the chiral centers. The enhanced pores size results in differing stereoselective sorption properties: the new metal–organic frameworks effectively and stereoselectively (ee up to 62 %) accommodate bulkier guest molecules (alkyl aryl sulfoxides) than the parent [Zn₂(bdc){(S)‐lac}(dmf)]?DMF, while the latter demonstrates decent enantioselectivity toward precursor of chiral anticancer drug sulforaphane, CH₃SO(CH₂)₄OH. The new homochiral porous metal–organic coordination polymers are capable of catalyzing a highly selective oxidation of bulkier sulfides (2‐NaphSMe (2‐C₁₀H₇SMe) and PhSCH₂Ph) that could not be achieved by the smaller‐pore [Zn₂(bdc){(S)‐lac}(dmf)]?DMF. The sorption of different guest molecules (both R and S isomers) into the chiral pores of [Zn₂(bdc){(S)‐lac}(dmf)]?DMF was modeled by using ab initio calculations that provided a qualitative explanation for the observed sorption enantioselectivity. The high stereo‐preference is accounted for by the presence of coordinated inner‐pore DMF molecule that forms a weak C? H???O bond between the DMF methyl group and the (S)‐PhSOCH₃ sulfinyl group.     

Anion complexation by calix[3]thieno[1]pyrrole: the medium effect

The interaction of calix[3]thieno[1]pyrrole, 1, and halide and dihydrogen phosphate anions in a variety of solvents (acetonitrile, propylene carbonate, N,N-dimethylformamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide) has been investigated through 1H NMR, conductance measurements, and titration calorimetry. 1H NMR measurements reveal the sites of interaction of the ligand with the anions in CD3CN while the composition of the complex was determined through conductance measurements. A quantitative assessment of anion-ligand interactions is provided. Thus the thermodynamics of complexation of 1 with halide and dihydrogen phosphate anions in dipolar aprotic media at 298.15 K is reported. These data are interpreted in terms of the thermodynamics of transfer of reactants and product from a reference solvent (acetonitrile) to other solvents. The crucial role played by the solvent on the ability of the ligand to interact with anions and on the composition of the complex is demonstrated.     

A Uniformly Oriented MFI Membrane for Improved CO2 Separation

Membrane separation of CO₂ from natural gas, biogas, synthesis gas, and flu gas is a simple and energy‐efficient alternative to other separation techniques. But results for CO₂‐selective permeance have always been achieved by randomly oriented and thick zeolite membranes. Thin, oriented membranes have great potential to realize high‐flux and high‐selectivity separation of mixtures at low energy cost. We now report a facile method for preparing silica MFI membranes in fluoride media on a graded alumina support. In the resulting membrane straight channels are uniformly vertically aligned and the membrane has a thickness of 0.5 μm. The membrane showed a separation selectivity of 109 for CO₂/H₂ mixtures and a CO₂ permeance of 51×10^?7 mol m^?2 s^?1 Pa^?1 at ?35 °C, making it promising for practical CO₂ separation from mixtures.     

Supercomputer docking with a large number of degrees of freedom

ABSTRACT

Docking represents one of the most popular computational approaches in drug design. It has reached popularity owing to capability of identifying correct conformations of a ligand within an active site of the target-protein and of estimating the binding affinity of a ligand that is immensely helpful in prediction of compound activity. Despite many success stories, there are challenges, in particular, handling with a large number of degrees of freedom in solving the docking problem. Here, we show that SOL-P, the docking program based on the new Tensor Train algorithm, is capable to dock successfully oligopeptides having up to 25 torsions. To make the study comparative we have performed docking of the same oligopeptides with the SOL program which uses the same force field as that utilized by SOL-P and has common features of many docking programs: the genetic algorithm of the global optimization and the grid approximation. SOL has managed to dock only one oligopeptide. Moreover, we present the results of docking with SOL-P ligands into proteins with moveable atoms. Relying on visual observations we have determined the common protein atom groups displaced after docking which seem to be crucial for successful prediction of experimental conformations of ligands.     

Section images of dislocations normal to the surface of a 6H-SiC single crystal

Section topographs of edge and screw dislocations with an axis along [0001] in 6H-SiC are taken and interpreted, and the image formation is explained for this case. The contrast induced by various arrangements of dislocations within the Borrmann triangle is experimentally studied. The sign of the Burgers vector of an edge or screw dislocation normal to the crystal surface is shown to be unambiguously determined from the section-topograph image of this dislocation. The sign of the Burgers vector of a screw dislocation can also be determined from its image taken with Lang projection topography. The contribution of a long-range strain field to the section images of edge and screw dislocations normal to the crystal surface is revealed. The experimental contrasts recorded using section topography and Borrmann-effect-based topography are compared.     

High-multiplicity study

Theoretical and experimental problems of multiparticle production are analyzed in the high-multiplicity region. Interesting collective phenomena may be revealed in this region. Preliminary results of the Thermalization Project are being reported. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Halogenation of Fluorinated 1,3,5‐Triketones

The behavior of linear and cyclic fluorinated 1,3,5‐triketones and their metal derivatives towards common halogenating agents was examined, and optimal reaction conditions for the straightforward synthesis of mono‐, di‐, and tetrahalogenated products were found (Schemes 1–3). An aromatization through a double HBr elimination from an α,α′‐dibrominated cyclohexanone was shown to be a promising synthetic route to 1,1′‐(2‐hydroxy‐1,3‐phenylene)bis[2,2,2‐trifluoroethanones] (= 2,6‐bis(trifluoroacetyl)phenols; Scheme 4). Additionally, the 1,3,5‐triketones prepared add readily H₂O or alcohols to produce novel bridged 2,6‐dihydroxypyran‐4‐ones (Scheme 2). The structure of the obtained compounds 6a and 7a was confirmed by X‐ray structure analysis.     

Cation Complexation by a Lower Rim Calix(4)arene Derivative: Structural,Electrochemical and Thermodynamic Studies

The synthesis and characterization (¹H and ¹³C NMR) of a partially substituted lower rim p-tert-butylcalix(4)arene, namely, 5,11,17,23-tetra-4-tert-butyl-25,27-bis(diethylphosphate amino)ethoxy-26,28-dihydroxycalix[4]arene (1), are reported. The solution thermodynamics of the ligand in a variety of solvents at 298.15?K was investigated through solubility (hence standard Gibbs energy of solution) measurements while the calorimetric technique was used to derive the standard solution enthalpy. These data were used to calculate the standard entropy of solution. An enthalpy–entropy compensation effect is shown and, as a result, slight variations are observed in the transfer Gibbs energies of this ligand from the reference to other solvents. ¹H NMR, conductance and calorimetric measurements were carried out to establish the degree of interaction of the ligand with univalent (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺ and Ag⁺) and bivalent (Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺) cations in acetonitrile, methanol, N,N-dimethylformamide and propylene carbonate. No complexation was found between this ligand and univalent cations in these solvents. As far as the bivalent cations are concerned, interaction between 1 and these cations was found only in acetonitrile. The versatile behaviour of this ligand with bivalent cations in this solvent is reflected by the formation of complexes of different stoichiometry. Thus the interaction of 1 with alkaline-earth (Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺) and Pb²⁺ metal cations leads to the formation of 1:2 (cation:ligand) complexes. However, for other bivalent metal cations (Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺) the complex stoichiometry was found to be 1:1. The results are discussed in terms of the key role played by acetonitrile in processes involving calix[4]arene derivatives.