Isotopic study of the transition of calcium monomethoxide using laser excitation and population depletion spectroscopy

High resolution excitation spectra have been obtained of the 0–0 band of the transition of four isotopologues, CaO¹²CH₃, CaO¹³CH₃, CaO¹²CD₃ and CaO¹³CD₃ of calcium monomethoxide. The deuterated species were found to have unexpectedly complicated spectra, and definitive rotational assignments were possible only from investigation by optical optical double resonance (OODR) population depletion spectroscopy. This confirmed the assignment of the CaO¹²CD₃ spectrum, and proved crucial in assigning the K-structure and spin components for CaO¹³CD₃. The state was found to be well described by the symmetric rotor model with C_3v symmetry for both hydride species but, for the deuterides, the K-structure and spin rotation splittings were irregular, especially for CaO¹³CD₃ where the K = 0 and 1 levels were heavily perturbed. The changes in the A constant determined for the hydride suggest that the CH₃ umbrella opens by 0.4°, i.e., 0.2° further on excitation to the state than on excitation to the lower-lying state (geometry change established in an earlier experiment by Crozet et al. [P. Crozet, A.J. Ross, C. Linton, A.G. Adam, W.S. Hopkins, R.J. Le Roy, J. Mol. Spectrosc. 229 (2005), 224–230]).     

Synthesis and structure of [K(+)-(2,2)diaza-[18]-crown-6][K3Ge9]-2ethylenediamine: stabilization of the two-dimensional layer (2)(infinity)[K3Ge9(1-)

Large bright-red, transparent crystalline plates of [K-(2,2)diaza-[18]-crown-6]K3Ge9-2en are obtained, in high-yield, from a reaction of (2,2)diaza-[18]-crown-6 in toluene with a solution of K4Ge9/potassium metal (K) in ethylenediamine (en). The compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/m (a = 10.740(1) A, b = 15.812(1) A, c = 12.326(1) A, beta = 114.74 degrees; Z = 2). The crystal structure of [K-(2,2)diaza-[18]-crown-6]K3Ge9-2en features two-dimensional [K3Ge9] layers formed by uncomplexed K(+) cations and Ge94(-) anions. The "not-so-bare" cluster compound features a unique Ge94(-) cluster that exhibits a slightly distorted C(2v) geometry that is closer to D(3h) than the expected C(4v). Use of noncryptand sequestering agents in the isolation of Ge cluster anions from en solutions opens new avenues in understanding important cation-anion interactions in the stability and reactivity of Zintl ions, as well as a viable route to isolating Zintl anions with higher charges per atom.     

Isolation of NO(3)(-)-N as 1-phenylazo-2-naphthol (Sudan-1) for measurement of delta(15)N

The conversion of nitrate (NO(3)(-)) to 1-phenylazo-2-naphthol (Sudan-1) has been examined as a method for natural abundance measurement of delta(15)N of NO(3)(-). The reaction results in dilution of NO(3)(-)-N with only one reagent-derived N and the product is readily concentrated from dilute samples by reverse phase chromatography. There is systematic isotopic fractionation during the reaction, but this can be allowed for by analysing known NO(3)(-) standards along with each sample set. Sudan-1 prepared from surface water samples containing approximately 50 &mgr;g NO(3)(-)-N can be analysed by automated continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometry with a precision of 0.2 per thousand (one standard deviation) and the accuracy is not affected by interference from other nitrogenous species in the sample or reagents. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multilayer volume holographic optical memory

We demonstrate a scheme for volume holographic storage based on the features of shift selectivity of a speckle reference-wave hologram. The proposed recording method permits more-efficient use of the recording medium and yields greater storage density than spherical or plane-wave reference beams. Experimental results of multiple hologram storage and replay in a photorefractive crystal of iron-doped lithium niobate are presented. The mechanisms of lateral and longitudinal shift selectivity are described theoretically and shown to agree with experimental measurements.     

Virtual Extensive Read-Across: A New Open-Access Software for Chemical Read-Across and Its Application to the Carcinogenicity Assessment of Botanicals

Read-across applies the principle of similarity to identify the most similar substances to represent a given target substance in data-poor situations. However, differences between the target and the source substances exist. The present study aims to screen and assess the effect of the key components in a molecule which may escape the evaluation for read-across based only on the most similar substance(s) using a new open-access software: Virtual Extensive Read-Across (VERA). VERA provides a means to assess similarity between chemicals using structural alerts specific to the property, pre-defined molecular groups and structural similarity. The software finds the most similar compounds with a certain feature, e.g., structural alerts and molecular groups, and provides clusters of similar substances while comparing these similar substances within different clusters. Carcinogenicity is a complex endpoint with several mechanisms, requiring resource intensive experimental bioassays and a large number of animals; as such, the use of read-across as part of new approach methodologies would support carcinogenicity assessment. To test the VERA software, carcinogenicity was selected as the endpoint of interest for a range of botanicals. VERA correctly labelled 70% of the botanicals, indicating the most similar substances and the main features associated with carcinogenicity.     

Structural studies and T c dependence in La2−x Dy x Ca y Ba2Cu4+y O z type mixed oxide superconductors

A new series of mixed oxide superconductors with the stoichiometric composition La_2−x Dy _x Ca _y Ba₂Cu_4+y O _z (x=0.0 − 0.5, y=2x) has been studied for structural and superconductiong properties. Our earlier studies on La_2−x (Y/Er) _x Ca _y Ba₂Cu_4+y O _z series, show a strong dependence of T _c on hole concentration (p _sh). In the present work, the results of the analysis of the neutron diffraction measurements at room temprerature on x=0.3 and 0.5 samples are reported. It is interesting to know that Ca substitutes for both La and Ba site with concomitant displacement of La onto Ba site. Superconductivity studies show that maximum T _c is obtained for x=0.5, y=1.0 sample (T _c ∼ 75 K), for La_1.5Dy_0.5Ca₁Ba₂Cu₅O _z (La-2125).     

From magnets to metals: the response of tetragonal bisdiselenazolyl radicals to pressure

The bromo-substituted bisdiselenazolyl radical 4b (R(1) = Et, R(2) = Br) is isostructural with the corresponding chloro-derivative 4a (R(1) = Et, R(2) = Cl), both belonging to the tetragonal space group P(4)2(1)m and consisting of slipped π-stack arrays of undimerized radicals. Variable temperature, ambient pressure conductivity measurements indicate a similar room temperature conductivity near 10(-4) S cm(-1) for the two compounds, but 4b displays a slightly higher thermal activation energy E(act) (0.23 eV) than 4a (0.19 eV). Like 4a, radical 4b behaves as a bulk ferromagnet with an ordering temperature of T(C) = 17.5 K. The coercive field H(c) (at 2 K) of 1600 Oe for 4b is, however, significantly greater than that observed for 4a (1370 Oe). High pressure (0-15 GPa) structural studies on both compounds have shown that compression reduces the degree of slippage of the π-stacks, which gives rise to changes in the magnetic and conductive properties of the radicals. Relatively mild loadings (<2 GPa) cause an increase in T(C) for both compounds, that of 4b reaching a maximum value of 24 K; further compression to 5 GPa leads to a decrease in T(C) and loss of magnetization. Variable temperature and pressure conductivity measurements indicate a decrease in E(act) with increasing pressure, with eventual conversion of both compounds from a Mott insulating state to one displaying weakly metallic behavior in the region of 7 GPa (for 4a) and 9 GPa (for 4b).     

Finite element error bounds for a curve shrinking with prescribed normal contact to a fixed boundary

We approximate the evolution of a curve subject to motion bycurvature by linear finite elements. The curve evolves insidea given domain and meets orthogonally. We derive optimal boundsfor the error with respect to the L²- and H¹-norms and presentsome computed examples.