Auger parameter shifts in the case of the non-local screening mechanism: Applications of the electrostatic model to molecules,solids and adsorbed species

A simple electrostatic model is applied to predict and rationalize the auger parameter shifts in molecules, solids and adsorbed species. The model is valid in the case of the non-local screening mechanism, i.e. when the screening of the core hole is due to the polarization of the nearest-neighbour ligands (no charge transfer from the ligands to localized electronic levels of the atom with the core hole, as occurs with the main peak of the core-ionized heavier 3d_n transition metal ions or the light lanthanide ions). To good approximation it is shown that: (1) the Auger parameter shift is a function of the number, distance, electronic polarizability and local symmetry of the first-neighbour ligands of the core-ionized atom; (2) the dipole–dipole interactions can play a key role in determining the extent of the extra-atomic relaxation energy and hence of the Auger parameter shift.     

ACTION SPECTRA FOR PHOTOACCUMULATION OF GREEN AND COLORLESS EUGLENA: EVIDENCE FOR IDENTIFICATION OF RECEPTOR PIGMENTS

Abstract —Phototaxis action spectra have been determined in three different types of Euglena gracilis ; green and dark-bleached cells containing the stigma and streptomycin-treated white mutant with an absorptionless stigma. In all three types of microorganisms the flavin containing paraflagellar body is present. The shape of the action spectrum is the same for the three types of cells and proportional to the absorption spectrum of flavoproteins. It has been shown that the structure of the action spectrum does not depend on the presence of screening organelles, on which, instead, depends the direction of the response to the light stimulus. It is concluded that the flavin chromophores present in the photoreceptor are the pigments responsible for phototaxis in Euglena gracilis.     

The decomposition of the SCF interaction energy in hydrogen bonded dimers corrected for basis set superposition errors: An examination of the basis set dependence

A systematic examination of the components of the interaction energy, obtained with the Kitaura and Morokuma method, for nine H-bonded dimers without and with counterpoise corrections (CP ) is presented. The nine dimers H_n A …? HBH_m correspond to all the possible combinations of HF, H₂O, and NH₃ as electron donors and electron acceptors. The interaction energy and the corresponding components have been computed over a sizable interval of intermolecular distances with five basis sets (STO -3G, MINI -1, 3-21G, 4-31G, 6-31G**) selected among those most extensively used to study interactions in larger systems. The CP corrections to the ΔE components have been obtained with a method, implemented in our group, which permits assignment to the pertinent components of ΔE of a physically reasonable portion of the CP correction even though different CP corrections are adopted. We examine here three versions of the CP correction, namely, the full CP correction (i.e., the original version of Boys and Bernardi) and CP corrections limited to the virtual space of the partner or to the electron donor only. The resulting data are employed to assess the basis set dependence of several models of hydrogen bonding (the electrostatic model, the semiclassical model, etc.) both with and without CP corrections.     

Synthesis,chemical, and electrochemical characterization of the [Ag13{μ3-Fe(CO)4}] n− (n = 3, 4, 5) cluster anions: X-Ray structural determination of [N(PPh3)2]3 [Ag12(μ12-Ag){μ3Fe(CO)4}8]1

The oxidation of the [Fe(CO)₄]^2– dianion with Ag⁺ salts occurs through a particularinner-sphere mechanism, which involves an intermediate cascade of silver clusters stabilized by Fe(CO)₄ ligands. The last detectable Ag-Fe cluster of the sequence is the [Ag₁₃{-Fe(CO)₄}₈]^3– trianion, which has been selectively obtained by using ca. 1.7 equivalents of Ag⁺ per mole of [Fe(CO)₄]^2–. The [Ag₁₃{-Fe(CO)₄}₈]^3–- trianion has been isolated in a crystalline state with several quaternary cations, and has been characterized by X-ray diffraction studies of its bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium salt. [N(PPh₃)₂]₃ [Ag₁₃{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄}₈]·2(CH₃)₂CO, monoclinic, space group P2₁ (No.4),a = 16.284(2) Å,b =18.767(5) Å,c = 25.905(4) Å, = 90.46(1)°,V = 7916(3) ų,Z = 2,R = 0.0324. The molecular structure of the anion consists of a centered cuboctahedron of silver atoms with the triangular faces capped by Fe(CO)₄ units. Chemical reduction of ( Ag₁₃{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄}₈]^3– affords the corresponding [Ag₁₃{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄)₈]^4–, which in turn gives [Ag₁₃{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄)₈]^5– and [Ag₆{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄}₄]^– upon further reduction. Electrochemical investigations confirm the reversibility of the [Ag₁₃{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄}₈]^3–/4– redox change. Furthermore, in spite of some electrode poisoning effects, evidence of the existence of the [Ag₁₃{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄}₈]^5– pentaanion was obtained. The yet structurally uncharacterized [Ag₆{ ₃-Fe(CO)₄)₄]^2– dianion is quantitatively obtained by reaction of [Fe(CO)₄]^2– with ca. 1.5 equivalents of Ag⁺ or by addition of one equivalent of Ag⁺ to solutions of the [Ag₅{Fe(CO)₄}₄]^3– trianion. All attempts to isolate its quaternary salts as crystalline materials failed owing to formation of amorphous insoluble precipitates. The above series of ₃-Fe(CO)₄ octa-capped cuboctahedral Ag₁₃ clusters can be envisioned as the Ag⁺ . Ag and Ag^– cryptates of the [Ag₁₂{}₃-Fe(CO)₄}₈]^4– cryptand. respectively.Dedicated to Prof L. F. Dahl on his 65th birthday.     

Phototactic orientation mechanism in the ciliate Fabrea salina, as inferred from numerical simulations

The marine ciliate Fabrea salina shows a clear positive phototaxis, but the mechanism by which a single cell is able to detect the direction of light and orient its swimming accordingly is still unknown. A simple model of phototaxis is that of a biased random walk, where the bias due to light can affect one or more of the parameters that characterize a random walk, i.e., the mean speed, the frequency distribution of the angles of directional changes and the frequency of directional changes. Since experimental evidence has shown no effect of light on the mean speed of Fabrea salina, we have excluded models depending on this parameter. We have, therefore, investigated the phototactic orientation of Fabrea salina by computer simulation of two simple models, the first where light affects the frequency distribution of the angles of directional changes (model M1) and the second where the light bias modifies the frequency of directional changes (model M2). Simulated M1 cells directly orient their swimming towards the direction of light, regardless of their current swimming orientation; simulated M2 cells, on the contrary, are unable to actively orient their motion, but remain locked along the light direction once they find it by chance. The simulations show that these two orientation models lead to different macroscopic behaviours of the simulated cell populations. By comparing the results of the simulations with the experimental ones, we have found that the phototactic behaviour of real cells is more similar to that of the M2 model.     

Enzymatic resolution of (RS)-β-hydroxy selenides in organic media

Kinetic resolutions of a number of β-hydroxy selenides promoted by enzymes were performed using PPL (free Porcine pancreatic lipase), PSL (Amano PS—free Pseudomonas sp. lipase) and CALB (NOVOZYM 435^®—immobilized Candida Antarctica lipase type B) with (RS)-1-phenylselanyl-propan-2-ol. CALB gave the best results and provided both (R)- and (S)-enantiomers in high enantiomeric purity. A comparative study of the effect of temperature, solvent, enzyme immobilization and the structure of the substrates on the resolution is presented.     

Theoretical investigations on the solvation process

The conformation energies for monohydrated associates M · H₂O, where M stands for oxirane, aziridine, oxaziridine and cyclopropene, have been obtained by using an electrostatic method, tested in a preceding paper, which relies on SCF molecular potentials calculated exactly. Stable associates have been found in the heterogroup region as well as near the bent bonds (single or double).A discussion is made on the errors in calculating thermodynamic properties for such associates in gas phase by using a priori calculations. As a numerical example the free energy change in the association process is compared for two monohydrated associates of aziridine.

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Zusammenfassung Die Konformationsenergien für Anlagerungsverbindung M · H₂O, wobei M für Oxiran, Aziridin, Oxaziridin und Cyclopropen steht, werden mit einer elektrostatischen Methode berechnet. Dieses Verfahren wurde in einer vorhergehenden Veröffentlichung getestet und beruht auf exakt berechneten SCF-Molekülpotentialen. Stabile Anlagerungsverbindungen wurden für Konformationen gefunden, bei denen das Wassermolekül in der Nähe der Heterogruppe oder der gezogenen Einfach- oder Doppelbindung liegt. Die Fehler bei der Berechnung thermodynamischer Eigenschaften für derartige Anlagerungsverbindungen in der Gasphase werden abgeschätzt. Als ein numerisches Beispiel wird die Differenz der freien Energie bei der Anlagerung für zwei Anlagerungsverbindungen von Aziridin und Molekül Wasser verglichen.

     

Novel rhenium(V) oxo complexes containing bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetate and bis(pyrazol-1-yl) sulfonate as tripodal N,N,O-heteroscorpionate ligands

Reactions of [NBu4][Re(O)Cl4] with bis(pyrazol-1-yl)methane (bpzm) and bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetate (Hbpza) and with the lithium salts lithium [bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)acetate] (Libdmpza) and lithium [bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methanesulfonate] (Libdmpzs) produce a series of new compounds containing either a kappa2-N,N bidentate pyrazolyl ligand [Re(O)(bpzm)Cl3 (1), Re(O)(bpzm)(OMe)Cl2 (2), Re(O)(bpzaOMe)(OMe)Cl2 (4)] or a kappa3-N,N,O heteroscorpionate [Re(O)(bpza)Cl2 (3), Re(O)(bdmpza)Cl2 isomers 5 and 6, Re(O)(bdmpza)(OMe)Cl (7), Re(O)(bdmpza)(OEt)Cl (8), Re(O)(bdmpzs)(OMe)Cl (9), Re(O)(bdmpzs)(OEt)Cl (10)]. X-ray analyses of 1 and 3 show in both cases a distorted octahedral environment around the rhenium atom. The nature and the geometry of the products are strongly determined by the reaction solvent and by the heteroscorpionate ligand itself. When scorpionates bear methylated pyrazolyl rings mixed heterocomplexes Re(O)(bdmpza)(glycol) (11) and Re(O)(bdmpzs)(glycol) (12) are obtained (H2glycol = ethylene glycol). Also 11 shows an octahedral geometry as assessed by X-ray study.     

ELDONET--European Light Dosimeter Network. Structure and functions of the ELDONET server

The European Light Dosimeter Network (ELDONET) project has been designed with the purpose of establishing an efficient system to monitor solar radiation in Europe, in as many as possible locations. This paper describes the structure of the server that collects and processes the data acquired by the different stations belonging to the network, and makes them freely available on the Internet to the scientific community. The server is able to receive data either via FTP from the Internet or via modem and to process them looking for errors or inconsistencies. Moreover, it automatically generates graphs, Web-pages and FTP archives. The server has been active for some years in testing mode and is now fully operative.     

An Improved Method for the Preparation of Tetra-Coordinate Platinum(II) Chloro-Complexes Containing Bidentate or Terdentate Ligands Starting from cis/trans-[PtCl2(SMe2)2]

An improved method for the preparation of differently charged chelate Pt(II) chloro-complexes is reported. All the complexes have been obtained rapidly and in high yield, by simply reacting equimolar amounts of cis/trans- dichlorobis(dimethylsulphide)platinum(II) with the chelate ligand in an appropriate solvent (CH₂Cl₂, MeOH or H₂O). The ligands chosen were: 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (P—P), pyridine–2-carboxylate (N—O⁻), 2-[(methylthio)methyl]pyridine (N—S), 1,10-phenanthroline (N—N), bis(2-pyridylmethyl)sulphide (N—S—N), di-(2-picolyl)amine (N—N—N), pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate (O—N—O²⁻) and 2,6-bis(methylthiomethyl)pyridine (S—N—S).