The Surface Structure of a TiNi-Based Powder Alloy Manufactured by the Method of Diffusion Sintering

Russian Physics Journal - The structural features of the surface of a TiNi-based powder alloy produced by diffusion sintering are studied. Two-dimensional porous samples based on a TiNi powder...     

A Landau theory of the Peierls-BCS transition

We introduce a Landau type theory of the Peierls instability-superconductor transition involving two complex order parameters. Under a particular inequality condition among expansion parameters, the theory predicts that the superfluid conductivity should vary as $\text{(T?T}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ above the critical region and as $\text{(T}{}^1{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>c</mtext>}}\text{?T)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?3</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ below the critical region.     

Transient states in [2 + 2] photodimerization of cinnamic acid: correlation of solid-state NMR and X-ray analysis

13C-CPMAS and other solid-state NMR methods have been applied to monitor the solid-state reactions of trans-cinnamic acid derivatives, which are the pioneer and model compounds in the field of topochemistry previously studied by X-ray diffraction, AFM, and vibrational spectroscopy. Single-crystal X-ray analyses of photoirradiated alpha-trans-cinnamic acid where the monomers are arranged in a head-to-tail manner have revealed the formation of a centrosymmetric alpha-truxillic acid photodimer. For a centrosymmetric dimer, however, two cyclobutane carbon signals and one carbonyl carbon signal were expected apart from other aromatic carbon signals. Instead, four cyclobutane and two carbonyl carbon signals were observed suggesting the formation of a non-centrosymmetric photodimer. Removing hydrogen bonds from the system by esterfication of alpha-truxillic acid yield a centrosymmetric photodimer. Careful analysis of the obtained products via solid-state NMR clearly showed that the observed peak splittings in the 13C-CPMAS spectra did not originate from packing effects but rather result from asymmetric hydrogen bonds distorting the local symmetry. Further evidence of this rather dynamic hydrogen-bonding stems from high-temperature X-ray data revealing that only the joint approach of both X-ray analysis and solid-state NMR at similar temperatures allows for the successful characterization of dynamic processes occurring in topochemical reactions, thus, providing detailed insight into the reaction mechanism of organic solid-state transformations.     

Selectivity of guest-host interactions in self-assembled hydrogen-bonded nanostructures observed by NMR

We studied the incorporation of various small guest molecules into calix[4]hydroquinone nanotubes and nanoclusters using solid-state proton NMR spectroscopy in combination with quantum chemical calculations. While the molecules exhibit different types of hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions, they show different affinities to the nanotube host structures. As the guest molecules are located inside the complexes, they experience a shift in the NMR resonance line caused by screening effects from the aromatic electrons of the host superstructure. The abilities to fill the otherwise empty space within the tubes can hence be measured indirectly by the displacement of the NMR lines relative to the free molecules. In this way, we can probe which guest molecules are recognized by the calix[4]hydroquinones as suitable for filling their nanoporous superstructures. Selective guest-host interactions have been successfully achieved for the three component mixture of water and acetone with either 2-methyl-2-propanol or 2-propanol. In both cases, the alcohols were superior to acetone in filling the CHQ tubes.     

Selective oxidation and reduction of trinuclear titanium(II) hexaazatrinaphthylene complexes-synthesis, structure, and electrochemical investigations

Titanocene complexes with chelating N-heterocyclic ligand bridges react with ferrocenium salts as selective oxidants to afford air-stable cationic complexes and allow the preparation of exceptional mixed valence hexaazatrinaphthylene complexes [(Cp2Ti)3(mu3-HATNMe6)]n+ (1n+) (n=1, 2, 3, 4). Cyclic voltammograms (CV) and differential pulse voltammograms (DPV) show that nine oxidation states of 1 are generated without decomposition. Comproportionation constants Kc have been calculated in order to determine the extent of electronic communication between the titanium centers. The Kc values of the mixed valence states are indicative of uncoupled (14+), moderately coupled (15+), and strongly coupled (1-, 1+, and 12+) systems. Small but significant structural changes occurring upon oxidation of neutral 1 are observed by X-ray structural analysis on 1+-14+. Anion-pi interactions between the electron-deficient central ring of the HATNMe6 moiety and PF6- and BF4- counterions, respectively, are found for 12+, 13+, and 14+. The short cation-anion contacts cause interesting molecular allignments in terms of molecular architecture. For 12+ the assembly of an one-dimensional (1D) polymer is observed. Electrochemical investigations on the mononuclear cationic titanocene complexes [(Cp2Ti)(L)]+ (L=2,2'-biquinoline (2+), 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-biquinoline (3+), and 5,8'-dimethyl-2,3'-biquinoxaline (4+)) showed similar oxidation and reduction characteristics among each other. Conversion to monoanionic, neutral, and dicationic states is enabled. As found for the trinuclear compounds 1n+, the molecular structures of 2+-4+ reveal significant differences compared to their neutral parents.     

Evaluation of contributions to the uncertainty of cholesterol determination in human serum by means of gas chromatography/(quadrupole-) mass spectrometry

 The uncertainty budget of the determination of cholesterol in a reference material (freeze-dried human serum) by isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) was evaluated. Measurements were run on a GC/quadrupole MS. A nested experimental design combined with a corresponding model for the analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed the components making up the total uncertainty of the determinations. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the sole GC/MS-step was 0.47%, while that of the sample preparation including hydrolyzation, extraction and derivatization was 0.84%. This made the in-laboratory (overall) CV 0.96%. In addition, there was a vial-to-vial effect of 1.00% probably due to both inhomogeneity of the pooled material and lack of reproducibility of the filling procedure (including freeze drying) of the supplier as well as the reconstitution prior to use in the laboratory. These contributions sum up to an overall CV of a single determination of about 1.4%. Received: 17 October 1996/Revised: 14 November 1996/Accepted: 18 November 1996     

Metallorganische Verbindungen des Kupfers XIII. Kupfer(I)-chlorid-Komplexe winkelgespannter Cycloheptine Synthesen und Röntgenstrukturanalysen

The strained cycloheptynes 2a, 2b and 2c react with copper(I) chloride to form the dinuclear complexes [CuCl(cycloheptyne)]₂ 3a, 3b and 3c respectively. X-ray diffraction studies on all three compounds 3 show an increase in strength of the copper-alkyne bond with increasing deformation of the alkyne moiety from the ideal 180°. Thus going from the least strained alkyne (2c) to the most strained one (2a), the Cu-C bond lengths in the corresponding complexes decrease from 197.5 pm (3c) to 194.9 pm (3a). The C≡C-C angles increase from 145.6° (3a) over 147.4° (3b) to 151.6° (3c).

Zusammenfassung

Die gespannten Cycloheptine 2a, 2b und 2c reagieren mit Kupfer(I)—chlorid unter Bildung der zweikernigen Komplexe [CuCl(cycloheptin)]₂ 3a, 3b und 3c. Röntgenstrukturanalysen von allen drei Verbindungen 3 zeigen, daβ die Stärke der Kupfer—Alkin-Bindung zunimmt je mehr das ganze Alkinsystem vom idealen 180°-Winkel abweicht. Geht man vom am wenigsten gespannten Alkin (2c) zum gespanntesten (2a), so nehmen die Cu-C-Bindungslängen in den entsprechenden Komplexen von 197.5 pm (3c) auf 194.9 pm (3a) ab. Die C≡C-C-Winkel werden von 145.6° (3a) über 147.4° (3b) nach 151.6° (3c) hin gröβer.     

An improved algorithm for satellite-derived UV radiations

The improved algorithm surface irradiance derived from a range of satellite-based sensors (SIDES) is presented in this article. It calculates various types of surface UV intensities, such as biologically weighted or unweighted UV spectra, integrated doses or irradiance at specific wavelengths, using data from satellite instruments. These surface UV data are mainly useful for environmental impact or process studies where high accuracy or a high temporal resolution is required. In contrast to several previous studies, SIDES has been validated with spectral measurements. By this method an averaging of positive or negative deviations over the complete wavelength range is avoided. This is especially important for UV wavelengths around 300 nm where biological effectiveness is highest. The results of SIDES deviate less than 7% from ground-based observations for wavelengths between 295 and 400 nm. In contrast, the corresponding deviations of the joint research center algorithm escalate for shorter wavelengths, reaching 35% at 295 nm. This large deviation is due to an inaccurate interpolation procedure that has been detected by spectral analysis. Thus, spectral validation is demonstrated to be an appropriate tool to detect weaknesses in such an algorithm and provides information essential for improvement.