Comparison of Fe-AlPILC and Fe-ZSM-5 catalysts used for degradation of methomyl

Catalytic performances of Fe-AlPILC (14 wt.% Fe) and Fe-ZSM-5 (5 wt.% Fe) catalysts are compared in the wet oxidative degradation of methomyl. Fe-ZSM-5 exhibits outstanding whereas Fe-AlPILC shows only mediocre activity. Positions of iron are analysed in the two catalysts by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Iron is in highly dispersed state in Fe-AlPILC whereas in the other case a hematite/ZSM-5 composite is formed. The catalytic activity is attributed to iron located and stabilized in ionic dispersion.     

Comparative evolved gas analytical and structural study on trans-diammine-bis(nitrito)-palladium(II) and platinum(II) by TG/DTA–MS, TG–FTIR, and single crystal X-ray diffraction

Detailed study on identification and thermal decomposition of solid title compounds 1 and 2 crystallized from the used aqueous ammonia solutions of Pd(NH₃)₂(NO₂)₂ and Pt(NH₃)₂(NO₂)₂, has been carried out. Beyond the composition of complexes 1 and 2, their trans square planar configuration have already been recognized by reference IR spectra and powder XRD patterns, nevertheless their exact molecular and crystal structure as of trans-Pd(NH₃)₂(NO₂)₂ (1, Pd-NN) and trans-Pt(NH₃)₂(NO₂)₂ (2, Pt-NN) has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (R = 0.0515 and 0.0341), respectively. Despite their compositional and configuration analogy, they crystallize in different crystal systems and space groups. The crystals of 1 (Pd-NN) are triclinic (space group No. 2, P-1, a = 5.003(1) Å, b = 5.419(1) Å, c = 6.317(1) Å, α = 91.34(2)°, β = 111.890(10)°, γ = 100.380(10)°), while those of 2 (Pt-NN) are monoclinic (space group No. 5, C2, a = 7.4235(16) Å, b = 9.130(2) Å, c = 4.4847(10) Å, β = 99.405(7)°).The pyrolytic processes of 1 and 2 (which might be sensitive to shock and heat) have been followed by simultaneous thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), while the evolved gaseous species have been traced in situ by online coupled TG/DTA–EGA–MS and TG–EGA–FTIR instruments in He and air. Pd and Pt powders, forming as final solid products in single step, are captured and checked by TG and XRD. Whilst the unified evolved gas analyses report evolution of N₂, H₂O, NH₃, N₂O, NO, and NO₂ gases as gaseous product components in the exothermic decomposition of both trans-Pd(NH₃)₂(NO₂)₂ (1) and trans-Pt(NH₃)₂(NO₂)₂ (2) starting from ca. 230 and 220 °C, in sealed crucibles with a pinhole on the top, respectively.     

Large antipodal families

A family {A _i | i ∈ I} of sets in ℝ ^d is antipodal if for any distinct i, j ∈ I and any p ∈ A _i , q ∈ A _j , there is a linear functional ϕ:ℝ ^d → ℝ such that ϕ(p) ≠ ϕ(q) and ϕ(p) ≤ ϕ(r) ≤ ϕ(q) for all r ∈ ∪ _i∈I A _i . We study the existence of antipodal families of large finite or infinite sets in ℝ³. The research was supported by the Hungarian-South African Intergovernmental Scientific and Technological Cooperation Programme, NKTH Grant no. ZA-21/2006 and South African National Research Foundation Grant no. UID 61853, as well as Hungarian National Foundation for Scientific Research Grants no. NK 67867, no. T47102, and no. K72537.     

Qualitative behaviour of a ratio-dependent predator–prey system

This paper deals with the qualitative properties of an autonomous system of differential equations, modeling ratio-dependent predator–prey interactions.This model differs from traditional ratio dependent models essentially in the predator mortality term, the death rate of the predator is not constant but instead increases when there is overcrowding.We incorporate delay(s) into the system. The most important observation is that as the delay(s) is (are) increased the originally asymptotic stable interior equilibrium loses its stability. Furthermore at a certain critical value a Hopf bifurcation takes place: small amplitude periodic solutions arise.     

The Synthesis of 3‐Phosphabicyclo[3.1.0]‐ hexane 3‐Oxides and 1,2‐Dihydrophosphinine 1‐Oxides with Lipophilic P‐Alkoxy Substituents by Ring Enlargement

A series of 1‐alkoxy‐3‐phospholene 1‐oxides available from the microwave‐assisted direct esterification of 1‐hydroxy‐3‐phospholene oxide was converted to the two diastereomers of 6,6‐dichloro‐3‐phosphabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane 3‐oxides by the addition of dichlorocarbene to the double bond. Thermolysis of the 3‐phospholene oxide–dichlorocarbene adducts afforded the corresponding 1,2‐dihydrophosphinine 1‐oxides as a ca. 3:1 mixture of two double bond isomers. Relative stability of the isomers of the intermediates and the products and their stereostructures were evaluated by B3LYP/6‐31G(d,p) calculations.     

Histidine-rich branched peptides as Cu(II) and Zn(II) chelators with potential therapeutic application in Alzheimer's disease

Two histidine-rich branched peptides with one lysine as a branching unit have been designed and synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis. Their complex formation with Cu(II) and Zn(II) as well as their ability to attenuate the metal-ion induced amyloid aggregation has been characterized. Both peptides can keep Cu(II) and Zn(II) in complexed forms at pH 7.4 and can bind two equivalents of metal ions in solutions with excess metal. The stoichiometry, stability and structure of the complexes formed have been determined by pH potentiometry, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, circular dichroism, EPR and NMR spectroscopy and ESI-MS. Both mono- and bimetallic species have been detected over the whole pH range studied. The basic binding mode is either a tridentate {N(amino), N(amide), N(im)} or a histamine-type of coordination which is complemented by the binding of far imidazole or amino groups leading to macrochelate formation. The peptides were able to prevent Cu(II)-induced Aβ(1-40) aggregation but could not effectively compete for Zn(II) in vitro. Our results suggest that branched peptides containing potential metal-binding sites may be suitable metal chelators for reducing the risk of amyloid plaque formation in Alzheimer's disease.