Elastic moduli of η‐Ta2N3, a tough self‐healing material,via laser ultrasonics

The elastic moduli of the dense polycrystalline oxygen‐bearing η‐Ta₂N₃, a novel hard and tough high‐pressure (HP) material, were measured using the laser ultrasonic technique. The bulk modulus was determined to be B₀ = 281(15) GPa which is only ～11% below that from HP compression measurements. Our value of the shear modulus G₀ = 123(2) GPa is below those ones predicted theoretically for model structures. The discrepancies in G₀ could be due to a substitution of an‐ ions and the formation of cation vacancies in η‐Ta₂N₃. Self‐healing behaviour of η‐Ta₂N₃ by mechanical polishing was observed and confirmed by two independent experimental methods. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Extension of the MIRS computer package for the modeling of molecular spectra: From effective to full ab initio ro-vibrational Hamiltonians in irreducible tensor form

The MIRS software for the modeling of ro-vibrational spectra of polyatomic molecules was considerably extended and improved. The original version [Nikitin AV, Champion JP, Tyuterev VlG. The MIRS computer package for modeling the rovibrational spectra of polyatomic molecules. J Quant Spectrosc Radiat Transf 2003;82:239–49.] was especially designed for separate or simultaneous treatments of complex band systems of polyatomic molecules. It was set up in the frame of effective polyad models by using algorithms based on advanced group theory algebra to take full account of symmetry properties. It has been successfully used for predictions and data fitting (positions and intensities) of numerous spectra of symmetric and spherical top molecules within the vibration extrapolation scheme. The new version offers more advanced possibilities for spectra calculations and modeling by getting rid of several previous limitations particularly for the size of polyads and the number of tensors involved. It allows dealing with overlapping polyads and includes more efficient and faster algorithms for the calculation of coefficients related to molecular symmetry properties (6C, 9C and 12C symbols for C_3v, T_d, and O_h point groups) and for better convergence of least-square-fit iterations as well. The new version is not limited to polyad effective models. It also allows direct predictions using full ab initio ro-vibrational normal mode Hamiltonians converted into the irreducible tensor form. Illustrative examples on CH₃D, CH₄, CH₃Cl, CH₃F and PH₃ are reported reflecting the present status of data available. It is written in C++ for standard PC computer operating under Windows. The full package including on-line documentation and recent data are freely available at http://www.iao.ru/mirs/mirs.htm or http://xeon.univ-reims.fr/Mirs/ or http://icb.u-bourgogne.fr/OMR/SMA/SHTDS/MIRS.html and as supplementary data from the online version of the article.     

On the asymptotic efficiency of normality tests based on the Shepp property

New invariant tests of normality based on Shepp property are constructed and studied. Test statistics are functions of a U-empirical process. The limiting distributions and large deviations of test statistics under the null-hypothesis are described. Local Bahadur efficiency of new tests is calculated under simplest parametric alternatives (shift, skew, and contamination alternatives).     

Organometallic SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators): Cobaltifens, the (cyclobutadiene)cobalt analogues of hydroxytamoxifen

The McMurry coupling of (tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt(cyclopentadienyl) ketones, (C₄Ph₄)Co[C₅H₄C(O)R], where R = Me, 3a, or Et, 3b, with a range of substituted benzophenones furnished a series of cobaltifens, organometallic analogues of tamoxifen whereby a phenyl ring has been replaced by an organo-cobalt sandwich moiety. These systems of the general formula (η⁴-C₄Ph₄)Co[η⁵-C₅H₄C(R)C(Ar)Ar′], where R = Me or Et, and Ar = Ar′ = p-C₆H₄X where X is OH, 2a and 2b, OMe, 2c and 2d, OBn, 2e and 2f, or O(CH₂)₂NMe₂, 12a and 12b, and where Ar = C₆H₄OH and Ar′ = C₆H₄O(CH₂)₂NMe₂, 2g and 2h, have been characterised by NMR spectroscopy and/or X-ray crystallography. The effect of 2a and 2b, 2g and 2h, and 12a and 12b on the growth of MCF-7 (hormone-dependent) and MDA-MB-231 (hormone-independent breast cancer cells) was studied. The dihydroxycobaltifens 2a and 2b exhibit a strong estrogenic effect on MCF-7 cells while the aminoalkyl-hydroxycobaltifens, 2g and 2h, were found to be only slightly cytotoxic on MDA-MB-231 cells (IC₅₀ = 27.5 and 17 μM); surprisingly, however, the bis-(dimethylaminoethoxy)cobaltifens, 12a and 12b were shown to be highly cytotoxic towards both cell lines (IC₅₀ = 3.8 and 2.5 μM).     

Acid-base and complexing properties of some δ-hydroxyalkenylphosphine oxides

Four new compounds, asymmetrical phosphine oxides containing 2-hydroxyphenylethenyl fragment in cis-orientation with respect to the phosphine oxide: dibutyl-, diphenyl-, dibenzyl-, and dinaphthyl-2-(2-hydroxy-5-chlorophenyl)-2-phenyl-ethenylphospnine oxides, have been studied in aqueous ethanol (80 vol % of EtOH) by means of potentiometry and spectrophotometry at 25±0.1°C, and their acid-base and complexing properties estimated.     

Effect of pressure on the structure of composite chitosan films obtained from solutions in carbonic acid

The effect of pressure in solutions of chitosan in carbonic acid with the AgNO₃ precursor on the structure of cast nanocomposite films with silver nanoparticles has been studied for the first time. The size of silver nanoparticles can be controlled by varying pressure in carbonic acid.     

Chromatographic study of adsorption from binary and ternary solutions

Adsorption of benzene, anisole, and nitrobenzene on hydroxylated silica gel from binary and ternary solutions (adsorbate--n-hexane and adsorbate--n-hexane--terahydrofuran) was studied by HPLC. The equation that describes the adsorbate retention as a function of its concentration in binary and ternary solutions was proposed. The equation makes it possible to calculate the adsorption isotherms and adsorption equilibrium constants directly from chromatograms using the retention parameters and equilibrium concentrations of the adsorbate in the mobile phase.     

Electroactive Composite Pd–Polypyrrole and Its Catalytic Properties in the Reaction of Styryl Bromide Cyanation

A composite material in the form of powder is synthesized by a redox reaction in mixed aqueous solution of Pd(NH₃)₄Cl₂ + pyrrole. The composite consists of polypyrrole globules with palladium nanoparticles uniformly distributed inside the latter. Being applied as a film on the electrode surface, both components of this material exhibit redox activity. Palladium particles inside the composite exhibit catalytic properties in cyanation of styryl bromides, a reaction widely used in fine organic synthesis.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-β-Nitroxyethyl derivatives of 1,1’-[methylenebis(oxy)]bis(triaz-1-ene 2-oxides)

Synthetic procedures towards new N-β-hydroxyethyl- and N-β-bromoethylated 1,1’-[methyl enebis(oxy)]bis(triaz-1-ene 2-oxides) were developed. N-β-Nitroxyethyl[methylenebis(oxy)]- bis(triaz-1-ene 2-oxides) were first synthesized by nitration of N-β-hydroxyethyl derivatives and nucleophilic substitution of the bromine atom of N-β-bromoethyl derivatives. The first representative of a new class of energetic compounds, namely, (1-nitroxymethoxy)triaz-1-ene 2-oxide, was synthesized.