New details concerning the reactions of nitric oxide with vanadium tetrachloride

The slow addition of NO to a CCl(4) solution of VCl(4) reproducibly forms the known polymer [V(NO)(3)Cl(2)](n)() as a dark brown powder. Treatment of a CH(2)Cl(2) suspension of [V(NO)(3)Cl(2)](n)() with excess THF generates mer-(THF)(3)V(NO)Cl(2) (1) which can be isolated as an orange crystalline material in 55% yield. The reaction of 1 with excess MeCN or 1 equiv of trimpsi (trimpsi = (t)BuSi(CH(2)PMe(2))(3)) provides yellow-orange (MeCN)(3)V(NO)Cl(2)xMeCN (2xMeCN) and yellow (trimpsi)V(NO)Cl(2) (3), respectively. A black, crystalline complex formulated as [NO][VCl(5)] (4) is formed by the slow addition of NO to neat VCl(4) or by the reaction of excess ClNO with neat VCl(4). Complex 4 is extremely air- and moisture-sensitive, and IR spectroscopy suggests that in solutions and in the gas phase it dissociates back into VCl(4) and ClNO. Reaction of 4 with excess [NEt(3)(CH(2)Ph)]Cl generates [NEt(3)(CH(2)Ph)](2)[VCl(6)]x2CH(2)Cl(2) (5x2CH(2)Cl(2)), which can be isolated as deep-red crystals in 51% yield. All new complexes have been characterized by conventional spectroscopic methods, and the solid-state molecular structures of 1, 2xMeCN, and 5x2CH(2)Cl(2) have been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.     

Apparent molal volumes of aqueous solutions of bis-tetraalkylammonium salts at 25°C: Methylene-group contribution to the limiting molal volume

Densities of aqueous solutions of a series of polymethonium chloride and bromide salts (CH₃)₃–N–(CH₂)_n–N–(CH₃)₃X₂ have been measured at 25°C. Apparent molal volumes have been calculated, and methylene-group contributions to the limiting apparent molal volumes °_v have been estimated. Constant values of the methylene-group contribution of 16.5 and 17.0 cm³-mole^–1 were obtained for the bromide and chloride salts, respectively. These values are consistent with methylene-group contributions reported for other series of organic electrolytes.     

On the use of two-dimensional potential surface cross sections in the discussion of vibronic spectra of transition metal complexes

For purposes of interpreting broad band electronic spectra of complexes, the 3N-5 dimensional potential energy hypersurface may be reduced substantially. Consideration of the geometry of the orbital transition involved allows selection of an appropriate cross section, depending on which features should be represented. In addition, the orbital transition geometry predicts which vibrational modes will contribute significantly to the width of the spectrum. In the particular case of the first and second spin-allowed bands in d³ and d⁶ complexes, α_1g and ?_g modes are responsible for the band width.     

Rapid computer simulation of ESR spectra. Conventional ESR of axially symmetric 14N-nitroxide spin labels

A computer algorithm is presented for the simulation of the effect of molecular tumbling on ESR spectra, and is applied to simulation of the conventional ESR signal (the absorption signal detected at the first harmonic of the modulation frequency and in-phase with the modulation frequency, in the limit of low microwave and modulation power) of axially symmetric ¹⁴N-nitroxide spin labels. The algorithm is extremely fast and is economical in terms of computer memory requirements.     

A diatropic ring current in a fluorofullerene trannulene

Ipsocentric current-density maps for a fluorofullerene derivative, C60F15H3, modelling the addition pattern of the experimentally characterised C60F15[CBr(CO2Et)2]3 which contains an [18]trans-annulene system, reveal a diamagnetic ring current dominated by the contribution of the four HOMO electrons, as in a classical (4n + 2) aromatic annulene.     

DNA TURNOVER IN BUFFER-HELD ESCHERICHIA COLI AND ITS EFFECT ON REPAIR OF UV DAMAGE

Abstract— Continuous DNA degradation and resynthesis, without a net change in cellular DNA content, were observed in buffer-held, non-irradiated E. coli B/r. This constant DNA turnover probably involves most of the genome and reflects random sites of DNA repair due to the polA-dependent excision-resynthesis repair pathway. Under these non-growth conditions, it appears that at any given time there is a minimum of one repair site per 6.5 × 10⁶ daltons DNA, each of which is at least 160 nucleotides long.
While the amount of DNA degradation is not influenced by prior exposure to UV radiation, the synthetic activity decreases with increasing UV fluence. We suggest that when sites of DNA turnover occur opposite to cyclobutyl dipyrimidines in UV-irradiated cells, repair of the latter damage can be prevented. This implies that both beneficial and deleterious processes take place in irradiated buffer-held cells, and that cell survival depends on the delicate balance between DNA turnover and repair of UV-damage. Based on these findings, we propose a model to explain the limited repair observed during post-irradiation liquid-holding and to account for the large difference in cell survival between irradiation at low fluence rates (fluence-rate dependent recovery) and at high fluence rates followed by liquid-holding (liquid-holding recovery).     

Low-Cost Potentiometric Sensor for Chloride Measurement in Continuous Industrial Process Control

Recently, the new updates in legislation about drinking water control and human health have increased the demand for novel electrochemical low-cost sensors, such as potentiometric ones. Nowadays, the determination of chloride ion in aqueous solutions has attracted great attention in several fields, from industrial processes to drinking water control. Indeed, chloride plays a crucial role in corrosion, also influencing the final taste of beverages, especially coffee. The main goal is to obtain devices suitable for continuous and real-time analysis. For these reasons, we investigated the possibility to develop an easy, low-cost potentiometric chloride sensor, able to perform analysis in aqueous mediums for long immersion time and reducing the need of periodic calibration. We realized a chloride ion selective electrode made of Ag/AgCl sintered pellet and we tested its response in model solutions compatible with drinking water. The sensor was able to produce a stable, reproducible, and accurate quantification of chloride in 900 s, without the need for a preliminary calibration test. This opens the route to potential applications of this sensor in continuous, in situ, and real time measurement of chloride ions in industrial processes, with a reduced need for periodic maintenance.     

A compact UHV package for microfabricated ion-trap arrays with direct electronic air-side access

We have demonstrated a new apparatus for operating microfabricated ion-trap arrays in a compact ultra-high-vacuum setup with excellent optical and electrical access. The approach uses conventional components, materials and techniques in a unique fashion. The microtrap chip is mounted on a modified ceramic leadless chip carrier, the conductors of which serve as the vacuum feedthrough. The chip carrier is indium-sealed to stainless-steel components to form vacuum seals, resulting in short electrical path lengths of ≤20 mm from the trap electrodes under vacuum to air side. The feedthrough contains conductors for the radio-frequency trap drive, as well as 42 conductors for DC electrodes. Vacuum pressures of ～1 × 10^?11 mbar are achieved, and ions have been confined and laser cooled in a microtrap chip. The apparatus enables accurate measurements of radio-frequency voltage amplitudes on the trap electrodes, yielding an excellent agreement between measured and modelled trap efficiencies. This feature is of significant use in establishing initial operation of new devices. The principle of the connectivity scheme presented here is applicable to larger ceramic chip carriers containing many more conductors.