Spin forbidden chemical reactions of transition metal compounds. New ideas and new computational challenges

Many reactions of transition metal compounds involve a change in spin. These reactions may proceed faster, slower--or at the same rate as--otherwise equivalent processes in which spin is conserved. For example, ligand substitution in [CpMo(Cl)2(PR3)2] is faster than expected, whereas addition of dinitrogen to [Cp*Mo(Cl)(PMe3)2] is slow. Spin-forbidden oxidative addition of ethylene to [Cp*Ir(PMe3)] occurs competitively with ligand association. To explain these observations, we discuss the shape of the different potential energy surfaces (PESs) involved, and the energy of the minimum energy crossing points (MECPs) between them. This computational approach is of great help in understanding the mechanisms of spin-forbidden reactions, provided that accurate calculations can be used to predict the relevant PESs. Density functional theory, especially using gradient-corrected and hybrid functionals, performs reasonably well for the difficult problem of predicting the energy splitting between different spin states of transition metal complexes, although careful calibration is needed.     

Influence of composition on the thermal behaviour of chemically deposited nickel-phosphorus alloys

The thermal behaviour of a series of Ni-P alloys obtained by electroless plating from chloride-glycollate solutions at different pH values was studied by means of DSC analysis and X-ray diffraction.Alloys of composition up to Ni₇₈P₂₂ are microcrystalline or partially amorphous, depending on the P content; on heating up to 773 K, the amorphous phase is transformed into an equilibrium mixture of Ni and Ni₃P crystals.Most of the alloys crystallize in two exothermic stages, these occurring ever closer to each other as the P concentration approaches the eutectic value; the alloys with near-eutectic compositions are the only ones crystallizing in one stage.The first thermal effect in hypo-eutectic alloys is due to the separation of Ni crystallites from the primary amorphous phase and/or to the growth of pre-existing solid-solution crystals; the second one is due to the crystallization of intermediate amorphous phase into Ni₃P plus Ni. The first stage of crystallization in hyper-eutectic alloys corresponds to the formation of randomly-oriented Ni₃P crystals, while in the second one the residual amorphous phase yields the eutectic mixture.

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Zusammenfassung Das thermische Verhalten einer Reihe von durch stromlose Platierung mit Chlorid-Clykollat-Lösungen bei verschiedenen pH-Werten erhaltenen Ni-P-Legierungen wurde mittels DSC und Röntgendiffraktion untersucht. Legierungen mit einer Zusammensetzung bis Ni₇₈P₂₂ sind abhängig vom P-Gehalt, kristallin oder teilweise amorph. Beim Erhitzen auf 773 K wird die amorphe Phase in ein Gleichgewichtsgemisch von Ni- und Ni₃P-Kristallen überführt. Die meisten Legierungen kristallisieren in zwei exothermen Schritten, die sich einander umso mehr nähern, je mehr sich die P-Konzentration dem eutektischen Wert nähert. Als einzige kristallisieren die in der Zusammensetzung dem Eutektikum nahekommenden Legierungen in einem Schritt. Bei hypoeutektischen Legierungen ist der erste thermische Effekt der Ausscheidung von Ni-Kristallen aus der primären amorphen Phase und/oder dem Wachstum von bereits in der festen Lösung vorliegenden Kristallen, der zweite der Kristallization von Ni₃P und Ni aus der intermediären amorphen Phase zuzuschreiben. Bei hypereutektischen Legierungen entspricht der erste Schritt der Kristallisation der Bildung von random-orientierten Ni₃P-Kristallen, während des zweiten wird dagegen die verbleibende amorphe Phase in das eutektische Gemisch überführt.

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Ni-P , - pH. Ni₇₈P₂₂ , , . 773 Ni Ni₃P . , . . - . Ni₃P . - Ni₃P, .

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The authors wish to thank Professor P. Lanza and Mr. A. Garulli for their valuable assistance in the analytical studies.     

Identification of Human Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor by a Pharmacophore-Based Virtual Screening Study

Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (hDHODH) is an enzyme belonging to a flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-dependent family involved in de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis, a key biological pathway for highly proliferating cancer cells and pathogens. In fact, hDHODH proved to be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia, multiple myeloma, and viral and bacterial infections; therefore, the identification of novel hDHODH ligands represents a hot topic in medicinal chemistry. In this work, we reported a virtual screening study for the identification of new promising hDHODH inhibitors. A pharmacophore-based approach combined with a consensus docking analysis and molecular dynamics simulations was applied to screen a large database of commercial compounds. The whole virtual screening protocol allowed for the identification of a novel compound that is endowed with promising inhibitory activity against hDHODH and is structurally different from known ligands. These results validated the reliability of the in silico workflow and provided a valuable starting point for hit-to-lead and future lead optimization studies aimed at the development of new potent hDHODH inhibitors.     

Implementation of Good Manufacturing Practice in small-volume production of [18F]FDG: a case report of performance measurements

Positron Emission Tomography has become increasingly relevant in clinical practice for diagnostic purposes. A major concern regarding radiopharmaceuticals in general is how quality requirements can be guaranteed in nuclear medicine departments or in cases where marketing authorization has been granted. This article focuses on issues related to the small-volume preparation of radiopharmaceuticals by a Research Institute after Good Manufacturing Practice implementation.     

Fragmentation of the two-phonon γ-vibration in166Er

Two-phonon γ-vibrational states in¹⁶⁶Er have been populated using Coulomb excitation. The K^π=4⁺ component of the vibration appears to be fragmented over several states, whereas only one K^π=0⁺ state is observed.     

Confinement loss spectral behavior in hollow-core Bragg fibers

The influence of each cross-section geometric parameter on hollow-core Bragg fiber guiding properties has been numerically investigated. Fabricated fibers have been modeled, giving insight into the spectral behavior of the confinement loss. It has been verified that, by changing the amount of silica and air in the fiber cladding, it is possible to change the reflection conditions undergone by the field within the core, thus shifting the confinement loss spectrum.     

Analysis of concentration patterns in volcanic rocks: Insights into dynamics of highly explosive volcanic eruptions

In this contribution we present new data resulting from the analysis of concentration patterns of mixed juvenile fragments ejected by a highly explosive volcanic eruption that occurred on Salina Island (Aeolian Islands, Italy) and our aim is to identify the fluid-dynamic regime characterizing the magma mixing process. Concentration patterns are studied by calculating the power spectrum of concentration variability along transects crossing the magma mixing structures. Results indicate that the slope of power spectrum has an average value of about −5/3, according to Kolmogorov law of turbulence, and suggest that the magma mixing process, in the studied conditions, can be approximated by considering the passive scalar mixing hypothesis in homogeneous isotropic turbulent flow. These results represent a first step towards a better understanding of magma mixing processes associated to highly explosive volcanic eruptions and this first step is taken by studying concentration patterns in volcanic rocks by coupling petrological and non-linear dynamics methods.     

Polarization splitter based on a square-lattice photonic-crystal fiber

A three-core polarization splitter based on a square-lattice photonic-crystal fiber is presented. The component separates the input field into two orthogonally polarized beams that are coupled to the horizontal and vertical output ports. The splitter has been designed through modal and beam propagation analysis by employing high-performance codes based on the finite-element method. Results obtained for a device length of 20 mm show extinction ratios as low as -23 dB with bandwidths as great as 90 nm.     

Low-Energy Kaon�CNucleon/Nuclei Interaction Studies at DA��NE (SIDDHARTA and AMADEUS Experiments)

The DA??NE electron?Cpositron collider at the Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati of INFN has made available a unique quality low-energy negative kaons ??beam??. The SIDDHARTA experiment used this beam to perform unprecedented precision measurements on kaonic atoms, while the AMADEUS experiment plans to perform in the coming years precision measurements on kaon?Cnuclei interactions at low-energies, in particular to study the kaonic nuclei. The two experiments are briefly presented in this paper.