Silver(I) complexes ofN-ethylthiourea. An infrared study

Summary The following silver(I) complexes ofN-ethylthiourea, L, have been isolated in the solid state: AgLX (X = Cl, Br, ClO₄, BF₄, and CF₃CO₂), Ag₂L₃X₂ (X=ClO₄, BF₄ and CF₃CO₂), AgL₂ClO₄, AgL₃X (X = Cl, Br, I, ClO₄, BF₄ and CF₃CO₂). The decrease of the(CS) and (SCN₂) frequencies in the i.r. spectra of the complexes indicates S-coordination of the ligands. The(AgS) frequencies lie in the 267–252 cm^–1 range for terminal and 240-210 cm^–1 range for bridged or long Ag-S bonds. The following structures may be proposed for the complexes. AgLX (X = Cl and Br), polymeric trigonal coordination with bridging halide ions; Ag₂L₃A₂ (A = ClO₄ and BF₄), polymeric trigonal coordination with three bridging sulphur atoms; AgL₂ClO₄, polymeric tetrahedral coordination with four bridging sulphur atoms; AgL₃A (A = ClO₄ and BF₄), dimeric tetrahedral coordination with two terminal and two bridging sulphur atoms; AgLO₂CCF₃ and Ag₂L₃(O₂CCF₃)₂, trigonal and/or tetrahedral coordination with terminal sulphur bonds and bridging CO₂ groups; AgL₃O₂CCF₃, tetrahedral coordination with terminal sulphur bonds and a monodentate CO₂ group. In the trifluoroacetato complexes, a(AgO) band is observed at 185–209 cm^–1. The AgL₃X complexes (X = Cl, Br and I) show two(AgX) and two(AgS) bands with rather low frequencies corresponding to long metal-ligand bond distances.     

Microwave-based structure and four-dimensional morphed intermolecular potential for HI-CO(2)

(Microwave spectra of the four isotopologue/isotopomers, HI-(12)C(16)O(2), HI-(12)C(18)O(2), HI-(12)C(18)O(16)O, and HI-(12)C(16)O(18)O, have been recorded using pulsed-nozzle Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. In the last two isotopomers, the heavy oxygen atom tilted toward and away from the HI moiety, respectively. Only b-type Ka = 1 <-- 0 transitions were observed. Spectral analysis provided molecular parameters including rotational, centrifugal distortion, and quadrupole constants for each isotopomer. Then, a four-dimensional intermolecular energy surface of a HI-CO2 complex was generated, morphing the results of ab initio calculations to reproduce the experimental data. The morphed potential of HI-(12)C(16)O(2) had two equivalent global minima with a well depth of 457(14) cm(-1) characterized by a planar quasi-T-shaped structure with the hydrogen atom tilted toward the CO2 moiety, separated by a barrier of 181(17) cm(-1). Also, a secondary minimum is present with a well depth of 405(14) cm(-1) with a planar quasi-T-shaped structure with the hydrogen atom tilted away from the CO2 moiety. The ground state structure of HI-(12)C(16)O(2) was determined to have a planar quasi-T-shaped geometry with R = 3.7717(1) A, thetaOCI = 82.30(1) degrees , thetaCIH = 71.55(1) degrees . The morphed potential obtained is now available for future studies of the dynamics of photoinitiated reactions of this complex.     

Continuous elastic beams with unilateral rigid supports

Summary We analyze the problem of the continuous elastic beam on unilateral rigid supports, by means of a mathematical model based on classical derivatives.

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Sommario Si esegue una analisi qualitativa del problema dell'equilibrio elastico della trave continua su appoggi rigidi unilaterali, mediante un modello matematico proposto in termini classici.

     

Synthesis of novel cyano-cyclitols and their stereoselective biotransformation catalyzed by Rhodococcus erythropolis A4

A variety of novel cyano-cyclitols possessing complex stereochemistry have been synthesized. These compounds were subjected to the biocatalyzed hydrolysis of their nitrile groups. The bacterial strain Rhodococcus erythropolis A4, expressing a nitrile hydratase/amidase bienzymatic system, was able to recognize (1R,2S,3S,4R)/(1S,2R,3R,4S)-1-cyano-2,3,4-trihydroxy-cyclohex-5-ene and trans-3-cyanocyclohexa-3,5-diene-1,2-diol, and catalyze their transformations into the corresponding amides and acids. The kinetic and stereochemical trends of these biotransformations, a rare example of the enantiorecognition of a rigid bulky aliphatic substrate, are discussed.     

Unusual sulfated marine steroids from the ophiuroid ophioderma longicaudum

Polar extracts of the ophiuroid Ophioderma longicaudun contain unusual sterol sulfates together with a mixture of common 3β-hydroxysterol sulfates. The more polar compound has been shown to be 5β-cholestane-3, 4,11β,12β,21-pentol 3,21-disulfate 1. A second group of unusual compounds are disulfated 3,21-dihydroxysteroids. After solvolysis to remove the sulfate groups they have been identified as : (20R)-5-cholestane-3, 21-diol 4a, (20R)-cholest-5-ene-3,21-diol 5a, (20R22E)-cholest-5,22-diene-3,21-diol 6a and (20R)-24-methylcholest-5,24(28)-diene-3,21-diol 7a. Analysis of the “non-sulfated” sterol fractions has shown the presence of common 3β-hydroxy sterols.     

Twofold light and magnetic responsive behavior in nanoparticle-lyotropic liquid crystal systems

We demonstrate the dual magnetic and light responsive nature of hybrid mesophases constituted by Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles dispersed in lipid-based lyotropic liquid crystals (LC). When subjected to an external magnetic field in the mesophase isotropic state, the nanoparticles aggregate and orient along the magnetic field direction, and upon cooling the system through the disorder-order transition the aggregates drive the orientation of the mesophase via heterogeneous nucleation; furthermore, order-disorder transitions in the lipidic mesophase can be triggered by Fe(3)O(4)-induced photothermal effect under visible light exposure. Both the orientational order and the photothermal effect of the hybrid mesophase can be tuned by the nanoparticle content, offering a general route for controlled assembly of complex fluids with combined magnetic and light responsiveness.     

Rapid analysis of stilbenes and derivatives from downy mildew-infected grapevine leaves by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure photoionisation mass spectrometry

Resveratrol, trans-epsilon-viniferin and trans-delta-viniferin are the major stilbenes induced in downy mildew infected grapevine leaves. In addition, nine minor polyphenolic compounds, described as stilbenes derivatives, have been separated and detected among known stilbenes after a methanolic microextraction of small pieces (1-2 mg) from infected grapevine leaves with a rapid, qualitative and optimized HPLC method coupled to mass spectrometry using atmospheric pressure photoionisation (APPI-MS(n)). The characterization of unknown stilbenic derivatives as six resveratrol dimers, two dimethylated resveratrol dimers and a resveratrol trimer are reported. Therefore, structures have been proposed for the dimethylated resveratrol dimers. Use of an easy sample treatment and the LC-APPI-MS(n) method results in spectral data of these minor naturally occurring viniferin analogues.     

Ultrasound-mediated structural changes in cells revealed by FTIR spectroscopy: a contribution to the optimization of gene and drug delivery

Ultrasound effects on biological samples are gaining a growing interest concerning in particular, the intracellular delivery of drugs and genes in a safe and in a efficient way. Future progress in this field will require a better understanding of how ultrasound and acoustic cavitation affect the biological system properties. The morphological changes of cells due to ultrasound (US) exposure have been extensively studied, while little attention has been given to the cells structural changes. We have exposed two different cell lines to 1 MHz frequency ultrasound currently used in therapy, Jurkat T-lymphocytes and NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, both employed as models respectively in the apoptosis and in the gene therapy studies. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy was used as probe to reveal the structural changes in particular molecular groups belonging to the main biological systems. The genotoxic damage of cells exposed to ultrasound was ascertained by the Cytokinesis-Block Micronucleus (CBMN) assay. The FTIR spectroscopy results, combined with multivariate statistical analysis, regarding all cellular components (lipids, proteins, nucleic acids) of the two cell lines, show that Jurkat cells are more sensitive to therapeutic ultrasound in the lipid and protein regions, whereas the NIH-3T3 cells are more sensitive in the nucleic acids region; a meaningful genotoxic effect is present in both cell lines only for long sonication times while in the Jurkat cells also a significant cytotoxic effect is revealed for long times of exposure to ultrasound.