Crystal structure of a new small-pore zirconosilicate Na2ZrSi2O7·H2O and its relation to stoichiometrically and topologically similar compounds

The small-pore zirconosilicate Na₂ZrSi₂O₇·H₂O crystallizes in monoclinic system with space group C2/c, a = 5.4715(4); b = 9.4111(6); c = 13.0969(8) Å, β = 92.851(7)°. Its framework consists of layers built of ZrO₆ octahedra and SiO₄ tetrahedra and forming condensed [Si₂O₇] pyrogroups by connection. The sodium ions and water molecules are placed in channels set up between the layers. The stoichiometric and structural similarities of the studied phase with anhydrous compounds having general chemical formula A₂₍₃₎MT₂O₇ (A = Na,K; M = Zr,Lu,Sc; T = Si,Ge) are discussed. The topological relationship of their structures is interpreted in the light of spatial combination of silicon and zirconium polyhedra as basic building units into larger composite building units and their three-dimensional arrangement.     

Effect of the Structure of 1- and 3-Methylpyrimidin-4-ones on the Rate of Nucleophilic Substitution of the 2-Methylsylfanyl Group

Rate constants for substitution of the 2-methylsulfanyl group in 1- and 3-methyl-2-methylsulfanyl-pyrimidin-4-ones and their 5-fluoro analogs were measured in the reaction with butylamine, alkaline hydrolysis, and methanolysis. The rate of substitution in 1-methyl isomers having a zwitterionic structure is greater by a factor of ~2 than the rate of substitution in 3-methyl isomers with conjugated double bonds in the ring. The presence of a fluorine atom in position 5 accelerates nucleophilic substitution in 1-methyl isomers, while 5-fluoro-3-methyl-2-methylsulfanylpyrimidin-4-ones react at a lower rate than their 5-unsubstituted analogs. According to the NMR data, the reactions involve formation of a tetrahedral intermediate. Anchimeric effect of the methyl group on N¹ hampersattack by basic reagent on the C⁶atom.     

NiH3IO6 · 6H2O — Kristallstruktur und Schwingungsspektren

NiH₃IO₆ · 6 H₂O — Crystal Structures and Vibrational Spectra The crystal structure of NiH₃IO₆ · 6 H₂O has been determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction (Pc, Z = 2, a = 516.74(9), b = 981.5(2), c = 1052.5(2) pm, β = 116.496(8)°) on the basis of 4169 unique reflections (R = 1.96%). The structure is built up of distorted Ni(H₂O)₆²⁺ and H₃IO₆^2? octahedra linked by hydrogen bonding. IR and Raman spectra of both the title compound and isostructural MgH₃IO₆ · 6 H₂O as well as of deuterated specimens are given. There are up to 14 different OH(OD) modes in the spectra of isotopically dilute samples due to the 15 different hydrogen positions of the structure. The internal modes of the meridional H₃IO₆^2? ions (pseudo C_2v symmetry) are discussed with respect to that double T-shaped entity, which gives rise to only two instead of 3I? O, I? O(H), and OH stretches in the IR and Raman spectra, i.e. the same as for facial (C_3v) structured ions.     

Influence of nutrient medium composition on in vitro growth, polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity of Alchemilla mollis

Alchemilla mollis (Buser) Rothm. (Rosaceae) is a high-mountain medicinal plant growing in the Balkan Peninsula, with only one population in Bulgaria. Alchemilla plants (Lady's mantle) are commonly used in traditional medicine for treatment of many gynecological diseases. The commercial drugs "Herba Alchemillae" induce a rapid regeneration of skin epithelium and have styptic and anti-inflammatory actions. Because of the high content of phenolic compounds (tannins and flavonoids) and the ecological plasticity of the species, field cultivation or in vitro biomass production of A. mollis are possible alternatives to its collection from nature. Four MS based nutrient media differing in the concentration of the minerals and supplemented with alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and benzylaminopurine (BAP) were tested in order to examine their influence on the shoot multiplication effectiveness and the antioxidant activity of A. mollis, and also the possible relation between these parameters under the conditions of in vitro culture. The cultures grown for two months on these media differed significantly in their multiplication rates (p < 0.001), as well as in their morphological features--height, leaf color and root development. Methanol extracts of in vitro cultivated and ex vitro adapted and acclimated on Vitosha Mt. (1500 m a. s. l.) plants were analyzed for tannin and flavonoid content and for free radical scavenging activity. The contents of flavonoids and tannins in the in vitro cultures of A. mollis cultivated on the four tested media differed significantly (p < 0.05). The highest flavonoid content was found in the shoots cultivated on the control MS medium, as well as in the ex vitro adapted plants. The antioxidant activity of the in vitro cultures correlated positively with the concentrations of the PGRs in the respective media, and the ex vitro adapted plants had the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 13.1 +/- 1.9 microg/mL) commensurable with that of the commercial antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) used as a positive control, with an IC50 of 12.65 microg/mL.     

Precracking and interfacial delamination in a bi-material structure: Static and dynamic loadings

The behavior of a precracked bi-material structure interface under given static and dynamic axial loading is an interest object in the present paper.Firstly,it is shown that the shear-lag model is a proper tool to analyze a delamination process in a precracked bi-material structure undergoing static loading.Secondly,the"shear-lag model"is applied to the structure under dynamic loading.To solve the problem for an interface delamination of the structure and to determine the debond length along the interface,our own 2D boundary element method(BEM)code is proposed in the case of static loading,and the shear-lag model together with the Laplace transforms and half-analytical calculations are used in the case of dynamic loading.The interface layer is assumed as a very thin plate compared with the other two.The parametric(geometric and elastic)analysis of the debond length and interface shear stress is done. The results from the 2D BEM code proved the validity of analytical solutions to the shear-lag model.In the dynamic case,the influence of loading characteristics,i.e.,frequencies and amplitude fluctuations on the shear stress and the value of debond length for an interval of time,is discussed. The analysis of the obtained results is illustrated by an example of the modern ceramic-metal composite,namely cermet, and depicted in figures.     

Physical processes in azobenzene polymers on irradiation with polarized light

Azobenzenes can serve as model compounds for the study of transcis isomerization in more complex molecules. We have performed time-resolved spectroscopy in solutions containing free azobenzene chromophores and diols with a view to obtaining the energy levels and lifetimes of the excited states. A transition route based on experimental results for the theoretically calculated energy level scheme is proposed. Physical observations of surface relief in thin films of azobenzene polymers when irradiated with polarized light are reported. These include two beam polarization holographic observations and single beam transmission measurements through a mask, followed by atomic force microscope and profiler investigations. It is concluded that none of the prevalent theories can explain all the observed facts.