Single-molecule elasticity measurements of the onset of excluded volume in poly(ethylene glycol)

A polymer must reach a certain size to exhibit significant excluded-volume interactions and adopt a swollen random-walk configuration. We show that single-molecule measurements can sense the onset of swelling by modulating the effective chain size with force: as the force is reduced from a large value, the polymer is first highly aligned, then a Gaussian coil, then finally a swollen chain, with each regime exhibiting a distinct elasticity. We use this approach to quantify the structural parameters of poly(ethylene glycol) and show that they vary in the expected manner with changes in solvent.     

Angular and radial mode analyzer for optical beams

We describe an approach to determining both the angular and the radial modal content of a scalar optical beam in terms of optical angular momentum modes. A modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer that incorporates a spatial rotator to determine the angular modes and an optical realization of the fractional Hankel transform (fHT) to determine the radial modes is analyzed. Varying the rotation angle and the order of the fHT produces a two-dimensional (2D) interferogram from which we extract the modal coefficients by simple 2D Fourier analysis.     

Radioprotective and Antitumor Activity of Some Novel Amino Acids and Imidazoles Containing Thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine Moiety

A variety of novel thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives, comprising amino acids 3a–l, imidazothieno-pyrimidines 4A, 4b–h, and 7, were obtained via the reaction of 4-chloro-5,6-dimethylthieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine 1 with a variety of reagents. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by microanalysis, IR, ¹H NMR, and mass spectrometry. Some of the obtained compounds showed promising radioprotective and antitumor activities.     

The optical properties of CdxZn1−xS thin films on glass substrate prepared by spray pyrolysis method

A series of Cd_xZn_1−xS thin films have been deposited on glass substrates using spray pyrolysis technique. The crystallinity and microstructure of Cd_xZn_1−xS thin films have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Based on the results of Hall measurements, the films obtained were an n-type semiconductor. The X-ray data analysis of Cd_xZn_1−xS thin films showed that the grain size of the Cd_xZn_1−xS increased with increase in Cd composition. It is observed that the band gap increases as the Cd composition decreases. The results also showed a blue shift of absorption edge of optical transmission spectra is increases as Zn ratio increases. The effects of Cd composition on the structural and optical properties of Cd_xZn_1−xS thin films were related to their grain size, stress and carrier concentration.     

Photolysis of Some N‐Arylbenzamidoximes in Acetonitrile

The photolysis of five N‐arylbenzamidoxime derivatives I‐V in dry acetonitrile gives rise to anilides 8 and benzimidazoles 1 as the major products in addition to benzonitrile 4 , arylamines 5 , benzoic acid 6 , and 2‐phenyl benzoxazoles 7 . In the presence of naphthalene, I gave α‐ and β‐naphthols 2 and 3 beside the previous products. The isolated products have been interpreted in the terms of a free radical mechanism involving the homolysis of N‐O and/or C‐N bonds. This photodegradation process can be considered as an alternative method for the synthesis of anilide, benzimidazole and benzoxazole derivatives in addition to other organic compounds.     

Monitoring of thermal behavior and decomposition products of soybean oil

The thermal degradation and corresponding decomposition products of fresh and heat-treated soybean oil were investigated by synchronous thermal analyzer combined with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and quadrupole mass spectrometry (STA–FTIR–QMS). Two longtime heat-treated soybean oil samples were aforehand prepared by consistently heating the fresh soybean oil for 50 and 100 h, respectively. N₂ and simulative air (N₂/O₂ = 4:1, volume) were used as the thermal reaction gas atmosphere. The results showed that one stage of mass loss appeared in analysis of the all oil samples under N₂ atmosphere condition and longtime heat pre-treatment had no effect on the thermal behavior of the soybean oil under N₂ atmosphere condition. However, four stages occurred in analysis of both untreated and heat-treated oil samples under the simulative air atmosphere condition. Longtime heat pre-treatment influenced the thermal behavior of the soybean oil in certain extent, which was reflected in the different mass loss values of the four stages. According to the infrared absorption profiles and MS spectra of the released compounds in vapor phase, H₂O, CO, CO₂, hydrocarbons (such as CH₄), and hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl-contained compounds have been confirmed. Therefore, STA–FTIR–QMS can be suggested as a promising technique for investigating of thermal degradation and monitoring the decomposition products of the evolving substances in edible oils.     

Aza[6]helicene Platinum Complexes: Chirality Control of cis–trans Isomerism

It was serendipitously observed that cis‐[PtCl₂(NCEt)PPh₃] reacted differently with either racemic or enantiopure 4‐aza[6]helicene, giving respectively cis (racemic) and trans (enantiopure) [Pt^IICl₂(4‐aza[6]helicene)PPh₃] complexes. This unexpected reactivity is explained through a dynamic process (crystallization‐induced diastereoselective transformation) and enables a new aspect of reactivity in chiral transition‐metal complexes to be addressed.     

Transient Substrate‐Induced Catalyst Formation in a Dynamic Molecular Network

In biology enzyme concentrations are continuously regulated, yet for synthetic catalytic systems such regulatory mechanisms are underdeveloped. We now report how a substrate of a chemical reaction induces the formation of its own catalyst from a dynamic molecular network. After complete conversion of the substrate, the network disassembles the catalyst. These results open up new opportunities for controlling catalysis in synthetic chemical systems.     

Selective Densitometric Analysis of Cephalosporins Using Dragendorff’s Reagent

A simple, selective, precise, and stability-indicating thin-layer chromatographic method has been developed and validated for analysis of the cephalosporins cefpodoxime proxetil, ceftriaxone sodium, ceftazidime pentahydrate, cefotaxime sodium, cefoperazone sodium, cefazolin sodium, and cefixime in the bulk drug and in pharmaceutical formulations. TLC was performed on aluminium sheets precoated with silica gel G 60F₂₅₄ as stationary phase. The mobile phases chosen for development gave compact spots for all the drugs (R _F values 0.43–0.60). The separated compounds were visualized as orange spots by spraying with Dragendorff’s reagent. Linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots revealed good linear relationships between response and amounts of the drugs with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9977 to 0.9998 and determination coefficients ranging from 0.9954 to 0.9996 over the concentration ranges 5–25 μg per spot for cefpodoxime proxetil, ceftriaxone sodium, and ceftazidime pentahydrate and 10–50 μg per spot for cefotaxime sodium, cefoperazone sodium, cefazolin sodium, and cefixime. The method was validated for precision, recovery, and robustness. Limits of detection and quantitation for the drugs ranged from 0.35 to 2.48 and from 1.07 to 7.50 μg per spot, respectively. The method was successfully applied to analysis of the drugs in their pharmaceutical dosage forms with good precision and accuracy. The method can also be used as a stability-indicating assay.     

Structural and selectivity of 18-crown-6 ligand in lanthanide-picrate complexes

The selectivity factor in the separation of lanthanide could be associated with the coordination behaviour. Thus, we observed the study in the solid phase to understand the coordination pattern of Ln(III) with the 18-crown-6 (18C6) ligand. Good selectivity of the rigid 18C6 ligand toward Ln(III) depends on gradually smaller their ionic radii of Ln(III) in the complexes formation in the presence of picrate anion (Pic⁻), i.e. lanthanide contraction and steric effects as clearly shown in the series of [Ln(Pic)₂(18C6)]⁺(Pic)⁻ {Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd} and [Ln(Pic)₃(OH₂)₃] · 2(18C6) · 4H₂O {Ln = Tb, Ho} complexes. The La-Gd complexes crystallized in an orthorhombic with space group Pbca, while the Ho complex crystallized in triclinic with space group . The lighter lanthanides complexes [La-Sm] had a 10-coordination number from the 18C6 ligand and the two picrates, forming a bicapped square-antiprismatic geometry. Meanwhile, the middle lanthanide complex [Gd] had a nine-coordination number from the 18C6 ligand and the two picrates, forming a tricapped trigonal prismatic geometry. The heavier lanthanide [Ho] is rather unique, since Ho(III) coordinated with nine oxygen atoms from three picrates and three water molecules in the opposite direction whereas three 18C6 molecules surrounded in the inner coordination sphere, forming a trigonal tricapped prismatic geometry. The 18C6 ligand is effective in controlling the molecular geometry and coordination bonding of Ln-O and can use a crystal engineering approach. No dissociation of Ln-O bonds in solution was observed in NMR studies conducted at different temperatures. The photoluminescence spectrum of the Pr complex has typical 4f-4f emission transitions, i.e. ³P₀ → ³F₂ (650 nm), ¹D₂ → ³F₂ (830 nm) and ¹D₂ → ³F₄ (950 nm).