Secondary ion mass spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy investigation on chemical vapor deposited CeO(2-)ZrO(2)-TiO(2) thin films

Mixed CeO(2)-ZrO(2) systems have attracted widespread interest for their use in three-way catalyst (TWC) technology for automotive exhaust conversion to non-toxic products. In this work, CeO(2)-ZrO(2) thin films were deposited, via chemical vapor deposition, in order to obtain nanoscale materials with a high surface-to-volume ratio, with precise control of system properties. The addition of TiO(2) as buffer layer was also investigated. Cordierite was chosen as substrate, being the usual refractory material for catalytic mufflers. The multilayers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). In particular, the combination of SIMS and XPS allowed us to investigate both surface and in-depth chemical composition, studying also film-intermixing phenomena induced by annealing processes.     

The synthesis of pyrazolo[1,2-a]pyrazoles. Regio- and stereo-selective 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of (1Z)-rel-(4R,5R)-1-arylmethylene-4-benzoylamino-5-phenyl-3-pyrazolidinon-1 -azomethinimines

Reaction of rel-(4R,5R)-4-benzoylamino-5-phenyl-3-pyrazolidinone (4) with aromatic aldehydes 5a-f gave the corresponding (1Z)-rel-(4R,5R)-1-arylmethylene-4-benzoylamino-5-phenyl-3-pyrazolidinon-1-azomethinimines 6a-f . 1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of azomethinimines 6a-f to various dipolarophiles, which were found to proceed regio- and stereo-selectively, afforded the corresponding pyrazolo[1,2-a]-pyrazoles 8a-f, 10 , and 13–16 . Reaction of azomethinimine 6a with hydrogen cyanide gave rel-(5R,6R)-6-benzoylamino-5,6-dihydro-3,5-diphenyl-1-oxo-1H,7H-pyrazolo[1,2-a][1,2,3]triazole (18) as a representative of a new ring system.     

New BEDT-TTF/[Fe(C5O5)3]3- hybrid system: synthesis, crystal structure, and physical properties of a chirality-induced alpha phase and a novel magnetic molecular metal

The paramagnetic and chiral anion [Fe(C5O5)3]3- (C5O52-=croconate) has been combined with the organic donor BEDT-TTF (=ET=bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene) to synthesize a novel paramagnetic semiconductor with the first chirality-induced alpha phase, alpha-(BEDT-TTF)5[Fe(C5O5)3].5H2O (1), and one of the few known paramagnetic molecular metals, beta-(BEDT-TTF)5[Fe(C5O5)3].C6H5CN (2). Both compounds present layers of BEDT-TTF molecules, with the alpha or beta packing modes, alternating with layers containing the high-spin S=5/2 Fe(III) anions and solvent molecules. In the alpha phase, the alternation of the chiral [Fe(C5O5)3]3- anions along the direction perpendicular to the BEDT-TTF chains induces an alternation of the tilt angle of the BEDT-TTF molecules, giving rise to the observed alpha phase. The alpha phase presents a semiconductor behavior with a high room-temperature conductivity (6 S.cm-1) and an activation energy of 116 meV. The beta phase presents a metallic behavior down to ca. 120 K, where a charge localization takes place with a reentrance to the metallic state below ca. 20 K followed by a metal-semiconductor transition at ca. 10 K. The magnetic properties are dominated by the paramagnetic S=5/2 [Fe(C5O5)3]3- anion with an extra Pauli-type paramagnetism in the metallic beta phase. The ESR spectra confirm the presence of the high-spin Fe(III)-containing anion and show a progressive localization in the organic sublattice along with an antiferromagnetic coupling below ca. 120 K that, in the metallic beta phase, could be at the origin of the transition from the metallic to the activated conductivity regime. The correlation between crystal structure and conductivity behavior has been studied by means of tight-binding band structure calculations which provide a rationalization of the charge distribution and conductivity results.     

Photophysical properties and computational investigations of tricarbonylrhenium(I)[2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzo[d]-X-azole]L and tricarbonylrhenium(I)[2-(benzo[d]-X-azol-2-yl)-4-methylquinoline]L derivatives (X = N-CH3, O, or S; L = Cl, pyridine)

We report a combined experimental and computational study of new rhenium tricarbonyl complexes based on the bidentate heterocyclic N-N ligands 2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzo[d]-X-azole (X = N-CH₃, O, or S) and 2-(benzo[d]-X-azol-2-yl)-4-methylquinoline (X = N-CH₃, O, or S). Two sets of complexes are reported. Chloro complexes, described by the general formula Re(CO)₃[2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzo[d]-X-azole]Cl (X = N-CH₃, 1; X = O, 2; X = S, 3) and Re(CO)₃[2-(benzo[d]-X-azol-2-yl)-4-methylquinoline]Cl (X = N-CH₃, 4; X = O, 5; X = S, 6) were synthesized heating at reflux Re(CO)₅Cl with the appropriate N-N ligand in toluene. The corresponding pyridine set {Re(CO)₃[2-(4-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzo-X-azole]py}PF₆ (X = N-CH₃, 7; X = O, 8; X = S, 9) and {Re(CO)₃[2-(benzo[d]-X-azol-2-yl)-4-methylquinoline]py}PF₆ (X = N-CH₃, 10; X = O, 11; X = S, 12) was synthesized by halide abstraction with silver nitrate of 1-6 followed by heating in pyridine and isolated as their hexafluorophosphate salts. All complexes have been fully characterized by IR, NMR, electrochemical techniques and luminescence. The crystal structures of 1 and 7 were obtained by X-ray diffraction. DFT and time-dependent (TD) DFT calculations were carried out for investigating the effect of the organic ligand on the optical properties and electronic structure of the reported complexes.     

Rich pseudopolymorphic behavior of the tetranuclear [Ni4(dpyatriz)2(NO3)8] complex

Reaction of nickel(II) nitrate with the dpyatriz ligand, namely 2,4,6-tris(bis(pyridin-2-yl)amino)-1,3,5-triazine, in acetonitrile produces a tetranuclear NiII coordination compound, [Ni4(dpyatriz)2(NO3)8(CH3CN)2(H2O)2].2CH3CN (1), the crystal structure of which has been determined by X-ray diffraction using a synchrotron source. 1 has been characterized by IR and UV-vis spectroscopy, elemental and thermogravimetric analyses, and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Its solid-state structure exhibits remarkable anion...pi interactions between coordinated nitrate ions and the triazine rings. In addition, a thorough X-ray powder diffraction study has revealed a number of pseudopolymorphic phases (2-5), resulting from various degrees of hydration/solvation of the [Ni4(dpyatriz)2] core. The interconversion scheme among the different phases has been determined using controlled heating, and the basic structural features of the different pseudopolymorphs have been assessed through ab initio powder diffraction methods.     

Towards new ligands of nuclear receptors. Discovery of malaitasterol A, an unique bis-secosterol from marine sponge Theonella swinhoei

Malaitasterol A, an unprecedented bis-secosterol, was isolated from a Solomon collection of Theonella swinhoei. The structure was elucidated on the basis of a combination of comprehensive 1D and 2D NMR analysis, high-resolution mass spectrometry and DFT (13)C chemical shift calculations. The biological characterization of malaitasterol A provided evidence that this compound is a potent agonist of pregnane-X-receptor and its putative binding mode to PXR has been obtained through docking calculations.     

Solomonamides A and B, new anti-inflammatory peptides from Theonella swinhoei

Two unprecedented cyclic peptides, solomonamides A and B, were isolated from the marine sponge Theonella swinhoei. The structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive 1D and 2D NMR analysis and high-resolution mass spectrometry. A combined approach, involving Marfey's method, QM J based analysis, and DFT J/(13)C calculations, was used for establishing the absolute configuration of the entire molecule. Solomonamide A showed in vivo anti-inflammatory activity.     

Matrix-dependent cooperativity in spin crossover Fe(pyrazine)Pt(CN)4 nanoparticles

Anisotropic nanoparticles of the Fe(pyrazine)Pt(CN)(4) network were prepared embedded in various matrices that revealed to have a dramatic effect on the cooperative spin crossover phenomena. By a judicious choice of the nature of the matrix and the control of interparticle distances, a hysteresis of 15 K was achieved close to room temperature for such nano-objects.