The use of “actinometer” gases in optical diagnostics of plasma etching mixtures: SF6-O2

The spectroscopic emission intensities from excited F atoms in SF₆-O₂ discharges at 1 torr have been correlated to the densities of atoms in their ground electronic state by measuring the excitation efficiencies of the electrons in the energy range 11 to 17 eV with a method which essentially consists in the analysis of the emission of Ar or N₂, added as actinometer gases to the discharge mixtures. The general applicability of the method has been tested by a direct titration of F atoms with chlorine. The spectroscopic analysis has allowed the determination of useful information on the trends of both the electron densities and their energies as a function of the oxygen percent in the feed.     

Understanding the role of stereoelectronic effects in determining collagen stability. 2. A quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical study of (Proline-Proline-Glycine)(n) polypeptides

The importance of vicinal and long-range interresidue effects in determining the stability of the collagen triple helix has been investigated by quantum mechanical (QM) and molecular mechanical (MM) computations on suitable model polypeptides, taking into account solvent effects by the polarizable continuum model (PCM). At the QM level, the PII conformation corresponds to an energy minimum for pentapeptide analogues incorporating the sequence Gly-Pro-Pro-Gly, irrespective of the down or up puckering of the pyrrolidine ring. However, our computations indicate that the alternation of down and up prolines characterizing collagen and collagen-like peptides is not due to an intrinsic preference of the Pro-Pro-Gly sequence. This result is confirmed by MM computations of longer polypeptides. Next, MM computations on model triple helices show that a better packing is obtained for specific values of backbone dihedrals, which, in turn, favor the alternation of down and up prolines along each chain.     

Mononuclear heterocyclic rearrangement. Note I. Kinetic study of the rearrangement of the phenylhydrazone of 3-benzoyl-5-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole into 2,5-diphenyl-4-benzoylamino-1,2,3-triazole

The rates of the mononuclear heterocyclic rearrangement of the phenylhydrazone of 3-benzoyl-5-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole (1) into 2,5-diphenyl-4-benzoylamino-1,2,3-triazole (II) have heen measured in dioxane/water (50:50, v:v) in the range of pS⁺ 3.8–12.2 at various temperatures and the activation parameters determined. On the basis of the results obtained, we present evidence for the occurrence of two different types of reaction: the first, base-catalyzed; the second, pS⁺ -independent. In the base-catalyzed range the catalysis is of the general type.     

Characterisation of fresh and aged terpenic resins by micro-FTIR and GC-MS analyses of varnishes in XVI-XVII centuries paintings

Resinous materials, generally added to drying oils, were often employed as final protective films in paintings, both in tempera and oil techniques. Most of the resins used in fine arts come from exudates of plants. Natural resins are mainly composed by terpenoids. Among these resins, dammar, rosin, mastic, elemi gum, Venice turpentine were frequently employed in easel paintings. The aim of this work is the identification of natural resins in samples collected from works of art. In this paper we propose to use micro-FTIR spectrometry as a preliminary and non destructive technique to detect the presence of resinous materials in microsamples collected from paintings, followed by GC-MS analyses to obtain a precise identification of the resin. To reach this aim commercial resins, employed as standard, were analysed previously by micro-FTIR spectrometry and then analysed by GC-MS chromatography, searching characteristic chemical compounds used as "markers" of resins. The results obtained on standards allowed us to successfully analyse samples collected from two works of art: the "Portrait of a Young Gentleman", by Lorenzo Lotto (XVI century), and the "Madonna with the Infant Jesus and Saints": by Carlo Maratta (XVII secolo).     

Subthreshold pion production from nucleus-nucleus collisions around 100 MeV/nucleon

Several global variables were tested with the aim to determine the impact parameter in nucleus-nucleus collisions producing pions at incident energies around 100 MeV/nucleon. The experimental set-up includes the MEDEA multidetector, part of which is used as a ⁰ spectrometer, and an additional hodoscope of plastic scintillators to cover very forward angles. A statistical model was used to generate bothinclusive and pion-triggered events. Selection ofwell measured events was made through the measured total parallel momentum. Among the different global variables which were tested, the average parallel velocity was seen to give the best correlation with the impact parameter.     

Coordination properties of 6-deoxy-6-[1-(2-amino) ethylamino]-β-cyclodextrin and the ability of its copper(II) complex to recognize and separate amino acid enantiomeric pairs

The functionalized cyclodextrin 6-deoxy-6-[1-(2-amino)ethylamino]--cyclodextrin was synthesized, and an NMR, EPR, pH-metric, and calorimetric investigation was carried out in aqueous solution in order to ascertain its behaviour towards protonation and copper(II) complex formation. The thermodynamic parameters of the ternary complex formation with alanine, phenylalanine and tryptophan enantiomeric pairs were also determined (25° C andI=0.1 mol dm^–3). No thermodynamic enantioselectivity was observed in these systems, while a chiral, though poor, discrimination was observed in LEC: c.d. spectra also show enantiomeric stereoselectivity. The results of the present investigation, compared with previously reported results, suggest the occurence of acis-complex trans-complex equilibrium in such systems.     

Imino acids and collagen triple helix stability: characterization of collagen-like polypeptides containing Hyp-Hyp-Gly sequence repeats

The analysis of factors contributing to the stability of proteins is a subject of intense debate. Particularly challenging is the study of structural proteins, since their function is their structure. Among these is collagen, the key structural component of bones, skin, cartilage, tendons, and other connecting tissues. It is well established that the collagen triple helix is characterized by the presence of hydroxyproline, whose content modulates triple helix thermal stability according to the requirement of the host organism. Because of the complexity and the fibrous nature of collagen, data on the stability and structure of this protein have been mainly obtained by the use of collagen-like polypeptides. On the basis of CD characterization of collagen-like polypeptides we here show that the presence of Hyp at the X position of repeating triplets Hyp-Hyp-Gly stabilizes the triple helix significantly. This extra-stabilization has been ascribed, by using molecular modeling, to the formation of a hydrogen bond between Hyp residues belonging to the X and the Y positions of adjacent chains. This communication also provides a comprehensive interpretation of the ensemble of available data on polypeptides containing proline derivatives.     

Conductance of potassium halides near the temperature of maximum density of water

The conductances of dilute aqueous solutions of KCl, KBr, and KI have been measured over the temperature range 2 to 8°C and have been analyzed by the Fuoss-Hsia equation. The ionic Walden products at infinite dilution have been discussed in terms of local viscosity. The temperature dependence of these products suggest that near the temperature of maximum density of water, the structure-breaking ability of these ions changes in a regular way.     

Molecular interactions in 1-pentanol +2-methyl-2-butanol mixtures: Static dielectric constant,viscosity and refractive index investigations at 5, 25 and 45°C

Static dielectric constants, refractive indices and viscosities of 1-pentanol +2-methyl-2-butanol mixtures were measured at 5, 25 and 45°C. The results show that the mixing of the two isomers modifies the polarizability and the resistence of viscous flow of the system depending on the composition and temperature. Short range intermolecular interactions producing hetero-alcohol open dimers are considered.     

Copper bronze catalyzed Heck reaction in ionic liquids

Heck reaction of aryl iodides and activated aryl bromides catalyzed by copper bronze in tetrabutylammonium bromide as solvent and tetrabutylammonium acetate as base was developed. The effective catalysts are Cu nanoparticles deriving from the reaction of iodobenzene with copper bronze. These nanoparticles are very stable in tetraalkylammonium salts, are easily recycled, and can be stored for months without a loss of catalytic efficiency. [reaction: see text]