Communication: probable scenario of the liquid-liquid phase transition of SnI4

We have shown from in situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction measurements that there are two thermodynamically stable liquid forms of SnI(4), depending on the pressure. Based on the liquid-liquid critical point scenario, our recent measurements suggest that the second critical point, if it exists, may be located in a region close to the point at which the melting curve of the crystalline phase abruptly breaks. This region is, unlike that of water, experimentally accessible with relative ease.     

Terpenoids and bibenzyls from three Argentine liverworts

A new rosane diterpenoid, 3a-hydroxy-5,15-rosadien-11-one (3), was isolated, together with a known rosane diterpenoid, 5,15-rosadiene-3,11-dione (4), and an aromadendrane sesquiterpenoid, ent-cyclocolorenone (5), from the Et(2)O extract of an unidentified Argentine liverwort Anastrophyllum species. Moreover, four known sesquiterpene lactones 6-9 and two known bibenzyls 10, 11 were isolated from the Et(2)O extracts of Argentine Frullania brasiliensis and Radula voluta, respectively. The structures of compounds 3-11 were determined by the use of NMR techniques.     

Measurement of Reflected and Scattered Light for Monitoring Fluctuation of Structures

A laser spectroscopic technique for studying fluctuations of structural objects is presented, together with some results of our investigations including an observation of forced vibration of a refrigerator, intrinsic vibrations of buildings, and appearance of a fluctuation in rotational speed due to fatigue. An alternative detection technique which uses the scattered light for monitoring in place of the mirror-reflected beam is also presented. A leak of water out of a pipeline was detected with this method.

The results obtained with this laser spectroscopic technique should form a useful collection of data regarding fluctuation analysis of various objects.     

Femtosecond Diffuse-Reflectance Spectroscopy of Various Commercially Available TiO2 Powders

The transient absorption properties of several commercially available TiO₂ photocatalysts were investigated by femtosecond diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy. Using femtosecond diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy, the quantities and rates of the initial trapping processes of holes and electrons generated by the photoexcitation of TiO₂ photocatalysts were investigated. It was found that the total amounts of trapped electrons for the pure-anatase and pure-rutile TiO₂ became smaller with increasing particle size, but increased again when the particles’ diameters were larger than 50 nm. The anatase–rutile mixed TiO₂ photocatalysts were found to have smaller amounts of trapped electrons compared with pure-anatase and pure-rutile TiO₂ photocatalysts. The lifetimes of trapped holes of various TiO₂ photocatalysts were also investigated, and it was found that the lifetimes were proportional to the anatase–rutile mixed ratios.     

Stereochemistry of reduction of the C-24,25 double bond in the conversion of desmosterol into cholesterol

Feeding of the chemically prepared [24-¹³C, 24-²H]desmosterol to cell-free systems derived from rat liver and silkworm gut and to cultured cells of Oryza sativa followed by deuterium-decoupled ¹H, ¹³C shift correlation NMR analysis of the biosynthesized cholesterol revealed the stereospecific incorporation of hydrogen atoms from the re-face of the C-24 position of desmosterol.     

Nanoparticles in Emissions and Atmospheric Environment: Now and Future

Journal of Nanoparticle Research -