Sol-Gel Synthesis of Metal Nanoclusters-Silica Composite Films

In a program on the development of metal nanoclusters in sol-gel derived thin films, attempts were made to synthesize pure and mixed metal clusters, control the cluster size and increase the volume fract f the clusters. Thus, Ag, Cu and Ag-Cu nanoclusters were prepared in silica films using dip- and spin-coating techniques. The annealing of Ag/SiO₂ films in different atmospheres (air, argon and 5% H₂-95% N₂ gas) caused modifications of Ag nanoclusters resulting in changes in their surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak positions. The Cu and Ag-Cu codoped films were annealed in reducing atmosphere (5% H₂-95% N₂ gas). In order to prepare Cu nanoclusters of different sizes, the concentrations of Cu in Cu/SiO₂ composite films were varied from 8 to 30 mol% and annealed at 800°C for different times for growth. The size of the Cu nanoclusters was measured from the half band width of Cu SPR peak (appearing within 570–557 nm range) and X-ray diffraction. In this way Cu-nanoclusters of size ranges from about 3.5 to 10 nm (average diameters) were prepared . The Ag-Cu nanocluster-containing silica films show the existence of both Ag and Cu SPR peaks with some blue shifting in comparison with to their pure analogues depending on the Ag:Cu ratio.     

Correction to: A literature review on police patrolling problems

Annals of Operations Research -     

A concise route to iboga-analogues via the formation of suitably substituted-2-indoles

A concise route to iboga-analogues has been developed. Important steps include a Pd-catalyzed Sonogashira coupling of Boc-2-idodaniline with terminal alkynes and the formation of 2-substituted indoles in the presence of tetrabutylammonium fluoride to give the key intermediate, dehydroisoquinuclidine-containing indole. The final step cyclization between indole-3-position and dehydroisoquinuclidine ring was achieved using Pd(II)-Ag(I) mixed metal-mediated cyclization method. Both exo- and endo-substitution with -CO₂Me at C19 have been reported.     

Characterization of parallel and antiparallel G-tetraplex structures by vibrational spectroscopy

A series of G-rich oligonucleotides able to form tetraplexes has been studied by FTIR spectroscopy. Characteristic markers of the formation of guanine tetrads are given. Moreover, we propose a new marker discriminating between parallel and antiparallel tetraplexes: the position of the C6O6 guanine carbonyl stretching vibration. In intermolecular parallel tetrameric structures formed by four separate strands this absorption is observed at 1693 cm-1 while for antiparallel tetrameric structures, either intramolecular or formed by dimerization of hairpins, this vibrational mode is observed at 1682 cm-1. These shifts to higher wavenumbers, when compared to the position of a free guanine C6O6 carbonyl stretching vibration observed at 1666 cm-1(Deltanu=27 cm-1 for parallel tetraplexes and Deltanu=16 cm-1 for antiparallel tetraplexes) reflect different strand orientations in the structures. This marker has been used to evidence the possibility of an antiparallel-parallel tetraplex reorganization for Oxytricha nova d(G4T4G4) and d((G4T4)3G4) and human d(G3T2AG3) telomeric sequences induced by Na+/K+ or Na+/Ca2+ ion exchange. Formation of the guanine tetrads, characterization of the phosphate geometries and of the sugar conformations have also been obtained by FTIR for the different tetraplexes.     

Equivariant simplicial cohomology with local coefficients and its classification

We introduce equivariant twisted cohomology of a simplicial set equipped with simplicial action of a discrete group and prove that for suitable twisting function induced from a given equivariant local coefficients, the simplicial version of Bredon-Illman cohomology with local coefficients is isomorphic to equivariant twisted cohomology. The main aim of this paper is to prove a classification theorem for equivariant simplicial cohomology with local coefficients.     

Substitution of ligands in dichloro-2-(arylazo)heterocyclepalladium(II) by 8-quinolinol: kinetics and mechanistic studies

Nucleophilic substitutions of Pd(N,N)Cl₂[(N,N = 1-methyl-2-(arylazo)imidazole (RaaiMe), p-RC₆H₄N=NC₃H₂NN-1-Me; 2-(arylazo)pyridine (Raap), p-RC₆H₄N=NC₅H₄N; 2-(arylazo)pyrimidine (Raapm), p-RC₆H₄N=NC₄H₃N₂ where R = H (a), Me (b), Cl (c)] with 8-quinolinol (HQ) have been examined by spectrophotometry at 298 K in MeCN solution. The product, Pd(Q)₂, has also been confirmed by independent synthesis from Na₂[PdCl₄] and HQ in EtOH. The kinetics of the reaction have been studied under pseudo-first-order conditions and the analyses support a nucleophilic association path. A single phase reaction has been observed and follows the rate law, rate = a + k [Pd(N,N)Cl₂] [HQ]². Thus, the reaction is first order in [Pd(N,N)Cl₂] and second order in [HQ]. External addition of Cl^–(LiCl) suppresses the rate. The rate increases as follows: Pd(RaaiMe)Cl₂ < Pd(Raap)Cl₂ < Pd(Raapm)Cl₂.     

A new coordination mode of the photometric reagent glyoxalbis(2-hydroxyanil) (H2gbha): bis-bidentate bridging by gbha2- in the redox series [(mu-gbha)[Ru(acac)2]2]n (n = -2, -1, 0, +1, +2), including a radical-bridged diruthenium(III) and a Ru(III)/Ru(IV) intermediate

The bis-bidentate bridging function of gbha2- with N,O-/N,O- coordination was observed for the first time in the complex (mu-gbha)[Ru(III)(acac)2]2 (1). Density functional theory calculations of 1 yield a triplet ground state with a large (deltaE > 6000 cm(-1)) singlet-triplet gap. Intermolecular antiferromagnetic coupling was observed (J approximately -5.3 cm(-1)) for the solid. Complex 1 undergoes two one-electron reduction and two one-electron oxidation steps; the five redox forms [(mu-gbha)[Ru(acac)2]2]n (n = -2, -1, 0, +1, +2) were characterized by UV-vis-NIR spectroelectrochemistry (NIR = near infrared). The paramagnetic intermediates were also investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The monoanion with a comproportionation constant K(c) of 2.7 x 10(8) does not exhibit an NIR band for a Ru(III)/Ru(II) mixed-valent situation; it is best described as a 1,4-diazabutadiene radical anion containing ligand gbha*3-, which binds two ruthenium(III) centers. A Ru(III)-type EPR spectrum with g1 = 2.27, g2 = 2.21, and g3 = 1.73 is observed as a result of antiferromagnetic coupling between one Ru(III) and the ligand radical. The EPR-active monocation (K(c) = 1.7 x 10(6)) exhibits a broad (deltanu(1/2) = 2600 cm(-1)) intervalence charge-transfer band at 1800 nm, indicating a valence-averaged (Ru3.5)2 formulation (class III) with a tendency toward class II (borderline situation).