On xenon molecule excited state lifetimes

Time-resolved excitation spectra of xenon vapor in the 150 nm region are analysed in terms of four main fluorescence lifetimes corresponding to decays of four stable excited electronic states of the Xe dimer. The two shortest decay times, ≈ 2 ns and ≈ 60 ns, are assigned to the direct radiative relaxation of the two lowest excited ungerade states, (¹Σ⁺_u)0⁺_u and (³Σ⁺_u))1 u respectively. The two longest decay times, ≈ 150 ns and ≈ 500 ns, must correspond to the overall depopulation rates of the two lowest excited gerade states, (³Σ⁺_g)1g and (¹Σ⁺_g)0⁺_g, decaying into the gerade ground state by cascading down through the intermediate ungerade states.     

Intramolecular charge transfer in pyrromethene laser dyes: photophysical behaviour of PM650.

Absorption and fluorescence (steady-state and time-correlated) techniques are used to study the photophysical characteristics of the pyrromethene 650 (PM650) dye. The presence of the cyano group at the 8 position considerably shifts the absorption and fluorescence bands to lower energies with respect to other related pyrromethene dyes; this is attributed to the strong electron-acceptor character of the cyano group, as is theoretically confirmed by quantum mechanical methods. The fluorescence properties of PM650 are intensively solvent-dependent. The fluorescence band is shifted to lower energies in polar/protic solutions, and the evolution of the corresponding wavelength with the solvent is analysed by a multicomponent linear regression. The fluorescence quantum yield and the lifetime strongly decrease in polar/protic solvents, which can be ascribed to an extra nonradiative deactivation, via an intramolecular charge-transfer state (ICT state), favoured in polar media.     

Study of fragmentation pattern and adsorption of 9-O-(triphenylsilyl)-10,11-dihydrocinchonidine on platinum by hydrogen/deuterium exchange using electrospray ionization ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry

We have studied the adsorption on a platinum (Pt) catalyst of two compounds utilizable as a chiral basic catalyst and a chiral modifier, dihydrocinchonidine (DHCD), and a new cinchona alkaloid derivative containing a bulky group, the Ph3SiO-DHCD molecule. The method of choice was the detection by electrospray ionization (ESI) ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) of hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange at room temperature, in tetrahydrofuran, at a D2 pressure of 1 bar. Based on the ESI-MS/MS spectrum of the new compound, we propose a mechanism for the formation of the silatropylium cation containing a Si-O bond. From the fragmentation pattern of Ph3SiO-DHCD it was confirmed that ESI-ion-trap MS/MS can be used to study the adsorption processes of complicated carbon compounds by investigating their H/D exchange reactions. In the case of Ph3SiO-DHCD, the results demonstrate that H/D exchange takes place mainly on the quinoline skeleton. However, the strong pi-bonded adsorption of the quinoline skeleton parallel with the imaginary plane of Pt is not preferred because the bulky Ph3Si group inhibits the multiple pi-bonded adsorption of the Ph3SiO-DHCD. Because of this hindrance the molecule was adsorbed tilted via the nonbonding electron pair of the N atom and C2' atom of the quinoline skeleton; consequently, mainly alkaloid-d1 and alkaloid-d2 are formed.     

Rank-1 approximation to the van der Waals interaction

We present and discuss a variational single-product approximation to the van der Waals dispersion interaction leading to a simple formula for C ₆ that seems capable to give more than 99% of the ‘exact’ value. The formula is derived from Hylleraas’ variational principle in the tensor product space of the interacting molecules and therefore enjoys bounding properties. The formula has been tested by computing the C ₆ dispersion constants of H–H, and, at Full CI level, of the following systems: He–He, He–Li, Li–Li, LiH–LiH, HF–HF. Connections with the London formula are discussed. Contribution to the Fernando Bernardi Memorial Issue.     

Synthesis,characterization, X-ray structural analysis and study of oxidative properties of propyltriphenylphosphonium bromochromate

The complex of propyltriphenylphosphonium bromochromate(VI), PrPh₃P[CrO₃Br] is easily synthesized in nearly quantitative yield using a direct reaction of chromium(VI) oxide and propyltriphenylphosphonium bromide. This compound is a versatile reagent for the efficient and selective oxidation of organic substrates, in particular for alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes or ketones, under mild conditions. This compound was characterized by IR, UV/Visible, ¹³C-n.m.r. and ¹H-n.m.r. techniques. It crystallized in the monoclinic form and its crystal and molecular structure have been determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Microwave synthesis,characterization and catalytic properties of titanium-incorporated ZSM-5 zeolite

Titanium-incorporated ZSM-5 zeolites (Si/Al = 50–200 and Si/Ti = 70) were successfully synthesized in a one-step sol-gel process under microwave irradiation. The characteristics of Ti-ZSM-5 zeolites were investigated using X-ray power diffraction, UV/Vis-DRS, FT-IR spectroscopy and solid-state ²⁷Al-NMR to monitor the physico-chemical properties. Simultaneously, the acidic properties were characterized by the NH₃-TPD profile. The characterization results revealed that the Ti⁴⁺ and Al³⁺ ions were well incorporated into the framework of Ti-ZSM-5 zeolite. The prepared zeolite was moderately active but selective in the dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether.     

Thermoluminescence analysis for testing the irradiation of spices

Thermoluminescence signals of irradiated and unirradiated spices and herbs are due to inorganic matter grains adhering to the surfaces. This study reports the mineral composition of this dust being, mainly quartz, calcite and philosilicates; it shows the differences between samples exposed and non-exposed to -radiation on the basis of TL signals after long storage periods (1–16 months). A saturation process in the TL signal is found when the samples absorb doses higher than 5 kGy. Finally, the TL glow curve intensities do not suffer significant changes with the dose rate of the -source used in the radiation process.     

Evaluation and application of bismuth as an internal standard for the determination of lead in wines by simultaneous electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A method for the direct determination of Pb in wines by simultaneous multi-element atomic absorption spectrometry (SIMAAS) using a transversely heated graphite atomizer, Zeeman-effect background corrector and internal standardization is proposed. Bismuth was used as an internal standard and Pd(NO3)2 plus Mg(NO3)2 as chemical modifier to stabilize both the analyte and the internal standard. The implementation of two pyrolysis steps avoided any build-up of carbonaceous residues on the graphite platform. All diluted samples (1 + 1 v/v) in 0.2% v/v HNO3 and reference solutions (5.0-50 microg l(-1) Pb in 0.2% v/v HNO3) were spiked with 25 microg l(-1) Bi. For a 20 microl aliquot dispensed into the graphite tube, a good correlation (r = 0.9997) was obtained between the ratio of the analyte signal to the internal standard signal and the analyte concentration of the reference solutions. The electrothermal behaviour of Pb and Bi in red, white and rosé wines were compared. In addition, absorbance variations due to changes in experimental conditions, such as atomizer temperature, integration time, injected sample volume, radiation beam intensity, graphite tube surface, dilution and sample composition, were minimized by using Bi as internal standard. Relative standard deviations of measurements based on integrated absorbance varied from 0.1 to 3.4% and from 0.5 to 7.3% (n = 12) with and without internal standard correction, respectively. Good recoveries (91-104%) for Pb spikes were obtained. The characteristic mass was 45 pg Pb and the limit of detection based on integrated absorbance was 0.9 microg l(-1) Pb. Internal standardization increased the lifetime of the tube by 25%. Direct determinations of Pb in wines with and without internal standardization approaches were in agreement at the 95% confidence level. The repeatability and the tube lifetime were improved when using Bi as internal standard. The improvement in accuracy using an internal standard was only observed when the analytical results were affected by errors.     

Template synthesis in the nickel(II)–thiocarbohydrazide–propanone triple system

The complexing process proceeding in the Ni^II–thiocarbohydrazide (H₂N–H–NC(=S)–NH–NH₂)–propanone triple system in EtOH solution and nickel(II)hexacyanoferrate(II) gelatin-immobilized matrix has been studied. It has been found that in the first case, template synthesis leading, as a minimum, to formation of three coordination compounds of Ni^II with (N,N,S,S)-donor tetradentate ligands having NiL¹, NiL² and NiL³compositions where L¹ is 4,6,6-trimethyl-2,3,7,8-tetraazanonen-3-di(thiohydrazide)-1,9, L² is 4,6,6,12-tetrametyl-1,9-dithio-2,3,7,8,10,11-hexaazatridekadien-3,11-hydrazide-1 and L³ is 2,8,10,10,16-pentamethyl-5,13-dithio-3,4,6,7,11,12,14,15-octaazaheptadekatrien-2,7,15 is observed, whereas in the gelatin-immobilized matrix, a complexing process in the system considered does not occur.