Analysis of nanopore arrangement and structural features of anodic alumina layers formed by two-step anodizing in oxalic acid using the dedicated executable software

Anodic porous alumina layers were fabricated by a two-step self-organized anodization in 0.3 M oxalic acid under various anodizing potentials ranging from 30 to 60 V at two different temperatures (10 and 17 ^°C). The effect of anodizing conditions on structural features and pore arrangement of AAO was investigated in detail by using the dedicated executable publication combined with ImageJ software. With increasing anodizing potential, a linear increase of the average pore diameter, interpore distance, wall thickness and barrier layer thickness, as well as a decrease of the pore density, were observed. In addition, the higher pore diameter and porosity values were obtained for samples anodized at the elevated temperature, independently of the anodizing potential. A degree of pore order was investigated on the basis of Delaunay triangulations (defect maps) and calculation of pair distribution or angle distribution functions (PDF or ADF), respectively. All methods confirmed that in order to obtain nanoporous alumina with the best, hexagonal pore arrangement, the potential of 40 V should be applied during anodization. It was confirmed that the dedicated executable publication can be used to a fast and complex analysis of nanopore arrangement and structural features of nanoporous oxide layers.     

Coordination ability of insect kinin analogs

Spectroscopic data, including electronic absorption, CD and EPR results, as well as theoretical calculations have shown that the insertion of 4-aminopyroglutamate, a novel cis-peptide bond mimic, in the insect kinin peptide leads to an effective ligand towards Cu(II) ions at basic pH ranges. The 4-aminopyroglutamate motif induces a specific peptide conformation which favors the formation of one or two five-membered chelating rings stabilizing a bent structure, with the coordination of 3N-type or 4N-type in the metallopeptide molecule involving in metal bonding C-terminal of modified peptide. It is worth noting that the copper(II) bonding does not undergo hydrolysis even at a very high pH range.     

Spectroscopic and theoretical study on peramine and some pyrrolopyrazinone compounds

The comparative analysis of IR and Raman spectra of peramine and its four derivatives in solid state was carried out. The harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, and Raman scattering activities were calculated at density functional B3LYP methods with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. For the predicted spectra, a potential energy distribution of normal modes was also calculated. For peramine derivatives the conjugation effect of pyrrole with pyrazinone ring was observed as a result of introduction of double bond. Moreover, ¹H NMR analysis indicated that pyrrole protons are deshielded in comparison with the pyrrolopyrazinone model ring system.     

Michael addition to a chiral non-racemic 2-phosphono-2,3-didehydrothiolane S-oxide

The Michael addition of selected sulfur and nitrogen nucleophiles to a chiral non-racemic 2-phosphono-2,3-didehydrothiolane S-oxide is fully diastereoselective. The enantiomeric excesses of the adducts obtained could be determined by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy using (R)-(+)-tert-butyl(phenyl)phosphinothioic acid as a chiral solvating agent. The addition of thiophenol was monitored by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy which made it possible to observe the formation and evolution of the kinetic and thermodynamic adducts in the reaction mixture. The structures of both enantiomeric thiophenol adducts have been determined by X-ray analysis.     

The magnetic field-induced deformations in nematic layers with non-zero splay-bend elastic constant

The magnetic field-induced deformations of weakly anchored nematic layers in the presence of the non-zero splay-bend elastic constant K₁₃ are analysed by use of the Pergamenshchik approach. Most of the anomalous phenomena reported by other authors, that do not occur if k₁₃ = 0, have been confirmed. New effects suitable for experimental verification are predicted: the discontinuous transition with hysteresis between the uniform undistorted state and the state uniformly aligned along the field, and the rotation of the director in the tilted layer during continuous increase and decrease of the perpendicular field.     

Raman scattering study of toluene vibrational relaxation in benzene-toluene liquid system

The polarizes and depolarized profiles of the 520 cm^?1 Raman line of toluene in benzene solutions have been measured as a function of concentration. The vibrational correlation functions were obtained by Fourier inversion of Raman band contours. The concentration dependence of the experimental vibrational correlation time has been compared with that computed from the Fischer-Laubereau vibrational dephasing model modified for use in binary mixtures.