Data acquisition and instrument control system for neutron spectrometers

A personal computer (PC)-based data acquisition and instrument control system has been developed for neutron spectrometers in Dhruva reactor hall and Guide Tube laboratory. Efforts have been made to make the system versatile so that it can be used for controlling various neutron spectrometers using single end-on detector in step scan mode. Commercially available PC add-on cards have been used for input-output and timer-counter operations. An interface card and DC motor driver card have been developed indigenously. Software for the system has been written in Visual C++ language using MS Windows operating system. This data acquisition and instrument control system is successfully controlling four spectrometers at Dhruva reactor.     

Production of 99Mo and 64Cu in a mixed field of photons and neutrons in a clinical electron linear accelerator

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The medical isotopes 99Mo and 64Cu were produced via the dual routes of 100Mo(γ,n)99Mo + 98Mo(n,γ)99Mo and 65Cu(γ,n)...     

Electrochemical preparation of orthophenylenediamine on different cathodes in sulfuric acid

The electrochemical reduction of nitro group of orthonitroaniline (ONA) is carried out on Pb, Cu, and Sn electrodes. The effect of current density, temperature, and acid concentration on product yield is studied. The polarization curve for ONA in acidic condition is recorded. Under preparative electrolysis, ONA gives a mixture of hydroxylamine and phenylenediamine, the proportion of phenylenediamine increasing with the electrolysis time. The product formation is confirmed by thin-layer chromatography, melting-point test, UV-visible, IR, and NMR methods. The operating conditions are optimized for a good yield of orthophenylenediamine. The catalytic activity of different metals for the reduction of nitro group is discussed. The percent yield of orthophenylenediamine is found to be high on the lead electrode. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2007, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 215–221. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Reactions of e aq' − H and OH with picolinic acid studied by pulse radiolysis

Rate constants for the reaction of the primary species of water radiolysis, viz. e _aq' ^– , H and OH, with picolinic acid have been determined at various pHs. The semi-reduced species exhibits _max at 305 and 350 nm. It is a strong reductant and has two pK_a values of 1 and 5.7. The OH adduct of this compound also exhibits two pK_a s at 2.1 and 5.2. H-atom reaction with picolinic acid gives rise to a mixture of species.     

Kinetic and mechanism of pentacyanohydroxoferrate(III) formation from the reaction of [Fe2HPDTA(OH)2] with cyanide ions

Summary The kinetics and mechanism of exchange of HPDTA in [Fe₂HPDTA(OH)₂] with cyanide ion (HPDTA=2-hydroxytrimethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) was investigated spectrophotometrically by monitoring the peak at 395 nm ( _max of [Fe(CN)₅OH]^3– at pH=11.0±0.02,I=0.25m (NaClO₄) at ±0.1°C).Three distinct observable stages were identified; the first is the formation of [Fe(CN)₅OH]^3–, the second the formation of [Fe(CN)₆]^3– from it and the third the reduction of [Fe(CN)₆]^3– to [Fe(CN)₆]^4– by HPDTA^4– released in the first stage.The first stage follows first-order kinetics in [Fe₂HPDTA(OH)₂] and second-order in [CN^–] over a wide range of [CN^–], but becomes zero order at [CN^–]<5×10^–2 m. We suggest a cyanide-independent dissociation of [Fe₂HPDTA)(OH)₂] into [FeHPDTA(OH)] and [Fe(OH)]²⁺ at low cyanide concentrations and a cyanide-assisted rapid dissociation of [Fe₂HPDTA(OH)₂] to [FeHPDTA(OH)(CN)]^3– and [Fe(OH)]²⁺ at higher cyanide concentrations. The excess of cyanide reacts further with [FeHPDTA(OH)(CN)]^3– finally to form [Fe(CN)₅OH]^3–.The reverse reaction between [Fe(CN)₅OH]^3– and HPDTA^4– is first-order in [Fe(CN)₅OH]^3– and HPDTA^4–, and exhibits inverse first-order dependence on cyanide concentration.A six-step mechanism is proposed for the first stage of reaction, with the fifth step as rate determining.     

Polypeptide-mediated silica growth on indium tin oxide surfaces

Herein, we describe the formation of silica structures on indium tin oxide (ITO) surfaces using poly-L-lysine (PLL) to template the condensation of silicic acid. Precisely controlled electrostatic fields were used to preposition PLL onto ITO surfaces. Subsequent polypeptide-mediated silicification resulted in the formation of silica with concentration gradients that followed the pattern of the externally applied electrostatic field used in the deposition of the PLL. The resulting silica structures were securely attached to the ITO surface. The technique described here offers an inexpensive and rapid method for the deposition of polypeptides on surfaces.     

A constitutional diagram of the system VC0.88−HfC0.98−(MoC)

The system VC_0.88–HfC_0.98–MoC was investigated by means of melting point, differential-thermoanalytical, X-ray diffraction and metallographic techniques on hot pressed and heat treated as well as melted alloy specimens and a constitutional diagram from 1500°C through the melting range established.The small miscibility gap within the HfC–MoC system (T _c=1630°C) interacts at lower temperatures with the solvus in a monotectoid-like reaction at 1575°C. Additions of VC to the HfC–MoC solid solution gradually increase its critical temperature.Solid state phase behaviour and melting behaviour was established within the isopleths VC_0.88–MoC as well as within (V_0.5Hf_0.5)C–MoC and (V_0.75Hf_0.25)C–(Hf_0.75Mo_0.25)C.Phase equilibria within VC_0.88–HfC–MoC are characterized by an extreme large miscibility gap at 1500°C connecting the VC–HfC and HfC–MoC systems.Originating at the VC–HfC binary an eutectic trough proceeds into the VC–HfC–MoC ternary with rising temperatures, connecting the maximum critical point of the disappearing miscibility gap [(V_0.31Hf_0.49Mo_0.20)C] by a limiting tie line (2750±20°C). Isothermal sections have been calculated assuming regular solutions.With 5 Figures     

One electron oxidation induced dimerization of 5-hydroxytryptophol: role of 5-hydroxy substitution

Reaction of one-electron oxidant (Br(2)(*-)) with tryptophol (TP) and 5-hydroxytryptophol (HTP) have been studied in aqueous solution in the pH range from 3 to 10, employing nanosecond pulse radiolysis technique and the transients detected by kinetic spectrophotometry. One-electron oxidation of TP has produced an indolyl radical that absorbs in the 300-600 nm region with radical pK(a) = 4.9 +/- 0.2, while the reaction with HTP has produced an indoloxyl radical with lambda(max) at 420 nm and radical pK(a) < 3. Hydroxyl radicals ((*)OH) react with these two compounds producing (*)OH radical adducts that undergo water elimination to give one-electron-oxidized indolyl and indoloxyl radical species, respectively. The indoloxyl radicals react with the parent compound to form dimer radicals with an average association constant of (6.7 +/- 0.4) x 10(4) M(-1). No such dimerization is observed with indolyl radical, indicating that the presence of the 5-hydroxy group markedly alters its ability to form a dimer. A possible explanation behind such a difference in reactivity has been supported with ab initio quantum chemical calculations.     

Ionic liquid enabled sulfamoylation of arenes: an ambient, expeditious and regioselective protocol for aryl sulfonamides

The ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloroaluminate, [bmim]Cl·AlCl₃, N=0.67 mediated syntheses of aromatic sulfonamides via electrophilic substitution of arenes is reported. The protocol serves as a distinctly expeditious and ambient route towards the syntheses of these pharmaceutically useful compounds, yielding quantitative conversions at room temperature within 5-30 min in most of the cases. The Lewis acidity and molar stoichiometry of the ionic liquid influences the extent of conversion. The method has been used for the syntheses of a diverse range of sulfonamides by variation of arenes and sulfamoyl chlorides. With monosubstituted benzenes, the protocol offers an added advantage of exclusive selectivity towards the formation of para substituted sulfonamides over the ortho products.     

Synthesis of tetrazole analogues of amino acids using Fmoc chemistry: isolation of amino free tetrazoles and their incorporation into peptides

An efficient synthesis of tetrazole analogues of amino acids starting from N^α-Fmoc amino acid in a three-step protocol is reported. The free amino tetrazoles were obtained in good yields and with excellent purity after removal of the Fmoc group. The synthesis of analogues of aspartic and glutamic acids in which the 5-tetrazolyl moiety is inserted at the β/γ carboxyl group starting from Fmoc-Asn and Fmoc-Gln and the incorporation of these tetrazoles into peptides are also described.