Composition dependence of the structural chemistry and magnetism of Ca2.5Sr0.5(Ga,Co)1+xMn2−xO8

Polycrystalline samples of bilayered brownmillerite-like Ca_2.5Sr_0.5GaCo_0.15Mn_1.85O₈ and Ca_2.5Sr_0.5Ga_1.2Mn_1.8O₈ have been prepared and characterised by magnetometry and neutron diffraction over a wide temperature range. The structural chemistry and magnetic properties are compared to those of Ca_2.5Sr_0.5GaMn₂O₈. Ga enrichment has a significant effect on the former but not on the latter, whereas changes in both occur when paramagnetic Co³⁺ cations enter the parent phase on the 4-coordinate sites. The coupling between the environment around the 4-coordinate cations and the transition to an antiferromagnetic ordered state that was observed in Ca_2.5Sr_0.5GaMn₂O₈ is not apparent in the cation-substituted compositions, although both show long-range antiferromagnetic order at low temperatures.     

Comprehensive study of the methyl effect on the solvolysis rates of bridgehead derivatives

The effect of a bridgehead methyl group on the hydride ion affinity in the gas phase of bicyclo[1.1.1]pent-1-yl (1+), 1-norbornyl (3+), cubyl (5+), 1-adamantyl (7+), bicyclo[2.2.2]oct-1-yl (9+),and bicyclo[3.1.1]hept-1-yl (11+) cations has been studied using density functional theory and ab initio methods. It is concluded that the methyl group always increases the stability of the substituted cations. The effect of the solvent on the stability of methyl-substituted cations in relation to the unsubstituted cations has been studied using the polarizable continuum model of the self-consistent reaction field theory. In the case of rearranging cations, the nucleophilic assistance of the solvent is determined by means of the interaction energy of the corresponding water complexes. It is concluded that the solvent causes the relative stabilization of the parent cations. As a consequence, most of the methyl-substituted bridgehead derivatives show a lower solvolysis rate than the corresponding unsubstituted compounds. A nonqualitative explanation of the methyl effect on the relative stability of bridgehead cations in both gas phase and solution is given for the first time. The ratios of solvolysis products in the case of rearranging bridgehead cations have also been computed from the relative stability of the intermediate water complexes.     

Ligandenfeldspektren einiger Cyanato-Kupfer(II)-Komplexe des Typs Cu(NCO)2 L 2 mit Liganden aus der Chinolin- und Isochinolingruppe Cyanato-Kupfer(II)-Komplexe mit organischen Liganden, 7. Mitt.

Zusammenfassung Die Ligandenfeldspektren der Komplexe des Typs Cu(NCO)₂ L ₂ (L=Ligand der Chinolin- bzw. Isochinolingruppe) im festen Zustand wurden aufgenommen. Das Spektrum des Komplexes Cu(NCO)₂(Chin)₂ weist eine einzige Bande auf und deutet auf eine pseudooktaedrische Struktur. Die Spektren der übrigen Komplexe enthalten hingegen neben den Hauptbanden auch Schultern bzw. ist die anwesende Bande zusammengesetzt, so daß diese Spektren mit einer planaren Struktur im Einklang sind. Die annähernden Werte für den Parameter 10Dq wurden berechnet; sie liegen im Bereich von 7,1 bis 7,8 kK.

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Ligand field spectra of some cyanato-copper(II) complexes with ligands from the quinoline- and isoquinoline group

The ligand field spectra of complexes of the type Cu(NCO)₂ L ₂ (L=ligand from the quinoline or isoquinoline group) in the solid state were recorded. Only the spectrum of Cu(NCO)₂(Quin)₂ exhibits a single band and indicates a pseudooctahedral structure, while the spectra of the remaining complexes also contain shoulders in addition to the main band, or this band is composite, thus being in accordance with a planar structure. The approximate values of the parameter 10Dq were calculated and found to be in the range of 7.1 to 7.8 kK.

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Mit 1 Abbildung

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6. Mitt.:M. Quastlerová-Hvastijová, J. Kohout undJ. Gao, Z. anorg. allgem. Chem., im Druck.     

Maximizing the xylitol production from sugar cane bagasse hydrolysate by controlling the aeration rate

Batch fermentations of sugar cane bagasse hemicellulosic hydrolysate treated for removing the inhibitors of the fermentation were performed byCandida guilliermondii FTI20037 for xylitol production. The fermentative parameters agitation and aeration rate were studied aiming the maximization of xylitol production from this agroindustrial residue. The maximal xylitol volumetric productivity (0.87 g/L h) and yield (0.67 g/g) were attained at 400/min and 0.45 v.v.m. (K_La 27/h). According to the results, a suitable control of the oxygen input permitting the xylitol formation from sugar cane bagasse hydrolysate is required for the development of an efficient fermentation process for large-scale applications.     

New designs for inhibitors of the NF-κB: DNA binding

We present a series of new inhibitors of the association between nuclear factor kappa B (NF-B) and the corresponding B site in DNA. They were designed using the lead compound 15-deoxy-^12,14 -prostaglandin J₂ (PGJ2), which is a natural product with demonstrated inhibitory efficiency for this system. First, the binding mode of PGJ2 to NF-B was unraveled by GOLD docking calculation. Subsequently, substitutions were made to PGJ2 to optimize its association with NF-B. Care was taken not to strongly increase the reactivity of the new compounds, and to keep the overall shape, size and hydrophilicity of the lead compound, which should render them a similar bioavailability. Molecular mechanics calculations were performed to decide on the suitability of the substitutions, and to evaluate the energies of association with NF-B. Density functional theory calculations were performed also to study the overall reactivity of the substituted drugs towards NF-B. Important general conclusions were obtained, concerning the improvement of these natural inhibitors; namely, a set of rational methodologies were deduced to improve the association between the PGJ2 derivatives and NF-B, and their efficiency demonstrated by generating a set of substituted complexes, some of them with a very much increased affinity for NF-B, opening new doors to enlarge the therapeutic capabilities of this class of drugs.     

Investigation of eutectic transformation of Zn−Al alloy by DTA

The paper discusses the investigation of crystallization of metals and alloys by differential thermal analysis (DTA). It was assumed that this method allows determination of the mechanism and kinetics of volumetric crystallization underiso conditions (e.g. anisothermal) on the basis of the parameters of the equation expressing an integral form of the DTA curve. From DTA, a course of eutectic transformation was determined for a technical Zn?Al alloy containing 4wt% Al. Investigations were carried out under continuous cooling at various rates and the kinetics parameters were determined with the KEKAM equation:-ln(1-x)=kl _n     

Thin-layer adsorption chromatography with mixed mobile phases. 4. Extension of Ościk's equation to heterogeneous adsorbents

In this paper the equation for thin-layer adsorption chromatography with multicomponent mobile phases, proposed by O?cik in 1965 is extended to energetically heterogeneous solid surfaces. Other forms of this equation, more convenient in practical applications, are presented. Model calculations are made for TLC with binary mobile phases according to the modified form of O?cik's equation. Finally, this equation is compared with that of Snyder.     

Kinetic determination of selenium, based on inhibition of the Pd(II)-catalysed reaction between pyronine G and hypophosphite

A new kinetic method for determination of selenium is based on its inhibitory effect on the Pd(II)-catalysed reaction between Pyronine G and hypophosphite. Under the optimum experimental conditions (6 x 10(-5)M Pyronine G, 0.4M hypophosphite, 0.4 mug/ml Pd(II), pH 2.8, temperature 22.0 +/- 0.2 degrees ), Se can be determined in the concentration range 0.033-0.50 mug/ml. The method suffers from numerous interferences and is thus limited in application. It has been applied to the determination of selenium in spring waters and pharmaceutical preparations.     

Kinetic determination of tellurium based on its inhibitory effect on the palladium(II)-catalysed reaction between pyronine G and hypophosphite ion

A kinetic method for the determination of Te based on its inhibitory effect on the PdII-catalysed reaction between pyronine G and H2PO2- is described. The influence of experimental variables on the rate of the process and the potential interfering effect of a large number of ions has been studied. Under the selected experimental conditions: 6 x 10(-5) M pyronine G; 0.6 M H2PO2-; pH 2.6, adjusted with Britton-Robinson buffer; 0.80 microgram ml-1 of PdII; and a temperature of 22 +/- 0.2 degrees C, Te was determined in the concentration range 0.08-0.85 microgram ml-1. The method was applied to the determination of Te in waters and lead concentrates.