Gamma radiation effects on physical properties of parchment documents: Assessment of Dmax

Parchments are important documents that give testimony for History; therefore these materials should be respected and preserved. Considering incremental biodeterioration problems that have to be faced daily, the Archive of the University of Coimbra (AUC) is involved in different scientific projects in order to evaluate and determine new methods for document decontamination and preservation.The aim of this study was to evaluate gamma radiation effects on the colour and texture of the AUC parchment documents. The assessment of these effects was used to estimate the maximum gamma radiation dose (D_max) that could guarantee parchment documents′ decontamination treatment, without significant alteration of their physical properties. Parchment samples were exposed to gamma radiation doses ranging from 10 to 30 kGy. The texture and colour of samples were assessed before and after the irradiation procedure, using a texture analyser and an electronic colorimeter. Hardness and springiness were determined based on texture spectra. Lightness (L?), Chroma (C), greenness vs. redness (a*) and yellowness vs. blueness (b*) values were obtained from colorimetric measures. Results indicate no significant effects of gamma radiation on the texture and colour of parchment for the studied doses.     

A novel hexairon cluster with one disulfide and two Ph2PCS3− ligands

The title compound, hexadecacarbonylbis{μ₃‐[(diphenylphosphanyl)methanediidyl]sulfanido}‐μ₄‐disulfido(2−)‐hexairon(4 Fe—Fe), [Fe₆(C₁₃H₁₀PS)₂(S₂)(CO)₁₆], contains two inversion‐related [Fe₃(Ph₂PCS)(CO)₈] subclusters linked by an equatorial disulfide bond [S—S = 2.1490 (9) Å]. Each Ph₂PCS³⁻ ligand is coordinated to a triiron core in a μ₃‐κP:κ²C:κ²S fashion.     

Fibrous Networks with Incorporated Macrocycles: A Chiral Stimuli‐Responsive Supramolecular Supergelator and Its Application to Biocatalysis in Organic Media

A new and versatile, crown ether appended, chiral supergelator has been designed and synthesized based on the bis‐urea motif. The introduction of a stereogenic center improved its gelation ability significantly relative to its achiral analogue. This low‐molecular‐weight gelator forms supramolecular gels in a variety of organic solvents. It is sensitive to multiple chemical stimuli and the sol–gel phase transitions can be reversibly triggered by host–guest interactions. The gel can be used to trap enzymes and release them on demand by chemical stimuli. It stabilizes the microparticles in Pickering emulsions so that enzyme‐catalyzed organic reactions can take place in the polar phase inside the microparticles, the organic reactants diffusing through the biphasic interface from the surrounding organic phase. Because of the higher interface area between the organic and polar phases, enzyme activity is enhanced in comparison with simple biphasic systems.     

Synthesis and Rearrangement of P‐Nitroxyl‐Substituted PIII and PV Phosphanes: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Case Study

Low‐temperature generation of P‐nitroxyl phosphane 2 (Ph₂POTEMP), which was obtained by the reaction of Ph₂PH ( 1 ) with two equivalents of TEMPO, is presented. Upon warming, phosphane 2 decomposed to give P‐nitroxyl phosphane P‐oxide 3 (Ph₂P(O)OTEMP) as one of the final products. This facile synthetic protocol also enabled access to P‐sulfide and P‐borane derivatives 7 and 13 , respectively, by using Ph₂P(S)H ( 6 ) or Ph₂P(BH₃)H ( 11 ) and TEMPO. Phosphane sulfide 7 revealed a rearrangement to phosphane oxide 8 (Ph₂P(O)STEMP) in CDCl₃ at ambient temperature, whereas in THF, thermal decomposition of sulfide 7 yielded salt 10 ([TEMP‐H₂][Ph₂P(S)O]). As well as EPR and detailed NMR kinetic studies, indepth theoretical studies provided an insight into the reaction pathways and spin‐density distributions of the reactive intermediates.     

Synthesis of Some New Thiazole,Oxazole, Pyrimidine and Pyridazine Derivatives from 2‐cyano‐N‐octadecyl‐acetamide as Antimicrobial and Surface Active Agents

The motivation behind the present work is to synthesize some nonionic surfactants containing heterocyclic nucleus with intermediate fatty compounds for improving their surfactants properties. 2‐Cyano‐N‐octadecylacetamide was utilized as key intermediate for the synthesis of some new thiazole, pyrazole, oxazole, pyrimidine, 1,3‐dithiolane, thiophene, coumarin, oxazine and pyridazine derivatives. The newly synthesized compounds undergo propoxylation using propylene oxide to afford nonionic surface active agents. The antimicrobial and surface activities were evaluated and characterized through investigations of their spreading behavior in monolayer on water.