Hydrogen cycling induced diffraction peak broadening in C14 and C15 Laves phases

The diffraction peak broadening induced by hydrogen absorption-desorption cycling has been analyzed in four different Laves phase compounds with the C14 and C15 structures. The broadening is due to strain most probably originating from dislocations generated at the interface between the α and β hydride phases in connection with the cell volume difference between the two phases. It has been shown that it is strongly compound dependent. In the case of the C14 structure, the broadening is large and isotropic, and the latter can be related to the isotropy of the elastic constants of the metallic phase. The broadening is less for the compounds with the C15 structure, which can be related to a possibly softer lattice. Better ageing properties after long-term cycling are predicted for this crystal structure.     

(R)-4-Menthenone in the synthesis of optically pure sex pheromone of the peach leafminer moth (Lyonetia clerkella)

The synthesis of (14S)-methyloctadec-1-ene, sex pheromone of the peach leafminer moth (Lyonetia clerkella), is described to demonstrate a new potential of the synthetic use of (R)-4-menthenone.     

On the periodic points of a two-parameter family of maps of the plane

We study the dynamics of a two-parameter family of noninvertible maps of the plane, derived from a model in population dynamics. We prove that, as one parameter varies with the other held fixed, the nonwandering set changes from the empty set to an unstable Cantor set on which the map is topologically equivalent to the shift endomorphism on two symbols. With the help of some numerical work, we trace the genealogies of the periodic points of the family of period 5, and describe their stability types and bifurcations. Among our results we find that the family has a fixed point which undergoes fold, flip and Hopf bifurcations, and that certain families of period five points are interconnected through a codimension-two cusp bifurcation.     

Investigation of carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra-structure correlation based on novel atomic distance-edge (ADE) vector

A set of novel graph-theoretical parameters,called the atomic distance-edge (ADE) vector,was developed.Based on the connecting C-C bond number between central carbon atom and the other ones,various carbon atoms of alkanes were classified as four types,i.e.,type 1,2,3 and 4 for primary,secondary,ternary and quaternary carbon,respectively; and then four regression equations were obtained to link carbon-13 chemical shift (CS) of each type of atoms.Furthermore,these regression models were used to predict the carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of alkanes and it was found that the estimated CS were in agreement with the experimental results.     

Synthesis and characterisation of bis(pentafluorophenyl)antimony(V) cations, [(C6F5)2SbL3]

Pentacoordinate complex cations of the general formula [(C₆F₅)₂SbL₃]³⁺ stabilized as solid salts in combination with tetraphenylborate (BPh₄), tetrafluorobroate (BF₄) anions, where L=DMSO, Ph₃AsO, PyO, DMF, α-, β- and γ-picoline have been isolated. The newly formed complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance measurements, solid-state IR and and NMR. From these results, a five-fold coordination around antimony was required.     

Mechanism of azole antifungal activity as determined by liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric monitoring of ergosterol biosynthesis

A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method for separation and characterization of ergosterol biosynthetic precursors was developed to study the effect of Posaconazole on sterol biosynthesis in fungi. Ergosterol biosynthetic precursors were characterized from their electron ionization mass spectra acquired by a normal-phase chromatography, particle beam LC/MS method. Fragment ions resulting from cleavage across the D-ring and an abundant M - 15 fragment ion were diagnostic for methyl substitution at C-4 and C-14. Comparison of the sterol profile in control and treated Candida albicans incubations showed depletion of ergosterol and accumulation of C-4 and C-14 methyl-substituted sterols following treatment with Posaconazole. These C-4 and C-14 methyl sterols are known to be incapable of sustaining cell growth. The results demonstrate that Posaconazole exerts its antifungal activity by inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis. Furthermore, Posaconazole appears to disrupt ergosterol biosynthesis by inhibition of lanosterol 14alpha-demethylase.     

Trigonal-planare CuX3-Gruppen in Cu2Mo6X14, X = Cl,Br, I

Trigonal Planar CuX₃-Groups in Cu₂Mo₆X₁₄, X = Cl, Br, I Cu₂Mo₆Cl₁₄ (I), Cu₂Mo₆Br₁₄ (II) and Cu₂Mo₆I₁₄ (III) were synthesized by thermal treatment of corresponding mixtures of copper(I) and molybdenum(II) halides. The crystal structures were determined by single crystal X-ray analyses. I and II show isotypism, cubic, Pn3 (no. 201, sec. setting), Z = 4, I: a = 12.772(3) Å, II: a = 13.350(2) Å. III shows a new structural type, orthorhombic, Pbca (No. 61), Z = 4, a = 16.058(3) Å, b = 10.643(2) Å, c = 16.963(3) Å. Trigonal planar CuX₃ units were found in I? III. Structural behaviour relations are discussed, especially with regard to ionic conductivity.     

Linear silver clusters in aqueous solution (clusterites): radiation-induced chemical synthesis and properties

The formation and properties of the products of the radiation-induced chemical reduction of silver ions in aqueous solutions containing sodium polyacrylate were investigated. The absorption spectra of these species exhibit a band at 290 mn and a band in the visible region. The latter shifts from 470 nm to -800 nm with time or after the addition of silver ions. The species obtained (clusterites) arc linear silver clusters bound to the carboxyl groups of the ion exchanger. The red shift of the visible band is due to the increase in their size. The mechanism of the formation and the structure of the clusterites are discussed.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1429–1435, June, 1996.     

Triterpenoids from plants of the genus Tamarix

The taraxeran-14-ene-type triterpenoids methyl 3-β-al-D-fridoolean-14-en-28-oate (1), 3-α-[3″,4′-dihydroxytrans-cinnamoyl]-oxy-D-fridoolean-14-en-28-oic acid (2), and β-sitosterol (3) were isolated from the aerial part of plants from the genus Tamarix (T. laxa, T. elongata) (Tamaricaceae). The structures of the triterpenoids were proved using spectral data (IR, UV, PMR, ¹³C NMR, 2D NMR ¹H-¹H COSY, HMQC, HMBC, mass). Compound 1 is new and not previously described in the literature. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 271–273, May–June, 2006.     

Nets and generalized quadrangles

There is a new method of constructing generalized quadrangles (GQs) given by S. Löwe, which is based on covering of nets; all GQs with a regular point can be represented in this way. Here we give a method of constructing GQs with a regular point using the so-called content functions on nets. In the last part of the paper we lay the foundations for a research project aiming to use the more general notion of content to classify GQs and maybe to construct new ones.Both authors acknowledge the financial support by CRUI and DAAD in the frame of Programma Vigoni, which made this work possible.