Synthesis of non-agglomerated Ba<Subscript>0.77</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.23</Subscript>TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanopowders by a modified polymeric precursor method

In this work, we have studied the influence of the pH on the synthesis and structural properties of the Ba_0.77Ca_0.23TiO₃ nanopowders synthesized by a modified polymeric precursor method, in order to achieve non-agglomerated powders. Synthesis, morphology, thermal reactions, crystallite and average particle size of the synthesized powders were investigated through thermal analysis (DTA/TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and Infrared spectroscopy. In summary, Ba_0.77Ca_0.23TiO₃ nanopowders were synthesized for the first time at a relative low temperature (500 °C). It was also found that the alkalinity and acidity of the solution presented a great influence on the powder properties. The best results were obtained from solutions with pH = 8.5 and 11 whose nanopowders presented weakly agglomerate, with homogeneous particle size and a narrow size distribution (30–40 nm). This behavior could be explained based on the FT-IR results in which it was possible to see the increased of the chelation in higher pHs.     

Nitrite formation in aerated aqueous azide solutions: A radiation chemical study

Gamma radiolysis of oxygenated 1–10 mM azide solutions was carried out at various pH values. In oxygenated 10 mM azide solutions, H₂O₂ and NO ₂ ⁻ were observed as radiolytic products while NH3 was not. The concentration of H₂O₂ reached its maximum level at a dose of 1 kGy, whereas NO ₂ ⁻ yield increased non-linearly beyond 2 kGy in this system. Both in aerated and oxygenated systems, G(NO ₂ ⁻ ) and G(H₂O₂) were found to vary with N ₃ ⁻ concentration. The yield of NO ₂ ⁻ was found to be dependent on both dose rate and pH. On pulse radiolysis, NO ₂ ⁻ was found as a radiolytic product in aerated 1 mM azide solution at pH 6.8. In this system the intermediate generated exhibits absorbance around 250 nm. The overall results obtained during the present study reveal that in presence of both reducing radical (mainly e _aq ⁻ ) and oxygen, N ₃ ⁻ produced an intermediate possibly NH₂O ₂ ^• radical, which is the prime source for NO ₂ ⁻ generation.     

Comparative study on the synthesis, photoluminescence and application in InGaN-based light-emitting diodes of TAG:Ce phosphors

Cerium-doped terbium aluminum garnet phosphors, Tb₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ (TAG:Ce³⁺), were prepared with different methods: co-precipitation (CP), half dry-half wet (HDHW), sol-combustion (SC) and Pechini method plus conventional solid state reaction (SS) method. Comparative study on the phase-formation, particle size, morphologies and luminescent characteristics of the phosphors synthesized with different methods was carried out by means of XRD, FE-SEM and photoluminescence (PL) analysis and SC method was confirmed by the comparison of the results to be an easy and an effective process for preparing efficient and nano-sized Tb₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ phosphors. Various factors influencing particle size, morphology and PL of the phosphors, such as precursor preparation, reaction temperature and heating time, were also investigated. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were fabricated with each phosphor and a ∼460 nm emitting InGaN chip. The LEDs from SS, HDHW and CP exhibit strong white emission while those from SC and Pechini emit yellow, revealing that the emission characteristics of LEDs are influenced not only by the morphology and the particle size of the phosphors, but also by the preparing process of the phosphors.     

A New Tool in Peptide Engineering: A Photoswitchable Stilbene‐type β‐Hairpin Mimetic

Peptide secondary structure mimetics are important tools in medicinal chemistry, as they provide analogues of endogenous peptides with new physicochemical and pharmacological properties. The development, synthesis, photochemical investigation, and conformational analysis of a stilbene‐type β‐hairpin mimetic capable of light‐triggered conformational changes have been achieved. In addition to standard spectroscopic techniques (nuclear Overhauser effects, amide temperature coefficients, circular dichroism spectroscopy), the applicability of self‐diffusion measurements (longitudinal eddy current delay pulsed‐field gradient spin echo (LED‐PGSE) NMR technique) in conformational studies of oligopeptides is demonstrated. The title compound shows photoisomerization of the stilbene chromophore, resulting in a change in solution conformation between an unfolded structure and a folded β‐hairpin.     

3-Nitro-2-naphthalenemethanol: a photocleavable protecting group for carboxylic acids

Photocleavable protecting groups are important in synthesis and caging. Among many such groups, 2-nitrobenzyl and related groups have been found useful in many applications. However, most of the known 2-nitrobenzyl-based caging chromophores show either low quantum yield or the photolysis wavelength is not suitable for various applications. In this paper, we report 2-nitro-3-naphthalenemethanol (NNM) as an efficient photocleavable protecting group for molecules containing a carboxylic function. NNM possesses photochemical properties better than the 2-nitrobenzyl chromophores as it is photoactivatable at 380 nm in aqueous medium (CH₃CN/H₂O, 3:2 v/v) showing the desired photochemistry. The carboxylic acids are efficiently photoreleased from NNM-based esters in almost quantitative yield.     

Selective oxidation of octadecan-1-ol to octadecanoic acid over Co3O4/SiO2 catalysts

Factors (reaction temperature, reaction time, flow rate of oxygen, amount of catalyst, etc.) influencing the catalytic properties of Co₃O₄/SiO₂catalyst in the oxidation octadecan-1-ol to octadecanoic acid were investigated. The catalysts were characterized by means of XRD, FT-IR and N₂-adsorption. The experimental results indicate that under the optimal condition the selectivity to octadecanoic acid reached 97.5 % over 5 % Co₃O₄/SiO₂ catalyst.This revised version was published online in December 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Substituent-dependent reactivity in the photodimerization of N-substituted dibenz[b,f]azepines

The photoprocesses of a series of N-substituted dibenz[b,f]azepines (iminostilbenes) were studied by absorption and emission spectroscopy, by laser flash photolysis, and by preparative irradiation with NMR analysis. In solutions, 2pi+2pi photodimers of N-cyano and N-acyl dibenzazepines are formed via the triplet state upon acetone- or benzophenone-sensitized energy transfer. T-T absorption spectra were measured and absorption coefficients were determined. The triplet energy transfer is equally efficient for N-alkyl dibenzazepines, which do not dimerize. Excited states of npi* character in the latter cases are discussed to rationalize the different reactivities. In spite of negligible intersystem crossing of 21 dibenzazepine derivatives, photodimers of N-acyl and N-cyano dibenzazepines are formed upon direct excitation in concentrated solutions (0.01-0.1 mol dm(-3)) as well as in the solid state. A selective anti-configuration of the photodimers was found throughout.     

3-Cyanopyridine-2(1H)-thiones and 3-cyano-2-(methylthio)pyridines in the synthesis of substituted 3-(aminomethyl)pyridines

The reactions of substituted 3-cyanopyridine-2(1H)-thiones and 3-cyano-2-(methylthio)pyridines with lithium aluminum hydride in anhydrous diethyl ether afforded the corresponding 3-aminomethyl derivatives, which were used in the synthesis of the corresponding amides.     

CO Oxidation on Cu/MgO-SiO2 Sol-Gel Derived Catalysts

Sol-gel Cu//MgOSiO₂ catalysts were prepared gelling tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), magnesium ethoxide and copper acetylacetonate at pH 3 and pH 9. The catalysts shown specific surface areas ca. 500 m²/g and 140 m²/g for pH 9 and pH 3 preparations respectively. Si(OH) and Si(OH)₂ hydroxy groups were observed by MAS-RMN spectroscopy in both preparations. CO₂-TPD and NH₃-TPD desorption thermograms showed that acid and basic sites were formed on the catalysts surface. It has been found that the catalysts having the highest density of basic sites were the catalysts showing the highest activity for the CO oxidation. It is proposed that the catalytic activity depends of the relative Cu⁼¹/Cu⁼² stability given by the support acidity.     

Analysis of the effect of the electronic structure of the Cl atom in complexes of chlorides of group IV elements on Cl NQR frequency and asymmetry parameter

Analysis of changes in ³⁵Cl NQR frequency of complexes MCl₄.L and MCl₄.2L for M = Si, Ge, Sn and Ti was performed. The population of the atomic orbitals was calculated by the quantum chemistry methods PM3 and INDO. The results provided an explanation of the changes in ³⁵Cl NQR frequency and the asymmetry parameter upon complex formation. In the complexes of non-transition elements, a decrease in ³⁵Cl NQR frequency is first of all related to increasing population of p_z orbitals on Cl atoms. In the complexes of Ti, the increase in ³⁵Cl NQR frequency depends on a decrease in the p_π to d_π electron density transfer.