NDMAP: the best material to study the Haldane's prediction

As predicted by Haldane, spin, S=1 one-dimensional (1D) Heisenberg antiferromagnet (HAF) has an energy gap between the singlet ground state and first excited triplet. On application of magnetic field, the triplet state Zeeman splits and the energy of one of the triplet state becomes zero at a critical field, H_c. Above H_c the system recovers magnetism. Then, we expect that a quasi-1D HAF will show a magnetic long-range ordering (LRO) at low temperatures due to the inter-chain coupling. This field-induced LRO has not been observed before due to complication of the crystal structure in the materials studied so far and/or technical difficulty.From a heat capacity measurement on a single crystal of an S=1 quasi-Q1D HAF, Ni(C₅H₁₄N₂)₂N₃(PF₆), we found an anomaly at a temperature in finite fields indicating a field-induced phase transition. A magnetic LRO is confirmed by a neutron diffraction measurement on the same sample. The temperature versus magnetic field phase diagram of this compound is constructed and discussed.     

Intake of different chemical species of dietary arsenic by the japanese,and their blood and urinary arsenic levels

We calculated the intake of each chemical species of dietary arsenic by typical Japanese, and determined urinary and blood levels of each chemical species of arsenic. The mean total arsenic intake by 35 volunteers was 195±235 (15.8-1039) μg As day^?1, composed of 76% trimethylated arsenic (TMA), 17.3% inorganic arsenic (As_i), 5.8% dimethylated arsenic (DMA), and 0.8% monomethylated arsenic (MA): the intake of TMA was the largest of all the measured species. Intake of As_i characteristically and invariably occurred in each meal. Of the intake of As_i, 45-75% was methylated in vivo to form MA and DMA, and excreted in these forms into urine. The mean measured urinary total arsenic level in 56 healthy volunteers was 129±92.0 μg As dm^?3, composed of 64.6% TMA, 26.7% DMA, 6.7% As_i and 2.2% MA. The mean blood total arsenic level in the 56 volunteers was 0.73±0.57 μg dl^?1, composed of 73% TMA, 14% DMA and 9.6% As_i. The urinary TMA levels proved to be significantly correlated with the whole-blood TMA levels (r = 0.376; P<0.01).     

Complexes in polymers IV. FTIR microscopic characterization of thin organic polymer films containing embedded transition-metal carbonyl complexes

Thin films of polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene-polyacrylonitrile copolymer (PS-AN), containing various embedded transition-metal complexes, have been studied by FTIR microscopy. The spatial distributions of the transition-metal carbonyl complexes throughout the thin organic polymer films have been determined by a two-dimensional IR mapping procedure. The spectral variations observed in the distribution of the metal carbonyls throughout the different polymer films are discussed. The IR data show that the technique used to prepare the organometallic-embedded thin films (viz. freeze-drying of solutions followed by hot mechanical pressing of the residues) does in general lead to homogeneous films which may eventually find industrial application, e.g. as membrane sensors for small molecules.     

Mechanism of the reaction of neutral and anionic N-nucleophiles with α-halocarbonyl compounds

N-Acylalkylation of neutral and anionic N-nucleophiles with α-halocarbonyl compounds was investigated by quantum chemical methods in terms of the density functional theory and by experimental methods for 2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-1(10)H-5-one, its N-anion, and simpler model structures. High reactivity of these reagents is determined primarily by stabilization of transition states (TS) by bridge bonds involving halogen or nitrogen atoms rather than by conjugation, as has been commonly accepted. Bridged TS are formed by both the substitution mechanism S _N 2 and the addition-elimination mechanism. α-Haloalkyl-substituted zwitterions, which are potential intermediates of stepwise N-acylalkylation of neutral N-nucleophiles, do not exist in the isolated state, but they are rather efficiently stabilized upon solvation. These zwitterions, as well as analogous O-anions generated from anionic N-nucleophiles, can serve as intermediates of N-acylalkylation, as was demonstrated by localization of the corresponding TS. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 6, pp. 1150–1164, June, 2007.     

A comparative study on the interaction between tin(II) porphyrin and selected group 8B metals for potential application as reduction catalysts

We study the interaction between tin(II) porphyrin (SnPor) with platinum and non-precious Group 8B metals (iron, cobalt and nickel) by density functional theory and discuss the electronic properties of the resulting products. We also model the interaction of the resulting compounds with water where applicable. Our studies indicate that, SnPor-Ni possesses electronic properties similar to SnPor-Pt, suggesting that it may possess similar photocatalytic properties for reduction reactions, such as converting water to hydrogen gas.     

Scientific legacy of Stanley Ruby

Stanley L. Ruby (1924–2004) made major contributions to Mössbauer spectroscopy and was the first to suggest the feasibility of observing the Mössbauer effect using synchrotron radiation. In this article we recall his scientific legacy that have inspired his scientific colleagues.     

Imidazol(in)ium carboxylates as N-heterocyclic carbene ligand precursors for Suzuki-Miyaura reactions

Simple catalysts formed in situ from palladium acetate and a variety of imidazolium and imidazolinium carboxylates and dithiocarboxylates have been screened in the coupling of aryl halides with trans-2-phenylvinylboronic acid. Imidazol(in)ium carboxylates show an excellent activity, which compares to that displayed by the parent imidazol(in)ium chlorides, whereas imidazol(in)ium dithiocarboxylates are poorly efficient. Interestingly, the base employed exerts a profound influence on the trans/cis stereochemistry of the coupling product.     

Optical spectroscopy of Yb/Er codoped NaY(WO4)2 crystal

Erbium and ytterbium codoped double tungstates NaY(WO₄)₂ crystals were prepared by using Czochralski (CZ) pulling method. The absorption spectra in the region 290-2000 nm have been recorded at room temperature. The Judd-Ofelt theory was applied to the measured values of absorption line strengths to evaluate the spontaneous emission probabilities and stimulated emission cross sections of Er³⁺ ions in NaY(WO₄)₂ crystals. Intensive green and red lights were measured when the sample were pumped by a 974 nm laser diode (LD), especially, the intensities of green upconversion luminescence are very strong. The mechanism of energy transfer from Yb³⁺ to Er³⁺ ions was analyzed. Energy transfer and nonradiative relaxation played an important role in the upconversion process. Photoexcited luminescence experiments are also fulfilled to help analyzing the transit processes of the energy levels.