Infrared spectroscopy and outer product analysis for quantification of fat, nitrogen, and moisture of cocoa powder

The combination of the near infrared (NIR) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) absorbance spectra (1100-2500 nm and 4000-600 cm⁻¹) of 100 cocoa powder samples was used to build calibration models for the determination of the content of fat, nitrogen, and moisture. The samples that comprised the dataset had an average composition of 13.51% of fat, 3.77% nitrogen, and 3.98% moisture. The fat content ranged from 2.42 to 22.00%, the nitrogen from 0.88 to 4.48%, and moisture from 1.60 to 7.80%. For NIR, the relative root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) was 7.0% (R² = 0.96) for fat, 1.7% (R² = 0.98) for nitrogen, and 5.2% (R² = 0.94) for moisture. For FTIR, the relative RMSECV was 10.4% (R² = 0.94) for fat and 3.9% (R² = 0.95) for nitrogen. However, for moisture, it was not possible to build a calibration model with suitable predictability. The combination of the NIR and FTIR domains (data fusion) by outer product analysis PLS1 allowed to predict these parameters and to characterise frequencies in one domain based on the information of the other domain. This work allows to conclude that the second derivative of NIR is the recommended procedure to quantify fat, nitrogen, and moisture content in cocoa powders by infrared spectroscopy.     

Assembly of infinite silver(I) columns, chains, and bridged aggregates with supramolecular synthon bearing substituted phenylethynides

Structural correlation in a series of eight silver(I) complexes bearing substituted phenylethynide ligands was systematically investigated through variation of the position or steric bulk of substituents on the aromatic ring. All coordination frameworks are constructed with the supramolecular synthon Ar--C triple bond C superset Ag(n) (Ar=4-MeC6H4, 3-MeC6H4, 2-MeC6H4, 4-tBuC6H4, 3,5-(CF3)2C6H3; n=4, 5), and the presence of coexisting ligands was found to influence the supramolecular assembly. The role of pi-pi stacking, C--Hpi and Ag-C(aromatic) interactions in stabilizing the coordination networks is also discussed.     

From molecule to bulk material: optical properties of hydrogen-bonded dimers [C12H12N4O2AgPF6]2 and [C28H28N6O3AgPF6]2 depend on the arrangement of the oxime moieties

The dependence of the optical properties of [C(12)H(12)N(4)O(2)AgPF(6)](2) (dimer-1) and [C(28)H(28)N(6)O(3)AgPF(6)](2) (dimer-2) on the arrangement of the oxime moieties in the molecule and in bulk crystals was investigated by means of time-dependent density functional theory. Dimer-1 with simple pyridine oxime ligands and a wavy arrangement has a smaller dipole moment and larger transition energy between the two states, and thus smaller third-order polarizabilities and two-photon absorption cross sections. Dimer-2 with extended pyridine oxime ligands and a ladder arrangement has a larger dipole moment and smaller transition energy between the two states, and thus larger third-order polarizabilities and two-photon absorption cross sections. The lowest energy absorption band is red-shifted for dimer-2 as compared with dimer-1, due to more pronounced pi-pi delocalization interactions and weaker hydrogen bonding in dimer-2. The electronic absorption spectra, frequency-dependent third-order polarizabilities, and two-photon absorption cross sections involve significant contributions from charge transfers from pi/pi* orbitals of the pyridine oxime ligands but no contribution from PF(6) (-) ions or H(2)O molecules in the wavelength range studied for the monomers and dimers of the C(12)H(12)N(4)O(2)AgPF(6) and C(28)H(28)N(6)O(3)AgPF(6) molecules. The third-order susceptibilities and two-photon absorption coefficients of bulk solids were estimated on the basis of the optical properties of the corresponding dimers, and the bulk material constructed from dimer-2 has the larger optical parameters of the two.     

Dynamics and counterion-dependence of the structures of weakly bound Ag+-P4S3 complexes

In an earlier publication (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002 , 124, 7111) we showed that polymeric cationic [Ag(P₄S₃)_n]⁺ complexes (n=1, 2) are accessible if partnered with a suitable weakly coordinating counterion of the type [Al(OR^F)₄]^? (OR^F: poly‐ or perfluorinated alkoxide). The present work addresses the following questions that could not be answered in the initial report: How many P₄S₃ cages can be bound to a Ag⁺ ion? Why are these complexes completely dynamic in solution in the ³¹P NMR experiments? Can these dynamics be frozen out in a low‐temperature ³¹P MAS NMR experiment? What are the principal binding sites of the P₄S₃ cage towards the Ag⁺ ion? What are likely other isomers on the [Ag(P₄S₃)_n]⁺ potential energy surface? Counterion influence: Reactions of P₄S₃ with Ag[Al{OC(CH₃)(CF₃)₂}₄] (Ag[hftb]) and Ag[{(CF₃)₃CO}₃Al‐F‐Al{OC(CF₃)₃)}₃] (Ag[al‐f‐al]) gave [(P₄S₃)Ag[hftb]]_∞ ( 7 ) as a molecular species, whereas [Ag₂(P₄S₃)₆]²⁺[al‐f‐al]^?₂ ( 8 ) is an isolated 2:1 salt. We suggest that a maximum of three P₄S₃ cages may be bound on average to an Ag⁺ ion. Only isolated dimeric dications are formed with the largest cation, but polymeric species are obtained with all other smaller aluminates. Thermodynamic Born–Haber cycles, DFT calculations, as well as solution NMR and ESI mass spectrometry indicate that 8 exhibits an equilibrium between the dication [Ag₂(P₄S₃)₆]²⁺ (in the solid state) and two [Ag(P₄S₃)₃]⁺ monocations (in the gas phase and in solution). Dynamics: ³¹P MAS NMR spectroscopy showed these solid adducts to be highly dynamic, to an extent that the ²J_P,P coupling within the cages could be resolved (J‐res experiment). This is supported by DFT calculations, which show that the extended PES of [Ag(P₄S₃)_n]⁺ (n=1–3) and [Ag₂(P₄S₃)₂]⁺ is very flat. The structures of α‐ and γ‐P₄S₃ were redetermined. Their variable‐temperature ³¹P MAS NMR spectra are discussed jointly with those of all four currently known [Ag(P₄S₃)_n]⁺ adducts with n=1, 2, and 3.     

Tryptophan-based peptides to synthesize gold and silver nanoparticles: a mechanistic and kinetic study

Synthetic oligopeptides with a tryptophan residue at the C-terminus have been used for the synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles at pH 11. The tryptophan residue in the peptides is responsible for the reduction of metal ions to the respective metals, possibly through electron transfer. A mechanistic pathway has been proposed to explain the reductive properties of the tryptophan moiety of the peptide based on some spectroscopic techniques, such as UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. This study reveals that some of the peptide molecules are converted to its corresponding ditryptophan, kynurenine form and some cross-linked products, all of which are highly fluorescent species. The resultant peptide-functionalized metal nanoparticles have also been characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform IR spectroscopy and thermogravimatric analysis.     

Silver versus gold catalysis in tandem reactions of carbonyl functions onto alkynes: a versatile access to furoquinoline and pyranoquinoline cores

An efficient and versatile tandem process of acetalization and cycloisomerization reactions has been developed for the reactions of 1-alkynyl-2-carbonylquinoline substrates. The reaction occurs thanks to Au(I) and Ag(I) catalysis. Silver(I) catalysis has been extensively studied (11 different silver species) on a broad range of quinoline derivatives (variation of alkyne substituent, of carbonyl function and of nucleophiles), leading to a variety of furoquinoline and pyranoquinoline moieties. An insight is given for the presumed mechanism along with DFT-B3 LYP/6-31G** calculations to address the 6-endo and 5-exo regioselectivities observed.     

Crystal chemistry of the G-phases in the {Ti, Zr, Hf}-Ni-Si systems

Ternary compounds M₆Ni₁₆Si₇ (M=Ti, Zr, Hf) have been investigated by X-ray powder/single crystal and neutron powder diffraction. Compounds with Zr and Hf crystallize in the ordered Th₆Mn₂₃ type (Mg₆Cu₁₆Si₇-type, space group ), whereas Ti₆Ni_16.7Si₇ contains an additional Ni atom partially occupying the 24e site (M2 site, x=0.4637,0,0; occ.=0.119) inside a Ti octahedron; Ti atoms occupy a split position. Ti₆Ni_16.7Si₇ represents a new variant of the filled Th₆Mn₂₃ type structure. Ab initio calculations confirm the structural difference: additional Ni atoms favour the 24e site for Ti₆Ni_16.7Si₇, however, for the Zr and Hf-based compounds the unoccupied site renders an energetically lower ground state. Enthalpies of formation of Ti₆Ni₁₇Si₇, Zr₆Ni₁₆Si₇, and Hf₆Ni₁₆Si₇ were calculated to be −68.65, −74.78, and −78.59 kJ/(mol of atoms), respectively.     

高温高压下纳米金刚石粉的特性研究

 研究了炸药爆轰合成的纳米金刚石粉在高温（约1 600 K）、高压（5.2 GPa）条件下的行为。将纳米金刚石粉与粉末合金（Ni₇₀Mn₂₅Co₅、100^#）混合、压制成圆片,与合金片 （Ni₇₀Mn₂₅Co₅）和人造石墨片一起交替放入高温高压合成腔体内,进行高温高压实验。实验结果表明：在高温高压条件下,纳米金刚石粉不能长大,反而石墨化了;在相同的高压和保温时间条件下,随着温度的降低,纳米金刚石粉的石墨化程度减弱,纳米金刚石粉的纳米颗粒长大,可长成0.1 mm尺寸的金刚石颗粒（温度为1 070 K左右）。而在此条件下,人造石墨不能合成金刚石,一般金刚石晶体要变成石墨相。这进一步表明,纳米金刚石颗粒表面的活性使得它可以在较低的温度下长成较大颗粒的金刚石。     

金刚石粉末淀积层的场发射特性研究

采用电镀方法和直接刷涂的方法在钨针衬底和硅衬底上沉积高压合成的金刚石粉末形成冷阴极。将这种冷阴极与荧光阳极组成真空二极管结构。通过该结构电流-电压特性的测量和发光特性的观察研究了金刚石粉末冷阴极的电子场发射性能。实验显示,这些冷阴极都具有很高的电子发射能力,最低开启场强达到3．25V／μm。用热电正反馈和电导调制效应解释厂电子场发射点呈随机分布的现象。     

由抑制剂引起的高反差机理研究

本文利用吸附曲线及电化学的方法,研究了一系列抑制剂在银及溴化银上的吸附行为,将这些吸附性质与显影过程中相应的抑制剂存在时的显影结果对比,实验表明:只有当抑制剂在银上为中等的吸附,而在溴化银上吸附很小时,才可能利用抑制剂达到高反差。相应的机理及抑制剂在银上的吸附性质在文中也作了讨论。