Irradiation-induced reduction and luminescence properties of Sm doped in BaBPO5

Usually, Sm²⁺ ions could be reduced by heating the materials in reducing atmospheres. Exposure to ionizing radiations is also known to cause Sm³⁺→Sm²⁺ conversion. In this work, BaBPO₅ doped with the samarium ion was prepared by high temperature solid-state reaction. Sm²⁺ ions were obtained by two different reduction methods, i.e., heating in H₂ reduced atmosphere and X-ray irradiation. The measurements of X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were investigated. It is found that the conversion of Sm³⁺→Sm²⁺ is very efficient in BaBPO₅ hosts after X-ray irradiation. Sm²⁺ ions under these two reduction methods exhibit different characteristics that were studied by measurements of luminescence and decay. The results showed that the luminescence properties of Sm²⁺ ions in BaBPO₅ were highly dependent on the sample preparation conditions.     

Selective extraction of mercury by 4-phenyl-5-p-tolyl-1,3,4-thiadiazolium-2-thiolate (PTTDT)

The extraction of radio-mercury(II) by PTTDT was investigated as function of diluent, hydrochloric acid concentration, extractant concentration and certain foreign compounds in the aqueous phase. The extraction was found to be quantitative when chloroform was used as diluent and at low HCl or high PTTDT concentrations. Neither the presence of boric acid, nor several metal salts (NaF, CuSO₄, ZnSO₄ or Na₂SO₄) had any effect on the E%. The presence of chloride or bromide lowers the E% considerably. A radiochemical procedure was developed to pre-concentrate mercury from artifical sea water using an organic: aqueous phase ratio of 1∶100.     

(Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitrile as a chiral dienophile: diels-alder reactions with furan and acyclic dienes

The behavior of (Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitrile (1) as a chiral dienophile has been evaluated from its reactions with furan and acyclic dienes. Electrostatic interactions of the cyano group with the sulfinyl one restrict the conformational mobility around the C-S bond, thus controlling the pi-facial selectivity, which is almost complete in all cases, the approach of the diene from the less-hindered face of the dienophile (that bearing the lone electron pair) in the predominant rotamer being the favored one. The regioselectivity is also completely controlled by the cyano group. Additionally, the reactivity of compound 1 as well as its endo-selectivity are both higher than those observed for the corresponding (Z)-3-sulfinylacrylates, thus proving the potential of sulfinylnitriles as chiral dienophiles.     

Studies on tetrachlorodithizone isomers and their applications to the extraction of metal ions

Six isomeric tetrachlorodithizones were synthesized and their electronic and i.r. spectra were measured. Their acid dissociation constants and partition coefficients between 0.5 M NaClO₄ solution and carbon tetrachloride are reported. Their extraction equilibria with Cd(II). Co(II), Cu(II), Hg(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Tl(I), Zn(II) and Bi(III) and the spectrophotometric characteristics of the complexes formed are described. The 3,3',4,4'-tetrachloro isomer is spectrophotometrically more sensitive than dithizone for Zn, Pb, Hg(II) and Bi(III) whereas the 2,2',3,3'- and 2,2',5,5'-isomers are more sensitive for copper ions. For most of the metals tested, the tetrachlorodithizones allowed quantitative extraction at lower pH than is possible with dithizone.     

Studies with dithizone analogues-II Preparation and characterization of 2,2'-dichlorodithizone and the investigation of its reactions with some metal ions

1,5-Di-(2-chlorophenyl)-3-mercaptoformazan (2,2'-dichlorodithizone) has been synthesized and characterized. Its acid dissociation constant and its partition coefficient between carbon tetrachloride and water have been determined. The introduction of chlorine atoms into the ortho positions of the phenyl nuclei of dithizone was found to affect the visible electronic spectra of the reagent and its metal complexes. The ranges of pH for complete extraction, and the extraction constants, for the Hg(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) complexes have been determined. The stability constants of the Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes were also determined. Discrepancies between the present extensive data and the corresponding earlier data have been attributed to use of impure materials and/or inaccuracy of measurements in the earlier work.     

Narrow band quantitative and multivariate electroencephalogram analysis of peri-adolescent period

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The peri-adolescent period is a crucial developmental moment of transition from childhood to emergent adulthood. The present report analyses the differences in Power Spectrum (PS) of the Electroencephalogram (EEG) between late childhood (24 children between 8 and 13 years old) and young adulthood (24 young adults between 18 and 23 years old). RESULTS: The narrow band analysis of the Electroencephalogram was computed in the frequency range of 0--20 Hz. The analysis of mean and variance suggested that six frequency ranges presented a different rate of maturation at these ages, namely: low delta, delta-theta, low alpha, high alpha, low beta and high beta. For most of these bands the maturation seems to occur later in anterior sites than posterior sites. Correlational analysis showed a lower pattern of correlation between different frequencies in children than in young adults, suggesting a certain asynchrony in the maturation of different rhythms. The topographical analysis revealed similar topographies of the different rhythms in children and young adults. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated the same internal structure for the Electroencephalogram of both age groups. Principal Component Analysis allowed to separate four subcomponents in the alpha range. All these subcomponents peaked at a lower frequency in children than in young adults. CONCLUSIONS: The present approaches complement and solve some of the incertitudes when the classical brain broad rhythm analysis is applied. Children have a higher absolute power than young adults for frequency ranges between 0-20 Hz, the correlation of Power Spectrum (PS) with age and the variance age comparison showed that there are six ranges of frequencies that can distinguish the level of EEG maturation in children and adults. The establishment of maturational order of different frequencies and its possible maturational interdependence would require a complete series including all the different ages.     

Influence of ligands on the photoluminescent properties of Eu in europium β-diketonate/PMMA-doped systems

Three kinds of europium β-diketonates Eu(DBM)₃, Eu(BA)₃ and Eu(TTA)₃ (DBM: Dibenzoylmethane; BA: 1-Benzoylacetone; TTA: Thenoyltrifluoroacetone) were doped in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix. The doped systems were studied by using photoluminescent (PL) spectroscopy, emission decay experiments and X-ray diffractometry. Eu(III) ions in the doped Eu(DBM)₃/PMMA systems have two distinct symmetric sites and the emission band changes greatly with the compositions. Eu(III) in the Eu(BA)₃/PMMA systems gives only one symmetric site in the doped systems and the emission band changes slightly with the compositions. Although two distinct symmetric sites of Eu(III) can be distinguished in the doped systems of Eu(TTA)₃/PMMA, the two sites have similar ⁵D₀ lifetimes and the luminescent spectra almost do not change with the compositions. XRD reveals that crystallites were formed in the doped Eu(DBM)₃/PMMA systems that have different crystalline structure from that of the chelate, and Eu(BA)₃ and Eu(TTA)₃ exist in amorphous state in the doped systems. The difference between the PL properties and structures of the doped systems for the three kinds of chelates should be attributed to different interactions between the chelate molecules and between the chelate and PMMA.     

Lasonolide A: structural revision and total synthesis

The proposed structure of lasonolide A was synthesized employing radical cyclization reactions of beta-alkoxyacrylates for preparation of the tetrahydropyranyl units A and B, but the spectroscopic data did not match those of the natural product. Both enantiomers of a revised structure featuring 17E,25Z double bonds were synthesized, and the (-)-isomer was found to be the biologically active enantiomer.