Study of the peak effect phenomenon in single crystals of 2H-NbSe2

The weakly pinned single crystals of the hexagonal 2H-NbSe₂ compound have emerged as prototypes for determining and characterizing the phase boundaries of the possible order-disorder transformations in the vortex matter. We present here a status report based on the ac and dc magnetization measurements of the peak effect phenomenon in three crystals of 2H-NbSe₂, in which the critical current densities vary over two orders of magnitude. We sketch the generic vortex phase diagram of a weakly pinned superconductor, which also utilizes theoretical proposals. We also establish the connection between the metastability effects and pinning.     

Shaping Solid-State Supramolecular Cavities: Chemically Induced Accordionlike Movement of gamma-Zirconium Phosphate Containing Polyethylenoxide Pillars

The hydrophilic oxygen atoms of polyethylenoxide chains inserted as pillars in gamma-zirconium phosphate form hydrogen bonds with the acid groups of the host. As a result the pillars are almost perpendicular to the gamma layers. Upon changing the pH level of the supernatant solution the hydrogen bonds are broken and the pillars become almost perpendicular to the layers (shown schematically). Thus there is a reversible enlargement-shortening of the interlayer space.     

Reactions of C(6)F(5)Li with tetracyclone and 3-ferrocenyl-2,4, 5-triphenylcyclopentadienone: An (19)F NMR and X-ray crystallographic study of hindered pentafluorophenyl rotations

Tetracyclone, 2a, reacts with C(6)F(5)Li to yield 2-pentafluorophenyl-2,3,4,5-tetraphenylcyclopent-3-en-1-one, 7, and 5-hydroxy-5-pentafluorophenyl-1,2,3,4-tetraphenylcyclopentadiene, 8, as the result of 1,6 and 1,2 additions, respectively. In contrast, treatment of 3-ferrocenyl-2,4,5-triphenylcyclopentadienone, 2b, with lithiopentafluorobenzene leads to 4-ferrocenyl-4-pentafluorophenyl-2, 3,5-triphenylcyclopent-2-en-1-one, 9, and 5-hydroxy-5-pentafluorophenyl-2-ferrocenyl-1,3, 4-triphenylcyclopentadiene, 10, the products of 1,4 and 1,2 addition, respectively. The structures of 7-9 have been established by X-ray crystallography, and the barriers to rotation (19-21 kcal mol(-)(1)) of the pentafluorophenyl groups in 8-10 have been studied by variable-temperature (19)F NMR. Nucleophilic attack at the ferrocenyl-bearing carbon in 2b is rationalized in terms of a zwitterionic structure in which the positive charge of the "cyclopentadienyl cation" is delocalized onto the iron atom in the organometallic substituent.     

Identification of 5-fluoro-5-deoxy-D-ribose-1-phosphate as an intermediate in fluorometabolite biosynthesis in Streptomyces cattleya

5'-Fluoro-5'-deoxy-D-ribose-1-phosphate (FDRP) is identified as a biosynthetic intermediate during fluorometabolite biosynthesis in Streptomyces cattleya.     

Organometallic SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators): Cobaltifens, the (cyclobutadiene)cobalt analogues of hydroxytamoxifen

The McMurry coupling of (tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt(cyclopentadienyl) ketones, (C₄Ph₄)Co[C₅H₄C(O)R], where R = Me, 3a, or Et, 3b, with a range of substituted benzophenones furnished a series of cobaltifens, organometallic analogues of tamoxifen whereby a phenyl ring has been replaced by an organo-cobalt sandwich moiety. These systems of the general formula (η⁴-C₄Ph₄)Co[η⁵-C₅H₄C(R)C(Ar)Ar′], where R = Me or Et, and Ar = Ar′ = p-C₆H₄X where X is OH, 2a and 2b, OMe, 2c and 2d, OBn, 2e and 2f, or O(CH₂)₂NMe₂, 12a and 12b, and where Ar = C₆H₄OH and Ar′ = C₆H₄O(CH₂)₂NMe₂, 2g and 2h, have been characterised by NMR spectroscopy and/or X-ray crystallography. The effect of 2a and 2b, 2g and 2h, and 12a and 12b on the growth of MCF-7 (hormone-dependent) and MDA-MB-231 (hormone-independent breast cancer cells) was studied. The dihydroxycobaltifens 2a and 2b exhibit a strong estrogenic effect on MCF-7 cells while the aminoalkyl-hydroxycobaltifens, 2g and 2h, were found to be only slightly cytotoxic on MDA-MB-231 cells (IC₅₀ = 27.5 and 17 μM); surprisingly, however, the bis-(dimethylaminoethoxy)cobaltifens, 12a and 12b were shown to be highly cytotoxic towards both cell lines (IC₅₀ = 3.8 and 2.5 μM).     

Stilbene analogues incorporating the Co(η-C4Ph4)(η-C5H4-) end group

A number of organometallic stilbenes of the general type [Co(η⁴-C₄Ph₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄CHCHR] are reported where R is C₆H₄X-4 (X = H, OMe, Br, NO₂), 1-naphthyl, 9-anthryl, 1-pyrenyl, (η⁵-C₅H₄)Co(η⁴-C₄Ph₄), and (η⁵-C₅H₄)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄Y) {Y = CHO, CHC(CN)₂ and CHCHC₅H₄-η⁵)Co(η⁴-C₄Ph₄)}. They were prepared by Wittig or Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reactions which yield both E and Z or only E products respectively. The isomers were separated and all compounds characterised by standard spectroscopic techniques as well as by X-ray diffraction methods in many cases. The electrochemistry of the stilbene analogues in dichloromethane solution is also reported. In most, the (η⁵-C₅H₄)Co(η⁴-C₄Ph₄) functional group undergoes a reversible one-electron oxidation. For those molecules that also include (η⁵-C₅H₄)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄Y), this is preceded by the reversible oxidation of the ferrocenyl group. Spectroscopic and structural data suggests that for most compounds there is little electronic interaction between Co(η⁴-C₄Ph₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄) and the R end groups which are effectively independent of one another. The only exceptions to this are Z and E-[Co(η⁴-C₄Ph₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄CHCHC₆H₄NO₂-4], and [Co(η⁴-C₄Ph₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄CHCHC₅H₄-η⁵)Fe{η⁵-C₅H₄CHC(CN)₂}] where the electronic spectra are respectively consistent with a significant Co(η⁴-C₄Ph₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄)/NO₂ donor/acceptor interaction and a less significant Co(η⁴-C₄Ph₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄)/C(CN)₂ one. However, OTTLE studies show that in the electronic spectra of [Co(η⁴-C₄Ph₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄CHCHR]⁺ there are low energy absorption bands (950-1800 nm) which are attributed to R → Co(η⁴-C₄Ph₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄)⁺ or, when R is a ferrocenyl-base group, Co(η⁴-C₄Ph₄)(η⁵-C₅H₄) → (η⁵-C₅H₄)Fe(η⁵-C₅H₄Y)⁺ charge transfer transitions. The ferrocenyl compounds undergo cis/trans isomerisation on the OTTLE experiment timescale.