q-positive definiteness and related operators

We are in progress of extending the family of ‘q-deformed operators’ considered in the previous papers by joining to them q-subnormal as well as q-formally subnormal ones. It turns out that q-positive definiteness, a notion generalizing Halmos' standard positive definiteness of bounded subnormal operators, is likewise central for our new scheme.     

Strong temperature effect on X-ray photo-etching of polytetrafluoroethylene using a 10 Hz laser-plasma radiation source based on a gas puff target

The first results of experiments on direct photo-etching of heated PTFE using a 10 Hz X-ray source based on a laser-irradiated gas puff target are presented. X-ray radiation in the wavelength range from 6 to 20 nm was produced as a result of irradiation of a double-stream gas puff target with Nd:YAG laser pulses of energy 0.8 J and time duration 3 ns. The resulting X-ray pulses with energy of about 100–200 mJ were used to irradiate samples of PTFE to create microstructures by direct photo-etching. Strong enhancement of the photo-etching process was observed for samples heated up to 300 °C. PACS 52.38.Ph; 81.65.Cf; 61.82.Pv     

Syntheses of a Cp'Re=S derivative and more complex products

The reaction of Cp'ReCl(2)S(3) (Cp' = Me(4)EtC(5)) with slightly less than 2 equiv of a phosphine reagent results in the formation of [Cp'Re(Cl)(2)(mu-S)](2), 2, which has been characterized by an X-ray diffraction study. Reactions of 2 with nucleophiles did not lead to monomeric derivatives of the type Cp'ReS(Cl)(2)(Nuc). The reaction of Cp'ReCl(2)(SC(2)H(4)S) with (Me(3)Si)(2)S resulted in the formation of three new products: Cp'ReS(SC(2)H(4)S), 4; Cp'Re(S(3))(SC(2)H(4)S), 5; and a tetranuclear derivative, [(Cp'Re)(2)(mu-S)(mu,eta(2)-SC(2)H(4)S)(mu,eta(1)-SC(2)H(4)S](2)Cl(2), 6. Complexes 4 and 6 have been characterized by X-ray diffraction studies. The electrochemical properties of the mononuclear Re=S derivative, 4, are compared with those of Re=O and Re=NR analogues.     

Reactions of dithiolate ligands in mononuclear complexes of rhenium(V)

The thermal reactions of the Re(V) dithiolate complex Cp'ReCl2(SCH2CH2S), 1 (where Cp' = EtMe4C5), and related derivatives have been studied. When 1 is heated in toluene in a sealed evacuated tube at 100 degrees C, a dehydrogenation reaction occurs to form a new rhenium complex with a dithiolene ligand, Cp'ReCl2(SCHCHS), 6, in ca. 40% yield. The structure of 6 has been confirmed by an X-ray diffraction study. Under the thermal conditions studied, 1 also undergoes an olefin extrusion reaction. Free ethene is detected in the NMR spectrum of the products, and insoluble rhenium products are also formed. When 1 is reacted with excess ethene under mild conditions, a new organic product, 1,4-dithiane, is formed. Complex 1 is also found to react with oxidants, such as O2 and S8, under mild conditions to form the dehydrogenation product 6. Kinetic studies of the thermal reaction of 1 and related derivatives have been completed, and possible mechanisms for the thermally induced dehydrogenation reaction are discussed.     

Organic matter transformation in the environment investigated by quantitative electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy: studies on lignins

The lignins separated from angiosperm and gymnosperm trees, peat and xylitic brown coal were investigated by quantitative EPR. Observed free radicals in lignins are sensitive to alkaline environment. Gaseous ammonia interacting with solid lignins in resonance cavity shifts quinone-hydroquinone equilibria towards formation of semiquinone anions. Complexation of copper(II) by lignins causes drastic decrease of the semiquinones in the matrices. Formation of lignin-Pb(II) complexes yielded radicals characterised by unusually low g-value (1.9999-2.0003). Monomeric structural units of the investigated lignins were recognised by pyrolysis with in situ methylation by tetramethylammonium hydroxide. Although for the natural lignins the mixture of normal semiquinone signals at g about 2.0034 and signals at g 1.9999 were observed, some monomeric components of lignins (e.g., caffeic acid, pyrogallol) gave pure lines at g = 1.9999. The bacterial oxidative biodegradation of lignin monomeric components and their Pb(II) complexes resulted in increase of the radical signals.     

2‐Chloro‐4,5‐dihydroimidazole,Part X. Revisiting route to N‐heteroarylimidazolidin‐2‐ones

The ureidation reactions of 2‐ and 4‐picoline N‐oxides with 2‐chloro‐4,5‐dihydroimidazole are described. A mechanism of novel thioureidation reaction of 4‐picoline N‐oxide with 2‐(4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazol‐2‐ylthioxy)‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazole is proposed. Structural assignment is confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C nmr as well as by X‐ray crystallography.     

Synthesis, molecular structure and reactivity of 5-methylidene-1,2,3,5-tetrahydroimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolines

Synthesis of novel 5-methylidene-1,2,3,5-tetrahydro[2,1-b]-quinazoline derivatives 2-4 with potential biological activities mediated by alpha-adrenergic and/or imidazoline receptors was performed by reacting 2-chloro-4,5-dihydroimidazole (1) with the corresponding 2-aminoacetophenones. Compound 2, which incorporates an enamine moiety, underwent a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction with the appropriate nitrones 5-9 to give 1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-imidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-5,5'-spiro-2',3'-diphenylisoxazol-idines 10-14. Reactions of the title compounds 2 and 4 with dimethyl acetylene-dicarboxylate (DMAD) afforded dimethyl 2-(2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin-5(1H)-ylidenemethyl)but-2-enedioates 15, 16. Imidazo[2,1-b]quinazoline 2 was further treated with acetyl chloride, benzoyl chloride and mesyl chloride to give the 1-substituted derivatives 17, 18 and 19, respectively. The structures of all new compounds obtained were confirmed by elemental analysis and spectral data (IR, (1)H- and (13)C-NMR) as well asX-ray crystallographic analysis of 3 and 18.     

Application of AMS <Superscript>14</Superscript>C measurements to criminal investigations

¹⁴C variations of atmospheric CO₂ as well as carbonaceous fraction of living materials, such as collagen from tooth and bone, tissue, skin, hair, nail, etc., of modern humans are influenced by ¹⁴C produced artificially by nuclear bomb tests in the atmosphere from late 1950s to early 1960s. By careful investigation of ¹⁴C concentration of tree rings and human body samples formed in this time intervals, we can establish a relationship of their ¹⁴C concentrations with calendar year. By applying this relation to a sample whose ¹⁴C concentration can be measured, we can estimate the formation age of the sample. In addition, sources of the chemicals that were used in some criminal cases can be possibly identified, by their carbon isotope ratios (¹³C/¹²C and ¹⁴C/¹²C). This method of age determination has been applied to a forensic study, i.e., two criminal cases of murder. For each case, by comparing the measured ¹⁴C abundances of several pieces of hair and one tooth (the third molar) from the body with the annual change on concentrations of bomb-produced ¹⁴C, the time of death of the body and the age of the victim were estimated. The estimated values were consistent with the real ones that were revealed by the confession of the real murderers.