The reactions of phenylacetylene with naphthalene complexes of europium and ytterbium. Molecular structure of [IYbC≡CPh(DME)2]2

Reactions of naphthaleneeuropium and naphthaleneytterbium, C₁₀H₈Ln(DME) (Ln = Eu or Yb), with phenylacetylene are accompanied by the formation of the C-C bond and yield the complexes of composition Ph₂C₄H₂Ln(DME)₂. Hydrolysis of the Ph₂C₄H₂Ln(DME)₂ complexes affords a mixture of isomers of 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene. Reactions of C₁₀H₈[LnI(DME)₂]₂ with PhCCH yield mixed iodine-ethynyl complexes [ILn(-CCPh)(DME)₂]₂. According to the data of X-ray diffraction analysis, the ytterbium complex consists of two YbI(DME)₂ units bonded through two bridging CCPh groups. The crystals of this complex belong to the space groupP2₁/c. The central cyclic Yb-C-Yb-C fragment is planar; the C(I)-Yb(I)-C(I) angle is 86.4(3)°. The Yb-C bond lengths are 2.584(8) and 2.603(9) Å.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 2101–2104, August, 1996.     

Hybrid Numerical-Analytical Scheme for Calculating Elastic Wave Diffraction in Locally Inhomogeneous Waveguides

Numerical simulation of traveling wave excitation, propagation, and diffraction in structures with local inhomogeneities (obstacles) is computationally expensive due to the need for mesh-based approximation of extended domains with the rigorous account for the radiation conditions at infinity. Therefore, hybrid numerical-analytic approaches are being developed based on the conjugation of a numerical solution in a local vicinity of the obstacle and/or source with an explicit analytic representation in the remaining semi-infinite external domain. However, in standard finite-element software, such a coupling with the external field, moreover, in the case of multimode expansion, is generally not provided. This work proposes a hybrid computational scheme that allows realization of such a conjugation using a standard software. The latter is used to construct a set of numerical solutions used as the basis for the sought solution in the local internal domain. The unknown expansion coefficients on this basis and on normal modes in the semi-infinite external domain are then determined from the conditions of displacement and stress continuity at the boundary between the two domains. We describe the implementation of this approach in the scalar and vector cases. To evaluate the reliability of the results and the efficiency of the algorithm, we compare it with a semianalytic solution to the problem of traveling wave diffraction by a horizontal obstacle, as well as with a finite-element solution obtained for a limited domain artificially restricted using absorbing boundaries. As an example, we consider the incidence of a fundamental antisymmetric Lamb wave onto surface and partially submerged elastic obstacles. It is noted that the proposed hybrid scheme can also be used to determine the eigenfrequencies and eigenforms of resonance scattering, as well as the characteristics of traveling waves in embedded waveguides.     

Stereoselective preparation of mono- and bis-derivatives of pentacyclo[6.3.0.02,6.03,10.05,9] undecane (D 3-trishomocubane)

The rearrangement of easily accessible Cookson’s diketone with chlorosulfonic acid in chloroform followed by the acidic hydrolysis gave 6-chloro-7-hydroxy-dichloropentacyclo[6.3.0.0^2,6.0^3,10.0^5,9]undecane-4-one, whose syn-stereochemistry was assigned through the X-ray crystal structure analysis. This key structure was used for the stereoselective synthesis of the D ₃-trishomocubane derivatives as well as for the preparation of potential drugs bearing hydroxy- and amino-functional groups. A new multigram preparative synthesis of D ₃-trishomocubane was developed.      

Electrochemically deposited thiophene-based polymers as protective agents for Prussian Blue thin films

A composite material based on overlapped layers of electrochemically synthesized Prussian Blue (PB) and terthiophene-derived polymer is described, aiming at enhancing the stability of the hexacyanoferrate thanks to the protective action of the polymer. Two bilayer configurations and deposition methods (for the polymer component) were tested. The morphology and electrochemical behavior in organic solvent and in aqueous solutions containing different supporting electrolytes were carried out. The best performances of electrodes modified with films of the composite material as to increased stability of PB were achieved with the potentiostatically deposited polymer covering the PB layer, in acetate buffer at pH 5.5. As for potential cycling stress, the anodic and cathodic peak currents due to PB were not decreased after 20 cycles. Conversely, PB alone displayed the anodic peak currents relevant to PB/Prussian White (PW) and PB/Berlin Green (BG) systems decreased by about 30 %. The stability to local pH increase was assessed by cyclic voltammetry after electrochemical reduction of H₂O₂. For example, the anodic peak currents were decreasing by 15 % and 5 % for the two PB redox systems, while for PB alone the same currents decreased by 35 % and 10 %. The response sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide was improved by 54 %, with respect to PB alone, as evaluated by chronoamperometry.     

Antimicrobial Activities of Plant Extracts against Solanum tuberosum L. Phytopathogens

The purpose of the study was to select an environmentally friendly plant biopesticide to protect seed potatoes against phytopathogens. The scope included the evaluation of the antimicrobial activities of 22 plant water extracts, 22 water-glycol extracts, and 3 subcritical carbon dioxide extracts using the agar diffusion method against 10 potato phytopathogens. For the most effective extracts, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), chemical composition analysis by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and in situ assays on seed potatoes were performed. Garlic water extract was finally selected as the most effective in phytopathogen growth inhibition, both in vitro and in situ, with MIC values ranging between 6.3–25 mg/mL. 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural was determined to be the main component of this extract (33.24%). Garlic water extract was proposed as a potential biopesticide against potato phytopathogens.     

Structure and conversions of the condensation products of phenols with unsaturated carbonyl compounds

The reaction of 3,4-xylenol with crotonaldehyde leads to the formation of 2, 6, 7-trimethyl-4-(4′, 5′-dimethyl-2′-hydroxyphenyl)chroman, whose structure is verified by IR and UV spectra, by the synthesis of the methyl and the benzoyl esters, and by the investigation of the conditions and the products of pyrolisis.     

Congruently melting compositions in the series of solid solutions R1 ? xSrxF3 ? x (R = La-Nd, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.15) with tysonite structure (Refinement by directional crystallization)

Congruently melting compositions in the series of solid solutions R _{1 − x} Sr_xF_{3 − x} (R = La-Nd with a defect structure of the tysonite type (LaF₃) were found by the comparing the densities (determined by hydrostatic weighing) of the top and bottom parts of the single crystals grown using the Bridgman method. Measurement errors are analyzed. __________ Translated from Kristallografiya, Vol. 48, No. 5, 2003, pp. 940–944. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2003 by Krivandina, Zhmurova, Glushkova, Firsova, Shtyrkova, Sobolev. Dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of the Shubnikov Institute of Crystallography of the Russian Academy of Sciences