A novel boron-rich quaternary scandium borocarbosilicide Sc3.67−xB41.4−y−zC0.67+zSi0.33−w

A novel quaternary scandium borocarbosilicide Sc_3.67−xB_41.4−y−zC_0.67+zSi_0.33−w was found. Single crystallites were obtained as an intergrowth phase in the float-zoned single crystal of Sc_0.83−xB_10.0−yC_0.17+ySi_0.083−z that has a face-centered cubic crystal structure. Single crystal structure analysis revealed that the compound has a hexagonal structure with lattice constants a = b = 1.43055(8) nm and c = 2.37477(13) nm and space group (No. 187). The crystal composition calculated from the structure analysis for the crystal with x = 0.52, y = 1.42, z = 1.17, and w = 0.02 was ScB_12.3C_0.58Si_0.10 and that agreed rather well with the composition of ScB_11.5C_0.61Si_0.04 measured by EPMA. In the crystal structure that is a new structure type of boron-rich borides, there are 79 structurally independent atomic sites, 69 boron and/or carbon sites, two silicon sites and eight scandium sites. Boron and carbon form seven structurally independent B₁₂ icosahedra, one B₉ polyhedron, one B₁₀ polyhedron, one irregularly shaped B₁₆ polyhedron in which only 10.7 boron atoms are available because of partial occupancies and 10 bridging sites. All polyhedron units and bridging site atoms interconnect each other forming a three-dimensional boron framework structure. Sc atoms reside in the open spaces in the boron framework structure.     

Polyhydrido Copper Nanoclusters with a Hollow Icosahedral Core: [Cu30H18{E2P(OR)2}12] (E=S or Se; R=nPr,iPr or iBu)

Although atomically precise polyhydrido copper nanoclusters are of prime interest for a variety of applications, they have so far remained scarce. Herein, this work describes the synthesis of a dithiophosphate-protected copper(I) hydride-rich nanocluster (NC), [Cu₃₀H₁₈{S₂P(OnPr)₂}₁₂] ( 1_H ), fully characterized by various spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The X-ray structure of 1_H reveals an unprecedented central Cu₁₂ hollow icosahedron. Six faces of this icosahedron are capped by Cu₃ triangles, the whole Cu₃₀ core being wrapped by twelve dithiophosphate ligands and the whole cluster has ideal S₆ symmetry. The locations of the 18 hydrides in 1_H were ascertained by a single-crystal neutron diffraction study. They are composed of three types: capping μ₃-H, interstitial μ₄-H (seesaw) and μ₅-H ligands (square pyramidal), in good agreement with the DFT simulations. The numbers of hydrides and ligand resonances in the ¹H NMR spectrum of 1_H are in line with their coordination environment in the solid state, retaining the S₆ symmetry in solution. Furthermore, two new Se-protected polyhydrido copper nanoclusters, [Cu₃₀H₁₈{Se₂P(OR)₂}₁₂] ( 2_H : R=iPr 3_H : R=iBu) were synthesized from their sulfur relative 1_H via ligand displacement reaction and their X-ray structures feature the exceptional case where both the NC shape and size are fully conserved during the course of ligand exchange. DFT and TD-DFT calculations allow understanding the bonding and optical properties of clusters 1_H – 3_H . In addition, the reaction of 1_H with [Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] in the presence of terminal alkynes led to the formation of new bimetallic Cu−Pd alloy clusters [PdCu₁₄H₂{S₂P(OnPr)₂}₆(C≡CR)₆] ( 4 : R=Ph; 5 : R = C₆H₄F).     

Crystalline structures as an approximant of quasicrystal and distortion of B12 icosahedron in boron-rich solids: Search for semiconducting quasicrystal

Analyzing the crystalline structure of α- and β-rhombohedral boron as an approximant structure of a quasicrystal, atomic structures of two unit cells (prolate and oblate rhombohedra) of icosahedral quasicrystal are constructed. According to molecular orbital calculation, a neutral B ₁₂ H ₁₂ icosahedral cluster is distorted to a cubic or rhombohedral type by the Jahn–Teller effect. The distortion of B ₁₂ in the β-rhombohedral boron and K₂B₁₂H₁₂ has the same sign as the lowest energy distortion in the calculation. Among the α-rhombohedral type structures, the distortion of B₁₂ is correlated with the rhombohedral axis angle, and the angle is the closest to the icosahedral angle for B₆O and the distortion is the smallest for B–C. A meta-stable phase has been found on the way towards crystallization of amorphous B–C films.     

The Stability of Icosahedral Cluster and the Range of Interaction Potential

The relation between the stability of icosahedral clusters and the range of interaction potential is discussed.We found that the stability of icosahedral clusters nay decrease with decreasing range of interaction potential. A simple formula about the critical number of icosahedral clusters and the range of interaction potential (M1/3c = A1 A2r2eff)was proposed. The calculation of the stability of icosahedral fullerence molecular clusters shows that our idea is right.``     

人乳头瘤病毒HPV-16衣壳蛋白的结构特征

人乳头瘤病毒HPV-16是引发子宫颈癌的主要元凶.研究HPV-16病毒的结构特点,对于二十面体病毒几何结构的认识、描述和疫苗设计具有重要意义.综述了HPV-16病毒的衣壳结构特征、衣壳蛋白,分析了它们之间的相互作用,并试探性地指出了HPV-16衣壳几何结构的数学问题.     

Determination of Stereoisomers of Heteronuclear Clusters by a Symmetry-Based Algorithm

A general methodology for the determination of all possible stereoisomers of heteronuclear clusters is reported. The paper is divided into three parts: (1) nomenclature—wherein a systematic numbering system for multi-component clusters under which each and every stereoisomer of a given cluster can be uniquely identified is presented; (2) methodology—wherein the general principles for the determination of symmetry analogs are discussed; and (3) computer algorithm—wherein the implementation of the symmetry principles is described. These principles and algorithms are applied to binary (two-component) systems using octahedral and icosahedral clusters as examples.     

Can clustering of liquid water and thermal analysis be of assistance for better understanding of biological germplasm exposed to ultra-low temperatures

Plausible effect of clustering of undercooled liquid water (pentamer configuration, icosahedra formation) is discussed showing water continuous but non-periodic patterns and its impact to the either formation of ice-crystals or ice-glass, particularly when making contact with plants. These processes are viable for the cryogenic storage of biological germplasm and subject for thermoanalytical studies aimed to the determination of glass transition temperatures.     

Melting behaviors of icosahedral metal clusters studied by Monte Carlo simulations

We present an atom‐resolved analysis method that traces physical quantities such as the root‐mean‐square bond length fluctuation and coordination number for individual atoms as functions of temperature or time. This method is applied to explain the temperature‐dependent behaviors of three types of Ni_N (N=12,13,14) clusters. The detailed studies for the three types of clusters reveal characteristics as follows: (a) as the temperature increases, all three types of clusters undergo two‐stage melting, irrespective of the existence of vacancy or adatom on the icosahedral surfaces, (b) the melting of icosahedral clusters with vacancy starts with vacancy hopping, which has not been observed for any type of small clusters (N<34), (c) the melting of the icosahedral clusters with adatom (N=14) is initiated by adatom hopping, followed by the site exchange between the adatom and surface atoms. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 380–387, 2000