Design, synthesis, and evaluation of bile acid-based molecular tweezers

A family of bile acid-based molecular tweezers (7-9) has been constructed readily from simple precursors. Binding experiments with various electron deficient aromatic compounds showed that tweezer 8 binds trinitrofluorenone 10e with an association constant of 220 M(-1) in CDCl3. Single-crystal X-ray analysis of compound 8 shows aromatic-aromatic interactions producing a two-dimensional lattice of pyrene units. Tweezer 8 was immobilized on Merrifield resin, and binding studies have shown that these data compare well with those of the solution state studies.

Coherent phonons in pyrochlore titanates A(2)Ti(2)O(7) (A = Dy, Gd, Tb): A phase transition in Dy2Ti2O7 at 110 K

We study the generation of coherent optical phonons in spin-frustrated pyrochlore single crystals Dy2Ti2O7, Gd2Ti2O7, and Tb2Ti2O7 using femtosecond laser pulses (65 fs, 1.57 eV) in degenerate time-resolved transmission experiments as a function of temperature from 4 to 296 K. At 4 K, two coherent phonons are observed at similar to 5.3 THz (5.0 THz) and similar to 9.3 THz (9.4 THz) for Dy2Ti2O7 (Gd2Ti2O7), whereas three coherent phonons are generated at similar to 5.0, 8.6, and 9.7 THz for Tb2Ti2O7. In the case of spin-ice Dy2Ti2O7, a clear discontinuity is observed in the linewidths of both the coherent phonons as well as in the phase of lower-energy coherent phonon mode, indicating a subtle structural change at 110 K. Another important observation is a phase difference of pi between the modes in all the samples, thus suggesting that the driving forces behind the generation of these modes could be different in nature, unlike a purely impulsive or displacive mechanism.

Gibbs energies of formation of UMoC1.7 and UMoC2

The chemical potentials oi carbon associated with two three-phase fields in the system U-Mo-C were measured by using the methane-hydrogen gas equilibration technique in the temperature range 973 to 1173K. The technique was validated by measuring the standard Gibbs energy of formation of Mo2C. From the experimentally measured values of the chemical potential of carbon in the ternary phase fields UC+Mo+UMoC1.7 and UC+UMoC1.7+UMoC2 and data for UC from the literature, the Gibbs energies of formation of the two ternary carbides were derived:

Phosphate derivatives of 123 cuprates of the formula LnSr(2)Cu(3)O(7) (Ln=Gd, Dy, Ho)

Partial substitution of Cu in the chain by the phosphate ion stabilizes LnSr(2)Cu(3)O(7) (Ln = Gd, Dy or Ho) in the 123 structure. The LnSr(2)Cu(2.8)(PO4)(0.2)O-y derivatives exhibit incommensurately modulated structures. The holmium oxy-phosphate derivative has been rendered superconducting by the partial substitution of Ho by Ca.

The unusual formation of methyl alpha-(5,6-dimethoxycarbonyl-2,3-dimethoxyazepin-7-ylidene)-alpha-[5-methoxycarbonyl-2,3-dimethoxypyrid-6-yl)acetate during the pyrolysis of ''azido-meta-hemipinate'' - First example of a reaction involving a concomitant ring expansion and ring extrusion

he ortho methoxycarbonyl substituent constitutes a sole exception in the ring closure reactions of ortho substituted aryl azides, as it provides no rate acceleration to this reaction. Pyrolysis of ''azido-meta-hemipinate'', an aryl azide containing such a substituent, led us to the title compound, a new azepinylidenepyridylacetic ester, whose structure has been established unambiguously by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. This is the first report of a reaction involving both a ring expansion to an azaheptafulvalene and a ring extrusion to a pyridyl ring residue.

Structure of 7-ethylamino-6-methyl-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin

C13H12F3NO2, M(r) = 271.2, triclinic, P1BAR, a = 5.029 (2), b = 7.479 (2), c = 17.073 (5) angstrom, alpha = 97.98 (2), beta = 95.54 (3), gamma = 103.62 (3)-degrees, V = 612.4 (4) angstrom 3, Z = 2, D(m) = 1.463, D(x) = 1.471 g cm-3, lambda(Mo K-alpha) = 0.71069 angstrom, mu = 1.23 cm-1, F(000) = 280, T = 298 K, final R value is 0.041 for 2047 observed reflections with \F(omicron)\ greater-than-or-equal-to 6-sigma(\F(omicron)\). The N-C(sp2) bond length is 1.356 (2) angstrom. The N and C atoms of the ethylamino group deviate by < 0.15 angstrom from the plane of the aromatic ring. Short intramolecular contacts, C(3)...F(17) 2.668 (3) angstrom [H(3)...F(17) 2.39 (2) angstrom, C(3)-H(C3)...F(17) 98 (1)-degrees], C(5)...F(18) 3.074 (3) and C(5)...F(19) 3.077 (3) angstrom exist in the structure. The crystal structure is stabilized by intermolecular N-H...O hydrogen bonds with N(12)-H(N12) 0.79 (3), H(N12)...O(11)' 2.36 (3), N(12)...O(11)' (x - 1, y + 1, z) 3.105 (3) angstrom and N(12)-H(N12)...O(11)' 155 (2)-degrees.

Structure of N-nitroso-r-2,c-7-diphenylhexahydro-1,4-diazepin-5-one

C17H17N3O2, M(r) = 295.34, orthorhombic, P2(1)2(1)2(1), a = 7.659 (1), b = 12.741 (1), c = 15.095 (1) angstrom, V = 1473.19 (2) angstrom 3, Z = 4, D(m) = 1.33, D(x) = 1.32 Mg m-3, lambda(Cu K-alpha) = 1.5418 angstrom, mu = 0.68 mm-1, F(000) = 624, T = 295 K, R = 0.031 for 1549 unique observed reflections with I > 2.5-sigma(I). The seven-membered heterocyclic ring adopts a boat conformation flattened at the nitroso end of the ring. The substituent phenyl rings occupy pseudo-axial positions and the nitroso group is coplanar with the C(2), N(1), C(7) plane of the central ring. The crystal structure is stabilized by intermolecular N-H...O and weak C-H...O hydrogen bonds.

Unusual photobehaviour of crystalline 7-methoxy-4-methylcoumarin

7-Methoxy-4-methylcoumarin undergoes a solid-state photo [2 + 2] cycloaddition upon UV irradiation to yield two photodimers. The formation of the minor product appears to be a direct consequence of the formation of the topochemically controlled dimer.

Electrical and magnetic properties of pure and Li intercalated Bi1.7-xPbxV8O16 phases

Hollandite oxides of the type Bi1.7-xPbxV8O16 have been synthesized. The electrical resistivity studies show that the conductivity improves upon Pb substitution. The feasibility of Li intercalation in the system has been established. Magnetic susceptibility studies on the pure and Li intercalated phases show that except for pure Bi1.7V8O16, all phases exhibit Pauli paramagnetism. No superconductivity is encountered down to 12 K in any of the phases. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Low-temperature specific heat of antiferromagnetic EuNi5P3 and mixed-valent EuNi2P2 in magnetic fields to 7 T

he specific heats of EUNi(5)P(3), an antiferromagnet, and EuNi2P2, a mixed-valence compound, have been measured between 0.4 and 30 K in magnetic fields of, respectively, 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2.5, 5, and 7 T, and 0 and 7 T. In zero field the specific heat of EuNi5P3 shows a h-like anomaly with a maximum at 8.3 K. With increasing field in the range 0-2.5 T, the maximum shifts to lower temperatures, as expected for an antiferromagnet. In higher fields the antiferromagnetic ordering is destroyed and the magnetic part of the specific heat approaches a Schottky anomaly that is consistent with expectations for the crystal-field/Zeeman levels. In low fields and for temperatures between 1.5 acid 5 K the magnetic contribution to the specific heat is proportional to the temperature, indicating a high density of excited states with an energy dependence that is very unusual for an antiferromagnet. The entropy associated with the magnetic ordering is similar to R In8, confirming that only the Eu2+-with J=7/2, S=7/2, L=0-orders below 30 R. In zero field approximately 20% of the entropy occurs above the Neel temperature, consistent. with the usual amount of short-range order observed in antiferromagnets. The hyperfine magnetic field at the Eu nuclei in EUNi(5)P(3) is 33.3 T, in good agreement with a value calculated from electron-nuclear double resonance measurements. For EuNi2P2 the specific heat is nearly field independent and shows no evidence of magnetic ordering or hyperfine fields. The coefficient of the electron contribution to the specific heat is similar to 100 mJ/mol K-2.

Preparation of the layered double hydroxide (LDH) LiAl2(OH)(7)center dot 2H(2)O, by gel to crystallite conversion and a hydrothermal method, and its conversion to lithium aluminates

A layered double hydroxide (LDH) with chemical composition LiAl2(OH)(7) . 2H(2)O was prepared via a wet chemical route of gel to crystallite (G-C) conversion at 80 degrees C involving the reaction of hydrated alumina gel, Al2O3.yH(2)O (80 < y < 120) with LiOH (Li2O/Al2O3 greater than or equal to 0.5) in presence of hydrophilic solvents such as ethanol under refluxing conditions. The hydrothermal synthesis was carried out using the same reactants by heating to less than or equal to 140 degrees C in a Teflon-lined autoclave under autogenerated pressure (less than or equal to 20 MPa). Transmission electron microscopy showed needle-shaped aggregates of size 0.04-0.1 mu m for the gel to crystallite conversion product, whereas the hydrothermal products consisted of individual lamellar crystallites of size 0.2-0.5 mu m with hexagonal morphology. The LDH prepared through the gel to crystallite conversion could be converted into LiAl(OH)(4) . H2O or LiAl(OH)(3)NO3 . H2O by imbibition of LiOH or LiNO3, respectively, under hydrothermal conditions. Thermal decomposition of LDH above 1400 degrees C gave rise to LiAl5O8 accompanied by the evaporation of Li2O. LiAl(OH)(4) . H2O and LiAl(OH)(3)NO3 . H2O decomposed in the temperature range 400-1000 degrees C to alpha- or beta-LiAlO2. The compositional dependence of the product, the intermediate phases formed during the heat treatment and the possible reactions involved are described in detail.

Regular versus alternating (FeS4)(n) chains: Magnetism in KFeS2 and CsFeS2

We report crystal magnetic susceptibility results of two S = 1/2 one-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnets, KFeS2 and CsFeS2. Both compounds consist of (FeS4)(n) chains with an average Fe-Fe distance of 2.7 Angstrom. In KFeS2, all intrachain Fe-Fe distances are identical. Its magnetic susceptibility is typical of a regular antiferromagnetic chain with spin-spin exchange parameter J = -440.7 K. In CsFeS2, however, the Fe-Fe distances alternate between 2.61 and 2.82 Angstrom. This is reflected in its magnetic susceptibility, which could be fitted with J = -640 K, and the degree of alternation, alpha = 0.3. These compounds form a unique pair, and allow for a convenient experimental comparison of the magnetic properties of regular versus alternating Heisenberg chains.

LiSr1.65 square 0.35B1.3B ' O-1.7(9) (B = Ti, Zr; B ' = Nb, Ta): New lithium ion conductors based on the perovskite structure

We describe the design and synthesis of new lithium ion conductors with the formula, LiSr(1.65)rectangle(0.35)B(1.3)B'O-1.7(9) (rectangle = vacancy; B = Ti, Zr; B' = Nb, Ta), on the basis of a systematic consideration of the composition-structure-property correlations in the well-known lithium-ion conductor, La-(2/3-x)Li(3x)rectangle((1/3)-2x)TiO3 (I), as well as the perovskite oxides in Li-A-B,B'-O (A = Ca, Sr, Ba; B = Ti, Zr; B' = Nb, Ta) systems. A high lithium-ion conductivity of ca. 0.12 S/cm at 360 degrees C is exhibited by LiSr(1.65)rectangle(0.35)Ti(1.3)Ta(1.7)O(9) (III) and LiSr(1.65)rectangle(0.35)Zr(1.3)Ta(1.7)O(9) (IV), of which the latter containing stable Zr(IV) and Ta(V) oxidation states is likely to be a candidate electrolyte material for all-solid-state lithium battery application. More importantly, we believe the approach described here could be extended to synthesize newer, possibly better, lithium ion conductors.

[n]peristylanes and [n]oxa[n]peristylanes (n = 3-6): A theoretical study

Theoretical studies at the HF and Becke3LYP levels using 6-31G* basis sets were carried out on a series of [n]peristylanes and [n]oxa[n]peristylanes (n = 3-6) to understand their structure and energetics. The structures of the [3]- and [4]peristylanes (1, 2) and their era-derivatives (5, 6) were calculated to have the anticipated high symmetry, C-nv. In contrast, a C-s structure (9) at HF/6-31G* and another (25) at the Becke3LYP/6-31G* level were calculated for the [5]oxa[5]peristylane. The energy difference between them is extremely small even though there are major differences in the structures indicating every soft potential energy surface: On the other hand, the potential energy surface of [6]oxa[6]peristylane is not as soft. Similar structures were also calculated for the top rings. Calculations on the seco-compounds 11-14 and 15-19 (Table 4) indicate that there is no unusual strain involved in the formation of 27 from 19. The Li+ interaction energies of the [n]oxa[n]peristylanes are 61.7 (n = 3), 72.8 (n = 4), 84.2 (n = 5) and 91.7 (n = 6) kcal mol(-1) at the Becke3LYP/6-3IG* level. Dramatic differences between the C-C bond lengths obtained from the solid state X-ray diffraction studies and those from the calculations for the [n]oxa[n]peristylanes were also observed.