Evaluation via multivariate techniques of scale factor variability in the rietveld method applied to quantitative phase analysis with X ray powder diffraction

ABSTRACT: The present work uses multivariate statistical analysis as a form of establishing the main sources of error in the Quantitative Phase Analysis (QPA) using the Rietveld method. The quantitative determination of crystalline phases using x ray powder diffraction is a complex measurement process whose results are influenced by several factors. Ternary mixtures of Al2O3, MgO and NiO were prepared under controlled conditions and the diffractions were obtained using the Bragg-Brentano geometric arrangement. It was possible to establish four sources of critical variations: the experimental absorption and the scale factor of NiO, which is the phase with the greatest linear absorption coefficient of the ternary mixture; the instrumental characteristics represented by mechanical errors of the goniometer and sample displacement; the other two phases (Al2O3 and MgO); and the temperature and relative humidity of the air in the laboratory. The error sources excessively impair the QPA with the Rietveld method. Therefore it becomes necessary to control them during the measurement procedure.

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure and theoretical calculations of antileishmanial neolignan analogues

A síntese e a estrutura cristalina por difração de raios-X de dois análogos de neolignanas, 2-(4-clorofenil)-1-feniletanona (20) e 2-[tio(4-clorofenil)]-1-(3,4-dimetoxifenil)propan-1-ona (12) são descritas. O composto 12 apresenta atividade intracelular contra Leishmania donovani e Leishmania amazonensis de amastigotas que causam a leishmaniose tegumentar e visceral. Além disso, a teoria do funcional de densidade (DFT) com o funcional híbrido B3LYP foi empregado para calcular um conjunto de descritores moleculares para dezenove análogos sintéticos de neolignanas com atividades antileishmaniose. Posteriormente, a análise discriminante stepwise foi realizada para investigar possíveis relações entre a estrutura molecular e atividades biológicas. Por meio dessa análise os compostos foram classificados em dois grupos ativos e inativos de acordo com seu grau de atividade biológica, e as propriedades mais importantes foram as cargas de alguns átomos, a afinidade eletrônica e o ClogP.