Role of electronic versus atomic relaxations in Stokes shifts at defects in solids.

Redshifts of luminescence relative to optical absorption bands (Stokes shifts) of molecules and of defects in solids are universally attributed to slow atomic relaxations on the grounds that electronic transitions are fast (Franck-Condon principle). Here we report a novel phenomenon that can occur only in the solid state: Stokes shifts caused by slow electronic relaxations. We demonstrate that the phenomenon occurs in the nonbridging oxygen defect in amorphous SiO2. We predict that another defect (OH group), which can exist in either crystalline or amorphous SiO2, has a similar Stokes shift, but it arises from a mix of lattice and electronic relaxations with manifest differences in the two phases.

Reactions and diffusion of water and oxygen molecules in amorphous SiO2.

Water and oxygen molecules determine many of the properties of amorphous SiO2 used in several technologies, but the underlying atomic-scale processes remain unresolved. We report results of first-principles calculations showing that a wide range of behavior is possible in an amorphous environment, including diffusion of the molecule as a whole and various reactions with the network. Experimental data including oxygen exchange reaction and radiation sensitivity are accounted for. The possibility of H3O+ formation as a source of positive charge is discussed.

Chemical modification of tylosin.

20-Homo tylosin, 20-nor tylosin, 20-deoxy-19,20-didehydro tylosin (6-vinyl tylosin) and 2",3"-didehydro-3"-deoxy tylosin were prepared by multi-step procedures. 20-Homo tylosin was about twice less active than tylosin while the other compounds exhibited very weak antibacterial activity.

Steroids 49. Investigations on the dehydration of 17 alpha-ethynyl-17 beta-hydroxysteroids.

The acidic dehydration of 17 alpha-ethynyl-17 beta-hydroxysteroids (1-3) was investigated. On reaction with thionyl chloride, phosphorus oxychloride, and formic acid, the desired dehydration was accompanied by chlorination, Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement, and D-homoaromatic rearrangement. The structure of the product from the transformation of 17 beta-hydroxypregn-20-yne derivative (3) on reaction with formic acid was misjudged. It was regarded as a pregn-16-en-20-yne (10) instead of the actually rearranged D-homoaromatic compound (11). As a consequence, physical data corresponding to this latter structure have been cited in the literature as those of pregn-16-en-20-yne derivative (10). This confusion prompted us to prepare compounds of both types (4, 9, 10, and 11), the characterization of which is here described.

Steroids 51. An improved synthesis of ORG 2058 and the synthesis of [3H]ORG 2058.

16 alpha-Ethyl-21-hydroxy-19-norpregn-4-ene-3,20-dione (ORG 2058) is a ligand widely used in progesterone receptor assays. An improved synthesis of the compound is reported, starting from norethisterone acetate. The preparation of the tritiated radioligand [3H]ORG 2058 is also described.