The role of oxygen vacancies and their location in the magnetic properties of Ce(1-x)Cu(x)O(2-δ) nanorods.

Ceria (CeO2) is a promising dilute magnetic semiconductor. Several studies report that the intrinsic and extrinsic structural defects are responsible for room temperature ferromagnetism in undoped and transition metal doped CeO2 nanostructures; however, the nature of the kind of defect necessary to promote and stabilize the ferromagnetism in such a system is still a matter of debate. In the work presented here, nanorods from the system Ce1-xCuxO2-δ with x = 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05 and 0.10, with the more stable {111} surface exposed were synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. A very careful structure characterization confirms that the Cu in the samples assumes a majority 2+ oxidation state, occupying the Ce (Ce(4+) and Ce(3+)) sites with no secondary phases up to x = 0.05. The inclusion of the Cu(2+) in the CeO2 structure leads to the introduction of oxygen vacancies in a density proportional to the Cu(2+) content. It is supposed that the spatial distribution of the oxygen vacancies follows the Cu(2+) distribution by means of the formation of a defect complex consisting of Cu(2+) ion and an oxygen vacancy. Superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry demonstrated a diamagnetic behavior for the undoped sample and a typical paramagnetic Curie-Weiss behavior with antiferromagnetic interactions between the Cu(2+) ions for the single phase doped samples. We suggest that the presence of oxygen vacancies is not a sufficient condition to mediate ferromagnetism in the CeO2 system, and only oxygen vacancies in the surface of nanostructures would lead to such a long range magnetic order.

(±)-2,2-Dimethyl-5-oxotetrahydrofuran-3-carboxylic acid (terebic acid): a racemic layered structure.

A racemic crystalline form of terebic acid, C(7)H(10)O(4), which is an important industrial chemical compound, is reported for the first time. The crystal structure is stabilized by O-H···O and C-H···O hydrogen bonds which form racemic double layers parallel to (001).

4-{[4-(Hy-droxy-meth-yl)piperidin-1-yl]meth-yl}phenol.

In the title compound, C(13)H(19)NO(2), the piperidine ring has a chair conformation with the exocyclic N-C bond in an equatorial position. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked head-to-tail by phenol O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds to hy-droxy-methyl-ene O-atom acceptors, forming chains which extend along [100]. These chains form two-dimensional networks lying parallel to (101) through cyclic hydrogen-bonding associations [graph set R(4) (4)(30)], involving hy-droxy O-H donors and piperidine N-atom acceptors.

Pseudopolymorphism in hydroxybenzophenones: the dihydrate of 2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone.

A dihydrate pseudopolymorph of bis(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methanone, C(13)H(10)O(5)·2H(2)O, (I), was obtained during polymorphism screening of hydroxybenzophenone derivatives. This structure, in which the molecule sits on a twofold axis, was compared with the known anhydrous form of (I) [Schlemper (1982). Acta Cryst. B38, 554-559]. The role of water in the crystal assembly was established on the basis of the known monohydrate pseudopolymorph of 3,4-dihydroxybenzophenone [Landre, Souza, Corrêa, Martins & Doriguetto (2010). Acta Cryst. C66, o463-o465].

A monohydrate pseudopolymorph of 3,4-dihydroxybenzophenone and the role of water in the crystal assembly of benzophenones.

During a polymorphism screening of hydroxybenzophenone derivatives, a monohydrate pseudopolymorph of (3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)(phenyl)methanone, C(13)H(10)O(3).H(2)O, (I), was obtained. Structural relationships and the role of water in crystal assembly were established on the basis of the known anhydrous form [Cox, Kechagias & Kelly (2008). Acta Cryst. B64, 206-216]. The crystal packing of (I) is stabilized by classical intermolecular O-H...O hydrogen bonds, generating a three-dimensional network.

Leishmanicidal activity of benzophenones and extracts from Garcinia brasiliensis Mart. fruits.

Infections by protozoans of the genus Leishmania are the major worldwide health problem, with high endemicity in developing countries. The drugs of choice for the treatment of leishmaniasis are the pentavalent antimonials, which exert renal and cardiac toxicity. Thus, there is a strong need for safer and more effective treatments against leishmaniasis. The present study was designated to evaluate, by a bioguided assay, the leishmanicidal activity of extracts (hexane, ethyl-acetate and ethanolic) and molecules both obtained by means of extraction from pericarps of Garcinia brasiliensis fruits. The hexane extract presented the best activity on the extracellular (promastigotes) and intracellular (amastigotes) forms of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, when compared to the other extracts. Based on these findings, this extract was fractionated by silica gel column chromatography, affording nine fractions then resulting in three purified prenylated benzophenones - 7-epi-clusianone (1), garciniaphenone (2) and guttiferone-a (3). They showed significant activity on Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, and little toxicity for mammalian cells. Structure-activity relationships were evaluated showing that the IC(50) value displayed is dependent of prenyl groups and phenolic hydroxyls number, and inversely proportional to the hydrophobicity. Our results are promising, showing that these compounds are biologically active on Leishmania (L.) amazonensis.

Methyl 4-(piperidin-1-ylcarbon-yl)benzoate.

In the title compound, C(14)H(17)NO(3), the piperidine ring has a chair conformation and an intra-molecular C-H⋯O inter-action stabilizes the mol-ecular conformation. In the crystal, weak inter-molecular C-H⋯O inter-actions occur.

X-ray powder diffraction structural characterization of Pb1-xBaxZr0.65Ti0.35O3 ceramic.

The structure of Pb(1-x)Ba(x)Zr(0.65)Ti(0.35)O(3) (PBZT) ceramic materials with 0.00 < or = x < or = 0.40 was studied using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data. According to the Rietveld refinements, the structure of PBZT ceramics with x = 0.00, 0.10 and 0.20 at room temperature was rhombohedral R3c. A phase transition from rhombohedral to cubic was observed at 543 and 463 K for x = 0.10 and 0.20, respectively. The refinement for the compositions x = 0.30 and x = 0.40 showed a cubic structure from 10 to 450 K, in good agreement with the dielectric properties of these samples.

A duplicated nitrotienyl derivative with antimycobacterial activity: synthesis, X-ray crystallography, biological and mutagenic activity tests.

A duplicated nitrotienyl derivative was obtained as a by-product from the synthesis of a proposed molecular hybrid of a nitrotienyl derivative and isoniazid with an expected dual antimycobacteria mechanism. The structure was shown to be the 5,5'-dinitro-2-(2,3-diaza-4-(2'-tienyl)buta-1,3-dienyl)tiophene by X-ray crystallography. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination of this compound proved to be promising against Mycobacterium pathogenic strains such as M. avium and M. kansasii, although it had a high level of mutagenicity, as observed in mutagenic activity tests.

The synthesis and characterisation of Sn(IV) complexes of 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylate--the molecular structure of divinyltin(IV) derivative.

A series of organotin(IV) derivatives were obtained employing 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate as ligand: [{SnBu3(OOC)2C5H3N}n] (1), [SnBuCl(OOC)2C5H3N] (2) and [Sn(CHCH2)2(OOC)2C5H3N] (3). They were fully characterised by multinuclear NMR [1H, 13C{1H}, and 119Sn{1H}], IR spectroscopies and elemental analysis. In addition suitable crystals of (3) have shown a dimmeric arrangement by X-ray crystallographic studies, held together by Sn-O intermolecular interactions which persists in solution. The crystal packing shows hydrogen bonds joining the dimmers, forming two infinite one-dimensional chain. Each monomer comprises a Sn(IV) centre bonded to a pyridinecarboxylate-containing ring, through both nitrogen and oxygen donor atoms. It is also co-ordinated by a water molecule and two vinyl groups.

The effect of the cation substitution on the structural and vibrational properties of Cs2NaGaxSc(1-x)F6 solid solution.

Raman scattering and x-ray diffration were used to characterize the structural and vibrational properties of the Cs2NaGaxSc(1-x)F6 solid solutions, for x ranging from 0.0 to 1.0. The Raman spectra, taken at room and low temperature, allow us to follow the phase evolution in detail and indicate the breaking of the local symmetry since low Ga concentration levels. Five compositions were studied by x-ray diffraction: x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, and 1.0. A cubic space group, Fm3m, was found to x = 0.0 and x = 0.2 and a trigonal one was found to x = 0.5, 0.8, and 1.0. Details of both phases are presented and the correlation between x-ray diffraction and Raman scattering is discussed.

The synthesis and structural characterisation of [Ru(eta-Cp)(dppf)SnBr3].

The reaction of [Ru(eta-Cp)(dppf)N(3)] (1) with equimolar amount of SnBr(2) yielded an interesting heterotrimetallic compound [Ru(eta-Cp)(dppf)SnBr(3)] (2) (dppf: 1,1'-bis-diphenylphosphinoferrocene). Compounds 1 and 2 were characterised by IR, NMR (1H, 13C, 31P and 119Sn), and 2, additionally, by 57Fe and 119Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The latter results were as follows: monoclinic, C2/c, a = 32.8879(4)A, b = 11.9888(2)A, c = 20.8986(3)A, beta = 92.545(1)degrees, V = 8231.9(2)A(3), Z =8.

Structural transition and pair formation in Fe3O2BO3.

We observe for the first time a structural phase transition in the oxyborate Fe3O2BO3 which occurs along three leg ladders present in this material. X-ray diffraction shows that this transition at 283 K is associated with a new phase where atomic displacements occur in alternate directions perpendicular to the axis and within the plane of the ladders. Magnetic data show that these displacements lead to the formation of singlet pairs which dissociate close to the structural transition. Anomalies in the transport properties also occur close to 283 K showing that the structural transition is related to a charge ordering phenomenon in a low dimensional structure.

6-Deoxyjacareubin.

The natural compound 5,10-dihydroxy-2,2-dimethylpyrano[3,2-b]xanthen-6(2H)-one (6-deoxyjacareubin), C(18)H(14)O(5), was isolated from leaves of Vismia latifolia (Guttiferae family). The compound has four six-membered rings. The molecule has two planar benzenoid and one planar pyranoid ring, plus a pyranoid ring in a distorted chair conformation. The crystal is stabilized by one intra- and one intermolecular hydrogen bond.