The purpose of this paper is to show that X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES and EXAFS) is a powerful technique for characterizing both crystalline and amorphous solids from structural (local order) and electronic point of view. The principle of this technique is briefly described by showing the main factors which must be considered for recording and fitting the experimental results. Some non-trivial examples have been selected for demonstrating that XAS spectroscopy is the only technique for bringing a definitive answer as for example: the determination of the local distortion of the $NiO_6$ octahedra in the $Li_{1-z}Ni_{1+z}O_2$ layered oxides and the evidence of the presence of copper pairs in the NASICON-type phosphate $CuZr_2 (PO_4)_3$. Are also reported some significant examples for which XAS spectroscopy is decisive with other characterization methods as (i) Raman spectroscopy for glasses (ii) Mossbauer spectroscopy for $LiNi_{1+z-t}Fe_To_2$ oxides (iii) magnetic measurements for Ce-based intermetallic compounds.

The purpose of this paper is to show that X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES and EXAFS) is a powerful technique for characterizing both crystalline and amorphous solids from structural (local order) and electronic point of view. The principle of this technique is briefly described by showing the main factors which must be considered for recording and fitting the experimental results. Some non-trivial examples have been selected for demonstrating that XAS spectroscopy is the only technique for bringing a definitive answer as for example: the determination of the local distortion of the $NiO_6$ octahedra in the $Li_{1-z}Ni_{1+z}O_2$ layered oxides and the evidence of the presence of copper pairs in the NASICON-type phosphate $CuZr_2 (PO_4)_3$. Are also reported some significant examples for which XAS spectroscopy is decisive with other characterization methods as (i) Raman spectroscopy for glasses (ii) Mossbauer spectroscopy for $LiNi_{1+z-t}Fe_To_2$ oxides (iii) magnetic measurements for Ce-based intermetallic compounds.

$LiCoO_2$ powder was synthesized in an aqueous solution by a sol-gel method and used as a cathode active material for a lithium ion rechargeable battery. The layered $LiCoO_2$ powders were prepared by igniting in air for 12 hrs at 600 ℃ $(600-LiCoO_2)$ and 850 ℃ $(850-LiCoO_2)$. The structure of the $LiCoO_2$ powder was assigned to the space group R bar 3 m (lattice parameters a=2.814 Å and c=14.04Å). The SEM pictures of $600-LiCoO_2$ revealed homogeneous and fine particles of about 1 μm in diameter. Cyclic voltammograms (CVs) of $600-LiCoO_2$ electrode displayed a set of redox peaks at 3.80/4.05 V due to the intercalation/deintercalation of the lithium ions into/out of the $LiCoO_2$ structure. CVs for the $850-LiCoO_2$ electrode had a major set of redox peaks at 3.88/4.13 V, and two small set of redox peaks at 4.18/4.42 V and 4.05/4.25 V due to phase transitions. The initial charge-discharge capacity was 156-132 mAh/g for the $600-LiCoO_2$ electrode and 158-131 mAh/g for the $850-LiCoO_2$ electrode at the current density of 0.2 mA/cm2. The cycleability of the cell consisting of the $600-LiCoO_2$ electrode was better than that of the $850-LiCoO_2$. The diffusion coefficient of the $Li^+$ ion in the $600-LiCoO_2$ electrode was calculated as $4.6{\times}10^{-8}\; cm^2/sec$.

Most organophosphorus pesticides may be metabolized to yield some common phosphates in human or in animals, and these metabolites may be used as the exposure biomarkers to pesticides. In this study, we developed the extraction method of four phosphate metabolites from the spiked human urine in high recovery by the solid phase extraction with a reverse-phase cartridge (cyclohexyl silica) followed by the elution with methanol. The extracted urinary metabolites were derivatized with hexamethyldisilazane/trimethyl-chlorosilane/pyridine (2 : 1 : 10, v/v/v) and identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Calibration curve obtained from each metabolite standard using by GC/MS/SIM has shown good linearity and detection limits of metabolites were the range of 0.05-0.1 ㎍/㎖ in urine. Phenthoate, one of the organophosphorus pesticides, was orally administrated to rats. Four metabolites were detected in the rat urine. The results of this study may be applied to development of exposure biomarkers for monitoring of environmental pollutants.

A solvent sublation was studied for the determination of trace Cd, Co, Cu and Ni in water samples. Ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (APDC) was used as a complexing agent. Experimental conditions such as pH of solution, amounts of APDC, the type and amount of surfactant, the type of solvent, etc. were optimized for the effective sublation of analytes. After metal-PDC complexes were formed in sample solutions of pH 2.5, the precipitate-type complexes were floated in a flotation cell with an aid of sodium lauryl sulfate as a surfactant and by bubbling with nitrogen gas. The precipitates were dissolved and separated into the surface layer of methyl iso-butyl ketone (MIBK). The analytes preconcentrated were determined by a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry (GF-AAS). Extractability of each element was 88% for Cd(Ⅱ), 86% for Co(Ⅱ), 95% for Cu(Ⅱ) and 76% for Ni(Ⅱ), respectively. And this procedure was applied to the analysis of real samples. From the recoveries of more than 92%, it was concluded that this method could be simple and applicable for the determination of trace elements in various water samples of a large volume.

We have synthesized a 17-residue peptide with the amino acid sequence RQMKEDAKGKSEEELAD corresponding to residues 84-100 of chicken skeletal troponin C. This stretch of the protein sequence is in the middle one-third of the 32-residue 9-turn α-helix that connects the two globular domains of the dumbell-shaped molecule and includes the D/E linker helix. We describe here the solution conformation of the helix linker as studied by circular dichroism (CD) and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2-D NMR) spectroscopy. The NOE connectivities together with the vicinal $^3J_{N{\alpha}}$ coupling constants suggest that the peptide exists in a fast conformational equilibrium among several secondary structure: a nascent helix near the N-terminus, a helix, and a substational population of extended and random coil forms. In addition, two interresidue α-α NOEs are observed suggesting a bent structure with a bend that includes the single glycine in position 92. These results are consistent with the ideas that in neutral solution the D/E linker region of the central helix in troponin C can adopt a helical conformation and the central helix may have a segmental flexibility around Gly 92.

The synthesis and characterization of the monomeric group 13 heterocyclic thiosemicarbazone complexes $Me_2M[SC_4H_3CHNNC(S)SCH_3]$ (M=Al (2), Ga (3)) are described. Compounds 2-3 were prepared using $MMe_3$ (M=Al, Ga) in toluene with 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde-S-methyldithiocarbazat e under anaerobic conditions. These complexes have been characterized by $^1H\;NMR,\; ^{13}C\; NMR$, elemental analyses, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group $P2_1/c$ with unit cell parameters a=10.2930(5) Å, b=18.564 (1) Å, c=7.3812(6) Å, V=1347.9(2) Å3, $D_{calc}=1.342\; gcm^{-3}$ for Z=4, 9281 reflections with $I_o<3{\sigma}\;(I_o),$ R1=0.0500 and wR2=0.0526. 3 crystalizes in the orthorhombic space group $P_{bca}$ with unit cell parameters a=13.340(3) Å, b=19.9070(5) Å, c=11.3690(2) Å, $V=2673.88(9)\;{\AA}^3$, $D_{calc}=1.511\; gcm^{-3}$ for Z=8, 17004 reflections with $I_o>3{\sigma}\;(I_o),$, R1=0.0480 and wR2=0.0524. Compound 3 is a monomeric gallium compound with a weak interaction between the pendant thiophene and the gallium center.

The complexation of ethylammonium ion by alkyl p-tert-butylcalix[6]aryl ester derivatives was studied via measurements of proton and carbon spin-lattice relaxation times $(T_1)$ and chemical shift changes in solution state $(CDCl_3)$. The results indicate that the endo-type complexes are formed and that the overall tumbling rates of these complexes are more rapid than those of the corresponding free hosts. The association constants for these complexes in $THF-d_8$ were determined by $^1H$ NMR titration at several different temperatures to estimate the relevant thermodynamic parameters. The logK's for ethylammonium complexes of methyl, ethyl, and propyl esters at 313 K, for example, were found to be 1.56, 3.41, and 3.08, respectively. The complexes formed may be thought of as being kinetically stable in view of their $^1H$ NMR behavior in 2 : 1 host/guest solution.

Synthesis of novel 9-fluoroanthracyclines carrying L-fucose as a sugar component is described. Compound 3 containing a fluorine at the C-9 position was synthesized from an epoxide 2 and HF/Pyr (7 : 3). Bromination and hydrolysis of compound 3 resulted in synthesis of an aglycone, 9-fluoroanthracyclinone 6. The α-(1b) and β -anomers (1a) of the final product were obtained in high yields by a coupling reaction with the L-fucose.

Novel coordination polymers of general form $[Co(NCS)_2(Py_2L)_2]_n\; (Py_2L=trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene$ (bpee), 1; 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpea), 2) have been synthesized by slow diffusion of aqueous solution of $Co(NCS)_2$ with ethanolic solution of appropriate spacer ligand, $Py_2L$, in a mole ratio of 1 : 2. X-ray analyses on both 1 and 2 have provided similar unit and infinite structures with space group Ibam. The local geometry around the cobalt(Ⅱ) atoms is an octahedral arrangement with two NCS groups in trans position (N-Co-N, 180.0° (1); 180.0°(2)) and four pyridine units in propeller fashion. Each spacer ligand connects two cobalt(Ⅱ) ions defining the edges of a $[Co(II)]_4$ rhombus. The most fascinating feature is the occurrence of perpendicular interwoven of independent square grid sheets: this is, one molecular network is perpendicularly interpenetrated through the centers of the $[Co(II)]_4$ rhombuses of another independent network with all of the cobalt(Ⅱ) atoms in a coplanar sheet. The physicochemical properties of the present unique structures were studied.

The luminescence spectra of Eu(Ⅲ) complexes have been measured as a function of molar metal-to-ligand ratio and pH. The ligands used in this study are tridentate iminodiacetate (IDA) and methyliminodiacetate (MIDA). The 620 nm emission band, attributed to the $^5D_0{\to}^7F_2$ transition, is monitored to investigate the optimum condition for $EuL_3^{3-}$ complex formation in aqueous state. In addition, the sensitivity of the 465 nm absorption band, attributed to the $^7F_0{\to}^5D_2$ transition, to the ligand environment has been also investigated.

Trans-4-(9-anthrylethenyl)-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine(t-aemb) and its bipyridyl Ru complex $[Ru(bpy)_2(t-aemb)](PF_6)_2$ (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine) 1 have been prepared and their excited state properties have been studied. t-Aemb exhibits solvent-dependent fluorescence and efficient trans→cis photoisomerization. 1 shows very weak fluorescence and its photochemically reactive. Fluorescence is wavelength-dependent. While the excitation into the MLCT band makes the complex fluorescent, direct absorption by the t-aemb ligand leads to the photoreaction of t-aemb ligand and no fluorescence is observed. 1 is considered to behave in part as bichromophoric molecule in which $[Ru(bpy)_3](PF_6)_2$ and anthryl group are covalently linked by ethenyl linkage. Because anthryl moiety is not effectively conjugated with bipyridylethenyl moiety due to steric hindrance, weak fluorescence can be explained due to the efficient energy or electron transfer.

The molecular geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies of biphenyl in the ground and the first excited triplet states have been calculated using the Hartree-Fock and Becke-3-Lee-Yang-Parr (B3LYP) density functional methods with 6-31G* basis set. Structural change occurs from a twisted benzene-like to a planar quinone-like form upon the excitation to the first excited state. Scaled harmonic vibrational frequencies for the ground state obtained from the B3LYP calculation show good agreement with the available experimental data. A few vibrational fundamentals for both states are newly assigned based on the B3LYP results.

The crystal structure of dehydrated $Rb^+$-exchanged zeolite X, stoichiometry $Rb_{71}Na_{21}-X\; (Rb_{71}Na_{21}Si_{100}Al_{92}O_{384})$ per unit cell, has been determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction date gathered by counter methods. The structure was solved and refined in the cubic space group Fd3, a=25.007(3) Å at 21(1) ℃. The crystal was prepared by ion exchange in a flowing stream using a 0.05 M aqueous RbOH solution (pH=12.7). The crystal was then dehydrated at 360 ℃ and $2{\times}10^{-6}$ torr for two days. The structure was refined to the final error indices, $R_1=0.047$ and $R_2=0.040$ with 239 reflections for which I> 3σ(I). In this structure, 71 $Rb^+$ ions per unit cell are found at six different crystallographic sites and 21 $Na^+$ ions per unit cell are found at two different crystallographic sites. Four and a half $Rb^+$ ions are located at site Ⅰ, the center of the hexagonal prism. Nine $Rb^+$ ions are found at site Ⅰ' in the sodalite cavity (Rb-O=2.910(15) Å and O-Rb-O=78.1(4)°). Eighteen $Rb^+$ ions are found at site Ⅱ in the supercage (Rb-O=2.789(9) Å and O-Rb-O=92.1(4)°). Two and a half $Rb^+$ ions, which lie at site Ⅱ', are recessed ca. 2.07 Å into the sodalite cavity from their three O(2) oxygen planes (Rb-O=3.105(37) Å and O-Rb-O=80.6(5)°). Thirty-two $Rb^+$ ions are found at site Ⅲ deep in the supercage (Rb-O=2.918(12) Å and O-Rb-O=71.9(4)°), and five $Rb^+$ ions are found at site Ⅲ'. Seven $Na^+$ ions also lie at site Ⅰ. Fourteen $Na^+$ ions are found at site Ⅱ in the supercage (Na-O=2.350(19) Å and O-Na-O=117.5(6)°).

The oxidation product bis(2-oxo-3H-1,3,4-thiadiazolidinyl)-5,5-disulfide (5b) was obtained from an attempted synthesis of 5-thioxo-3H,4H-1,3,4-thiadiazolidin-2-one (1). Spectroscopic results indicate that the most stable tautomeric form of 1 is the lactam-thiol form (1b). The computed total energies and relative energies at the MP4 level also showed that the most stable tautomer is 1b.

The $SnO_2$, Sn-doped $In_2O+3\; and \;Ce-doped\; TiO_2$ films have been prepared by RF sputtering method, and their opto-electrochemical properties were investigated in view of the applicability as counter electrodes in the electrochromic window system. These oxide films could reversibly intercalate $Li^+$ ions owing to the nanocrystalline texture, but remained colorless and transparent. The high transmittance of the lithiated films could be attributed to the prevalence of the $Sn^{4+}/Sn^{2+}\; and\; Ce^{4+}/Ce^{3+}$ redox couples having 5s and 6s character conduction bands, respectively. For the Ce-doped $TiO_2$ film, $(TiO_2)_{1-x}(CeO_2)_x$, an optimized electrochemical reversibility was found in the film with the composition of x = 0.1.

The hydrogen-bonding interactions between thioacetamide (TA) and urea derivatives such as tetramethylurea (TMU) and dimethyldiphenylurea (DMDPU) have been studied using near-infrared absorption spectroscopy. Thermodynamic parameters for the interactions between TA and urea derivatives were determined by analyzing the $v^{as}_{N-H}$+Amide Ⅱ combination band of TA at 1970 nm. The ΔH° values, indicating the intrinsic strength of hydrogen bonding, are - 23.0 kJ/mole and - 19.8 kJ/mol for TMU and DMDPU, respectively. This is well explained by the inductive effects of substituents. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations for the proton affinity of TMU, N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) in gas phase have been carried out at HF/3-21G ad HF/6-31G(d) levels, showing that the proton affinity of TMU is larger than that of DMA, which agrees well the experimental results.