Sulfonimide-Based Dendrimers: Progress in Synthesis, Characterization, and Potential Applications

There are more than 50 families of dendrimers, and some of which, such as polyamidoamine PAMAM, are well studied, and some are just starting to attract the attention of researchers. One promising type of dendrimers is sulfonimide-based dendrimers (SBDs). To date, SBDs are used in organic synthesis as starting reagents for the convergent synthesis of higher generations dendrimers, in materials science as alternative electrolyte solutions for fuel cells, and in medicinal chemistry as potential substances for drug transfer procedures. Despite the fact that most dendrimers are amorphous substances among the SBDs, several structures are distinguished that are prone to the formation of crystalline solids with melting points in the range of 120–250 °C. Similar to those of other dendrimers, the chemical and physical properties of SBDs depend on their outer shell, which is formed by functional groups. To date, SBDs decorated with end groups such as naphthyl, nitro, methyl, and methoxy have been successfully synthesized, and each of these groups gives the dendrimers specific properties. Analysis of the structure of SBD, their synthesis methods, and applications currently available in the literature reveals that these dendrimers have not yet been fully explored.

Carpellary appendages in Nymphaea and Victoria (Nymphaeaceae): evidence of their role as osmophores based on morphology, anatomy and ultrastructure

In flowers of Nymphaea and Victoria, carpellary appendages are regarded as structures related to pollination by deceit of night-blooming species. In this study, the anatomy, histochemistry and ultrastructure of carpellary appendages were analysed to investigate their possible role in the production of volatile compounds in nocturnal species Nymphaea amazonum, N. gardneriana, N. prolifera (Nymphaea subgenus Hydrocallis) and Victoria cruziana, and in diurnal species N. caerulea (Nymphaea subgenus Brachyceras). Carpellary appendages were studied using light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy from pre-anthesis to the second day of anthesis. Anatomical and ultrastructural features are characteristic of osmophores. In all species, the most frequent components in secretory cells are amyloplasts, lipid bodies, mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum and elaioplasts. The epidermis and multilayered parenchyma accumulate abundant starch grains and lipophilic substances, both of which vanish during anthesis. Amorphous substances are deposited between the plasmalemma and the outer cell wall of epidermal cells, and are then released by cuticular diffusion. Odour production in carpellary appendages might be an ancient role of primary importance both in diurnal and nocturnal species that are pollinated by deceit. Olfactory and visual cues of small carpellary appendages in Nymphaea subgenus Brachyceras correspond to bee pollination, and large carpellary appendages in subgenus Hydrocallis and Victoria represent parallel functional specializations of the flowers to the attraction and reward for exclusive beetle pollination.

The use of single-crystal cuvettes with the properties of an optical shutter in X-ray diffractometers

The atomic structure of substances can be studied using X-ray diffraction methods. X-ray diffractometers contains X-ray source and goniometer with a detector of scattered radiation. A sample holder (a cuvette) with the material under study is placed in the center of the goniometer. The diffraction spectrum which represents the structure of the sample under study is recorded upon angular scanning of the sample and detector. Study of crystalline powders, amorphous substances, nanocrystalline and partially crystalline objects is often based on the Bragg-Brentano scheme (θ – 2θ-scanning) with divergent X-ray beams irradiating the entire sample surface. Scattered radiation from the cuvette can also enter the detector and affect the recorded diffraction spectrum. The aforementioned distortion is rather weak for polycrystalline samples due to strong intensity of crystalline reflections. However, when studying amorphous substances, nanocrystalline and partially crystalline objects, contribution of the scattered radiation can be compared with the radiation from the sample and thus interfere with an unambiguous determination of the sample structure. The results of using standard cuvettes for X-ray diffractometers D500, D5000 (Siemens), D8 ADVANCE (Bruker) and DRON are analyzed with a special attention paid to distortion of X-ray spectra attributed to the use of cuvettes made of plastic or amorphous quartz when studying amorphous, nanocrystalline and partially crystalline samples. Special cuvettes, being a kind of optical shutters for background scattering, which do not distort the diffraction spectra of the objects under study are developed: single crystal plates of a special orientation with cylindrical cavities for the samples. The advantages of a single-crystal silicon cuvette compared to plastic cuvette usually supplied for D500 diffractometer are estimated when studying an amorphous sample.

Research on Properties and Reaction Mechanism of Blast Furnace Slag Backfilling Cementing Material

According to XRD, DTA and SEM detections, the hydration products of blast furnace slag based cementing material SL, SLG. were studied in different age periods. The XRD analysis of cementing material SL hydration products showed the composition of hydration products were mainly amorphous substances, few crystalline substances. Characteristic peak of ettringite, such as AFt, hadn’t been found in the spectral line of DTA, and it hadn’t been found in the figures of SEM, either, which was accordant with the conclusion that the cementing performance of SL mainly coming from gel of hydrated calcium silicate (CSH) and hydrated calcium aluminate. But the cementing performance of SLG mainly coming from Aft, CSH and AFm from hydration products analysis of different age periods.