Thermolysis of CsO ( = In, Sc): Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Chemical Bonding, and Reactivity of the Subvalent Oxidometalates CsO ( = In, Sc).

The cesium-poor alkali-metal suboxidometalates CsO ( = In, Sc) were prepared from the respective cesium-rich suboxidometalates CsO by thermolysis in a dynamic vacuum at temperatures below 150 °C. They crystallize in a new structure type, comprising isolated tetrahedral oxidometalate anions [O] immersed in a matrix of metallic cesium atoms. This structural separation into alternating ionic and metallic building units is typical for subvalent compounds.

Three Ways to (Pseudo)cubic Structure Models: Phase Transition and Pseudosymmetry in Orthorhombic CsMO ( = V, Nb, or Ta).

The new oxometalates CsNbO and CsTaO together with CsVO crystallize with the KNO structure type [, = 12.495(2) Å, = 9.0183(14) Å, and = 6.

Self-pressurised rapid freezing at arbitrary cryoprotectant concentrations.

Self-pressurised rapid freezing (SPRF) has been proposed as a simple alternative to traditional high-pressure freezing (HPF) protocols for vitrification of biological samples in electron microscopy and cryopreservation applications. Both methods exploit the circumstance that the melting point of ice reaches a minimum when subjected to pressure of around 210 MPa, however, in SPRF its precise quantity depends on sample properties and hence, is generally unknown. In particular, cryoprotective agents (CPAs) are expected to be a factor; though eschewed by many SPRF experiments, vitrification of larger samples notably cannot be envisaged without them.

Characterization of conformational states of POPC and DPPC in POPC/DPPC/cholesterol mixtures using Raman spectroscopy.

Conformational states of phospholipid chains in ternary mixtures of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), deuterated 1,2-dipalmitoyl-d62-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), and cholesterol (Chol) were studied by Raman spectroscopy. Parameters of Raman peaks sensitive to conformational order have been used to determine chain order for mixtures over a wide range of compositions. A ternary diagram of fractions of phospholipid chains in conformationally ordered and disordered states has been constructed.

Conformational state diagram of DOPC/DPPC/cholesterol mixtures.

Raman spectra of aqueous suspensions of vesicles composed of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC), deuterated 1,2-dipalmitoyl-d62-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), and cholesterol (Chol) were studied at room temperature to determine the conformational states of the phospholipid hydrocarbon chains. Deuteration of DPPC allowed us to characterize the conformational states of DOPC and DPPC independently. The parameters of Raman peaks, which are sensitive to the conformational order, were studied in a wide range of compositions.