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With the aim of deepening the knowledge on the behavior of cyclododecane (CDD) as a temporary consolidant agent for weathered stones, NMR longitudinal and transverse relaxation decays have been exploited to follow the distribution of cyclododecane solutions into porous matrices. By measuring as function of time the relaxation decay constants of CDD solutions dropped onto porous supports, it has been possible to differentiate the step encompassing the solvent evaporation, which determines the consolidant migration within the matrix, from that governing the consolidant sublimation, which is related to the consolidation effectiveness over time. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In this work Raman spectroscopic techniques have been utilized to characterize the vibrational spectral features of orchil dyed wool samples. Specifically, it is noted by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy that wool dyed purple with two historically used orchil species (Roccella tinctoria and Lasallia pustulata) show spectral differences possibly owing to their specific dye-precursor constituents. The additional natural dyestuff woad (Isatis tinctoria L.) overdyeing the R. tinctoria orchil dyed wool is a further challenge when distinguishing the mixed dye components given by the co-adsorption of the dyestuffs as permitted by the selection rules of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, the effects of dilution of the L. pustulata species in its spectral detection have been assessed along with the evaluation of subsequent lichen extract boiling before dyeing which resulted in the detection of a degraded form of the orchil dye. Proof of concept included the surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) investigation of a purple dyed tapestry (XVI century) which permitted an aged orchil dye to be determined. This contribution utilizes SERS as a fast, reproducible and specific method for both orchil dye detection and alteration induced by degradation. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In order to realize a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) gel protocol with portable Raman instrumentation, this contribution oversees the optimization of a removable SERS active methylcellulose gel and the applicability of an innovative gelatin substrate. Analytical evaluations by non-invasive portable nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) profilometry with regards to methylcellulose and gelatin film penetration and removal from an unvarnished painted surface and commercial dyed paper substrates have been carried out, respectively, following successful SERS measurements. Both gels have been specifically prepared in accordance to the substrate under exam so as to simultaneously permit sufficient surface interaction for Raman enhancements to be recorded with limited penetration into or subsequent damage on removal of the matrix under study. This work continues to bridge the gap towards non-invasive SERS measurements and in-situ SERS measurements. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Yellow pyroantimonates PbSb, PbSbSn and PbSbZn were synthesized by solid-state reactions at high temperature and characterized by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The lattice size of cubic pyrochlores increases with Sn and Zn doping and with Pb overstoichiometry, indicating the replacement of Sb5+ by the larger cations. This fact permits the understanding of the corresponding Raman spectral modifications as a consequence of the changes in the local symmetry of the SbO polyhedra, justifying the exploitation of Raman spectroscopy to noninvasively identify structural modifications of pyroantimonate pigments in artworks. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of micro-Raman spectroscopy as a non-invasive vibrational spectroscopic technique applied to the examination of wool samples, which may be applied to textile materials of cultural heritage interest. In this work, a selection of wool materials were primarily investigated in their unaged states through the utility of a natural wool reference together with selected samples dyed with different natural colorants, namely woad, weld and madder. The identification of the main modes of vibration of the wool fibre keratin was assessed in all the samples, which aided the determination of the changes within the protein structure, in particular, through the cysteine and peptide cross-linkages brought about by the addition of the dyes that can produce effects similar to degradation. The dye too was assessed importantly to enable its identification through its characteristic scattering or fluorescence emissions on a woollen matrix, as well as to ascertain whether a uniform covering across the surface of the wool was achieved or not. Regarding the artificial degradation of the samples it was possible to observe numerous modifications within the molecular structure of the wool, in particular, within the amide I, C-H bending, amide III and S-S stretchings along with the physical photo-yellowing of fibres given by the presence of lipids dispersed across the surface of the wool. The effects of ageing on the dyed samples were also investigated, indicating that many of the bands relative to the colorants were still present, yet so too were numerous vibrations from the wool that also indicated a certain level of stress and degradation to the underlying wool. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Nineteen samples of medieval transparent-glazed pottery and archaic majolica from Orvieto (central Italy) were studied. They were classified by archaeological criterion as follows: five transparent-glazed fragments with green and brown decorations (first half of the 13th century), eight green transparent-glazed fragments (13th century) and six tin-glazed fragments with green and brown decorations (second half of the 13th century). SEM–EDX, XRD (the Rietveld method) and XRF were used to characterize the chemical and mineralogical compositions both of the bodies and the coatings. In all of the samples, the paste is Ca-rich with CaO contents as high as 13–20 wt%. The mineralogical composition is compatible with a firing temperature of about 950°C, which is the typical temperature reached in a wood kiln. No difference was observed between the bodies of transparent- and tin-glazed pottery. In the case of transparent glazes, the burial conditions lead to heavy weathering of the samples. However, on the basis of the analyses carried out in non-weathered areas, the typical composition is PbO 55–65 wt%, SiO231–35 wt%. In tin glazes, the tin is scattered on the mass of the glaze as SnO2crystals with a concentration of 7–14 wt%. Concerning the decorations, it is established that the green colour is due to the presence of copper, while manganese is responsible for the brown colour. These pigments, which represent the typical colours of ‘archaic majolica’, are spread through the glaze homogeneously, apart from one case in which there is clear evidence of manganese oxide crystals.

Throughout the years, a large number of paintings by Perugino have been investigated using the in situ non-destructive x-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique. Three anomalous characteristics were frequently identified, concerning a brown earth pigment containing zinc, the presence of manganese in some red lakes and the association of the presence of copper and tin with grey-blue regions. In an effort to understand these anomalies better, five micro-samples, taken from selected easel paintings by Perugino at the Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria and a fresco at the Monastero di Sant'Agnese in Perugia, were studied by micro-Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Micro-Raman spectroscopy was a useful tool to investigate the molecular nature of such uncommon pigments and SEM provided useful information on the stratigraphy of the paint layers. The brown earth pigments, used by the master in the last period of his production, were definitely confirmed to be characterized by zinc impurities. The manganese contained in red lakes was shown to be due to ground alkaline glass, with a small quantity of manganese and iron, probably added to the oil binder in an attempt to speed up drying. Finally, in the sampled paintings, the grey-blue colour characterized by copper and tin was not present. Copyright (C) 2004 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.

The lowest singlet 11A′ and 11A″ potential energy surfaces (PES) of the O(1D)+HBr system have been ab initio computed. The complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) method was used in most of the calculations, considering all the valence orbitals as active. The calculations were complemented with both analytical gradient calculations to characterize the stationary points and multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) calculations at selected nuclear geometries to improve the determination of the barrier heights and of the energetics. Electronic energy values for both PESs were then independently fitted by polynomial expansions in bond order coordinates. On the fitted surfaces quasi-classical trajectories were separately run. Single-surface calculations behave qualitatively different for the ground and the excited PES at low collision energies. A satisfactory agreement with existing experimental data was obtained by using the ground PES while calculations performed on the excited 11A″ PES worsened the agreement. However, when collision energy is increased, detailed experimental distributions are less well reproduced by calculations on the ground PES. This may imply the participation via nonadiabatic transitions of the 21A′ PES at higher energies while the adiabatic ground singlet PES well describes reactive scattering at low collision energy. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001

The controlled ionization of the linear [Cl–Ti–O–Ti–Cl] skeleton allowed the generation of the [Cl–Ti–O–Ti]+ dimer, which is nonsymmetrical as a consequence of extended Cl–Ti–O π interactions. The [TiO] unit thus formed is a building block for a variety of titanoxane structures. This chemistry has been investigated from a theoretical point of view by ab initio MO analysis of the [Cl–Ti–O–Ti–Cl] and [Cl–Ti–OTi]+ fragments. These calculations lead to the conclusion that single ionization generates the [TiO] unit, whereas double ionization does not affect the μ-oxo bonding mode in [Ti–O–Ti]2+ or [S–Ti–O–Ti–S]2+ (where S is a pure σ-donor ligand or solvent). This observation has been confirmed experimentally by ionizing the following model complexes: [(Cl)(acacen)-Ti–O–Ti(acacen)(Cl)] (3) (acacen = N,N'-ethylenebisacetylacetoneiminato dianion) and [(Cl)(salen)Ti–O–Ti(salen)-(Cl)] (4) (salen = N,N'-ethylenebissalicylideneiminato dianion), where the linear Cl–Ti–O–Ti–Cl unit is assured by the square-planar bonding mode of the tetradentate Schiff base ligand. The double ionization of 3 with AgNO3 gave the conventional μ-oxo derivative [(acacen)(η1-ONO2)Ti–O–Ti(acacen)(η1-ONO2)] (5). In contrast, the stepwise ionization of 3 and 4 with NaBPh4 in THF led to the nonsymmetrical [Cl–Ti–OTi]+ intermediates, which are the parent compounds for a variety of linear titanoxanes. The following species containing a TiO unit have been isolated from the NaBPh4-assisted ionization of 3: [(acacen)TiO–BPh3] (6) and [(L)(acacen)TiO–Ti(acacen)–O–(acacen)Ti–OTi(acacen)(L)]2+2 BPh-4 (L = THF, 7; L = none, 8). The same reaction carried out on 4 led to [(THF)-(salen)TiO – Ti (salen) – O – (salen)Ti-(THF)]2+2 BPh-4 (9) and [(L)(salen)-TiO–Ti(salen) – O – (salen)Ti–OTi-(salen)(L)]2+ 2BPh-4 (L = THF, 10; L = Py, 11; L = none, 12, polymeric form). A scheme is proposed to explain the formation of the species derived from the single ionization of 3 and 4, where the origin and the binding properties of the [TiO] unit play a major role.

Resonance Raman spectroscopy has been utilized to identify vegetal and animal dyes and lakes. These compounds have been used by artists since antiquity, and their identification has important implications in art history and conservation. The resonance condition is useful when working with real ancient objects so as to enhance the Raman scattering of chromophores with respect to the strong signal of the matrix, such as the textile or parchment over which the colorant is supported. The strong fluorescence that generally characterizes the resonance Raman spectra was eliminated by using subtracted shifted Raman spectroscopy (SSRS). A systematic study on reference organic dyes was primarily carried out to evaluate the suitability of the method and to estimate the strengths and limitations of the spectrum reconstruction process. The method was then applied to the noninvasive identification of madder on ancient dyed silk textiles such as an altar table cloth and a manutergium attributed to the Egyptian artistic textile production of the 10th-11th Century A.D.

‘Ab initio’ calculations have been performed on the model systems [Fe(CO)4–n(PH3)n(η2-CH2O)](n= 0, 2, or 4), to investigate the nature and the energetics of the interaction between iron and formaldehyde. The results allow a complete description of the electronic structure of the model compounds: the bond between Fe and CH2O may essentially be described in terms of the π-back donation from an occupied metal orbital, of mainly dxz character, to the π* orbital of formaldehyde. Partial geometry optimizations obtained by gradient calculations show that the geometry of the co-ordinated CH2O is greatly distorted and the distortion increases with the substitution of carbonyl ligands with phosphines. Configuration-interaction calculations, performed on the [Fe(CO)4(η2-CH2O)] system using the direct configuration-interaction approach, suggest that the interaction energies computed at the Hartree–Fock level are reliable.