Orientations of chain groups

We prove generalizations to chain groups, of Minty's Arc Colouring Lemma and its extension, the well-known Farkas Lemma. In these the orientation of the edges is replaced by an arbitrary chain.A function on a chain groupN isrepresentable if there exists a chainR such that (X)=R·X for allXN. Anorientation is a chain with values ±1. We prove that for a regular chain group a linear function that is representable by an orientation for each chainXN locally, is representable by an orientation globally.     

Modelling of the processes of ultrafine SiO2 production under thermal plasma conditions

The production of ultrafine silica particles is examined by modelling the processes in a flow plasma reactor. The model is based on the authors' experimental data on silica sand processing by use of thermal arc plasma. The free-molecular coagulation is assumed to be the dominant process for particle growth. This is carried out at fast cooling of the vapour, during its mixing with oxygen. The particle size distribution functions are calculated, and the influence of the chemical monomer generation and the mixing on their behavior is investigated. Comparison of the calculated and the experimental mean particle size is made.List of symbols C _nl collision frequency function, cm³/s - d _m mean median diameter, nm - F _LN(d) integral form of the particle size distribution function,% - g(t) mixing function - k Boltzmann's constant - k ₁,k,k rate coefficients, cm³/s - k ₂,k ₃ rate coefficiens, cm⁶/s - m mass of the monomer, g - M number of groups - T absolute temperature, K - T ₀ temperature of the hot vapour, K - T _E temperature of SiO₂ condensation, K - t time, s - t _m mixing time, s - t _c colling time, s - z ₀ monomer concentration, cm^–3 - z _n ,z _l concentrations of particles in groups, cm^–3 - z _n total number concentration of particles (n=0, 1, M), cm^–3 - z _n /(z _n )(log d _n+1 –logd _n) differential form of particle size distribution function - w _i reaction rates (i=1, 2, 3), cm^–3/s - , cooling rates, K/s - coefficient of proportionality - _SiO conversion rate of SiO,% - coefficient determined from the cooling rate, s^–1 - mass density of the particles, g/cm³ - standard deviation The authors gratefully acknowledge Prof. L. S. Polak from the Institute of Petrol Chemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Science, for helpful discussions.     

The structure of magnesium alanate

Mg(AlH(4))(2) was produced as a nanocrystalline powder by metathesis of NaAlH(4) and MgCl(2). Starting with a structure estimation which was developed from an evaluation of FTIR data and comparison of structural properties of two solvent adducts, quantum chemical calculations were performed on the density functional theory (DFT) level. The calculated atomic positions were used to simulate an X-ray powder diffraction pattern, based on a trigonal unit cell. The simulated pattern was congruent to experimental data. Thus, magnesium alanate exhibits a CdI(2) layer structure, the layers being formed by Mg atoms occupying the Cd sites and AlH(4) tedrahedra occupying the sites of the iodine atoms in CdI(2).     

A new color of the synthetic chameleon methoxyallene: synthesis of trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridinol derivatives: an unusual reaction mechanism, a remarkable crystal packing, and first palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions

Addition of lithiated methoxyallene to pivalonitrile afforded after aqueous workup the expected iminoallene 1 in excellent yield. Treatment of this intermediate with silver nitrate accomplished the desired cyclization to the electron-rich pyrrole derivative 2 in moderate yield. Surprisingly, trifluoroacetic acid converted iminoallene 1 to a mixture of enamide 3 and trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridinol 4 (together with its tautomer 5). A plausible mechanism proposed for this intriguing transformation involves addition of trifluoroacetate to the central allene carbon atom of an allenyl iminium intermediate as crucial step. Enamide 3 is converted to pyridinol 4 by an intramolecular aldol-type process. A practical direct synthesis of trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridinols 4, 10, 11, and 12 starting from typical nitriles and methoxyallene was established. Pyridinol 10 shows an interesting crystal packing with three molecules in the elementary cell and a remarkable helical supramolecular arrangement. Trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridinol 4 was converted to the corresponding pyridyl nonaflate 13, which is an excellent precursor for palladium-catalyzed reactions leading to pyridine derivatives 14-16 in good to excellent yields. The new synthesis of trifluoromethyl-substituted pyridines disclosed here demonstrates a novel reactivity pattern of lithiated methoxyallene which is incorporated into the products as the unusual tripolar synthon B.     

Direct calculation of interconversion barriers in dynamic chromatography and electrophoresis: Isomerization of captopril

Dynamic capillary electrophoresis (DCE) and direct calculation of the rate constants of isomerization has been applied to determine the cis-trans isomerization barriers of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril. The separation of the rotational cis-trans isomeric drug has been performed in an aqueous 50 mM borate buffer at pH 9.3. Interconversion profiles featuring plateau formation, peak-broadening, and peak coalescence were observed. To determine the rate constants of the forward and backward reaction (k(cis-->trans) and k(trans-->cis)) of the isomerization process in dynamic capillary electrophoresis, a novel straightforward calculation method using the experimental parameters plateau height, h(plateau), peak width at half height w(h), the total migration times of the cis-trans isomers t(R) and the electroosmotic break-through time t(0) as well as the peak ratio of the cis-trans isomers is presented for the first time. From temperature dependent measurements the rate constants k(cis-->trans) and k(trans-->cis) and the kinetic activation parameters DeltaG( not equal), DeltaH( not equal), and DeltaS( not equal) of the cis-trans isomerization of captopril were obtained. From the activation parameters the isomerization barriers of captopril at 37 degrees C under basic conditions were calculated to be DeltaG( not equal) (cis-->trans) = 90.3 kJ.mol(-1)and DeltaG( not equal) (trans-->cis) = 90.0 kJ.mol(-1*).     

Atomistic Simulation Study of Calcium,Phosphate and Fluoride Ion Association to the Teleopeptide‐Tails of Collagen – Initial Steps to Biomineral Formation

The attachment of single ions to putative adsorption sites in the tails of collagen fibers is investigated by means of molecular dynamics simulations and discussed with respect to the very early steps of apatite/collagen biomineral formation. Our studies clearly demonstrate an increased flexibility of the tails of the triple‐helical collagen protein. Apart from the termini of the backbone, several side chains were also observed to be freely accessible to ion attachment from aqueous solution. The teleopeptide was systematically scanned for suitable adsorption sites for calcium, phosphate and fluoride ions. Association of these ions was then explored from potential of mean force calculations. The resulting energy profiles reveal a variety of favorable protein‐ion bonds and hint at the suitability of the collagen tails to promote apatite aggregation.     

Phase Transition and Crystal Structure of the Monomeric Europium(II) Thiolate Eu(SC36H49)2

Single crystal X‐ray diffraction of Eu(SC₃₆H₄₉)₂ has revealed a first order phase transition at a temperature of 119 K, that involves a reduction of the specific volume by 1 %. The transition corresponds to a doubling of the unit cell, as it is the result from reorientations of isopropyl groups that appear at peripheral sites of the organic ligands. It is argued that a denser packing is achieved at the expense of a less favourable conformation of one of the two crystallographically‐independent complexes in the low‐temperature phase. The Bond‐Valence method is used to show that interactions of equal strengths are present between europium and both sulphur atoms and both coordinating phenyl rings.     

Screening for library-assisted identification and fully validated quantification of 22 beta-blockers in blood plasma by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

A liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric assay with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (LC-APCI-MS) is presented for screening for, library-assisted identification (both in scan mode) and quantification (selected-ion mode) of the beta-blockers acebutolol, diacetolol, alprenolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, bupranolol, carazolol, carteolol, carvedilol, celiprolol, esmolol, labetalol, metoprolol, nadolol, nebivolol, oxprenolol, penbutolol, propranolol, sotalol, talinolol and timolol in blood plasma after mixed-mode (HCX) solid-phase extraction (SPE) and separation by reverse-phase liquid chromatography with gradient elution. The validation data were within the required limits. The assay was successfully applied to authentic plasma samples allowing confirmation of diagnosis of overdose situations as well as monitoring of patients' compliance.