Toward a microscopic description of molecular electronic systems

The many-body perturbation theory is reformulated within the dielectric function method presented in the preceding paper [12]. The self-energy effects are explicitly considered. These corrections turn out to be important and are calculated to the same level of approximation as the corresponding local-field terms. The method is at the moment applicable to π-electron systems within the zero differential overlap approximation. Explicit calculations of the excitation energies for the benzene molecule, using different parametrizations, are presented. Comparison is made with the results obtained in the random phase approximation (RPA ) and other schemes.     

Dimensional and geometrical effects on the electronic structure of polycyclic hydrocarbons

In the framework of the SCF -RPA scheme and ppp approximation we studied the excitation spectrum of pyrene, coronene, ovalene, and hexabenzocoronene. The triplet stability matrix of the corresponding Hartree–Fock solution was also studied for each molecule. At variance with the case of long linear polyacenes [M. Baldo, G. Piccitto, R. Pucci, and P. Tomasello, Phys. Lett. 95A , 201 (1983)], all these molecules do not display Hartree–Fock triplet instability. Furthermore, the theoretical analysis indicates that the electronic structure of the molecular series can be characterized by a dimensionality intermediate between one and two, with a smooth transition between the two limits. The transition is essentially determined by the molecular shape. The analysis is supported by the fairly good agreement of the theoretical spectra with the available experimental data.     

Nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the environment: formation, occurrences and analysis

A review is presented on the formation and occurrence in the atmosphere of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Some analytical methodologies (covering various matrices) are also considered.     

Lipophilic sugar nucleotide synthesis by structure-based design of nucleotidylyltransferase substrates

Structure-based design of alkyl sugar-1-phosphates provides an efficient nucleotidylyltransferase-catalyzed synthesis of a series of new lipophilic sugar nucleotides possessing long or branched alkyl chains, thereby demonstrating the utility of nucleotidylyltransferases to catalyze the synthesis of sugar nucleotides with potential applications in lipopolysaccharide and lipoglycopeptide biosynthesis.     

Multi-Analytical Characterization and Radiocarbon Dating of a Roman Egyptian Mummy Portrait

Fayum mummy portraits, painted around 2000 years ago, represent a fascinating fusion of Egyptian and Graeco-Roman funerary and artistic traditions. Examination of these artworks may provide insight into the Roman Empire’s trade and economic and social structure during one of its most crucial yet still hazy times of transition. The lack of proper archaeological documentation of the numerous excavated portraits currently prevents their chronological dating, be it absolute or relative. So far, their production period has been defined essentially on the basis of the relevant differences in their pictorial style. Our study introduces the use of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) to assess the age of a fragment of an encaustic painting belonging to the corpus of the Fayum portraits. The unexpected age resulting from ¹⁴C analysis suggests the need to reconsider previous assumptions regarding the period of production of the Fayum corpus. Furthermore, our multi-analytical, non-invasive approach yields further details regarding the fragment’s pictorial technique and constituting materials, based on spectral and morphological analysis and cross-sectional examination.     

Glassy dynamics of water at interface with biomolecules: A Mode Coupling Theory test

We study the slow dynamics of hydration water upon cooling in two different biological aqueous solutions, one containing a molecule of lysozyme and another with trehalose molecules. In particular we test if the glassy behaviour of these solutions fulfils the predictions of the popular Mode Coupling Theory of glassy dynamics. In particular we test the Time Temperature Superposition Principle and the matching of the exponents of the theory. Our results confirm that this theory is able to describe the dynamical behaviour of supercooled water also in non ideal cases as the ones under investigation in the region of mild supercooling.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (+)-1-deoxyaltronojirimycin

A stereocontrolled, facile and high-yield approach for producing (+)-altroDNJ, has been developed starting from the inexpensive commercial cis 2-butene-1,4-diol. Sharpless epoxidation and a subsequent dihydroxylation were used for the introduction of all stereocentres; finally, the ring closure under basic conditions afforded the piperidine heterocycle.     

Di- and tri-organotin(IV) complexes of the new bis(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-ylthio)acetate ligand and the decarboxylated analogues

The new sodium bis(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-2-ylthio)acetate, Na[(S-tim)₂CHCO₂], has been prepared in ethanol solution using 2-mercapto-1-methylimidazole, dibromoacetic acid and NaOH. New di- and tri-organotin(IV) derivatives have been synthesized from reaction between SnR_nCl_4−n (R = Ph, Cy and ⁿBu, n = 2-3) acceptors and Na[(S-tim)₂CHCO₂]. Complexes of the type {[κ¹O-(S-tim)₂CHCO₂]SnR₃} and related decarboxylated species {[κ²N,N-(S-tim)₂CH₂]SnR₂Cl₂} have been obtained and characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR, ESIMS and multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn) NMR spectral data. The adduct {κ¹O-[(S-tim)₂CHCO₂]Sn(H₂O)(C₄H₉)₃} was characterized by single crystal X-ray studies. The dichloromethane reaction solution of {κ¹O-[(S-tim)₂CHCO₂]Sn(C₆H₅)₃} was re-crystallized and the decarboxylated species {[(S-tim)₂CH₂]SnCl(H₂O)(C₆H₅)₃} was obtained as a crystalline solid and characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis of (+)‐13‐Stemarene and (+)‐18‐Deoxystemarin: Expeditious Preparation of the Key 6‐exo‐Hydroxybicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐2‐one Ethylene Dithioacetal

An expeditious preparation of the 6‐exo‐hydroxybicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐2‐one ethylene dithioacetal 2b , a key intermediate in the synthesis of (+)‐13‐stemarene ( 4 ) and (+)‐18‐deoxystemarin ( 5 ) is described. Compound 2b was obtained as the major product by equilibrating the endo rich mixture of 6‐hydroxybicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐2‐one ethylene dithioacetals 2 with TsOH in benzene at reflux, easily available from the corresponding hydroxy ketones 9 . The model experiments which preceeded the above transformation, not previously described in the literature, are also presented.