Large deviations for heavy-tailed random elements in convex cones

We prove large deviation results for sums of heavy-tailed random elements in rather general convex cones being semigroups equipped with a rescaling operation by positive real numbers. In difference to previous results for the cone of convex sets, our technique does not use the embedding of cones in linear spaces. Examples include the cone of convex sets with the Minkowski addition, positive half-line with maximum operation and the family of square integrable functions with arithmetic addition and argument rescaling.     

On the separation factor of binary gaseous mixtures in two-layer nanoporous membranes

The separation factor is calculated for a binary gaseous mixture in two-layer membranes composed of nano- and microporous layers. The transfer in nanosized pores is described with regard to the diffusion in an adsorption layer. The mutual influence of components when they pass through the fine-pore layer is taken into account. The dependence of the diffusion coefficients in the adsorption layer on the degree of surface coverage is taken into account. It is shown that the mutual influence of the components on the transfer in the adsorption layer substantially affects the separation factor and its dependence on process parameters. The problem concerning the asymmetry of the separation factor at different membrane orientations with respect to the flow is discussed.     

Mechanism of the Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Exocyclic α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds with an Iridium/BiphPhox Catalyst: NMR and DFT Studies

The mechanism of the asymmetric hydrogenation of exocyclic α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds with the (aS)‐Ir/iPr‐BiphPhox catalyst was studied by NMR experiments and DFT computational analyses. Computed optical yields of the asymmetric hydrogenation proceeding by an iridium(I)/iridium(III) mechanism involving a transition state stabilized through two intramolecular hydrogen bonds are in good accordance with the experimental ee values.     

Alkali‐Metal Trichloroacetates for Dichloromethylenation of Fullerenes: Nucleophilic Addition‐Substitution Route

The first experimental evidence that fullerenes react with alkali‐metal trichloroacetates through a nucleophilic addition‐substitution route, yielding dichloromethylenefullerenes as the final products, is reported. The intermediates, C₆₀(CCl₃)^? and C₇₀(CCl₃)^? anions, have been isolated in their protonated forms as ortho‐C₆₀(CCl₃)H, as well as three ortho and one para isomer of C₇₀(CCl₃)H. The structures were unambiguously determined by means of ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹H–¹³C HMBC NMR spectroscopy along with UV/Vis spectroscopy. The observed regiochemistry was analyzed with the aid of quantum chemical calculations. Conversion of the protonated compounds into the [6,6]‐closed C_60/70(CCl₂) cycloadducts under basic conditions can be effected only for the ortho isomers, whereas para‐C₇₀(CCl₃)H decomposes back into pristine C₇₀.     

Charge transport in single Au / alkanedithiol / Au junctions: coordination geometries and conformational degrees of freedom

Recent STM molecular break-junction experiments have revealed multiple series of peaks in the conductance histograms of alkanedithiols. To resolve a current controversy, we present here an in-depth study of charge transport properties of Au|alkanedithiol|Au junctions. Conductance histograms extracted from our STM measurements unambiguously confirm features showing more than one set of junction configurations. On the basis of quantum chemistry calculations, we propose that certain combinations of different sulfur-gold couplings and trans/gauche conformations act as the driving agents. The present study may have implications for experimental methodology: whenever conductances of different junction conformations are not statistically independent, the conductance histogram technique can exhibit a single series only, even though a much larger abundance of microscopic realizations exists.     

How the C-O bond breaks during methanol decomposition on nanocrystallites of palladium catalysts

Experimental findings imply that edge sites (and other defects) on Pd nanocrystallites exposing mainly (111) facets in supported model catalysts are crucial for catalyst modification via deposition of CH(x) (x = 0-3) byproducts of methanol decomposition. To explore this problem computationally, we applied our recently developed approach to model realistically metal catalyst particles as moderately large three-dimensional crystallites. We present here the first results of this advanced approach where we comprehensively quantify the reactivity of a metal catalyst in an important chemical process. In particular, to unravel the mechanism of how CH(x) species are formed, we carried out density functional calculations of C-O bond scission in methanol and various dehydrogenated intermediates (CH3O, CH2OH, CH2O, CHO, CO), deposited on the cuboctahedron model particle Pd79. We calculated the lowest activation barriers, approximately 130 kJ mol(-1), of C-O bond breaking and the most favorable thermodynamics for the adsorbed species CH3O and CH2OH which feature a C-O single bond. In contrast, dissociation of adsorbed CO was characterized as negligibly slow. From the computational result that the decomposition products CH3 and CH2 preferentially adsorb at edge sites of nanoparticles, we rationalize experimental data on catalyst poisoning.     

Transient x-ray absorption spectroscopy of hydrated halogen atom

Time-resolved x-ray absorption spectroscopy has been used to observe the transient species generated by one-photon detachment of an electron from aqueous bromide. The K-edge spectrum of the short-lived Br(0) atom exhibits a resonant 1s-4p transition that is absent for the Br(-) precursor. The strong 1s-4p resonance suggests that there is very little charge transfer from the solvent to the open-shell atom, whereas weak oscillations above the absorption edge indicate that the solvent shell around a neutral Br(0) atom is defined primarily by hydrophobic interactions. These conclusions are in agreement with Monte Carlo and quantum chemical simulations of the solvent structure.     

Synthesis and reactivity of a novel class of long-lived ammonium ylides: derivatives of benzo[b]pyrrolo[2,1-f][1.6]naphthyridine

Reaction of 10-cyanotetrahydrobenzo[b][1,6]naphthyridines (1-6) with activated alkynes affords stable benzo[b]pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,6]naphthyridine-4-ium ylides (7-14) in moderate yields. A proposed mechanism for their formation consists of a new tandem multistage process.     

Remarkable Enhancement of Hole Mobility of Novel DA-D’-AD Small Molecules by Thermal Annealing: Effect of the D’-Bridge Block.

Conjugated small molecules are advanced semiconductor materials with attractive physicochemical and optoelectronic properties enabling the development of next-generation electronic devices. The charge carrier mobility of small molecules strongly influences the efficiency of organic and hybrid electronics based on them. Herein, we report the synthesis of four novel small molecules and their investigation with regard to the impact of molecular structure and thermal treatment of films on charge carriers’ mobility. The benzodithiophene-containing compounds (BDT) were shown to be more promising in terms of tuning the morphology upon thermal treatment. Impressive enhancement of hole mobilities by more than 50 times was found for annealed films based on a compound M4 comprising triisopropylsilyl-functionalized BDT core. The results provide a favorable experience and strategy for the rational design of state-of-the-art organic semiconductor materials (OSMs) and for improving their charge-transport characteristics.     

CITAC: Cooperation on international traceability in analytical chemistry

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CITAC: Cooperation on international traceability in analytical chemistry