Disubstituted pyridines: the double-coupling approach

A one-pot procedure leading to disubstituted pyridines from the starting dibromopyridines is described. Key features include the ability to couple a range of aryl and even alkenylboronic acids at the 2,3 and/or 2,5 positions with excellent regiocontrol under a standard set of conditions. Further, isolated yields are greatly improved by the use of neutral alumina in place of silica for product purification. Finally, the intrinsic electronic bias of the pyridine ring can be overcome by using a bromoiodopyridine.     

Piecewise linear prewavelets over type-2 triangulations

In this article, we study the construction of piecewise linear prewavelets over type-2 triangulations. Different from a so-called semi-prewavelet approach, we investigate the orthogonal conditions directly and obtain parameterized prewavelets with a smaller support. The conditions for parameterized prewavelet basis on the parameters are also given.     

Optimal rates for spectral algorithms with least-squares regression over Hilbert spaces

In this paper, we study regression problems over a separable Hilbert space with the square loss, covering non-parametric regression over a reproducing kernel Hilbert space. We investigate a class of spectral/regularized algorithms, including ridge regression, principal component regression, and gradient methods. We prove optimal, high-probability convergence results in terms of variants of norms for the studied algorithms, considering a capacity assumption on the hypothesis space and a general source condition on the target function. Consequently, we obtain almost sure convergence results with optimal rates. Our results improve and generalize previous results, filling a theoretical gap for the non-attainable cases.     

Maximum matchings in regular graphs

It was conjectured by Mkrtchyan, Petrosyan and Vardanyan that every graph $G$ with $\Delta \left(G\right)?\delta \left(G\right)\le 1$ has a maximum matching $M$ such that any two $M$-unsaturated vertices do not share a neighbor. The results obtained in Mkrtchyan et al. (2010), Petrosyan (2014) and Picouleau (2010) leave the conjecture unknown only for $k$-regular graphs with $4\le k\le 6$. All counterexamples for $k$-regular graphs $(k\ge 7)$ given in Petrosyan (2014) have multiple edges. In this paper, we confirm the conjecture for all $k$-regular simple graphs and also $k$-regular multigraphs with $k\le 4$.     

Broadband arrayed waveguide gratings on InP

Broadband arrayed waveguide gratings on InP are presented using a novel S-shape design. This design was utilized to accommodate the large free spectral range required for broadband operation. Four and eight channel AWGs with a wavelength channel spacing of 18 nm are discussed. The output peaks of the AWGs have a wide FWHM of 11 nm which provides insensitive operation to polarization, temperature fluctuations, and chromatic dispersion.     

Observation of negative group delays within a coaxial photonic crystal using an impulse response method

An impulse response experiment is described which independently verifies the recently observed result of negative group delayed propagation within a coaxial photonic crystal. This result was unexpected when it was reported and has been the subject of enduring controversy because theoretical models predict that negative group delays should not be possible in passive linear media. The impulse response method allows for the determination of both the transmission amplitude and the group delay for narrow-band wave packets over a wide frequency range in one simple experiment. The impulse response results presented here confirm our earlier finding of negative group delays within the band gap region and are in excellent agreement with the more traditional approach of measuring transit times for wave packets. However, negative group delays are observed only over very narrow frequency ranges within the wider band gap suggesting that another interference mechanism is involved.     

Towards the synthesis of insulated oligoynes: A ring-closing-metathesis approach to molecular encapsulation

Masked hexayne 18 was prepared in 11 steps from commercially available reagents. The four butenyl substituents contained within the two arylsilane residues in 18 have been used in a double ring-closing-metathesis operation in an attempt to encapsulate the π-conjugated framework. When 18 was treated with Grubbs’ 1st generation metathesis catalyst however, double ring-closing metathesis provided macrocycle 19 as the major product in good yield. Reasons why the macrocycle in 19 crowns, rather than encapsulates, the π-conjugated framework are discussed.     

Bond orders and atomic properties of the highly deformed halogenated fullerenes C60F18 and C60Cl30 derived from their charge densities

The experimental charge densities of the halogenated C(60) fullerenes C(60)F(18) and C(60)Cl(30) were determined from high-resolution X-ray data sets measured with conventional Mo(Kalpha) radiation at 20 K for C(60)Cl(30) and with synchrotron radiation at 92 K for the fluorine compound. Bond topological and atomic properties were analyzed by using Bader's AIM theory. For the different C--C bonds, which vary in lengths between 1.35 and 1.70 A bond orders n between n=2 and significantly below n=1 were calculated from the bond topological properties at the bond critical points (BCP's). The low bond orders are seen for 5/6 bonds with each contributing carbon carrying a halogen atom. By integration over Bader's zero flux basins in the electron density gradient vector field atomic properties were also obtained. In contrast to free C(60), in which all carbon atoms have a uniform volume of 11 A(3) and zero charge, atomic volumes vary roughly between 5 and 10 A(3) in the halogenated compounds. Almost zero atomic charges are also found in the Cl derivative but a charge separation up to +/-0.8 e exists between C and F in C(60)F(18) due to the higher fluorine electronegativity, which is also seen in the electrostatic potential for which the electronegativity difference between carbon and fluorine, and the addition to one hemisphere of the fullerene cage leads to a strong potential gradient along the C(60)F(18) molecule. From the summation over all atomic volumes it follows that the halogen addition does not only lead to a dramatic distortion of the C(60) cage but also to a significant shrinkage of its volume.     

Isoperimetric Constants of Infinite Plane Graphs

   Abstract. Let G be an infinite locally finite plane graph with one end and let H be a finite plane subgraph of G . Denote by a(H) the number of finite faces of H and by l(H) the number of the edges of H that are on the boundary of the infinite face or a finite face not in H . Define the isoperimetric constant h (G) to be inf _H l(H) / a(H) and define the isoperimetric constant h (δ) to be inf _G h (G) where the infimum is taken over all infinite locally finite plane graphs G having minimum degree δ and exactly one end. We establish the following bounds on h (δ) for δ ≥ 7 :

Band gaps and defect modes in periodically structured waveguides

This work examines a simple one-dimensional acoustic band gap system made from a diameter-modulated waveguide. Experimental and theoretical results are presented on perfectly periodic waveguide arrays showing the presence of band gaps--frequency intervals in which the transmission of sound is forbidden. The introduction of defects in the perfect periodicity leads to narrow frequency transmission bands--defect states--within the forbidden band gaps. The circular cross-section waveguide system is straightforward to simulate theoretically and experimental results demonstrate good agreement with theory. The experimental transmission of the periodic waveguide arrays is measured using an impulse response technique.