Iron(III)-catalyzed synthesis of selenoesters from α-amino carbonyl derivatives at room temperature

An Fe(III)-catalyzed efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of selenoester derivatives in high yields through the coupling of α-amino carbonyl/glycine derivatives and diselenides under ambient air. A library of benzoselenoate derivatives having a variety of substituents has been synthesized. A plausible reaction pathway has been predicted. Experimental results suggest that the reaction proceeds through a radical pathway. Operational simplicity, compatibility with various α-amino carbonyls and diselenides, high yields, fast reaction and mild reaction conditions are the notable advantages of this procedure. We have also shown the practical application of the synthesized selenoesters which is useful to generate peptide bonds in biological sciences.     

Simultaneous determination of paeoniflorin from total glucosides of paeony in Sprague–Dawley rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats by high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry: in vivo and in vitro studies

Paeoniflorin is a well‐known monoterpene glucoside in the herbal drug that exhibits a number of biological activities. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of paeoniflorin from total glucosides of paeony in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are still unclear. It is essential to investigate the in vivo and in vitro pharmacokinetic differences of paeoniflorin from total glucosides of paeony in Sprague–Dawley (SD) and SHR. The in vivo pharmacokinetic data were analyzed using DAS 2.0 software and the in vitro metabolic characteristics were measured using rat hepatic microsomes. The concentration of paeoniflorin in biological samples was determined using high‐performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method, which showed good precision and stability. The plasma concentration–time profiles of paeoniflorin following oral administration of total glucosides of paeony showed a single peak and there were significant differences in the mean values of AUC_(0–t), AUC_(0–∞), CL_z/F and T_max between SD and SHR (p < 0.05). The metabolic rate of paeoniflorin from total glucosides of paeony was slower in SHR than in SD rats (p < 0.05). The results might be useful in further applications of paeoniflorin and total glucosides of paeony. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

ALMOST PERIODIC SOLUTIONS TO STOCHASTIC FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

By applying the properties of almost periodic function and exponential dichotomy of linear system as well as Banach fixed point theorem,we establish the conditions for the existence and uniqueness of square-mean almost periodic solution to some stochastic functional differential equations.     

SET‐LRP of acrylonitrile in ionic liquids without any ligand

Use of ionic liquids as reaction media was investigated in the design of an environmentally friendly single electron transfer‐living radical polymerization (SET‐LRP) for acrylonitrile (AN) without any ligand by using Fe(0) wire as catalyst and 2‐bromopropionitrile as initiator. 1‐Methylimidazolium acetate ([mim][AT]), 1‐methylimidazolium propionate ([mim][PT]), and 1‐methylimidazolium valerate ([mim][VT]) were applied in this study. First‐order kinetics of polymerization with respect to the monomer concentration, linear increase of the molecular weight, and narrow polydispersity with monomer conversion showed the controlled/living radical polymerization characters. The sequence of the apparent polymerization rate constant of SET‐LRP of AN was k_app ([mim][AT]) > k_app ([mim][PT]) > k_app ([mim][VT]). The living feature of the polymerization was also confirmed by chain extensions of polyacrylonitrile with methyl methacrylate. All three ionic liquids were recycled and reused and had no obvious effect on the controlled/living nature of SET‐LRP of AN. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Chaos in social learning with multiple true states

Most existing social learning models assume that there is only one underlying true state. In this work, we consider a social learning model with multiple true states, in which agents in different groups receive different signal sequences generated by their corresponding underlying true states. Each agent updates his belief by combining his rational self-adjustment based on the external signals he received and the influence of his neighbors according to their communication. We observe chaotic oscillation in the belief evolution, which implies that neither true state could be learnt correctly by calculating the largest Lyapunov exponents and Hurst exponents.     

Stochastic SIRS model under regime switching

We propose a new stochastic SIRS model under regime switching in which both white and color environmental noises are taken into account. We show that white noise suppresses explosions in the model and the disease-free equilibrium of the model is stochastically asymptotically stable under certain conditions. Moreover, we show that the model is stochastically ultimately bounded and the moment average in time of the model solution is bounded. An example illustrates the boundedness of the moment average in time of the model solution.     

The uniqueness of positive solution for a singular fractional differential system involving derivatives

By using the fixed point theorem of the mixed monotone operator, the uniqueness of positive solution for a singular fractional differential system involving derivatives is established. An example is then given to illuminate the application of the main results.     

Cyano terminated tolane compounds for polymer dispersed liquid crystal application: relationship between cyano terminated tolane based molecular structures and electro-optical properties

ABSTRACT

The structures of the liquid crystal (LC) molecules have a key role in impacting the electro-optical performance of a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film. In this paper, the relationship between the LC molecular structures and the electro-optical properties of PDLC films is investigated based on an unexplored cyano-terminated tolane compounds (CTTCs) doped E8 LCs/UV polymers system. Due to the high polarity of CTTCs, LCs doped with the cyano-terminated tolane (CTT) molecules exhibit high birefringence and large positive dielectric anisotropy. On the whole, PDLC films doped with the CTT molecules exhibit a lower driving voltage than that doped with the pure E8. More excitingly, PDLC films based on CTT molecules with larger length-to-width ratio and longer conjugated system show higher contrast ratio (CR) and faster response time. Eventually, the mechanism of the effects of CTT-based molecular structures and the relationship between the electro-optical performance of PDLC films and CTT molecules are illustrated. This work paves a new way for optimising the electro-optical properties of PDLC films.     

A recursion formula for resistance distances and its applications

A recursion formula for resistance distances is obtained, and some of its applications are illustrated.     

Production of annular flat-topped vortex beams

A model of an annular flat-topped vortex beam based on multi-Gaussian superimposition is proposed.We experimentally produce this beam with a computer-generated hologram(CGH) displayed on a spatial light modulator(SLM).The power of the beam is concentrated on a single-ring structure and has an extremely strong radial intensity gradient.This beam facilitates various applications ranging from Sisyphus atom cooling to micro-particle trapping.