SDP diagonalizations and perspective cuts for a class of nonseparable MIQP

We present a new approach, requiring the solution of a SemiDefinite Program, for decomposing the Hessian of a nonseparable mixed-integer quadratic problem to permit using perspective cuts to improve its continuous relaxation bound. The new method favorably compares with a previously proposed one requiring a minimum eigenvalue computation.     

Passivation of the calcite surface with malonate ion

Samples of polycrystalline calcite were impregnated with solutions of malonic acid of three concentrations (5 x 10(-2), 5 x 10(-3) , and 5 x 10(-4) M) and different pH values (6.00, 7.00, and 8.00). The impregnation was carried out at room temperature to evaluate the adsorption of malonate ion in the calcite surface to optimize the conditions for possible application on limestone and marble in cultural heritage materials. The affinity of the malonate ion was determined through the potentiometric measurement of the surface charge and the corresponding adsorbed amounts by titration, Raman spectroscopy, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The results indicate effective adsorption of the malonate ion on the surface at a pH value close to the point of zero charge (pHpzc approximately 8.20) and changes in some surface morphological properties such as the pore shape and the pore size distribution. The presence of a malonate adsorptive layer on calcite generates an interface interaction potential that may influence the reaction and transport mechanisms within the medium.     

Promotion by phosphorus compounds of ruthenium-catalyzed methyl formate homologation

Trivalent phosphorus compounds are promoters for methyl formate homologation to ethanol and ethyl formate catalyzed by ruthenium compounds in the presence of iodide at 220°C and 27 MPa of synthesis gas. Under these conditions the phosphines are quaternized, but decomposition of phosphonium salts occurs during the reaction. Promotion is also observed for methyltriphenyl-phosphonium bromide and triphenylphosphine sulfide, but benzyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide, triphenylarsine, and triphenylantimony are not effective. The major ruthenium species present is Ru(CO)₃I₃^- but with triphenylantimony a trimethylantimony complex, Ru(CO)₂(Sb(CH₃)₃)₂I₂, can be isolated in high yield.     

Toward efficient Zn(II)-based artificial nucleases

A series of cis-cis-triaminocyclohexane Zn(II) complex-anthraquinone intercalator conjugates, designed in such a way to allow their easy synthesis and modification, have been investigated as hydrolytic cleaving agents for plasmid DNA. The ligand structure comprises a triaminocyclohexane platform linked by means of alkyl spacers of different length (from C(4) to C(8)) to the anthraquinone group which may intercalate the DNA. At a concentration of 5 microM, the complex of the derivative with a C(8) alkyl spacer induces the hydrolytic stand scission of supercoiled DNA with a rate of 4.6 x 10(-6) s(-1) at pH 7 and 37 degrees C. The conjugation of the metal complex with the anthraquinone group leads to a 15-fold increase of the cleavage efficiency when compared with the anthraquinone lacking Zn-triaminocyclohexane complex. The straightforward synthetic procedure employed, allowing a systematic change of the spacer length, made possible to gain more insight on the role of the intercalating group in determining the reactivity of the systems. Comparison of the reactivity of the different complexes shows a remarkable increase of the DNA cleaving efficiency with the length of the spacer. In the case of too-short spacers, the advantages due to the increased DNA affinity are canceled due to the incorrect positioning of the reactive group, thus leading to cleavage inhibition.     

Nouveaux exemples d'acétonides d'aldéhydosucres furanniques

Further examples of O-isopropylidenaldehydosugars in the furanose series Formyl-bearing furanose derivatives 1–3 (α-D -xylo or α-D -erythro configurations) and 5–8 (configurations α-D -ribo, α-D -lyxo, β-L -threo and D -arabino) have been prepared by classical synthetic steps and their properties mainly spectroscopic, reported. The coupling constant between the formyl and the vicinal proton is always small. Like other members of the series, these new aldehydosugars constitute very useful and flexible synthetic intermediates.     

The reactivity of the A-CH=N-NR-CX-B system. 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles and 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1,2,4-triazin-3-ones through the 1–5 and 1–6 cyclization reactions of α-thienylglyoxal monosemicarbazones

The factors influencing the reactivity of α-thienylglyoxal monosemicarbazones when treated with cyclizing reagents (bromine/sodium acetate and hydrobromic acid in acetic acid) were investigated. Depending on the experimental conditions, on the position of the substituent on the semicarbazide residue, and on the cyclizing agent, the substrates 1a-e give the semicarbazone bromides 2a-b, 5 , the 1,3,4-oxadiazoles 3a-c , the 1,2,4-triazine 11 and the 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1,2,4-triazine-3-ones 6, 8 and 9 . Compound 6 by thermolysis undergoes ring contraction in the Δ²-1,3,4-oxadiazoline 12 , while treatment with base involves the conversion of 6 into 1,2,4-triazol-5-one 13 . Ir, nmr and mass spectra support the reported structures.     

Substitutional carbon defects in silicon: A quantum mechanical characterization through the infrared and Raman spectra

The infrared (IR) and Raman spectra of eight substitutional carbon defects in silicon are computed at the quantum mechanical level by using a periodic supercell approach based on hybrid functionals, an all electron Gaussian type basis set and the CRYSTAL code. The single substitutional C _s case and its combination with a vacancy (C _sV and C _sSiV) are considered first. The progressive saturation of the four bonds of a Si atom with C is then examined. The last set of defects consists of a chain of adjacent carbon atoms C, with i = 1–3. The simple substitutional case, C _s, is the common first member of the three sets. All these defects show important, very characteristic features in their IR spectrum. One or two C related peaks dominate the spectra: at 596 cm⁻¹ for C _s (and C _sSiV, the second neighbor vacancy is not shifting the C _s peak), at 705 and 716 cm⁻¹ for C _sV, at 537 cm⁻¹ for C and C (with additional peaks at 522, 655 and 689 for the latter only), at 607 and 624 cm⁻¹, 601 and 643 cm⁻¹, and 629 cm⁻¹ for SiC, SiC, and SiC, respectively. Comparison with experiment allows to attribute many observed peaks to one of the C substitutional defects. Observed peaks above 720 cm⁻¹ must be attributed to interstitial C or more complicated defects.     

Reactivity of 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles. Nucleophilic behaviour of some 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles: Model compounds

The ambident nucleophilic behaviour of some 2-amino-5-H-1,3,4-thiadiazoles in alkylation, acylation and nitrosation reaction has been verified. The structures assigned to the 2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles ( 1a-i ) and to the Δ²-1,3,4-thiadiazolines ( 2a-e ) agree with the spectral data.