Synthesis of novel tryptamine and β-carboline derivatives via palladium-catalyzed reaction of bromotryptamine with organic boronic acids

New tryptamine 5, 7 and β-carboline derivatives 3 were preparated by palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of 5-bromotryptamine 1 with aryl boronic acids. Dedicated to Professor András Lipták on his 70^th birthday.     

Adsorption of dyes on activated carbon and graphitic thermal carbon black

The adsorption of a basic dye (Methylene Blue; MB) and an acidic dye (Acid Orange; AO) has been studied on three activated carbons (ACs; FAS, SKD, and BAU) significantly differing in their porous structures and surface concentrations of ion-exchange groups and on graphitic thermal carbon black (GTCB). The effective specific surface area of FAS, SKD, and BAU determined by dye adsorption is, respectively, 60, 50, and 40% of the BET nitrogen adsorption surface area. The MB uptake on ACs and GTCB increases with rising pH, while the AO uptake decreases. Addition of an electrolyte (0.3 M NaCl) virtually does not effect the adsorption of dyes on ACs and GTCB. It is suggested that hydrophobic interactions, and not ionic ones, are the major contributors to the adsorption of dyes on ACs.     

Synthesis of 4-Alkynyl-substituted 3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones

4-Alkynyl-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2-(1H)-ones were synthesized by a one-pot reaction of propynals, ethyl acetoacetate, and urea. The yields of acetylenic dihydropyrimidinones depend significantly upon the propynal structure and catalyst type. A comparative study of the catalysts revealed an important advantage of polyphosphate ester in tetrahydrofuran in comparison with hydrochloric acid in methanol or trimethylchlorosilane in dimethylformamide, allowing the preparation of target compounds in good or moderate yields.     

Complete Embedded Self-Translating Surfaces Under Mean Curvature Flow

We describe a construction of complete embedded self-translating surfaces under mean curvature flow by desingularizing the intersection of a finite family of grim reapers in general position.     

Differentiating Isobaric Steroid Hormone Metabolites Using Multi-Stage Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Steroid hormones and their metabolites are currently undergoing clinical trials as potential therapeutics for traumatic brain injury (TBI). To support this work, it is necessary to develop improved procedures for differentiating isobaric species in this compound class. Equilin sulfate (E-S), estrone sulfate (E1-S), 17α-dihydroequilin sulfate (ADHE-S), and 17β-dihydroequilin sulfate (BDHE-S) are primary constituents in hormone replacement therapies, such as Premarin, which are among pharmaceuticals being investigated for TBI treatment. The latter three compounds are isomers and can be difficult to differentiate in trace analytical determinations. In this work, a systematic study of the fragmentation of ADHE-S, BDHE-S, E1-S, and E-S under different stages of higher order tandem mass spectrometry (MSⁿ) and variation of collision energy, allowed optimization of conditions for distinguishing the isomeric structures. For epimeric variants (e.g., ADHE-S versus BDHE-S; α- versus β-stereoisomerization in the C-17 position), differentiation was achieved at MS⁴ and fragmentation was demonstrated through MS⁵. Computational analysis was performed to further explore differences in the fragmentation pathways due to changes in stereochemistry.      

Fourier transform and smoothness of solutions of a class of semilinear elliptic degenerate equations with double characteristics

This paper is a continuation of our earlier note [V. T. T. Hien and N. M. Tri, “Analyticity of Solutions of Semililnear Equations with Double Characteristics,” J. Math. Anal. Appl. 337, 1249–1260 (2008)]. Here we prove the analyticity of solutions of a class of semilinear elliptic degenerate equations with double characteristics by using the Fourier transform.     

A novel cyclodimerization of 3-methyl-3-butenenitrile. An efficient synthesis of 4-cyanoisophorone

Dimerization of 3-methyl-3-butenenitrile (1) by lithium dialkylamide gave selectively 3,5,5-trimethyl-1-amino-4-cyanocyclohexa-1,3-diene (2), which was easily hydrolyzed by aqueous acid to afford 4-cyanoisophorone (3,5,5-trimethyl-4-cyano-cyclohex-2-enone) (3) quantitatively.     

Block copolymer containing poly(3‐hexylthiophene) and poly(4‐vinylpyridine): Synthesis and its interaction with CdSe quantum dots for hybrid organic applications

Poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) diblock copolymer was synthesized by RAFT polymerization of 4‐vinyl pyridine using a trithiocarbonate‐terminated poly(3‐hexylthiophene) macro‐RAFT agent. The optoelectronic properties and the morphology of the block copolymer blends with CdSe quantum dots were investigated. UV‐vis and fluorescence experiments were performed to prove the charge transfer between CdSe and poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) diblock copolymer. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Enhancement of OFET performance of semiconducting polymers containing benzodithiophene upon surface treatment with organic silanes

Poly{4,8‐bis(4‐decylphenylethynyl)benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene} ( P1 ) homopolymer and poly{4,8‐bis(4‐decylphenylethynyl)benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene ‐alt‐thiophene} ( P2 ) alternating copolymer have been synthesized by Stille coupling polymerization. The field‐effect mobilities of both polymers were measured on both untreated and silane‐treated OFET devices. Various silanes were selected to allow an incremental increase in the hydrophobicity of the silicon dioxide dielectric. A direct correlation was observed between the hydrophobicity of the silicon dioxide dielectric surface and the enhancement of the field‐effect mobilities. The highest mobilities for both polymers were measured on the OFET devices treated with heptadecafluoro‐1,1,2,2‐tetrahydro‐decyl‐1‐trimethoxysilane (FS) which generated the most hydrophobic surface. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011