Influence of Polarity and Activation Energy in Microwave–Assisted Organic Synthesis (MAOS)

The aim of this work was to determine the parameters that have decisive roles in microwave-assisted reactions and to develop a model, using computational chemistry, to predict a priori the type of reactions that can be improved under microwaves. For this purpose, a computational study was carried out on a variety of reactions, which have been reported to be improved under microwave irradiation. This comprises six types of reactions. The outcomes obtained in this study indicate that the most influential parameters are activation energy, enthalpy, and the polarity of all the species that participate. In addition to this, in most cases, slower reacting systems observe a much greater improvement under microwave irradiation. Furthermore, for these reactions, the presence of a polar component in the reaction (solvent, reagent, susceptor, etc.) is necessary for strong coupling with the electromagnetic radiation. We also quantified that an activation energy of 20–30 kcal mol⁻¹ and a polarity (μ) between 7–20 D of the species involved in the process is required to obtain significant improvements under microwave irradiation.     

Interpretation of the polyelectrolyte and antipolyelectrolyte effects of poly(N‐vinylimidazole‐co‐sodium styrenesulfonate) hydrogels

Hydrogels of N‐vinylimidazole (VI) and sodium styrenesulfonate (SSS) were synthesized in aqueous solution by radical crosslinking copolymerization with N,N′‐methylene‐bis(acrylamide) as crosslinker. Swelling in several saline solutions was measured for hydrogel samples synthesized with different comonomer concentrations (C_T = 10, 25, or 40%) and with SSS mole fractions covering a broad range (f_SSS = 0–0.7), while the crosslinker ratio was 2 wt % in all cases. The degree of swelling in aqueous solution with a specific ionic strength (μ), plotted versus the SSS composition of the feed, shows a minimum for any set of samples synthesized with a fixed C_T. The dependence of swelling on μ shows both polyelectrolyte (f_SSS beyond the minimum) and antipolyelectrolyte behaviors (in the low f_SSS limit). It was found that the nonGaussian factor of the crosslinking density and the polymer‐solvent interaction parameter increase with f_SSS for any C_T. Moreover, in the low f_SSS limit, the osmotic swelling pressure is governed not only by the ionic contribution, but also by the polymer‐solvent mixing and, the concentration of mobile counterions inside the gel is not proportional to the net fixed charge but to the addition of cationic and anionic side groups, what discards the formation of ionic pairs. The antipolyelectrolyte effect is interpreted as due to the increasing protonation of VI as μ goes up. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1683–1693, 2007     

X-ray diffraction study of some mesogenic copper, nickel and vanadyl complexes

We present a comparative study of various metallomesogenic complexes, using X-ray diffraction methods. For a given ligand linked to different metal atoms (Cu, Ni, VO), the nature of this central atom influences mainly the magnetic susceptibilities of the mesophases. With different ligands, which keep the close neighbourhood of the metal atom unchanged, the apparent length of the mesogenic unit is longer for short ligands than for longer ones. This unexpected behaviour is qualitatively well explained by taking into account the global shape of the different complexes.     

Automatic detection and identification of shocks in Gaussian state‐space models: a Bayesian approach

An automatic monitoring and intervention algorithm that permits the supervision of very general aspects in an univariate linear Gaussian state–space model is proposed. The algorithm makes use of a model comparison and selection approach within a Bayesian framework. In addition, this algorithm incorporates the possibility of eliminating earlier interventions when subsequent evidence against them comes to light. Finally, the procedure is illustrated with two empirical examples taken from the literature. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multicommuted fluorometric multiparameter sensor for simultaneous determination of naproxen and salicylic acid in biological fluids.

A combined approach based on solid-phase optosensing and multicommutation principles has been applied to develop a method for the simultaneous analysis of two pharmaceuticals (naproxen and salicylic acid) in biological fluids. The multicommuted flow-through optosensor was based on direct native fluorescence measurements of both analgesics using a non-polar sorbent (C18 silica gel) as a solid sensing zone. The flow system was controlled by Java-written home-made software and designed using three-way solenoid valves for an independent automated manipulation of sample and carrier solutions. Using an optimized sampling time, the method was calibrated in the range of 1 - 25 and 5 - 200 ng mL(-1). The obtained detection limits were 0.3 and 1.3 ng mL(-1) for naproxen and salicylic acid, respectively, with RSD (%) values of better than 2% for both analytes. The proposed methodology was successfully applied to urine, serum and pharmaceutical preparations. Recovery percentages ranging from 96.1 to 104% were obtained for both analytes.     

Reflection of light by a slab containing electrically small dielectric spheres

Theoriginal and theenhanced Maxwell-Garnett estimates for the permittivity of a particulate medium are applied to the reflection of light by a composite dielectric slab. The reflection coefficients for incident s and p polarizations are calculated and some curves are plotted and discussed.     

Vapor-particle partitioning of hydrocarbons in Western Mediterranean urban and marine atmospheres

An analytical procedure is described for a comprehensive determination of the composition of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere, based on: (a) aerosol filtration and subsequent adsorption of the vapor phase onto active charcoal and polyurethane foam; (b) GPC and HPLC fractionation of the extracts, and (c) analysis of the fractions by GC-MS under EI and NICI modes. Special emphasis is placed onn-alkanes, PAHs and their oxygenated derivatives.The characterization of samples collected in a coastal urban area (Barcelona city), and far away over the Western Mediterranean, at sea level and at 1100 m of altitude, revealed significant changes in the aerosol composition, mainly attributed to initial vapor-particle partitioning processes, influenced by ambient temperature variations, and to others taking place during long-range atmospheric transport, related with the different compound photoreactivities and with an unexplained source-decoupling phenomenon.     

Molybdenum(VI) and molybdenum(V) mononuclear and dinuclear complexes with 1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanedione

Summary The synthesis and the dinuclear or mononuclear nature of several molybdenum(VI) and molybdenum(V) oxocomplexes derived from 1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanedione (HLL) are described. These complexes were identified by i.r. and electronic spectra, magnetic susceptibility and analytical data, and are assigned the following formulae: [MoO₂(LL)₂], [Mo₂O₅(LL)₂], [Mo₂O₄(LL)₂], [MoOCl(LL)₂], [MoCl₂(LL)] and [MoO(OH)(LL)₂)]. The low magnetic moments of the dinuclear complexes are due, in part, to intramolecular interactions. The i.r. data show that the dionate is bound by two oxygen atoms forming a chelate six-membered ring.     

Limiting Partial Molar Volumes of Electrolytes in 2-Methyl-2-Butanol <Emphasis Type="Bold">+</Emphasis> Water Mixtures at 298.15 K

Partial molar volumes at infinite dilution, V⁰₂, of alkali–metal halides (LiCl, NaCl KCl RbCl CsCl, NaBr, KBr, KI), tetra-n-alkylammonium bromides, R₄NBr (R=Me, Et, n-Pr, n-Bu, n-Pen), NaBPh₄, and Ph₄PCl have been determined in binary solvent mixtures of water with 2-methyl-2-butanol covering the water-rich region and the alcohol-rich region at 298.15 K. V⁰₂ for alkali–metal halides show relatively little dependence on the solvent composition. However, in the case of hydrophobic electrolytes the observed effects are more pronounced. A good linear dependence between V⁰₂(R₄NBr) and the molecular weight of the tetra-n-alkylammonium cation is found. Limiting single-ion volumes have been obtained using the assumption that V⁰(Ph₄P⁺)–V⁰(BPh^–₄)=2.0 cm³-mol^–1. The trends in the single-ion volumes are discussed in both solvent regions.