A Bifunctional B,N-Based Asymmetric Catalytic Nitrostyrene-Michael Addition Acting through a 10-Membered Ring Cyclic Transition State

The B,N-bifunctional catalyst homoboroproline has been applied to a catalytic asymmetric nitroalkene-Michael addition to β-nitrostyrene analogues, showing broad substrate tolerance, high conversions and moderate to good asymmetric induction. The ability of homoboroproline to act as an efficient catalyst based on enamine-formation of the secondary amine, coupled with intramolecular Lewis-acid chelation of the nitro function, in a non-FLP manner, to effect efficient and enantioselective catalysis via a proposed large 10-membered ring transition state is remarkable and reinforced by theoretical calculations.     

Approximation of transformation media-based reshaping action by genetic optimization

The aim of this paper is to study the laser-induced backside wet cleaning techniques for glass substrates. Two kinds of laser cleaning techniques are proposed in this study. The first involves applying an Nd:YAG laser to the backside of the substrate which is submerged in water. A metal plate is placed below the glass substrate. Most of the laser energy will be absorbed by the metal plate. The metal then vaporizes the water and generates a turbulent bubble flow. The bubble flow removes the alumina particles from the surface of the glass substrate. The second involves using a CO₂ laser to generate turbulent bubble flow to remove the particles. Both methods were successfully demonstrated for the removal of submicron particles of 0.5 μm in size. The phenomena of bubble generation and diffusion are presented in the paper. Because the laser is applied to the backside of the substrate, the damage due to the laser heat can be significantly reduced. The quality and efficient of the backside processing is better than those of the front side processing. The proposed techniques have great potential to provide an improved solution for glass cleaning.     

Synthesis of Chiral Calix[4]arene Derivative and Evaluation of its Recognition Properties

The article describes the synthesis and extraction properties of a new chiral calix[4]arene Schiff base ligand 5, which has been synthesized from 5,17-diformyl-25,27-bis-(4-nitrobenzyloxy)-26,28-dihidroxycalix[4]arene (4) by treatment with (S)-(-)-1-phenylethylamine. In this synthesis, it was thought to explore the role of chiral, as well as Schiff base sites in the recognition of targeted species ions (such as dichromate anions) as well as neutral/chiral molecules. At low pH, the ligand 5 is more effective for transferring the dichromate anions from an aqueous into a dichloromethane layer; may be due to the protonation of nitrogen atoms.

The extraction properties of ligand 5 towards the some selected α -amino acid methylesters are also reported. However, the ligand 5 did not display any selectivity towards the selected α-amino acid methylesters.     

Synthesis and fluorescence sensing properties of novel pyrene-armed calix[4]arene derivatives

Fluorogenic tert-butylcalix[4]arenes bearing two pyrene pendant groups at the lower rim were synthesized. Based on ratiometric changes of monomer and excimer emissions, the pyrene amine derivative of calix[4]arene has been found to act as a selective sensor for Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions, respectively, due to a conformational change upon chelation of these ions.     

An empirical study on the benefit of split loads with the pickup and delivery problem

Splitting loads such that the delivery of certain loads is completed in multiple trips rather than one trip has been shown to have benefit for both the classic Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP) and the Pickup and Delivery Problem (PDP). However, the magnitude of the benefit may be affected by various problem characteristics. In this paper, we characterize those real world environments in which split loads are most likely to be beneficial. Based on practitioner interest, we determine how the benefit is affected by the mean load size and variance, number of origins relative to the number of destinations, the percentage of origin–destination pairs with a load requiring service, and the clustering of origin and destination locations. We find that the magnitude of benefit is greatest for load sizes just over one half vehicle capacity as these loads can not be combined without splitting, while they are the easiest to combine on a vehicle with splitting; increases as the number of loads sharing an origin or destination increases because there are more potential load combinations to split at each stop; and increases as the average distance from an origin to a destination increases because splitting loads reduces the trips from origins to destinations.     

IR, Raman and SERS spectra of 2-phenoxymethylbenzothiazole

The FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of 2-phenoxymethylbenzothiazole were recorded and analyzed. The surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum was recorded in a silver colloid. The vibrational wavenumbers of the compound have been computed using the Hartree–Fock/6-31G* basis and compared with the experimental values. The appearance of the Ag–O stretching mode at 237 cm⁻¹ in the SERS spectrum along with theoretically calculated atomic charge density, leads us to suggest that the molecule is adsorbed through the oxygen atom with the molecular plane tilted on the colloidal silver surface. The direction of charge transfer contribution to SERS has been discussed from the frontier orbital theory.     

Urea dimethacrylates functionalized with bisphosphonate/bisphosphonic acid for improved dental materials

Incorporation of bisphosphonate/bisphosphonic acid groups in dental monomer structures should increase interaction of these monomers with dental tissue as these groups have strong affinity for hydroxyapatite. Therefore, new urea dimethacrylates functionalized with bisphosphonate (1a, 1b) and bisphosphonic acid (2a, 2b) groups are synthesized and evaluated for dental applications. Monomers 1a and 1b are synthesized from 2‐isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (IEM) and two bisphosphonated amines (BPA1 and BPA2), prepared as reported elsewhere. Selective dealkylation of the bisphosphonate ester groups of 1a and 1b using trimethylsilyl bromide (TMSBr) gives monomers (2a and 2b) with bisphosphonic acid functionality. X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses of monomer‐treated HAP particles show that 2a induces formation of stable monomer‐calcium salts, similar to 10‐methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP), with higher chemical interaction than 2b. The photopolymerization studies indicate good copolymerizability with commercial dental monomers. In vitro studies on NIH 3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells have clearly shown that the tested monomers (1b and 2b) are not toxic according to the MTT standards. All these properties make these monomers suitable as biocompatible cross‐linkers/adhesives for dental applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3195–3204     

Lead Fractionation Analysis in Lipstick Samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

A new analytical approach based on fractionation was introduced for lead in lipstick samples. Different separation techniques including n-hexane, glycerol extraction, and activated carbon adsorption were used to characterize the lipid fraction, polar and aromatic components of the samples. Additionally, artificial saliva and food stimulant extractions were used for the risk assessment studies. Trace metal levels in fractions were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Method validation parameters in the total element determinations were defined in terms of detection limits, accuracy, and precision. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.02 and 0.07 mg kg^?1 for Pb; whereas the repeatability and reproducibility of the results based on percent relative standard deviation were 3.0% and 7.2% for lead, respectively.     

Identification of radiation‐induced radical structure in azocalix[4]arene: an EPR study

A macrocyclic azocalix[4]arene (1) based ester derivative was synthesized. The single crystals of azocalix[4]arene were produced by slow evaporation of concentrated ethyl acetate solutions. These single crystals were exposed to ⁶⁰Co gamma rays with a dose rate of 0.980 kGy h^‐1 for 48 and 72 h to produce a stable free radical. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements were performed in three mutually perpendicular planes of the single crystal in the magnetic field, in addition, temperature dependence of the EPR signal was studied between 120 K and 450 K. The spectra were found to be temperature and angular dependent. Analysis based on the spectra recorded showed that a free radical was formed by fission of a C–H bond. This radical is described as ^?C_aHC_bH₃ The averages of the principal values of the hyperfine parameters and g‐factor are: g = 2.0034, A_Ha = 1.28 mT, A_H1=H2 = 1.00 mT, and A_H3 = 0.49 mT. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.