Photoelectron spectra of vinyl- and 1-alkynylgermanes and stannanes

Primary vinylic and acetylenic germanes and stannanes, synthesized by a chemoselective reduction of the corresponding trichloro derivatives, were investigated by ab initio quantum chemical methods and photoelectron spectroscopy. In particular, the PE spectra display very well-resolved bands which show the increasing destabilizing effect of 14 group heteroatom α-substitution of double or triple carbon–carbon bonds.     

Thermal stability of products prepared by the combination of cyclodextrins and zeolites

Derivatographic and calorimetric measurements were used to study the thermal properties of combined inclusion compounds of zeolite-cyclodextrin type and of zeolite-cyclodextrin-pharmaceutical type. There were differences in the characteristic decomposition temperature intervals and in the modes of cyclodextrin and pharmaceutical liberation from the products. Calorimetric measurements revealed that the process in the newly-formed complex host is connected with a glass transition. The products are intended for use in veterinary medicine.     

Oxathiaphospholane approach to the synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing stereodefined internucleotide phosphoroselenoate function

5'-O-DMT-deoxyribonucleoside-3'-O-(2-selena-4,4-pentamethylene-1,3,2-oxathiaphospholane) monomers, derivatives of dA, dC, dG, and T, can be resolved into pure P-diastereomers by silica gel column chromatography. They have been used for DBU-promoted, either solution- or solid-phase synthesis of P-stereodefined phosphoroselenoate analogues of oligodeoxyribonucleotides. Fast- and slow-eluting monomers are precursors of phosphoroselenoate internucleotide linkage of R(P) and S(P) absolute configuration, respectively. [reaction: see text]     

Characterisation of Sugar Cane Combustion Particles in the Araraquara Region, Southeast Brazil

Biomass burning is an important primary and secondary source of aerosol particles. The presence of carbonaceous particles in the respirable size range makes the study of this fraction important in view of possible health and climatic effects. The annual burning of sugar cane plantations causes emission of huge amounts of pyrogenic particles. Aerosol samples were collected in Araraquara city, São Paulo state, Brazil, during the harvest season for fine and coarse particles and bulk; they were analysed by electron-probe microanalysis, including facilities for low-Z element determination (low-Z EPMA) and by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), in order to investigate the elemental composition of individual particles and bulk samples, respectively. Numerical analysis of the EPMA results by hierarchical clustering shows high contributions of carbonaceous particles that can be distinguished mainly in two different types: biogenic and carbon-rich. Additionally, two significant contributions of aluminosilicate particles were identified: as rather pure aluminosilicates or mixed with carbonaceous species. The EDXRF results are compatible with those of aerosol particles in Amazon, which is nowadays one of the main sources of biogenic particles in the world.     

Polarization and polarizability in extended one-dimensional organic materials

The modern theory of polarization in extended insulators is applied to one-dimensional models for conjugated polymers and charge transfer salts. Closed expressions for the dependence of the polarization on the site and bond energy alternations are presented for uncorrelated models, and results from exact real-space diagonalization are obtained for correlated models. Changes in polarization induced by lattice phonons or molecular vibrations are directly related to the intensity of infrared bands in the far and mid-IR, respectively. We model intensities by introducing linear electron-vibration coupling and show that coupling to delocalized electrons generates a combination band consisting of a lattice phonon and a molecular vibration. The displaced dipole operator is defined on a real-space basis allowing for the finite field calculation of linear polarizability in finite size systems with periodic boundary conditions. Size-consistency arguments are used to demonstrate that the resulting polarizability becomes exact in the thermodynamic limit, and numerical calculations demonstrate that this approach leads to reliable results that converge rapidly to the thermodynamic limit.     

Threshold detection using indicator-displacement assays: an application in the analysis of malate in Pinot Noir grapes

The mathematics for modeling indicator-displacement assay isotherms is presented and contrasted to the classical host-guest binding isotherm. It is shown that the signal response can be tuned to occur closer to 1 equiv of guest relative to a standard binding algorithm. This delay in response leads to a better triggering protocol for threshold detection schemes. The determination of malate in Pinot Noir must was calculated using this new mathematical model, which demonstrates how a color change can be tuned to occur near a desired concentration of analyte.     

Thermoanalytical study of nucleating effects in polypropylene composites

Nucleating and transcrystallization behaviour of additives in engineering PP composites and the effect of modified interfacial structure is the subject of this series of papers. The first part concentrates on polypropylene/liquid crystalline polyester blends. Increased crystallisation temperature and degree of crystallinity of polypropylene is characteristic to the blends containing different amount of LCP additive. Transcrystallization process governs the formation of crystalline structure in these systems in course of isothermal crystallisation at 132C. The nucleating effect of LCP gives rise to more uniform crystalline structure in the polypropylene phase.The financial support of the OTKA 014194 is acknowledged with gratitude.     

Alkyl metal asymmetric reduction. 11. The reaction of α,β-unsaturated ketones with β-branched trialkylaluminium compounds.

The reduction of a series of α,β-unsaturated ketones has been studied under various experimental conditions, by using β-branched trialkylalanes. Asymmetric induction phenomena are observed when optically active trialkylalanes are used.     

Lewis acid promoted aldol additions of α-thiosilylketeneacetals to α-alkoxy aldehydes: diastereoselective synthesis of syn-α-methylene-β-hydroxy-∂-alkoxy esters.

MgBr₂ mediated addition of Methyl α-methylthio propionate silylketene acetal to α and α,β-alkoxy aldehydes is highly 3,4 $\text{syn}$-selective (18:1). $\text{syn}$-α- methylene-β- hydroxy-?-alkoxy esters (6) and (8) are synthesized.     

Solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry: a new method for species identification of truffles

This study describes a rapid method to identify different truffle species by analysis of their volatile compound fraction using static headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were extracted using a new 2-cm 50/30 microm DVB/CAR/PDMS fiber placed for 10 min in the headspace of the truffle sample with the vial maintained at 20 degrees C (in a thermostatically controlled analysis room). The mass spectra of the VOC chromatograms were represented as 'fingerprints' of the analysed samples. Next, stepwise factorial discriminant analysis afforded a limited number of characteristic fragment ions that allowed a classification of the truffle species studied. This new method provides an effective approach to rapid quality control and identification of truffle species by analysis of their volatile fraction. Moreover, this method offers the advantage of minimizing thermal, mechanical, and chemical modifications of the truffles, thereby reducing the risk of analytical artifacts.