New alkyl derivatives phosphine sulfonate (P-O) ligands. Catalytic activity in Pd-catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura reactions in water

Two novel bis(o-methoxyphenyl) phosphinoalkylsulfonate (P-O) ligands have been prepared through a new and sustainable synthetic route; they are air stable as well as water soluble and have been applied in Pd-catalysed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions in neat water in conjunction with microwave heating.     

Effect of surfactant structure on the residual fluorescence of micelle-based fluorescent probes

In the present paper we have investigated some photo-physical characteristics of different micellar-based fluorescent probes containing a fluorophore (pyrene) and a quencher unit (dodecyl-dioxo 2,3,2). The fluorescent response of the probe in the presence of Cu(II) ions was studied using different micellar substrates, and it was found that the pH at which the On-Off jump occurs is not influenced by the chemical structure of surfactant. In addition, the experimental residual fluorescence is not proportionally affected by microviscosity or by the size of the micellar aggregates. The signal of the native fluorescence of pyrene was observed even when the quencher's occupancy number was greater than one. Moreover, we observed discrepancies between experimental values and calculated residual fluorescence using Laplace data. These results were interpreted suggesting that the residual fluorescence has two main components, one that seems to be independent on micellar properties, while the other is directly related to location of molecules inside the surfactant aggregates that serve as substrate.     

Microwave‐assisted synthesis of 2‐(2‐pyridyl)azoles. Study of their corrosion inhibiting properties

An efficient and fast procedure for the synthesis of 2‐(2‐pyridyl)azoles is described using ionic liquids as catalysts under microwave irradiation. The X‐ray crystallographic analyses for three of the four synthesized compounds are presented. Potentiodynamic polarization studies were carried out to analyze the electrochemical behavior of the compounds in corrosive acidic media. Of the four derivatives, one compound was detected to be an effective corrosion inhibitor prototype for oil refinery environments.     

Correlation between rheological properties of zinc carboxylate liquids and molecular structure

Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the viscosity of zinc 2-ethylhexanoate liquid has been found to correlate with the intensity of an asymmetric COO stretching resonance at 1632 cm-1. This is consistent with the presence of the zinc carboxylate polymer, catena-2-ethylhexanato-(O,O')-tri-micro-2-ethylhexanato-(O,O')-dizinc(II) as the origin of the viscosity, a conclusion that is further supported by theoretical predictions. Density functional theory has been used to assign the IR spectra of the zinc carboxylate dimer, catena-2-ethylhexanato-(O,O')-di-(tri-micro-2-ethylhexanato-(O,O')-dizinc(II)-formic) acid, and the model of the molecular liquid, micro-4-oxo-hexakis-(micro-2-ethylhexanato)-tetrazinc(II). The predicted spectra indicate that the decreased symmetry of the polymer relative to the zinc 2-ethylhexanoate liquid increases the intensity of the asymmetric carboxylate stretch at 1632 cm-1 and leads to the observed correlation.     

The Mechanical Stability for the Hand-Arm System

The present paper contains a study regarding importance stability in the mechanical systems, mechanical systems are emerging under mechanical vibrations action, it referring especially to the human hand–arm system. Mechanical systems stability is directly influenced of the dumper and the elasticity factors. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Quantification of p-cresol sulphate in human plasma by selected reaction monitoring

Chronic renal failure patients accumulate in the blood molecules that are normally excreted into the urine. p-Cresol Sulphate (pCS), the most representative retained toxin, shows a high level of toxicity. Therefore, its quantification could represent a prediction factor to determine the risk of endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular complication and response to the haemodialysis treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) technique in order to improve the sensibility, the selectivity and the timing of pCS detection in a small amount of plasma. Deproteinized plasma of uremic patients was concentrated and dissolved in liquid chromatography (LC) mobile phase solution. pCS was quantified by LC coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) on a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. Selective and sensitive detection of pCS was achieved by selecting the specific parent ion and monitoring two specific fragment ions. The MRM assay was carried out using the following transitions: m/z 187?→?80.00 and m/z 187?→?107.00. A good linearity was observed for each calibration curve. The intra-day and inter-day results showed a good precision and repeatability. The percentage recoveries indicate an optimal selectivity of the analytical method. The MRM assay to quantify pCS in a small amount of human plasma is rapid, highly sensitive, selective and with a good repeatability.     

Ring-opening polymerization of epoxides catalyzed by uranyl complexes: an experimental and theoretical study of the reaction mechanism

A comprehensive computational study on the ring-opening polymerization of propylene oxide catalyzed by uranyl chloride [UO(2)Cl(2)(THF)(3)] and the uranyl aryloxide [UO(2)(OAr)(2)(THF)(2)] (Ar = 2,6-(t)Bu(2)C(6)H(3)) is reported. The initiation and propagation steps have been probed and significant differences between the two catalysts discovered. The initiation step involving uranyl chloride is an intermolecular process because the orientation of the lone pair on the initiating chloride nucleophile is optimally oriented toward the empty σ*-antibonding orbital of the epoxide, which lowers the activation barrier by 22 kcal mol(-1). Thus, initiation is orbitally controlled. Propagation occurs through a dimeric species, and low-temperature fluorescence spectroscopy has been used to probe this experimentally. In contrast the initiation step for the uranyl aryloxide catalyzed mechanism is intramolecular because of the steric constraints imposed by the bulky substituents on the aryl ring and the fact that the lone pair on the nucleophile is able to approach the propylene oxide coordinated to the same uranium center. Thus, initiation is principally sterically controlled. Propagation is, however, intermolecular, and this can be traced to steric effects. Experimental evidence in the form of fluorescence spectroscopy and diffusion NMR has been used to explore the propagation process in solution.     

The volatility in a multi-share financial market model

Single index financial market models cannot account for the empirically observed complex interactions between shares in a market. We describe a multi-share financial market model and compare characteristics of the volatility, that is the variance of the price fluctuations, with empirical characteristics. In particular we find its probability distribution is similar to a log normal distribution but with a long power-law tail for the large fluctuations, and that the time development shows superdiffusion. Both these results are in good quantitative agreement with observations.     

Thermal expansion and optical length variation of sodium β-alumina along the c-axis

Thermal expansion and the optical length variation have been measured for a single crystal sodium β-alumina, along the c-axis. A laser interferometer has been used in the measurement. The measurements of the length and optical length variation do not indicate any anomalous behavior. The thermal expansion and thermooptic coefficients vary smoothly like the ionic conductivity and do not display any indication of cooperative effects.