New enantiopure C2 symmetric bis(2-oxazolinyl)cage (Cage-Box) ligands from 4,5-dicyanopyridazine

7,8-Dicyanotetracyclo[7.3.0.0^2,60^5,10]dodec-7-ene 3, obtained from 4,5-dicyanopyridazine 1 and cycloocta-1,5-diene 2 through a three-step pericyclic homodomino process, was found to react with optically active β-amino alcohols 4a–d, under zinc chloride catalysis, to afford a new class of enantiopure C₂ symmetric bis(oxazolinyl)cage (Cage-Box) ligands 6a–d, along with the corresponding mono(oxazolinyl) derivatives 5a–d.     

Direct sample fraction deposition using electrospray in narrow-bore size-exclusion chromatography/matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for polymer characterization

A direct sample fraction deposition method was developed for off-line size-exclusion chromatography (SEC)/matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry. By using electrospray, the SEC eluent, together with a suitable matrix solution added coaxially, was directly deposited on the MALDI plate. Owing to the formation of very small droplets in electrospray, solvent evaporation is much faster. The fractionation volume in narrow-bore SEC, which can directly be collected in one MALDI spot, can easily be optimized in the range of a few microlitres. In addition, fairly homogeneous sample spots were obtained. The possible influence of composition variation of the SEC effluent on the analytical results using direct fraction deposition was investigated; no substantial effects were observed. The applicability of the method was demonstrated by characterizing a broad poly(methyl methacrylate) sample. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nucleophilic aromatic substitutions on 4,5-dicyanopyridazine. Pyrrole and indole systems as carbon nucleophiles

4,5-Dicyanopyridazine was found to react with pyrrole and indole counterparts not only as heterocyclic azadiene in inverse electron-demand Hetero Diels–Alder reactions, as previously evidenced, but even as a very reactive heterocyclic electrophile at C-4 carbon, in formal S_NAr2 processes where a CN group acts as leaving group. In particular, operating in acetic acid as solvent, nucleophilic addition–elimination sequences allowed a facile access to pyrrolyl- and indolylpyridazines, through the corresponding 1,4-dihydropyridazine adducts.     

Synthesis and reactivity of 1-methyl-3-phenyl-4-diazo-5-benzoylamidopyrazole. A potential antitumor agent

The title compound 2 was prepared in excellent yield by diazotation of the parent amino derivative. Compound 2 was found to react with a variety of acyclic and cyclic active methylene compounds to yield the corresponding pyrazolo-4-ylhydrazones.     

Membrane bioreactor processes: a must for the wastewater treatment plants of the Lagoon of Venice

A pilot scale experimentation of a membrane bioreactor has been progressing since 1999 at Fusina-Venice wastewater treatment plant. Results showed that the limits introduced by Law Decree 30 July 1999 (Decree "Ronchi-Costa") can be fulfilled (except for Arsenic) and treated water is suitable for reuse purposes. According to the results reported in this paper, sizing and involved costs for the membranes application at Fusina wastewater treatment plant are presented. This can be the proper engineering solution for the Integrated Project Fusina.     

A homogenized viscoelastic model for masonry structures

A linear viscous model for evaluating the stresses and strains produced in masonry structures over time is presented. The model is based on rigorous homogenization procedures and the following two assumptions: that the structure is composed of either rigid or elastic blocks, and that the mortar is viscoelastic. The hypothesis of rigid block is particularly suitable for historical masonry, in which stone blocks may be assumed as rigid bodies, while the hypothesis of elastic blocks may be assumed for newly constructed brickwork structures. The hypothesis of viscoelastic mortar is based on the observation that non-linear phenomena may be concentrated in mortar joints. Under these assumptions, constitutive homogenized viscous functions are obtained in an analytical form.Some meaningful cases are discussed: masonry columns subject to minor and major eccentricity, and a masonry panel subject to both horizontal and vertical loads. The major eccentricity case is analysed taking into account both the effect of viscosity and the no-tension hypothesis, whereas the bi-dimensional loading case is analysed to verify the sensitivity of masonry behaviour to viscous function. In the masonry wall considered, the principal stresses are both of compression, and the no-tension assumption may therefore be discounted.     

A homogenized Love–Kirchhoff model for out-of-plane loaded random 2D lattices: Application to “quasi-periodic” brickwork panels

A homogenization procedure for finding the bending stiffness of a 2D regular lattice with random local interactions is proposed. The kinematic and static methods are used to provide explicit upper and lower bounds for the homogenized moduli. The proposed homogenization procedure is applied to a masonry obtained by a random perturbation of the periodic running bond masonry [Cecchi, A., Sab, K., 2009. Discrete and continuous models for in plane loaded random elastic brickwork. Eur. J. Mech. A 28, 610–625].A numerical evaluation of the scatter between the discrete models and the 2D Love–Kirchhoff model is performed on a test case, for various values of the random perturbation parameter and of the parameter that characterizes the heterogeneity of the wall. As expected, when the number of heterogeneities in the structure is large enough, the average response of the random discrete model converges to an asymptotic response. It is shown that this asymptotic response is very close to that of the periodic discrete model which is in turn very close to the response of the deterministic homogenized model. Similarly to the conclusion of Cecchi and Sab [Cecchi A., Sab K., 2009. Discrete and continuous models for in plane loaded random elastic brickwork. Eur. J. Mech. A. 28, 610–625.] dedicated to in-plane loading, the present results concerning out-of-plane loading show (both by means of a discrete model and a homogenized model) that the running bond pattern may be used successfully to analyze historical masonries with blocks having irregular widths in the horizontal direction.