Total synthesis of (+)-boronolide, (+)-deacetylboronolide,and (+)-dideacetylboronolide

Total synthesis of (+)-boronolide, (+)-deacetylboronolide, and (+)-dideacetylboronolide has been achieved from a single intermediate 26, which was synthesized in 11 steps from a d-mannitol-derived intermediate 8 in an overall yield of 10%. The key steps in the synthesis are inversion of a chiral center by taking an advantage of the inherent mechanism involved in the ring closing to an epoxide via intramolecular S(N)2 reaction and lactonization of a diol using Fetizons reagent. The strategy is amenable to preparation of analogues of (+)-boronolide in sufficient amount for further screening of biological activity.     

Binding of hydrogen bonding solutes at liquid–vapour interfaces of molecular fluids

We have calculated the potential of mean force (PMF) for the transfer of a solute molecule across a liquid–vapour interface for four different systems: (a) one methanol molecule in water, (b) one water molecule in methanol, (c) one acetonitrile molecule in water and (d) one water molecule in acetonitrile by means of constrained molecular dynamics simulations. A minimum of the PMF is found near the Gibbs dividing surface for methanol and acetonitrile solutes although the degree of surface activity is found to be somewhat different due, in part, to varying hydrogen bonding nature of these two solutes.     

Syntheses and thermal reactivities of tetradentate metalloenediynes of Cu(II) and Zn(II)

The syntheses and Bergman cyclization temperatures of disubstituted tetradentate enediyne ligands based on a dibenzylethylenediamine backbone are reported relative to the corresponding Cu(II) and Zn(II) analogues. For these compounds, the R-groups dimethylamine (dma), pyridine (py), quinoline (quin), and 3-oxypyridine (pyO) have been symmetrically and asymmetrically incorporated at the alkyne termini positions directly (0:0) or via a methylene spacer (1:0, 0:1, 1:1). Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) reveals that all Cu(II) complexes are monomeric with near axial symmetry and g-values (g(x) approximately 2.04, g(y) approximately 2.09 g(z) approximately 2.25) representative of tetragonal Cu(II) geometries. The hyperfine splitting parameter A(z) values are approximately 170 x 10(-)(4) cm(-)(1), which is consistent with distorted 4-coordinate, or weakly 6-coordinate, structures. In contrast, solution conductivity measurements show that Zn(II) complexes with rigid py or quin ligands (e.g., py-py 0:0, py-quin 0:0) behave as 1:4 electrolytes indicative of dimeric, bridging enediyne structures. Consequently, these Zn(II) complexes have very high Bergman cyclization temperatures (>290 degrees C), while their less rigid, 1:1 analogues (<185 degrees C) and monomeric Cu(II) counterparts (110-136 degrees C) have markedly lower cyclization temperatures. The results underscore the important consequences metal center structure plays in influencing Bergman cyclization temperatures of metalloenediynes.     

Simulations of a weakly conducting droplet under the influence of an alternating electric field

We investigate the electrohydrodynamics of an initially spherical droplet under the influence of an external alternating electric field by conducting axisymmetric numerical simulations using a charge-conservative volume-of-fluid based finite volume flow solver. The mean amplitude of shape oscillations of a droplet subjected to an alternating electric field for leaky dielectric fluids is similar to the steady-state deformation under an equivalent root mean squared direct electric field for all possible electrical conductivity ratio and permittivity ratio of the droplet to the surrounding fluid. In contrast, our simulations for weakly conducting media show that this equivalence between alternating and direct electric fields does not hold for . Moreover, for a range of parameters, the deformation obtained using the alternating and direct electric fields is qualitatively different, that is, for low and high , the droplet becomes prolate under alternating electric field but deforms to an oblate shape in the case of the equivalent direct electric field. A parametric study is conducted by varying the time period of the applied alternating electric field, the permittivity and the electrical conductivity ratios. It is observed that while increasing has a negligible effect on the deformation dynamics of the droplet for , it enhances the deformation of the droplet when for both alternating and direct electric fields. We believe that our results may be of immense consequence in explaining the morphological evolution of droplets in a plethora of scenarios ranging from nature to biology.     

Electron-muon mass ratio and the masses of their neutrinos

In this note, we arrange equal mass for all the four leptons,e,, and their neutrinos through their coupling to a Higg's quartet. In addition, the electron and muon are coupled to the left handed and right handed Higgs doublets. This is a pseudo scalar coupling. This enables these charged leptons to attain different masses. Their masses are arranged to be proportional to their neutrino mass. The mass of the electron or muon neutrino turns out to be 6.3 eV.     

Buffer Standards for the Physiological pH of the Zwitterionic Compound, TAPS, From 5 to 55 ∘C

The values of the second dissociation constant, pK ₂, and related thermodynamic quantities of N-[tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-3-amino]propanesulfonic acid (TAPS) have already been reported at 12 temperatures over the temperature range 5–55 ^∘C, including 37 ^∘C. This paper reports the results for the pH of five equimolal buffer solutions with compositions: (a) TAPS (0.03 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaTAPS (0.03 mol⋅kg⁻¹); (b) TAPS (0.04 mol⋅ kg⁻¹) + NaTAPS (0.04 mol⋅kg⁻¹); (c) TAPS (0.05 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaTAPS (0.05 mol⋅kg⁻¹); (d) TAPS (0.06 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaTAPS (0.06 mol⋅kg⁻¹); and (d) TAPS (0.08 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaTAPS (0.08 mol⋅kg⁻¹). The remaining eight buffer solutions consist of saline media of the ionic strength I = 0.16 mol⋅kg⁻¹, matching closely to that of the physiological sample. The compositions are: (f) TAPS (0.04 mol-kg⁻¹) + NaTAPS (0.02 mol-kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.14 mol⋅kg⁻¹); (g) TAPS (0.05 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaTAPS (0.04 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.12 mol⋅kg⁻¹); (h) TAPS (0.6 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaTAPS (0.04 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.12 mol⋅kg⁻¹); (i) TAPS (0.08 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaTAPS (0.06 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.10 mol⋅kg⁻¹); (j) TAPS (0.04 mol⋅ kg⁻¹) + NaTAPS (0.04 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.12 mol⋅kg⁻¹); (k) TAPS (0.05 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaTAPS (0.05 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.11 mol⋅kg⁻¹); (l) TAPS (0.06 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaTAPS (0.06 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.10 mol⋅kg⁻¹); and (m) TAPS (0.08 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaTAPS (0.08 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.08 mol⋅kg⁻¹). These buffers are recommended as a pH standard for clinical measurements in the range of physiological application. Conventional pH values, designated as pH(s), for all 13 buffer solutions from 5 to 55 ^∘C have been calculated. The operational pH values with liquid junction corrections, at 25 and 37 ^∘C for buffer solutions, designated above as (b), (c), (d), (e), (j), (l), and (m); have been determined based on the difference in the values of the liquid junction potentials between the accepted phosphate standard and the buffer solutions under investigation.     

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations of nuclear spin-spin coupling constants in PH2, PH3, PH4 and P2H4

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations of nuclear spin-spin coupling constants in PH⁻₂, PH₃, PH⁺₄ and P₂H₄ have been carried out employing SCF perturbation theory. Basis set dependence of all the four contributing terms has been studied in order to find the criterion for the selection of basis sets to be employed for computing this property. The dependence of the coupling constants of PH⁻₂ on its geometry has also been found. This study also discusses the requirement for satisfactory computation of couplings in cases where none of the coupling nuclei is a proton. It is found that bond-centred functions along with at least double zeta basis sets reproduce coupling constants quite satisfactorily. In all the cases studied, uncontracted core basis functions yield couplings which are in better agreement with experimental couplings than those obtained with contracted core functions.     

Switchable Hydrophobic Valve for Controlled Microfluidic Processing

A simple microfluidic valve, without any moving parts, is presented that can control solution flow on demand in microchannels of many different materials using a low‐power electric signal. Many independently operating valves can easily be integrated into complex microfluidic systems. The valve consists of a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) formed on a platinum electrode that is incorporated directly in the microchannel. The normally‐on valve stops the solution flow due to a hydrophobic SAM on the electrode surface. The solution is allowed to pass the valve by applying a potential to the electrode, which removes the SAM due to reductive desorption. The valve operation is highly stable and has switching times of the order of 1 s. The valve is ideal for controlled solution manipulation in integrated micro‐analytical systems and autonomous microfluidic systems.