Kinetic and thermodynamic acidities of substituted 1-benzyl-1-methoxy-2-nitroethylenes. Strong reduction of the transition state imbalance compared to other nitroalkanes

Acidity constants of six substituted 1-benzyl-1-methoxy-2-nitroethylenes (2-Z with Z = m-NO(2), m-CF(3), m-Cl, H, p-Me, p-MeO) and their respective nitronic acids were determined in 50% DMSO-50% water (v/v) at 20 degrees C. Kinetic data were obtained on the reversible deprotonation of all six 2-Z by OH(-) and piperidine and on the reversible deprotonation of 2-NO(2)() by piperazine, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine, and morpholine in the same solvent. These data allowed a determination of the Br?nsted coefficients alpha (dependence on acidity of 2-Z) and beta (dependence on amine basicity). The fact that alpha > beta indicates the presence of a transition state imbalance which, however, is much smaller than that for the deprotonation of arylnitromethanes. The reasons for this reduction in the imbalance and their relevance to a recent study of the deprotonation of Fischer carbene complexes are discussed.     

Etude quantitative de la distinction entre une liaison de covalence et une liaison de coordination: les molecules de borazane et d'aminoborane

Résumé On propose un exemple quantitatif de la distinction entre une liaison de covalence et une liaison de coordination; cette différenciation, fondée sur les propriétés de la molécule une fois formée, semble très nette pour les énergies de liaison, les populations de recouvrement et les charges des groupes; en particulier, un critère récent, proposé par deux des auteurs, est remarquablement vérifié. Enfin, on essaie de préciser la signification des symboles chimiques traditionnels.

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Quantitative studies of the difference between a covalence and a coordination bond: The molecules of amine-borane and aminoborane

An illustration of the distinction between these two types of chemical bonds is proposed, which is based on the properties of the molecule once built. Bond energies, overlap populations and group charges vary considerably from one compound to the other; more, a recent criterion given by two of the authors seems to be particularly suitable for describing the character of the bond. Lastly, one tries to give an explicit signification to the usual chemical symbols.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird ein quantitatives Beispiel der Unterscheidung zwischen einer kovalenten und einer koordinativen Bindung angegeben, die auf den Eigenschaften des vorliegenden Moleküls beruht. Sie erscheint sehr günstig für die Bindungsenergien, die Überlagerungspopulationen und die Gruppenladungen. Insbesondere wird ein Kriterium, das kürzlich von zwei der Autoren angegeben wurde, gut verifiziert. Schließlich wird versucht, die üblichen chemischen Symbole zu präzisieren.

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Les auteurs tiennent à remercier très vivement M. M. Berthier et Millié d'avoir mis à leur disposition le programme de localisation indispensable à ce travail, ainsi que Mademoiselle Le Guen et le C.I.R.C.E. pour la réalisation des calculs sur l'ordinateur IBM 360-75.     

A New Synthesis of Methyl 3-Amino-3,4-dideoxy-β-D-xylo-hexopyranoside

Abstract

Benzylidenation of methyl β-D-glucopyranoside, followed by selective 3-O-tosylation, reductive acetal opening, chlorination, radical deoxygenation and transesterification, afforded methyl 2,3-anhydro-6-O-benzyl-4-deoxy-β-D-ribo-hexopyranoside 8. Subsequent epoxide opening with NaN₃ and catalytic hydrogenation led to the title compound.     

An activated building block for the introduction of the histidine side chain in aliphatic oligourea foldamers

A new N-Boc-protected monomer for the synthesis of oligourea foldamers containing the (1H-imidazolyl-4yl)methyl side chain of histidine, has been prepared in seven steps from Trt-His(τ-Trt)-OMe. This protecting group combination on histidine was found to be critical to ensure efficient access to the requisite activated building block. This new derivative, suitable for solid phase synthesis, expands the current arsenal of building blocks with proteinogenic side chains useful for the design of peptidomimetic oligourea foldamers.     

A vectorial algorithm with finite element method for prediction of powder segregation in metal injection molding

The design of the mold and the choice of the injection parameters for metal injection molding (MIM) is required to maintain homogeneity of the filled mixture. However, powder segregation is unavoidable in MIM because of the significant difference in densities of the metallic powder and the polymer binder. To achieve an effective prediction of segregation effect, a biphasic model based on mixture theory is employed. The viscous behaviors of each phase and the interaction coefficient between the flows of the two phases should be determined. The solution of two coupled Navier–Stokes equations results in a tremendous computation effort. The previous development of an explicit algorithm makes the biphasic simulation much faster than that of the classic methods. However, it is strongly desired to reduce or even eliminate the numerous global solutions for pressure fields at each time step. Hence, a new vectorial algorithm is proposed and developed to perform the simulation only by vectorial operations. It provides the anticipated efficiency in the simulation of biphasic modeling, and the advantage to use the classic elements of equal‐order interpolations. Some results produced by the two algorithms are compared with the experimental values to validate the new vectorial algorithm. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Self-similarities in the frequency-amplitude space of a loss-modulated CO2 laser

We show the standard two-level continuous-time model of loss-modulated CO2 lasers to display the same regular network of self-similar stability islands known so far to be typically present only in discrete-time models based on mappings. Our results suggest that the two-parameter space of class B laser models and that of a certain class of discrete mappings could be isomorphic.     

Intracavity phase interferometry: frequency combs sensor inside a laser cavity

In traditional interferometric measurements, a physical quantity that changes the phase of a resonator is monitored through a change of its transmission. Interferometry inside a laser exploits the ultimate Q‐factor of that resonator, and converts the phase to be measured into a frequency. A mode‐locked laser with two intracavity pulses emits two frequency combs of the same repetition rate. The quantity to be measured (a sub‐nano displacement, a nonlinear index, an acceleration or rotation, a magnetic or electric field) produces a minute phase change ( rad) in one of the two intracavity pulses, which is converted into a frequency, measured by beating the two pulse trains emitted by the laser. This paper presents methods of operating mode‐locked lasers in which two independent pulses circulate, producing two frequency combs of the same repetition rate. Various examples of physical quantities that can be measured through this technique are presented.     

New promising bulk thermoelectrics: intermetallics,pnictides and chalcogenides

The need of alternative “green” energy sources has recently renewed the interest in thermoelectric (TE) materials, which can directly convert heat to electricity or, conversely, electric current to cooling. The thermoelectric performance of a material can be estimated by the so-called figure of merit, zT = σ α ² T/λ (α the Seebeck coefficient, σ α ² the power factor, σ and λ the electrical and thermal conductivity, respectively), that depends only on the material. In the middle 1990s the “phonon glass and electron crystal” concept was developed, which, together with a better understanding of the parameters that affect zT and the use of new synthesis methods and characterization techniques, has led to the discovery of improved bulk thermoelectric materials that start being implemented in applications. During last decades, special focus has been made on skutterudites, clathrates, half-Heusler alloys, Si_1?x Ge _x-, Bi₂Te_3- and PbTe-based materials. However, many other materials, in particular based on intermetallics, pnictides, chalcogenides, oxides, etc. are now emerging as potential advanced bulk thermoelectrics. Herein we discuss the current understanding in this field, with special emphasis on the strategies to reduce the lattice part of the thermal conductivity and maximize the power factor, and review those new potential thermoelectric bulk materials, in particular based on intermetallics, pnictides and chalcogenides. A final chapter, discussing different shaping techniques leading to bulk materials (eventually from nanostructured TE materials), is also included.     

Tri-polarized spectrum sensing based on an experimental outdoor-to-indoor cognitive-radio scenario

Compared to classical spatially separated multiple antenna system, cross-polarized co-located antenna systems are an interesting way to reduce equipment size while reducing the inter-antenna correlation. In this paper the spectrum sensing of a Cognitive Radio (CR) system taking advantage of polarization diversity under Rayleigh fading is investigated and compared to an equivalent system using spatial diversity. This analysis is based on a theoretical formulation applied to a real-world scenario. For this purpose, an outdoor-to-indoor measurement campaign at a frequency of 3.5 GHz is realized, where an indoor secondary user senses the signals received from an outdoor primary base station. The signals received at each antenna are first combined and then applied to an energy detector. The theoretical expressions are simulated in the measurement context. The detection probability behavior as a function of distance between the Primary Transmitter (PTx) and the Secondary Terminal (STE) and the inter-antenna correlation effect on the sensing performance are studied.     

Conformational Analysis of Baclofen Analogues by 1H and 13C NMR: Phaclofen,Saclofen, and Hydroxy-Saclofen. Influence of the Anionic Moiety

The conformations of three analogues of baclofen 1: phaclofen, saclofen, and hydroxy-saclofen 2–4, potent GABA_B antagonists, in solution (D₂O) are estimated from high-resolution (300 MHz) H NMR coupling data. Conformations and populations of conformers are calculated by means of a modified Karplus-like relationship for the vicinal coupling constants. H NMR spectral analysis evidences how 1–3 keep in solution the preferred a conformation around C3-C4 bond. A partial rotation is set up around C2–C3 bond (the conformations about C2–C3 are all highly populated in solution) particularly for 2 and 3 while 1 shows a relative preferred a conformation. This evidences the influence of the anionic moiety.