Fabrication of zinc oxide nanowires/polymer composites by two‐photon polymerization

We present an approach to fabricate ZnO nanowires/polymer composite into three‐dimensional microstructures, based on two‐photon polymerization direct laser writing, a fabrication method that allows submicrometric spatial resolution. The structural integrity of the structures was inferred by scanning electron microscopy, while the presence and distribution of ZnO nanowires was investigated by energy dispersive X‐ray, Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction. The optical properties of the produced composite microstructures were verified by imaging the characteristic ZnO emission using a fluorescence microscope. Hence, such approach can be used to develop composite microstructures containing ZnO nanowires aiming at technological applications. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 333–337     

Stereoselective Synthesis of β-Hydroxy- and β-Ethoxy-δ-lactones: Model Structures for Compounds Isolated from Otoba parvifolia

Abstract: In this paper we describe a very short stereoselective synthesis of the β-ethoxylactone 13, a model structure for compounds isolated from Otoba parvifolia. The method, which also produces β-hydroxy-esters and β-hydroxy-lactones, is based on a chemo- and stereoselective Reformatsky reaction.     

(1)H and (13)C NMR spectral data for a tricyclic derivative of a Diels-Alder adduct

A complete NMR analysis with full assignment for (1)H and (13)C NMR spectral data for 5-(acetyloxy)-3-hydroxy-9,10-dimethoxy-6-oxo-11-oxatricyclo[6.2.1.0(2,7)]undec-2-yl acetate is described. This compound was prepared by rapid hydrogenation of the unstable Diels-Alder adduct obtained from the reaction between 3,4-dimethoxyfuran and 2,5-diacetoxy-1,4-benzoquinone. Full homonuclear hydrogen coupling constants measurements and molecular mechanics calculations were performed for the determination of the relative stereochemistry.     

Detailed 1H and 13C NMR structural assignment of three biologically active lignan lactones

In this paper we present a complete 1H and 13C NMR spectral analysis of three lignan lactones (methylpluviatolide, dimethylmatairesinol and hinokinin) by the use of techniques such as COSY, HMQC, HMBC and J-resolved. Complete assignment and all homonuclear hydrogen coupling constant measurements were performed, providing enough data also to the confirmation of the relative stereochemistry.     

Evaluation of hexaniobate nanoscrolls as support for immobilization of a copper complex catalyst

In this work, we report the intercalation properties of the hexaniobate nanoscrolls toward insertion of 2-[2-(2-pyridyl)ethylimino-1-ethyl]pyridine-imidazole copper(II), [Cu(apip)imH]2+, a cationic complex able to promote the catalytic oxidation of organic substrates. Hexaniobate was first transformed into its acidic phase, H2K2Nb6O17, and then exfoliated with n-butylamine in water. The copper complex was immobilized into the nanoscrolls obtained by the acidification of delaminated particle dispersion at pH 3. TEM micrographs of particles after immobilization of the cationic complex show scrolls with external diameters of ca. 25-30 nm and wall thicknesses of about 4.5-7.0 nm. The basal spacing (d(040)) of the copper complex intercalated in hexaniobate is about 11.6 A. The estimated composition, [Cu(apip)imH](0.5)HK2Nb6O17.6H2O, indicates that 50% of the negative charge of interlayer I was neutralized by the copper complex. EPR and IR spectra showed that the ligands and the distorted tetragonal structure of the complex were maintained after immobilization into niobate. The reactivity of this new material toward catechol oxidation using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidizing agent was investigated and compared to the activity of the same complex in solution. The heterogeneous catalyst is initially less effective toward the catechol oxidation but with time, the reaction shows a higher catechol conversion (ca. 82%) than the same copper complex in homogeneous media (ca. 75%). A better reactivity of the heterogeneous catalyst may be related to the stabilization of the immobilized catalyst, preventing its degradation during the reaction course. EPR results show that the kinetics of formation of the DMPO/*OH adduct in homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions corresponds to that observed in the catechol oxidation, suggesting that hydroxyl radicals are involved in the reaction mechanism.     

Molecularly organized Langmuir-Blodgett films from a ruthenium biphosphine complex

Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films from a ruthenium complex mer-[RuCl3 (dppb)(4-Mepy)] (dppb = PPh2 (CH2)4PPh2; 4-Mepy = 4-methylpyridine), termed Ru-Pic, display a distinct color, which is different from the coloration exhibited by cast films or chloroform solutions. The solution and cast films are red, while the LB films are green-bluish. The manifestation of the blue color in the LB film finds its explanation in a unique absorption band at 690 nm, which is associated with the oxidation of the phosphine moieties. Fluorescence emission and absorption-reflection infrared spectroscopy measurements revealed the molecular organization in the LB films. In contrast, cast films showed a random distribution of complexes. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering was also used in an attempt to identify the main interactions in Ru-Pic.     

Total assignment of 1H and 13C NMR data for the sesquiterpene lactone 15-deoxygoyazensolide

We describe a complete analysis of the 1H and 13C spectra of the anti-inflamatory, schistossomicidal and trypanosomicidal sesquiterpene lactone 15-deoxygoyazensolide. This lactone, with a structure similar to other important ones, was studied by NMR techniques such as COSY, HMQC, HMBC, Jres and NOE experiments. The comparison of the data with some computational results led to an unequivocal assignment of all hydrogen and carbon chemical shifts, even eliminating some previous ambiguities. We were able to determine all hydrogen coupling constants (J) and signal multiplicities and to confirm the stereochemistry. A new method for the determination of the relative position of the lactonization and the position of the ester group on a medium-sized ring by NMR was developed.     

Reformulation by discretization: Application to economic lot sizing

In this paper we apply a discretization reformulation technique to the classical economic lot sizing problem. This reformulation yields the same LP bounds as the original model. We show, however, that by reducing adequately the coefficients of some variables, one obtains an enhanced reformulation whose LP relaxation solution is integer.     

Lifting two-integer knapsack inequalities

In this paper we discuss the derivation of strong valid inequalities for (mixed) integer knapsack sets based on lifting of valid inequalities for basic knapsack sets with two integer variables (and one continuous variable). The basic polyhedra can be described in polynomial time. We use superadditive valid lifting functions in order to obtain sequence independent lifting. Most of these superadditive functions and valid inequalities are not obtained in polynomial time.     

Spin anisotropy effects on the dimerization of the magnetostrictive quasi-one-dimensional XY model

The one-dimensional first-neighbour spin - $\text{1}\text{2}$ magnetostrictive XY model (with crystalline degrees of freedom assumed three- dimensional) with $\text{different}$ X and Y spin coupling constants presents a quite rich spin-Peierls dimerization phase diagram. In the (low anisotropy) - (low temperature) region we recover previous results (in particular the possibility for a first-order phase transition in the absence of external magnetic field); in the other three regions of the temperature-anisotropy space interesting branches of the phase diagram (including the tricritical line) are exhibited (for the first time as far as we know).