From QCA (Quantum Cellular Automata) to Organocatalytic Reactions with Stabilized Carbenium Ions

What do quantum cellular automata (QCA), “on water” reactions, and S_N1‐type organocatalytic transformations have in common? The link between these distant arguments is the practical access to useful intermediates and key products through the use of stabilized carbenium ions. Over 10 years, starting with a carbenium ion bearing a ferrocenyl group, to the 1,3‐benzodithiolylium carbenium ion, our group has exploited the use of these intermediates in useful and practical synthetic transformations. In particular, we have applied the use of carbenium ions to stereoselective organocatalytic alkylation reactions, showing a possible solution for the “holy grail of organocatalysis”. Examples of the use of these quite stabilized intermediates are now also considered in organometallic chemistry. On the other hand, the stable carbenium ions are also applied to tailored molecules adapted to quantum cellular automata, a new possible paradigm for computation. Carbenium ions are not a problem, they can be a/the solution!

     

An experimental re-investigation of the role of aromatic-aromatic interactions in a templated synthesis of a macrocyclic pseudopeptide

The experimental re-investigation of a reported synthesis of a macrocyclic pseudopeptide promoted by bis(tetrabutylammonium)terephthalate allowed us to elucidate the nature of the non-bonding interactions between the reagents and the template; while the involvement of aromatic-aromatic interactions could be ruled out, the relevance of the role of the carboxylate ion was confirmed.     

Vanishing viscosity in the plane for vorticity in borderline spaces of Besov type

The existence and uniqueness of solutions to the Euler equations for initial vorticity in BΓ∩Lp₀∩Lp₁ was proved by Misha Vishik, where BΓ is a borderline Besov space parameterized by the function Γ and 1<p₀<2<p₁. Vishik established short time existence and uniqueness when Γ(n)=O(logn) and global existence and uniqueness when . For initial vorticity in BΓ∩L², we establish the vanishing viscosity limit in L²(R²) of solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations to a solution of the Euler equations in the plane, convergence being uniform over short time when Γ(n)=O(logn) and uniform over any finite time when Γ(n)=O(logκn), 0?κ<1, and we give a bound on the rate of convergence. This allows us to extend the class of initial vorticities for which both global existence and uniqueness of solutions to the Euler equations can be established to include BΓ∩L² when Γ(n)=O(logκn) for 0<κ<1.     

Results of the search for strange quark matter and Q-balls with the SLIM experiment

The SLIM experiment at the Chacaltaya high altitude laboratory was sensitive to nuclearites and Q-balls which could be present in the cosmic radiation as possible Dark Matter components. It was sensitive also to strangelets, i.e. small lumps of Strange Quark Matter predicted at such altitudes by various phenomenological models. The analysis of 427 m² of Nuclear Track Detectors exposed for 4.22 years showed no candidate event. New upper limits on the flux of downgoing nuclearites and Q-balls at the 90% C.L. were established. The null result also restricts models for strangelets propagation through the Earth atmosphere.