Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of chrysotile and crocidolite fibers with IR-spectroscopy: application to asbestos-cement products

Infrared (IR) spectrophotometry allows simple and quick qualitative and quantitative evaluations of different kinds of asbestos, as well as of other inorganic particles. In particular, chrysotile and crocidolite have characteristic IR spectra and optical density measures of 2,710 nm band for chrysotile, of 12,820 nm band for crocidolite permit quantitative evaluation of each fiber alone or in mixture. IR spectra also give informations about changes of fiber structure and of chemical composition due, for example, to thermal treatment or acid leaching. The analytical method we developed can detect levels as low as 0.1 mg of fiber in a 300 mg disk of KBr using a low cost IR spectrophotometer. The use of a Fourier Transform IR spectrophotometer (FTIR) improves dramatically the sensitivity and selectivity. Computer assisted analysis of spectra offers the possibility to reduce matrix interferences and to compare different spectra. Examples of IR technique applied to asbestos-cement products and insulating materials are presented.     

Proposal for energy-time entanglement of quasiparticles in a solid-state device

We present a proposal for the experimental observation of energy-time entanglement of quasiparticles in mesoscopic physics. This type of entanglement arises whenever correlated particles are produced at the same time and this time is uncertain in the sense of quantum uncertainty, as has been largely used in photonics. We discuss its feasibility for electron-hole pairs. In particular, we argue that junctions between materials in which electrons and holes, respectively, propagate ballistically and behave as "entanglers" for energy-time entanglement when irradiated with a continuous laser.     

The calculation of London coefficients by the variation-perturbation method

The London coefficients for the dispersion interaction between LiLi, BeBe and LiBe are calculated by the variation-perturbation method using the whole atomic hamiltonian as H₀ and the Hartree-Fock approximation for the upper turbed wavefunction ?₀. A single excited valence configuration with optimized orbital exponents gives accurate results for Li, whereas comparable accuracy for Be is obtained when part of the valence correlation energy in the ground as well as in the excited state is accounted for through a limited configuration interaction.     

Dissipation-driven phase transition in two-dimensional Josephson arrays

We analyze the interplay of dissipative and quantum effects in the proximity of a quantum phase transition. The prototypical system is a resistively shunted two-dimensional Josephson junction array, studied by means of an advanced Fourier path-integral Monte Carlo algorithm. The reentrant superconducting-to-normal phase transition driven by quantum fluctuations, recently discovered in the limit of infinite shunt resistance, persists for moderate dissipation strength but disappears in the limit of small resistance. For large quantum coupling our numerical results show that, beyond a critical dissipation strength, the superconducting phase is always stabilized at sufficiently low temperature. Our phase diagram explains recent experimental findings.     

Bell-type inequalities to detect true n-body nonseparability

We analyze the structure of correlations among more than two quantum systems. We introduce a classification of correlations based on the concept of nonseparability, which is different a priori from the concept of entanglement. Generalizing a result of Svetlichny [Phys. Rev. D 35, 3066 (1987)] on three-particle correlations, we find an inequality for n-particle correlations that holds under the most general separability condition and that is violated by some quantum-mechanical states.     

4-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-2-[3-(3-[(<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-2-(4-cyanophenyl)-1-diazenyl]hexahydro-1-pyrimidinylmethyl)hexahydro-1-pyrimidinyl]-1diazenylbenzonitrile: X-ray crystal structure

4-(E)-2-[3-(3-[(E)-2-(4-cyanophenyl)-1-diazenyl]hexahydro-1-pyrimidinylmethyl)hexahydro-1-pyrimidinyl]-1-diazenylbenzonitrile (1) has been synthesized by reaction of p-cyanobenzene diazonium chloride with a mixture of formaldehyde and 1,3-propanediamine. The crystal structure has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The bis-triazene (1) adopts a folded conformation, similar to previously studied ethylenediamine analogues, and there is evidence of -stacking in the crystal packing. The two planar phenyltriazenyl groups are almost parallel, forming an angle of 6.6(1), and display weak intermolecular s interactions between molecules. This result establishes the structure of the product of this diazonium coupling reaction as the 1-(1-hexahydropyimidinylmethyl)hexahydropyrimidine derivative and not the alternate tetraazabicyclo[5.5.1]tridecane derivative. Crystal data: 1C₂₃H₂₆N₁₀, monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, a = 10.717(1) Å, b = 7.749(1) Å, c = 28.252(2) Å, = 97.223(2), V = 2327.5(5) ų, for Z = 4.     

4-Hydroxy-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic Acids: Synthesis,Complexation Properties Towards Fe(III), Al(III), Cu(II), Zn(II), Human Serum Albumin,and Cellular Toxicity

4-hydroxy-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (DQ58) and 4-hydroxy-1-methyl-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (DQ71508) have been synthesized, and their Fe(III), Al(III), Cu(II), and Zn(II) coordination properties have been studied by potentiometry, UV–Vis spectroscopy (in the case of Fe(III), Al(III), Cu(II)), ¹H-NMR (for Al(III)) and EPR (for Cu(II)). The thermodynamic results were used to model the extent of the toxic metal ions decorporation (Fe(III) or Al(III)) in the presence of the essential metal ions (Cu(II) or Zn(II)). DQ58 and DQ71508 were demonstrated to interact with human serum albumin (HSA), which is assumed to be the main serum transporter of the chelators, and binding constants have been obtained by ultrafiltration. IC₅₀ values of 5.185 × 10^?3 and 1.033 × 10^?3 mol·L^?1 were collected after 24 and 48 h of treatment with DQ71508 towards human embryonic kidney HEK-293 cells, demonstrating the relatively low cytotoxicity of this compound. According to these results, both DQ58 and DQ71508 seem to be potential candidates for Fe chelation therapy, and DQ58 is a better Fe(III) chelator than DQ71508.     

Selective Boryl‐Anion Migration in a Vinyl sp2−sp3 Diborane Induced by Soft Borane Lewis Acids

An intramolecular 1,2‐boryl‐anion migration from boron to carbon has been achieved by selective activation of the π system in [(vinyl)B₂Pin₂)]^? using “soft” BR₃ electrophiles (BR₃=BPh₃ or 9‐aryl‐BBN). The soft character is key to ensure 1,2‐migration proceeds instead of oxygen coordination/B?O activation. The BR₃‐induced 1,2‐boryl‐anion migration represents a triple borylation of a vinyl Grignard reagent using only B₂Pin₂ and BR₃ and forms differentially protected 1,1,2‐triborylated alkanes. Notably, by increasing the steric bulk at the β position of the vinyl Grignard reagent used to activate B₂Pin₂, 1,2‐boryl‐anion migration can be suppressed in favor of intermolecular {BPin}^? transfer to BPh₃, thus enabling simple access to unsymmetrical sp²?sp³ diboranes.     

Crystal structure of tricyclohexyltin chloride

The structure of tricyclohexyltin chloride has been determined by X-ray analysis. The compound crystallizes in the space group P2_1/m with a 10.386(6), b 17.195(9), c 5.713(3) Å,β 104.26(9)° and Z = 2. It consists of discrete tetrahedral (cyclo-C₆H₁₁)₃SnCl units. The departure from the regular tetrahedral geometry is less than that in tricyclohexyltin acetate. The quadrupole splitting value (Δ 3.49 mm s^?1), so large as to have been attributed to a penta-coordinated geometry, is shown to be consistent with the tetrahedral geometry when distortions are taken into account in the treatment of the point charge model.     

Reversible crotylstannation of carbonyl compounds. Crotylstannation ability of Bu3-nClnSnCH2CHCHCH3 (n = 0, 1, 2) compounds towards acetone and benzaldehyde and 13C NMR characterization

The crotylstannation reaction:

has been found to be reversible. The compounds trans/cis-Bu_3-nCl_n SnCH₂CH= CHCH₃ (n = 0, 1, 2) have been prepared by elimination reactions of organostannoxy compounds,Bu_3?nCl_nSn—O—C(Me)(i-Pr)CH(Me)CHCH2, which were synthesized by means of transalkoxylation between Bu_3-nCI_nSn(OMe) compounds and threo/erithro-2,3,4-trimethyl-5-hexen-3-ol. Under the conditions used the elimination occurs stereospecifically and with complete allylic rearrangement. The ability of the organostannoxy compounds to yield crotyl butylchlorotins via elimination increases in the order, Bu₃Sn—O—C < Bu₂ClSn—O—C < BuCI₂Sn—O—C. In the addition reactions, the sequence of increasing reactivity is Bu₃SnCrot < CIBu₂SnCrot < CI₂BuSnCrot (Crot = crotyl). The ¹³C NMR spectra of the compounds made reveal that the chemical shifts of the allylic carbon atoms are related to the inductive effects of the chloro-substituents.