On a problem of magnetohydrodynamics in a multi-connected domain

We consider the following problem in the MHD approximation: the vessel Ω₁⊂Ω is filled with an incompressible, electrically conducting fluid, and is surrounded by a dielectric or by vacuum, occupying the bounded domain Ω₂=Ω?Ω₁. In Ω we have a magnetic and electric field and the external surface S=∂Ω is an ideal conductor. The emphasis in the paper is on when Ω is not simply connected, in which case the MHD system is degenerate. We use Hodge-type decomposition theorems to obtain strong solutions locally in time or global for small enough initial data, and a linearization principle for the stability of a stationary solution.     

Structural and magnetic properties of three novel complexes with the versatile ligand 5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one

Conventional reactions of the versatile multidentate ligand 5-methyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one (HmtpO) with metallic(II) salts lead to three novel multidimensional complexes [Cu(HmtpO)(2)(H(2)O)(3)](ClO(4))(2)·H(2)O (1), {[Cu(HmtpO)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2)·2HmtpO}(n) (2) and {[Co(HmtpO)(H(2)O)(3)](ClO(4))(2)·2H(2)O}(n) (3). In each compound, the triazolopyrimidine ligand shows a different and unusual coordination mode, giving rise to structures with diverse topologies and dimensionality. Compound 1 is a monomeric complex, in which HmtpO shows both N3-monodentate and N1,O71-bidentate modes. 2 is a bidimensional framework with the ligand showing a N3,O71 bidentate-bridging mode. The structure of 3 consists of 1D chains, in which HmtpO displays a N1,N3,O71-tridentate-bridging mode. It should be noted that these coordination modes of the HmtpO ligand are unique in the case of compounds 2 and 3. On the other hand, the magnetic properties of the polynuclear complexes 2 and 3 have been studied showing weak ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic behaviour, respectively.     

Phosphorylimidazole derivatives: potentially biosignaling molecules

The phosphorylation of imidazole by two activated phosphate diesters and a triester gives phosphorylimidazole derivatives that are stable enough in aqueous solution to be observed and identified by ESI-MS/MS and NMR. Half-lives ranging from hours to days (in the case of the monoethyl ester) show that it is possible to design molecules with variable half-lives with potential to be used for biological intervention experiments as possible inhibitors of biosignaling processes or as haptens for the generation of antibodies.     

Synthesis of 1,2-dihydroxyindolizidines from 1-(2-pyridyl)-2-propen-1-ol

1-(2-Pyridyl)-2-propen-1-ol, obtained by vinylation of commercially available picolinaldehyde, resulted a good starting material for the synthesis of the indolizidine skeleton. In particular, a simple process involving bromination, reduction, and nucleophilic substitution (via elimination and addition) allowed an easy conversion of the starting material into (±)-lentiginosine in ~27% overall yield.     

Photo‐Organocatalysis of Atom‐Transfer Radical Additions to Alkenes

We have found that an organic molecule as simple as p‐anisaldehyde efficiently catalyzes the intermolecular atom‐transfer radical addition (ATRA) of a variety of haloalkanes onto olefins, one of the fundamental carbon–carbon bond‐forming transformations in organic chemistry. The reaction requires exceptionally mild reaction conditions to proceed, as it occurs at ambient temperature and under illumination by a readily available fluorescent light bulb. Initial investigations support a mechanism whereby the aldehydic catalyst photochemically generates the reactive radical species by sensitization of the organic halides by an energy‐transfer pathway.     

Photochemistry of 4-(2-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridines. Evidence for electron transfer and formation of an intermediate

New evidence about the path followed in the photochemical reaction of 4-(2-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridines such as the drugs nifedipine (Compound 1) and nisoldipine (Compound 2) to give the corresponding nitrosophenylpyridines has been found through determination of the steady-state photochemical parameters and a comparison of the photoreactions in solution and in matrix at 90 K. Additional support is given by comparison with the isomeric 4-(3-nitrophenyl)dihydropyridine as well as with simpler derivatives, such as the corresponding 4-methyldihydropyridine. In Compounds 1 and 2, the lowest lying singlet, localized on the dihydropyridine chromophore, is deactivated by (largely exothermic) electron transfer to the nitrobenzene moiety, as evidenced by the complete quenching of the blue fluorescence observed in analogues not containing the electron-accepting group. Intramolecular proton transfer ensues in the 2-nitrophenyl derivatives with a relatively medium-independent quantum yield of approximately 0.3 and leads to an aromatic zwitterion, which is detected in matrix at 90 K (photoionization of this intermediate takes place in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran secondary). The intermediate is smoothly converted into the end product upon melting the glass. The 3-nitrophenyl analog, for which such a path is not available, is less reactive by about three orders of magnitude at 366 nm, although the quantum yield arrives at approximately 0.01 by irradiation at 254 nm in MeOH, reasonably via the nitrophenyl localized triplet.     

New approach based on fuzzy logic and principal component analysis for the classification of two-dimensional maps in health and disease. Application to lymphomas

Two-dimensional (2D) electrophoresis is the most wide spread technique for the separation of proteins in biological systems. This technique produces 2D maps of high complexity, which creates difficulties in the comparison of different samples. The method proposed in this paper for the comparison of different 2D maps can be summarised in four steps: (a) digitalisation of the image; (b) fuzzyfication of the digitalised map in order to consider the variability of the two-dimensional electrophoretic separation; (c) decoding by principal component analysis of the previously obtained fuzzy maps, in order to reduce the system dimensionality; (d) classification analysis (linear discriminant analysis), in order to separate the samples contained in the dataset according to the classes present in said dataset. This method was applied to a dataset constituted by eight samples: four belonging to healthy human lymph-nodes and four deriving from non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The amount of fuzzyfication of the original map is governed by the sigma parameter. The larger the value, the more fuzzy theresulting transformed map. The effect of the fuzzyfication parameter was investigated, the optimal results being obtained for sigma = 1.75 and 2.25. Principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis allowed the separation of the two classes of samples without any misclassification.     

On-line molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction for the selective spectrophotometric determination of nicotine in the urine of smokers

This work describes an on-line molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) method for spectrophotometric determination of nicotine in urine samples of smokers. This method is based on manganese (VII) to manganese (VI) reduction in an alkaline medium, promoted by nicotine. Two wash solutions (1:4 (v/v) acetonitrile:sodium hydroxide - pH 11.4, and nitric acid - pH 2.5) were employed to circumvent interferences. Aqueous solutions containing nicotine plus different possible concomitants (cotinine, anabasine, norcotinine and caffeine) were tested individually. The analytical calibration curve was prepared in urine samples collected from non-smokers and spiked with nicotine standard from 1.1 to 60 μmol L⁻¹ (r² > 0.998). The limit of quantification and the analytical frequency were 1.1 μmol L⁻¹ and 11 h⁻¹, respectively. The precision, evaluated using 3, 10 and 30 μmol L⁻¹ nicotine in urine, was 10, 10 and 4% (intra-day precision) and 12, 13 and 5% (inter-day precision), respectively. Accuracy was checked through high performance liquid chromatography and the results did not present significant differences at the 95% confidence level according to the Student's t-test.     

Glycoconjugates of gadolinium complexes for MRI applications

Examples of C-4 symmetric, medium MW conjugates incorporating 12 glucose or galactose groups linked via four dendritic wedges to a central Gd complex have been characterised; their enhanced relaxivity is interpreted in terms of effective motional coupling and large contributions from second sphere water molecules.     

Photochemistry of α‐Diketones in Carbohydrates: Anomalous Norrish Type II Photoelimination and Norrish–Yang Photocyclization Promoted by the Internal Carbonyl Group

A series of four α‐diketones placed as 1α‐pyruvoyl tethers on D ‐glucopyranose and D ‐glucopyranosiduronic acid skeletons was prepared in order to determine the influence of captodative and stereoelectronic effects on the regioselectivity of the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) in Norrish type II photochemical processes. We observed that the 1,5‐HAT regioselectivity can be switched between the two potentially abstractable syn‐1,3‐diaxial hydrogens at H6 and H8. Highly unusual photoproducts from Norrish type II photoelimination and Norrish–Yang photocyclization initiated by the excited internal carbonyl group were obtained, in some cases in excellent synthetic yield. The 1,5‐HAT transition state in the Norrish type II photoelimination was investigated by photochemical experiments in the crystalline state.