Stereoselective synthesis of 2,3-epoxy alcohols mediated by a remote sulfinyl group

The influence of the sulfinyl group as a chiral auxiliary in the stereoselective addition of oxiranyllithiums to (S)-2-p-tolylsulfinylbenzaldehyde has been studied. All reactions evolve with retention of configuration at the starting lithiated carbon. Completely stereoselective additions have been observed when configurations at sulfur and the lithiated carbon are different (matched pair), whereas variable dr's values (ranging between 52:48 and >99:<1%) when they are identical (mismatched pair).     

Effects of the structure on the properties of new poly(arylene ether sulfone)s containing naphthalene units

A series of new poly(arylene ether sulfone)s has been obtained by solution condensation polymerisation starting from 1,5- and 2,6-bis-(4-fluorosulfonyl)naphthalene with various aromatic dihydroxy compounds. The polymers, obtained in quantitative yields, possessed inherent viscosities in the range 0.28-0.68 dl g⁻¹, had good thermal stability (10% weight loss temperatures were above 405 and 420 °C respectively in nitrogen and air) and high glass transition temperatures (in the range 217-258 °C). They have been characterised by elemental and infrared analyses, GPC and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The properties of these poly(arylene ether sulfone)s have been compared with those of the corresponding poly(arylene ether ketone)s.     

Variational Inequalities and Applications to a Continuum Model of Transportation Network with Capacity Constraints

A continuum model of transportation network is considered in presence of capacity constraints on the flow. The equilibrium conditions are expressed in terms of a Variational Inequality for which an existence theorem is provided.     

Usage of Empore™ membrane in alcoholic media for copper(II) distribution studies

The sorption of copper(II) on a solid, iminodiacetic based, chelating material, the Empore™ membrane, in alcoholic solutions is considered. Determination of the acid-base properties, kinetic of metal sorption and complexing properties, in solutions with different percentages of ethanol, ranging from 0 to 40% is undertaken. The results are compared with those obtained using the classical iminodiacetic resin Chelex 100 in beads. No significant differences are found in the thermodynamic properties, but the kinetics of the metal sorption on the membrane is slower and a dependence of the process rate with the alcoholic content is observed. In the present investigation, the detection of copper(II) species both in alcoholic Italian distillate “grappa” and in its intermediate product (“flemma”), is carried out by the Resin Titration (RT) method using, as competitive reagent, the Empore™ membrane. To validate the procedure, synthetic solutions containing different percentages of ethanol are analysed.     

Similar Structural Dynamics for the Degradation of CH3NH3PbI3 in Air and in Vacuum

We investigate the degradation path of MAPbI₃ (MA=methylammonium) films over flat TiO₂ substrates at room temperature by means of X‐ray diffraction, spectroscopic ellipsometry, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy. The degradation dynamics is found to be similar in air and under vacuum conditions, which leads to the conclusion that the occurrence of intrinsic thermodynamic mechanisms is not necessarily linked to humidity. The process has an early stage, which drives the starting tetragonal lattice in the direction of a cubic atomic arrangement. This early stage is followed by a phase change towards PbI₂. We describe how this degradation product is structurally coupled with the original MAPbI₃ lattice through the orientation of its constituent PbI₆ octahedra. Our results suggest a slight octahedral rearrangement after volatilization of HI+CH₃NH₂ or MAI, with a relatively low energy cost. Our experiments also clarify why reducing the interfaces and internal defects in the perovskite lattice enhances the stability of the material.     

Spectroscopic, morphological, and mechanistic investigation of the solvent-promoted aggregation of porphyrins modified in meso-positions by glucosylated steroids

Solvent-driven aggregation of a series of porphyrin derivatives was studied by UV/Vis and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The porphyrins are characterised by the presence in the meso positions of steroidal moieties further conjugated with glucosyl groups. The presence of these groups makes the investigated macrocycles amphiphilic and soluble in aqueous solvent, namely, dimethyl acetamide/water. Aggregation of the macrocycles is triggered by a change in bulk solvent composition leading to formation of large architectures that express supramolecular chirality, steered by the presence of the stereogenic centres on the periphery of the macrocycles. The aggregation behaviour and chiroptical features of the aggregates are strongly dependent on the number of moieties decorating the periphery of the porphyrin framework. In particular, experimental evidence indicates that the structure of the steroid linker dictates the overall chirality of the supramolecular architectures. Moreover, the porphyrin concentration strongly affects the aggregation mechanism and the CD intensities of the spectra. Notably, AFM investigations reveal strong differences in aggregate morphology that are dependent on the nature of the appended functional groups, and closely in line with the changes in aggregation mechanism. The suprastructures formed at lower concentration show a network of long fibrous structures spanning over tens of micrometres, whereas the aggregates formed at higher concentration have smaller rod-shaped structures that can be recognised as the result of coalescence of smaller globular structures. The fully steroid substituted derivative forms globular structures over the whole concentration range explored. Finally, a rationale for the aggregation phenomena was given by semiempirical calculations at the PM6 level.