A novel and facile synthesis of 7,8-diacylcoumarins

Oxidation of N-carbonylhydrazones of 7-hydroxy-8-acetylcoumarin with lead tetraacetate results in the synthesis of 7,8-diacylcoumarins in good yields. The reaction proceeds via the transformation of a hydroxy into an acyl group reported for the first time in heterocyclic chemistry.     

Local density inhomogeneities and dynamics in supercritical water: A molecular dynamics simulation approach

Molecular dynamics atomistic simulations in the canonical ensemble (NVT-MD) have been used to investigate the "Local Density Inhomogeneities and their Dynamics" in pure supercritical water. The simulations were carried out along a near-critical isotherm (Tr = T/Tc = 1.03) and for a wide range of densities below and above the critical one (0.2 rho(c) - 2.0 rho(c)). The results obtained reveal the existence of significant local density augmentation effects, which are found to be sufficiently larger in comparison to those reported for nonassociated fluids. The time evolution of the local density distribution around each molecule was studied in terms of the appropriate time correlation functions C(Delta)rhol(t). It is found that the shape of these functions changes significantly by increasing the density of the fluid. Finally, the local density reorganization times for the first and second coordination shell derived from these correlations exhibit a decreasing behavior by increasing the density of the system, signifying the density effect upon the dynamics of the local environment around each molecule.     

Partition coefficients of organic molecules in squalane and water/ethanol mixtures by molecular dynamics simulations

Accurate partition coefficient data of migrants between a polymer and a solvent are of paramount importance for estimating the migration of the migrant over time, including the concentration of the migrant at infinite time in the two solvents. In this article it is shown how this partition coefficient can be estimated for both a small hydrophilic and a hydrophobic organic molecules between squalane (used here to mimic low density poly ethylene) and water/ethanol solutes using thermodynamic integration to calculate the free energy of solvation. Molecular dynamics simulations are performed, using the GROMACS software, by slowly decoupling of firstly the electrostatic and then the Lennard-Jones interactions between molecules in the simulation box. These calculations depend very much on the choice of force field. Two force fields have been tested in this work, the TraPPE-UA (united-atom) and the OPLS-AA (all-atom). The computational cheaper TraPPE-UA force field showed to be more accurate over the whole range of systems compared to the OPLS-AA force field. Moreover, some of the calculations were done with five different water models to investigate the influence of the specific water model on the calculations. It was found that the combination of the TraPPE-UA force field and the TIP4p water model gave the best results. Based on the methodology proposed in this article, it is possible to obtain good partition coefficients only knowing the chemical structure of the molecules in the system.     

Dodekahydro‐closo‐dodekaborate der schweren Erdalkalimetalle aus wäßriger Lösung: Ca(H2O)7[B12H12] · H2O,Sr(H2O)8[B12H12] und Ba(H2O)6[B12H12]

Dodecahydro‐ closo ‐dodecaborates of the Heavy Alkaline‐Earth Metals from Aqueous Solution: Ca(H₂O)₇[B₁₂H₁₂] · H₂O, Sr(H₂O)₈[B₁₂H₁₂], and Ba(H₂O)₆[B₁₂H₁₂] The crystalline hydrates of the heavy alkaline earth metal dodecahydro‐closo‐dodecaborates (M[B₁₂H₁₂] · n H₂O, n = 6–8; M = Ca, Sr, Ba) are easily accessible by reaction of an aqueous (H₃O)₂[B₁₂H₁₂] solution with an alkaline earth metal carbonate (MCO₃). By isothermic evaporation of the respective aqueous solution we obtained colourless single crystals which are characterized by X‐ray diffraction at room temperature. The three compounds Ca(H₂O)₇[B₁₂H₁₂] · H₂O (orthorhombic, P2₁2₁2₁; a = 1161.19(7), b = 1229.63(8), c = 1232.24(8) pm; Z = 4), Sr(H₂O)₈[B₁₂H₁₂] (trigonal, R3; a = 1012.71(6), c = 1462.94(9) pm; Z = 3) and Ba(H₂O)₆[B₁₂H₁₂] (orthorhombic, Cmcm; a = 1189.26(7) pm, b = 919.23(5) pm, c = 1403.54(9) pm; Z = 4) are neither formula‐equal nor isostructural. The structure of Sr(H₂O)₈[B₁₂H₁₂] is best described as a NaCl‐type arrangement, Ba(H₂O)₆[B₁₂H₁₂] rather forms a layer‐like and Ca(H₂O)₇[B₁₂H₁₂] · H₂O a channel‐like structure. In first sphere the alkaline earth metal cations Ca²⁺ and Sr²⁺ are coordinated by just seven and eight oxygen atoms from the surrounding water molecules, respectively. A direct coordinative influence of the quasi‐icosahedral [B₁₂H₁₂]^2– cluster anions becomes noticeable only for the Ba²⁺ cations (CN = 12) in Ba(H₂O)₆[B₁₂H₁₂]. The dehydratation of the alkaline earth metal dodecahydro‐closo‐dodecaborate hydrates has been shown to take place in several steps. Thermal treatment leads to the anhydrous compounds Ca[B₁₂H₁₂], Sr[B₁₂H₁₂] and Ba[B₁₂H₁₂] at 224, 164 and 116 °C, respectively.     

Novel disposable microfabricated antimony-film electrodes for adsorptive stripping analysis of trace Ni(II)

This work describes a novel type of antimony electrode for adsorptive stripping voltammetry (AdSV). The electrode was microfabricated by coating a silicon chip with a thin antimony-film by means of sputtering and the active area of the electrode was defined by photolithography. The resulting antimony-film electrodes (SbFEs) were characterized by optical and electrochemical techniques. The sensors were tested for the detection of low concentrations of Ni(II) by AdSV in the presence of dimethylglyoxime. Well-formed stripping peaks and a linear dependence of the stripping peak current on the Ni(II) concentration were observed on the microfabricated SbFEs while comparative measurements attempted with electroplated SbFEs were unsuccessful. Utilizing thin-film technology for the formation of the antimony-film extends the scope of these devices as mercury-free sensors in AdSV.     

Towards a world‐sheet description of doubled geometry in string theory

Starting from a sigma‐model for a doubled target‐space geometry, we show that the number of target‐space dimensions can be reduced by half through a gauging procedure. We apply this formalism to a class of backgrounds relevant for double field theory, and illustrate how choosing different gaugings leads to string‐theory configurations T‐dual to each other. We furthermore discuss that given a conformal doubled theory, the reduced theories are conformal as well. As an example we consider the three‐dimensional WZW model and show that the only possible reduced backgrounds are the cigar and trumpet CFTs in two dimensions, which are indeed T‐dual to each other.     

Separation of cis/trans geometrical fatty acid isomers by silver-exchanged zeolite Y

The separation of cis and trans isomers is relevant for biological and nutritional applications, silver-exchanged zeolite Y was prepared and applied for the treatment of mixtures of cis and trans geometrical isomers of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). cis FAMEs were adsorbed into zeolite with a high degree of selectivity (cis/trans ratio in the range of 1.9-3.2). The effectiveness was due to the synergism of the π-complexation between the silver ion and the double bonds and the different FAME structures trapped into the zeolite cages. Some indication of the complex stabilities came from theoretical studies using unsaturated lipids. A prototype cartridge was also designed for application in the fractionation of cis/trans FAME mixtures.     

Resolving Lambertian surface orientation from fluctuating radiance

A maximum likelihood method for estimating remote surface orientation from multi-static acoustic, optical, radar, or laser images is presented. It is assumed that the images are corrupted by signal-dependent noise, known as speckle, arising from complex Gaussian field fluctuations, and that the surface properties are effectively Lambertian. Surface orientation estimates for a single sample are shown to have biases and errors that vary dramatically depending on illumination direction. This is due to the signal-dependent nature of speckle noise and the nonlinear relationship between surface orientation, illumination direction, and fluctuating radiance. The minimum number of independent samples necessary for maximum likelihood estimates to become asymptotically unbiased and to attain the lower bound on resolution of classical estimation theory are derived, as are practical design thresholds.     

Composition-dependent photosensitivity in As-S glasses induced by bandgap light: structural origin by Raman scattering

Massive photoinduced short- and medium-range structural changes (photopolymerization) in As-S glasses are induced by near-bandgap light and studied by Raman scattering. Structural changes involve bond restructuring in sulfur-rich nanodomains of these nanoscale-phase-separated glasses. The spectral dependence of the photopolymerization effect demonstrates that various wavelengths can be used to optically change the structure of As-S glasses. The immense structural changes are relevant to recent findings about the role of bandgap light illumination for fabricating channel waveguides in noncrystalline arsenic sulfides.