Catalysis by Ir(III), Rh(III) and Pd(II) metal ions in the oxidation of organic compounds with H2O2

Catalytic activities of three transition metals, as iridium (III) chloride, rhodium (III) chloride and palladium (II) chloride, were compared in the oxidation of six aromatic aldehydes (benzaldehyde, p‐chloro benzaldehyde, p‐nitro benzaldehyde, m‐nitro benzaldehyde, p‐methoxy benzaldehyde and cinnamaldehyde), two hydrocarbons (viz. (anthracene and phenanthrene)) and one aromatic and one cyclic alcohol (cyclohexanol and benzyl alcohol) by 50% H₂O₂. The presence of traces (substrate: catalyst ratio equal to 1:62500 to 1:1961) of the chlorides of iridium(III), rhodium(III) and palladium(II) catalyze these oxidations, resulting in good to excellent yields. It was observed that in most of the cases palladium(II) chloride is the most efficient catalyst. Conditions for the highest and most economical yields were obtained. Deviation from the optimum conditions decreases the yields. Oxidation in aromatic aldehydes is selective at the aldehydeic group only and other groups remain unaffected. This new, simple and economical method, which is environmentally safe, also requires less time. Reactive species of catalysts, existing in the reaction mixture are also discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On Genuine Bernstein–Durrmeyer Operators

We continue the studies on the so–called genuine Bernstein–Durrmeyer operators U _n by establishing a recurrence formula for the moments and by investigating the semigroup T(t) approximated by U _n . Moreover, for sufficiently smooth functions the degree of this convergence is estimated. We also determine the eigenstructure of U _n , compute the moments of T(t) and establish asymptotic formulas. Received: January 26, 2007.     

The spin-density waves in thin films of Cr in the Fe/Cr/Sn/Cr multilayers

Magnetism of Fe/Cr/Sn/Cr multilayers have been studied by the first-principles density-functional theory. Calculations by the full-potential linearized augmented plane waves (FP LAPW) and screened Korringa–Kohn–Rostoker (SKKR) methods have shown that two types of solutions may be found in these systems: a high-spin (HS) and a low-spin (LS) ones in accordance with the Cr magnetic moment magnitudes. In this work, we have concentrated our attention on the LS solution. The calculation has shown that the LS solution has a phase slip of antiferromagnetic ordering in Cr and is classified as an incommensurate spin density wave (ISDW). The dependence of the ISDW solution on the thickness of Cr, lattice parameter and boundary conditions has been investigated.     

Solid solubility of the oxisulfides of Y, La, and Gd

The solid solubility in the systems Y₂O₂S---La₂O₂S, Y₂O₂S---Gd₂O₂S, and Gd₂O₂S---La₂O₂S has been investigated. Solid solutions of all compounds, throughout the whole composition range, were readily obtained, using coprecipitated oxalates and a polysulfide flux.     

Time dependent analysis of finite buffer fluid flows and risk models with a dividend barrier

Based on the matrix-analytic approach to fluid flows initiated by Ramaswami, we develop an efficient time dependent analysis for a general Markov modulated fluid flow model with a finite buffer and an arbitrary initial fluid level at time 0. We also apply this to an insurance risk model with a dividend barrier and a general Markovian arrival process of claims with possible dependencies in successive inter-claim intervals and in claim sizes. We demonstrate the implementability and accuracy of our algorithms through a set of numerical examples that could also serve as test cases for comparing other solution approaches.      

Concentration factors for functions with harmonic bounded mean variation

We discuss determination of jumps for functions with generalized bounded variation. The questions are motivated by A. Gelb and E. Tadmor [1], F. Móricz [5] and [6] and Q. L. Shi and X. L. Shi [7]. Corollary 1 improves the results proved in B. I. Golubov [2] and G. Kvernadze [3]. Supported by NSFC 10671062.