Total synthesis of zincophorin methyl ester

[reaction: see text]. A convergent total synthesis of the methyl ester of zincophorin, an ionophore antibiotic, has been realized relying on a diastereoselective titanium-mediated aldol coupling between the C1-C12 and C13-C25 subunits. The latter fragment was prepared by using a Carroll-Claisen rearrangement.     

The biologically important surfactin lipopeptide induces nanoripples in supported lipid bilayers

Under specific conditions, lipid membranes form ripple phases with intriguing nanoscale undulations. Here, we show using in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) that the biologically important surfactin lipopeptide induces nanoripples of 30 nm periodicity in dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers at 25 degrees (i.e. well below the pretransition temperature of DPPC). Whereas most undulations formed the classical straight orientation with characteristic angle changes of 120 degrees , some of them also displayed unusual circular orientations. Strikingly, ripple structures were formed at 15% surfactin but were rarely or never observed at 5 and 30% surfactin, emphasizing the important role played by the surfactin concentration. Theoretical simulations corroborated the AFM data by revealing the formation of stable surfactin/lipid assemblies with positive curvature.     

Kinetic applications of thermal analysis

A study was undertaken to compare two computational methods of estimating kinetic parameters from thermoanalytical experiments. Examples illustrating the relationship between reaction complexity and validity of isothermalvs. non-isothermal kinetic analyses will be presented. Thermal decomposition of several compounds was studied both by isothermal and dynamic thermogravimetry (TG). For the isothermal runs, reaction order and activation energy were estimated using established methods. For the dynamic runs, the statistical method of nonlinear least squares was used to estimate all three kinetic parameters of the nth order decomposition reaction and their individual 95% confidence intervals. Both methods assumed Arrhenius temperature dependence.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde eine Untersuchung zum Vergleich von zwei Methoden zur Berechnung von kinetischen Parametern aus Ergebnissen thermoanalytischer Experimente unternommen. Beispiele werden angegeben, die die Beziehung zwischen isothermer und nichtisothermer kinetischer Analyse in Bezug auf Komplexizität der Reaktion und Gültigkeit illustrieren. Die thermische Zersetzung verschiedener Verbindungen wurde mittels isothermer und dynamischer Thermogravimetrie (TG) untersucht. Aus den isothermen Versuchsergebnissen wurden die Reaktionsordnung und Aktivierungsenergie nach den üblichen Methoden bestimmt. Aus den dynamischen Versuchsdaten wurden alle drei kinetischen Parameter der Reaktion n-ter Ordnung und deren individuelle 95%-Konfidenzintervalle nach der Methode der kleinsten Fehlerquadrate ermittelt. Beide Methoden setzen eine Temperaturabhängigkeit entsprechend der Arrhenius-Gleichung voraus.

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, . , . , . . n- 95% . .

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Presented at the 13th North American Thermal Analysis Society Conference, Philadelphia, PA 23–26 September 1984.     

The mass spectra of carboxylic acids—I: Fragmentation mechanisms in maleic and fumaric acids and related compounds

The mass spectra of maleic acid, maleic acid-2,3-d, fumaric acid and fumaric acid-2,3-d have been examined and fragmentation mechanisms are proposed for these compounds. The molecular ion of the cis-acid fragments via H atom transfer from one carboxyl group to the other followed by loss of CO₂. The trans acid does not fragment significantly by this route and the former effect may be characteristic of molecules containing two carboxyl groups cis-oriented to each other. This hypothesis was successfully tested by examining the mass spectra of citraconic, itaconic and phthalic acids. Itaconic and mesaconic acids show some of the fragmentation characteristics of fumaric acid.     

Two confined phases of argon adsorbed inside open single walled carbon nanotubes

Isothermal adsorption of Ar on single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has been studied at 77 and 87 K. The SWNTs have been grown by laser vaporization of a graphite pellet containing 0.6% (atomic) Ni/Co catalyst. The nanotubes have been prepared for argon adsorption measurements by prolonged outgassing of as-grown material in a vacuum at room temperature (295 K), at elevated temperatures of up to 475 K, and by oxidization for 2 h in dry air at 470 K. Formation of two condensed phases of Ar in the interior of SWNTs has been observed at 77 K. The low-density phase is formed at 155(5) microTorr, while the high-density phase, at 120(5) microTorr. At 87 K, only a single phase has been observed at 185(5) microTorr. Condensation at both 77 and 87 K appears to be the first-order phase transition. Onset of the quasi-one-dimensional linear (one-channel) phase and the quasi-two-dimensional monolayer (six-channel) phase formation on the external surface of bundles has been observed at 77 K near 0.0017 and 0.8 Torr, respectively, and at 87 K near 0.018 and 5 Torr, respectively. Isosteric heats of adsorption for the one-channel phase, the first external layer, and the second external layer have been determined to be equal to 137, 107, and 70 meV, respectively.     

Cascade polycyclization: exploration of a convergent route to access various tricyclic and tetracyclic products related to sterols

The expedient synthesis of tricyclic and tetracyclic compounds via a cascade polycyclization methodology is described. Nazarov substrates (II) containing two Michael acceptors and a cyclohexenone ester (I) underwent cycloaddition followed by intramolecular 1,4-addition to furnish, in a highly stereoselective manner, tricyclic and tetracyclic products (III). Such compounds are interesting intermediates for the synthesis of polycyclic natural and unnatural products.     

Squig sheets and some other squig fractal constructions

Squig intervals are a class of hierarchically constructed fractals introduced by the author. They can be visualized as the final outcome upon a straight interval of a suitable cascade of local perturbative eddies ruled by two processes called decimation and separation. Their theory is summarized and their scope is extended in several new directions, especially by introducing new forms of separation. Squig intervals are generalized in two dimensions, with fractal dimensions ranging from 1.2886 to 1.589. Squig sheets are constructed in three dimensional space with fractal dimensions ranging from 8/3 up. They should prove useful in modeling the fractal surfaces associated with turbulence and related phenomena. Squig intervals are constructed in three dimensions. Nonsymmetric eddies and the resulting squigs are tackled. Squig trees and intervals are drawn on unconventional lattices, either in the plane or in a prescribed fractal surface. Peyriére'sM systems are mentioned: their study includes the proof that the informal renormalization argument (involving a transfer matrix) is exact for squigs.Presented at theThird Conference on Fractals: Fractals in the Physical Sciences, held at the National Bureau of Standards, Gaithersburg, Maryland, on November 20–23, 1983.The reader's attention should be drawn to the fact that the second and later printings of this book include an update chapter and additional references. Though it should not have been necessary, it may be useful also to mention here that most of the material in this book that concerns physics, e.g., polymers and percolation clusters, wasnot found in either of my two earlier Essays on fractals,Les objects fractals: forme, hasard et dimension (Flammarion,     

A Valence Bond Model for Electron‐Rich Hypervalent Species: Application to SFn (n=1, 2, 4), PF5, and ClF3

Some typical hypervalent molecules, SF₄, PF₅, and ClF₃, as well as precursors SF (⁴Σ^? state) and SF₂ (³B₁ state), are studied by means of the breathing‐orbital valence bond (BOVB) method, chosen for its capability of combining compactness with accuracy of energetics. A unique feature of this study is that for the first time, the method used to gain insight into the bonding modes is the same as that used to calculate the bonding energies, so as to guarantee that the qualitative picture obtained captures the essential physics of the bonding system. The ⁴Σ^? state of SF is shown to be bonded by a three‐electron σ bond assisted by strong π back‐donation of dynamic nature. The linear ³B₁ state of SF₂, as well as the ground states of SF₄, PF₅ and ClF₃, are described in terms of four VB structures that all have significant weights in the range 0.17–0.31, with exceptionally large resonance energies arising from their mixing. It is concluded that the bonding mode of these hypervalent species and isoelectronic ones complies with Coulson’s version of the Rundle–Pimentel model, but assisted by charge‐shift bonding. The conditions for hypervalence to occur are stated.     

Preparation et caracterisation des polymeres tete-a-tete—VI. Proprietes physicochimiques du polystyrene tete-a-tete en solution diluee. Comparaison avec des polystyrenes de structure differente

The dilute solution properties of head-to-head polystyrene are reported. Determination of the “θ” temperature in cyclohexane has been made and compared with the “θ” temperature of the head-to-tail polystyrene (polyprotostyrene and poly-deuteriostyrene). The viscometric behaviour in a good solvent has been also examined and compared with the properties of head-to-tail polystyrenes (atactic, isotactic and deuterated).     

Role of Zr4+ cations in NO2 adsorption on Ce(1-x)Zr(x)O2 mixed oxides at ambient conditions

Mixed oxides Ce(1-x)Zr(x)O(2) prepared by slow coprecipitation in NaOH were tested for NO(2) adsorption in dynamic conditions at room temperature. The samples were characterized before and after exposure to NO(2) by XRD, N(2)-adsorption, thermal analysis, potentiometric titration, and FT-IR. Mixed oxides show a better NO(2) adsorption capacity than the parent materials (CeO(2) and Zr(OH)(4)). This effect is linked to the presence of reduced cerium and oxygen vacancies induced by the addition of Zr(4+) cations to the structure. The results indicate that NO(2) reacts with Ce(3+) to form nitrite and nitrate species on the surface. The NO retention increases with an increase in the Zr(OH)(4) content. A decrease in the density of -OH groups on the surface after the exposure to NO(2), suggests their involvement in reactive adsorption of NO and/or NO(2). From the structural point of view, no real difference was observed on the Ce(1-x)Zr(x)O(2) materials before and after exposure to NO(2).