Blue and red shifts in Rg···HCN and Rg···HNC complexes (Rg=He,Ne, Ar,Kr)

The shift in the harmonic vibrational frequency of the H–C stretch of HCN on formation of the linear Rg···HCN complexes, and of the H–N stretch of HNC on the formation of Rg···HNC complexes (Rg?=?He, Ne, Ar, Kr), has been determined by ab initio computations. These shifts are in agreement with predictions from a model based on perturbation theory and involving the first and second derivatives of the interaction energy with respect to displacement of the H–C (H–N) bond length from its equilibrium value in the monomer. Small blue shifts were obtained for He···HCN, Ne···HCN and He···HNC, while red shifts were obtained for the other weakly bound complexes. These vibrational characteristics are rationalized by considering the balance between the interaction energy derivatives obtained from the perturbative model. For all complexes, the IR intensity of the H–C or H–N stretch was increased from the isolated monomer values on complexation.     

An N.M.R. study of molecular motion in solid trimethylaminegallane

Continuous wave and pulsed ¹H N.M.R. data have been obtained for solid H₃GaN(CH₃)₃ over the temperature range 63–300 K. A theoretical expression for the relaxation behaviour of a methyl group in a trimethylamine moeity undergoing various motions has been obtained to aid analysis of the data. We find the activation energy to rotation of the -GaH₃ group to be 3·6 ± 0·3 kJ/mole (0·86 ± 0·07 kcal/mole), and to a different motion in the molecule to be 21 ± 2 kJ/mole (5·0 ± 0·5 kcal/mole). In the continuous wave spectra effects due to motion of the -CH₃ groups and the whole -NMe₃ moeity may be distinguished.     

A multi-component domino reaction for the direct access to polyfunctionalized indoles via intermolecular allylic esterification and indolation

A novel multi-component reaction for the synthesis of polyfunctionalized indoles and bis-indoles has been established. The reaction pathways were controlled by varying enamines with different substitution patterns to give polyfunctionalized indoles and bis-indoles selectively. The reaction proceeds at a fast speed within 15-30 min with water as the major byproduct, which makes work-up convenient.     

Synthesis of 1-formyldipyrromethanes

1-Formyldipyrromethanes are versatile precursors to porphyrins and chlorins. Two methods of synthesis of 1-formyldipyrromethanes have been investigated: (1) Vilsmeier formylation followed by selective removal of the unwanted 1,9-diformyldipyrromethane by dialkyltin complexation and (2) reaction with mesitylmagnesium bromide (MesMgBr) followed by formylation with phenyl formate. The two approaches are complementary (acidic versus basic conditions; statistical versus selective formylation). The latter was found to be more efficient for the preparation of 1-formyldipyrromethanes.     

Cooperative effects of hydrogen,halogen and beryllium bonds on model halogen-bonded FCl … YZ (YZ = BF,CO, N2) complexes in FX′ … FCl … YZ trimers (FX′ = FH,FCl, F2Be)

A computational study of model halogen-bonded FCl?…?YZ dimers and FX′?…?FCl?…?YZ (FX′ = FH, FCl, F₂Be; YZ = BF, CO, N₂) trimers was undertaken at the MP2/6-311++G (2d, 2p) level of theory. Three different trimer arrangements are possible and the cooperative effect of hydrogen-, halogen- and beryllium-bonding in each of these trimers was assessed relative to the FCl?…?YZ dimer. It was found that the beryllium bond has the largest cooperative effect, while the halogen bond has the smallest, with the hydrogen bond being intermediate between the other two interactions. Interesting trends in selected properties were identified and discussed.     

Microstructure-sensitive modeling of polycrystalline IN 100

A rate dependent, microstructure-sensitive crystal plasticity model is formulated for correlating the mechanical behavior of a polycrystalline Ni-base superalloy IN 100 at 650 °C. This model has the capability to capture first order effects on the stress–strain response due to (a) grain size, (b) γ′ precipitate size distribution, and (c) γ′ precipitate volume fraction. Experimental fatigue data with variable strain rates are used to calibrate the model for several distinct IN 100 microstructures (grain size, precipitate size distributions and volume fractions) obtained from thermomechanical processing. Physically based hardening laws are employed to evolve the dislocation densities for each slip system, taking into consideration the dislocation interaction mechanisms.     

Crystal plasticity modeling of slip activity in Ti–6Al–4V under high cycle fatigue loading

Deformation micromechanisms of a Ti–6Al–4V alloy under fatigue loading at room temperature are studied using a three-dimensional crystal plasticity constitutive model. The model employs a minimum set of fitting parameters based on experimental data for Ti–6Al–4V. Single slip is strongly favored through a softening law that affects mainly the driving force for slip on the first activated slip system. Cyclic deformation behavior at the macroscopic scale and at the local scale of grains is analyzed through the simulation of 20 cycles of fatigue on a polycrystalline structure of 900 randomly oriented grains. The progressive activation of slip (basal, prismatic, and pyramidal) is analyzed and compared to experimental observations.     

Dislocation nucleation from bicrystal interfaces and grain boundary ledges: Relationship to nanocrystalline deformation

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to evaluate the primary interface dislocation sources and to estimate both the free enthalpy of activation and the critical emission stress associated with the interfacial dislocation emission mechanism. Simulations are performed on copper to study tensile failure of a planar Σ5 {2 1 0} 53.1° interface and an interface with the same misorientation that contains a ledge. Simulations reveal that grain boundary ledges are more favorable as dislocation sources than planar regions of the interface and that their role is not limited to that of simple dislocation donors. The parameters extracted from the simulations are utilized in a two-phase composite mesoscopic model for nanocrystalline deformation that includes the effects of both dislocation emission and dislocation absorption mechanisms. A self-consistent approach based on the Eshelby solution for grains as ellipsoidal inclusions is augmented by introduction of stress concentration in the constitutive law of the matrix phase to account for more realistic grain boundary effects. Model simulations suggest that stress concentration is required in the standard continuum theory to activate the coupled grain boundary dislocation emission and absorption mechanisms when activation energy of the dislocation source is determined from atomistic calculation on grain boundaries without consideration of impurities or other extrinsic defects.     

Theoretical relationship between vibration transmissibility and driving-point response functions of the human body

The relationship between the vibration transmissibility and driving-point response functions (DPRFs) of the human body is important for understanding vibration exposures of the system and for developing valid models. This study identified their theoretical relationship and demonstrated that the sum of the DPRFs can be expressed as a linear combination of the transmissibility functions of the individual mass elements distributed throughout the system. The relationship is verified using several human vibration models. This study also clarified the requirements for reliably quantifying transmissibility values used as references for calibrating the system models. As an example application, this study used the developed theory to perform a preliminary analysis of the method for calibrating models using both vibration transmissibility and DPRFs. The results of the analysis show that the combined method can theoretically result in a unique and valid solution of the model parameters, at least for linear systems. However, the validation of the method itself does not guarantee the validation of the calibrated model, because the validation of the calibration also depends on the model structure and the reliability and appropriate representation of the reference functions. The basic theory developed in this study is also applicable to the vibration analyses of other structures.     

Discovery of a potent small molecule IL-2 inhibitor through fragment assembly

Using a site-directed fragment discovery method called tethering, we have identified a 60 nM small molecule antagonist of a cytokine/receptor interaction (IL-2/IL2Ralpha) with cell-based activity. Starting with a low micromolar hit, we employed a combination of tethering, structural biology, and computational analysis to design a focused set of 20 compounds. Eight of these compounds were at least 5-fold more active than the original hit. One of these compounds showed a 50-fold enhancement and represents the highest affinity inhibitor reported against this protein-protein target class. This method of coupling selected fragments with a low micromolar hit shows great potential for generating high-affinity lead compounds.