Gas chromatographic determination of the interconversion energy barrier for dimethyl-2,3-pentadienedioate enantiomers

The enantiomers of dimethyl-2,3-pentadienedioate undergo interconversion during gas chromatographic separation on 2,6-di-O-methyl-3-O-pentyl-beta-, 2,6-di-O-methyl-3-O-pentyl-gamma-, and 2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-tert butyldimethylsilyl-beta-CD chiral stationary phases. The combination of a deconvolution method with an internal standard was used to determine individual enantiomer peak areas and retention times needed for the calculation of the interconversion rate constants and the energy barrier for dimethyl-2,3-pentadienedioate enantiomers. The kinetic and thermodynamic data obtained for the interconversion data (rate constants, energy barriers, enthalpies, and entropies) were in good agreement with the published data (Trapp, O., Schurig, V., Chirality 2002, 14, 465-470) using permethylated-beta-CD (Chirasil-beta-Dex).     

A characterization of some graph classes using excluded minors

In this article we present a structural characterization of graphs without K ₅ and the octahedron as a minor. We introduce semiplanar graphs as arbitrary sums of planar graphs, and give their characterization in terms of excluded minors. Some other excluded minor theorems for 3-connected minors are shown. Communicated by Attila Pethő     

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry as a tool for fast identification of protein binders in color layers of paintings

Identification of materials in color layers of paintings is necessary for correct decisions concerning restoration procedures as well as proving the authenticity of the painting. The proteins are usually important components of the painting layers. In this paper it has been demonstrated that matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) can be used for fast and reliable identification of proteins in color layers even in old, highly aged matrices. The digestion can be easily performed directly on silica wafers which are routinely used for infrared analysis. The amount of material necessary for such an analysis is extremely small. Peptide mass mapping using digestion with trypsin followed by MALDI-TOFMS and identification of the protein was successfully used for determination of the binder from a painting of the 19th century.     

Influence of strain on transport in dense Lennard-Jones systems

We study the shear stress relaxation and temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient, viscosity, and thermal conductivity along a high-density Lennard-Jones isochore of the reduced density of 1.0, as it crosses the freezing and melting lines, in equilibrium and under constant strain.     

Shear stress relaxation in liquids

We show that at high densities, as the system size decreases, liquid becomes able to permanently sustain increasing internal shear stress after a constant deformation, although the other characteristic liquid properties, such as the pair distribution function and diffusion coefficient do not change under strain. The system size necessary for observation of this effect increases with the decrease in temperature, and it is stronger in pair potentials with steeper repulsive part. We relate this result to the size of the "cooperatively rearranging regions" of the Adam-Gibbs theory of glass transition.     

Hydrogen bonding in ethanol under shear

We study the dependence of viscosity of ethanol on shear rate using constant volume and constant pressure nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, with the emphasis of the interrelationship between breaking, stability, and alignment of hydrogen bonds and shear thinning at high shear rates. We find that although the majority of hydrogen bond breakings occur at low shear rates, we do not observe shear thinning until there is some shear-induced alignment of the hydrogen bonds with the direction of shear.     

Er3O2F5: Ein Erbiumoxidfluorid mit Vernier‐Struktur

Er₃O₂F₅: An Erbium Oxide Fluoride with Vernier‐Type Structure Attempts to synthesize multinary erbium‐trifluoride derivatives (e. g. Er₃F[Si₃O₁₀], Er₄F₂[Si₂O₇][SiO₄], CsEr₂F₇, and RbEr₃F₁₀) from mixtures of ErOF‐contaminated erbium trifluoride (ErF₃) itself and appropriate other components (such as Er₂O₃ and SiO₂ or CsF and RbF, respectively) frequently resulted in the formation of pale pink, transparent, lath‐shaped single crystals of Er₃O₂F₅ (orthorhombic, Pnma; a = 562.48(5), b = 1710.16(14), c = 537.43(4) pm; Z = 4) as by‐product, typically after seven days at 800 °C and regardless of the applied reaction‐container material (evacuated torch‐sealed silica or silica‐jacketed arc‐welded tantalum capsules). Its crystal structure, often described as a vernier‐type arrangement consisting of two interpenetrating and almost misfitting lattices (ErOF and ErF₃), contains two crystallographically different Er³⁺ cations in the eight‐ and seven‐plus‐one‐fold anionic coordination of bicapped trigonal prisms. Whereas (Er1)³⁺ carries four O^2? and F^? anions each, (Er2)³⁺ resides in the neighbourhood of only two O^2?, but five plus one F^? anions. As the main structural feature, however, one can consider O^2?‐centred (Er³⁺)₄ tetrahedra which share common edges to form linear double strands of the composition . Running parallel to the [100] direction and assembling like a hexagonal closest rod‐packing, their electroneutralization and three‐dimensional interconnection is achieved by three crystallographically independent F^? anions (d(F^??Er³⁺) = 221 ? 251 plus 281 pm) in three‐ and two‐plus‐two‐fold coordination of the Er³⁺ cations, respectively.     

Study of SNAr Reactions of Halobenzenes with Imidazole under Ultrasonic and Microwave Irradiation

Summary. Nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions with imidazole of haloarenes having strongly electron-withdrawing groups were studied under ultrasonic and microwave irradiations. The course of the S_NAr reactions was found to be strongly dependent on the electron-withdrawing properties of the substituents as well as on the leaving ability of the halogen atom. Microwave irradiation allowed to shorten the reaction time and to increase the yields compared with ultrasonic irradiation.     

Crystal-melt coexistence under shear: Interpreting the nonlinear rheology

We propose a phenomenological model for shear-induced melting aimed at assisting the design of experimental studies of this phenomenon. For increasing strain rates, the model predicts the changes in liquid fraction and shear stress as a function of interfacial supercooling. We discuss the experimental conditions under which shear-induced melting could be observed in a range of materials.