Generation of femtosecond pulses at 1350 nm by Cerenkov radiation in higher-order-mode fiber

We demonstrate a method of generating short pulses at 1350 nm by exciting Cerenkov radiation in a higher-order-mode fiber with a 1064 nm femtosecond fiber laser. We measure a 106 fs, 0.66 nJ output pulse. Cerenkov radiation in fibers allows for energy transfer between a soliton and a dispersive wave, providing an effective and engineerable platform to shift the wavelength of a femtosecond source. With appropriate design of the higher-order-mode fiber, this method of generating short pulses at 1350 nm can be extended to other wavelengths and to higher pulse energies.     

An Approach to NMR Assignment of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins

An efficient approach to NMR assignments in intrinsically disordered proteins is presented, making use of the good dispersion of cross peaks observed in [¹⁵N,¹³C′]‐ and [¹³C′,¹H^N]‐correlation spectra. The method involves the simultaneous collection of {3D (H)NCO(CAN)H and 3D (HACA)CON(CA)HA} spectra for backbone assignments via sequential H^N and H^α correlations and {3D (H)NCO(CACS)HS and 3D (HS)CS(CA)CO(N)H} spectra for side‐chain ¹H and ¹³C assignments, employing sequential ¹H data acquisitions with direct detection of both the amide and aliphatic protons. The efficacy of the approach for obtaining resonance assignments with complete backbone and side‐chain chemical shifts is demonstrated experimentally for the 61‐residue [¹³C,¹⁵N]‐labelled peptide of a voltage‐gated potassium channel protein of the Kv1.4 channel subunit. The general applicability of the approach for the characterisation of moderately sized globular proteins is also demonstrated.     

Exploring the effect of radiation crosslinking on the physico‐mechanical,dynamic mechanical and dielectric properties of EOC–PDMS blends for cable insulation applications

This work focuses on the effect of electron beam irradiation on the physico‐mechanical, dynamic mechanical and dielectric properties of blends based on ethylene octene copolymer (EOC) and poly dimethyl siloxane (PDMS) rubber. It is found that electron beam irradiation caused considerable improvement in the physico‐mechanical properties; the tensile strength was enhanced by nearly 35% for 70:30 EOC:PDMS blend. Phase morphology of the blends analyzed before irradiation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) exhibited droplet/matrix morphology with sizes of the PDMS rubber domain varying from 0.55 µm to 0.47 µm as the amount of PDMS rubber decreased from 30 wt% to 10 wt%. This reduction in the PDMS rubber domain has been correlated with the physico‐mechanical properties of the blends. Further, the dynamic mechanical properties and creep behavior of these EOC:PDMS blends before and after irradiation has been studied. It is inferred that the 70:30 blend after radiation crosslinking shows a 17% decrease in the creep compliance, i.e. higher creep resistance compared to neat blends. All the radiation crosslinked blends exhibited lower dielectric constant, lower dielectric loss and higher electrical resistivity as compared to the virgin blends which makes it suitable for cable insulating application. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The characterisation of coumarins from selected structural classes by electrospray ionisation quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionisation quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) has been used for characterisation of a selection of naturally occurring and synthetic coumarins from different structural classes. The product ions, suggested in earlier studies by electrospray ionisation ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-MS(n)), are unequivocally established for the representative coumarins by virtue of accurate mass measurement. Synthetic coumarins that are unsubstituted in the heterocyclic ring give rise to a major product ion by loss of CO(2), whereas those substituted in the heterocyclic ring generally undergo alternative fragmentation releasing neutral species such as ketene or methyl ketene. Naturally occurring coumarins, unsubstituted in the heterocyclic ring and substituted in the benzene ring with chains or rings of hydrocarbons and oxygen, principally fragment at the side chain releasing unsaturated hydrocarbons. The ESI-QTOF-MS/MS behaviour of some naturally occurring and synthetic quinolines which are structurally similar or fragment similarly are included where appropriate.     

Assembly of a dinuclear silver complex containing an Ag2S2 motif from a phosphorus-supported trishydrazone ligand. P=S→Ag(I) coordination

The reaction of the phosphorus trihydrazide, (S)P[N(Me)-NH(2)](3) (1) with quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde (C(9)H(6)N-2-CHO) in a 1:3 ratio afforded a trishydrazone, (S)P[N(Me)-N=CH-2-C(9)H(6)N](3) (2). Crystals of 2 were grown in three different solvent media affording an unsolvated (2, monoclinic, P2(1)/n) and two solvated (2·3H(2)O, trigonal, R3 and 2·2CH(3)OH, triclinic, P ?1) crystal forms. Each of these, while possessing an essentially similar molecular structure, adopt different crystal packing giving rise to supramolecular structures mediated by a variety of weak interactions: O-H-N, O-H-O, C-H-N, C-H-O, C-H-S, C-H-π, π-π, N-π and S-π. The reaction of 2 with Ag(ClO(4))(2)·6H(2)O in methanol afforded a dinuclear cationic cage [Ag{(S)P[N(Me)-N=CH-2-C(9)H(6)N](3)}·ClO(4)](2) (3). The molecular structure of 3 reveals a dimeric structure consisting of two Ag(I) ions that are held together by two ligands. Only two arms of the tris hydrazone ligand are involved in coordination while an unprecedented P=S→Ag(I) coordination is seen. This results in the formation of an Ag(2)S(2) dimer that is encapsulated by two trishydrazone ligands. Both compounds 2 and 3 are photoluminescent.     

Fluoroallylboration-olefination for the synthesis of (Z)-4,4-difluoropent-2-enoates and 5,5-difluoro-5,6-dihydropyran-2-ones

Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons (HWE) or Still-Gennari olefination of TBS-protected 3,3-difluoro-4-hydroxy-2-ones, derived from the difluoroallylboration of aldehydes, provides the Z-isomer of 4,4,-difluoropent-2-enoates. These, upon hydrolysis, followed by Yamaguchi cyclization, afford 5,5-difluoro-4-methyl-5,6-dihydro-α-pyrones in high yields.     

Polarization of line radiation in the presence of external electric quadrupole and uniform magnetic fields: II. Arbitrary orientation of magnetic field

In continuation of our earlier investigation (referred to hereafter as part I) where we considered the mathematically simple case of magnetic field orientation along the Z-axis of the principal axes frame (PAF) of the electric quadrupole field, we take up here the general problem of arbitrary orientation of the magnetic field with respect to the PAF, and investigate the nature of polarized line spectra of an atom making a transition from an upper level with spin J_u to a lower level with spin J_l. Explicit formulae for the emitted Stokes parameters are obtained and we discuss their physical significance by computing numerically the cases of transitions J_u=1→J_l=0 and . Specific features or signatures of the polarized line spectra are discussed as functions of the relevant physical parameters. The Stokes parameters are also analyzed in terms of the Zeeman term contributions and the cross-term contributions (which arise due to quantum interference).     

Spin squeezing and quantum correlations

We discuss the notion of spin squeezing considering two mutually exclusive classes of spin-s states, namely, oriented and non-oriented states. Our analysis shows that the oriented states are not squeezed while non-oriented states exhibit squeezing. We also present a new scheme for construction of spin-s states using 2s spinors oriented along different axes. Taking the case of s=1, we show that the ‘non-oriented’ nature and hence squeezing arise from the intrinsic quantum correlations that exist among the spinors in the coupled state.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the addition of iodine monochloride to some alkenes in nitrobenzene solvent. Effect of polarity of the solvent

The kinetics of the addition of iodine monochloride (ICl) to some vinyl compounds in nitrobenzene solvent was investigated. In all cases the reaction follows second order dependence on ICl and first order on the substrate, making the total order three. Rate constants were measured for each substrate at 20°, 30°, 40° and 50°C.Arrhenius plots were made from which activation energies were evaluated. Other kinetic and thermodynamic parameters are reported. A suitable mechanism is proposed for the reaction and based on this, the various parameters are discussed. Solvent effects are discussed and the data with nitrobenzene and acetic acid solvents are compared.

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Kinetik und Mechanismus der Addition vonICl zu einigen Alkenen in Nitrobenzol als Lösungsmittel. Effekt der Polarität des Lösungsmittels

Zusammenfassung Die Kinetik der Addition von ICl zu einigen Vinylverbindungen in Nitrobenzol als Lösungsmittel wurde untersucht. In allen Fällen ist die Reaktion von zweiter Ordnung hinsichtlich ICl und von erster Ordnung hinsichtlich des Substrats, d. h. mit einer Gesamtordnung von drei. Geschwindigkeitskonstanten wurden für jedes Substrat bei 20°, 30°, 40° und 50°C gemessen. AusArrhenius-Diagrammen wurden Aktivierungsenergien ermittelt und auch andere kinetische und thermodynamische Parameter wurden bestimmt. Ein Mechanismus wird vorgeschlagen, wobei die verschiedenen Parameter diskutiert werden. Lösungsmitteleffekte werden ebenfalls diskutiert und die Daten mit Nitrobenzol und Essigsäure als Lösungsmittel miteinander verglichen.