Easy α-alkylation of ketones with alcohols through a hydrogen autotransfer process catalyzed by RuCl2(DMSO)4

The electrophilic α-alkylation of ketones with alcohols is accomplished by a hydrogen autotransfer process catalyzed by RuCl₂(DMSO)₄. The reaction can produce either simple alkylated ketones or α,β-unsaturated ketones just by choosing the appropriate starting ketones (methyl ketones or bicyclic methylenic ketones, respectively), as well as quinolines (by using 2-aminobenzyl alcohol derivatives) or the corresponding alcohol derivatives by the addition of an extra equivalent of the initial alcohol. In the last case, after the above alkylation process reduction of the carbonyl compound takes place. A mechanistic study seems to indicate that the process goes through the oxidation of the alcohols with ruthenium (after a previous deprotonation) to yield the corresponding aldehyde and a ruthenium hydride intermediate. In turn, the aldehyde suffers a classical aldol reaction with the starting ketone to form the corresponding α,β-unsaturated ketone, which finally is reduced through a Michael-type addition by the aforementioned ruthenium hydride intermediate.     

Solid-phase extraction system for Pb (II) ions enrichment based on multiwall carbon nanotubes coupled on-line to flame atomic absorption spectrometry

The present paper proposes the application of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a solid sorbent for lead preconcentration using a flow system coupled to flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The method comprises the preconcentration of Pb (II) ions at a buffered solution (pH 4.7) onto 30 mg of MWCNTs previously oxidized with concentrated HNO₃. The elution step is carried out with 1.0 mol L⁻¹ HNO₃. The effect of the experimental parameters, including sample pH, sampling flow rate, buffer and eluent concentrations were investigated by means of a 2⁴ full factorial design, while for the final optimization a Doehlert design was employed. Under the best experimental conditions the preconcentration system provided detection and quantification limits of 2.6 and 8.6 μg L⁻¹, respectively. A wide linear range varying from 8.6 up to 775 μg L⁻¹ (r > 0.999) and the respective precision (relative standard deviation) of 7.7 and 1.4% for the 15 and 200 μg L⁻¹ levels were obtained. The characteristics obtained for the performance of the flow preconcentration system were a preconcentration factor of 44.2, preconcentration efficiency of 11 min⁻¹, consumptive index of 0.45 mL and sampling frequency estimated as 14 h⁻¹. Preconcentration studies of Pb (II) ions in the presence of the majority foreign ions tested did not show interference, attesting the good performance of MWCNTs. The accuracy of the method was assessed from analysis of water samples (tap, mineral, physiological serum and synthetic seawater) and common medicinal herbs submitted to the acid decomposition (garlic and Ginkgo Biloba). The satisfactory recovery values obtained without using analyte addition method confirms the feasibility of this method for Pb (II) ions determination in different type of samples.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering in the ultraviolet spectral region: UV-SERS on rhodium and ruthenium electrodes

We report the first observation of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) excited with ultraviolet (UV) light from transition metal electrodes. Adsorbed pyridine and SCN- on rough rhodium (Rh) and ruthenium (Ru) electrodes, respectively, have been studied using 325 nm laser excitation. In contrast, the best enhancers in the visible and near infrared, silver and gold, do not produce UV-SERS. The experimental data of UV-SERS are in agreement with our preliminary theoretical calculation based on the electromagnetic enhancement mechanism. The enhancement factor is about 2 orders of magnitude for the Rh and Ru electrodes when they are excited at 325 nm.     

Three isomorphous Ln complexes: {[Ln2(bt)6(bno)(H2O)4]·bno}n (bt is but‐2‐enoate and bno is 4,4′‐bipyridyl N,N′‐dioxide), with Ln = Nd,Er and Y

The polymeric title compounds, namely catena‐poly[[[di‐μ‐but‐2‐enoato‐κ³O:O,O′;κ³O,O′:O′‐bis[diaquadibut‐2‐enoato‐κO;κ²O,O′‐neodymium(III)]]‐μ‐4,4′‐bipyridyl N,N′‐dioxide‐κ²O:O′] 4,4′‐bipyridyl N,N′‐dioxide solvate] and the erbium(III) and yttrium(III) analogues, {[Ln₂(C₄H₅O₂)₆(C₁₀H₈N₂O₂)(H₂O)₄]·C₁₀H₈N₂O₂}_n (Ln = Nd, Er and Y), form from [Ln₂(bt)₆(H₂O)₄] dimers (bt is but‐2‐enoate) bridged by 4,4′‐bipyridyl dioxide (bno) spacers into sets of parallel chains; these linear arrays are interconnected by aqua‐mediated hydrogen bonds into broad two‐dimensional structures, which in turn interact with each other though the hydrogen‐bonded bridged bno solvent units. Both independent bno units in the structures are bisected by symmetry centres.     

Synthesis of 5H-benzimidazo[1,2-a][1,3,4]thiadiazolo[2,3-d][1,3,5]triazin-5-one and 12H-benzimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimido[6,1-d][1,3,5]triazin-12-one,two new heterocyclic ring systems

2-(2,6-Dimethylpyrimidin-4-ylaminobenzimidazole) (VIIa) and 2-(1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-ylamino)benzimidazole (VIIb) underwent a ring-closure reaction with phosgene giving 1,3-dimethyl-12H-benzirnidazo[1,2-a]pyrirnido[6,1][-d][1,3,5]triazin-12-one (IIa) and 5H-benzimidazo[1,2-a][1,3,4]thiadiazolo[2,3-d][1,3,5]triazin-5-one (IIb) two hitherto unknown heterocyclic systems. A convenient synthesis of 2,6-dimethyl-4-aminopyrimidine is described.     

Asymptotic behavior of general M-estimates for regression and scale with random carriers

Summary Let (xini, y _i be a sequence of independent identically distributed random variables, where x _i R ^p and y _i R, and let R ^p be an unknown vector such that y _i =x _i +u _i (^*), where u _i is independent of x _i and has distribution function F(u/), where >0 is an unknown parameter. This paper deals with a general class of M-estimates of regression and scale, ( ^*,^*), defined as solutions of the system: , where r= (y _i –x _i ^1*/)^*, with R ^p ×RR and RR. This class contains estimators of (, ) proposed by Huber, Mallows and Krasker and Welsch. The consistency and asymptotic normality of the general M-estimators are proved assuming general regularity conditions on and and assuming the joint distribution of (x _i , y _i ) to fulfill the model (^*) only approximately.     

Elution of 235U fission products through a calcined hydrotalcite-packed column

Calcined hydrotalcite packed columns were utilized to sorb ²³⁵U fission products and their decay products. The elution behavior of some radionuclides was studied after washing the columns, either with distilled water or 0.5% NaCl solution. Afterwards, fission products and their decay products were eluted using 0.5% NaCl solution. It was found that no matter the washing process, ^99mTc, the b^--decay product of ⁹⁹Mo, was easily separated from ⁹⁹Mo which was strongly retained on the hydrotalcite. ¹³²I, the b^--decay product of ¹³²Te, was eluted slowly and was separated from ¹³²Te which was retained on the column. ¹³¹I and ¹⁴⁰Ba were eluted together with ^99mTc and ¹³²I, although in smaller proportions.     

Seedling Development and Evaluation of Genetic Stability of Cryopreserved Dendrobium Hybrid Mature Seeds

Vitrification, a simple, fast, and recommended cryopreservation method for orchid germplasm conservation, was evaluated for Dendrobium hybrid “Dong Yai” mature seeds. The genetic stability of regenerated seedlings was also evaluated using flow cytometry. Mature seeds from this hybrid were submitted to plant vitrification solution (PVS2) for 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 h at 0 °C. Subsequently, they were plunged into liquid nitrogen (LN) at ?196 °C for 1 h and recovered in half-strength Murashige and Skoog culture medium (1/2 MS), and seed germination was evaluated after 30 days. Seeds directly submitted to LN did not germinate after cryopreservation. Seeds treated with PVS2 between 1 and 3 h presented the best germination (between 51 and 58 %), although longer exposure to PVS2 returned moderated germination (39 %). Germinated seeds were further subcultured in P-723 culture medium and developed whole seedlings in vitro after 180 days, with no abnormal characteristics, diseases, or nutritional deficiencies. Seedlings were successfully acclimatized under greenhouse conditions with over 80 % survival. Flow cytometry analysis revealed no chromosomal changes on vitrified seedlings, as well as seedlings germinated from the control treatment (direct exposure to LN). These findings indicate that vitrification is a feasible and safe germplasm cryopreservation method for commercial Dendrobium orchid hybrid conservation.     

An elementary proof of a converse mean-value theorem

We present a new converse mean value theorem, with a rather elementary proof.