Copper carbenoid mediated N-alkylation of imidazoles and its use in a novel synthesis of bifonazole

1H-Imidazoles are readily N-alkylated by a Cu(acac)₂ mediated reaction with α-diazocarbonyl compounds or with diazoalkanes generated in situ from the corresponding p-toluensulfonyl hydrazones. The antifungal agent bifonazole was prepared by the latter method.     

Reiterated homogenization of the vector potential formulation of a magnetostatic problem in anisotropic composite media

We present an explicit characterization of the effective coefficients of a family of boundary value problems with multiscale periodic oscillatory coefficients, which correspond to the vector potential formulation of a magnetostatic problem in anisotropic composite media with periodic microstructures. Moreover, we study the Γ-convergence of sequences of multiscale periodic integral functionals depending on the curl of divergence-free fields applying the properties of multiscale Young measures associated with sequences of divergence-free fields.     

Reaction of cis-3-chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase with an allene substrate, 2,3-butadienoate: hydration via an enamine

cis-3-Chloroacrylic acid dehalogenase (cis-CaaD) catalyzes the hydrolytic dehalogenation of cis-3-haloacrylates to yield malonate semialdehyde. The enzyme processes other substrates including an allene (2,3-butadienoate) to produce acetoacetate. In the course of a stereochemical analysis of the cis-CaaD-catalyzed reaction using this allene, the enzyme was unexpectedly inactivated in the presence of NaBH(4) by the reduction of a covalent enzyme-substrate bond. Covalent modification was surprising because the accumulated evidence for cis-CaaD dehalogenation favored a mechanism involving direct substrate hydration mediated by Pro-1. However, the results of subsequent mechanistic, pre-steady state and full progress kinetic experiments are consistent with a mechanism in which an enamine forms between Pro-1 and the allene. Hydrolysis of the enamine or an imine tautomer produces acetoacetate. Reduction of the imine species is likely responsible for the observed enzyme inactivation. This is the first reported observation of a tautomerase superfamily member functioning by covalent catalysis. The results may suggest that some fraction of the cis-CaaD-catalyzed dehalogenation of cis-3-haloacrylates also proceeds by covalent catalysis.     

Investigations into beam monitors at the AEg ̄ IS experiment

Detailed diagnostic of antiproton beams at low energies is required for essentially all experiments at the Antiproton Decelerator (AD), but will be particularly important for the future Extra Low ENergy Antiproton ring (ELENA) and its keV beam lines to the different experiments. Many monitors have been successfully developed and operated at the AD, but in particular beam profile monitoring remains a challenge. A dedicated beam instrumentation and detector test stand has recently been setup at the AE \(\bar {g}\) IS experiment (Antimatter Experiment: Gravity, Interferometry, Spectroscopy). Located behind the actual experiment, it allows for parasitic use of the antiproton beam at different energies for testing and calibration. With the aim to explore and validate different candidate technologies for future low energy beam lines, as well as the downstream antihydrogen detector in AE \(\bar {g}\) IS, measurements have been carried out using Silicon strip and pixel detectors, a purpose-built secondary emission monitor and emulsions. Here, results from measurements and characterization of the different detector types with regard to their future use at the AD complex are presented.     

Stacking faults and partial dislocations in graphene

We investigate two mechanisms of crystallographic slip in graphene, corresponding to glide and shuffle generalized stacking faults (GSF), and compute their γ-curves using Sandia National Laboratories Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator (LAMMPS). We find evidence of metastable partial dislocations for the glide GSF only. The computed values of the stable and unstable stacking-fault energies are suggestive of a high stability of full dislocations against dissociation and of dislocation dipoles against annihilation.     

Influence of Changes in Central Core on the Mesomorphic Properties of 4,4′-Dialkoxy-2,2′-Dihydroxybenzalazine and Derivatives

Two new series of compounds that have mesomorphic properties were synthesized: the 4,4′-dialkoxy-2,2′-dihydroxy-a-methylbenzalazines and the 4,4′-dialkoxy-2,2′-dihy-droxybenzalazines. The first series shows crystalline and smectic polymorphism.

A comparative study of the mesomorphic properties of these series with those of the 4,4′-dialkoxy-2,2′-dihydroxy-α,α'-dimethylbenzalazines was carried out to establish the influence of the central groups on the mesomorphic properties.     

Application of multiple headspace-solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to quantitative analysis of tomato aroma components

The objective of this paper is to investigate the potential of multiple headspace-solid-phase microextraction (MHS-SPME) for the determination of volatile compounds in complex matrix samples. A method based on MHS-SPME for the determination of around 20 volatile compounds, responsible of tomato flavour and aroma has been developed and validated, using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (ion trap analyser) for analysis. For this purpose, the experimental β parameter, resulting from the MHS-SPME theoretical development, has been obtained from real sample analysis (in triplicate) for each identified compound, carrying out up to 5 consecutive extractions. Later, this parameter is used to perform quantitation of real samples after just a single HS-SPME extraction. Precision, expressed as repeatability, has been evaluated by analysing six replicates of a real sample, showing relative standard deviations between 4 and 20%. For accuracy study, quantitative results have been compared with those obtained by means of standard additions on replicate samples, and no statistically significant differences between the two methods were observed. Since MHS-SPME uses the estimated total area corresponding to the complete extraction of compounds (obtained from the β parameter), quantitation can be carried out by external calibration using standards in solvent and splitless injection, instead of by SPME. Linearity, tested in the range 0.05–15 μg/mL, showed satisfactory values, with coefficients of correlation between 0.995 and 0.999. Limits of detection were in the range of 0.25–5 ng/g. MHS-SPME has been proved to be an adequate technique to avoid matrix effects in complex samples quantitation. Its applicability to the determination of volatile tomato components, together with its limitations, is discussed in this article.     

Current-induced two-level fluctuations in pseudo-spin-valve (Co/Cu/Co) nanostructures

Two-level fluctuations of the magnetization state of pseudo-spin-valve pillars Co(10 nm)/Cu(10 nm)/Co(30 nm) embedded in electrodeposited nanowires ( approximately 40 nm in diameter, 6000 nm in length) are triggered by spin-polarized currents of 10(7) A/cm(2) at room temperature. The statistical properties of the residence times in the parallel and antiparallel magnetization states reveal two effects with qualitatively different dependences on current intensity. The current appears to have the effect of a field determined as the bias field required to equalize these times. The bias field changes sign when the current polarity is reversed. At this field, the effect of a current density of 10(7) A/cm(2) is to lower the mean time for switching down to the microsecond range. This effect is independent of the sign of the current and is interpreted in terms of an effective temperature for the magnetization.     

Synthesis of 4,7,8a,9‐tetrahydro‐3H‐diimidazo‐[1,5‐a:4′,5′‐d]pyridine derivatives

The synthesis and evaluation of new ligands for the H₃ receptor of histamine is described. These new compounds are diimidazopyridine derivatives readily prepared by a condensation reaction of spinacine and isocyanates.