Synthesis, crystal structure and molecular modeling (AM1) of two 5-arylidene derivatives of Meldrum's acid

The synthesis and structural characterization of two 5-Arylidene derivatives of Meldrum's acid (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione) are described: 5-(4-Nitrobenciliden)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione (3a), and 5-(4-Methoxybenciliden)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione (3b). The structure of 3a was refined to R₁ = 0.0421 for 2148 reflections (with I > 2 (I)). Crystal data for 3a: C₁₃H₁₁NO₆, orthorhombic, space group Pbca, a = 16.008(3), b = 6.137(1), c = 25.281(5) Å, V = 2483.6(8) ų, Z = 8. The structure of 3b was refined to R₁ = 0.0496 for 4681 reflections (with I > 2(I)). Crystal data for 3b: C₁₄H₁₄O₅, triclinic, space group P1, a = 9.131(2), b = 9.922(2), c = 14.490(3)Å, = 85.076(6), = 84.80(3), = 89.37(2)°,V = 1302.4(5) ų, Z = 4. The results of crystallographic and molecular modeling (AM1) were compared. The molecules in the crystal are held together, in both compounds, by van der Waals forces and C—H···O hydrogen bond interactions.     

Novel chiral 1-phosphono-1,3-butadiene for asymmetric hetero Diels-Alder cycloadditions with nitroso and azodicarboxylate dienophiles

Chiral 1-phosphonodienes bearing a bicyclic (R,R)-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane or a (R,R)-1,3,2-diazaphospholidine auxiliary are potent dienes for asymmetric hetero Diels-Alder reactions. Their reactivity towards model nitroso and azodicarboxylate dienophiles has been studied by means of theoretical chemistry at the B3LYP/6-31G∗∗ level. This model, taking solvent effects into account, allowed us to identify parameters governing the stereoselectivity of this reaction. Our study emphasizes a synergy effect when increasing the steric hindrance of substituents of both partners. This led us to predict high levels of diastereoselectivity for one diene. Accordingly, we have hereby illustrated a convenient and original synthesis of this diene and its cycloadditions with commercially available nitroso and azodicarboxylate dienophiles.     

Near-infrared cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy of hot water and OH in an oven and in flames

A compact diode laser operating around 1.5 μm was used to measure cavity enhanced absorption spectra of hot water molecules and OH radicals in radiative environments under atmospheric conditions. Spectra of air were measured in an oven at temperatures ranging from 300 K to 1500 K. These spectra contained rovibrational lines from water and OH. The water spectra were compared to simulations from the HITRAN and HITEMP databases. Furthermore, spectra were recorded in the flame of a flat methane/air burner and in an oxyacetylene flame produced by a welding torch. The results show that cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy provides a sensitive method for rapid monitoring of species in radiative environments. Received: 22 February 2001 / Revised version: 23 April 2001 / Published online: 7 June 2001     

Determination of the number of automated guided vehicles required at a semi-automated container terminal

This paper describes the development of a minimum flow algorithm to determine the number of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) required at a semi-automated container terminal. At such a terminal the containers are transported by AGVs from the quay cranes to the automated stacking cranes and vice versa. A model and a strongly polynomial time algorithm are developed to solve the case in which containers are available for transport at known time instants.     

Doping Platinum with Germanium: An Effective Way to Mitigate the CO Poisoning

The vulnerability towards CO poisoning is a major drawback affecting the efficiency and long-term performance of platinum catalysts in fuel cells. In the present work, by a combination of density functional theory calculations and mass spectrometry experiments, we test and explain the promotional effect of Ge on Pt catalysts with higher resistance to deactivation via CO poisoning. A thorough exploration of the configurational space of gas-phase Pt_n⁺ and GePt_n−1⁺ (n=5–9) clusters using global minima search techniques and the subsequent electronic structure analysis reveals that germanium doping reduces the binding strength between Pt and CO by hindering the 2π-back-donation. Importantly, the clusters remain catalytically active towards H₂ dissociation. The ability of Ge to weaken the Pt−CO interaction was confirmed by mass spectrometry experiments. Ge can be a promising alloying agent to tune the selectivity and improve the durability of Pt particles, thus opening the way to novel catalytic alternatives for fuel cells.