Coexisting stochastic and coherence resonance in a mean-field dynamo model for Earth’s magnetic field reversals

Using a spherically symmetric mean-field α²-dynamomodel for Earth’s magnetic field reversals, we show thecoexistence of the noise-induced phenomena coherence resonance and stochastic resonance. Stochastic resonance was recentlyinvoked to explain the 100 kyr periodicity in the distribution ofresidence times between reversals.The comparison of the resulting residence time distribution withthe paleomagnetic one allows for some estimate ofthe effective diffusion time of the Earth’s core which may be100 kyr or slightly below rather than200 kyr as it would result from the molecular resistivity.     

Stereoselective synthesis of the dolastatin units by organotrifluoroborates additions to α-amino aldehydes

Dolastatin units were synthesized from the 1,2-addition reactions of potassium allyl or crotyltrifluoroborate salts to aldehyde derivatives from natural amino acids. The reactions were carried out in presence of a phase-transfer catalyst in a biphasic medium at room temperature and excellent yields (>89-93%) and stereoselective (>90:10 to 98:2) were obtained. The dolastatin units 8 and 14a-b were obtained after three steps in good overall yields (50-62%).     

Electronic structure of copper phthalocyanine: an experimental and theoretical study of occupied and unoccupied levels

An experimental and theoretical study of the electronic structure of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) molecule is presented. We performed x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and photoabsorption [x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES)] gas phase experiments and we compared the results with self-consistent field, density functional theory (DFT), and static-exchange theoretical calculations. In addition, ultraviolet photoelectron spectra (UPS) allowed disentangling several outer molecular orbitals. A detailed study of the two highest occupied orbitals (having a(1u) and b(1g) symmetries) is presented: the high energy resolution available for UPS measurements allowed resolving an extra feature assigned to vibrational stretching in the pyrrole rings. This observation, together with the computed DFT electron density distributions of the outer valence orbitals, suggests that the a(1u) orbital (the highest occupied molecular orbital) is mainly localized on the carbon atoms of pyrrole rings and it is doubly occupied, while the b(1g) orbital, singly occupied, is mainly localized on the Cu atom. Ab initio calculations of XPS and XANES spectra at carbon K edge of CuPc are also presented. The comparison between experiment and theory revealed that, in spite of being formally not equivalent, carbon atoms of the benzene rings experience a similar electronic environment. Carbon K-edge absorption spectra were interpreted in terms of different contributions coming from chemically shifted C 1s orbitals of the nonequivalent carbon atoms on the inner ring of the molecule formed by the sequence of CN bonds and on the benzene rings, respectively, and also in terms of different electronic distributions of the excited lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and LUMO+1. In particular, the degenerate LUMO appears to be mostly localized on the inner pyrrole ring.     

Warfarin Sodium Stability in Oral Formulations

Warfarin sodium is a low-dose pharmaceutical blood thinner that exists in two forms: the clathrate form and the amorphous form. In commercially available warfarin sodium oral suspension, the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is added in the amorphous state. This study investigates the apparent instability of the commercially available warfarin liquid oral formulation using Raman and IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, UV spectroscopy, and optical microscopy. Warfarin, not its sodium salt, was identified as the undissolved solid existing in the suspension. This was found to be due to the dissociation of sodium salt and the protonation of the warfarin ion in the liquid phase, which triggered the crystallization of the sparingly soluble unsalted form. The coexistence of protonated and unprotonated warfarin ions in the supernatant, as detected by Raman and UV spectroscopy, confirmed this assumption. Study of the dissolution of warfarin sodium amorphous salt and crystalline sodium clathrate in the placebo and pure water verified the results. The effect of pH and temperature on warfarin precipitation was also explored.     

Synthesis of symmetrical 1,3-diynes via homocoupling reaction of n-butyl alkynyltellurides

An ultrasound-assisted synthesis of symmetrical 1,3-diyne compounds with electron-withdrawing or -donating substituents is described and illustrated by the palladium-catalyzed homocoupling reaction of n-butyl alkynyltellurides. This procedure offers easy access to 1,3-diynes in very short reaction times, and the products are achieved in good to excellent yields.     

Automatic identification of terpenoid skeletons by feed-forward neural networks

Feed-forward neural networks (FFNNs) were used to predict the skeletal type of molecules belonging to six classes of terpenoids. A database that contains the ¹³C NMR spectra of about 5000 compounds was used to train the FFNNs. An efficient representation of the spectra was designed and the constitution of the best FFNN input vector format resorted from an heuristic approach. The latter was derived from general considerations on terpenoid structures.     

Photoluminescent behavior of SrB4O7:RE (RE=Sm and Eu) prepared by Pechini, combustion and ceramic methods

This work reports the preparation of system containing RE²⁺ ions (RE=Sm and Eu)-doped in SrB₄O₇ matrix by ceramic, Pechini and combustion methods. These compounds were prepared by reduction of RE³⁺ to RE²⁺ in air, which exhibit some different features according to the preparation method. Photoluminescent properties of these systems were investigated based on the emission and excitation spectral data. The emission spectra of SrB₄O₇:Eu²⁺ system prepared by combustion and Pechini methods are characterized by a broad band assigned to interconfigurational 4f⁶5d→4f⁷ transition, while SrB₄O₇:Sm²⁺ compound exhibit narrow emission bands arising from intraconfigurational-4f⁶ also shows ⁴G_5/2→⁶H_J′ transitions ( and ) arising from Sm³⁺ ion, transitions. SrB₄O₇:RE system prepared by combustion method presents emission bands from RE³⁺ ions as intense as that arising from RE²⁺, suggesting that the preparation route is not efficient for the reduction RE³⁺→RE²⁺ process. Emission quantum efficiency and radiative emission rates of Sm²⁺ ion are determined and discussed.     

Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of aryl tellurides with potassium aryltrifluoroborate salts

[reaction: see text] Palladium(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling between potassium aryltrifluoroborate salts and aryl tellurides proceeds readily to afford the desired biaryls in good to excellent yield. The reaction seems to be unaffected by the presence of electron-withdrawing or electron-donating substituents in both the potassium aryltrifluoroborate salts and aryl tellurides partners. Biaryls containing a variety of functional groups can be prepared. A chemoselectivity study was also carried out using aryl tellurides bearing halogen atoms in the same compound. In addition, this new version of the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction was monitored by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry where some reaction intermediates were detected and analyzed.     

Synthesis of 1,2,3-triazolylpyranosides through click chemistry reaction

We have developed an efficient method for the synthesis of functionalized C-glycosyl 1,2,3-triazoles through a Cu(I)-promoted azide–alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between a TMS-protected C-alkynyl-glycoside and organic azides. The reaction was accelerated by ultrasound irradiation and the addition of a base was not necessary to obtain the 1,2,3-triazole product. Moreover, further manipulation of the products led to chiral molecules with a C-glycoside linkage.