A continuous extension of the de la Vallée Poussin means

Among the many interesting results of their 1958 paper, G. Pólya and I. J. Schoenberg studied the de la Vallée Poussin means of analytic functions. These are polynomial approximations of a given analytic function on the unit disk obtained by taking Hadamard products of the functionf with certain polynomialsV _n (z), wheren is the degree of the polynomial. The polynomial approximationsV _n *f converge locally uniformly tof asn→∞. In this paper, we define a subordination chainV _λ (z),γ>0, |z|<1, of convex mappings of the disk that for integer values is the same as the previously definedV _n (z). Iff is a conformal mapping of the diskD onto a convex domain, thenV _λ *f→f locally uniformly as λ→∞, and in fact when λ₂ > λ₁. We also consider Hadamard products of theV _λ with complex-valued harmonic mappings of the disk. This work was supported by the Volkswagen Stiftung (RiP-program at Oberwolfach). S. R. received partial support also from INTAS (Project 99-00089) and the German-Israeli Foundation (grant G-643-117.6/1999).     

Luminescence of Fe3+ in AIPO4

Emission and excitation spectra for Fe³⁺ in AIPO₄ single crystals are reported and discussed. With excitation in the near UV emission bands originating from higher exicted states are observed in addition to weak bands between 13 300 and 14 800 cm^?1.     

Quantitative and confirmative performance of liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry compared to tandem mass spectrometry

The quantitative and confirmative performance of two different mass spectrometry (MS) techniques (high-resolution MS and tandem MS) was critically compared. Evaluated was a new extraction and clean-up protocol which was developed to cover more than 100 different veterinary drugs at trace levels in a number of animal tissues and honey matrices. Both detection techniques, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) (single-stage Orbitrap instrument operated at 50 000 full width at half maximum) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) (quadrupole technology) were used to validate the method according to the EU Commission Decision 2002/657/EEC. Equal or even a slightly better quantitative performance was observed for the HRMS-based approach. Sensitivity is higher for unit mass resolution MS/MS if only a subset of the 100 compounds has to be monitored. Confirmation of suspected positive findings can be done by evaluating the intensity ratio between different MS/MS transitions, or by accurate mass based product ion traces (no precursor selection applied). MS/MS relies on compound-specific optimized transitions; hence the second, confirmatory transition generally shows relatively high ion abundance (fragmentation efficacy). This is often not the case in single-stage HRMS, since a generic (not compound-optimized) collision energy is applied. Hence, confirmation of analytes present at low levels is superior when performed by MS/MS. Slightly better precision, but poorer accuracy (fortified matrix extracts versus pure standard solution) of ion ratios were observed when comparing data obtained by HRMS versus MS/MS.     

X-ray crystal structures of alpha-KrF(2),[KrF][MF(6)](M=As,Sb,Bi),[Kr(2)F(3)][SbF(6).KrF(2), [Ke(2)F(3)2[SbF(6)]2.KrF(2), and [Kr(2)F(3)][AsF(6)].[KrF][AsF(6)]; synthesis and characterization of [Kr(2)F(3)][PF(6).nKrF(2); and theoretical studies of KrF(2), KrF+, Kr(2)F(3)+, and the [KrF][MF(6)](M=P,As,Sb,Bi) ion pairs

The crystal structures of alpha-KrF(2) and salts containing the KrF(+) and Kr(2)F(3)(+) cations have been investigated for the first time using low-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The low-temperature alpha-phase of KrF(2) crystallizes in the tetragonal space group I4/mmm with a = 4.1790(6) A, c = 6.489(1) A, Z = 2, V = 113.32(3) A(3), R(1) = 0.0231, and wR(2) = 0.0534 at -125 degrees C. The [KrF][MF(6)] (M = As, Sb, Bi) salts are isomorphous and isostructural and crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with Z = 4. The unit cell parameters are as follows: beta-[KrF][AsF(6)], a = 5.1753(2) A, b = 10.2019(7) A, c = 10.5763(8) A, beta = 95.298(2) degrees, V = 556.02(6) A(3), R(1) = 0.0265, and wR(2) = 0.0652 at -120 degrees C; [KrF][SbF(6)], a = 5.2922(6) A, b = 10.444(1) A, c = 10.796(1) A, beta = 94.693(4) degrees, V = 594.73(1) A(3), R(1) = 0.0266, wR(2) = 0.0526 at -113 degrees C; [KrF][BiF(6)], a = 5.336(1) A, b = 10.513(2) A, c = 11.046(2) A, beta = 94.79(3) degrees, V = 617.6(2) A(3), R(1) = 0.0344, and wR(2) = 0.0912 at -130 degrees C. The Kr(2)F(3)(+) cation was investigated in [Kr(2)F(3)][SbF(6)].KrF(2), [Kr(2)F(3)](2)[SbF(6)](2).KrF(2), and [Kr(2)F(3)][AsF(6)].[KrF][AsF(6)]. [Kr(2)F(3)](2)[SbF(6)](2).KrF(2) crystallizes in the monoclinic P2(1)/c space group with Z = 4 and a = 8.042(2) A, b = 30.815(6) A, c = 8.137(2) A, beta = 111.945(2) degrees, V = 1870.1(7) A(3), R(1) = 0.0376, and wR(2) = 0.0742 at -125 degrees C. [Kr(2)F(3)][SbF(6)].KrF(2) crystallizes in the triclinic P1 space group with Z = 2 and a = 8.032(3) A, b = 8.559(4) A, c = 8.948(4) A, alpha = 69.659(9) degrees, beta = 63.75(1) degrees, gamma = 82.60(1) degrees, V = 517.1(4) A(3), R(1) = 0.0402, and wR(2) = 0.1039 at -113 degrees C. [Kr(2)F(3)][AsF(6)].[KrF][AsF(6)] crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with Z = 4 and a = 6.247(1) A, b = 24.705(4) A, c = 8.8616(6) A, beta = 90.304(6) degrees, V = 1367.6(3) A(3), R(1) = 0.0471 and wR(2) = 0.0958 at -120 degrees C. The terminal Kr-F bond lengths of KrF(+) and Kr(2)F(3)(+) are very similar, exhibiting no crystallographically significant variation in the structures investigated (range, 1.765(3)-1.774(6) A and 1.780(7)-1.805(5) A, respectively). The Kr-F bridge bond lengths are significantly longer, with values ranging from 2.089(6) to 2.140(3) A in the KrF(+) salts and from 2.027(5) to 2.065(4) A in the Kr(2)F(3)(+) salts. The Kr-F bond lengths of KrF(2) in [Kr(2)F(3)][SbF(6)].KrF(2) and [Kr(2)F(3)](2)[SbF(6)](2).KrF(2) range from 1.868(4) to 1.888(4) A and are similar to those observed in alpha-KrF(2) (1.894(5) A). The synthesis and Raman spectrum of the new salt, [Kr(2)F(3)][PF(6)].nKrF(2), are also reported. Electron structure calculations at the Hartree-Fock and local density-functional theory levels were used to calculate the gas-phase geometries, charges, Mayer bond orders, and Mayer valencies of KrF(+), KrF(2), Kr(2)F(3)(+), and the ion pairs, [KrF][MF(6)] (M = P, As, Sb, Bi), and to assign their experimental vibrational frequencies.     

Determination of ochratoxin A in wine by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry after combined anion-exchange/reversed-phase clean-up

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus ochraceus and Penicillium verrucosum. It has been found and analysed in several foods and feeds. Owing to its toxicity and occurrence in food and feed, the European Community has issued directives and some countries have their own regulations for OTA contents in food, feed and beverages. This work describes a method for the determination of OTA in mulled and red wine. It is based on combined anion exchange/reversed-phase clean-up and was analysed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (multiple reaction monitoring). The method was validated with natural contaminated and spiked wine samples with OTA contents from 1.34 to 3.48 g kg^–1. Owing to its accuracy, good reproducibility and repeatability, this easy method is a good alternative to liquid chromatography–fluorescence detection methods.     

MgAl2SiO6-incorporated poly(ethylene oxide)-based electrolytes for all-solid-state lithium batteries

Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs), comprising various concentrations of lithium hexafluorophosphate and magnesium aluminium silicate, were prepared by hot-press technique. The membranes were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, tensile and thermal analyses. It has been demonstrated that the incorporation of the ceramic filler in the polymeric matrix has significantly enhanced the ionic conductivity, thermal stability and mechanical integrity of the membrane. It also improved the interfacial properties with lithium electrode. Finally, an all-solid-state lithium cell composed of Li/CPE/LiFePO₄ has been assembled and its cycling performance was analysed at 70 °C. The cell delivered a discharge capacity of 115 mAh g^?1 at 1 °C rate and is found to be higher than previous reports.     

Tailoring RuII Pyridine/Triazole Oxygenation Catalysts and Using Photoreactivity to Probe their Electronic Properties

Tuning of ligand properties is at the heart of influencing chemical reactivity and generating tailor‐made catalysts. Herein, three series of complexes [Ru(L)(Cl)(X)]PF₆ (X=DMSO, PPh₃, or CD₃CN) with tripodal ligands (L1–L5) containing pyridine and triazole arms are presented. Triazole‐for‐pyridine substitution and the substituent at the triazole systematically influence the redox behavior and photoreactivity of the complexes. The mechanism of the light‐driven ligand exchange of the DMSO complexes in CD₃CN could be elucidated, and two seven‐coordinate intermediates were identified. Finally, tuning of the ligand framework was applied to the catalytic oxygenation of alkanes, for which the DMSO complexes were the best catalysts and the yield improved with increasing number of triazole arms. These results thus show how click‐derived ligands can be tuned on demand for catalytic processes.     

Ru–bis(pyridine)pyrazolate (bpp)‐Based Water‐Oxidation Catalysts Anchored on TiO2: The Importance of the Nature and Position of the Anchoring Group

Three distinct functionalisation strategies have been applied to the in,in‐[{Ru^II(trpy)}₂(μ‐bpp)(H₂O)₂]³⁺ (trpy=2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine, bpp=bis(pyridine)pyrazolate) water‐oxidation catalyst framework to form new derivatives that can adsorb onto titania substrates. Modifications included the addition of sulfonate, carboxylate, and phosphonate anchoring groups to the terpyridine and bis(pyridyl)pyrazolate ligands. The complexes were characterised in solution by using 1D NMR, 2D NMR, and UV/Vis spectroscopic analysis and electrochemical techniques. The complexes were then anchored on TiO₂‐coated fluorinated tin oxide (FTO) films, and the reactivity of these new materials as water‐oxidation catalysts was tested electrochemically through controlled‐potential electrolysis (CPE) with oxygen evolution detected by headspace analysis with a Clark electrode. The results obtained highlight the importance of the catalyst orientation with respect to the titania surface in regard to its capacity to catalytically oxidize water to dioxygen.     

Preparation and Isolation of a Chiral Methandiide and Its Application as Cooperative Ligand in Bond Activation

The activation of element–hydrogen bonds by means of metal–ligand cooperation has received increasing attention as alternative to classical activation processes, which exclusively occur at the metal center. Carbene complexes derived from methandiide precursors have been applied in this chemistry enabling the activation of a series of E?H bonds by addition reactions across the M?C bond. However, no chiral carbene complexes have been applied to realize stereoselective transformations to date. Herein, we report the isolation and structure elucidation of an enantiomerically pure dilithiomethane, which could be prepared by direct double deprotonation. The obtained dilithium salt was used for the preparation of the first chiral methandiide‐derived carbene complex, which was applied in stereoselective cooperative S?H bond activation.