The reaction pattern of norbornene with excited state carbonyl compounds: Photochemical preparations of norbornene derivatives

We established that acetylacetone and acetone photolytically sensitize norbornene to undergo an efficient radical addition of solvent (ranging from hexane, cyclic ethers, haloalkanes, acetone, alcohols and acetonitrile) across the double bond. In view of its synthetic applicability, sensitized photoreactions of norbornene were reviewed and their mechanisms were compared. Photolysis of acetylacetone in the presence of norbornene in hexane induced i) acetylacetone to cycloadd to norbornene giving the expected 1,5-diketone, and ii) sensitization by triplet excited acetylacetone to generate reactive norbornene, which underwent dimerization as well as the addition of a solvent molecule by radical chain processes. In other solvents, the radical chain addition of solvent dominated the photoreaction, and superseded the cycloaddition, to give excellent to good yields of adducts to norbornene. While the excited species of acetylacetone for the sensitization was deduced to be its spectroscopic triplet excited state, that for the cycloaddition should involve a different one which may be a twisted triplet acetylacetone; sensitization experiments showed that the cycloaddition did not occur from the spectroscopic triplet state. Triplet excited acetone sensitized norbornene to undergo the same solvent addition more efficiently and cleanly than acetylacetone did. In view of various conflicts existing in the proposed energy transfer mechanism, the sensitized norbornene reactions were rationalized with electron transfer and a cation radical chain mechanism.     

Current correlators to all orders in the quark masses

The contributions to the coefficient functions of the quark and the mixed quark-gluon condensate to mesonic correlators are calculated for the first time to all orders in the quark masses, and to lowest order in the strong coupling constant. Existing results on the coefficient functions of the unit operator and the gluon condensate are reviewed. The proper factorization of short- and long-distance contributions in the operator product expansion is discussed in detail. It is found that to accomplish this task rigorously the operator product expansion has to be performed in terms ofnon-normal-ordered condensates. The resulting coefficient functions are improved with the help of the renormalization group. The scale invariant combination of dimension 5 operators, including mixing with the mass operator, which is needed for the renormalization group improvement, is calculated in the leading order.Supported by the German Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie, under the contract 06 TM 761     

Sigma Models and Minimal Surfaces

Correspondence is established between sigma models, minimal surfaces and the Monge–Ampére equation. The Lax pairs of the minimality condition of the minimal surfaces and the Monge–Ampére equations are given. Existence of infinitely many nonlocal conservation laws is shown and some Bäcklund transformations are also given.     

Determination of the portfolio selection for a property-liability insurance company

This paper presents an analysis of a portfolio model which can be used to assist a property-liability insurance company in determining the optimal composition of the insurance and investment portfolios. By introducing insurer's threshold risk and relaxing some non-realistic assumptions made in traditional chance constraint insurance and investment portfolio models, we propose a method for an insurer to maximize his return threshold for a given threshold risk level. This proposed model can be used to optimize the composition of underwriting and investment portfolios regarding the insurer's threshold risk level, as well as to generate the efficient frontier by adjusting insurer's threshold risk levels. A numerical example is given based on the industry's aggregated data for a sixteen year period.     

Erratum: Synthesis and characterization of diorganotin(IV) complexes of Schiff bases with ONO‐type donors and crystal structure of [N‐(2‐hydroxy‐4‐nitrophenyl)‐3‐ethoxysalicylideneiminato]diphenyltin(IV)

The article referenced above was first published online on 30 August 2007 with incorrect pagination; the pagination has now been corrected online and in print. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microstructural evolution of decagonal quasicrystal in the undercooled Al72Ni12Co16 alloy melts

The microstructure evolution of decagonal quasicrystals in Al₇₂Ni₁₂Co₁₆ alloy was investigated by the electromagnetic melting and cyclic superheating method. Single-phase decagonal quasicrystals have been obtained when the undercoolings were larger than 60 K. The decagonal quasicrystals formed at various undercoolings show different microstructural morphologies. Furthermore, grain refinement was found near the undercooling of 120 K. Based on current thermodynamic and dendrite growth theories, a dimensionless superheating parameter was adopted to explain the effect of processing conditions on the microstructure of Al₇₂Ni₁₂Co₁₆ alloy. The result indicate that the fine equiaxied microstructure of decagonal quasicrystal (D-phase) formed near on undercooling of 120 K originates from the break-up of dendrites.     

Application of N,N‐bis(diphenylphosphino)aniline palladium(II) complexes as pre‐catalysts in Heck coupling reactions

Palladium(II) complexes with N,N‐bis(diphenylphosphino)aniline ligands catalyse the Heck reaction between styrene and aryl bromides, affording stilbenes in good yield. The structures of two of the complexes used as pre‐catalysts have been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Surface and interfacial properties of PVDF/acrylic copolymer blends before and after UV exposure

Morphological and chemical properties of both the surface and interface of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/poly(methyl methacrylate)-co-poly(ethyl acrylate) (PVDF/PMMA-co-PEA) blend films have been investigated before and after the samples were exposed to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation using a xenon arc lamp at 50 °C and 9% relative humidity (RH) for 7 months. Surface and interfacial morphologies were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Chemical composition information was obtained by confocal Raman microscopy, attenuated total reflection-FTIR spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and contact angle measurements. Results show an enrichment of the PVDF material at the air surface, while the acrylic copolymer enriches the interface. Blends having greater than 50% mass fraction of PVDF show little change in the surface morphology after UV exposure for 7 months. However, for a lower PVDF content, blends exhibit significant degradation of PMMA-co-PEA copolymer and a much rougher surface after UV exposure. Microstructural changes in the PVDF spherulites are also observed after UV degradation. It is found that the surface and interfacial morphologies are correlated with the chemical properties.     

一种基于能带工程设计的CaAsSb/InP异质结双极晶体三极管

异质结晶体三极管（HBT）的性能与其材料体系密不可分，利用能带工程可以大大优化器件的结构，提高器件性能，文章从分析HBT的能带结构及设计要求入手，介绍了一种利用能带工程设计的基于GaAsSb/InP材料体系的新型HBT器件的结构及其性能，分析了该器件与其它材料体系器件相比所具有的优异特性，说明了对HBT的各区材料，其带边的相对位置所起的重要作用，最后，文章还报道了近期的实验情况，说明了GaAsSb/InP体系HBT的实际性能与理论预言一致。