Nuclear magnetic resonance shielding constants and chemical shifts in linear 199Hg compounds: a comparison of three relativistic computational methods

We investigate the importance of relativistic effects on NMR shielding constants and chemical shifts of linear HgL(2) (L = Cl, Br, I, CH(3)) compounds using three different relativistic methods: the fully relativistic four-component approach and the two-component approximations, linear response elimination of small component (LR-ESC) and zeroth-order regular approximation (ZORA). LR-ESC reproduces successfully the four-component results for the C shielding constant in Hg(CH(3))(2) within 6 ppm, but fails to reproduce the Hg shielding constants and chemical shifts. The latter is mainly due to an underestimation of the change in spin-orbit contribution. Even though ZORA underestimates the absolute Hg NMR shielding constants by ～2100 ppm, the differences between Hg chemical shift values obtained using ZORA and the four-component approach without spin-density contribution to the exchange-correlation (XC) kernel are less than 60 ppm for all compounds using three different functionals, BP86, B3LYP, and PBE0. However, larger deviations (up to 366 ppm) occur for Hg chemical shifts in HgBr(2) and HgI(2) when ZORA results are compared with four-component calculations with non-collinear spin-density contribution to the XC kernel. For the ZORA calculations it is necessary to use large basis sets (QZ4P) and the TZ2P basis set may give errors of ～500 ppm for the Hg chemical shifts, despite deceivingly good agreement with experimental data. A Gaussian nucleus model for the Coulomb potential reduces the Hg shielding constants by ～100-500 ppm and the Hg chemical shifts by 1-143 ppm compared to the point nucleus model depending on the atomic number Z of the coordinating atom and the level of theory. The effect on the shielding constants of the lighter nuclei (C, Cl, Br, I) is, however, negligible.     

Overtone spectra of 2-mercaptoethanol and 1,2-ethanedithiol

Vibrational spectra of vapor-phase 1,2-ethanedithiol and 2-mercaptoethanol were recorded to investigate weak intramolecular interactions. The spectra were recorded with conventional absorption spectroscopy and laser photoacoustic spectroscopy in the 2000-11,000 cm(-1) region. The room temperature spectra of each molecule are complicated by contributions from several conformers. Anharmonic oscillator local-mode calculations of the OH- and SH-stretching transitions have been performed to facilitate assignment of the different conformers in the spectra. We observe evidence of hydrogen-bond-like interactions from OH to S, but not from SH to O or S. The OH to S intramolecular interaction in 2-mercaptoethanol is weak and comparable to that found in the OH to O interaction in ethylene glycol.     

Microparticles for Drug Delivery Based on Functional Polycaprolactones with Enhanced Degradability: Loading of Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Active Compounds

Microparticle drug carriers made of biodegradable functional polyesters were produced. The polyesters consist of a poly(ε‐caprolactone) backbone bearing pendant acryloyloxy and methacryloyloxy groups. Stable microparticles were prepared via an oil/water emulsion‐solvent evaporation technique eventually combined with a simultaneous crosslinking procedure. Crosslinked particles were obtained via photo‐crosslinking and Michael type addition using diamines as crosslinking agents. Encapsulation of a hydrophobic fluorescent dye and a hydrophilic protein, as model drugs, were performed and confirmed by optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The presence of the functional groups allow for not only the tuning of the degradation rate, but also for further processing and (bio)functionalization.

     

2D‐ and 3D‐microstructured biodegradable polyester resins

Biodegradable polyester resins were prepared via photo crosslinking of functional polyesters obtained by copolymerization of ε‐caprolactone and the functional cyclic esters γ‐acryloyloxy‐ε‐caprolactone (ACL) and γ‐methacryloyloxy‐ε‐caprolactone (MCL). The cyclic esters were prepared via Baeyer‐Villiger oxidation of the corresponding 4‐acyloyloxy‐cyclohexanone derivatives. Copolymers with different content of either acryloyloxy or methacryloyloxy functional groups were prepared via catalyzed ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of γ‐acyloyloxy‐ε‐caprolactones and ε‐caprolactone using Al(OiPr)₃ as catalyst and initiator. 2D‐ and 3D‐micropatterning of the copolymers was performed via UV‐crosslinking of polymer films on a suitable substrate and by UV replica molding on both rigid and elastic masters, showing the processability of these novel functional polyesters and their potential as substrates for biomedical devices. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6789–6800, 2008     

Graphical simulation of a new concept of low sized surgical parallel robot for camera guidance in minimally invasive surgery

Robotic systems have been developed in every field where a further progress was constricted due to the human limitations in terms of speed, precision, fatigue, repeatability, strength, safety etc. One of the pioneer fields for robots is their assimilation in surgery, especially in minimally invasive procedures which aim the treatment of a disease with minimum damage to healthy tissue and suffering for the patient [1], [2]. The paper presents a complex simulation system used for the study of the characteristics of a new low sized parallel robot used for minimally invasive surgery (MIS). (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On-pump modular systemfor automated adjustment and control for axial piston pumps

Axial piston pumps are the most widely used pumps in hydraulic actuation systems. Their technical characteristics make them the best option for most applications starting from industrial machine tools, up to mobile equipments. Thus, the optimization of their functional parameters and their control within the system is of great importance [1], [4]. The paper presents the construction of a modular measuring and control head (developed by the authors) mounted directly on the pump which ensures the automated achievement of any type of control: flow, pressure, power or their combinations. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

New development of parallel robots and microrobots with three,four and five degrees of freedom

All over the world it can be noticed that product miniaturisation is a central theme in product development for different application areas. In robotics scientific research, one of the most important approaches is concerning the increase of the positioning accuracy by the use of parallel structures [3], [4], [5]. In this paper some variants of parallel robots and micro-robots with three, four and five degrees of freedom are presented, which are used for manipulation within high precision assembling processes. The corresponding kinematic models have been developed. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Heterocyclic Chalcones from 1-Phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-ol

An efficient synthetic route to construct diverse pyrazole-based chalcones from 1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-ols bearing a formyl or acetyl group on the C4 position of pyrazole ring, employing a base-catalysed Claisen–Schmidt condensation reaction, is described. Isomeric chalcones were further reacted with N-hydroxy-4-toluenesulfonamide and regioselective formation of 3,5-disubstituted 1,2-oxazoles was established. The novel pyrazole-chalcones and 1,2-oxazoles were characterized by an in-depth analysis of NMR spectral data, which were obtained through a combination of standard and advanced NMR spectroscopy techniques.