A remarkable stereoselectivity switching upon solid-state versus solution-phase enantiodifferentiating photocyclodimerization of 2-anthracenecarboxylic acid mediated by native and 3,6-anhydro-γ-cyclodextrins

The enantiodifferentiating [4+4] photocyclodimerization of anthracenecarboxylic acid (AC) mediated by native, mono- and di-3,6-anhydro-γ-cyclodextrins was investigated in both aqueous solution and solid-state. The solid-state photolyses gave inherently disfavored head-to-head photodimers in much higher chemical and optical yields than in the aqueous solution.     

Spectrophotometric determination of bismuth(III) with o-hydroxyhydroquinonephthalein in the presence of Brij 58

A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric determination of bismuth(III) is based on the reaction between bismuth(III) and o-hydroxyhydroquinonephthalein in the presence of Brij 58 in acidic media. The calibration graph is linear over the range 0-3.5 mug/ml bismuth(III) in the final solution, and the apparent molar absorptivity at 520 nm is 9.03 x 10(4) l. mole(-1). cm(-1). The proposed method is 2-10 times more sensitive than other methods, and simpler. It has been applied to the assay of bismuth(III) in pharmaceutical preparations, such as dermatol and bismuth subnitrate, with good results.     

Simulation of aerated lagoon using artificial neural networks and multivariate regression techniques

The aim of this study was to develop an empirical model that provides accurate predictions of the biochemical oxygen demand of the output stream from the aerated lagoon at International Paper of Brazil, one of the major pulp and paper plants in Brazil. Predictive models were calculated from functional link neural networks (FLNNs), multiple linear regression, principal components regression, and partial least-squares regression (PLSR). Improvement in FLNN modeling capability was observed when the data were preprocessed using the PLSR technique. PLSR also proved to be a powerful linear regression technique for this problem, which presents operational data limitations.     

Heteroatom-guided torquoselective olefination of alpha-oxy and alpha-amino ketones via ynolates

Ynolates were found to react with alpha-alkoxy-, alpha-siloxy-, and alpha-aryloxyketones at room temperature to afford tetrasubstituted olefins with high Z selectivity. Since the geometrical selectivity was determined in the ring opening of the beta-lactone enolate intermediates, the torquoselectivity was controlled by the ethereal oxygen atoms. From experimental and theoretical studies, the high Z selectivity is induced by orbital and steric interactions rather than by chelation. In a similar manner, alpha-dialkylamino ketones provided olefins with excellent Z selectivity. These products can be easily converted into multisubstituted butenolides and gamma-butyrolactams in good yield.