Synthesis of 5-alkylidene-2,5-dihydropyrrol-2-ones and their ring-transformation into 5,6-dihydrobenzo[h]chromones, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromones and pyran-4-ones

Acid-mediated ring-transformations of 5-alkylidene-2,5-dihydropyrrol-2-ones, available by cyclization of 1,3-diketone dianions with bis(imidoyl) dichlorides of oxalic acid, resulted in formation of functionalized pyran-4-ones, such as 5,6-dihydrobenzo[h]chromones and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromones.     

Thermal analysis and X-ray studies of chiral ferroelectric liquid crystalline materials and their binary mixtures

Summary Thermal properties of a homologous series of ferroelectric liquid crystals S-(-)-[4-(2-n-alkoxy-propionyloxy)]biphenyl-4'-[n-alkoxy-(3,5-dimethyl)]benzoate have been investigated by polarizing optical microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The mesophases were identified and confirmed by X-ray too. Three binary mixtures were prepared from the individual homologues. In one of the mixtures (Mix1), the ferroelectric SmC* phase has broadened and became enantiotropic. This mesophase remained monotropic in the other two mixtures (Mix2, Mix3). The chiral nematic N* phase did not appear in Mix1, but remained monotropic for the other two mixtures. Two molecular parameters, the layer spacing and the average intermolecular distance have been calculated from the X-ray results for the homologues and their mixtures. An intercalated tail-to-tail packing of molecules was found both in the single compounds and their mixtures resulting in the layer spacing about half of the molecular length of the single compounds.     

Distribution of integral points on some hyperboloids of one sheet

Results of B. F. Skubenko (Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. Mat.,26, 721–752 (1962)) are generalized to indefinite ternary quadratic formsf(x)=f ₀(Cx), which are contained in the simplest formf ₀(x)=x ₁ x ₃–x _r ^e We prove that the integral points on the hyperboloid of one sheetf(x)=m,m<0, are uniformly distributed over area (in the sense of hyperbolic metric) and over residue classes for given modulus.Translated from Zapiski Nauchnykh Seminarov Leningradskogo Otdeleniya Matematicheskogo Instituta im. V. A. Steklova AN SSSR, Vol. 121, pp. 83–93, 1983.     

Analytical Detectors Based on Microplasma Spectrometry

Miniaturizing all dimensions of apparatus, such as electronics and computers, is the current trend followed by scientists in various fields. The idea of Lab-on-a-Chip has significantly expanded and found its broad applications in analytical chemistry. Microplasmas can act as a sample excitation source and are the miniaturized versions of full-sized plasmas. These can be created in various forms, such as direct current, microwave induced, capacitively coupled and inductively coupled plasmas. Scaling down the size would reduce the amount of gases, liquids and consumables required, as well as the sample analysis time, which in turn would decrease the operating costs. Therefore, several research groups are involved in the development of microplasmas for utilisation in analytical instruments.     

Note sur le mécanisme réactionnel de la transposition de Dimroth. Une étude ab initio

An ab initio study of the Dimorth rerarrangement of the -amino-1,2,3,4-tetrazole leads to the conclusion teht in vapour phase the rate determining step is not the ring-chain isomerism, but is either the Z-E iomerism around the C?N double bond or the 1,3-sigmatropic shift of the proton.     

Comparison of quantitative methods for analysis of polyphasic pharmaceuticals

Adequate very sensitive quantification methods are needed for the development and are also now required for the monitoring of undesirable solid form(s) as routine tests. The pre-requisite for quantitation are selectivity, sensitivity and most important the purity of standards and their proper storage, what is a challenge for metastable forms. Several analytical techniques are available such as X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, thermal analysis and microcalorimetry. The different steps of the validation of the analytical methods and problems to be solved are discussed. Examples illustrate the different techniques and compare their possible advantages and limits. The relative standard deviation of measurements should allow for checking the homogenization procedure of mixtures for calibration. The validation should be carried out following ICH guidelines for validation of analytical methods. Comparison of different techniques in adequate concentration range add confidence in the analytical results.     

Modification of a Dionex System 12 ion chromatograph for sequential determination of the main components in atmospheric precipitation

A modification of a Dionex System 12 ion chromatograph is described which enables organic anions (acetate and formate), inorganic cations (ammonium, sodium and potassium) and inorganic anions (chloride, nitrate and sulphate) to be determined sequentially in one measuring procedure. The modified instrument consists of a programmable controller unit, a conductimetric meter, two conductimetric detectors of the Dionex System 12 ion chromatograph, the HPIC-AS4A and HPIC-CS3 modern separation units, AMMS-1 and CMMS-1 micro-membrane suppressor columns, a unique system of valves from Dionex and two dual pumps from Biotronik. The limits of detection are between about 1 and 3 micrograms/l for chloride, nitrate and sulphate and between about 2 and 10 micrograms/l for acetate, formate, ammonium, sodium and potassium. The reliability of the method was demonstrated by analysing two NBS simulated rain water Standard Reference Materials. Some examples are given of the application of the method to the sequential determination of the main precipitation components in typical samples from urban and rural regions of the F.R.G. The ion concentrations varied between about 0.02 and 300 mg/l.     

Temperature influence on hydrogen sorption in palladium limited-volume electrodes (Pd-LVE)

The effect of temperature on hydrogen and deuterium electrosorption into a palladium LVE (limited-volume electrode) has been investigated. A decrease in hydrogen capacity (H/Pd ratio) with increasing temperature has been observed. Temperature strongly influences the plots of measured H(D)/Pd values vs. potential scan rate. In addition, hydrogen absorption was found to be dependent on the composition of the surrounding electrolyte solution. These results have confirmed the hypothesis that two different mechanisms of hydrogen desorption from the palladium electrode take place, namely electrochemical oxidation and non-electrochemical recombination. Further, the ratio between the rate constants for these two processes has been found to change with temperature. Electronic Publication