Greenhouse gas abatement — toward Pareto-optimal decisions under uncertainty

This paper examines the economic logic of integrated assessment — balancing the costs against the benefits of greenhouse gas abatement. Stylized facts are employed in a multiregion computable general equilibrium model with a public good. The percentage shares of global emissions are determined outside the model — based upon some form of international agreement — and emission rights are tradeable between regions. The analysis is confined to Pareto-optimal (cooperative) solutions. We focus on the sensitivity of initial decisions to low-probability, high-consequence scenarios associated with cumulative emissions. For simplicity, there are only two regions, two tradeable goods, two time periods, and two states-of-world. With the particular form of public good model adopted here (production rather than utility function impacts), it turns out that a Pareto-optimal hedging strategy is indepedent of the emission shares allocated to each region. Equity issues may be separated from those of economic efficiency. Similar results extend to cases in which there are additional regions, tradeable goods, time periods, and states-of-world.Presented at the Conference on the Economics of Global Environmental Change, Birmingham University, May 9–11, 1994. This research was funded by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The views presented here are solely those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views of EPRI or its members.     

Structural and Spectroscopic Characterization of Iron(III) Dioxoporphodimethene Complexes and Their Autoreduction to an Iron(II) Complex in Pyridine

Three iron complexes of the meso-dioxo derivative of octaethylporphryin (trans-H(2)OEPO(2)) were characterized by X-ray diffraction. Green ClFe(III)(trans-OEPO(2)).1.5C(6)H(6) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 13.766(3) ?, b = 19.075(3) ?, c = 15.217(3) ?, beta = 99.87(2) degrees at 123 K with Z = 4. Refinement of 2712 reflections with F > 6.0sigma(F) and 223 parameters yielded R = 0.0624, R(w) = 0.0596. The iron complex contains a domed dioxoporphodimethene macrocyclic ligand. The observation of a five-coordinate iron(III) ion with an axial Fe-Cl distance of 2.232(2) ? and in-plane Fe-N distances averaging 2.082 ? is consistent with its high-spin (S = (5)/(2)) character. This monomer is readily converted to the green {Fe(III)(trans-OEPO(2))}(2)O using aqueous hydroxide. {Fe(III)(trans-OEPO(2))}(2)O crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 23.541(8) ?, b = 15.392(5) ?, c = 18.686(8) ?, and beta = 90.09(3) degrees at 294 K with Z = 8. Refinement of 3472 reflections with F > 6.0sigma(F) and 393 parameters yielded R = 0.0484, R(w) = 0.0527. The complex possesses a crystallographically imposed 2-fold symmetry axis that passes through the oxo ligand. The dioxoporphodimethene ligands within the molecule are roof-shaped and fold away from each other. The axial Fe-O distance is 1.749(1) ? with longer in-plane Fe-N distances (average 2.077 ?). The Fe-O-Fe angle of 165.4(2) degrees deviates significantly from linearity and is more acute than related porphyrin complexes. Pyridine solutions of either the iron(III) monomer or &mgr;-oxo dimer autoreduce over a period of days to give (py)(2)Fe(II)(trans-OEPO(2)). This red compound crystallizes in the space group P2(1) with a = 19.177(4) ?, b = 20.039(4) ?, c = 10.547(2) ?, and beta = 100.36(3) degrees at 130 K with Z = 2. Refinement of 5090 reflections with one restraint and 984 parameters yielded R1 = 0.0684, wR2 = 0.1763. The complex crystallizes with two distinct molecules in the asymmetric unit; each molecule contains a different degree of disorder with respect to the trans meso oxygen atoms (50/50, 71/29). Each independent molecule exhibits severe ruffling of the macrocycle. The six coordinate iron(II) center is diamagnetic. The axial Fe-N(pyridine) distances average 1.98 ?, and the in-plane Fe-N(pyrrole) distances average 1.95 ?. A common trend observed for the dioxoporphodimethene macrocycle in all of these structures is an elongation toward the trans oxidized meso carbons. These complexes were originally prepared as cis and trans isomeric mixtures that can be enriched in the trans isomer by fractional crystallization. This is evident in their distinctive (1)H NMR spectra. In addition, these compounds are characterized by electron impact mass spectrometry and UV-visible, ESR, and infrared spectroscopies.     

Energetics of protein-cyclodextrin interactions

The energetics of interaction of a range of cyclodextrins with folded and unfolded proteins has been examined by sensitive microcalorimetry techniques. Weak interaction with exposed amino acid residues promotes unfolding and dissociation of proteins. The possibility that such interactions may facilitate the use of cyclodextrins as chaperone-mimics in the refolding of denatured protein has been explored with the enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase. Up to 40% regain of activity can be achieved in some cases.     

A Product Formed from Glycylglycine in the Presence of Vanadate and Hydrogen Peroxide: The (Glycylde-N-hydroglycinato-kappa(3)N(2),N(N)(),O(1))oxoperoxovanadate(V) Anion

A crystalline glycylglycine complex of monoperoxovanadate has been obtained and its X-ray structure determined. The coordination is pentagonal bipyramidal with the peroxo group and a tridentate glycylglycine occupying the equatorial positions. The axial positions of the anion are occupied by the oxo ligand and by one oxygen of the peroxo group of the adjacent anion. The latter interaction establishes the seventh bond and produces a dimeric structure in the crystalline material. NMR studies of its dissolution in water combined with previously reported results from equilibrium measurements show that the dimer dissociates in water to the monomeric precursor. It is proposed that this monomer corresponds to the complex responsible for the inhibition of the vanadium-catalyzed decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by glycylglycine. Crystal structure of [NEt(4)][VO(O(2))(GlyGly)].1.58H(2)O: monoclinic, space group P2(1); Z = 4; a = 10.618(2) ?; b = 14.803(2) ?; c = 11.809(2) ?; beta = 101.37(2) degrees; V = 1819.7 ?(3); T = 198 K; R(F)() = 0.029 for 2664 data (I(o) >/= 2.5sigma(I(o))) and 431 variables.     

Bengazoles C-G from the Sponge Jaspis sp. Synthesis of the Side Chain and Determination of Absolute Configuration

Five new antifungal bengazoles (C-G) were isolated and fully characterized from a marine sponge of the genus Jaspis sp. Bengazoles C-G, together with the known bengazoles A and B, comprise a homologous series of n, iso, and anteiso fatty acid esters (C(13)-C(16)) of the same heterocyclic bis(oxazolyl)methanol parent. The complete relative and absolute configurations of the bengazoles were determined by application of the modified Mosher method and interpretation of exciton coupling in the CD spectra of the tetra-p-bromobenzoate derivatives of bengazole A and that of a model tetrol synthesized in seven steps from L-fucose.     

Structures of two ketals derived from a pentacyclic cage diketone

The structure of a compound derived from a symmetrical cage diketone in which one of the ketone C=O groups has been converted into a ketal is reported. An investigation into reasons for the selective functionalization resulted in the isolation of acis, cisoid, cis linear triquinane derivative in which both ketones are converted to ketals that share a transannular oxygen atom. Crystal data:2, monoclinic,P2₁/c,a=7.6298(9),b=7.673(3),c=22.125(3)Å,=97.59(1)°,V=1283.9(5)ų, andR=0.048 (1001 reflections);4, triclinic,P¯1,a=7.3864(9),b=9.6362(9),c=10.3889(9)Å,=75.749(6),=76.300(8), =83.100(8)°,V=694.8(4)ų, andR=0.088 (1284 reflections).