A versatile synthesis of functionalised 2-aminoquinolines by mercury controlled cyclisation of 2-vinylphenylthioureas

4-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-phenylamino-1,8-naphthyridine was prepared via cyclisation of N-phenyl-N′-3-(4-hydroxyphenethen-1-yl)pyridin-2-ylthiourea in the presence of mercuric oxide. Derivatives of 4-methyl-2-aminoquinolines were prepared in a similar manner from 2-vinylphenylthioureas.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance study of the molecular structure of 1,3-benzodioxole and 1,3-indandione partially oriented in nematic solvents

The molecular structures of 1,3-benzodioxole and 1,3-indandione partially oriented in nematic solvents have been studied by NMR. Results for 1,3-indandione agree well with a planar model. The structural parameters are similar to those obtained by X-ray studies. No keto-enol tautomerism is observed. An anomalous structural result is obtained for 1,3-benzodioxole if the molecule is assumed to be planar. Dipolar couplings agree well with puckered model. The puckering angle is found to be about 15.5° ± 2°, similar to the values observed for TTF, TSeF and 2,5-dihydrofuran.     

The diffraction of a shock wave by an inclined body of revolution

Summary The interaction between a plane normal shock wave of arbitrary strength and a slender body of revolution, held with its axis at a small angle to the direction of propagation of the shock, is considered. The pressure field is determined by using the method of matched asymptotic expansions and the general results are applied to the problem of diffraction by an inclined circular cone.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird die Beeinflussung einer ebenen Stosswelle beliebiger Stärke durch einen schlanken Rotationskörper untersucht, dessen Achse einen kleinen Winkel mit der Ausbreitungsrichtung des Stosses bildet. Das Druckfeld wird mit Hilfe der abgestimmten asymptotischen Entwicklungen bestimmt, und die allgemeinen Resultate werden auf das Problem der Diffraktion durch einen angestellten Kreiskegel angewendet.

     

High‐mobility solution‐processed zinc oxide thin films on silicon nitride

A high effective electron mobility of 33 cm² V^–1 s^–1 was achieved in solution‐processed undoped zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films. The introduction of silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) as growth substrate resulted in a mobility improvement by a factor of 2.5 with respect to the commonly used silicon oxide (SiO₂). The solution‐processed ZnO thin films grown on Si₃N₄, prepared by low‐pressure chemical vapor deposition, revealed bigger grain sizes, lower strain and better crystalline quality in comparison to the films grown on thermal SiO₂. These results show that the nucleation and growth mechanisms of solution‐processed films are substrate dependent and affect the final film structure accordingly. The substantial difference in electron mobilities suggests that, in addition to the grain morphology and crystalline structure effects, defect chemistry is a contributing factor that also depends on the particular substrate. In this respect, interface trap densities measured in high‐κ HfO₂/ZnO MOSCAPs were about ten times lower in those fabricated on Si₃N₄ substrates. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

     

A structure determination protocol based on combined analysis of 3D-ED data,powder XRD data,solid-state NMR data and DFT-D calculations reveals the structure of a new polymorph of l-tyrosine

We report the crystal structure of a new polymorph of l-tyrosine (denoted the β polymorph), prepared by crystallization from the gas phase following vacuum sublimation. Structure determination was carried out by combined analysis of three-dimensional electron diffraction (3D-ED) data and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) data. Specifically, 3D-ED data were required for reliable unit cell determination and space group assignment, with structure solution carried out independently from both 3D-ED data and powder XRD data, using the direct-space strategy for structure solution implemented using a genetic algorithm. Structure refinement was carried out both from powder XRD data, using the Rietveld profile refinement technique, and from 3D-ED data. The final refined structure was validated both by periodic DFT-D calculations, which confirm that the structure corresponds to an energy minimum on the energy landscape, and by the fact that the values of isotropic ¹³C NMR chemical shifts calculated for the crystal structure using DFT-D methodology are in good agreement with the experimental high-resolution solid-state ¹³C NMR spectrum. Based on DFT-D calculations using the PBE0-MBD method, the β polymorph is meta-stable with respect to the previously reported crystal structure of l-tyrosine (now denoted the α polymorph). Crystal structure prediction calculations using the AIRSS approach suggest that there are three other plausible crystalline polymorphs of l-tyrosine, with higher energy than the α and β polymorphs.

A new polymorph of l-tyrosine is reported, with the crystal structure determined by combined analysis of 3D-ED data and powder XRD data, augmented by information from periodic DFT-D calculations and solid-state ¹³C NMR data.     

Application of spectroscopic imaging in epilepsy

Functional and anatomical neuroimaging has had a dramatic effect on the evaluation of patients for seizure surgery. The demonstration by PET that the epileptogenic focus has interictal metabolic abnormalities has allowed a greater number of patients to come to seizure surgery, with fewer of these patients requiring intracranial electrode evaluations. Metabolic changes have also been demonstrated utilizing single voxel and whole brain ¹H and ³¹P MRS imaging techniques with the interictal focus characterized by increased Pi, pH, and decreased PME and NAA. These findings can be used to accurately lateralize temporal lobe as well as frontal lobe epilepsy. Furthermore, there is evidence that these findings can be used to localize the seizure focus with the changes specific for the epileptogenic region; although, more diffuse changes both ipsilaterally and contralaterally have been seen. In patients with anterior hippocampal seizure foci the pH is significantly alkaline only in the ipsilateral hippocampus, whereas the increased Pi and decreased PME can be seen throughout the ipsilateral temporal lobe. When compared to controls the contralateral hemisphere is acidotic. Decreased NAA concentrations as well as NAA/Cr ratios have been demonstrated in the epileptogenic region in temporal and frontal lobe epilepsy. The decreased NAA has been correlated with the severity of cell loss, and may be a more sensitive measure than qualitative or quantitative measures of the hippocampal atrophy; however, the NAA decrease is more widespread than just the epileptogenic focus but may be maximal at the site of seizure initiation. In preliminary work, NAA maps of deviation from normality have suggested the maximal change to coincide with the epileptogenic region. These results suggest that in focal epilepsy there is abnormal metabolic activity throughout the brain detectable by MRS, with patterns of metabolic asymmetry that are useful for seizure localization.     

Novel,highly polarizable thiophene derivatives for use in nonlinear optical applications

The synthesis of a variety of thiophene-containing materials for use in electro-optic devices requiring highly birefringent materials is reported. The refractive indices were measured with the use of an Abbé refractometer, and from these results the optical anisotropies, polarizabilities and order parameters were determined. The replacement of a phenyl ring by thiophene leads to large enhancements of polarizability. The most significant increases in polarizability anisotropy were observed when the rigid core was a collinear 5,5′-disubstituted-2,2′-dithienyl unit. The changes in the optical properties are discussed in terms of the structural units (thiophene, phenyl, isothiocyanate, nitrile, butylsulfanyl, alkoxy and alkyl moieties) used and their positions with respect to the molecular core.     

Studies Directed Towards a Practical Synthesis of Brevicomins (II)1 : A Novel Synthesis of 1, 5-Dimethyl-8-Oxobicyclo [3.2.1]octane-6-one

The recent interest in pheromones,² as means of controlling insect pests, has prompted us to examine syntheses which could be both simple and practical. We recently reported a three-step synthesis of brevicomin (3), the aggregating pheromone of the pine bark beetle, Dendroctonus brevicomis.³     

1-(1-Alkenyl)benzotriazoles: Novel α-Hydroxyacyl Anion Equivalents for the Synthesis of α-Hydroxy Ketones

α-Lithiated 1-(1-alkenyl)benzotriazoles, generated from the reactions of 1-(1-alkenyl)benzotriazoles with n-BuLi, react with a variety of electrophiles to afford α-substituted 1-(1-alkenyl)benzotriazoles which undergo epoxidation with m-CPBA followed by hydrolysis to give α-hydroxy ketones in good yields. Thus, 1-(1-alkenyl)benzotriazoles behave as α-hydroxyacyl anion equivalents.