Addition of arenes to ethylene and propene catalyzed by ruthenium

TpRuII(CO)(Me)(NCMe) (Tp = hydridotris(pyrazolyl)borate) serves as a catalyst precursor for the conversion of benzene and ethylene or propene to alkylaromatic products. The reaction proceeds via the formation of the active catalyst TpRu(CO)(Ph)(NCMe) and is mildly selective for linear propylbenzene over isopropylbenzene.     

Particle Propagation in Cosmological Backgrounds

We analyse the quantum propagation of interacting particles in cosmological backgrounds. The model we use consists of a doublet of massive scalar fields propagating in an expanding universe filled with massless radiation. The masses are much larger than the Hubble expansion rate, so that the number of massive particles is preserved and the fields adequately described within the adiabatic approximation. We focus on the dissipative effects related to the expansion rate by computing the imaginary part of the self-energy. In the quasi static approximation, we recover the expected result that instantaneous decay rate is governed by the local temperature. We then analyse the long time behavior of the propagator to unravel the secular effects induced by the self-energy. We show that these effects can be expressed in terms of integrals of local quantities. Applications to the trans-Planckian question are briefly discussed.     

Simple optoelectronic method for analysis of transverse mode structure of lasers

Laser beam quality evaluation is generally carried out through the measurement of the M² second-moment. This standard procedure is time consuming and is difficult to be implemented for checking, for instance, each VCSEL diode moving out of the assembly line of a high volume production factory. In this paper, we propose an alternative fast method allowing to distinguish easily a single transverse mode from a multiple transverse mode behaviour. This method is based on an electronic analysis (locking amplifier) of the local slope of the output laser characteristic, i.e. laser output power versus pumping.     

A heuristic for the multi-period petrol station replenishment problem

In the multi-period petrol station replenishment problem (MPSRP) the aim is to optimize the delivery of several petroleum products to a set of petrol stations over a given planning horizon. One must determine, for each day of the planning horizon, how much of each product should be delivered to each station, how to load these products into vehicle compartments, and how to plan vehicle routes. The objective is to maximize the total profit equal to the revenue, minus the sum of routing costs and of regular and overtime costs. This article describes a heuristic for the MPSRP. It contains a route construction and truck loading procedures, a route packing procedure, and two procedures enabling the anticipation or the postponement of deliveries. The heuristic was extensively tested on randomly generated data and compared to a previously published algorithm. Computational results confirm the efficiency of the proposed methodology.     

A Novel Allenic Epoxycyclohexane and Related Compounds from Eutypa lata (Pers: F.) Tul

The novel allenic epoxycyclohexanes 1 , and related compounds 2 and 3 have been isolated from the culture medium of Eutypa lata. Their structures were established by combination of spectroscopic and chemical techniques. Biogenetic origin and biological activity of these compounds are also discussed.     

InGaAs/Si3N4 interface obtained in ultrahigh vacuum multipolar plasma: In-situ control by ellipsometry and electrical characterization

A multipolar plasma passivation scheme controlled by in-situ ellipsometry has been developed to produce a high electrical quality InGaAs/Si₃N₄ interface. We have demonstrated the possibility to remove all native oxides at the InGaAs surface by heating the sample at 240°C, then using the action of a multipolar H₂ plasma at 185°C, without optical degradation of the surface. The passivation by a native nitride layer is then performed using a N₂ plasma, and Si₃N₄ is deposited. The treatment induces a reduction of the density of interface states N_ss(E), and also a change of the nature of these interface states as shown by a reduction in the capture cross section σ_n(E).     

Synthesis of 3′-deoxy-3′-iminodiacetic acid and 3′-deoxy-3′-aminodiethanol thymidine analogues and NMR study of their complexation with boronic acids

The iminodiacetic acid and aminodiethanol moieties are known for their ability to generate with boronic acids bicyclic structures having a strong intramolecular NB coordination. We describe here the convergent synthesis of 3′-deoxy-3′-iminodiacetic acid and 3′-deoxy-3′-aminodiethanol thymidine analogues. The abilities of these compounds to form boronate complexes with aliphatic or aromatic boronic acids were established by 1D and 2D ¹H and ¹³C NMR. Moreover, conformational analysis of the newly synthesized compounds revealed a marked preference for an N-type sugar puckering.     

Development of a Xanthine Oxidase Modified Amperometric Electrode for the Determination of the Antioxidant Capacity

This paper describes the development of a xanthine oxidase/poly‐m‐phenylenediamine (XOD‐PPD)‐modified electrode. The biosensor was constructed by encapsulating XOD in a sol‐gel matrix deposited onto a platinum based screen‐printed electrode functionalized with a permselective PPD membrane. The hydrogen peroxide generated as a final product of the enzymatic reaction between the hypoxanthine and the XOD or by the spontaneous dismutation of superoxide radicals was selectively monitored at +700 mV. The use of a highly selective PPD layer blocked the nonspecific oxidation of other oxidizable molecules. Finally the biosensor was applied to the determination of the antioxidant capacity of acetylsalicylic acid.