Experiments in Solving Mixed Integer Programming Problems on a Small Array of Transputers

The time-consuming process of solving large-scale Mixed Integer Programming problems using the branch-and-bound technique can be speeded up by introducing a degree of parallelism into the basic algorithm. This paper describes the development and implementation of a parallel branch-and-bound algorithm created by adapting a commercial MIP solver. Inherent in the design of this software are certain ad hoc methods, the use of which are necessary in the effective solution of real problems. The extent to which these ad hoc methods can successfully be transferred to a parallel environment, in this case an array of at most nine transputers, is discussed. Computational results on a variety of real integer programming problems are reported.     

Mono- and dinuclear molybdenum complexes with sterically demanding cycloheptatrienyl ligands

Sterically demanding cycloheptatrienylium (tropylium) salts of the type (1,3,5-C7H4R3)BF4 [R = t-Bu, (3a)BF4; R = SiMe3, (3b)BF4] have been prepared from the corresponding 1,3,5-trisubstituted benzene derivatives 1 by ring expansion with diazomethane followed by hydride abstraction with triphenylcarbenium tetrafluoroborate, (Ph3C)BF4. Complexation can be achieved by arene exchange and Mo(CO)3 group transfer employing [(eta6-p-xylene)Mo(CO)3] (4) to yield the cationic complexes (5)BF4. In refluxing mesitylene, [(eta7-C7H4t-Bu3)Mo(CO)3]BF4, (5a)BF4, undergoes CO substitution to furnish the mesitylene sandwich complex (6a)BF4. A cyclic voltammetric study reveals that this complex exhibits a reversible one-electron oxidation to the dicationic 17e complex 6a2+, which can also be accessed by chemical oxidation with AgBF4. On the contrary, the reduction of 6a+ is irreversible and does not yield a stable 19e complex 6a. To study the fate of the reduced 19e form, (5a)BF4 was treated with Na2Hg to diastereoselectively afford the C-C coupled bicycloheptatriene complex 7a. Paramagnetic, dinuclear complexes of the type [(eta7-C7H4R3)Mo(mu-Cl)3Mo(eta7-C7H4R3)] (8) have been obtained from the reaction of (5)BF4 with Me3SiCl. These can be regarded as mixed-valence Mo(0)/Mo(+I) compounds with a metal-metal bond order of 0.5. Cyclic voltammetric studies reveal that both complexes 8a and 8b undergo reversible one-electron oxidation as well as reduction. Treatment with one equivalent of ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate leads to removal of the unpaired electron and formation of the diamagnetic complexes (8)PF6. Theoretical DFT calculations have been carried out to further elucidate the bonding in these systems. In addition, the X-ray crystal structures of (5b)BF4, (6a)BF4 x CH2Cl2, (6a)(BF4)2 x (acetone)2, 7a x CH2Cl2, 8a x 0.5C6H14, and (8a)PF6 x Et2O are reported.     

Enantioselective alkynylation of aldehydes catalyzed by [2.2]paracyclophane-based ligands

[reaction: see text] [2.2]Paracyclophane-based ketimine ligands were evaluated as catalysts for the enantioselective addition of in situ-prepared alkynylzinc reagents to aldehydes. The initial high activity and enantioselectivity of these ligands could be improved by an additive screening. The final protocol gives chiral propargyl alcohols in up to >98% ee.     

Effect of film thickness on the electro-reduction of molecular oxygen on electropolymerized cobalt tetra-aminophthalocyanine films

We studied the electrocatalytic activity of cobalt tetra-aminophthalocyanine (CoTAPc) for the reduction of molecular oxygen (O₂) on adsorbed monomeric and on electropolymerized films of different thicknesses on glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The polymeric films, denoted poly-CoTAPc, were first characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and it appears that the types of phenomena revealed to be occurring depend less on the film thickness in basic than in acid media. For O₂ reduction, the results showed that poly-CoTAPc is more active than the monomeric CoTAPc adsorbed on GC. Indeed, rotating ring-disk electrode data showed that polymeric CoTAPc promotes the four-electron reduction of O₂ to water in parallel to a two-electron reduction to give peroxide. On monomeric and thin films of poly-CoTAPc, a two-electron reduction mechanism predominates. In basic media the activity increases very slightly with thickness, whereas in acid media this increase is more pronounced. This parallels the observed behavior revealed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.     

Sorption of uranium by non-living water hyacinth roots

Summary Many studies have shown that water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) roots can be used to accumulate high concentrations of organic as well as inorganic pollutants. They are currently used to remediate aquatic environments and aqueous solutions. In the present study, sorption of uranium from aqueous solutions by using dried roots of water hyacinth has been investigated. The sorption of uranium was examined as a function of initial concentration, pH, weight of roots and contact time. Five different concentrations 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 μg ^. ml^-1 were used. Sorption proves to be very rapid and depend on pH, weight of roots and concentration of uranium. Maximum sorption capacity of water hyacinth roots was 64,000 U⁶⁺ μg/g. The sorption of uranium by water hyacinth roots follows a Langmuir isotherm.     

Synthesis of triazoles and oxadiazoles from 2-aryl-3phenyl-4-amino-5-cyano-3,4-dihydropyrimidines

2-Aryl-3-phenyl-4-imino-5-cyano-3,4-dihydropyrimidines I were transformed to 1,2,4-triazoles II,IV and 1,2,4-oxadiazoles III by treatment with hydrazine, arylhydrazines or hydroxylamine in yields up to 90%.     

Chemie von α-Aminonitrilen. 13. Mitteilung. Über die Bildung von 2-Oxoethyl-phosphaten (“Glycoladehyd-phosphaten”) aus rac-Oxirancarbonitril und anorganischem Phosphat und über (formale) Konstitutionelle Zusammenhänge zwischen 2-Oxoethyl-phosphaten und Oligo (hexo- und pentopyranosyl)nucleotid-Rückgraten

Chemistry of α-Aminonitriles. Formation of 2-Oxoethyl Phosphates (“Glycolaldehyde Phosphates”) from rac-Oxiranecarbonitrile and on (Formal) Constitutional Relationships between 2-Oxoethyl Phosphates and Oligo(hexo- and pentopyranosyl)nucleotide Backbones Oxiranecarbonitrile in basic acqueous solution at room temperature reacts regioselectively with inorganic phosphate to give the cyanohydrin of 2-oxoethyl phosphate (“glycolaldehyde phosphate”), a source of (the hydrate of) the free aldehyde, preferably in the presence of formaldehyde. In aqueous phosphate solution buffered to nearly neutral pH, oxiranecarbonitrile produces the phosphodiester of glycoladehyde as its bis-cyanohydrin in good yield. In contrast to mono- and dialkylation, trialkylation of phosphate with oxiranecarbonitrile is difficult, and the triester derivative is highly sensitive to hydrolysis. Glycolaldehyde phosphate per se is of prebiotic interest, since it had been shown [5] to aldomerize in basic aqueous solution regioselectively to rac-hexose 2, 4, 6-triphosphates and – in the presence of formaldehyde - mainly to rac-pentose 2, 4-diphosphates with, under appropriate conditions, rac-pentose 2, 4-diphosphates as the major reaction product. However, the question as to whether oxiranecarbonitrile itself has the potential of having been a prebiological natural constituent remains unanswered. Backbone structures of hexopyranosyl-oligonucleotides with phosphodiester linkages specifically between the positions 6′ → 4′, 6′ → 2′, or 4′ → 2′ of the sugar residues can formally be derived via the (hypothetical) aldomerization pathway, a combinatorial intermolecular aldomerization of glycoladehyde phosphate and bis(glycolaldehyde)-phosphodiester in a 1: 1 ratio. The constitutional relationships revealed by this synthetic analysis has played a decisive role as a selection criterion in the pursuit of our experimental studies toward a chemical etiology of the natural nucleic acids' structure. The Discussion in this paper delineates how the analysis contributed to the conception of the structure of p-RNA. The English Footnotes to Schemes 1–11 provide an extension of this summary.     

Stabilization of γ‘ phase in Bi<Subscript>4</Subscript>V<Subscript>2-x</Subscript>Fe<Subscript>x</Subscript><Superscript>II</Superscript>O<Subscript>11-1.5x</Subscript> series

Summary This work reports the room-temperature stabilization of the Bi₄V_2-xFe_x^IIO_11-1.5x γ ‘ phase, a promising ionic conductive material that finds application in solid oxide fuel cell and oxygen sensor devices. The Fe(II) cation proved to be a better stabilizer than Fe(III), which was previously used, since a lower substitution degree of V⁵⁺ is needed for the former. Powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry were used in these experiments.     

Trennung,Identifizierung und Bestimmung von Bactericiden auf der Basis von halogenierten Aromaten mittels Gas-Chromatographie

The separation of a mixture of 22 bactericides has been achieved by gas chromatography on columns with silicone rubber W-982 as stationary phase with temperatures between 100° and 300°C. The unchanged compounds as well as their silylation products have been used. The latter are more conveniently used especially for the quantitative determination. To be able to calculate the retention indices after Kovats gas chromatography has been performed isothermally at 180°C for the more volatile compounds and at 250°C for all other bactericides.The retention indices obtained under these conditions are tabulated together with the limits of detection.     

2-Amino-4-bromobutanoic Acid

(2S)- and (2R)-2-Amino-4-bromobutanoic acid were prepared starting from N-Boc-glutamic acid α tert-butyl ester. The double tert-butyl protection was necessary to prevent a partial racemisation during Barton’s radical decarboxylation used to transform the γ-carboxylic group into a bromide. This bromide reacted with different nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur nucleophiles to give nonnatural amino acids characterised by basic or heterocyclic side chains. The title compound was also used to prepare a conformationally constrained peptidomimetic.