Unexpected single-step formation of 1,2-anti-heterodisubstituted calix[4]arenes upon alkylation of a tribenzoyl precursor

The selective preparation and complete structural characterization of a small series of 1,2-anti-heterodisubstituted calix[4]arenes has been accomplished. These compounds were obtained in two steps from unsubstituted p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene by tribenzoylation and a subsequent one-pot, two-step sequence involving alkylation with simultaneous partial deacylation, resulting in heterodisubstituted calixarenes carrying an alkyl and an aroyl group. The monoalkyl-tribenzoyl intermediate, prior to in situ deprotection, could also be isolated.     

A linear semi-infinite programming strategy for constructing optimal wavelet transforms in multivariate calibration problems

A novel strategy for the optimization of wavelet transforms with respect to the statistics of the data set in multivariate calibration problems is proposed. The optimization follows a linear semi-infinite programming formulation, which does not display local maxima problems and can be reproducibly solved with modest computational effort. After the optimization, a variable selection algorithm is employed to choose a subset of wavelet coefficients with minimal collinearity. The selection allows the building of a calibration model by direct multiple linear regression on the wavelet coefficients. In an illustrative application involving the simultaneous determination of Mn, Mo, Cr, Ni, and Fe in steel samples by ICP-AES, the proposed strategy yielded more accurate predictions than PCR, PLS, and nonoptimized wavelet regression.     

Phosphate diester hydrolysis and DNA damage promoted by new cis-aqua/hydroxy copper(II) complexes containing tridentate imidazole-rich ligands

The tridentate Schiff base [(2-(imidazol-4-yl)ethyl)(1-methylimidazol-2-yl)methyl)imine (HISMIMI) and its reduced form HISMIMA were synthesized and characterized, as well their mononuclear cis-dihalo copper(II) complexes 1 and 2, respectively. In addition, the dinuclear [CuII(mu-OH)2CuII](2+) complexes (3) and (4) obtained from complexes 1 and 2, respectively, were also isolated and characterized by several physicochemical techniques, including magnetochemistry, electrochemistry, and EPR and UV-vis spectroscopies. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 were determined by X-ray crystallography and revealed two neutral complexes with their tridentate chelate ligands meridionally coordinated. Completing the coordination spheres of the square-pyramidal structures, a chloride ion occupies the apical position and another is bonded in the basal plane. In addition, complexes 1 and 2 were investigated by infrared, electronic, and EPR spectroscopies, cyclic voltammetry, and potentiometric equilibrium studies. The hydrolytic activity on phosphate diester cleavage of 1 and 2 was investigated utilizing 2,4-BDNPP as substrate. These experiments were carried out at 50 degrees C, and the data treatment was based on the Michaelis-Menten approach, giving the following kinetic parameters (complex 1/complex 2): vmax (mol L(-1) s(-1))=16.4x10(-9)/7.02x10(-9); KM (mol L(-1))=17.3x10(-3)/3.03x10(-3); kcat (s(-1))=3.28x10(-4)/1.40x10(-4). Complex 1 effectively promoted the hydrolytic cleavage of double-strand plasmid DNA under anaerobic and aerobic conditions, with a rate constant of 0.28 h(-1) for the decrease of form I, which represents about a 10(7) rate increase compared with the estimated uncatalyzed rate of hydrolysis.     

Surface reactions kinetics between nanocrystalline magnetite and uranyl

Magnetite is the most important end member of iron corrosion products under reducing environment, which is the condition expected in a deep geological high level radioactive waste disposal. Nanocrystalline magnetite was synthesized in the laboratory and its physicochemical properties were analyzed in detail. The kinetics of the adsorption of U(VI) and the kinetics of the actinide reduction to a lower oxidation state, in presence of the oxide, were studied by means of batch sorption techniques and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The results showed that the uranium sorption and reduction processes on the magnetite surface have very fast kinetics (hours), the reduction process being triggered by sorption. XPS measurements showed that the speciation of uranium at the surface does not show significant changes with time (from 1 day to 3 months), as well as the quantity of uranium detected at the surface. The surface speciation depended on the initial pH of the contact solution. Considering that the Eh of equilibrium between magnetite and the solution, under our experimental conditions, is slightly positive (50-100 mV), the uranium reduction would also be thermodynamically possible within the liquid phase. However, the kinetics of reduction in the liquid occur at a much slower rate which, in turn, has to depend on the attainment of the magnetite/solution equilibrium. The decrease of uranium in solution, observed after the uranyl adsorption stage, and particularly at acidic pH, is most probably due to the precipitation of U(IV) formed in the solution.     

Domination by Positive Narrow Operators

We prove that each positive operator from a Köthe function-space E() to a Banach lattice F with a narrow majorant is itself narrow provided the norm on F is order continuous. We also prove that every l ²-strictly singular regular operator from L ^p[0,1], 1p < , to a Banach lattice F is narrow, provided F has an order continuous norm.     

Addition Reactions of Benzenesulfinic Acid with Glycals and 1,2-Dibromosugars

The addition of benzenesulfinic acid to glycals was investigated under various conditions, and optimized yields of the glycosyl phenylsulfone products were obtained in the presence of tin tetrachloride as a catalyst. Double bond shift (Ferrier rearrangement) occurred in all cases except amicetal, which lacks a substituent at the allylic carbon. Glycosylation of benzenesulfinic acid with 1,2-dibromides was carried out using silver triflate as the promoter, and gave sulfinate esters as products by reaction at oxygen rather than at sulfur. The sulfinate esters were obtained as mixtures of stereoisomers at the stereogenic sulfur atom. Trapping of the sulfinates with carboxylate nucleophiles was observed during attempted oxidation with MCPBA.     

Thermal analysis of the combustion of charcoals from Eucalyptus dunnii obtained at different pyrolysis temperatures

DSC and TG/DTA were used to study charcoals obtained from eucalyptus wood at different pyrolysis temperatures, as well as the exchanged energy, and the transformations involved during the pyrolysis process. Charcoals DSC curves showed two exothermic peaks, at ~610 and ~750 K. The first peak was squashed for those charcoals obtained at higher final pyrolysis temperatures, and it disappeared in the charcoals obtained at 873 and 923 K. The second peak intensity increased and its location changed at the higher temperatures. Charcoal characterization showed a rise of heat values with the pyrolysis temperature.     

2-Aryl-7,7-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrothieno[3,2-c]azepin-4-ones from 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione

A novel synthesis of substituted thieno[3,2-c]azepinones is described. This new approach uses 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione (dimedone) as the starting material. Oxime intermediates are obtained in three steps from the aforementioned diketone. Using these intermediates, the title compounds are synthesized in moderate yields.     

Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction of aryl and heterocyclic bromides and aromatic polybromides on a Pd(II)‐hydrotalcite catalyst

The Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction of various bromine‐containing substrates and phenylboronic acid in toluene at 90 °C on a Pd(AcO)₂Py₂ catalyst supported on an Mg? Al hydrotalcite, using K₂CO₃ as the base, was studied. The conversion and selectivity results obtained for many of the substrates were excellent and similar to those provided by more active or even homogeneous catalysts. The reactions of aryl polybromides and phenylboronic acid gave the corresponding polyaromatic compounds in variable yields depending on the particular substrate. Arylation occurred in a consecutive manner by substitution of the different Br atoms. ICP‐MS measurements of the palladium content of the catalyst performed prior to and after the reaction revealed that part of the metal is incorporated into the bulk solution; therefore, the catalytic process is not purely heterogeneous. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Group methodology in production management: A solution based on a hierarchical classification method

We consider the problem submitted by Garcia and Proth and we propose for it a solution obtained by simply applying our very general method of hierarchical classification based on the likelihood of the links, in the case of an incidence table of data. This application is done on each of the two sides of the incidence data table. In our approach, the common number p of classes has not to be fixed arbitrarily, but is an observed possible result—provided by the notions of ‘significant’ levels and nodes of the classification tree—for the ‘natural’ association between two partitions. We compare our solution with the previous one.