Structure solution of a novel aluminium methylphosphonate using a new simulated annealing program and powder X-ray diffraction data

The structure of a novel layered aluminium methylphosphonate, formula Al2(CH3PO3)3, has been solved from laboratory X-ray powder diffraction data by simulated annealing of five independent structural sub-units, revealing a combination of four- and five-fold coordinated aluminiums within the inorganic lamellae that is unique for this kind of solid.     

Full dimensional calculations of vibrational energies of H3O+ and D3O+

We report full dimensional calculations of vibrational energies of H3O+ and D3O+ using two implementations of the code MULTIMODE. In one implementation, the reference geometry is the minimum of the potential (the standard choice for MULTIMODE). This implementation is not able to readily describe splittings in the vibrational energies due to motion through the inversion barrier. A second implementation, in which the reference geometry is the inversion saddle point, is able to describe the splittings. These full dimensional calculations are done using the realistic, though not spectroscopically accurate, potential of Ojamae, Singer and Shavitt, and the results are compared with experiment.     

Synthesis of the ABC ring system of azaspiracid. 1. Effect of D ring truncation on bis-spirocyclization

[reaction: see text] Synthesis of a spirocyclization precursor with a truncated D ring has been accomplished. Subsequent bis-spirocyclization induced the formation of equal amounts of the natural transoidal 10R,13R bis-spirocycle and its cisoidal 10R,13S epimer under an apparent thermodynamically controlled process.     

πp phase shifts from 88 to 310 MeV

Phase shift solutions are presented at pion kinetic energies from 88 to 292 MeV where new measurements of the differential elastic cross section are available, and at 310 MeV. The resulting phase shifts are fitted to effective-range formulae. The resonant P₃₃ phase shift is allowed to take different values for π⁺p and π^?p scattering. There are differences in mass and width between these charge states of the resonance of M⁰ ? M⁺⁺ = 1.4 ± 0.4 MeV/c² and Γ⁰ ? Γ⁺⁺ = 10.3 ± 1.3 MeV/c². The difference in width can be accounted for largely but not entirely by the Coulomb barrier, the channel π^?p → γn, and the difference in phase space between π^?p → π⁰n and π⁺p → π⁺p.     

Vanadium-catalyzed selenide oxidation with in situ[2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement (SOS reaction): scope and asymmetric applications

A vanadium-catalyzed method for the oxidation of prochiral aryl, allylic selenides with tandem [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement has been developed. This protocol has been screened on a series of substrates to test for its generality and effectiveness. The applicability of this methodology to the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched allylic alcohols has been studied on a series of chiral oxazole-containing systems with a diastereomeric ratio (d.r.) of up to 85 : 15. The chiral transfer observed in the allyl alcohol products is the result of a net 1,9- and/or 1,10-induction. Finally, the first example of a selenium-oxygen nonbonding interaction in oxazole-containing selenide appears to have been observed via X-ray crystal analysis.     

Quantum critical behaviour in the CePd2Si2/CeNi2Ge2 system

We have explored the vicinity of the antiferromagnetic quantum critical point in the related heavy fermion metals CePd₂Si₂ and CeNi₂Ge₂ as a function of hydrostatic pressure. The normal state resistivity of the antiferromagnet CePd2Si2 near the critical pressure, at which magnetic order disappears, varies as ρ ～ T^χ(1:1 < χ < 1:4) over nearly two orders of magnitude in temperature up to about 30 K. This anomalous form for the resistivity appears to defy not only Fermi-liquid theory, but also simple phenomenological models for the effect of spin fluctuations close to a quantum critical point. An analogous unconventional behaviour is observed in the ambient pressure resistivity of the electronically and structurally equivalent, non-magnetic metal CeNi₂Ge₂. At pressures above 15 kbar, a new and unexpected superconducting transition appears in CeNi₂Ge₂ below 220 mK, which rises to higher temperatures with increasing pressure, reaching 400 mK at 26 kbar.     

Study of the D(+)(s)-->pi(-)pi(+)pi(+) decay and measurement of f(0) masses and widths

From a sample of 848+/-44 D(+)(s)-->pi(-)pi(+)pi(+) decays, we find gamma(D(+)(s)-->pi(-)pi(+)pi(+))/gamma(D(+)(s)-->straight phipi(+)) = 0.245+/-0.028(+0.019)(-0.012). Using a Dalitz plot analysis of this three body decay, we find significant contributions from the channels rho(0)(770)pi(+), rho(0)(1450)pi(+), f(0)(980)pi(+), f(2)(1270)pi(+), and f(0)(1370)pi(+). We also present the values obtained for masses and widths of the resonances f(0)(980) and f(0)(1370).     

Polarization-maintaining amplifier employing double-clad bow-tie fiber

We report a polarization-maintaining double-clad Yb-doped fiber amplifier employing bow-tie fiber. Borosilicate stress elements were incorporated into the inner cladding of the fiber, yielding a beat length of 5.1 mm at 633 nm. When the fiber was pumped at 975 nm and seeded with linearly polarized light, the polarization extinction ratio was >15 dB , independent of pump power, and the output power was as high as 3.5 W.     

A Si(Li) detector system for conversion coefficient measurements and application to the decays of51Cr and87Y

An electron detector system with a 3 mm × 100 mm² Si(Li) detector with a cooled FET and vacuum air lock for changing sources was constructed. The absolute efficiency was measured as a function of energy for use in the measurement ofK conversion coefficients. With the Si(Li) and a Ge(Li) detector, theK conversion coefficient of the 320 keV transition in⁵¹V was measured to be 0.00156 ± 0.00008 where theK conversion coefficients of the 661 and 279 keV transitions in¹³⁷Ba and²⁰³Tl were used as standards. From absolute detection efficiency measurements, theK conversion coefficients of the 388 and 483 keV transitions in⁸⁷Sr were measured to be 0.16 ± 0.02 and 0.0024 ± 0.0003, respectively.