Tandem Cyclization of Alkynylmetals Bearing a Remote Leaving Group via Cycloalkylidene Carbenes

Treatment of terminal alkynes bearing a remote leaving group with MNR(2) (M = Li, Na, K) gives bicyclo[n.3.0]-1-alkenes (n = 3, 4). The tandem cyclization proceeds through a mechanism involving exo-cyclization of an alkynylmetal intermediate and intramolecular C-H insertion of the resulting carbenoid.     

Impact of valley polarization on the resistivity in two dimensions

We examine the temperature dependence of resistivity in a two-dimensional electron system formed in a silicon-on-insulator quantum well. The device allows us to tune the valley splitting continuously in addition to the electron density. Our data provide a global picture of how the resistivity and its temperature dependence change with valley polarization. At the boundary between valley-polarized and partially polarized regions, we demonstrate that there is an insulating contribution from spin-degenerate electrons occupying the upper valley-subband edge.     

Odd-even effect and metal induced structural convergence in self-assembled monolayers of bipyridine derivatives

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) observations reveal that bipyridine derivatives which exhibit various two-dimensional structures due to the odd-even chain length effect are converged into a lamellar structure upon metal coordination.     

A new tomato pregnane glycoside from the overripe fruits

A new pregnane glycoside has been isolated from the overripe fruits of Cherry tomato (Mini tomato), Lycopersicon esculentum var. cerasiforme (DUNAL) ALEF. The structure was determined to be 3-O-beta-lycotetraosyl 3beta-hydroxy-5alpha-pregn-16-en-20-one on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The seasonal variation of the tomato saponin is discussed.     

Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Ethene Copolymers from Metallocene and Ziegler Catalysts

In this study, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethene homopolymer and copolymer were successfully produced with the metallocene and the Ziegler catalyst system. In case with the metallocene catalyst system, viscosity average molecular weight of the homopolymer was controlled from 2 million to 10 million. Also, the molecular weight of the copolymer was reached up to 6 million. In case with the Ziegler catalyst system, the molecular weight of the copolymer was reached up to 4 million. The transparency of the copolymer by the Ziegler catalyst, with which the copolymer with better uniformity was produced, could be comparable with that by the metallocene catalyst.     

Geometry of the Funk metric on Weil–Petersson spaces

We discuss the Funk function $F(x,y)$ on a Teichmüller space with its Weil–Petersson metric $(\mathcal{T },d)$ introduced in Yamada (Convex bodies in Euclidean and Weil–Petersson geometries, 2011), which was originally studied for an open convex subset in a Euclidean space by Funk [cf. Papadopoulos and Troyanov (Math Proc Cambridge Philos Soc 147:419–437, 2009)]. $F(x,y)$ is an asymmetric distance and invariant by the action of the mapping class group. Unlike the original one, $F(x,y)$ is not always convex in $y$ with $x$ fixed (Corollary 2.11, Theorem 5.1). For each pseudo-Anosov mapping class $g$ and a point $x \in \mathcal{T }$ , there exists $E$ such that for all $n\not = 0$ , $ \log |n| -E \le F(x,g^n.x) \le \log |n|+E$ (Corollary 2.10), while $F(x,g^n.x)$ is bounded if $g$ is a Dehn twist (Proposition 2.13). The translation length is defined by $|g|_F=\inf _{x \in \mathcal{T }}F(x,g.x)$ for a map $g: \mathcal{T }\rightarrow \mathcal{T }$ . If $g$ is a pseudo-Anosov mapping class, there exists $Q$ such that for all $n \not = 0$ , $\log |n| -Q \le |g^n|_F \le \log |n| + Q.$ For sufficiently large $n$ , $|g^n|_F >0$ and the infimum is achieved. If $g$ is a Dehn twist, then $|g^n|_F=0$ for each $n$ (Theorem 2.16). Some geodesics in $(\mathcal{T },d)$ are geodesics in terms of $F$ as well. We find a decomposition of $\mathcal{T }$ by sets, each of which is foliated by those geodesics (Theorem 4.10).     

Antimony as a traffic-related element in size-fractionated road dust samples collected in Buenos Aires

The growing interest of public opinion in environmental problems conducted us to investigate the levels of a toxic traffic-related element such antimony in 19 size-fractionated street dust samples. Samples were collected in the megacity of Buenos Aires during two months at 19 sites with different urban characteristics and traffic profile. Samples were sieved in four fractions (F1 < 37 µm, F2: 37-55 µm, F3: 55-75 µm and F4: 55-100 µm) before elemental analysis. A mixture of aqua regia and hydrofluoric acid was used to digest all samples. Antimony concentrations were quantified by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) or flow injection hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry (FI-HG-AAS).Twenty four out of 73 sub-samples analyzed showed Sb levels < 0.05 µg g^− 1; in the rest of the samples mean Sb concentrations varied from 1.4 to 20.4 µg g^− 1. Maximum and minimum concentrations (in µg g^− 1) found in individual samples in the four fractions were: Fraction 1, < 0.05-20.4; Fraction 2, < 0.05-18.4; Fraction 3, < 0.05-6.3; Fraction 4, < 0.05-7.7.Antimony was found to be enriched in the smallest size fraction of road dust, with mean enrichment factors varying between 27 (F3) and 272 (F1). Concentrations of Sb were correlated with those of other traffic-related elements such as Cu and Pb and higher levels were found in areas with medium and high traffic densities.