Chiral separation of N-methyl-dl-aspartic acid in rat brain tissue as N-ethoxycarbonylated (S)-(+)-2-octyl ester derivatives by GC-MS

A selective and sensitive analytical method was developed for enantiomeric separation and determination of N‐methyl‐DL‐aspartic acid (NMA). The method involved the conversion of each enantiomer into N‐ethoxycarbonylated (S)‐(+)‐2‐octyl ester derivative for the direct separation by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). The diastereomeric derivatives showed characteristic mass spectral properties for analysis by selected ion monitoring mode (SIM) and enabling enantioseparation on an achiral capillary column. Two enantiomers were baseline separated, and the detection limits for N‐methyl‐L‐aspartic acid (NMLA) and N‐methyl‐D‐aspartic acid (NMDA) were 0.07 and 0.03 ng/g, respectively. When applied to rat brain tissues for absolute configuration of NMA, only NMDA was determined, while NMLA was monitored as lower than the limit of detection. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Continuous Production of Functionalized Polymer Particles Employing the Phase Separation in Polymer Blend Films

This study reports a continuous prepartion of spherical or hemispherical polymer particles simply utilizing the phase separation in polymer blend films during the coating process. We took an advantage of the strong phase separation between a water‐soluble crystalline polymer as a matrix and hydrophobic polymers as minor components. We demonstrated the prepartion of water‐soluble polystyrene (PS) particles, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA)‐functionalized PS particles for protein separation, and semiconducting poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) particles. The sizes of the particles could be controlled by adjusting the film thickness and weight fraction of the minor component polymers in the blend film. It provides a simple facile way to prepare polymer particles in a continous process.

     

Nonaqueous synthesis of TiO2 nanocrystals using TiF4 to engineer morphology, oxygen vacancy concentration, and photocatalytic activity

Control over faceting in nanocrystals (NCs) is pivotal for many applications, but most notably when investigating catalytic reactions which occur on the surfaces of nanostructures. Anatase titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) is one of the most studied photocatalysts, but the shape dependence of its activity has not yet been satisfactorily investigated and many questions still remain unanswered. We report the nonaqueous surfactant-assisted synthesis of highly uniform anatase TiO(2) NCs with tailorable morphology in the 10-100 nm size regime, prepared through a seeded growth technique. Introduction of titanium(IV) fluoride (TiF(4)) preferentially exposes the {001} facet of anatase through in situ release of hydrofluoric acid (HF), allowing for the formation of uniform anatase NCs based on the truncated tetragonal bipyramidal geometry. A method is described to engineer the percentage of {001} and {101} facets through the choice of cosurfactant and titanium precursor. X-ray diffraction studies are performed in conjunction with simulation to determine an average NC dimension which correlates with results obtained using electron microscopy. In addition to altering the particle shape, the introduction of TiF(4) into the synthesis results in TiO(2) NCs that are blue in color and display a broad visible/NIR absorbance which peaks in the infrared (λ(max) ≈ 3400 nm). The blue color results from oxygen vacancies formed in the presence of fluorine, as indicated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies. The surfactants on the surface of the NCs are removed through a simple ligand exchange procedure, allowing the shape dependence of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution to be studied using monodisperse TiO(2) NCs. Preliminary experiments on the photoreforming of methanol, employed as a model sacrificial agent, on platinized samples resulted in high volumes of evolved hydrogen (up to 2.1 mmol h(-1) g(-1)) under simulated solar illumination. Remarkably, the data suggest that, under our experimental conditions, the {101} facets of anatase are more active than the {001}.     

Point process diagnostics based on weighted second-order statistics and their asymptotic properties

A new approach for point process diagnostics is presented. The method is based on extending second-order statistics for point processes by weighting each point by the inverse of the conditional intensity function at the point’s location. The result is generalized versions of the spectral density, R/S statistic, correlation integral and K-function, which can be used to test the fit of a complex point process model with an arbitrary conditional intensity function, rather than a stationary Poisson model. Asymptotic properties of these generalized second-order statistics are derived, using an approach based on martingale theory.     

Analysis of unstable vortical structure in a propeller wake affected by a simulated hull wake

A two-frame PIV (particle image velocimetry) technique was used to investigate the flow characteristics of a complicated propeller wake influenced by a hull wake. As the propeller is significantly affected by the hull wake of a marine vessel, measurements of the propeller wake under the hull wake are certainly needed for more reliable validation of numerical predictions. Velocity field measurements were conducted in a cavitation tunnel with a simulated hull wake. Generally, the hull wake generated by the hull of a marine ship may cause different loading distributions on the propeller blade in both the upper and the lower propeller planes. The unstable propeller wake caused by the ship’s hull was interpreted in terms of turbulent kinetic energy (T _KE) to obtain useful information for flow modeling. The unstable or unsteady phenomenon in the upper propeller wake was identified by using the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) method to characterize the coherent flow structure with turbulent kinetic energy. Strong unsteadiness appeared in the second and higher modes, largely affecting the downstream flow characteristics. The first eigenmode can be used to appropriately identify the tip vortex positions even in the unstable downstream region, which are helpful for establishing reliable wake modeling.     

Equilibrium constant for coordinative polymerization of an o,o′-dihydroxyazobenzene derivative with Ni(II) ion in water

Equilibrium constant (K_CP) for coordinative polymerization is measured for the first time. Constant K_CP is defined as [L]_cp/[M][L], where [L]_cp represents the concentration of the ligand present in the coordination polymer. Plot of absorbance changes measured for 3, a water-soluble derivative of o,o′-dihydroxyazobenzene, against the concentration of Ni(II) ion indicates formation of a 1 : 1-type complex in water at pH 7.74 and 25°C when Ni (II) is added in excess of 3. The 1 : 1-type complex can be either Ni 3, the monomeric complex, or (Ni 3 )_n, the coordination polymer. The equilibrium constant for formation of the 1 : 1-type complex is estimated as 10^13.10 by using UO₂²⁺ ion as the competing metal ion. For the Ni(II) complex of an o,o′-dihydroxyazobenzene derivative attached to poly(ethylenimine), the formation constant is estimated as 10^5.36. Due to the structure of the polymer, possibility of coordinative polymerization is excluded for the polymer-based ligand. The much greater equilibrium constant for formation of the Ni(II) complex of 3, therefore, indicates formation of (Ni 3 )_n instead of Ni 3. The value of K_CP for (Ni 3 )_n shows that only 10⁻⁷% of the initially added 3 is left unpolymerized when Ni(II) is added in excess of 3 by 10⁻⁴ M. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1825–1830, 1997     

A Legendre‐spectral element method for flow and heat transfer about an accelerating droplet

The problem of flow and heat transfer associated with a spherical droplet accelerated from rest under gravitational force is studied using a Legendre‐spectral element method in conjunction with a mixed time integration procedure to advance the solution in time. An influence matrix technique that exploits the superposition principle is adapted to resolve the lack of vorticity boundary conditions and to decouple the equations from the interfacial couplings. The computed flow and temperature fields, the drag coefficient, the Nusselt number, and the interfacial velocity and vorticity are presented for a drop moving vertically in a quiescent gas of infinite extent to illustrate the evolution of the flow and temperature fields. Comparison of the predicted drag coefficient and the Nusselt number against previous numerical and experimental results indicate good agreement. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A biogentic-type synthesis of dendrolasin

Dendrolasin¹ was synthesized from farnesol via biogenetic-type intermediates.     

Lithiated cyclopropanone ketals

The ketene acetal I reacted with dibromocarbene yielding the dibromocyclopropanone ketal II, which was reduced to the monobromide III by treatment with tri-n-butyltin hydride. Reaction of III with n-butyllithium at ?78°C yielded the lithiated cyclopropanone ketal IV, which yielded adducts with acetone, cyclohexanone, cyclohexenone, 3,3,3-trimethoxybutan-2-one, 2-butanone, and 3-pentanone.     

Investigating sorption on iron-oxyhydroxide soil minerals by solid-state NMR spectroscopy: a 6Li MAS NMR study of adsorption and absorption on goethite

High-resolution 2H MAS NMR spectra can be obtained for nanocrystalline particles of goethite (alpha-FeOOH, particle size approximately 4-10 nm) at room temperature, facilitating NMR studies of sorption under environmentally relevant conditions. Li sorption was investigated as a function of pH, the system representing an ideal model system for NMR studies. 6Li resonances with large hyperfine shifts (approximately 145 ppm) were observed above the goethite point of zero charge, providing clear evidence for the presence of Li-O-Fe connectivities, and thus the formation of an inner sphere Li+ complex on the goethite surface. Even larger Li hyperfine shifts (289 ppm) were observed for Li+-exchanged goethite, which contains lithium ions in the tunnels of the goethite structure, confirming the Li assignment of the 145 ppm Li resonance to the surface sites.