Coupling in Fe(2 ML)/V(y ML) and Fe(2 ML)/V(y ML)/Fe(3 ML)/V(y ML) (y ≥ 4) superlattices

Fe(2 ML)/V(y ML) and interleaved Fe(2 ML)/V(y ML)/Fe(3 ML)/V(y ML) superlattice systems with spacer thicknesses, y, (4 ≤ y ≤ 17) were investigated macro-magnetically to estimate the coupling strength and the magnetoresistance in these materials, and particularly in the antiferromagnetically coupled monolayers. The results from the magnetic and magnetoresistive measurements indicate that adding one monolayer of Fe increases the antiferromagnetic coupling and the magnetoresistivity ratio from 0.0075 mJ/m² at 20 K and 2 % at 10 K for Fe(2 ML)/V(y ML), to 0.05 mJ/m² and 2.5 % for Fe(2 ML)/V(y ML)/Fe(3 ML)/V(y ML) at the same temperatures. Both systems exhibit in-plane magnetic and magnetoresistive isotropy, therefore the increase of the conferred physical parameters is attributed mainly to the stresses at the interface as governing mechanisms over the magnetoelastic forces.      

Rule of five cyclizations in 5‐hexenyl radicals and photocycloadditions of 1,5‐hexadienes: effect of 4‐oxa substitution

The effect of 4‐oxa substitution on the regiochemistry and rate of 5‐hexenyl radical cyclizations was investigated, as a potential model for [2 + 2] photocycloadditions of 2‐acyl‐4‐oxa‐1,5‐hexadienes. Increasing the electron density in the alkene decreases the rate of cyclization in the 4‐oxa‐hexenyl radicals, relative to the all carbon analogs, but has little effect on the regioselectivity of the cyclization. The radical model does not reproduce the high degree of 1,6 closure, observed in the [2 + 2] photocycloadditions for 4‐oxa‐1,5‐hexadiene 1a . However, the radical model does reinforce the interpretation that ground state conformational effects, engendered by substitution remote from the reacting centers have important rate consequences for cyclization reactions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Use of an internal control for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of bacteria

A method to aid in the analysis of bacterial samples of unknown concentration by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry is demonstrated. It is shown that in MALDI analysis of bacteria, the intensities of resulting peaks in spectra are sensitive to the microbial concentration. At the high and low ends of the concentration range, no signal can be obtained, leaving very concentrated or very dilute samples indistinguishable. The addition of cytochrome c as an internal control allows the differentiation of these concentrated and dilute samples. The presence of the internal control causes only a 20% to 30% decrease in signal intensity when the bacterial concentration is optimum. However, the signal quality is improved when the internal control is added to some low concentrations of bacteria.     

Development of an enzymatic microreactor based on microencapsulated laccase with off-line capillary electrophoresis for measurement of oxidation reactions

Microencapsulation is used here as a new technique to immobilize enzymes in a microreactor coupled off-line to capillary electrophoresis (CE), allowing the determination of enzymatic reaction products. The redox enzyme laccase was encapsulated using the method of interfacial cross-linking of poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI). The 50 μm diameter capsules were slurry packed from a suspension into a capillary-sized reactor made easily and quickly from a short length of 530 μm diameter fused-silica tubing. The volume of the bed of laccase microcapsules in the microreactor was in the order of 1.1 μL through which 50 μL of the substrate o-phenylenediamine (OPD) was flowed. The oxidation product 2,3-diaminophenazine (DAP) and the remaining OPD were quantified by CE in a pH 2.5 phosphate buffer. Peak migration time reproducibility was in the order of 0.4% RSD and peak area reproducibility was less than 1.7% RSD within the same day. Using the OPD peak area calibration curve, a conversion efficiency of 48% was achieved for a 2-min oxidation reaction in the microreactor.     

Maximal planar graphs of diameter two

A maximal planar graph is a simple planar graph in which every face is a triangle. We show here that such graphs with maximum degree Δ and diameter two have no more than 3/2Δ + 1 vertices. We also show that there exist maximal planar graphs with diameter two and exactly [3/2Δ + 1] vertices.     

A polarity‐activation strategy for the high incorporation of 1‐alkenes into functional copolymers via RAFT copolymerization

A new synthetic methodology for the preparation of copolymers having high incorporation of 1‐alkene together with multifunctionalities has been developed by polarity‐activated reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) copolymerization. This approach provides well‐defined alternating poly(1‐decene‐alt‐maleic anhydride), expanding the monomer types for living copolymerizations. Although neither 1‐decene (DE) nor maleic anhydride (MAn) has significant reactivity in RAFT homopolymerization, their copolymers have been synthesized by RAFT copolymerizations. The controlled characteristics of DE‐MAn copolymerizations were verified by increased copolymer molecular weights during the copolymerization process. Ternary copolymers of DE and MAn, with high conversion of DE, could be obtained by using additive amounts (5 mol %) of vinyl acetate or styrene (ST), demonstrating further enhanced monomer reactivities and complex chain structures. When ST was selected as the third monomer, copolymers with block structures were obtained, because of fast consumption of ST in the copolymerization. Moreover, a wide variety of well‐defined multifunctional copolymers were prepared by RAFT copolymerizations of various functional 1‐alkenes with MAn. For each copolymerization, gel permeation chromatography analysis showed that the resulting copolymer had well‐controlled M_n values and fairly low polydispersities (PDI = 1.3–1.4), and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies indicated strong alternating tendency during copolymerization with high incorporation of 1‐alkene units, up to 50 mol %. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3488–3498, 2008