Axial stereo-photogrammetry for 360° measurement on tubular samples

This work presents a stereo-photogrammetry (SP) based procedure to perform whole-body measurements on tubular samples. Such a system is designed for future applications to the study of vascular wall mechanics. The use of a concave conical mirror surrounding the specimen makes it possible to capture the reflected 360° surface with a single snapshot moving neither cameras nor object. Then, according to 3-D computer vision principles, a stereo camera system retrieves control points depth information from image-pairs of the investigated surface. An axial-SP arrangement is selected since is more suitable for this specific application than the more popular lateral-stereo model.In this paper, particular emphasis is given to a formulation taking into account even small camera misalignments. A calibration process based on optimization concepts is used together with a feature-based matching algorithm to efficiently find correspondence between highly distorted images reflected by the conical mirror.Both theoretical and experimental analyses on calibrated samples demonstrated feasibility and accuracy of the proposed procedure.     

Studying the interactions of a platinum(II) 9-aminoacridine complex with proteins and oligonucleotides by ESI-TOF MS

The interaction of a novel Pt complex, [Pt(dmba)(N9-9AA)(PPh(3))](+)1 (dmba = N,N-dimethylbenzylamine-κN,κC; 9AA = 9-aminoacridine), which exhibits anti-tumor activity, with certain key proteins has been monitored by ESI-MS. Also, the interaction of 1 with a designed double-stranded oligonucleotide containing the GG motif has been followed by mass spectrometry as well as by fluorimetry. The results obtained show the low interaction of 1 with the considered proteins and the absence of covalent interaction with the oligonucleotides, but the fluorimetric data confirm the π-π interaction of 1 with the double-stranded DNA, which is probably the reason of the previously reported activity of 1 in several tumor cell lines.     

(Chiral) lithium–(magnesium–)zinc and lithium–cobalt combinations as dual reagents for aromatic deproto-metalation and aryl transfer to aldehydes

The deprotonating ability of mixed lithium–zinc or lithium–magnesium–zinc combinations containing amido and alkyl ligands in tetrahydrofuran were compared using anisole as substrate and iodine to quantitatively trap the formed arylmetal species. The results showed that the deprotonating ability is hampered if a Grignard reagent is employed to introduce the alkyl ligand, and is reduced when 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidino ligands are replaced by less hindered/basic chiral amido or alkyls. Concerning the interception of the generated lithium–zinc aryl species by aldehydes, the presence of amido ligands leads to side reactions/lower yields, and no clear improvement was observed if lithium–magnesium–zinc aryl species are used. Racemic mixtures to very low enantioselectivities were noted when chiral amido ligands were incorporated in the composition of the bases.Still with enantioselective aryl transfer to aldehyde as purpose, the deprotonating ability of mixed lithium–cobalt combinations containing amido and alkyl ligands were compared using anisole as substrate and anisaldehyde to trap the formed arylmetal species. As before, the deprotonating ability is reduced when 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidino ligands are replaced by less hindered/basic alkyls or chiral amido. The trapping step using aldehydes being in this case more efficient, even in the presence of amido ligands, the alcohols were obtained in higher yields. With recourse to a lower interception temperature, and using only bis[(R)-1-phenylethyl]amino as ligands, 32 and 22% yield, and 69 and 65% ee were obtained using, respectively, anisaldehyde and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde to intercept the metalated anisole.     

Interaction between microfibrillar cellulose fines and fibers: influence on pulp qualities and paper sheet properties

Due to the high potential of cellulose nanoparticles in composite materials and for both fundamental and technological considerations, we investigated the interaction between microfibrillar cellulose and fibers. The contribution to the paper properties of fines added to a pulp suspension was determined. The impact of various proportions of fines added to a softwood kraft pulp on the paper strength and how they affected porosity and density was evaluated. The respective effects of dried fines (dead fines), originating from paper or board degradation, and the newly formed secondary fines (fresh fines) generated during refining were examined. The nature of the bonding between the fines and the fibers versus physical retention was characterized in the pulp suspension. For the first time the respective parts in the interaction of hydrogen bonds and mechanical associations were demonstrated and quantified. The amount of H-bonded fresh fines exceeded that of dead fines by more than 30 %. The results revealed that, for both types, the amount of H-bonded fines reached a threshold, independently of the proportion of fines added to the fibers. Addition of fines significantly affected the porosity of papers, fresh fines decreasing porosity more readily than dead fines. All the results are convergent to indicate that fresh fines penetrate more evenly and more deeply into the fiber network and induce better bonding that produces a closure of the fiber mat structure. They also demonstrate that incorporating an optimal proportion of fresh cellulose fines in fiber networks can bring significant improvement to the final composite material.     

Dipole-dipole plasmon interactions in gold-on-polystyrene composites

Red-shifting of the optical absorption spectra of aggregates of gold nanoparticles by dipole-dipole interactions is of considerable interest, both for theoretical reasons and because the phenomenon can be potentially exploited in various applications. A convenient and practical way to control the effect is to assemble the aggregated ensemble of n gold nanoparticles on the outer surface of larger dielectric spheres. Here, we show by experiment and calculation how the spectra of these structures can be systematically morphed from that of isolated gold particles, through the regime of broad absorption dominated by particle-particle interactions, and finally to the limiting case of a continuous nanoshell. The experimental data were produced using the process of deposition-precipitation, which provides a facile method to decorate polystyrene microspheres with gold nanoparticles. There is no need for prior functionalization of the microsphere surface in our method of deposition-precipitation. Calculations were carried out using a code based on the discrete dipole approximation (DDA). The spectra were dominated by three effects. These were a peak absorption at about 540 nm produced by the conventional plasmon resonance of spherical gold nanoparticles, a broad absorption in the range 600-900 nm caused by diverse dipole-dipole interactions between particles, which strengthened as the number of attached gold particles increased and finally, when n was large, an absorption peak due to the onset of nanoshell-like resonances. The experimental spectra could be successfully fitted by spectra calculated using combinations of these effects.     

2-Alkynylcyclopent-2-enols from 2-Alkynylcyclohex-2-enones via 1-Alkynyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptan-2-ones

2-Alkynylcyclohex-2-enones 1a–c and 2a–c react with H₂O₂/NaOH in MeOH to afford 1-alkynyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptan-2-ones 3a–c and 4a–c , respectively. The 3-unsubstituted bicyclic epoxy ketones 3a, 3b , and 4a, 4b react further with H₂O₂/NaOH, undergoing ring contraction and (formal) decarbonylation to give 2-alkynylcy-clopent-2-enols 5a, 5b , and 6a, 6b , respectively. Epoxy ketones 3 are also obtained under neutral conditions on irradiation (λ = 350 nm) of cyclohexenones 1 in air-saturated benzene solution. Similarly, under neutral conditions oxo-cycloalkenecarbonitriles 8 react (thermally) with H₂O₂ in MeCN to give the oxabicyclic carbonitriles 9 .     

Characterization and catalytic activity of iron(III) mono(4-N-methyl pyridyl)-tris(halophenyl) porphyrins in homogeneous and heterogeneous systems

The synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of the cationic iron porphyrins Fe[M(4-N-MePy)TDCPP]Cl₂ and Fe[M(4-N-MePy)TFPP]Cl₂ in the epoxidation of (Z)-cyclooctene by PhIO in homogeneous solution and supported on silica gel (SG), imidazole propyl gel (IPG) or SG modified with 2-(4-sulfonatophenyl)ethyl groups (SiSO₃) have been accomplished. When supported on IPG, both cationic FeP bind to the support via Fe–imidazole coordination. Fe[M(4-N-MePy)TDCPP]IPG contains a mixture of low-spin bis-coordinated Fe^IIIP and high-spin mono-coordinated Fe^IIIP species, whereas Fe[M(4-N-MePy)TFPP]IPG only contains high-spin mono-coordinated Fe^IIIP. These FePIPG catalysts also contain Fe^IIP species, whose presence was confirmed by EPR spectroscopy using NO as a paramagnetic probe. Both cationic FePs coordinate to SG through Fe–O ligation and they are present as high-spin Fe^IIIP species. The cationic FePs supported on SiSO₃⁻ are also high-spin Fe^IIIP species and they bind to the support via electrostatic interaction between the 4-N-methylpyridyl groups and the SO₃⁻ groups present on the matrix. In homogeneous solution, both Fe[M(4-N-MePy)TDCPP]Cl₂ and Fe[M(4-N-MePy)TFPP]Cl₂ have similar catalytic activity to Fe(TDCPP)Cl and Fe(TFPP)Cl, leading to cis-epoxycyclooctane yields of 92%. When supported on inorganic matrices, both FePs lead to epoxide yields comparable to their homogeneous analogues and their anchoring enables catalyst recovery and re-use. Recycling of Fe[M(4-N-MePy)TDCPP]SiSO₃⁻ shows that this FeP maintains its activity in a second reaction.     

Role of conformational isomerism in solvent-mediated charge transfer in chiral (S) 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-isoquinoline methanol (THIQM): condensed-phase to jet-cooled spectroscopic studies

Intramolecular charge-transfer reaction in chiral (S) 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3-isoquinoline methanol (THIQM) has been investigated in the condensed phase and in jet-cooled conditions by means of laser-induced fluorescence, dispersed emission, resonance-enhanced two-photon ionization, and IR-UV double resonance experiments, as well as quantum chemical calculations. In the condensed phase, THIQM only shows local emission in nonpolar and protic solvents and dual emission in aprotic polar solvents, where the solvent-polarity dependent Stokes shifted emission is ascribed to a state involving charge transfer from the nitrogen lone pair to the benzene π-cloud. Ab initio calculations reveal two low-energy conformers, which are observed in jet-cooled conditions. In the most stable conformer, THIQM(I), the CH(2)OH substituent acts as a hydrogen bond donor to the nitrogen lone pair in the equatorial position, while the second most stable conformer, THIQM(II), corresponds to the opposite NH···O hydrogen bond, with the nitrogen lone pair in the axial position. The two low-energy jet-cooled conformers of THIQM evidenced from the laser-induced fluorescence and dispersed emission spectra only show structured local emission. Complexes with usual solvents reproduce the condensed phase properties. The jet-cooled complex with aprotic polar solvent acetonitrile shows both local emission and charge transfer emission as observed in solution. The jet-cooled hydrate mainly shows local emission due to the unavailability of the nitrogen lone pair through intermolecular hydrogen bonding.     

Hetero‐Seeding and Solid Mixture to Obtain New Crystalline Forms

Para‐methyl benzyl alcohol (p‐MeBA II) and para‐chloro benzyl alcohol (p‐ClBA) are quasi‐isostructural and share the same hydrogen‐bond patterns, but their crystals are not isomorphous. No new polymorphs could be obtained by conventional polymorph screening based on different solvents and different crystallization conditions. Formation of a new polymorph of p‐MeBA named p‐MeBA I, isomorphous with the crystal of p‐ClBA, was induced by hetero‐seeding with a small quantity of powdered p‐ClBA added to a supersaturated solution of p‐MeBA in hexane, while seeding of p‐ClBA with p‐MeBA II failed to give a new phase of p‐ClBA isomorphous with known crystalline p‐MeBA II. Mixed crystals of p‐MeBA and p‐ClBA were also prepared with different p‐MeBA/p‐ClBA ratios to understand the role of the different functional groups in the crystal structure. Crystal phases were characterized by combined use of single‐crystal and powder X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and solid‐state NMR spectroscopy.