A new synthesis of some indolecarboxylic acids

1-Substituted isatins are transformed into indole derivatives by means of ethyl chloroacetate. In fact, under the conditions of the Darzens reaction they give two glycidic ester isomers 4 and 5 which, by hydrolysis in alkaline medium, undergo a transposition to indole-2,3-dicarboxylic acids 2 together with minor amounts of indole-3-carboxylic acids 3 . From isatin itself, 2,3-dicarboxyindole-1-acetic acid ( 6 ) was obtained.     

Rational ligand design for metal ion recognition. Synthesis of a N-benzylated N2S3-donor macrocycle for enhanced silver(I) discrimination

Four previously documented ligand design strategies for achieving Ag(I) discrimination have been applied to the design of a new N-benzylated N2S3-donor macrocycle; the latter shows high selectivity for Ag(I) over Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) in log K and bulk membrane transport studies.     

On rank and null space computation of the generalized Sylvester matrix

In this paper, we present new approaches computing the rank and the null space of the (m n + p)×(n + p) generalized Sylvester matrix of (m + 1) polynomials of maximal degrees n,p. We introduce an algorithm which handles directly a modification of the generalized Sylvester matrix, computing efficiently its rank and null space and replacing n by log ₂ n in the required complexity of the classical methods. We propose also a modification of the Gauss-Jordan factorization method applied to the appropriately modified Sylvester matrix of two polynomials for computing simultaneously its rank and null space. The methods can work numerically and symbolically as well and are compared in respect of their error analysis, complexity and efficiency. Applications where the computation of the null space of the generalized Sylvester matrix is required, are also given.     

Normal extensions of subnormal linear relations via quaternionic Cayley transforms

A quaternionic Cayley transform for linear relations is introduced and some of its properties are exhibited. We emphasize the role played by the linear relations whose quaternionic Cayley transforms are unitary operators, which happen to be normal relations, and investigate the class of those linear relations which extend to such normal relations.     

SERS detection of red organic dyes in Ag‐agar gel

Micro‐Raman spectroscopy has been widely employed in the last few years for the study of artworks, allowing for the characterization of a high class of pictorial materials. However, the detection of organic dyes by conventional Raman spectroscopy is quite difficult, due to the high fluorescence provided by these compounds. Recently, remarkable improvements have been achieved by the introduction of the surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technique for the analysis of organic dyes. In the present work, a new method is presented, based on the use of a SERS probe made of agar‐agar coupled with silver nanoparticles, for a non‐destructive and minimally invasive micro‐extraction of dyes from textiles. Ag‐agar gel has been tested first on textile mock‐ups dyed with alizarin, purpurin and carminic acid. SERS measurements have been performed adopting laser light excitations at 514.5 and 785 nm of a micro‐Raman setup. Highly structured SERS band intensities have been obtained. After having verified the safety of the method by colorimetric, X‐ray fluorescence and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared techniques, a real case, a pre‐Columbian piece of textile, have been investigated by Ag‐agar gel. This cutting‐edge method offers new possibilities for a sensitive and non‐destructive analysis of fluorescent materials. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On a minimal set of generators for the invariants of 3 × 3 matrices

Let K be a field of characteristic p > 0, let L be a restricted Lie algebra and let R be an associative K-algebra. It is shown that the various constructions in the literature of crossed product of R with u(L) are equivalent. We calculate explicit formulae relating the parameters involved and obtain a formula which hints at a noncommutative version of the Bell polynomials.     

An Idempotent Approach to Truncated Moment Problems

We present a new approach to truncated and full moment problems, via idempotent elements with respect to associated square positive Riesz functionals. The existence of representing measures for such functionals is characterized via some intrinsic conditions.     

Determination of dimethylarginine levels in rats using HILIC-MS/MS: an in vivo microdialysis study

Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the most important mediators and neurotransmitters and its levels change under pathological conditions. NO production may be regulated by endogenous nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors, in particular asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). Most of the interest is focused on ADMA, since this compound is present in plasma and urine and accumulation of ADMA has been described in many disease states but little is known about cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of this compound and of its structural isomer symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA). To determine the levels of methylarginines, we here present a new hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC)-MS/MS method for the precise determination of these substances in CSF from microdialysis samples of rat prefrontal cortex (PFC). The method requires only minimal sample preparation and features isotope-labelled internal standards.