Cascade cyclizations and couplings involving nickel enolates

A new strategy for effecting cascade cyclization processes using nickel enolates has been developed. Nickel enolates may be cleanly generated by the oxidative cyclization of an enal and alkyne with Ni(0), and the resulting enolate may be functionalized by a variety of alkylation processes. Partially and fully intramolecular versions of the process allow the rapid synthesis of complex polycyclics from simple achiral, acyclic precursors.     

Benzophenone-sensitized photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate using dimethyl aniline–maleic acid combination as photoinitiator

Benzophenone (BP)-sensitized photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in near UV/visible light was studied at 40°C using dimethylaniline maleic acid (DMA—MA) combination as the photoinitiator. An instantaneous 1:1 complexation between DMA and MA takes place when they are mixed together in acetonitrile. Also, instantaneous complex formation occurs between DMA and MMA and between MA and MMA when they are dissolved in MMA in low concentrations, separately. Interestingly, when equimolar proportions of DMA and MA are mixed together in MMA, there is indication for further instantaneous complexation between (DMA—MMA) complex and (MA—MMA) complex forming the actual initiating species in the photopolymerization system. Initiator exponent was 0.28 and monomer exponent varied between 0.0 to 1.8 depending on the nature of the solvent and range of dilution used. Analysis of kinetic data indicates a free radical mechanism for the polymerization with initiator-dependent termination. Chain termination via degradative initiator transfer is quite significant; but the degradative effect becomes much less prominent in the higher range of initiator concentration indicating that the reinitiation reaction following the initiator transfer process assumes more proportionate significance as the initiator concentration is increased, probably as a result of higher reinitiation efficiency. Polymers obtained gave evidence for the incorporation of aromatic (amine) end groups in them.     

A neutron scattering study of the vibrational modes of hydrogen in the β-phases of Pd-H,Pd-10Ag-H and Pd-20Ag-H

The localised modes associated with interstitial hydrogen in the β-phases of Pd and Pd-Ag alloys have been studied by neutron energy loss at 295K, 80K and for Pd at 30K. Their energies vary little but their widths increase significantly with temperature and silver content, an effect which is ascribed to local disorder and anharmonic contributions.     

An alternative approach to determine the spot-size of a multi-mode laser beam and its application to diode laser beams

An alternative approach is suggested to determine the spot-size of a multi-mode laser beam. It has been shown by simulations that the suggested approach can give the beam quality factor and characteristic radius with less than 5% error. Unlike the power content method, the proposed method is applicable to the beams even with diameter one tenth of the CCD size. The new approach has been applied to a multi-mode diode laser output and it is shown that the ABCD matrix analysis can be used for beam propagation, with the measured parameters of the laser.     

Experimental demonstration of 1535-1555-nm simultaneous optical wavelength interchange with a nonlinear photonic crystal

We present results of what is to our knowledge the first experimental demonstration of simultaneous optical wavelength interchange by use of a two-dimensional second-order nonlinear photonic crystal. Fabrication and performance parameters of a 1535-1555-nm wavelength interchange nonlinear photonic crystal fabricated in lithium niobate are discussed.     

Shadows and intersections in vector spaces

We prove a vector space analog of a version of the Kruskal-Katona theorem due to Lovász. We apply this result to extend Frankl's theorem on r-wise intersecting families to vector spaces. In particular, we obtain a short new proof of the Erd?s-Ko-Rado theorem for vector spaces.     

The g-value of the 2E state of K3CR(CN)6 and the lower symmetry field

The ⁴A₂ → ²E transition of potassium chromicyanide has been studied under magnetic field. It has been found that the g-value is nearly isotropic, quite unlike the case of ruby. An attempt has been made to explain the zero-field splittings of ^2E, ²T₁ and ²T₂ states and the g-value of the ²E state on the assumption that the distant ions are mainly responsible for lowering of symmetry of the crystal field from O_h. A reasonable choice of parameters can make the calculated values agree with the observed ones.