Affinity of Tripodal and Linear Tetraamines for Silver(I) in Dimethyl Sulfoxide

The thermodynamic functions of the complexation of Ag(I) by the tripodal ligands, tris(2-(methylamino)ethyl)amine (Me₃tren) and tris(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)amine (Me₆tren) (L), are determined in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) by potentiometric and calorimetric techniques at 298.0 K and 0.1 mol⋅dm⁻³ ionic strength (Et₄NClO₄). A comparison is made between previous data concerning Ag(I) complex formation with the non-alkylated tripodal 2,2′,2″-triaminotriethylamine (tren), in order to analyze the influence of N-methylation on this type of branched donor, and with those relative to the linear triethylenetetramine (trien) and 1,1,4,7,10,10-hexamethyltriethylenetetramine (Me₆trien). The results are discussed taking into account different σ-donating properties, geometric arrangement of the ligands, steric repulsions and solvation effects.     

A novel palladium-catalyzed dicarbonylation process leading to coumarins

A novel approach to coumarin derivatives has been developed starting from readily available 2-(1-hydroxyprop-2-ynyl)phenols, based on an unprecedented palladium-catalyzed dicarbonylation process. Reactions were carried out in the presence of catalytic amounts of PdI2 in conjunction with an excess of KI in MeOH as the solvent at room temperature and under 90 atm of CO to give 3-[(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]coumarins in good to high isolated yields (62-87%).     

Photo-emission studies from Zn cathodes under plasma phase

In this paper, we report investigations of the electron emission from pure Zn cathodes irradiated by UV laser pulses of 23 ns (full-width at half-maximum) at a wavelength of 248 nm (5 eV). The metal cathodes were tested in a vacuum photodiode chamber at 10^?5 Pa. They were irradiated at normal incidence and the anode–cathode distance was set at 3 mm. The maximum applied accelerating voltage was 18 kV, limited by the electrical breakdown of the photodiode gap. Under the above experimental conditions, a maximum applied electric field of 6 MV/m resulted. In the saturation regime, the measured quantum efficiency value increased with the accelerating voltage due to the plasma formation. The highest output current was achieved with 14 mJ laser energy, 18 kV accelerating voltage and its value was 12 A, corresponding to a global quantum efficiency (GQE) approximately of 1×10^?4. The temporal quantum efficiency was 1.0×10^?4 at the laser pulse onset time and 1.4×10^?4 at the pulse tail. We calculated the target temperature at the maximum laser energy. Its value allowed us to obtain output pulses of the same laser temporal profile. Tests performed with a lower laser photon energy (4.02 eV) demonstrated a GQE of two orders of magnitude lower.     

Employing ultra high pressure liquid chromatography as the second dimension in a comprehensive two-dimensional system for analysis of Stevia rebaudiana extracts

Stevia rebaudiana extracts and plant materials are increasingly used as natural sweeteners. Polyphenolic and stevioside compounds contained in S. rebaudiana extracts were separated by comprehensive LC. A polyamine column operated in normal phase mode was used for the first dimension separation (D1), and a UHPLC C18 column operated in reversed phase mode was used for the second dimension separation (D2). The sub-2 μm column (2.1 mm × 30 mm, maintained at 70°C) and the UHPLC pump employed for D2 elution allowed a separation/cycle time of 20 s, with a backpressure oscillating between 805 and 922 bar at 3.4 mL/min. The reduced D2 cycle time allowed 3-12 D2 samplings for each peak eluted by D1. Polyphenolic and stevioside compounds were identified by combining the information coming from the position of the compounds in the 2D plot and UV spectra with that of reference materials.     

Separation characteristics of fatty acid methyl esters using SLB-IL111, a new ionic liquid coated capillary gas chromatographic column

The ionic liquid SLB-IL111 column, available from Supelco Inc., is a novel fused capillary gas chromatography (GC) column capable of providing enhanced separations of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) compared to the highly polar cyanopropyl siloxane columns currently recommended for the separation of cis- and trans isomers of fatty acids (FAs), and marketed as SP-2560 and CP-Sil 88. The SLB-IL111 column was operated isothermal at 168°C, with hydrogen as carrier gas at 1.0 mL/min, and the elution profile was characterized using authentic GC standards and synthetic mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers as test mixtures. The SLB-IL111 column provided an improved separation of cis- and trans-18:1 and cis/trans CLA isomers. This is the first direct GC separation of c9,t11- from t7,c9-CLA, and t15-18:1 from c9-18:1, both of which previously required complimentary techniques for their analysis using cyanopropyl siloxane columns. The SLB-IL111 column also provided partial resolution of t13/t14-18:1, c8- from c6/c7-18:1, and for several t,t-CLA isomer pairs. This column also provided elution profiles of the geometric and positional isomers of the 16:1, 20:1 and 18:3 FAMEs that were complementary to those obtained using the cyanopropyl siloxane columns. However, on the SLB-IL111 column the saturated FAs eluted between the cis- and trans MUFAs unlike cyanopropyl siloxane columns that gave a clear separation of most saturated FAs. These differences in elution pattern can be exploited to obtain a more complete analysis of complex lipid mixtures present in ruminant fats.     

Synthesis and thermal stability of benzoxazine nitroxides

A new class of stable nitroxides (aminoxyls) having a 1,4-benzoxazine structure were synthesized and the corresponding thermal stability tested. All derivatives were stable in the entire range of temperatures employed, except those having a benzyl or a tert-butyl group at the β-position with respect to the aminoxyl function, which underwent radical fragmentation. Such a behavior allowed a kinetic study, carried out by means of EPR spectroscopy, to determine the corresponding rate constants and activation parameters (E(a)). Appropriate DFT calculations were performed for all nitroxides including also the thermally stable ones, in order to study the geometries of the fragmentation transition States as well as to compute the corresponding bond dissociation enthalpies (BDH), useful for further modeling purposes. The data obtained were interpreted on the basis of the relative stability of the leaving radical, according to the corresponding E(a) and BDH, whereas in the case of tert-butyl derivatives steric hindrance should play a determinant role, as evidenced by a comparison of the geometric, kinetic, and thermodynamic parameters upon the whole series.     

Synthesis of benzo-fused five- and six-membered heterocycles by palladium-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation

A novel and simple synthetic methodology, based on palladium-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation reaction, is presented for preparing five- and six-membered benzo-fused heterocycles. A mechanism for the process is also proposed and discussed.     

Erratum to: “Contact pseudo-metric manifolds” [Differential Geom. Appl. 28 (2010) 615–634]

We correct some results in Section 4 of Calvaruso and Perrone (2010) [2], concerning contact pseudo-metric manifolds of constant sectional curvature, and Example 2.8 in Calvaruso and Perrone (2010) [2].