Entropy of Bogoliubov automorphisms of the canonical anticommutation relations

We compute the entropyh _A ( _U ) in the sense of Connes, Narnhofer and Thirring of Bogoliubov automorphisms _U of the CAR-algebra with respect to invariant quasifree states _A with 0A1 having pure point spectrum.Supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation     

Rapid Fabrication of Hollow SiO2 Spheres with Novel Morphology

The hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) occurred on the surface of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microshperes immediately after these microshperes were prepared in TEOS. Micron-sized hollow SiO2 spheres were obtained by calcination of the coated PMMA microshperes. It was found that the final hollow spheres were constituted by small SiO2 particles.     

Headspace Solid-phase Microextraction–Gas Chromatographic–Mass Spectrometric Analysis of the Essential Oils of Two Traditional Chinese Medicines, Angelica pubescens and Angelica sinensis

Angelica pubescens and Angelica sinensis belong to the Umbelliferae family and both are used as traditional Chinese medicines. In the present study, headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for the analysis of the volatile constituents present in their roots. Eighty-seven compounds in Angelica pubescens and thirty-six compounds in Angelica sinensis were identified by GC-MS. Their relative contents were calculated by the peak area ratio. HS-SPME was compared to steam distillation (SD) by analyzing the volatile constituents of Angelica sinensis root. A good agreement between results obtained with both techniques was found. As a conclusion, HS-SPME is a powerful tool for determining the volatile constituents present in the TCMs.     

Amine-templated metal squarates

Two layered amine-templated cobalt squarates, [C₆N₂H₁₄]₂[Co₂(C₄O₄)₃(H₂O)₄], I, and [C₃N₂H₅]₂[Co₂(C₄O₄)₃(H₂O)₄], II, have been prepared under hydrothermal conditions. Both I and II contain chains formed by dimers comprising two cobalt atoms bound to the squarate units, the chains being connected through hydrogen bond interactions. An amine-templated cobalt squarate of the formula [C₄N₂H₁₂][Co(C₄O₄)₂(H₂O)₄][H₂O]₂, III, as well as its Ni, Zn and Cd analogues have been prepared by room temperature reactions. III has a layered architecture wherein the cobalt-squarate monomers are linked by the amine molecules. Co and Zn analogues of [Ni(C₄O₄)(H₂O)₂(C₃N₂H₄)] with ligating imidazole units have also been prepared and characterized.     

Improved hygrothermal durability of flax/polypropylene composites after chemical treatments through a hybrid approach

There are growing research interests in flax fibers due to their renewable ‘green’ origin and high strength. However, these natural fibers easily absorb moisture and have poor adhesion with polymer matrix leading to low interfacial strength for the composites. A hybrid chemical treatment technique combining alkali (sodium hydroxide) and silane treatments is adopted in the current study to modify flax fibers for improved performances of flax/polypropylene composites. Changes in chemical composition, microstructure, wettability, surface morphology, crystallinity and tensile properties of single flax fiber before and after chemical treatments were comprehensively characterized using techniques including SEM, FTIR, AFM, XRD, micro-fiber tester, etc. It was found that hemicellulose and lignin at the fiber surface were removed due to alkali treatment, which helped to reduce moisture absorption of the composites. Alkali-treated flax fibers were later subjected to silane treatment, which helped to improve the compatibility between flax fiber and polypropylene matrix. After alkali-silane hybrid chemical treatment, moisture absorption of the composites was further decreased. At the same time, the interfacial bonding strength between flax and polypropylene is significantly enhanced. All these results validate the great advantage of the hybrid chemical treatment approach for flax/polypropylene composites, which has the potential to promote the application of chemical treatment techniques in the plant fiber composite industry.

Graphic abstract

     

烯丙基碘和锡与醛的选择加成反应

含活性基团的醛可与烯丙碘和锡粉直接进行亲核加成反应，得到高烯丙基的醇，水的存在不利于此反应的进行，与烯丙基溴相比，烯丙基碘反应活性更强，可在短时间内得较高的产率。     

1,4-Addition of benzene to a dihydrocyclopent[a]indene diradical: synthesis and DFT study

Photochemical cyclization of compound 1, a homoenediyne (-CCC=CCH2CC-) bearing two ethynylanthracene chromophores, yields two isomeric dihydrocyclopent[a]indene ring systems, spiro-fused to the 9-position of a 9,10-dihydroanthracene moiety. Evidence of a photochemically initiated diradical cyclization pathway is proposed on the basis of (i) hydrogen abstraction from reaction with 1,4-cyclohexadiene (1,4-CHD) and (ii) the observation of 1,4-addition of benzene (solvent). The reaction was further analyzed by a complete density functional theory (DFT) study, using an unrestricted approach (UBLYP) with a 6-31G* basis set for the open-shell triplet states of the reactants, products, and diradical intermediates to model the photochemical nature of observed transformation. A mechanism detailing the observed cyclization/addition reaction is proposed.     

Synthesis and anion binding properties of 2,5-diamidothiophene polypyrrole Schiff base macrocycles

[reaction: see text] Two easy-to-synthesize polypyrrolic 2,5-diamidothiophene Schiff base macrocycles are reported, along with their anion binding properties as determined via UV-vis spectroscopic titrations carried out in dichloroethane. There is a striking difference between the interactions with anions of the two macrocycles, a finding ascribed to differences in their rigidity. For example, the more flexible dipyrromethane-derived macrocycle displays a 1.2:1 hydrogen sulfate versus nitrate selectivity, while its more rigid bipyrrole-derived congener shows a 7.4:1 selectivity in favor to hydrogen sulfate.     

Thermal expansion properties of organic crystals: a CSD study

The thermal expansion properties of crystalline organic compounds are investigated by data mining of the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). The mean volumetric thermal expansion coefficient is 168.8 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ and the mean uniaxial thermal expansion coefficient is 71.4 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹, based on 745 and 1129 different observations, respectively. Normal and anomalous coefficients can be identified using these values and the associated standard deviations. The anisotropy of the thermal expansion is also evaluated and found to have a very broad distribution. 4719 different structures, comprising 4093 different molecular compounds and 626 additional polymorphs have been analyzed on their thermal expansion properties. Approximately 34% of these structures may have at least one orthogonal axis with negative thermal expansion, much more than generally believed. Moreover 127 structures have been identified which could have negative volumetric thermal expansion. Experimental validation using a robust protocol with data collected at more than 2 different temperatures is required to validate these cases.

The thermal expansion properties of crystalline organic compounds are investigated by data mining of the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). Negative uniaxial thermal expansion is much more common than generally believed.