Cation recognition by new diester- and diamide-calix[4]arenediquinones and a diamide-benzo-15-crown-5-calix[4]arene

The synthesis, metal, ammonium and alkyl ammonium cation coordination chemistry and electrochemical recognition studies of new diester-and diamide-calix[4]arenediquinone receptors are described. In addition the synthesis and coordination properties of a novel diamide benzo-15-crown-5-calix[4]arene molecule is reported.This paper is dedicated to the commemorative issue on the 50th anniversary of calixarenes.     

Properties of a genetic algorithm extended by a random self-learning operator and asymmetric mutations: A convergence study for a task of powder-pattern indexing

Genetic algorithms represent a powerful global-optimisation tool applicable in solving tasks of high complexity in science, technology, medicine, communication, etc. The usual genetic-algorithm calculation scheme is extended here by introduction of a quadratic self-learning operator, which performs a partial local search for randomly selected representatives of the population. This operator is aimed as a minor deterministic contribution to the (stochastic) genetic search. The population representing the trial solutions is split into two equal subpopulations allowed to exhibit different mutation rates (so called asymmetric mutation). The convergence is studied in detail exploiting a crystallographic-test example of indexing of powder diffraction data of orthorhombic lithium copper oxide, varying such parameters as mutation rates and the learning rate. It is shown through the averaged (over the subpopulation) fitness behaviour, how the genetic diversity in the population depends on the mutation rate of the given subpopulation. Conditions and algorithm parameter values favourable for convergence in the framework of proposed approach are discussed using the results for the mentioned example. Further data are studied with a somewhat modified algorithm using periodically varying mutation rates and a problem-specific operator. The chance of finding the global optimum and the convergence speed are observed to be strongly influenced by the effective mutation level and on the self-learning level. The optimal values of these two parameters are about 6 and 5%, respectively. The periodic changes of mutation rate are found to improve the explorative abilities of the algorithm. The results of the study confirm that the applied methodology leads to improvement of the classical genetic algorithm and, therefore, it is expected to be helpful in constructing of algorithms permitting to solve similar tasks of higher complexity.     

A Short and Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of Cerebrosterol

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Estimation of the absolute internal-rotation entropy of molecules with two torsional degrees of freedom from stochastic simulations

A method of statistical estimation is applied to the problem of evaluating the absolute entropy of internal rotation in a molecule with two torsional degrees of freedom. The configurational part of the entropy is obtained as that of the joint probability density of an arbitrary form represented by a two-dimensional Fourier series, the coefficients of which are statistically estimated using a sample of the torsional angles of the molecule obtained by a stochastic simulation. The internal rotors in the molecule are assumed to be attached to a common frame, and their reduced moments of inertia are initially calculated as functions of the two torsional angles, but averaged over all the remaining internal degrees of freedom using the stochastic-simulation sample of the atomic configurations of the molecule. The torsional-angle dependence of the reduced moments of inertia can be also averaged out, and the absolute internal-rotation entropy of the molecule is obtained in a good approximation as the sum of the configurational entropy and a kinetic contribution fully determined by the averaged reduced moments of inertia. The method is illustrated using Monte Carlo simulations of isomers of stilbene and halogenated derivatives of propane. The two torsional angles in cis-stilbene are found to be much more strongly correlated than those in trans-stilbene, while the degree of the angular correlation in propane increases strongly on substitution of hydrogen atoms with chlorine.     

Comparison between potentiostatic and galvanostatic intermittent titration techniques for determination of chemical diffusion coefficients in ion-insertion electrodes

Using well-cycled, thin composite graphite electrodes we analyze carefully the limitations of potentiostatic and galvanostatic intermittent titration techniques (PITT and GITT, respectively) for determination of the differential (incremental) intercalation capacitance, C_dif, and the chemical diffusion coefficient, D, of Li ions in these ion-insertion electrodes (IIEs). We demonstrate the superiority of the GITT over PITT to determine these quantities as the former technique allows for a more accurate determination of C_dif and hence D which closely approach to the spinodal domain related to the first-order phase transition during ion-insertion. We show that GITT is also more effective in eliminating the parasitic contributions of background currents to the total measured response. A pronounced difference in the initial, intrinsic kinetics of formation of a new phase in the bulk of the old one has been observed depending on the direction of titration (phases less saturated with Li are formed faster during deintercalation than the Li-rich phases in the course of intercalation).     

Reaction of β-aminopropionohydroxamic acid with aldehydes and ketones

β-Aminopropionohydroxamic acid reacts with aliphatic aldehydes or ketones to give 2-substituted 1-hydroxytetrahydropyrimidin-6-ones, while its reaction with aromatic carbonyl compounds leads to either the same products or Schiff's bases, which can exist in tautomeric equilibrium in solution. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 691–694, April, 1998.     

Vibrational spectra and conformations of 2- and 3-methylbicyclo[4.4.0]decanes

The conformations and heats of formation of all trans(T)- and cis(C)-2- and 3-methyl-substituted T- and Cbicyclo[4.4.0]decanes (BD) were calculated by the MM2 method of molecular mechanics. It was shown that the conformationally mobile T-2-Me-CBD and T-3-Me-CBD can exist in normal conditions as an inseparable mixture of conformers with a different equatorial or axial orientation of the Me groups. The Raman scattering (RS) spectra of TBD and CBD were investigated. RS bands whose frequencies were sensitive to the type of ring linkage and orientation (but not the position) of the Me substituents were detected in the 700–300 cm^–1 region.A. V. Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117912 Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 2089–2097, September, 1992.     

Bestimmung der Trichloressigs?ure durch Absorptions- und Fluorescenzmessung

Zusammenfassung Für die Rückstandsanalyse der als Herbicid verwendeten Trichloressigsäure (TCA) wurde eine Methode sowohl für die Absorption- sals auch für die Fluorescenzmessung entwickelt. TCA wird im stark alkalischen Milieu zu Chloroform abgebaut und mit Pyridin zu einer Schiffchen Base umgesetzt (Fujiwara-Reaktion). Diese rote instabile Verbindung wird mit Barbitursäure in einen beständigen Pentamethinfarbstoff überführt, dessen Absorptionsmaximum bei 594 nm liegt. Als Untersuchungsmaterial dienten Bodenproben. Bei einer Einwaage von 100 g Boden lassen sich noch 0,1 ppm TCA nachweisen. Durch Fluorescenzmessung (Anregungsmaximum 588 nm, Emissionsmaximum 611 nm) werden bei gleichen Versuchsbedingungen noch 0,01 ppm erfaßt.

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Determination of trichloroacetic acid by absorption spectrometry and fluorometry

Summary A method for absorption and fluorescence measuring of the residues of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) used as herbicide was developed. TCA was decarboxylated with strong alkali and converted with pyridine to a Schiff's base (Fujiwara reaction). After the reaction of the Schiff's base with barbituric acid a stable pentamethin dyestuff was formed. The maximum absorbance occurs at 594 nm. Samples of soil were analysed. In a sample of at least 100 g 0.1 ppm of TCA are still detectable. By fluorometry (excitation maximum 588 nm, emission maximum 611 nm) the detection limit is at 0.01 ppm under the same conditions.

     

Novel electroanalytical techniques for pollution analysis

Summary Two new analytical techniques are described. The so-called injection technique operates on evaluating a dynamic concentration signal as a result of following the concentration change in a certain part of a flow-through channel after injecting a sample or reagent at a small volume into the current of an appropriate solution flowing at a constant rate.The second technique, the programmed coulometric titration technique, also uses the flow-through channel principle; that means this novel technique allows the more precise titrimetric way of analysis in flowing solutions. In the case of both techniques potentiometric and voltammetric detectors were involved. Several examples proved the multifold advantages of these techniques for environmental analysis.

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Neue elektroanalytische Verfahren für die Umweltanalyse

Zusammenfassung Zwei neue Methoden werden beschrieben. Die sog. Injektionstechnik wertet ein dynamisches Konzentrationssignal aus, das sich aus der Änderung in einem Durchflußkanal ergibt, wenn Probe oder Reagens in kleinen Volumina in einen konstant fließenden Flüssigstrom injiziert werden. Das zweite Verfahren, die programmierte coulometrische Titration, erlaubt die Anwendung der genaueren titrimetrischen Technik auf fließende Lösungen. Bei beiden Methoden werden potentiometrische und voltammetrische Detektoren verwendet. Mehrere Beispiele zeigen die vielfachen Vorteile dieser Verfahren bei der Anwendung auf die Analyse von Umweltmaterial.

Presented at the 6th Annual Symposium on Recent Advances in the Analytical Chemistry of Pollutants, April 21–23, 1976; Vienna, Austria