Ion transmission in an electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry interface using an S-lens

We present the design and performance of an in-house built electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) interface equipped with an S-lens ion guide. The ion source was designed specifically for our ion beam experiments to investigate the chemical reactivity and deposition of the clusters and nanoparticles. It includes standard ESI-MS interface components, such as nanoelectrospray, ion transfer capillary, and the S-lens. A custom design enables systematic optimization of all relevant factors influencing ion formation and transfer through the interface. By varying the ESI voltage and flow rate, we determined the optimal operating conditions for selected silica emitters. A comparison of the pulled silica emitters with different tip inner diameters reveals that the total ion current is highest for the largest tip, whereas a tip with the smallest diameter exhibited the highest transmission efficiency through the ESI-MS interface. Ion transmission through the transfer capillary is strongly limited by its length, but the loss of ions can be reduced by increasing the capillary voltage and temperature. The S-lens was characterized over a wide range of RF frequencies and amplitudes. Maximum ion current was detected at RF amplitudes greater than 50 V peak-to-peak (p/p) and frequencies above 750 kHz, with a stable ion transmission region of about 20%. A factor of 2.6 increase in total ion current is observed for 650 kHz as RF amplitudes reach 400 V p/p. Higher RF amplitudes also focus the ions into a narrow beam, which mitigates their losses when passing through the ion guide.     

On isomorphisms between centers of integral group rings of finite groups

For finite nilpotent groups and , and a -adapted ring (the rational integers, for example), it is shown that any isomorphism between the centers of the group rings and is monomial, i.e., maps class sums in to class sums in up to multiplication with roots of unity. As a consequence, and have identical character tables if and only if the centers of their integral group rings and are isomorphic. In the course of the proof, a new proof of the class sum correspondence is given.

     

Covering Coalgebras and Dual Non-singularity

Localisation is an important technique in ring theory and yields the construction of various rings of quotients. Colocalisation in comodule categories has been investigated by some authors (see Jara et al., Commun. Algebra, 34(8):2843–2856, 2006 and Nastasescu and Torrecillas, J. Algebra, 185:203–220, 1994). Here we look at possible coalgebra covers π : D → C that could play the rôle of a coalgebra colocalisation. Codense covers will dualise dense (or rational) extensions; a maximal codense cover construction for coalgebras with projective covers is proposed. We also look at a dual non-singularity concept for modules which turns out to be the comodule-theoretic property that turns the dual algebra of a coalgebra into a non-singular ring. As a corollary we deduce that hereditary coalgebras and hence path coalgebras are non-singular in the above sense. We also look at coprime coalgebras and Hopf algebras which are non-singular as coalgebras.     

On the Cohen-Macaulayness of fiber cones

Let be a Noetherian local ring with the maximal ideal and an ideal of Denote by the fiber cone of This paper characterizes the multiplicity and the Cohen-Macaulayness of fiber cones in terms of minimal reductions of ideals.

     

Isomorphism of complete local noetherian rings and strong approximation

About a year ago Angus Macintyre raised the following question. Let and be complete local noetherian rings with maximal ideals and such that is isomorphic to for every . Does it follow that and are isomorphic? We show that the answer is yes if the residue field is algebraic over its prime field. The proof uses a strong approximation theorem of Pfister and Popescu, or rather a variant of it, which we obtain by a method due to Denef and Lipshitz. Examples by Gabber show that the answer is no in general.

     

Convectional,sedimentation, and drying dissipative patterns of colloidal crystals of poly (methyl methacrylate) spheres on a cover glass

Direct observation of the convectional dissipative patterns was successful during the course of dryness of colloidal crystals of poly (methyl methacrylate) spheres on a cover glass. Formation processes of the convectional patterns of spoke-like lines were observed as a function of sphere size and also sphere concentration. During dryness of the suspensions, the brilliant iridescent colors changed beautifully. Macro- and microscopic drying patterns and thickness profiles of the dried film were observed. Sharp broad rings were observed especially at low sphere concentrations. The water evaporation accompanied with the convectional flow of water and the colloidal spheres played an important role for these dissipative structure formation.     

Addition-type polynorbornene with Si(CH3)3 side groups: Detailed study of gas permeation and thermodynamic properties

Polymerization of norbornene bearing Si(CH₃)₃ groups in the five position with the opening of double bonds was performed. By accurate selection of the ratios catalyst/co-catalyst and monomer/catalyst the samples with increased molecular mass (about 400,000) were obtained. Transport parameters of this, addition type poly(trimethylsilyl norbornene) (PTMSN) were measured using the gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods for different gases (H₂, He, O₂, N₂, CO₂, CH₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈ and n-C₄H₁₀). Temperature dependence of the permeability coefficients (P) indicated that low activation energies of permeation (E_P) and diffusion (E_D) are characteristic for PTMSN. In some cases (CO₂, C₂H₆) negative E_P values were observed. Thermodynamics of vapor sorption in this polymer was studied using the inverse gas chromatography method. It was shown that PTMSN is characterized by very large solubility coefficients S similar to those of poly(trimethylsilyl propyne) (PTMSP). The comparison of the P, D, and S values of these highly permeable polymers showed that the greater permeability of PTMSP is determined by the larger D values. Application of different approaches for the determination of the size of microcavities in PTMSN indicated that this polymer is characterized by large size of microcavity (800–1200 ?³).     

Tryptamine derived amides with thiazole ring system from Thermoactinomyces strain TA66-2

A moderately thermophilic actinomycete strain, which was identified as Thermoactinomyces strain TA66-2, was isolated from hot-spring water. Fermentation, followed by solvent partition and chromatographic separations, resulted in the isolation of two new and two known molecules. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 2-(1-Propionylaminoethyl)thiazole-4-carboxylic acid [2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethyl]amide and 2-(1-Acetylaminoethyl)thiazole-4-carboxylic acid [2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-ethyl]amide by using spectral methods (1D-, 2D-NMR and LC-ESI-MS).     

Syntheses of ladder-type oligonaphthalene derivatives and their photophysical and electrochemical properties

Ladder-type oligophenylene derivatives are important compounds for light-emitting devices. However, the closely related ladder-type oligonaphthalene derivatives have received little attention due to the lack of synthetic accessibility. We hereby report the syntheses of these novel conjugated systems by means of an intramolecular cationic cyclization protocol. Utilizing a one-pot-multiple-component reaction, the acyclic precursors to these ladder-type oligomers up to pentamer can be synthesized from small fragments in just two or three steps. Photophysical and electrochemical studies revealed that the electron delocalization in these compounds is considerably enhanced relative to that found in the regular unplanarized oligonaphthalene derivatives. However, such an effect is much weaker than that found in fully planar rylene derivatives.     

Comparative study on the structural, optical, and electrochemical properties of bithiophene-fused benzo[c]phospholes

Three types of bithiophene-fused benzo[c]phospholes were successfully prepared by Ti(II)-mediated cyclization of the corresponding dialkynylated bithiophene derivatives as a key step. Each sigma(3)-phosphorus center of the benzo[c]phosphole subunits was readily transformed into sigma(4)-phosphorus center by Au coordination or oxygenation. In addition, the bithiophene subunit was functionalized at the alpha,alpha'-carbon atoms by Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with heteroarylmetals and by an S(N)Ar reaction with hexafluorobenzene. The experimentally observed results (NMR spectroscopy, X-ray analysis, UV/Vis absorption/fluorescence spectroscopy, and cyclic/differential-pulse voltammetry) have revealed that the structural, optical, and electrochemical properties of the bithiophene-fused benzo[c]phospholes vary considerably depending on the pi-conjugation modes at the bithiophene subunits and the substituents of the heterocyclopentadiene components. The appropriately ring-annulated sigma(3)-P derivatives and sigma(4)-P-AuCl complexes were found to emit fluorescence in the orange-red region, and the sigma(4)-P-oxo derivatives proved to undergo reversible one-electron reduction at -1.4 to -1.8 V (vs ferrocene/ferrocenium). These results indicate that the bithiophene-fused benzo[c]phospholes possess narrow HOMO-LUMO gaps and low-lying LUMOs, which was confirmed by density functional theory calculations of their model compounds. The time-of-flight measurement of an ITO/benzo[c]phosphole/Al device showed that the electron mobility in the P-oxo derivative is one-order higher than that in Alq(3) at low electric fields. The present study demonstrates that the arene-fused benzo[c]phosphole skeleton could be a highly promising platform for the construction of a new class of phosphole-based optoelectrochemical materials.