Additions of enantiopure alpha-sulfinyl carbanions to (S)-N-sulfinimines: asymmetric synthesis of beta-amino sulfoxides and beta-alphamino alcohols

The addition of the lithium anions derived from (R)- and (S)-methyl and -ethyl p-tolyl sulfoxides to (S)-N-benzylidene-p-toluenesulfinamide provides an easy access route to enantiomerically pure beta-(N-sulfinyl)amino sulfoxides. Stereoselectivity can be achieved when the configurations at the sulfur atoms of the two reagents are opposite (matched pair), thus resulting in only one diastereoisomer, even for the case in which two new chiral centers are created. The N-sulfinyl group primarily controls the configuration of the carbon bonded to the nitrogen, whereas the configuration of the alpha-sulfinyl carbanion seems to be responsible for the level of asymmetric induction, as well as for the configuration of the new stereogenic C-SO carbon in the reactions with ethyl p-tolyl sulfoxides. An efficient method for transforming the obtained beta-(N-sulfinyl)amino sulfoxides into optically pure beta-amino alcohols, based on the stereoselective non-oxidative Pummerer reaction, is also reported.     

High-pressure structure of Li2CO3

The high-pressure behavior of Li₂CO₃ is studied up to 25 GPa with synchrotron angle-dispersive powder X-ray diffraction in diamond anvil cells and synthesis using a multi-anvil apparatus. A new non-quenchable hexagonal polymorph (P6₃/mcm, Z=2) occurs above 10 GPa with carbonate groups in a staggered configuration along the c-axis—a=4.4568(2) Å and c=5.1254(6) Å at 10 GPa. Two columns of face-shared distorted octahedra around the Li atoms are linked through octahedral edges. The oxygen atoms are coordinated to one carbon atom and four lithium atoms to form a distorted square pyramid. Splittings of X-ray reflections for the new polymorph observed above about 22 GPa under non-hydrostatic conditions arise from orthorhombic or monoclinic distortions of the hexagonal lattice. The results of this study are discussed in relation to the structural features found in other Me₂CO₃ carbonates (Me: Na, K, Rb, Cs) at atmospheric conditions.     

Direct determination of traces of Ag, Cd, Pb, Bi, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Li, Be, Cu and Sb in environmental waters and geological materials by simultaneous multi-element graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman-effect background correction

A method was developed for direct determination of minor and trace amounts of Cr, Mn, Cu, Ni, Co, Li, Pb, Cd, Bi, Sb, Be and Ag in silicate rock, lake and stream sediments using a microwave oven dissolution method and a multi-element graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer equipped with a Zeeman-effect background correction device. The measurement technique was also suitable for direct determination of trace and ultra-trace amounts of these elements in drinking and seawater samples. A rock or sediment sample was brought into solution in a Teflon vessel by heating in a microwave oven with a mixture of hydrofluoric acid and aqua regia, followed by a further heating with a mixture of boric acid and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The specified elements were directly determined in a group of four elements in one firing and eight elements in two firings from this solution or from a diluted solution using the optimum operating parameters developed in this work. The method, tested with 23 international reference rocks and sediments and seven international quality control and reference water samples, showed good to excellent agreement with the recommended values.     

(Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitrile as a chiral dienophile: diels-alder reactions with furan and acyclic dienes

The behavior of (Z)-3-p-tolylsulfinylacrylonitrile (1) as a chiral dienophile has been evaluated from its reactions with furan and acyclic dienes. Electrostatic interactions of the cyano group with the sulfinyl one restrict the conformational mobility around the C-S bond, thus controlling the pi-facial selectivity, which is almost complete in all cases, the approach of the diene from the less-hindered face of the dienophile (that bearing the lone electron pair) in the predominant rotamer being the favored one. The regioselectivity is also completely controlled by the cyano group. Additionally, the reactivity of compound 1 as well as its endo-selectivity are both higher than those observed for the corresponding (Z)-3-sulfinylacrylates, thus proving the potential of sulfinylnitriles as chiral dienophiles.     

Ferroelectricity of perovskites under pressure

Ab initio simulations and experimental techniques are combined to reveal that, unlike what was commonly accepted for more than 30 years, perovskites and related materials enhance their ferroelectricity as hydrostatic pressure increases above a critical value. This unexpected high-pressure ferroelectricity is different in nature from conventional ferroelectricity because it is driven by an original electronic effect rather by long-range interactions.     

A new paclitaxel prodrug for use in ADEPT strategy

A new paclitaxel prodrug intended for use in Antibody-Directed Prodrug Therapy (ADEPT) or Prodrug Monotherapy (PMT) has been prepared. This prodrug was originally designed to be activated into the drug by human beta-glucuronidase. In order to enhance the liberation rate of paclitaxel, an elongated spacer system including a nitro-aromatic derivative and a N,N'-methylethylenediamine was incorporated between the sugar moiety and the drug. Indeed, this new prodrug proved to be activated significantly faster than a former paclitaxel prodrug containing a conventional spacer.     

Spin-singlet clusters in the ladder compound NaV2O5

The space group of alpha(')-NaV2O5 turns below T(c) = 34 K from Pmmn with all V sites equivalent, into Fmm2 with three independent vanadium sites per layer. This is incompatible with models of charge ordering into V4+ and V5+. Our structure determination indicates that the phase transition consists of a charge ordering with three distinct valence states, formally V4+, V4.5+, and V5+. The singlet formation is not associated with dimerization on the spin ladder, but with the formation of spin clusters. Finally, we ascribe the quadrupling of the c axis to the large polarizability of the V2O5 skeleton.     

Dependence of pulser driving responses on electrical and motional characteristics of NDE ultrasonic probes

Acoustic performance in ultrasonic transmitters can be improved by means of a suitable electrical driving response and matching/tuning networks. It is important to predict this electrical response, but doing so is not easy because it departs notably from the nominal pattern with the loading probes. In practice, the analysis of HV pulser spikes in NDE applications requires fairly complex models in the transient regime and, in addition, non-linear problems could arise, especially in the case of tuned transmitters. In this paper, the most relevant influences of loading characteristics of NDT ultrasonic probes on the pulser electrical driving responses are evaluated in time and frequency domains. Conventional pulse generators and typical NDE pulsers are considered. Driving responses are analysed across commercial ultrasonic probes and, alternatively, across similar purely electrical loads. Distinct influences on pulser responses from electrical and motional sections of the probes are identified. All these aspects are studied on the basis of experimental and computer results.