The use of temporary tethers in the meta photocycloaddition reaction

The use of temporary tethers in facilitating meta photocycloaddition reactions between phenol and allyl alcohol derivatives has been investigated. The merits of silicon, carbonate and methylene acetal tethers were assessed, whilst considering strategies for the preparation of the natural products gymnomitrol and gelsemine. The photoadducts were epoxidised, and then subjected to acid catalysed fragmentation with concomitant cleavage of the tether. Depending on whether water or methanol was used during the fragmentation stage of the methylene tethers, the methylene group was either removed altogether or transformed into a MOM group.     

OCS formation in the reaction of OH with CS2

A steady-state system involving photolysis of HONO as a source of OH was used to investigate the reaction of OH with CS₂ at 1 atm and 295 K. In the presence of O₂ ( > 40 Torr) a rapid reaction of OH with CS₂ occurs giving OCS. At lower O₂ concentrations, OCS formation ceases. In air the overall rate constant for OH + CS₂ → OCS was (1.7 ± 0.9) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1.     

Composition and thermal stability of SiO2-based hybrid materials TEOS-MTEOS system

Hybrid materials with different amounts of organics permanently bound on the inorganic network obtained in the TEOS-MTEOS (tetraethoxysilan-methyltriethoxysilan) system are used for obtaining coatings with different optical and mechanical properties. To study the thermal stability of the mentioned materials, compositions with different molar ratios of the precursors were prepared. The influence of the solvent and water amounts on the gelation process was also investigated. The gels obtained were characterised by IR spectrometry and their decomposition temperatures were determined by DTA/TG. Thermal stability of the gels is rather influenced by their composition than the conditions of the gelation process. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Radiation dose contribution from coal-slags used as structural building material

A significant dose contribution on the population could be derived from coal slags used as isolation material. Extremely high natural activities are measured in the coal slag, derived from the region of the settlement Ajka, Hungary. In some buildings monitored, the elevated -doses were nearly 5–10 times higher than the world average ones. The annual average indoor radon concentrations from the slag exceeded 400 Bq/m³ and in some cases up to 1200 Bq/m³. Due to the elevated exposure and the radon concentrations in the dwellings the annual dose was estimated to 8–24 mSv/y more than 5–10 times of the world average one.     

CIRCULAR DICHROISM SPECTRA OF SYSTEM I PARTICLES FROM NORMAL CHLOROPLASTS AND CAROTENOID-DEFICIENT MUTANTS OF MAIZE

Abstract— Circular dichroism (CD) spectra were studied in System I particles prepared by digitonin fragmentation of chloroplasts of normal maize and carotenoid-deficient mutants. CD bands of pigment molecules were found to be higher in particles than in solutions. This phenomenon was most pronounced for the particles containing the carotenoid composition of normal chloroplast lamellae. The CD signal of chlorophylls bound to particles of carotenoid-deficient chloroplasts was closer to that found in solutions. This indicates that aggregation and/or binding of chlorophylls in carotenoid-deficient mutants may be less extensive than in normal chloroplasts.     

Investigating the arenyl-diene double [3 + 2] photocycloaddition reaction

The double [3 + 2] photocycloaddition reaction involving arenyl-dienes has been used to assemble seven separate [5.5.5.5] fenestrane structures that include ether and aza variants. The primary photolysis step was a meta photocycloaddition reaction, while a secondary photocycloaddition step formed the fenestrane structure. Investigations involving the insertion of an additional methylene group into the basic arenyl-diene skeleton failed to afford the desired [5.5.5.6] fenestrane structure. The presence of an oxime moiety in the aromatic photosubstrate allowed the primary photolysis step to take place; however, an attempted secondary photocycloaddition reaction involving the oxime did not provide the intended polyheterocyclic fenestrane. An alternative strategy to form various "criss-cross" double meta photocycloadducts was investigated and led to the discovery of a Paterno-Büchi cycloaddition reaction between acetone and an angular meta photocycloadduct. Other novel thermally and photochemically mediated skeletal rearrangement reactions were also recorded.     

Differentiable Distance Spaces

The distance function \({\varrho(p, q) ({\rm or} d(p, q))}\) of a distance space (general metric space) is not differentiable in general. We investigate such distance spaces over \({\mathbb{R}^n}\), whose distance functions are differentiable like in case of Finsler spaces. These spaces have several good properties, yet they are not Finsler spaces (which are special distance spaces). They are situated between general metric spaces (distance spaces) and Finsler spaces. We will investigate such curves of differentiable distance spaces, which possess the same properties as geodesics do in Finsler spaces. So these curves can be considered as forerunners of Finsler geodesics. They are in greater plenitude than Finsler geodesics, but they become geodesics in a Finsler space. We show some properties of these curves, as well as some relations between differentiable distance spaces and Finsler spaces. We arrive to these curves and to our results by using distance spheres, and using no variational calculus. We often apply direct geometric considerations.