Conjugate addition of pyrroles to α,β-unsaturated ketones using copper bromide as a catalyst

Copper bromide was used as a catalyst for the addition of pyrroles to enones. When both the reactants were used in equimolar amounts, mono and dialkylated products were obtained. However, the use of excess enone furnished only dialkylated products. Thus, copper bromide was shown to be an efficient catalyst for the dialkylation of pyrroles.     

De Sitter universes and the emerging landscape in string theory

We discuss a recent proposal to construct de Sitter vacua in string theory. It is based on flux compactifications in string theory where all the moduli are stabilised and supersymmetry is broken with control. The resulting picture is that of a complicated landscape with many vacua of widely varying values for the cosmological constant.     

BRST invariance and the conical pendulum

The Hamiltonian formulation of the BRST method for quantizing constrained systems developed recently by Nemeschanskyet al is applied to the well-known problem of the conical pendulum in classical mechanics. The similarity of the system to a gauge theory wherein the two constraints serve as generators of local Abelian gauge transformations is also pointed out. The definition of the physical states of the system as a gauge theory and also as a BRST invariant theory is then discussed in some detail.     

Capacity augmentation of a supply chain for a short lifecycle product: A system dynamics framework

For an innovative product characterized by short product lifecycle and high demand uncertainty, investment in capacity buildup has to be done cautiously. Otherwise either the product’s market diffusion is impeded or the manufacturer is left with unutilized capacity. Using the right information for making capacity augmentation decisions is critical in facing this challenge. In this paper, we propose a method for identifying critical information flows using the system dynamics model of a two-echelon supply chain. The fundamental premise of system dynamics methodology is that (system) structure determines (its) behavior. Using loop dominance analysis method we study the feedback loop structure of the supply chain system. The outcome is a set of dominant loops that determine the dynamics of capacity growth. It is revealed that the delivery delay information has little effect while the loop that connects retail sales with production order affects the dynamics significantly. Modifying this loop yields appropriate capacity augmentation decisions resulting in higher performance. What-if analyses bring out effects of modifying other structural elements. In conclusion, we claim that the information feedback based methodology is general enough to be useful in designing decision support systems for capacity augmentation. The limitations of the model are also discussed and possible extensions identified.     

A two-step biomimetic synthesis of antimalarial robustadials A and B

The antimalarial robustadials A and B have been synthesized in two steps starting from commercially available phloroglucinol comprising a key biomimetic three-component reaction that involves in situ generation of an o-quinone methide via Knoevenagel condensation and subsequent Diels-Alder cycloaddition with (−)-β-pinene.     

Microstructure and electrical properties of BaTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> and (Ba,Sr)TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> ferroelectric thin films on nickel electrodes

Nickel thin films have been sputtered on standard Si/SiO₂ substrates with TiO₂ as an adhesive layer. The thermal stability of these substrates was analyzed. SEM images show an increase in grain size with annealing temperature. They were found to be stable till 800°C, beyond which the nickel layer disintegrated. These substrates were used for deposition of BaTiO₃ and (Ba,Sr)TiO₃ dielectric thin films under a reducing atmosphere. The dielectric thin films were processed with various pyrolysis and annealing temperatures in order to optimize the dielectric properties. Increased pyrolysis temperatures showed an increase in the grain size. Results on these nickelised substrates were finally compared with dielectric films deposited on platinized silicon substrates under identical conditions but crystallized in an oxygen atmosphere.     

Anion mediated polytype selectivity among the basic salts of Co(II)

Basic salts of Co(II) crystallize in the rhombohedral structure. Two different polytypes, 3R₁ and 3R₂, with distinct stacking sequences of the metal hydroxide slabs, are possible within the rhombohedral structure. These polytypes are generated by simple translation of successive layers by (2/3, 1/3, z) or (1/3, 2/3, z). The symmetry of the anion and the mode of coordination influences polytype selection. Cobalt hydroxynitrate crystallizes in the structure of the 3R₂ polytype while the hydroxytartarate, hydroxychloride and α-cobalt hydroxide crystallize in the structure of the 3R₁ polytype. Cobalt hydroxysulfate is turbostratically disordered. The turbostratic disorder is a direct consequence of the mismatch between the crystallographically defined interlayer sites generated within the crystal and the tetrahedral symmetry of the SO₄²⁻ ions.     

Crystallization Temperature Limit of (Ba,Sr)TiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> Thin Films Prepared by a Non Oxocarbonate Phase Forming CSD Route

A new chemical solution deposition (CSD) route for the fabrication of Ba_0.7Sr_0.3TiO₃ (BST) thin films has been developed which completely prevents the formation of an intermediate oxo-carbonate phase. The latter has been reported previously by several authors to be responsible for increased crystallization temperatures. Barium and strontium diaminoethoxides were synthesized starting from pure barium and strontium metal and aminoethanol. These alkoxides were found to be readily soluble in a wide range of solvents and thus were excellent candidates for the CSD process. To prepare a stable precursor solution the aminoalkoxides were dissolved in 2-butoxyethanol and then used for the deposition of BST thin films. We conclude that the minimum crystallization temperature of 600C to be independent of the formation of the oxo-carbonate phase. DTA-TGA were performed on the precursors and their solutions to study their decomposition behaviour. All films annealed at different temperatures were physically characterized by XRD, IR, and SEM. The films prepared by this route at 650C were found to have high dielectric constant and the leakage currents were comparable to BST films prepared by normal carboxylate based routes at 750C.     

Synthesis and characterization of Boc-protected 4-amino- and 5-amino-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid methyl esters

Syntheses of Boc-protected 4-amino- and 5-amino-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid methyl esters have been achieved and the structures of these compounds have been fully characterized by detailed NMR studies.     

Asp746 to Glycine Change May have a Greater Influence than Cys751 to Serine Change in Accounting for Ligand Selectivity between EGFR and HER-2 at the ATP Site

Summary We have carried out up to 8.0 ns molecular dynamics simulation on the ATP-bound complexes of EGFR and HER-2 (homology model) receptor kinase domains to explore the possible consequences of amino acid residue changes in or close to the ATP site that might provide insights for selectivity of these kinases towards ATP site inhibitors. The simulation results show the formation of a channel under Thr766 following the movement of the side chain of Gln767 away from the hinge in EGFR. In HER-2, a similar movement of Gln799 occurs, but a simultaneous movement of Arg784 towards the hinge region occurs that tends to close the channel. The movement of Arg784 in HER-2 appears to result from the absence of an anchoring residue like Asp746 in EGFR, which has been changed to Gly778 in HER-2. In EGFR, this Arg784 is held away from the hinge region by interaction with Asp746, thereby leaving the channel open. This might be an important contributory factor to differences in selectivity of the ligands between the two kinases, probably more so than the conservative change of Cys751 of EGFR to serine in HER-2 at the ATP site.