Le Groupe Quantique Compact Libre U(n)

The free analogues of U(n) in Woronowicz' theory [Wo2] are the compact matrix quantum groups introduced by Wang and Van Daele. We classify here their irreducible representations. Their fusion rules turn to be related to the combinatorics of Voiculescu's circular variable. If we find an embedding , where A _o (F) is the deformation of SU(2) studied in [B2]. We use the representation theory and Powers' method for showing that the reduced algebras A _u (F) _red are simple, with at most one trace. Received: 1 March 1996 / Accepted: 4 April 1997     

Measurement of the sign and the magnitude of heteronuclear coupling constants from spin-state-edited J-cross-polarization NMR experiments

New spin-state-selective (S3) NMR pulse sequences exclusively applying cross-polarization schemes to achieve optimum homonuclear and heteronuclear 1H-X coherence transfer are reported for the simple and accurate measurement of the magnitude and sign of heteronuclear coupling constants for samples at natural abundance. The proposed spin-edited HCP-TOCSY experiments are based on clean heteronuclear S3 excitation, generated by simultaneous co-addition of two independent in-phase and anti-phase components created during the mixing heteronuclear J-cross-polarization (HCP) step, which is finally transferred to other protons by a conventional homonuclear TOCSY mechanism. Selective 1D and non-selective 2D approaches for the easy determination of long-range proton-carbon and proton-nitrogen coupling constants on any protonated and non-protonated heteronuclei are presented and discussed for several organic molecules.     

Polymer-Titanium hybrids obtained by radical polymerization and Sol-Gel process

The possibility to prepare hybrids made by poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and/or poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEtA) with TiO₂ was studied. The processes of polymer formation-radical polymerization and sol-gel process for inorganic network —were achieved simultaneously. Due to a high reactivity of titanium isopropoxide (TIP) in the sol-gel process, a complexant comonomer, allyl acetoacetate (AlAcAc), was used. Covalent bonds between polymer and inorganic chains were obtained by addition of trialkoxysilane derivates with vinyl (VTES) or methacryloyl (MPTS) groups. The presence of TIP inhibits the radical polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc). The PVAc-TiO₂ hybrids were produced by the sol-gel process of TIP in the presence of pre-obtained PVAc. Except for VTES and MPTS, trialkoxysilane derivates with methyl (MeTES), octyl (OTES) and phenyl (PTES) groups were used. The thermal stability of hybrids is strongly affected by TiO₂ presence and by the type of trialkoxysilane derivates. The thermal stability of PVAc hybrids decreases in the presence of TiO₂ inorganic network. The glass transition temperature of polymers increases in the presence of the inorganic network.     

(+)- and (-)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acids and their incorporation into highly rigid beta-peptides: stereoselective synthesis and a structural study

[Chemical reaction: See text] Several derivatives of (+)- and (-)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid, 1, have been prepared through enantiodivergent synthetic sequences. The stereoselective synthesis of free amino acid (+)-1 has been achieved, and this product has been fully characterized for the first time. Stereocontrolled alternative synthetic methodologies have been developed for the preparation of bis(cyclobutane) beta-dipeptides in high yields. Among them, enantio and diastereomers have been synthesized. beta,beta- and beta,delta-Dimers resulting from the coupling of a cyclobutane residue and a linear amino acid have also been prepared. The ability of the cyclobutane ring as a structure-promoting unit both in the monomers and in the dimers has been manifested. The NMR structural study and DFT theoretical calculations evidence the formation of strong intramolecular hydrogen bonds giving rise to cis-fused [4.2.0]octane structural units that confer high rigidity on these molecules both in solution and in the gas phase. The contribution of a cis-trans conformational equilibrium derived from the rotation around the carbamate N-C(O) bond has also been observed, the trans form being the major conformer. In the solid state, this equilibrium does not exist, and moreover, intermolecular hydrogen bonds are present.     

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of carbonyl compounds in cigarette mainstream smoke after derivatization with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine

An improved gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was described for the analysis of carbonyl compounds in cigarette mainstream smoke (CMS) after 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) derivatization. Besides formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, acrolein, propionaldehyde, methyl ethyl ketone, butyraldehyde, and crotonaldehyde that are routinely analyzed in cigarette smoke, this technique separates and allows the analysis of several C4, C5 and C6 isomeric carbonyl compounds. Differentiation could be made between the linear and branched carbon chain components. In cigarette smoke, the branched chain carbonyls are found at higher level than the linear chain carbonyls. Also, several trace carbonyl compounds such as methoxyacetaldehyde were found for the first time in cigarette smoke. For the analysis, cigarette smoke was collected using DNPH-treated pads, which is a simpler procedure compared to conventional impinger collection. Thermal decomposition of DNPH-carbonyl compounds was minimized by the optimization of the GC conditions. The linear range of the method was significantly improved by using a standard mixture of DNPH-carbonyl compounds instead of individual compounds for calibration. The minimum detectable quantity for the carbonyls ranged from 1.4 to 5.6 microg/cigarette.     

Simultaneous recording of spin-state-selective NMR spectra for different InS spin systems

Heteronuclear magnetization transfer occurring during heteronuclear cross-polarization mixing processes in liquid-state NMR experiments can be easily monitored as a function of the involved in-phase, antiphase, and multiple-quantum magnetization components. The theoretical background on the simultaneous detection of E.COSY-type, TROSY-type, or spin-edited multiplet patterns for different IS and I(2)S spin systems in the same solution-state NMR spectrum is described. The proposed pulse scheme preserves high sensitivity levels and shows good tolerance to the presence of undesired cross-talk artifacts for both NH and NH(2) multiplicities providing an interesting NMR tool for biomolecular applications.     

Transition metal-mediated intramolecular [2+2+2] cycloisomerizations of cyclic triynes and enediynes

[reaction: see text] Nitrogen-containing 15-membered triacetylenic macrocycles known as 1,6,11-tris(arylsulfonyl)-1,6,11-triazacyclopentadeca-3,8,13-triynes (1) and enediynic macrocycles called 1,6,11-tris(arylsulfonyl)-1,6,11-triazacyclopentadeca-3-ene-8,13-diynes (4 and 5) were satisfactorily prepared. [2+2+2] cycloisomerization processes catalyzed by transition metals were tested in the above-mentioned macrocycles. Readily available and familiar cyclotrimerization precatalysts were examined for efficiency. Among them, the RhCl(CO)(PPh(3))(2) complex was found to catalyze the cycloisomerization reaction giving the desired cycloadducts in high yields.     

Infinite divisibility and a non-commutative Boolean-to-free Bercovici–Pata bijection

We use the theory of fully matricial, or non-commutative, functions to investigate infinite divisibility and limit theorems in operator-valued non-commutative probability. Our main result is an operator-valued analogue for the Bercovici–Pata bijection. An important tool is Voiculescu?s subordination property for operator-valued free convolution.     

Interdisciplinary study on pottery experimentally impregnated with wine

Experimentally developed ceramic pots, with two different sizes of grain, were half-filled with wine and subjected to thermal alteration at constant elevated temperature ((60 ± 2)°C) in darkness for 12 weeks. This work sought to characterise the samples thereby obtained from chemical and mineralogical perspectives using scanning electron microscopy and an energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis system (SEM-EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) with UV detection as an alternative to chromatographic methods, due to its good resolution, automation, simplicity, high speed, low consumption of chemicals and short time required for sample preparation. The capillary electrophoresis method was used for the detection of five wine biomarkers: succinic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid and lactic acid. In general, it was noted that the fine-grained ceramic assortment retained the organic material better than the coarser-grained ceramics. An interesting observation derived from this study was that not only could tartaric acid be considered as a biomarker for wine residues in archaeological pottery, but malic acid could also act similarly for white wine and lactic acid for red wine.     

Two-stage latexes of polystyrene acrylates

ABSTRACT

The modification of decomposition rate of the potassium persulfate initiator during the synthesis of “two-stage latexes” polystyrene-ethyl acrylate (EtA) of butyl acrylale (BuA) and of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) is studied. This rate is minimum for BuA and maximum for EHA, in good agreement with the value of solubility parameters. The appearance of poryacrvlaf.es determines the existence of water bonded to the polar polymer. The amount of water bonded increases in the sequence PEtA?PBuA?PEHA, function of the modification of the diameters of the particles resulted from the latexes obtained.