R-Matrices for Leibniz Algebras

Leibniz agebras are a generalization of Lie algebras, where no symmetry properties of the bracket are required. In this Letter we introduce a notion of R-matrices for this structure and the related Yang–Baxter equations, and discuss some of their basic properties.     

Potassium-selective optrode based on an immobilized fluorogenic crown ether

A new optical sensor phase for potassium ions has been developed based on the immobilization of the pH-dependent fluorogenic crown ether 4-acryloylamidobenzo-18-crown-6 on the non-ionic polymeric resin Amberlite XAD-2.Two different optical designs, a flow-through sensor and a fibre optic probetype sensor (optrode), have been constructed and their analytical performance characteristics have been evaluated. The resulting fluorimetric sensors for K⁺ ions exhibited detection limits of 0.4 or 0.8 M of K⁺ (16 g/l or 31 g/l), depending on the design, while the linear response occurred from 1 to 25 M of the metal concentrations. The precision, evaluated as the relative standard deviation of measurements of K⁺ levels at around ten times the detection limit (e.g. 5 M), turned out to be around ±2%.Advantageous features of this fluorimetric sensing phase and optrode include ease of construction, simplicity of use, reversibility, short response times (ca. 1 min full scale deflection) selectivity and operational stability, suitable for sensing potassium at low levels in complex matrices such as biological fluids.The fluorimetric optical sensor has been successfully applied to the direct determination of potassium in clinically important samples (serum and urine) and in natural waters. Very good accuracy has been obtained just using adequate synthetic aqueous potassium standards for calibration.     

Amine catalysis in phosphoryl transfer from 2,4-dinitrophenyl phosphate in aprotic and protic solvents

Reactions of tetra-n-butylammonium 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrogen phosphate, (ArPH)^?(R₄N)⁺, in aprotic and protic solvents, in the absence and in the presence of alcohols or water, ROH, are compared with analogous reactions of the salt in the presence of hindered and unhindered amines, e.g. diisopropylethyl amine and quinuclidine. Similar studies are performed with the acid, ArPH₂, in the presence of variable amounts of amines. The release of phenol and the fate of the phosphorus compounds are followed by ¹H and ³¹P NMR spectrometry. In the absence of free unhindered amine, reactions of the monoanion are relatively slow, sensitive to steric hindrance in the alcohol, and incapable of producing t-butyl phosphate from t-butanol; reactions of the dianion are relatively fast, insensitive to steric hindrance in the alcohol, and produce t-butyl phosphate. In the presence of free unhindered amine, reactions of the monoanion are relatively fast but still sensitive to steric hindrance in the alcohol, and hence do not produce t-butyl phosphate. The intermediate CH(CH₂CH₂)₃⁺NP(O)(OH)O^? is detected in the presence of quinuclidine. Reactions of the dianion in the presence of unhindered amines are analogous to those observed in the presence of hindered amines. The uncatalyzed and the nucleophilic amine-catalyzed reactions of the monoanion are assumed to proceed via oxyphosphorane, P(5), intermediates. The dianion reactions, which are not susceptible to nucleophilic catalysis, are assumed to proceed via the monomeric metaphosphate ion intermediate, PO₃^?. Significant effects related to solvent properties are observed in these reactions.     

Effects of temperature on the triplet behavior of the styrylphenanthrene isomers

The properties of the triplet state of five styrylphenanthrene (StPh) trans isomers were studied in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) as a function of temperature. At room temperature the T-T absorption was observed only for 4- and 9-StPh, while under these conditions 1-, 2-, and 3-StPh have too low a quantum yield of triplet formation (Φ_T <0.02); their T-T absorption spectra were obtained at low temperature. Φ_T of 1- and 2-StPh increases more than tenfold on going from 293 to 77 K, and the triplet lifetime (τ_T) increases by four orders of magnitude and approaches values of 5–40 ms at 77 K. The change in τ_T is explained in terms of an equilibrium between trans and perpendicular (perp) conformations of the lowest triplet state in fluid solution and temperature and viscosity effects on the trans → perp rotation. Evidence is presented for the existence of two conformeric trans triplet states of 3-StPh at 77 K. Semi-empirical calculations were performed to obtain the energy of the triplet state, the wavelengths of several T-T absorption maxima (λ_T), and the oscillator strength. The calculated λ_T values coincide with those measured in n-hexane.     

A regularity result for a class of non-uniformly elliptic operators

Archiv der Mathematik - We obtain an explicit Hölder regularity result for viscosity solutions of a class of second order fully nonlinear equations led by operators that are neither...     

Matrix-isolation FT-IR spectra and theoretical study of dimethyl sulfate

The preferred conformations of dimethyl sulfate and their vibrational spectra were studied by matrix-isolation FT-IR spectroscopy and theoretical methods (DFT and MP2, with basis sets of different sizes, including the quadruple-zeta, aug-cc-pVQZ basis). Conformer GG (of C2 symmetry and exhibiting OSOC dihedral angles of 74.3 degrees ) was found to be the most stable conformer in both the gaseous phase and isolated in argon. Upon annealing of the matrix, the less stable observed conformer (GT; with C1 symmetry) quickly converts to the GG conformer, with the resulting species being embedded in a matrix-cage which corresponds to the most stable matrix-site for GG form. The highest energy TT conformer, which was assumed to be the most stable conformer in previous studies, is predicted by the calculations to have a relative energy of ca. 10 kJ mol-1 and was not observed in the spectra of the matrix-isolated compound.     

Electric field induced electron transfer at the adsorbate-surface interface. Effect of the type of metal surface

The ab initio two-state model for electron transfer induced by an external electric field has been applied to the chloride oxidation on Cu, Rh, Pd, Ag, Pt and Au (001) surface models. The two electronic states involved in the model represent physical situations where the electron transferred from the chloride anion to the metal surface lies either on the halide or on the metal substrate. The model assumes that electron transfer takes place when these two states become degenerate and this is achieved by applying an external electric field. Two different situations representing either ultrahigh vacuum or electrochemical conditions have been considered. For the former the present study shows that electric field necessary to achieve degeneracy of the two electronic states is directly related to the metal surface work function whereas for the latter, it is found to be rather insensitive to the metal surface.     

Comprehensive photokinetic and NMR study of a biphotochromic supermolecule involving two naphthopyrans linked to a central thiophene unit through acetylenic bonds

A photophysical and photochemical study of a biphotochromic compound where two naphthopyran units are linked by an acetylene-thiophene-acetylene bridge has been carried out in toluene. Both fluorescence and intersystem crossing to the triplet manifold were found to compete with the photocoloration process. Two photoproducts (transoid-trans and transoid-cis stereoisomers), absorbing at approximately 480 nm and corresponding to the opening of a single photochromic unit, were detected by spectrophotometric analysis after short irradiation time in diluted solution and identified by 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. After prolonged irradiation at 228 K of highly concentrated solutions (up to 3 x 10(-3) mol dm(-3)), two additional isomers, absorbing at approximately 550 nm, were formed. Their NMR spectra indicate the opening of both photochromic units. An interesting effect of selective vibronic excitation was found, showing that the photoreaction is favored at excited vibronic levels to the detriment of the radiative relaxation.