Remote stereocontrol by the sulfinyl group: Mukaiyama aldol reactions of (S)-2-[2-(p-tolylsulfinyl)phenyl]acetaldehyde in the asymmetric synthesis of β-hydroxyacids and 1,3-diols

(S)-2-[2-(p-Tolylsulfinyl)phenyl]acetaldehyde reacts with different O-silylated ketenethioacetals in the presence of Yb(OTf)₃ yielding β-hydroxythioesters in high yields and diastereoselectivities. The obtained compounds were readily transformed into β-hydroxyacids and their corresponding diols. These Mukaiyama aldol reactions are a direct evidence of the ability of the sulfinyl group to control 1,5- and 1,6-asymmetric induction processes.     

Preparation of rhodium–phyllosilicate catalysts without leaching in liquid-phase 1-hexene hydrogenation

Rhodium catalysts have been prepared on palygorskite and montmorillonite (clay) supports by reduction with hydrogen (1 atmosphere) at room temperature of a cationic organometallic rhodium compound anchored to the support. The activity of these catalysts for the hydrogenation of liquid-phase 1-hexene remains constant with increase of prehydrogenation time and with re-use for several runs. No rhodium leaching is observed.     

Embedded eigenvalues of Sturm Liouville operators

In this work we study the behavior of embedded eigenvalues of Sturm-Liouville problems in the half axis under local perturbations. When the derivative of the spectral function is strictly positive, we prove that the embedded eigenvalues either disappear or remain fixed. In this case we show that local perturbations cannot add eigenvalues in the continuous spectrum. If the condition on the spectral function is removed then a local perturbation can add infinitely many eigenvalues.     

Convergence of multistep discretizations of DAEs

Standard ODE methods such as linear multistep methods encounter difficulties when applied to differential-algebraic equations (DAEs) of index greater than 1. In particular, previous results for index 2 DAEs have practically ruled out the use of all explicit methods and of implicit multistep methods other than backward difference formulas (BDFs) because of stability considerations. In this paper we embed known results for semi-explicit index 1 and 2 DAEs in a more comprehensive theory based on compound multistep and one-leg discretizations. This explains and characterizes the necessary requirements that a method must fulfill in order to be applicable to semi-explicit DAEs. Thus we conclude that the most useful discretizations are those that avoid discretization of the constraint. A freer use of e.g. explicit methods for the non-stiff differential part of the DAE is then possible.Dedicated to Germund Dahlquist on the occasion of his 70th birthdayThis author thanks the Centro de Estadística y Software Matemático de la Universidad Simón Bolivar (CESMa) for permitting her free use of its research facilities.Partial support by the Swedish Research Council for Engineering Sciences TFR under contract no. 222/91-405.     

Production and characterization of refractive index gratings in high-birefringence fibre optics

In this work, we report production and modelling of both Bragg gratings and rocking filters in high birefringence fibre optics. Bragg gratings are produced by UV (257.0 nm) external interferometric exposition of a frequency-doubled Ar⁺ ion laser, whereas for rocking filters formation the visible Ar⁺ ion laser lines in 488.0 and 514.5 nm are used in an internal method. The spectral characteristics due to the birefringence properties are studied through numerical methods and experimental techniques. The spectral responsivity of the structures under temperature changes and stress application is presented.     

Micellar effect in hydroformylation of high olefin catalysed by water-soluble rhodium complexes associated with sulfonated diphosphines

High linear alkenes (1-octene and 1-decene) have been hydroformylated using water-soluble rhodium complexes associated with sulfonated diphosphines in the presence of ionic surfactants or methanol. In all cases, the hydroformylation activities were higher than in experiments without additives. The selectivity in aldehydes was higher when we used cetyltrimethylammonium hydrogensulfate (CTAHSO₄) as the surfactant or methanol as the co-solvent.