The completion of the classification of the regular near octagons with thick quads

Brouwer and Wilbrink [3] showed the nonexistence of regular near octagons whose parameters s, t₂, t₃ and t satisfy s ≥ 2, t₂ ≥ 2 and t₃ ≠ t₂(t₂+1). Later an arithmetical error was discovered in the proof. Because of this error, the existence problem was still open for the near octagons corresponding with certain values of s, t₂ and t₃. In the present paper, we will also show the nonexistence of these remaining regular near octagons. MSC2000 05B25, 05E30, 51E12 Postdoctoral Fellow of the Research Foundation - Flanders     

The valuations of the near hexagons related to the Witt designs S(5,6,12) and S(5,8,24)

Valuations of dense near polygons were introduced in 16 . In the present paper, we classify all valuations of the near hexagons ??₁ and ??₂, which are related to the respective Witt designs S(5,6,12) and S(5,8,24). Using these classifications, we prove that if a dense near polygon S contains a hex H isomorphic to ??₁ or ??₂, then H is classical in S. We will use this result to determine all dense near octagons that contain a hex isomorphic to ??₁ or ??₂. As a by‐product, we obtain a purely geometrical proof for the nonexistence of regular near 2d‐gons, d ≥ 4, whose parameters s, t, t_i (0 ≤ i ≤ d) satisfy (s, t₂, t₃) = (2, 1, 11) or (2, 2, 14). The nonexistence of these regular near polygons can also be shown with the aid of eigenvalue techniques. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Combin Designs 14: 214–228, 2006     

Polyethene with pendant fullerene moieties

Polyethene with fullerene moieties pendant on short-chain branches was prepared by the catalytic copolymerization of ethene and a fullerene-containing vinylic comonomer, yielding polyethene copolymers containing up to 25 wt% of C60.     

Pincer-porphyrin hybrids

[reaction: see text] Starting from tetrakis(3,5-bis(bromomethyl)phenyl)porphyrin, pincer-porphyrin hybrid molecules (tetrakis(ECE-pincer)porphyrin; E = N, P, S) based on a tetraphenylporphyrin skeleton have been prepared in high yields. These multi-ligand site compounds could be selectively metalated at their peripheries, which was shown by X-ray crystallography.     

Physico-chemical characterization of nanofiltration membranes.

This study presents a methodology for an in-depth characterization of six representative commercial nanofiltration membranes. Laboratory-made polyethersulfone membranes are included for reference. Besides the physical characterization [molecular weight cut-off (MWCO), surface charge, roughness and hydrophobicity], the membranes are also studied for their chemical composition [attenuated total reflectance Fourier spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)] and porosity [positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS)]. The chemical characterization indicates that all membranes are composed of at least two different layers. The presence of an additional third layer is proved and studied for membranes with a polyamide top layer. PAS experiments, in combination with FIB (focused ion beam) images, show that these membranes also have a thinner and a less porous skin layer (upper part of the top layer). In the skin layer, two different pore sizes are observed for all commercial membranes: a pore size of 1.25-1.55 angstroms as well as a pore size of 3.20-3.95 angstroms (both depending on the membrane type). Thus, the pore size distribution in nanofiltration membranes is bimodal, in contrast to the generally accepted log-normal distribution. Although the pore sizes are rather similar for all commercial membranes, their pore volume fraction and hence their porosity differ significantly.     

Study of fragmentation pattern and adsorption of 9-O-(triphenylsilyl)-10,11-dihydrocinchonidine on platinum by hydrogen/deuterium exchange using electrospray ionization ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry

We have studied the adsorption on a platinum (Pt) catalyst of two compounds utilizable as a chiral basic catalyst and a chiral modifier, dihydrocinchonidine (DHCD), and a new cinchona alkaloid derivative containing a bulky group, the Ph3SiO-DHCD molecule. The method of choice was the detection by electrospray ionization (ESI) ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) of hydrogen/deuterium (H/D) exchange at room temperature, in tetrahydrofuran, at a D2 pressure of 1 bar. Based on the ESI-MS/MS spectrum of the new compound, we propose a mechanism for the formation of the silatropylium cation containing a Si-O bond. From the fragmentation pattern of Ph3SiO-DHCD it was confirmed that ESI-ion-trap MS/MS can be used to study the adsorption processes of complicated carbon compounds by investigating their H/D exchange reactions. In the case of Ph3SiO-DHCD, the results demonstrate that H/D exchange takes place mainly on the quinoline skeleton. However, the strong pi-bonded adsorption of the quinoline skeleton parallel with the imaginary plane of Pt is not preferred because the bulky Ph3Si group inhibits the multiple pi-bonded adsorption of the Ph3SiO-DHCD. Because of this hindrance the molecule was adsorbed tilted via the nonbonding electron pair of the N atom and C2' atom of the quinoline skeleton; consequently, mainly alkaloid-d1 and alkaloid-d2 are formed.     

One‐Dimensional,Cofacial Porphyrin Polymers Formed by Self‐Assembly of meso‐Tetrakis(ERE Donor) Zinc(II) Porphyrins

A series of meso‐tetrakis‐(ERE donor) zinc(II) porphyrins n Zn (ERE donor=4‐R‐3,5‐bis[(E)‐methyl]phenyl; 1 Zn: E=NMe₂, R=Br; 2 Zn: E=NMe₂, R=H; 3 Zn: E=OMe, R=Br; 4 Zn: E=OMe, R=H) have been synthesized in excellent yields. As a result of the combination of a Lewis acidic site and eight Lewis basic sites within one molecule, monomeric molecules of n Zn self‐assemble to form one‐dimensional porphyrin polymers [ n Zn]_∞ in the solid state, as confirmed for 1 Zn and 3 Zn by X‐ray crystallography. The coordination environment around the zinc(II) ions in these polymers is octahedral. They are ligated by four equatorial nitrogen atoms of the porphyrin and two apical E atoms (E=N, O) provided by the EBrE donor groups of adjacent n Zn molecules. Complexes 2 Zn and 4 Zn did not form single crystals, but solid‐state UV/Vis analysis points to the formation of similar structures. Solution UV/Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy indicated that interactions between 1 Zn and 2 Zn monomers in the polymers are stronger than between 3 Zn and 4 Zn monomers. Interestingly, they also revealed that the presence of a neighboring bromine atom in the EBrE donor groups has a considerable influence on the coordination properties of the benzylic N or O atoms. The zinc(II) ions of the porphyrins most likely adopt only hexacoordination in the solid state, owing to the unique predisposition of Lewis acidic and basic sites in the n Zn molecules. Several parameters of the aggregates, for example, the interplanar separation between porphyrins and the zinc–zinc distances, change as a function of the coordinating E groups. The high degree of modularity in their synthesis makes these zinc(II) porphyrins an interesting new entry in noncovalent multiporphyrin assemblies.     

Solid-state equilibrium relations in the Ternary Systems TeO2?MoO3?MoO2 and TeO2?MoO3?Te

In a study of the solid-state reactions in the ternary systems TeO₂? MoO₃? MoO₂ and TeO₂? MoO₃? Te, approximately 70 selected compositions were sintered at 550°C to attain equilibrium conditions, and solid-state equilibrium relations were characterized by x-ray diffraction. In a large composition range, the interaction of TeO₂ and MoO₃ with the reducing agents MoO₂ or Te leads to the reduced ternary oxide TeMo₄O₁₃ (m. p. 748°C), in addition to Te₂MoO₇, Te and (intermediate) molybdenum oxides. The compatibility relations for the binary systems TeO₂? MoO₂ and MoO₃? Te are presented for the first time. In the TeO₂? MoO₂ system, three-phase regions are found: (Te₂MoO₇? TeO₂? Te) on the TeO₂? and (TeMo₄O₁₃? MoO₂? Te) on the MoO₂-rich sides with (TeMo₄O₁₃? Te₂MoO₇? Te) in the intermediate region. In the MoO₃? Te system, three-phase regions (TeMo₄O₁₃? MoO₂? Te), (TeMo₄O₁₃? Mo₄O₁₁? MoO₂) and (TeMo₄O₁₃? MoO₃? Mo₄O₁₁) were detected. TeMo₄O₁₃ presents two allotropic forms (α′ for T < 450°C, α for T > 450°C). Both structures have been characterized by I.R. and optical reflectance spectroscopy. Unit cell dimensions are also given.