Evaluating the financial performance of bank branches

We evaluate the financial performance of most of the branch offices of a large European savings bank for a recent accounting period. We employ a complementary pair of nonparametric techniques to evaluate their financial performance, in terms of their ability to conserve on the expenses they incur in building their customer bases and providing customer services. We find variation in the ability of branch offices to perform this task, and agreement on the identity of the laggard branches. We then employ parametric techniques to determine that the list of indicators on which their financial performance is evaluated can be reduced without statistically significant loss of information to bank management. Both findings suggest ways in which the bank can increase the profitability of its branch network. A previous version of this paper was presented at CORE, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, where we received many helpful comments from the audience. We are grateful to three referees for their helpful comments as well.     

Mechanistic approaches to asymmetric synthesis of aziridines from guanidinium ylides and aryl aldehydes

To approach more realistic mechanisms for asymmetric aziridine synthesis from guanidinium ylides and aryl aldehydes, reactions were systematically carried out by using a variety of p-substituted benzaldehydes under modified conditions. Two kinds of reaction mechanisms controlled by the nature of the p-substituents of aryl aldehydes is proposed for the two-steps aziridine synthesis composed of a C-C bond formation by nucleophilic addition of guanidinium ylides to aryl aldehydes (step 1) and the fragmentation of intermediate adducts to aziridine products by intramolecular nucleophilic substitution (step 2). A S_Ni-like mechanism via cationic-like transition state is proposed for step 2 in the asymmetric synthesis using EDG-substituted benzaldehydes, whereas with EWG-substituted benzaldehydes, a S_N2-like mechanism is proposed. Hammett analysis, based on the diastereomeric ratio in the aziridine products, is consistent with the proposed rate-determining steps in these two mechanisms. A second Hammett analysis, based on the enantiomeric ratio of the aziridine products, clearly reveals the difference in the susceptibilities to the electronic substituents effect between step 1 and step 2.     

Reduction of acetophenone using supercritical 2-propanol: the substituent effect and the deuterium kinetic isotope effect

The reductions of several substituted acetophenones using supercritical 2-propanol were carried out to estimate the Hammett's reaction constant (ρ=0.33). Also, the reduction of acetophenone using supercritical deuteriated 2-propanol was carried out to determine the rate-determining step. The kinetic isotope effects were observed in the reduction using 2-deuterio-2-propanol (k_H/k_D=1.6) and O-deuterio-2-propanol (k_H/k_D=2.0). These findings suggest that the reaction proceeds via a cyclic transition state between acetophenone and 2-propanol similar to that of the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reduction.     

红外光谱中溶剂效应机理研究(IV) 溶剂受电子位阻效应常数的确定

In the previous paper(Ⅲ), the following equation of solvent effect in organic chemistry was suggested:
Ei=a﹒Ai(1-Va﹒VAi)+d﹒Di(1-Vd﹒VDi)+E0
Where Ei is a physical or chemical property of the substrate in the solvent i and E0 is that in n-hexane. Ai and Di are constants of electron acception and donation effect of the solvent i respectively. VAi and VDi are constants of electron acception and donation space effect of the solvent i respectively, a and d are the sensitivities of E of the substrate vs the change of Ai and Di. Va and Vd are the constants of electron acception and donation space effect of the substrate respectively. In IR spectra E could be substituted by the wavenumber(ν). Ai and VAi have been established for 18 organic solvents (n-C6H14, n-C7H16, cyclohexane, CCl4, Ph-Me, ClCH:CCl2, Et2O, CHCl3, C6H6, CH2Cl2, ClCH2CH2Cl, Ph-NO2, THF, 1,4-dioxane, Et-NO2. MeCO2Et, Me-NO2, Me-CN).
In this paper Di and VDi have been established for these solvents. The equation also has been tested by the νC-X(X=Cl, Br) of five alkylhalides (t-BuCl, n-C5H11Cl, t-BuBr, Et-Br, EtC(H)BrMe) and νC=O of three carboxyl compounds (t-BuCOMe, Me2CO, MHB) and seven organotin compounds [(Ph2MeSiCH2)3SnO2C-C6H4-X-p(X=H-, CH3-, CH3O-, NO2-, F-. Cl-, I-)].
The relationship (ν=ρ﹒σ+ν0) between νC=O of organotin compounds and Hammett constants(σ) of the substituted groups in different solvents was studied and a relationship betweenρ and Ai, VAi, Di, VDi of the solvents was found.     

Redox properties of hydrogenated quinoline derivatives — inhibitors in oxidation processes of hydrocarbons

Half-wave potentials of the one-electron electrochemical oxidation (E _1/2 ^ox) of hydroquinolines with different degrees of heterocycle hydrogenization as well as containing substituents of various natures in the benzene ring and heterocycle have been measured. Linear correlations betweenE _1/2 ^ox and the values of the Hammett polar -constants form- andp-substituents in dihydroquinolines and related sulfur-containing dithiolthiones were established. The character of the variation ofE _1/2 ^ox in the series of hydroquinolines was found to correlate with the characteristic features of the inhibiting action of these compounds in the liquid-phase oxidation of various hydrocarbons. However, in contrast to phenolic antioxidants for hydroquinolines, there is no dependence of the retardation period onE _1/2 ^oxin the oxidation of hydrocarbons at temperatures higher than 100 °C.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 610–613, April, 1994.     

Mono- and diboronates derived from tridentate ONO ligands and arylboronic acids

The syntheses of eight [4.3.0] heterobicyclic boronates containing a N → B coordinative bond are described. The monomeric compounds were prepared by reaction of arylboronic acids with a tridentate ligand having the ONO donor set of atoms. It was shown that substituents at the para-position of the B-phenyl moiety transmit electronic effects to the CN bond which in turn is polarized by formation of the N → B coordination bond. At the same time, related tridentate ligands were also reacted with 1,4-benzenediboronic acid in order to prepare benzene diboron complexes. The structure of this type of compounds was confirmed by X-ray analysis for one of the derivatives.     

Reaction of ethyl bromoacetate with substituted naphthoate ions

Rate constants for the reaction of ethyl bromoacetate with three series of substituted naphthoate ions have been measured in an acetone-water mixture (90% v/v). Using σ _p values rate constants at 30^o correlate well with the Hammett equation yielding ρ=−0.54, −0.19 and −0.25 for (4,1−), (6,1−) and (6,2−) series, respectively. Comparison of these ρ values with those of the reaction of phenacyl bromide reveals the failure of the reactivity-selectivity principle RSP in these reactions. Failure of RSP has been explained in terms of isoselective temperature.     

Optical sensors for determination of heavy metal ions

A review is given on optical means for single shot testing (probing) as well as continuous monitoring (sensing) of heavy metal ions (HMs). Following an introduction into indicator based approaches, we discuss the types of indicator dyes and polymeric supports used, as well as existing sensing schemes for HMs. The wealth of information is compiled in the form of tables and critically reviewed. Notwithstanding the tremendous work performed so far, it is obvious that still severe limitations do exist in terms of selectivity, limits of detection, dynamic ranges, applicability to specific problems, and reversibility. On the other hand, such sensors have found — and will find — their application whenever rapid and cost-effective testing is required, where personnel is scarce or unskilled, and in field tests. Despite their limitations, the number of such sensors (and of irreversible probes) for HMs is likely to increase in future.     

分子筛表面酸性与液相合成乙酸丁酯催化活性的关联

本文用Ｈｓｍｍｅｔｔ指示剂正丁胺滴定法测定ＨＺＳＭ－５分子筛表面酸量按强度的分布并与液相合成乙酸丁酯的催化活性相关联，探明了分子筛催化剂中酸强度为－５．６＜Ｈ０≤－３．０和－３．０＜Ｈ０≤＋３．３范围的酸中心对催化反应的贡献分别为４８％和３３％。将表面酸量按其对反应的贡献折算成有效酸浓度以后，反应的有效酸浓度和反应速度常数之间符合均相酸催化反应的规律，对以ＨＺＳＭ－５分子筛为催化剂在１２０℃下液相     

Synthesis and Characterization of Push-Pull Porphyrins

A series of “push-pull” porphyrins with 4-nitrophenyl and 4-aminophenyl substituents were synthesized and separated by flash column chromatographic techniques. They were fully characterized by elemental analysis, FAB-MS, FTIR, UV-visible, and ¹H NMR spectroscopies. The unsymmetrical π-electron distribution of the porphyrins caused by the donor (amino) and acceptor (nitro) substituents were investigated by ¹H NMR technique. The pyrrole-H resonance positions can be correlated to the Hammett σ constants of the substituents. Although with strong donor and acceptor substituents, UV-visible spectra show the push-pull porphyrins have rather weak solvatochromism and hence limited intramolecular charge-transfer character.