Artificial intelligence and thermodynamics help solving arson cases.

In arson cases, evidence such as DNA or fingerprints is often destroyed. One of the most important evidence modalities left is relating fire accelerants to a suspect. When gasoline is used as accelerant, the aim is to find a strong indication that a gasoline sample from a fire scene is related to a sample of a suspect.

Using Alkylate Components for Classifying Gasoline in Fire Debris Samples.

The characteristic that discriminates gasoline from other ignitable liquids is that it contains high-octane blending components. This study elaborates on the idea that the presence of gasoline in fire debris samples should be based on the detection of known high-octane blending components. The potential of the high-octane blending component alkylate as a characteristic feature for gasoline detection and identification in fire debris samples is explored.

Performance testing of the new AMPAC fire debris bag against three other commercial fire debris bags.

Fire debris evidence is collected and stored in a wide range of containers, including various polymer bags. Four different polymer bags have been investigated, including the NYLON, DUO, ALU, and AMPAC bags. The latter is the successor of the Kapak Fire DebrisPAK™.

Highly selective cobalt-catalyzed hydrovinylation of styrene.

The hydrovinylation reaction is a codimerization of a 1,3-diene or vinyl arene and ethene with great potential for fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals. For the first time, enantioselective cobalt-catalyzed hydrovinylations of styrene were achieved with a cobalt-based system bearing a chiral bis(phosphine)amide ligand.

Synthesis and properties of para-substituted NCN-pincer palladium and platinum complexes.

A variety of para-substituted NCN-pincer palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes [MX(NCN-Z)] (M=Pd(II), Pt(II); X=Cl, Br, I; NCN-Z=[2,6-(CH(2)NMe(2))(2)C(6)H(2)-4-Z](-); Z=NO(2), COOH, SO(3)H, PO(OEt)(2), PO(OH)(OEt), PO(OH)(2), CH(2)OH, SMe, NH(2)) were synthesised by routes involving substitution reactions, either prior to or, notably, after metalation of the ligand. The solubility of the pincer complexes is dominated by the nature of the para substituent Z, which renders several complexes water-soluble. The influence of the para substituent on the electronic properties of the metal centre was studied by (195)Pt NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations.