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Two synthetic routes for the preparation of the water soluble 5,10,15-tris(4-sulfonatophenyl)corrole are reported. The first approach explores the chlorosulfonation reaction on the phosphorus complex of 5,10,15-tris(4-trimethylsilylphenyl)corrole. Following this route, the P complex of the target corrole has been obtained in low yields, while the major product was the tetrasubstituted complex, with the additional sulfonyl group regioselectively introduced at the 2-position. To widen the scope of the reaction, the direct preparation of the 5,10,15-tris(4-sulfonatophenyl)corrole has been pointed out, affording both the target corrole and the intermediate chlorosulfonyl derivative in reasonable yields. The photophysical properties and the protonation equilibria of both corroles have been investigated, showing that 5,10,15-tris(4-sulfonatophenyl)corrole does not aggregate in acidic solutions, different from the analogous porphyrin.

Utilizzando i dati ISTAT sulle imprese manifatturiere italiane nate nel 1996 e attive nel 2000, si analizza la dinamica della dimensione d’impresa tramite due differenti tecniche non parametriche: la regressione locale lineare e la densità condizionata. La prima suggerisce la presenza di forti non linearità nel processo di crescita dimensionale, fornendo nuovi spunti al dibattito sulla legge di Gibrat: la relazione tra crescita e dimensione iniziale esiste, ma entro certi limiti dimensionali. La seconda metodologia, consistente in stime di densità condizionate, viene adottata perché la media condizionata, pur stimata con tecniche non parametriche, può perdere la sua capacità di rappresentare il fenomeno in presenza di forti asimmetrie e bimodalità nella distribuzione. La verifica evidenzia che fenomeni di bimodalità non sembrano esistere, se non in corrispondenza di dimensioni minime (1-2 dipendenti). Le stime di densità condizionata mostrano, inoltre, che intorno ai 15 addetti, in corrispondenza dei quali si ha un rilevante mutamento nelle regole del mercato del lavoro, prevalgono comportamenti di inerzia o di contrazione, particolarmente evidenti quando si limita l’analisi con dimensione iniziale compresa tra 5 e 25 dipendenti.

This paper presents a detailed discussion of inflation in Italy during the 1980s. The early 1980s witnessed disinflation but in the second-half inflation has re-emerged. The paper is relevant to the EMS debate, between the ‘monetarists’ (advocating immediate and irreversible fixity of exchange rates) and the ‘economists’ (warning of systemic rigidities and urging caution). The evidence is mixed: the EMS seems to have been accompanied by a convergence of inflation, but at a cost of stubborn unemployment suggesting that the policy has not been cost-free. Italian data is reviewed in the context of this discussion. JEL: E32, E42, F15, PSL Quarterly Review, V. 44, N. 177 (1991)

Copper and gallium β-acrolein corroles have been obtained by reaction of corrole complexes with 3-(dimethylamino)-acrolein/phosphoryl chloride (3-DMA/POCl3) under Vilsmeier conditions. In the case of the Ga complex, up to four acroleyl substituents have been introduced at the β-peripheral positions of the corrole macrocycle. The introduction of the acroleyl moiety on the corrole scaffold strongly influences the photophysical behaviour of the Ga corroles.

This study represents a first attempt to empirically analyze the role of firm heterogeneity in regional business cycle behaviour. Working with monthly Italy’s firms data and estimating a random effects ordered probit model, we first document sizable asymmetries in Northern and Southern firms business cycles positively related to the intensity of the national cycle: firms located in the South are more likely to reduce production levels than firms located in the North in periods of business cycle expansion and vice versa. Then, we explore the role of sectoral mix and several firm-specific factors (firm size, export propensity, liquidity constraints, demand conditions, capacity utilization and expectations) in explaining regional disparities in business cycle fluctuations. Results suggest that North-South differences in sectoral composition do not help explain the diverging behaviour of Southern firms, while by controlling for firm heterogeneity we are able to capture large part of regional business cycles differences. JEL codes: D21, E32, R10 Keywords: Regional business cycle, firm heterogeneity, random effects ordered probit

We build a pricing-to-market (PTM) model with firm heterogeneity, 9 which allows for imperfect competition and market segmentation in the presence of 10 flexible exchange rates, horizontal and vertical differentiation and different tastes of 11 consumers in destination markets. We derive firm’s pricing behaviour in response to 12 price and quality competition shocks. We show that there is PTM heterogeneity 13 across firms if quality has a role. We empirically assess the main predictions of our 14 theoretical framework on Italian firm-level data. We document that export-domestic 15 price margins are significantly affected by price and quality competitiveness factors 16 even controlling for foreign demand conditions, size, export intensity, destination 17 markets and unobservables. Finally, we provide evidence of strong heterogeneity 18 across firms in their reaction to price and quality competitiveness.

This article investigates the pricing-to-market (PTM) behaviour of Italian exporting firms, using quarterly survey data by sector and by region over the period 1999q1 to 2005q2. A partial equilibrium imperfect competition model provides the structure according to which the orthogonality of structural shocks is derived. Impulse response analysis shows non-negligible reactions of export-domestic price margins to unanticipated changes in cost competitiveness and in foreign and domestic demand levels, even though these effects appear to be of a transitory nature. For the period 1999 to 2001, a typical PTM behaviour emerges, while, during the most recent years favourable foreign demand conditions allowed firms to increase their export-domestic price margins in face of a strong deterioration of their cost competitiveness. Macroeconomic implications of the observed PTM behaviour are also discussed.

Novel dyads in which a porphyrin ring is directly fused through two β-pyrrolic carbons to a BODIPY® moiety have been prepared using a stepwise approach starting from the copper(II) complex of pyrrolo[2,3-c]-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin. Formylation and reaction with 3,5-dimethylpyrrole afforded 8; subsequent BF2 complexation gave the TPP-BODIPY® dyad in reasonable yields. Demetalation in TFA/H2SO4 led to the corresponding free base 12, opening the way to the subsequent preparation of the Zn complex 13. Both 12 and 13 exhibited complex optical spectra with an intensely red-shifted Q-band. Luminescence spectra displayed a very intense band around 700 nm making these species suitable as near-IR dyes and sensors in biological media. Optical analyses of 12, using the INDO/SCI technique, were performed to obtain information to establish the origin of the novel optical properties. These studies showed that the optical properties of 12 cannot be attributed to deformation of the molecular skeleton, but derive from the increased extension of the conjugation between the TPP and BODIPY® π-systems.

Nonostante l’ingente ammontare di aiuti pubblici alle regioni povere, i movimenti relativi nella distribuzione del reddito, della produttività del lavoro e dei tassi di occupazione tra le regioni europee non mostrano alcuna relazione positiva con la distribuzione dei fondi strutturali. Esistono tuttavia alcune importanti eccezioni. Questo lavoro analizza la struttura centro/periferia all’interno dell’Unione Europea ed effettua un’analisi comparata dei divari di sviluppo di differenti gruppi di regioni definiti sulla base del regime di aiuto ottenuto dall’Unione Europea (obiettivo 1, obiettivo 2, fondo di coesione, etc.). Infine, il lavoro propone alcune prescrizioni di politica economica per ridurre gli squilibri regionali in Europa.