Site-specific specimen preparation by focused ion beam milling for transmission electron microscopy of metal matrix composites.

This work describes the application and usefulness of the focused ion beam (FIB) technique for the preparation of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) samples from metal matrix composite materials. Results on an Aldiamond composite, manufactured by the squeeze casting infiltration process, were chosen for demonstration. It is almost impossible to prepare TEM specimens of this material by any other conventional method owing to the presence of highly inhomogeneous phases and reinforcement diamond particles. The present article gives a detailed account of the salient features of the FIB technique and its operation. One of the big advantages is the possibility to prepare site-specific TEM specimens with high spatial resolution. The artifacts occurring during the specimen preparation, for example, Ga-ion implantation, curtain effects, amorphous layers, bending of the lamella, or different milling behaviors of the materials have been discussed. Furthermore, TEM examination of the specimens prepared revealed an ultrafine amorphous layer of graphite formed at the interface between the Al and diamond particles that may affect the interfacial properties of the composite materials. This may not have been feasible without the successful application of the FIB technique for production of good quality site-specific TEM specimens.     

The alkaloidal profile of cocculus pendulus

(+)-Kohatine (5), (+)-kun-amine (7), (+)-norpenduline (11), and (+)-cheratamine (12), are four new bisbenzylisoquinolines obtained from Cocculus pendulus (Forsk) Diels (Menispermaceae). Ten known bisbenzylisoquinolines are also present. All fourteen alkaloids possess the S chirality at C-1'. The biogenetic sequence involves initial condensation of two coclaurine-type units to form a dinner such as 16. Species 16 may in turn lead to dimers 17 or 18 with two diaryl ether linkages. Only dimer 17 may undergo further oxidative coupling to bisbenzylisoquinolines with three diaryl ether bridges.     

Synthesis,crystal structures and catalytic activities of new palladium(II)–bis(oxazoline) complexes

Palladium–bis(oxazoline) complexes (Pd-BOX-A and Pd-BOX-B) were synthesized and characterized by ¹H, ¹³C NMR, IR and elemental analysis. The molecular structures of the complexes were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. In both cases, the palladium center is coordinated by the nitrogen atoms of the two oxazoline rings and two chloride ligands in a distorted square planar geometry. Despite the fact that the bis(oxazoline) ligand is achiral, the asymmetrical substitution on the phenyl spacer and the rigid backbone of the complex Pd-BOX-A induce inherent chirality and the compound crystallizes as a racemic mixture. Both complexes were found to be highly effective catalysts for Suzuki–Miyaura, Mizoroki–Heck and Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions. They also show excellent catalytic activities toward carbonylative coupling reactions.     

Efficient synthesis of antifungal pyrimidines via palladium catalyzed Suzuki/Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction from Biginelli 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones

An efficient regioselective approach to the synthesis of tetrasubstituted pyrimidines was developed by sequential functionalization of easily available Biginelli 3,4-dihydropyrimidine-2(1H)-ones via dehydrogenation, chlorination followed by palladium catalyzed C–C Suzuki/Sonogashira coupling reaction. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated in vitro for their antifungal activities against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Benjaminiella poitrasii, Yarrowia lipolytica, and Fusarium oxysporum, and antibacterial activities against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus.     

A Critical Review on Physical Vapor Deposition Coatings Applied on Different Engine Components

Friction and wear in different engine components have crucial effects on the engine performance, combustion efficiency, oil consumption and lifetime of the internal combustion (IC) engine. Under certain loads, speeds, and temperatures, the metallic components of the IC engine, especially the piston and valve system suffer from a higher friction. Thin film coating is one of the novel techniques to reduce the frictional forces and improve the mechanical properties of engine components. Due to some versatile tribological properties, increasing attention has been paid to the physical vapor deposition (PVD) technology in the recent decade to deposit thin film coating on engine components. This article presents a comprehensive literature review on thin film coatings for IC engine components deposited by PVD technique. Issues related to tribological properties (wear and coefficient of friction) and mechanical properties (hardness and roughness) are also highlighted. Scientific improvements are presented in the light of literature. It is revealed that PVD coating is significantly effective on wear resistance, scuffling resistance, surface roughness, and friction of the components in IC engine. Laboratory test and data from actual service so far suggest that the plasma-activated electron beam evaporation coating is perhaps one of the best choices for smooth surface finishing with improved mechanical and tribological properties. However, there are still some problems in its practical usage. This compressive review paper presents the major shortcomings of PVD coatings on IC engine components and the possible solutions if any. Finally, a number of issues have been reported which need to be encountered for further studies.     

Cobalt Coordination Polymers Offering Hydrogen Bonding Cavities as Efficient Catalysts for Coupling Reactions

This work presents synthesis and characterization of two cobalt-based coordination polymers (CPs) prepared by using two positionally related pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide fragment-based ligands containing appended arylcarboxylic acid groups. While arylcarboxylate groups of ligands coordinate to the Co(II) ions to produce 2D CPs; the amidic N−H groups remain free and generate large cavities lined with hydrogen bonds. Such hydrogen bonding cavities based CPs were found to reversibly adsorb molecular iodine. The Lewis acidic Co(II) ions and metal-coordinated labile solvent molecules in CPs promoted noteworthy heterogeneous catalysis for Friedel crafts reactions as well as multicomponent condensation reactions.     

Effects of heat and mass transfer on peristaltic flow of Williamson fluid in a non‐uniform channel with slip conditions

The combined influence of heat and mass transfer has been explored in a study of peristaltic transport of magnetohydrodynamic Williamson fluid in a non‐uniform channel with flexible walls. The slip conditions are paid due attention and long wavelength and small Reynolds number assumptions are adopted in the problem formulation. The obtained results are valid for small Weissenberg number. A detailed study of involved key parameters in the obtained solutions is made by the sketched graphs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seimatoric acid and colletonoic acid:Two new compounds from the endophytic fungi,Seimatosporium sp.and Colletotrichum sp.

A new metabolite,named seimatoric acid(1),representing a new oxobutanoic acid derivative has been isolated from Seimatosporium sp., in addition to four known compounds viz.,2-hydroxymethyl-4β,5α,6β-trihydroxycyclohex-2-enone(2),(-)-phyllostine(3),(+)-epiepoxydon(4) and(+)-epoxydon monoacetate(5).Similarly one new benzoic acid derivative,named colletonoic acid(6) was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of Colletotrichum sp.The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by detailed ~1 H NMR,~(13)C NMR,COSY,HMQC.HMBC spectroscopic analysis,and HR-E1-MS.Seimatoric acid(1)was also isolated from another taxonomical unidentified fungal strain 4295 in ourgroup.The structures of the known compounds were elucidated by their spectral data comparison to literature data.Preliminary studies showed that colletonoic acid(6) showed good antibacterial,antifungal,and antialgal activities.