Environment-induced decoherence II. Effect of decoherence on Bell''s inequality for an EPR pair

According to Bell's theorem, the degree of correlation between spatially separated measurements on a quantum system is limited by certain inequalities if one assumes the condition of locality. Quantum mechanics predicts that this limit can be exceeded, making it nonlocal. We analyse the effect of an environment modelled by a fluctuating magnetic field on the quantum correlations in an EPR singlet as seen in the Bell inequality. We show that in an EPR setup, the system goes from the usual ‘violation’ of Bell's inequality to a ‘non-violation’ for times larger than a characteristic time scale which is related to the parameters of the fluctuating field. We also look at these inequalities as a function of the spatial separation between the EPR pair.     

Synthesis and spectral studies on nickel(II) complexes of amide group-containing ligands

Summary Complexes of nickel(II) with N-(2-carboxyphenyl)benzamide (CPBH), 2-amino-N-(2-carboxyphenyl)benzamide (ACPBH), N-isoxazolyl benzamide (IB), N-anilinobenzamide (AB), N-(2-pyridyl)-3-carboxypropanamide (PCPA) and N-(2-pyridyl)-2-carboxybenzamide (PCBA) have been isolated and characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility measurements, thermal studies, i.r. and electronic spectral studies. The electrochemical behaviour of some complexes has also been investigated.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the oxidation of acetaldehyde by chromic acid in perchloric acid

Summary The oxidation of MeCHO by chromium(VI) has been studied in HClO₄ medium over a wide range of experimental conditions and has been found to obey the rate law;v=k[MeCHO][HCrO ₄ ^– ][H⁺]. The calculated H and-S values for the reaction are 30±2kJ mol^–1 and 171±7J mol^–1deg^–1, respectively. The mechanism is discussed in terms of carbon-hydrogen bond cleavage.     

Platinum carbonyl derived catalysts on inorganic and organic supports: a comparative study

Fumed silica, silica gel, silica-alumina and cross-linked (5.5%) polystyrene have been functionalized with quaternary ammonium groups and the Chini cluster [Pt₁₂(CO)₂₄]²⁻ has been anchored onto these functionalized materials by ion pairing. A catalyst has also been prepared by the adsorption of Na₂[Pt₁₂(CO)₂₄] on unfunctionalized fumed silica. The catalytic activities of the resultant materials, and that of commercially purchased 5% platinum on alumina have been studied for the hydrogenation of a variety of unsaturated compounds. The substrates studied are: α-acetamidocinnamic acid, cyclohexanone, acetophenone, methyl pyruvate, ethyl acetoacetate, nitrobenzene and benzonitrile. Compared to the polystyrene supported catalyst, the inorganic oxide supported catalysts have higher surface areas and for most of the substrates have notably higher activities. The functionalized fumed silica-based catalyst gives higher conversions than functionalized silica gel and silica-alumina-based catalysts. In the hydrogenation of acetophenone and ethyl acetoacetate, the functionalized fumed silica-based catalyst show superior activity compared to the commercial platinum catalyst, and the catalyst made by conventional adsorption method. In benzonitrile hydrogenation with all the cluster-derived catalysts a hydrazine derivative is selectively formed, but when the commercial platinum catalyst is used benzyl amine is the main product.     

A modified apparatus for determination of carbon in metals by the low pressure method

The low pressure method of determination of carbon in metals and alloys was modified to include certain new techniques. An isopentane slush bath dispensed with the use of liquid oxygen and the usual McLeod gauge was replaced by a differential oil manometer, which increased the sensitivity. As little as 5 μg of carbon in CaCO₃-quartz standards could be determined with a coefficient of variation of 16.0% which improved to 3.3% at the 100-μg level. The apparatus was used for the determination of carbon in metals such as uranium, zirconium and iron and in steels and cupronickel alloy.     

Introduction of heteroatom-based substituents into 1,4-dihydropyridines by means of a halogen-mediated, oxidative protocol: diamination, sulfonylation, sulfinylation, bis-sulfanylation, and halo-phosphonylation processes

The natural tendency of 1,4-dihydropyridines to undergo "biomimetic" oxidation to afford pyridinium salts can be switched off and, through the use of reagents that interact electrophilically with the enamine moiety present in the heterocyclic system, it is possible to promote alternative oxidations. In this way, efficient regio- and stereocontrolled synthetic methods have been developed that lead to diversely substituted di- and tetrahydropyridines. These include iodoazidation, diamination, bis-sulfonamidation, sulfonylation, sulfinylation, thiocyanation, sulfanylation, bis-sulfanylation, and halo-phosphonylation processes.