Synthesis and study of 4‐(4′‐n‐alkoxybenzoyloxybenzoyl)‐4′′‐n‐butoxyanilides

Thirteen compounds with ester and amide linkages were synthesized and their mesogenic properties evaluated. Methyl to n‐propyl derivatives exhibit nematic phases, n‐butyl to n‐decyl derivatives exhibit smectic and nematic mesophases, whereas n‐dodecyl to n‐octadecyl derivatives exhibit only smectic phases. All the smectic homologues exhibit smectic C phases. Middle members of the homologous series exhibit polymorphism of smectic mesophase. A plot of transition temperatures versus number of carbon atoms in the alkoxy chain reveals an odd–even effect for nematic–isotropic transition temperatures. Nematic–isotropic and smectic–cholesteric thermal stabilities of the prepared compounds (series I) are higher compared to those of previously reported compounds, series A, B and C. The results indicate that a simple reversal of a central linkage has a dramatic effect on the appearance of smectic mesophase in a homologous series. The structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized using elemental analysis, thin‐layer chromatography and spectral data.     

Rhodium(II)‐Catalyzed Nondirected Oxidative Alkenylation of Arenes: Arene Loading at One Equivalent

A bimetallic Rh^II catalyst promoted the C? H alkenylation of simple arenes at 1.0 equivalent without the use of a directing group. A phosphine ligand as well as cooperative reoxidation of Rh^II with Cu(TFA)₂ and V₂O₅ proved essential in providing monoalkenylated products in good yields and selectivities, especially with di‐ and trisubstituted arenes.     

Synthesis of pyrrolo[2,3-b]azepine-4,7-dione derivatives

The Dieckmann reaction has been successfully applied for the first time in the synthesis of pvrrolo[2,3-b)]azepines.     

On the hyperfine spectral lines of an atomic copper vapor laser

The hyperfine structure of energy levels of copper atom and its transition probabilities were considered. The resonance and metastable levels of the copper atom are split into hyperfine structures, due to the magnetic dipole moment and the electric quadrupole moment. In this paper, a succinct introduction to the relevant theory of the hyperfine spectral structure and experimental observations of elemental copper vapor laser is presented.     

Vibrational dynamics of Co<Subscript>67</Subscript>Zr<Subscript>33</Subscript> semiconductor glassy alloy

The computation of vibrational dynamics of semiconductor Co₆₇Zr₃₃ glassy alloy has been reported for the first time that uses a different theoretical model potential formalism with Wills-Harrison (WH) form. Various local field correction functions are used to study the screening influence. The thermodynamic and elastic properties are also estimated from the elastic limits of the phonon dispersion curves (PDC). The dispersion frequency with respect to the wavenumber is found to be influenced by the dielectric screening due to the conduction electrons. Values obtained using the S-local field correction function and BS approach tend to be greater than other values calculated. The text was submitted by the authors in English. Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 50, No. 2, pp. 235–242, March–April, 2009.     

Screening-dependent superconducting state parameters of transition metals-based binary alloys

Study of the screening-dependent superconducting state parameters, namely, electron-phonon coupling strength λ, Coulomb pseudopotential μ*, transition temperature T _C , isotope effect exponent α, and effective interaction strength N ₀ V of 3d-transition metals-based binary alloys is made extensively using a model potential. A considerable influence of different exchange and correlation functions on λ and μ* is found. The obtained results are in qualitative agreement with the available experimental data wherever exist.     

Effect of temperature on intrinsic permeation properties of 6FDA-Durene/1,3-phenylenediamine (mPDA) copolyimide and fabrication of its hollow fiber membranes for CO2/CH4 separation

We have determined the effect of temperature on intrinsic permeation properties of 6FDA-Durene/1,3-phenylenediamine (mPDA) 50/50 copolyimide dense film and fabricated high performance hollow fiber membranes of the copolyimide for CO₂/CH₄ separation. The hollow fiber membranes were wet-spun from a tertiary solution containing 6FDA-Durene/mPDA (PI), N-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) with a weight ratio of 20:50:30 at different shear rates within the spinneret. We observed the following facts: (1) the CO₂/CH₄ selectivity of the copolyimide dense film decreased significantly with an increase in temperature; (2) the performance of as-spun fibers was obviously influenced by the shear rate during spinning. For uncoated fibers, permeances of CH₄ and CO₂ decreased with increasing shear rate, while selectivity of CO₂/CH₄ sharply increased with shear rate until the shear rate reached 2169 s⁻¹ and then the selectivity leveled off; (3) After silicone rubber coating, permeances of CH₄ and CO₂ decreased, the selectivity of CO₂/CH₄ was recovered to the inherent selectivity of its dense film. Both the permeances and selectivity with increasing shear rate followed their same trends as that before the coating; (4) there was an optimal shear rate at which a defect-free fiber with a selectivity of CO₂/CH₄ at 42.9 and permeance of CO₂ at 53.3 GPU could be obtained after the coating; and (5) the pressure durability of the resultant hollow fiber membranes could reach 1000 psia at room temperature.     

Rhodium catalyzed hydroacylation of ethylene with 4-pentenals. reactions of 4-hexenal-1-d

A catalyst derived from 2,4-pentanedionatobis(ethylene)rhodium(I), I, promoted the addition of 4-pentenal to ethylene. The reaction was accompanied by the formation of double bond migration products derived from the 4-pentenal reactant and from the 6-hepten-3-one primary product. Compound I accomplished the addition of 4-hexenal to ethylene to afford high yields of 6-octen-3-one. The fate of the aldehyde hydrogen in this transformation has been determined in experiments employing 4-hexenal-1-d as reactant. Treatment of 4-hexenal-1-d with I in CHCl₃ and CDCl₃ afforded 6-octen-3-one possessing >50% d_o molecules while the isotopic composition of recovered unexpended 4-hexenal remained >96% d₁. 6-Octen-3-one products with isotopic compositions of >66% d_o were afforded when ethylene was introduced to reaction mixtures. The location of deuterium in 6-octen-3-one, derived from treatment of 4-hexenal-1-d with I in the absence of added C₂H₄, was determined to be distributed at C-1 and C-2 and at the CC bond by analysis of the ¹H and ²H NMR spectra. Unexpended ethylene was recovered and was found to contain a substantial amount of deuterium. Mechanistic implications of these results are discussed.     

Pyrene functionalized oxacalix[4]arene architecture as dual readout sensor for expeditious recognition of cyanide anion

A pyrene functionalized oxacalix[4]arene architecture (DPOC) was utilized as a fluorescence probe for selective recognition of cyanide ions. The receptor DPOC shows excellent selectivity towards cyanide ion with a red shift of 108 nm in absorption band along with a significant change in colour from light yellow to pink. The fluorescence titration experiments further confirm the lower limit of detection as 1.7µM with no significant influences of competing anions. ¹ H-NMR titration experiments support the deprotonation phenomena, as the -NH proton disappears upon successive addition of cyanide ions. The DFT calculation also indicates a certain increment of -NH bond length upon interaction with cyanide ions. The spectral properties as well as colour of DPOC-CN^? system may be reversed upon the addition of Ag⁺/ Cu²⁺ ions up to 5 consecutive cycles. Moreover, DPOC coated “test strips” were prepared for visual detection of cyanide ions.