IBX/LiBr-promoted one-pot oxidative anti-Markownikov bromohydroxylation/bromoalkoxylation of Baylis-Hillman olefins

The first example of one-pot oxidative anti-Markownikov bromohydroxylation and bromoalkoxylation of Baylis-Hillman (BH) adducts (olefins) is reported. The reaction is performed at rt using LiBr as the bromine source and 2-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) as the oxidant. The process involves oxidation of BH adducts with IBX to give β-ketomethylene compounds in situ, which undergo highly regioselective vicinal functionalization with LiBr/H₂O or LiBr/ROH in the same vessel to afford α-bromo-β-hydroxy or α-bromo-β-alkoxy compounds, respectively, in excellent yields. The α-bromo-β-hydroxy compounds are readily transformed into epoxides in aq NaOH.     

The first ionic liquid-promoted one-pot diastereoselective synthesis of 2,5-diamino-/2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3-thiazin-4-ones using masked amino/mercapto acids

The first expeditious synthesis of 2,5-diamino-/2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3-thiazin-4-ones from masked and activated amino/mercapto acids, viz. 2-phenyl-1,3-oxazol-5-one or 2-methyl-2-phenyl-1,3-oxathiolan-5-one, aromatic aldehydes and thioureas using the ionic liquid [Bmim]Br as an environmentally benign reaction promoter is reported. The synthesis is highly diastereoselective and involves tandem Knoevenagel, Michael and ring transformation reactions in a one-pot procedure. The sequential reaction pathway is supported by the isolation of arylidene derivatives and their Michael adducts with thiourea, and quantitative conversion of the latter into the final products under the same reaction conditions.     

5-Pyridine 4-yl-3H-(1,3,4) Oxadiazole-2 Thione Hydrochloride Monohydrate, (I), and 4 [5-Ethylsulfanyl)-(1,3,4) Thiadiazole-2-yl]-Pyridinium Perchlorate, (II)

Abstract  

The title compounds C₇H₈ClN₃O₂S, (I), and C₉H₁₀ClN₃O₄S_2, (II), both crystallize in monoclinic space group P2₁ /c with unit cell parameters (I) a = 7.9402(7), b = 10.6312(9), c = 11.7626(10), ?, β = 99.271(5)°, Z = 4 and (II) a = 5.1439(2), b = 9.0636(4), c = 27.1814 (7), ?, β = 95.116(2)°, Z = 4. In (I) the molecule consists of a 5-pyridine-4-yl group bonded to the carbon atom at the 5 position of (1, 3, 4) oxadiazole-2 thione hydrochloride monohydrate. The angle between the mean planes of the oxadiazole and pyridine rings is 9.6(6)°. Crystal packing in (I) is stabilized by strong N–H···O hydrogen bonds in concert with a solvent water molecule and weak O–H···Cl, O–H···S, N–H···Cl intermolecular interactions. The crystal structure of compound (II) consists of 4 [5-ethylsulfanyl)-(1, 3, 4) thiadiazole-2-yl]-pyridinium perchlorate, (C₉H₁₀N₃S₂)⁺(ClO₄)⁻, cation–anion pairs, containing strong intermolecular N–H···O hydrogen bonds and weak C–H···O and N–H···O intermolecular interactions operating between the ionic species that form a cooperative hydrogen-bonded, infinite chain O–H···O–H···O–H network which generates a sheet motif structure in the unit cell. It is also supported by weak intermolecular Cg···Cg π–π and Cl–O···Cg π-ring interactions which gives additional support to molecular packing stability in the unit cell. Geometry optimized MOPAC AM1 computational calculations on each compound provides support to the structural features in their respective crystal structures.     

Isolation and Crystal Structure of 6α,7α-Epoxy-5α,17α,27-trihydroxy-1-oxo-22R-witha-2,24-dienolide monohydrate-A Withasteroid from Withania somnifera Leaves

Abstract  

(5R,6S,7S,8S,9S,10R,13S,14S,17S,20R,22R)-6α,7α-epoxy-5α,17α,27-trihydroxy-1-oxo-22R-witha-2,24-dienolide has been isolated from Withania somnifera leaves. Three-dimensional X-ray intensity data were collected at 293 K on Bruker CCD area-detector diffractometer equipped with graphite-monochromated MoKα radiation (λ = 0.71073 ?). The compound crystallizes in monoclinic space group P21 with unit cell parameters: a = 6.4540(2), b = 11.3656(4), c = 17.4982(5) ?, β = 90.730 ^o(2), Z = 2. The crystal structure was refined to a final R-value of 0.0419 for 6122 observed reflections. One water solvent molecule was observed. All the rings of the steroid skeleton are trans connected. Rings A and B exists in a half-chair conformation, ring C a chair, and five membered ring D is intermediate between half-chair and envelope. The δ-lactone ring E adopts a distorted sofa conformation. The characteristic pattern observed in the packing diagram is the appearance of twisted chains of molecules. The packing of the molecules in the crystal is stabilized by intra- and intermolecular O–H···O and C–H···O interactions.     

Effect of travel speed and vertical load on the subsoil force and displacement under a smooth steel roller

A smooth steel roller was tested in an indoor soil bin. Subsoil forces and displacements were measured at depths of 50, 100, 150, and 200 mm. Roller operating conditions included roller travel speed, the vertical load, and number of passes. Three travel speeds, 1, 3, and 5 km h^?1 and three vertical loads 20, 40, and 60 kN were tested. The draft needed to move the roller was also recorded. For multiple passes, subsoil forces were increased by 30% if vertical load increased by 50%; while the roller draft increased by 20%. For a single pass, no significant differences detected between the subsoil forces at speeds of 1 and 3 km h^?1; when the roller traveled at 5 km h^?1 with a vertical load of 60 kN, the subsoil force was approximately reduced by 30% compared to those at lower travel speeds. For both single and multiple passes, increasing travel speed did not significantly increase subsoil forces and displacement below 150-mm depth; however, the power required to drive the roller was significantly increased. Higher travel speed was more effective in creating larger subsoil displacement and subsoil forces within 100-mm from the soil surface. For similar effects below 100-mm, lower travel speed was found appropriate.     

Vibrations of nonhomogeneous orthotropic rectangular plates with bilinear thickness variation resting on Winkler foundation

Free transverse vibrations of nonhomogeneous orthotropic rectangular plates with bilinear thickness variation resting on Winkler foundation are presented here using two dimensional boundary characteristic orthogonal polynomials in the Rayleigh-Ritz method on the basis of classical plate theory. Gram-Schmidt process has been used to generate orthogonal polynomials. The nonhomogeneity of the plate is assumed to arise due to linear variations in elastic properties and density of the plate material with the in-plane coordinates. The two dimensional thickness variation is taken as the Cartesian product of linear variations along the two concurrent edges of the plate. Effect of nonhomogeneity parameters, aspect ratio and thickness variation together with foundation parameter on the natural frequencies has been illustrated for the first three modes of vibration for four different combinations of clamped, simply supported and free edges correct to four decimal places. Three dimensional mode shapes for specified plate for all the four boundary conditions have been plotted. A comparison of results in special cases with published one has been presented.     

Electronic transport across a junction between armchair graphene nanotube and zigzag nanoribbon

Based on the well known nearest-neighbor tight-binding approximation for graphene, an exact expression for the electronic conductance across a zigzag nanoribbon/armchair nanotube junction is presented for non-interacting electrons. The junction results from the removal of a half-row of zigzag dimers in armchair nanotube, or equivalently by partial rolling of zigzag nanoribbon and insertion of a half-row of zigzag dimers in between. From the former point of view, a discrete form of Dirichlet condition is imposed on a zigzag half-line of dimers assuming the vanishing of wave function outside the physical structure. A closed form expression is provided for the reflection and transmission moduli for the outgoing wave modes for each given electronic wave mode incident from either side of the junction. It is demonstrated that such a contact junction between the nanotube and nanoribbon exhibits negligible backscattering, and the transmission has been found to be nearly ballistic. In contrast to the previously reported studies for partially unzipped carbon nanotubes (CNTs), using the same tight binding model, it is found that due to the “defect” there is certain amount of mixing between the electronic wave modes with even and odd reflection symmetries. But the junction remains a perfect valley filter for CNTs at certain energy ranges. Applications aside from the electronic case, include wave propagation in quasi-one-dimensional honeycomb structures of graphene-like constitution. The paper includes several numerical calculations, analytical derivations, and graphical results, which complement the provision of succinct closed form expressions.     

Controlling Necking in Extrusion Film Casting Using Polymer Nanocomposites

The research described was concerned with the effect of layered-silicate-based organically modified nanoclay fillers on controlling the extent of necking in a polymer melt extrusion film casting (EFC) process. We show that a linear polythylene resin (such as a linear low-density polyethylene—LLDPE) filled with a very low percentage of well-dispersed (or intercalated) nanoclay displays an enhanced resistance to the necking phenomenon. In general, melt-compounded nanoclay-filled LLDPE resin formulations displayed a higher final film width (less necking), thus a lower final film thickness (greater draw down for the same draw ratio), and cooled down faster when compared to the base LLDPE resin. Incorporation of nanoclay filler in the mainly linear chain LLDPE resin led to significant modification of the melt rheological properties that, in turn, affected the melt processability of these formulations. Primarily, the intercalated nanoclay-filled LLDPE formulations displayed the presence of strain-hardening in unaxial extensional rheology. Additionally, the presence of well-dispersed nanoclay in the LLDPE resin led to a display of prominent extrudate swell indicating the presence of melt elasticity in such formulations. The presence of melt elasticity, as shown by shear rheology and strain-hardening, observed by uniaxial extensional rheology, contributed to the LLDPE nanoclay formulations displaying an enhanced resistance to necking for these films. It can be concluded that linear chain polymers susceptible to necking in an EFC process can be made more resistant to such necking by using nanoclay fillers at very low levels of loading.     

A novel algorithm to integrate synchronous digital hierarchy networks into Optical Transport Network using mixed line rates

In this era of high data transfer speeds and new age technologies, Optical Transport Network (OTN) along with its newly introduced Optical Transport Hierarchy (OTH) has provided a lease of life to legacy low rate networks. It has provided a common backbone for multiple data rates to coexist on same fiber along with the enhanced transmission reach. The cost effective Optical Transport Network design has always been a complex issue due to the presence of multiple variables like number of fibers on each link, available data rates on each fiber, the wavelength count, transmission reach at each data rate, etc. In this paper an Integer Linear Programming (ILP) model has been presented to solve Routing problem for Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) over OTN over DWDM design. Optical Transport Hierarchy (OTH) has been used to integrate heterogenous SDH/SONET operating at different rates (STM-16, STM-64 and STM-256) into a single network supporting mixed line rates. These rates can coexist in a same fiber but each rate carries different cost with it. The objective function aims at finding the least cost routing solution by looking at different tradeoffs between the Capital Expenditure and the operational expenditure. Certainly different variables like the number of fibers and wavelengths, transmission reach, etc. are a factor in it. A mechanism has been put to monitor the Bit Error Rate (BER) levels as well. For evaluating the ILP model, 18 Node 38 Link European Optical Network was considered as the reference model and two ordering techniques, namely, full ILP and highest rate first (HRF) were used for deriving the results. The ILP model was designed with minimum of decision variables so in spite of big reference network it converges much faster. Under the given conditions, full ILP gave least cost network whereas HRF ordering took least time for ILP to converge.     

Microwave extraction and rapid isolation of arjunic acid from Terminalia arjuna (Roxb. ex DC.) stem bark and quantification of arjunic acid and arjunolic acid using HPLC-PDA technique

Arjunic acid and arjunolic acid are main bioactive components of Terminalia arjuna stem bark and reported for various biological activities. In this study, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of arjunic and arjunolic acid from stem bark of T. arjuna was investigated with developed and validated HPLC-PDA method, which resulted in the isolation of a novel anticancer molecule i.e. arjunic acid. Effects of several experimental parameters, such as type and volume of extraction solvents, microwave power, microwave extraction time, on the extraction efficiencies of arjunic, and arjunolic acid from stem bark of T. arjuna were evaluated. The optimal extraction conditions identified were 5.0 g quantity of stem bark powder, 20 mL of ethyl acetate, preleaching time 10 min, microwave power 600 W, temperature 65°C, and microwave irradiation time 5 min. The results showed that MAE is a more rapid extraction method with higher yield and lower solvent consumptions than reported methods. The HPLC-PDA analysis method was developed and validated to have good linearity, precision, sensitivity, and accuracy. MAE-HPLC-PDA is a faster, convenient, and appropriate method for isolation and determination of arjunic acid and arjunolic acid in the stem bark of T. arjuna.