Aqueous p-nitrotoluene oxidation induced with direct glow discharge plasma

A plasma induced degradation process has been studied to treat 4-nitrotoluene (4-NT) present as an aqueous pollutant. The plasma was locally generated from a glow discharge around a tip of a platinum anode in an electrolytic solution. The influence of initial pH and Fe²⁺ on the degradation was examined. Major intermediates resulting from the degradation process were identified. Amongst the aromatic intermediates, p-hydroxybenzoic acid was the predominant degradation product. The formation of oxalic acid, malic acid was also observed. The final products of degradation were NH ₄ ⁺ , NO ₃ ⁻ and CO₂. Based on the analysis of intermediates and the kinetic considerations, the degradation was shown to follow a pseudo-first order reaction hence, a possible reaction pathway was proposed.     

Preparation of a set of selectively protected disaccharides for modular synthesis of heparan sulfate fragments: toward the synthesis of several <Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-sulfonated [β-D-GlcUA-(1→4)-β-D-GlcNAc]OPr types

A concise method for a stereocontrolled synthesis of a set of selectively protected disaccharides is reported. Coupling of the donor 11 onto acceptors 23 and 24, promoted by trimethylsilyl triflate-N-iodosuccinimide (TMSOTf-NIS), generated the disaccharides 25 and 26. Under typical conditions, condensation of the fully protected donor 12 onto acceptors 23 and 24 produced the disaccharides 27 and 28. The building blocks 25–28 were prepared in moderate yields having exclusive β-stereoselectivity. A unique pattern of protecting groups distinguished clearly between positions to be sulfated and functional groups remaining as free hydroxyl groups. Acetyl and/or levulinoyl esters temporarily protected the positions to be sulfated, while benzyl ethers were used for permanent protection. The anomeric positions were protected as allyl ethers, whereas the 4′-positions were masked as p-methoxybenzyl (PMB) ethers. The orthogonality of the PMB and allyl groups can then be used for further elongation of the chain by recurrent deprotection and activation steps. The hydroxyl group, OH-6, of glucosamine moieties was protected as a TBDPS ether to avoid oxidation. A five-step deprotection/sulfonation sequence was applied to the disaccharide 27 to generate the corresponding sulfated [β-D-GlcUA-2-OSO₃Na-(1→4)-β-D-Glc pNAc]-(1→O-Pro) 34.     

Optimization of the design and operation of FAIMS analyzers

Field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) holds significant promise for post-ionization separations in conjunction with mass-spectrometric analyses. However, a limited understanding of fundamentals of FAIMS analyzers has made their design and operation largely an empirical exercise. Recently, we developed an a priori simulation of FAIMS that accounts for both ion diffusion (including anisotropic components) and Coulomb repulsion, and validated it by extensive comparisons with FAIMS/MS data. Here it is corroborated further by FAIMS-only measurements, and applied to explore how key instrumental parameters (analytical gap width and length, waveform frequency and profile, the identity and flow speed of buffer gas) affect FAIMS response. We find that the trade-off between resolution and sensitivity can be managed by varying gap width, RF frequency, and (in certain cases) buffer gas, with equivalent outcome. In particular, the resolving power can be approximately doubled compared to "typical" conditions. Throughput may be increased by either accelerating the gas flow (preferable) or shortening the device, but below certain minimum residence times performance deteriorates. Bisinusoidal and clipped-sinusoidal waveforms have comparable merit, but switching to rectangular waveforms would improve resolution and/or sensitivity. For any waveform profile, the ratio of two between voltages in high and low portions of the cycle produces the best performance.     

Characterization and electrochemical investigation of boron-doped mesocarbon microbead anode materials for lithium ion batteries

The structure and anodic performance of boron-doped and undoped mesocarbon microbeads (MCMBs) have been comparatively studied and the results obtained by XPS, XRD, SEM, Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical measurements are discussed. It is found that boron doping introduces a depressed d ₀₀₂ spacing and the larger amount of "unorganized carbon", which induces vacancy formation in the graphite planes and leads to a quite different morphology from that of the undoped material. Electrochemical charge/discharge cycle tests indicated that after boron doping the lithium intercalation was carried through at a somewhat higher potential, being attended by greater irreversible capacity loss. Electronic Publication     

Cytotoxic Constituents from the Stem Bark of Zanthoxylum Pistaciiflorum

Two new esters, methyl 4‐(prenyloxy)dihydrocinnamate and methyl 4‐(geranyloxy)dihydrocinnamate, together with fourteen known compounds have been isolated from the stem bark of Zanthoxylum pistaciiflorum. The structures of two new compounds were determined through spectral analyses. Among the isolates, four compounds exhibited effective cytotoxicities against P‐388 and HT‐29 cell lines in vitro.     

Studies on thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer. XI. Effect of amide group on thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer properties

A series of poly(azomethine)s containing amide, ether, or ester groups was prepared by the condensation of dialdehydes with various diamines. The thermotropic liquid crystalline properties were examined by DSC and microscopic observations. The effects of the number and position of amide groups, which are attached to the rigid segment, on the thermotropic liquid crystalline properties of the homo-and copoly(amide-azomethine-ether)s were also investigated in this study. The copolymerization took place by changing the amount of amide group to obtain copoly(amide-azomethine) ( P13 and P14 ) which exhibit thermotropic liquid crystalline properties. The poly(azomethine)s containing ether or ester groups also exhibited thermotropic liquid crystalline properties. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Infrared-optical properties of vapour-deposited metal films

Spectroscopic infrared ellipsometry was applied to determine the optical constants of thin metal layers deposited on dielectric substrates such as glass or CaF(2). The layers were produced by evaporating gold or silver in a vacuum, and the coverage, that is the deposited mass per area, was chosen in the range 80-1200 mg m(-2) for gold, which refers to thicknesses in the lower nanometer range; in the case of the specifically lighter silver, about half the coverage was applied. At low coverage a metal island structure is obtained, which gives rise to surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA). Depending on the coverage, the deposited films exhibit either dielectric or metallic optical properties. Atomic force microscopy and conductivity measurements complement the spectroscopic observation.     

Stereochemistry of the thermal isomerizations of (2S,3R-methoxymethyl-2,3-dideuterio-1-(dideuteriomethylene)cyclopropane

The (2S,3R) isomer of 2-methoxymethyl-2,3-dideuterio-1-(dideuteriomethylene)cyclopropane has been synthesized and heated at 198.8°: from the experimentally observed mol fractions of the eight isomers of 2,3,α,α,- and 2,3,3,α - tetradeuterio - 2 - methoxymethyl - 1 - methylenecyclopropane in the pyrolysis product mixture have been derived rate constants for seven distinct modes of isomerization. One-center thermal epimerizations at C(2) and C(3) and the C(2)C(3) two-center epimerization are of kinetic importance. Only two of four observable stereochemical modes for carbon [1,3] shifts are seen: there is inversion of stereochemistry at the migrating C atom, while the C(3)H trans to C(2)-CH₂OCH₃ in starting material becomes syn 4 : 1 C(α)-H in the [1,3] shift product. Stereomutation at C(2) does not occur along the reaction coordinate for [1,3] carbon shifts.     

Potential bile acid metabolites. 1. The epimeric 3ϵ,7α,12β-trihydroxy-5β-cholanic acids. Raney nickel as an epimerizing catalyst.

The epimeric 3α,7α,12β- and 3β,7α,12β-trihydroxy-5β-cholanic acids have been prepared. Under ambient hydrogenation conditions with Raney nickel as catalyst the axial 3β-ester ($\text{4b}$) is epimerized to the 3α-compound ($\text{2b}$).     

Effects of polystyrene-encapsulated magnesium hydroxide on rheological and flame-retarding properties of HIPS composites

In this study, polystyrene (PS)-encapsulated magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂) was successfully prepared by in situ polymerization of styrene on the surface of Mg(OH)₂ in a high-speed mixer. A large amount of PS chemically bonded on Mg(OH)₂ surface was confirmed by means of FT-IR, TGA and SEM. A series of composites of high impact polystyrene (HIPS) were prepared by melt blending in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder. The effects of PS-encapsulated filler on the properties of HIPS composites were studied by SEM, rheology and combustion tests (horizontal burning tests and cone calorimetry). The dispersion and adhesion patterns of PS-encapsulated Mg(OH)₂ in HIPS matrix were investigated through FT-IR and SEM. The experimental results demonstrated that comparing to the composites containing untreated filler, the rheological and flame retardant properties of those containing PS-encapsulated filler were found to be significantly improved. This improvement is mostly attributed to a better dispersion of the encapsulated filler and a strong adhesion between the filler and matrix.