Catalyst-free allylation of 2-aminophenol–derived aldimines with allyltrichlorosilane under thermal conditions

Allylation of 2-aminophenol-derived aldimines using allyltrichlorosilane under catalyst free conditions has been developed. This reaction afforded the corresponding homoallylic amines in good to excellent yields (68–94%). The salicylaldehyde-derived aldimines as well as benzoylhydrazone also found to react with allyltrichlorosilane smoothly under the same conditions, to furnish the corresponding homoallylic amine derivatives. This study suggests that the phenolic –OH group acts as an anchoring group for the transfer of allyl group from allyl silane reagent.     

Numerical investigations of solution resistance effects on nonlinear electrochemical impedance spectra

The effect of solution resistance on the nonlinear electrochemical impedance spectra under quasi-potentiostatic conditions was investigated by numerical simulations. An electron transfer reaction, a reaction with an adsorbed intermediate and a reaction exhibiting negative resistance were chosen as the candidates and large amplitude perturbations were employed. The potential across the interface drifts initially and stabilizes after a certain time, which depends on the solution resistance and the kinetic parameter values. The fraction of the applied potential drop occurring across the metal–solution interface depends on the frequency and the amplitude of the perturbation as well as the value of solution resistance. This in turn leads to the possibility that, for a given conditions, a part of the spectrum may be acquired in the linear regime while the remaining part may be acquired in the nonlinear regime. The sensitivity of the Kramers Kronig transform (KKT) to identify these cases is evaluated. The results show that although the spectra are distorted by poorly conducting solution, the sensitivity of KKT to identify the nonlinear effects is not enhanced by the introduction of significant solution resistance.     

Ordering and magnetostriction in Fe alloy single crystals

Short-range and long-range ordering in α-Fe terminal solid solution phase (A2 phase with bcc structure) influences its physical, mechanical, magnetic and magnetostrictive behavior. Single crystal sample forms are ideal for examining order in these alloys using X-ray and neutron scattering techniques. Limited structural information available suggests that the lattice of A2 phase at room temperature contains a mixture of regions with local atomic environments similar to those expected in the long-range ordered structures in stable/metastable equilibrium with the A2 phase. The nature and extent of these regions are sensitive to alloy composition and the thermal history. The lattice strain modulations result from the nature of solute atom distribution (short-range ordering) in each region and impact the physical, mechanical, corrosion and magnetic behaviors. A need for a fundamental understanding of ordering in Fe and other alloys through structural evaluations of local atomic environments in alloy single crystals is suggested in this review.     

A study on the antimicrobial efficacy of RF oxygen plasma and neem extract treated cotton fabrics

The paper deals with a thorough investigation on the antimicrobial activity of RF oxygen plasma and Azadirachtin (neem extract) treated cotton fabric. The hydrophilicity of cotton fabric was found to improve when treated with RF oxygen plasma. The process parameters such as electrode gap, time of exposure and oxygen pressure have been varied to study their effect on improving the hydrophilicity of the cotton fabric. The static immersion test has been carried out to assess the hydrophilicity of the oxygen plasma treated samples and the process parameters were optimized based on these test results. The formation of carbonyl group during surface modification in the plasma treated sample was analysed using FTIR studies. The surface morphology has been studied using SEM micrographs.The antimicrobial activity was imparted to the RF oxygen plasma treated samples using methanolic extract of neem leaves containing Azadirachtin. The antimicrobial activity of these samples has been analysed and compared with the activity of the cotton fabric treated with neem extract alone. The investigation reveals that the surface modification due to RF oxygen plasma was found to increase the hydrophilicity and hence the antimicrobial activity of the cotton fabric when treated with Azadirachtin.     

Comparison of AB2 and AB4 monomers in ferrocene-cored benzyl ether dendrimers

Ferrocene-cored unsymmetric and symmetric arylalkyl ether dendrimers based on an AB₂ monomer (3,5-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol) were prepared. Their electrochemical properties were compared with the unsymmetric and symmetric ferrocene-cored dendrimers based on a relatively rigid and three-dimensionally disposed AB₄ monomer. The thermodynamics and kinetics of heterogeneous electron transfer in these dendrimers show that G_2n of AB₂ dendrimers behave similar to G_n of AB₄ dendrimers. For example, the redox reaction shows significant irreversibility especially at higher scan rates in the case of G₄ didendron based on AB₂ monomer and G₂ didendron based on AB₄ monomer. Despite the fact that AB₄ building blocks are more rigid, the effective encapsulation in both these dendrimers are similar. This result is attributed to the three dimensional disposition of the branching points in the AB₄ monomer.     

Complete mineralization of methylparathion by Pseudomonas sp. A3

Organophosphorus insecticides are widely used in agriculture. Despite their biodegradable nature, some are highly toxic and their residues are found in the environment. Reports on the mineralization of a spectrum of these insecticides by a single potential strain are scarce. We have isolated a soil isolate, Pseudomonas sp. A3, through enrichment technique, able to degrade methylparathion (MP), malathion, monocrotophos, and Diazinon. The potential of this strain to mineralize MP as a carbon and/or phosphorus source has been evaluated. On hydrolysis of MP, the aromatic portion (p-nitrophenol) was used as a carbon and energy source whereas the alkyl moiety (dithiomethylphosphorothioate) was broken down for the phosphorus source. The results from the experiments involving [U-¹⁴C]p-nitrophenol provided the evidence for incorporation of carbon into the cellular constituents and release of CO₂ from this insecticide. During the breakdown of MP, nitrite was released as a catabolic by-product.     

Bethe-Salpeter dynamics for two-photon processes

Recent experimental data on single hadron production by two-photon beams inpetra andpep have provided a unique opportunity for testing specific models of confinement through a study of one of their cleanest predictionsviz the γγ →H amplitudes. Motivated by this new facility, aqcd-oriented Bethe-Salpeter model of harmonic confinement, which has already been found to describe rather well several classes of hadronic data (from mass spectra to electromagnetic and pionic couplings), is now employed for a detailed comparison of its predictions onP → γγ andT → γγ couplings with the data. The agreement is quite good for all cases except one (η → γγ). This paper is offered as a “Festschrift” in honour of Dr Raja Ramanna on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday. The subject is theoretical in content but seeks to exploit an entirely new window opened by the latest experimental technology (on two-photon physics). As such it is appropriately dedicated to one of the main architects of nuclear science in India.     

Counting almost minimum cutsets with reliability applications

The numbern ₁ ofi-edge network cutsets in a graph is an important parameter in reliability analysis. Using a theorem of Lomonosov and Polesskii, Ball and Provan have shown that the numbern _i of minimum cardinality network cutsets can be determined in polynomial time. This paper gives a polynomial time algorithm for determiningn _r+k for any fixedk, as a special case of counting cuts of specified maximum weight in an edge-weighted graph. The resulting improvement in existing reliability bounds is shown to be substantial.