Reaction of silyl ketene acetals with epoxides: a new method for the synthesis of γ-butanolides

Titanium tetrachloride promoted reaction of silyl ketene acetals with epoxides, followed by acidic work-up, affords butanolides in moderate/good yields. With epihalohydrins the reaction is regioselective and occurs at the less substituted end of the epoxide; the γ-haloalkyl-γ-butanolides thus obtained can be further transformed into various products.     

Pressure-induced polymorphism in enstatite (MgSiO3) at room temperature: clinoenstatite and orthoenstatite

The phase transition of a synthetic clinoenstatite in a diamond-anvil cell has been studied by using Raman spectroscopy at various pressures and room temperature. The phenomena observed in clinoenstatite have been compared with that observed in orthoenstatite. It is found that the pressure-induced phase transitions in the two enstatites are reversible, but with different transition pressures and transition behavior. An analysis of Raman spectra has revealed that the two enstatites have different high-pressure polymorphs. This result suggests that the space group of the high-pressure polymorph of orthoenstatite is not of C2/c, and that orthoenstatite and orthoferrosilite have different transition routes at room temperature and high pressure. The compressional behavior of the high-PC2/c enstatite is also discussed according to the pressure dependences of Raman frequencies.     

Optical characterization of CdTe/ZnSe fractional monolayer structures grown by atomic layer epitaxy

Luminescence properties of CdTe/ZnSe fractional monolayer grown by atomic layer epitaxy have been investigated. To investigate the origin of the highly efficient luminescence, various optical spectroscopic methods such as, photoluminescence (PL), temporal/spatial resolved PL, temperature dependence PL, and excitation power dependence PL have been used. It is found that structural inhomogeneities affect dominant influence on the line width and line shape of luminescence. The luminescence intensity greatly enhanced by the localization of exciton at the disorder induced localized states.     

Structurally isomeric two pyridino macrocycles: complexation and structures

Pyridine-based, structurally isomeric two macrocyclic compounds displayed a remarkably different complexation nature. The cage-type compound has an ideal structure for spherical cations, especially for the NH₄⁺ ion, but the reaction with some transition metals and Ln³⁺ produced its protonated species. On the other hand, its isomer formed complexes with alkali metals and lanthanides (1:1) and also with transition metals. Some structures of the complexes were clarified by crystallographic analyses.     

Cyclo[(6-amino-6-deoxy-d-galactonic acid)4]: a new class of carbopeptoid-cyclodextrin

The formation of the 28-membered ring cyclo[(6-amino-6-deoxy-d-galactonic acid)₄] by cyclisation of a protected open chain fully hydroxylated nylon 6 linear tetramer in modest yield provides the first example of a new class of carbopeptoid-cyclodextrin.     

Microwave Assisted Conversion of Oximes and Semicarbazones to Carbonyl Compounds Using Benzyltriphenylphosphonium Peroxymonosulfate

Summary.  Benzyltriphenylphosphonium peroxymonosulfate in the presence of catalytic amounts of bismuth chloride was found to be an efficient and mild reagent for the oxidative cleavage of oximes and semicarbazones to the corresponding carbonyl compounds under microwave irradiation. Corresponding author. E-mail: haji@cc.iut.ac.ir Received March 4, 2002; accepted (revised) April 8, 2002     

Insertion of benzothiazolium compounds into montmorillonite interlayers

Benzothiazolium compounds exhibit pronounced antimicrobial activities and stimulation effects on plant growth. When applied to fields they can pollute soil colloids. In contact with the soil they can potentially interact with a clay fraction giving rise to clay organocomplexes. Model intercalation complexes were prepared using monoionic montmorillonite and a variety of water-soluble benzothia zolium salts. It was found that the adsorption into the silicate interlayer space proceeds via a cation exchange process. Substantial differences were observed in the extent of the reaction between non-substituted andN-substituted species. The sulphur atoms present in the benzothiazolium molecules repel the surface oxygen atom: this is considered to be the factor responsible for prevention of insertion of the guest cations perpendicular to the layers.