An unexpected coupling reaction between isocyanides and carboxylic acids: a method for the synthesis of highly stable symmetrical and unsymmetrical alkylamidine and arylamidine carbocations

An unexpected coupling reaction between isocyanides and carboxylic acids which led to the synthesis of highly stable symmetrical and unsymmetrical alkylamidine and arylamidine carbocations under mild reaction conditions is described. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by IR, mass, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies and a plausible mechanism is proposed.     

Nanoclay and carbon nanotubes as potential synergists of an organophosphorus flame-retardant in poly(methyl methacrylate)

This study explores whether nanoparticles incorporated in polymers always act as synergists of conventional flame-retardant additives. For this purpose, two different filler nanoparticles, namely organically modified layered-silicate clay minerals or nanoclays and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, were incorporated in poly(methyl methacrylate) filled with an organophosphorus flame-retardant that acts through intumescence. Effective dispersion techniques specific to each nanoparticle were utilized and prepared samples were thoroughly characterized for their nanocomposite morphologies. Nanoclays were shown to outperform carbon nanotubes in respect of improving the fire properties of intumescent formulations assessed by cone calorimeter analysis. An intriguing explanation for the observed behaviour was the restriction of intumescence by strong carbon nanotube networks formed on the flaming surfaces during combustion contrary to enhanced intumescent chars by nanoclays. Carbon nanotubes surpassed nanoclays considering the thermal stability of intumescent formulations in thermogravimetry whereas mechanical properties were significantly superior with nanoclays to those with carbon nanotubes.     

One-pot, three-component reaction of isocyanides, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, and non-cyclic anhydrides: synthesis of 2,5-diaminofuran derivatives and dialkyl (E)-2-[(N-acyl-N-alkylamino)carbonyl]-2-butenedioates

Abstract  

Isocyanides, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, and non-cyclic anhydrides, for example acetic anhydride or benzoic anhydride, react in one-pot to afford 2,5-diaminofuran derivatives and dialkyl (E)-2-[(N-acyl-N-alkylamino)carbonyl]-2-butenedioates in fairly good yields at room temperature.     

Biotransformation of some monoterpenoid ketones by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chlorella vulgaris</Emphasis> MCCS 012

Biotransformation of several monoterpene ketones, including carvone, pulegone, piperitone, menthone, and fenchone, was carried out by the locally isolated unicellular microalgae Chlorella vulgaris. The microalgal strain was isolated during a screening program from soil samples collected from paddy-fields of Fars Province, in the south of Iran. Chlorella vulgaris was cultured in 250 mL conical flasks, each containing 50 mL of BG-11 liquid medium and 20 μL levels of terpene substrates, incubated at a temperature of 28±2°C and illuminated continuously with fluorescent lamps with shaking at 80 rpm. The metabolites were identified by thin-layer chromatography and GC-MS. Chlorella vulgaris has the ability to reduce the C=C double bond of carvone to yield trans-dihydrocarvone and cis-dihydrocarvone. The cell line reduced menthone and pulegone to the same product and gave menthol. Study of Chlorella vulgaris with substrates of piperitone and fenchone showed no reaction in these substrates. Chlorella vulgaris MCCS 012 was assigned according to the 18S rRNA gene sequence. The DNA sequence of the 18S rRNA gene of Chlorella vulgaris MCCS 012 was recorded in the NCBI under the accession number EU374170.     

Methyl Methacrylate–Ethyleneglycol Dimethacrylate–Acrylic Acid Surface as Stationary Phase for Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction

A novel poly(methyl methacrylate–ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate–acrylic acid) film has been introduced for coating on stir bars to sorptive extraction (SBSE). The effects of different contents of porogen, monomer, cross-linker, modifier and initiator during the solvent or bulk polymerization step on the mechanical property and solvent resistant of prepared sorptive stir bars were investigated. The evaluation of results were caused to obtain the four prepared sorptive stir bars with good mechanical stability and excellent resistance to organic solvents. The extraction efficiency of these prepared sorptive stir bars were investigated by liquid desorption-liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (LD-LC-UV) using N-Nitrosodiphenylamine as target analyte. SBSE assays showed the sorptive stir bar that prepared using solution polymerization method had the better recovery for N-Nitrosodiphenylamine in water samples. This sorptive stir bar showed good linearity and acceptable recoveries, as well as advantages such as sensitivity, simplicity, low cost and high feasibility. Based on atomic force microscopy (AFM) results, the average pore size of optimum prepared stir bar using solvent polymerization method was obtained ~9 nm. The thermal gravity (TG) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) results showed this polyacrylate film has high thermal stability.     

Application of Sol–Gel Based Poly(ethylene glycol)/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Coated Fiber for SPME of Methyl tert-Butyl Ether in Environmental Water Samples

In this research, the sol–gel technology was applied for the preparation of solid-phase microextraction fibers for extracting of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) from environmental water samples. For this purpose, two different polymers such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and combination of PEG and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were prepared using sol–gel technology as coating procedure for the fibers. The pre-concentration process followed by GC–FID determination was used and the results evidenced that pre-concentration factor for PEG/CNTs fiber was approximately five times higher than PEG. Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency such as temperature, extraction time, stirring speed and salt effect for each fiber were investigated and optimized. On the optimal conditions, the linear range for MTBE with PEG and PEG/CNT fibers were 10–3,000 and 1–1,000 ng mL^?1 and the detection limits (S/N = 3) were 1.0 and 0.3 ng mL^?1, respectively. The sol–gel PEG/CNTs fiber has good performance and therefore relatively better figures of merit and experimental results such as thermal stability (up to 320 °C), average of life time (over 150 times) and repeatability (RSD < 4) in comparison to conventional PDMS/Carboxen fiber, which was already reported for determination of MTBE.     

DC-Pulsed Plasma for Dry Reforming of Methane to Synthesis Gas

The carbon dioxide reforming of methane to synthesis gas under DC-pulsed plasma was investigated. The effects of specific input energy and feed ratio on the product distribution and also feed conversion was studied. At the input energy of about 11 eV/molecule per methane and/or carbon dioxide the feed conversion of 38% for CH₄ and 28% for CO₂ and product selectivity of 74% has been attained for H₂ and CO at feed flow rate of 90 ml/min. The energy consumption in this work displays potential to further study and optimization of the process. The importance of the electron impact reactions in the process was discussed. The results show that by prudent tuning of system variables, the process be able to run in the way of synthesis gas, instead of hydrocarbon production.