Study of the peak effect phenomenon in single crystals of 2H-NbSe2

The weakly pinned single crystals of the hexagonal 2H-NbSe₂ compound have emerged as prototypes for determining and characterizing the phase boundaries of the possible order-disorder transformations in the vortex matter. We present here a status report based on the ac and dc magnetization measurements of the peak effect phenomenon in three crystals of 2H-NbSe₂, in which the critical current densities vary over two orders of magnitude. We sketch the generic vortex phase diagram of a weakly pinned superconductor, which also utilizes theoretical proposals. We also establish the connection between the metastability effects and pinning.     

Branched polymers in a wedge geometry in three dimensions

We investigate the statistical and dimensional properties of uniform star polymers attached by the branching vertex of degreef in a wedge geometry in three dimensions and described by the wedge angles and. We show that the growth constant is equal to ^f , where is the self-avoiding walk limit. Thef and (, ) dependences of the corresponding critical exponent _f (, ) are studied using Monte Carlo techniques. In the casef=1, our results are compared with existing predictions obtained from series expansion and renormalization group methods. We have also estimated the amplitudes for the mean square radius of gyration and the mean square end-to-end branch length. Our results for the ratio of the mean square radius of gyration of anf-star to that of a linear polymer of the same degree of polymerization attached in a similar wedge, and the analogous ratio for the mean square end-to-end branch length, are consistent with these ratios being lattice-independent quantities.     

Shaping Solid-State Supramolecular Cavities: Chemically Induced Accordionlike Movement of gamma-Zirconium Phosphate Containing Polyethylenoxide Pillars

The hydrophilic oxygen atoms of polyethylenoxide chains inserted as pillars in gamma-zirconium phosphate form hydrogen bonds with the acid groups of the host. As a result the pillars are almost perpendicular to the gamma layers. Upon changing the pH level of the supernatant solution the hydrogen bonds are broken and the pillars become almost perpendicular to the layers (shown schematically). Thus there is a reversible enlargement-shortening of the interlayer space.     

Dithiane additions to vinyl epoxides: steric control over the SN2 and SN2' manifolds

High chemoselectivity can be achieved in the addition of lithium dithiane anions to vinyl epoxides exploiting the steric nature of the dithiane substituent. Unencumbered dithiane anions afford SN2 adducts, whereas sterically encumbered anions lead primarily to SN2' adducts. Furthermore, the SN2' addition occurs syn to the vinyl epoxide.     

The first structural and spectroscopic characterization of a neptunyl polyoxometalate complex

The reaction between PW9O349- and NpO2+ has yielded the first structurally characterized neptunyl(V) polyoxometalate complex, [Na2(NpO2)2(A-PW9O34)2]14-. This complex is isostructural with the uranyl(VI) analogue, and there is also spectroscopic evidence for its existence in solution. The complex is readily extracted into toluene, and this may have significance in the sequestering and/or separation of the neptunyl ion in terms of nuclear waste management.     

Gram‐Scale Enantioselective Formal Synthesis of Morphine through an ortho–para Oxidative Phenolic Coupling Strategy

A gram‐scale catalytic enantioselective formal synthesis of morphine is described. The key steps of the synthesis involve an ortho–para oxidative phenolic coupling and a highly diastereoselective “desymmetrization” of the resulting cyclohexadienone that generates three of the four morphinan ring junction stereocenters in one step. The stereochemistry is controlled from a single carbinol center installed through catalytic enantioselective hydrogenation. These transformations enabled the preparation of large quantities of key intermediates and could support a practical and scalable synthesis of morphine and related derivatives.