Numerical Modeling of Solitons in a Low Birefringent Optical Fiber

A numerical investigation, based on the split-step Fourier transform algorithm of all optical switching of solitons in a low birefringent optical fiber is presented. The numerical algorithm is described in detail. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

NdFeO3 as a new electrocatalytic material for the electrochemical monitoring of dopamine

A new electrochemical sensor, based on NdFeO₃ nanoparticles as electrocatalytic material, was proposed here for the detection of dopamine (DA). NdFeO₃ nanoparticles were first synthesized by a simple thermal treatment method and subsequent annealing at high temperature (700 °C). The prepared electrocatalytic material has been characterized in detail by SEM-EDX, XRD, and Raman techniques. Characterization results display its sheet-like morphology, constituted by a porous network of very small orthorhombic NdFeO₃ nanoparticles. NdFeO₃ electrocatalytic material was then used to modify the working electrode of screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs). Electrochemical tests demonstrated that NdFeO₃– modified screen-printed carbon electrode (NdFeO₃/SPCE) exhibited a remarkable enhancement of the dopamine electrooxidation, compared to the bare SPCE one. The analytical performance of the developed sensor has been evaluated for the detection of this analyte by means of the square-wave voltammetry (SWV) technique. The modified electrode showed two linear concentration ranges, from 0.5 to 100 μM and 150 to 400 μM, respectively, a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.27 μM (at S/N = 3), and good reproducibility, stability, and selectivity. Additionally, we also report an attempt made to propose the modified sensor for the simultaneous detection of dopamine and uric acid (UA). The procedure was also applied for the determination of dopamine in spiked real samples. So, this paper reports for the first time the use of a modified NdFeO₃ screen-printed electrode for developing an electrochemical sensor for the quantification of important biomolecules.

Graphical abstract

     

Titanium(IV) tungstosilicate and titanium(IV) tungstophosphate: two new inorganic ion exchangers

Crystalline phases of Ti(IV) tungstosilicate and Ti(IV) tungstophosphate have been synthesised. The ion-exchange capacities of Ti(IV) tungstosilicate and Ti(IV) tungstophosphate have been reported as 0.44 and 0.80 mequiv./g, respectively. Both materials show monofunctional ion-exchange characteristic and are stable in 0.1 M solutions of HNO3, HCl, H2SO4 and acetone and benzene. Ti(IV) tungstosilicate is found to be more stable thermally than Ti(IV) tungstophosphate (loss in ion-exchange capacity was found as 58 and 80%, respectively for samples heated at 200 degrees C). The Kd values for heavy metals such as Pb, Hg, Cd, Sb, Co, Zn, Ni, Fe, Cr etc. have been reported in demineralised water and two surfactant media by batch processes. Cr3+, Fe3+ and Sn4+ are totally adsorbed on both the materials in demineralised water while a decrease in Kd value with increase in concentration of two surfactants is reported. On the basis of Kd values for metal ions, thirteen binary separations and five ternary separations on Ti(IV) tungstosilicate and thirteen different binary separations and four different ternary separations on Ti(IV) tungstophosphate have been achieved. Separation of methylamine from ethylamine has been done by GC on a column packed with Ti(IV) tungstophosphate.     

High temperature reactions of titanium(IV) oxide with some alkali persulfates and their decomposition products

The solid state reactions between TiO₂ and Na₂S₂O₈ or K₂S₂O₈ have been investigated using TG, DTG, DTA, IR, and X-ray diffraction studies in the range of 20 to 1000°C.It has been shown that TiO₂ reacts stoichiometrically (1 : 1) with Na₂S₂O₈ in the range of 160 and 220°C forming the complex sodium monoperoxodisulfato—titanium(IV) as characterized by IR and X-ray analysis. The new complex then decomposes into the reactants above 190°C.An exothermic reaction has been observed between TiO₂ and molten K₂S₂O₇ at mole ratio 1:2 respectively and higher, in the range of 280 and 350°C. The IR and X-ray analyses have shown the formation of a complex namely, potassium tetrasulfato titanium(IV) for which the formula and structure have been proposed. This complex decomposes at higher temperatures into K₂SO₄ and a mixed sulfate of potassium and titanium. The mixed sulfate melts at 620°C and decomposes into K₂SO₄, TiO₂, and the gaseous SO₃.On the other hand, Na₂S₂O₈ decomposes in a special mode producing a polymeric product of Na₁₀S₉O₃₂. Decomposition of this species occurs after melting at 560°C into Na₂SO₄ and sulfur oxides. The decomposition reaction has been proved to be catalysed by TiO₂ itself.     

Copper-catalyzed N-arylation of diazoles with aryl bromides using KF/Al2O3: an improved protocol

Copper-catalyzed N-arylation of diazoles can be accomplished using air-stable CuI as a copper source and 1,10-phenanthroline in the presence of KF/Al₂O₃ as a base. This is a simple and efficient method for the coupling of aryl bromide with diazoles. Different functionalized aryl bromides were coupled with diazoles using this system.     

Synthesis of (R)-alpha-benzylmethionine: a novel rearrangement during alkylation of the Seebach (R)-methionine oxazolidinone

Alkylation of the enolate of the Seebach (R)-methionine oxazolidinone with benzyl bromide gave the expected benzylated product in low yield. The major product was a novel amine arising from oxazolidinone cleavage, decarboxylation, alkylation and finally hydrolysis. The rearrangement could be suppressed by using a more reactive electrophile or by using the N-Cbz instead of the N-benzoyl protecting group, and the required (R)-alpha-benzyl-methionine was obtained in 78% yield and in an enantiomeric ratio of 90:10.