All-cellulose nanocomposites by surface selective dissolution of bacterial cellulose

All-cellulose nanocomposites using bacterial cellulose (BC) as a single raw material were prepared by a surface selective dissolution method. The effect of the immersion time of BC in the solvent (lithium chloride/N,N-dimethylacetamide) during preparation on the nanocomposite properties was investigated. The structure, morphology and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and tensile testing. The optimum immersion time of 10 min allowed the preparation of nanocomposites with an average tensile strength of 411 MPa and Young’s modulus of 18 GPa. With the longest immersion time of 60 min, the prepared composite sheet turns to express a very high toughness characteristic possessing a work-to-fracture as high as 16 MJ/m³. These biobased nanocomposites show high performances thanks to their unique structure and properties.     

A variation of the Pictet-Spengler reaction via a sequential reduction-cyclization reaction of N-acylcarbamates: synthesis of 1-substituted tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives

A new variation of the Pictet-Spengler reaction for the synthesis of 1-substituted tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives has been developed. The reaction employs the reduction of N-acylcarbamates by DIBAL-H followed by simultaneous cyclization mediated by BF₃·OEt₂. The synthetic potential of this method has been illustrated by the synthesis of the tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, (±)-xylopinine, (±)-laudanosine, (±)-8-oxo-O-methylbharatamine, and (±)-isoindoloisoquinolone.