New Preparation of Cyclic Acyloxyphosphorane by Reaction of Glyoxylic Acid with Phosphorus(III) Compounds

We have recently found that the reaction of α-keto acids (1) with phosphorus (III) compounds (3) yielded cyclic acyloxyphosphoranes(C-AOPs, 4), a new class of pentacovalent phosphorus species having a P-OC(O) group.^{1, 2)} The present paper deals with a new reaction of glyoxylic acid (2) with 3 to give C-AOPs (5) having no substituent at the C-3 position. 1 is an α-keto acid whereas 2 can be taken as an α-formyl acid. Although it is well known in the field of organic chemistry that the formyl group often behaves differently from a keto group, the reaction of 2 with 3 provides an example in which both groups behave in a similar manner.     

Absorption of shocked benzene

Abstract

We used absorption spectroscopy to observe decomposition of benzene (C₆H₆) subjected to the passage of strong shock waves generated by projectile impact. These measurements were made using a recently developed double-beam, double-pass, fiber-optic-coupled apparatus. Near 13 GPa, we observe absorption throughout most of the visible region, with strong absorption occurring for wavelengths below 400 nm. The absorption is most likely due to a combination of molecular absorption and Mie scattering from carbon particles formed as a result of shock decomposition.     

Asymmetric Michael addition of 2-alkoxyphenyl α-substituted nitroacetates to non-prochiral α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds catalyzed by podand-type alkali metal 2′-substituted 1,1′-binaphthalen-2-oxides

The asymmetric Michael addition of 2-alkoxyphenyl α-substituted nitroacetates to non-prochiral α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds catalyzed by 10 mol % of sodium 2′-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]-1,1′-binaphthalen-2-oxide gave the desired adducts in high yields with up to 95% ee.     

Macroscopic single‐domain graphene sheet on Ni(111)

We observed in situ growth of a single graphene sheet on Ni(111) by low‐energy electron microscopy. The sheet was grown epitaxially beyond the steps on the substrate. The crystalline shapes of graphene islands were clearly seen; the straight edges of the island are crossed at either 60 or 120°, and the linear edges shifted perpendicular to the edge keeping the equilibrium shape. Graphene islands were united to form a single sheet without any grain boundaries and any wrinkles. The Ni substrate of several centimeters in size was covered with a single‐domain graphene sheet. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spin-dependent transport in a nanopillar non-local spin valve

We investigate the injection of a pure spin current into a non-magnetic Cu wire in a lateral spin valve. We detect the spin accumulation occurring at the interfaces between the magnetic nanopillars and the non-magnetic wire in the non-local geometry. We confirm that the accumulated spins diffuse equally in the Cu wire irrespective of the presence of a charge current. The inversion of the injector and detector magnetic nanopillars does not affect the spin signal, in agreement with analytical predictions for this system.     

A periodic FMM for Maxwell’s equations in 3D and its applications to problems related to photonic crystals

This paper presents an FMM (Fast Multipole Method) for periodic boundary value problems for Maxwell’s equations in 3D. The effect of periodicity is taken into account with the help of the periodised moment to local expansion (M2L) transformation formula, which includes lattice sums. We verify the proposed method by comparing the obtained numerical results with analytic solutions for models of the multi-layered dielectric slab. We then apply the proposed method to scattering problems for periodic two-dimensional arrays of dielectric spheres and compare the obtained energy transmittances with those from the previous studies. We also consider scattering problems for woodpile crystals, where we find a passband related to a localised mode. Through these numerical tests we conclude that the proposed method is efficient and accurate.     

TfOH-promoted transformation from 2-alkynylphenyl isothiocyanates to quinoline-2-thiones or indoles

A variety of 4-arylquinoline-2-thiones and 3-arylthieno[2,3-b]indoles were synthesized in high yields via TfOH-promoted tandem Friedel-Crafts alkenylation-cyclization reactions of 2-alkynylphenyl isothiocyanates.     

Novel macroscopic BC3 honeycomb sheet

We have successfully grown a uniform BC₃ honeycomb sheet with high crystalline quality over the entire macroscopic area of the NbB₂ (0001) surface by carbon-substituted technique in a boron honeycomb. This is the first macroscopic uniform sheet of single-crystal BC₃ with a monolayer thickness. So far, only BC₃ micro-crystals with radii of a few nanometres were produced. The properties of the sheet have been investigated by using XPS, AES, LEED, STM, ARUPS and HREELS. All the experimental data and the theoretical calculations, which are concerning with atomic structure, chemical concentration, and phonon structure, indicated that the uniform BC₃ honeycomb sheet was grown in an epitaxial manner to the substrate lattice.     

Optically driven actuators using poly(vinylidene difluoride)

Optically driven actuators have a feature of a non-contact method supplied by light energy. A new method is proposed with three poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) cantilevers as the legs and a polymer film as the body. The PVDF cantilevers are coated with silver on one surface. When one side of the cantilever is irradiated by a laser beam, an electric field is produced along a cross-section of the cantilever by the pyroelectric effect and a mechanical displacement occurs by the piezoelectric effect. Its response time and its generated force are measured experimentally. Two types of optically driven actuators using PVDF film are proposed to move using different characteristics.     

Microdrilling and micromachining with diode-pumped solid-state lasers

The trend of the ever-continuing miniaturization requires fast and flexible processing tools. Lasers are flexible tools which have proven their reliability in manufacturing of macrofeatures for many years already. However, to process small features the requirements of the laser source, e.g. in regard to the beam profile, are very high. Innovative laser sources which meet these requirements, such as diode-pumped solid-state lasers, and the progress in processing technology, have made microfeature processing commercially viable during recent years. Examples of industrial applications are laser-drilled micro-injection nozzles for highly efficient automobile engines or manufacturing of complex spinnerets for production of synthetic fibers. The unique advantages of laser-based techniques stem from their ability to produce high-aspect-ratio holes, while yielding small heat-affected zones with exceptional surface quality, roundness and taper tolerances. Additionally, the ability to drill blind holes and slots in very hard materials such as diamond, silicon, sapphire, ceramics and steel is of great interest for many applications in the microelectronics, semiconductor and automotive industries. This kind of high-quality, high-aspect-ratio micromachining requires high peak powers and short pulse durations. PACS 42.55.Xi; 42.62.Cf; 81.40.-z