Dynamics of Si-H vibrations in an amorphous environment

We present results of the first vibrational photon-echo, transient-grating, and temperature dependent transient-bleaching experiments on a-Si:H. Using these techniques, and the infrared light of a free electron laser, the vibrational population decay and phase relaxation of the Si-H stretching mode were investigated. Careful analysis of the data indicates that the vibrational energy relaxes directly into Si-H bending modes and Si phonons, with a distribution of rates determined by the amorphous host. Conversely, the pure dephasing appears to be single exponential, and can be modeled by dephasing via two-phonon interactions.     

Convenient synthesis of 5,6,11,12,17,18- hexahydrocyclononal[1,2-b:4,5-b':7,8-b'']triindole,a novel phytoestrogen

An efficient one-pot synthesis is described of 5,6,11,12,17,18-hexahydrocyclononal[1,2-b:4,5-b':7,8-b']triindole (CTr), a potent estrogen agonist from food plants. For the procedure, gramine is treated with dimethyl sulfate and sodium in ethanol at room temperature. Quenching of the reaction with water and workup of the product provides CTr in approximately 75% yield.