Oxidative Deprotection of Cyclic Acetals and Trimethylsilyl Ethers by γγ-Picolinium Chlorochromate Under Nonaqueous Conditions

Deprotection of cyclic acetals and oxidative desilylation of trimethylsilyl ethers into the corresponding carbonyl compounds with -picolinium chlorochromate (-PCC) under nonaqueous conditions at room temperature is described. Oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids was not observed in any case.     

On solvability of differential equations with the Riesz fractional derivative

We consider the solvability of fractional differential equations involving the Riesz fractional derivative. Our approach basically relies on the reduction of the problem considered to the equivalent nonlinear mixed Volterra and Cauchy-type singular integral equation and on the theory of fractional calculus. By establishing a compactness property of the Riemann–Liouville fractional integral operator on Lebesgue spaces and using the well-known Krasnoselskii's fixed point theorem, an existence of at least one solution is gleaned. An example is finally included to show the applicability of the theory.     

Efficient and eco-friendly synthesis of dihydropyrimidinones, bis(indolyl)methanes, and N-alkyl and N-arylimides in ionic liquids

Dihydropyrimidinones, bis(indolyl)methanes, and N-alkyl and N-arylimides were synthesized efficiently under mild reaction conditions in the presence of two types of ionic liquids. In each section, effects of different ILs on the yield of reactions were investigated. The use of ionic liquids offer improvements for the synthesis of title compounds with regard to the yield of products, simplicity in operation, short reaction times and green aspects by avoiding toxic catalyst and organic solvents.     

Estimation of concrete compressive strength by a fuzzy logic model

Concrete mix design is a process of proportioning the ingredients in right proportions. The aim of this study is to design a fuzzy logic model for determination of the compressive strength of a concrete. The datasets which have been loaded into a fuzzy logic model contain 1,030 concrete mixtures. Input fields of the fuzzy expert system are weight percent of cement, water, blast furnace slag, fly ash, super plasticizer, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, and age of the concrete. Output field is concrete compressive strength. Finally, 897 rules used for this fuzzy logic modeling.     

A robust-adaptive fuzzy coverage control for robotic swarms

In this paper, a decentralized adaptive control scheme for multi-robot coverage is proposed. This control method is designed based on centroidal Voronoi configuration integrated with robust adaptive fuzzy control techniques. We consider simple single integrator mobile robots used for covering dynamical environments, where an adaptive fuzzy logic system is used to approximate the unknown parts of control law. A robust coverage criterion is used to attenuate the adaptive fuzzy approximation error and measurement noises to a prescribed level. Therefore, the robots motion is forced to obey solutions of a coverage optimization problem. The advantages of the proposed controller can be listed as robustness to external disturbances, computation uncertainties, and measurement noises, while applicability on dynamical environments. A Lyapunov-function based proof is given of robust stability, i.e. convergence to the optimal positions with bounded error. Finally, simulation results are demonstrated for a swarm coverage problem simultaneous with tracking mobile intruders.     

Polyelectrolyte Nanocomposite Membranes Using Imidazole-Functionalized Nanosilica for Fuel Cell Applications

The preparation and characterization of a new type of nanocomposite polyelectrolyte membrane, based on DuPont Nafion/imidazole-modified nanosilica (Im-Si), for direct methanol fuel cell applications is described. Related to the interactions between the protonated imidazole groups, grafted on the surface of nanosilica, and negatively charged sulfonic acid groups of Nafion, new electrostatic interactions can be formed in the interface of Nafion and Im-Si which result in both lower methanol permeability and also higher proton conductivity. Physical characteristics of these manufactured nanocomposite membranes were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, water uptake, methanol permeability, and ion-exchange capacity, as well as proton conductivity. The Nafion/Im-Si membranes showed higher proton conductivity, lower methanol permeability and, as a consequence, higher selectivity parameter in comparison to the neat Nafion or Nafion/silica membranes. The obtained results indicated that the Nafion/Im-Si membranes could be utilized as promising polyelectrolyte membranes for direct methanol fuel cell applications.     

Silica Gel Supported Ferric Perchlorate: A New and Efficient Reagent for One Pot Synthesis of Amides from Benzylic Alcohols

Benzylic alcohols react efficiently with nitriles in the presence of silica gel supported ferric perchlorate to produce amides in high yields.     

Diammonium Hydrogen Phosphate as a Neutral and Efficient Catalyst for Synthesis of 1,8‐Dioxo‐octahydroxanthene Derivatives in Aqueous Media

A new and efficient method to synthesize a 3,3,6,6,9‐aryl‐1,8‐dioxo‐octahydroxanthene derivative using diammonium hydrogen phosphate as catalyst was performed in water at room temperature in a short periods.