Highly selective catalytic Friedel–Crafts sulfonylation of aromatic compounds using a FeCl3-based ionic liquid

Friedel–Crafts sulfonylation of aromatic compounds was carried out using FeCl₃-based ionic liquid. These liquids serve as efficient media as well as Lewis acid catalyst.     

Mixed micellization of gemini surfactant with nonionic surfactant in aqueous media: a fluorometric study

Herein we report on the study of the interactions between alkanediyl-α,ω-type cationic dimeric (gemini) surfactant and the nonionic Triton X-100 in aqueous medium. The critical micelle concentrations of binary mixtures were determined by fluorometric study. Using the regular solution theory for the analysis of the experimental data, the attractive nature of interactions and synergistic behavior of gemini surfactant and Triton X-100 mixture were demonstrated. The micelle aggregation number was measured using steady state fluorescence quenching method. The micropolarity, binding constant and dielectric constant of mixed systems were determined from the ratio of peak’s intensity (I ₁/I ₃) in the pyrene fluorescence emission spectrum.     

Chemical modification of alumina surface by immobilization of 1-((5-nitrofuran-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide for extractive concentration of silver ions

A column, solid phase extraction (SPE), preconcentration method was developed for determination of silver by using alumina coated with 1-((5-nitrofuran-2-yl)methylene)thiosemicarbazide and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The separation/preconcentration conditions for the quantitative recovery were investigated. At pH 2, the maximum sorption capacity of Ag⁺ was 7.5?mg?g^?1. The linearity was maintained in the concentration range of 0.02–11.0?µg?mL^?1 in the final solution or 0.14–1.10?×?10^4?ng?mL^?1 in the original solution for silver. The preconcentration factor of 140 and relative standard deviation of ±1.4% was obtained, under optimum conditions. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated as 0.112?ng?mL^?1, based on 3σ_bl/m (n?=?8) in the original solutions. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination trace amounts of silver in the environmental samples such as tea, rice and wheat flour, mint, and real water samples.     

Delayed autocatalytic behavior of Mn(II) ions at a critical ratio: The effect of structural isomerism on permanganic oxidation of L‐norleucine

The kinetics of the permanganic oxidation process of L ‐norleucine, L ‐leucine, L ‐iso‐leucine, and L ‐tert‐leucine in strong acid medium has been investigated using a spectrophotometric technique. Conclusive evidences have proven autocatalytic activity of Mn(II) for these reactions in strong acid medium analogous to weak acid medium, but in the former, ratio of Mn(II) to amino acid concentration must reach a certain amount for autocatalytic phenomenon to emerge, which we call “critical ratio.” This critical ratio depends on the nature of the amino acid employed. Thus considering “delayed autocatalytic behavior” of Mn(II) ions, rate equations satisfying observations for both catalytic and noncatalytic routes have been presented. Kinetic data in a noncatalytic pathway have been fitted to a biparametric equation including inductive, steric, and hyperconjugation correction effects, and it is determined that by shifting the side branch on a carbon chain toward an α‐carbon atom (adjacent to amino acid's functional group) and also adding branches to the α‐carbon atom, the reaction rate in the noncatalytic pathway decreases. Inductive and steric hindrance factors in amino acid's carbon chain are effective on processes' rate both in catalytic and noncatalytic pathways. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 38: 1–11, 2006     

Preparation and lithiation of tris(o-tolyldimethylsilyl)methane

The compound (o-MeC₆H₄Me₂Si)₃CH has been prepared and shown to be metallated slowly by MeLi in refluxing THF to give the lithium reagent (o-MeC₆H₄Me₂Si)₃CLi. This reacts with MeI to give (o-MeC₆H₄Me₂Si)₃CMe, but not with Me₂SiHCl nor with a range of other organosilicon halides.     

Computational and spectral investigation of 5,12-dihydro-5,12-ethanonaphthacene-13-carbaldehyde

A conformational search of 5,12-dihydro-5,12-ethanonaphthacene-13-carbaldehyde predicted the presence of twelve conformations. The geometry of the twelve conformations established at the B3LYP/6-31G* level showed only six unique ones. Vibrational frequencies were calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. The calculated vibrational frequencies enabled us to interpret the appearance of two bands corresponding to the C=O stretching mode of 5,12-dihydro-5,12-ethanonaphthacene-13-carbaldehyde. The first band corresponded to the 5,12-dihydro-5,12-ethanonaphthacene-13-carbaldehyde structure where the aldehyde group O atom was above the benzene or naphthalene ring. The other band was due to the O atom of the aldehyde group pointing out of the benzene or naphthalene ring.     

Zebrafish embryo development in a microfluidic flow-through system

The zebrafish embryo is a small, cheap, whole-animal model which may replace rodents in some areas of research. Unfortunately, zebrafish embryos are commonly cultured in microtitre plates using cell-culture protocols with static buffer replacement. Such protocols are highly invasive, consume large quantities of reagents and do not readily permit high-quality imaging. Zebrafish and rodent embryos have previously been cultured in static microfluidic drops, and zebrafish embryos have also been raised in a prototype polydimethylsiloxane setup in a Petri dish. Other than this, no animal embryo has ever been shown to undergo embryonic development in a microfluidic flow-through system. We have developed and prototyped a specialized lab-on-a-chip made from bonded layers of borosilicate glass. We find that zebrafish embryos can develop in the chip for 5 days, with continuous buffer flow at pressures of 0.005-0.04 MPa. Phenotypic effects were seen, but these were scored subjectively as 'minor'. Survival rates of 100% could be reached with buffer flows of 2 μL per well per min. High-quality imaging was possible. An acute ethanol exposure test in the chip replicated the same assay performed in microtitre plates. More than 100 embryos could be cultured in an area, excluding infrastructure, smaller than a credit card. We discuss how biochip technology, coupled with zebrafish larvae, could allow biological research to be conducted in massive, parallel experiments, at high speed and low cost.     

One-pot synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted and 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles by zinc oxide as efficient and reusable catalyst

Abstract  

ZnO is an efficient, readily available, and reusable catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of 1,2,4,5-tetrasubstituted and 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles. This procedure is very simple and affords excellent yields.     

Design considerations to improve high temperature characteristics of 1.3 μm AlGaInAs-InP uncooled multiple quantum well lasers: Strain in barriers

Uncooled multiple quantum well lasers have great attraction because of their lower power dissipation and smaller size than traditional semiconductor lasers. In this study we will investigate the strain effect in barriers of 1.3 μm AlGaInAs-InP uncooled multiple quantum well lasers. We simulate a laser structure using a band-to-band transition approach. Single effective mass theory has been used for conduction band and Kohn-Luttinger Hamiltonian has been solved for valance band to obtain quantum states and envelope wave functions in the structure. In the case of unstrained barriers, the results have good agreement with a real device fabricated and presented in one of the references. Our main work is proposal of 0.2% compressive strain in the structure Barriers that cause 20% improvement in mode gain-current density characteristic. Significant reduction in leakage current density and Auger current density characteristics is also obtained at 85 °C. Optical gain-photon energy spectrum is increased more than 3% proportional to unstrained barriers.