Benzylation and Allylation of Naphthols Using Amberlyst-15

A simple and efficient method has been developed for benzylation and allylation of naphthols by treatment of the compounds with benzylic and allylic alcohols, respectively, in the presence of amberlyst-15. Several heterogeneous catalysts were screened for the reaction, and amberlyst-15 was found to be most effective.     

Efficient Bromination of Alkenes and Alkynes Using Potassium Bromide and Diacetoxy Iodobenzene

Bromination of alkenes and alkynes has efficiently been carried out at room temperature in short reaction times using KBr and diacetoxy iodobenzene in CH₂Cl₂-H₂O (1:1) to prepare the corresponding trans-dibromo compounds in excellent yields.     

Raman-assisted parametric frequency conversion in a normally dispersive single-mode fiber

We demonstrate efficient frequency conversion with large frequency shifts of an anti-Stokes signal into a parametrically seeded Stokes idler, which is generated by a highly mismatched three-wave mixing interaction and subsequent Raman amplification in a normally dispersive single-mode fiber. The use of non-phase-matched waves in Raman-assisted three-wave mixing interactions overcomes the strict spectral limitations imposed by phase-matching conditions in parametric frequency-conversion processes.     

Kinetics of oxidation of hypophosphite ion by Au(III) in hydrochloric acid medium

Hypophosphite ion is oxidised by Au(III) in aqueous hydrochloric acid to give phosphorus acid and Au(I). The kinetics of the reaction has been studied spectrophotometrically in the UV region at different temperatures. The oxidation of hypophosphorous acid is first order with respect to both Au(III) and substrate. Hydrogen ion has no effect on the rate in acid media (0.15–1.0)M. The energy and entropy of activations are 128 ± 3.0kJ mol^?1 and 135.8 ± 6.5 JK^?1 mol^?1 respectively. The results are interpreted in terms of the probable formation of intermediate Au(lI).     

Simple,efficient, and selective deprotection of phenolic methoxymethyl ethers using silica-supported sodium hydrogen sulfate as a heterogeneous catalyst

A simple and efficient method has been developed for chemoselective deprotection of phenolic methoxymethyl (MOM) ethers using silica-supported sodium hydrogen sulfate as a heterogeneous catalyst. The conversions occur at room temperature, and the yields of the deprotected phenols are excellent. The method is suitable for deprotection of phenolic MOM ethers of multifunctional bioactive natural products.     

Synthesis,spectral characterization and redox studies of [1-alkyl-2-(naphthyl-β-azo)imidazole] palladium(II) catecholates

1-Alkyl-2-(naphthyl--azo)imidazoles [-NaiR; R = Me (a), Et (b), CH₂Ph (c)] react with Pd(MeCN)₂Cl₂ to yield Pd(-NaiR)Cl₂ (2), the i.r. spectra of which support the presence of a cis-PdCl₂ configuration. The complexes react with catechols in the presence of Et₃N to yield ternary complexes [Pd(-NaiR)(O,O)] [O,O = pyrocatecholato (cat) (3), 4-t-butylcatecholato (tbcat) (4), 3,5-di-t-butylcatecholato (dtbcat) (5), and tetrachlorocatecholato (tccat) (6)], which were characterized by elemental analysis, i.r. and ¹H-n.m.r. spectral data. Redox studies by cyclic voltammetry suggest the existence of four successive redox couples wherein two responses, positive to s.c.e. are due to catechol to semiquinone and semiquinone to quinone oxidation, respectively; the couples at negative to s.c.e. are referred to azo reductions. The complexes exhibit ligand-ligand charge-transfer transitions in the near-i.r. region. The band position is largely dependent upon the substitutent on the catechol frame and exhibits negative solvatochromic effects. The transition is qualitatively assigned as the HOMO (cat) LUMO (-NaiR) transition. This fact is also supported by theoretical calculations using the PM3 method.     

Two New Pseudoguaianolides from the Flowers of Parthenium hysterophorus

Chemical investigation on two samples of the flowers of Parthenium hysterophorus afforded two new pseudoguaianolides (one from each sample) together with several known constituents. The structures of the new compounds were established by extensive spectroscopic (1D‐ and 2D‐NMR) studies. The X‐ray crystallographic analysis of one of these compounds was also accomplished.     

Redox-active ionic-liquid-assisted one-step general method for preparing gold nanoparticle thin films: applications in refractive index sensing and catalysis

We describe a general one-step facile method for depositing gold nanoparticle (GNP) thin films onto any type of substrates by the in situ reduction of AuCl(3) using a newly designed redox-active ionic liquid (IL), tetrabutylphosphonium citrate ([TBP][Ci]). Various substrates such as positively charged glass, negatively charged glass/quartz, neutral hydrophobic glass, polypropylene, polystyrene, plain paper, and cellophane paper are successfully coated with a thin film of GNPs. This IL ([TBP][Ci]) is prepared by the simple neutralization of tetrabutylphosphonium hydroxide with citric acid. We also demonstrate that the [TBP][Ci] ionic liquid can be successfully used to generate GNPs in an aqueous colloidal suspension in situ. The deposited GNP thin films on various surfaces are made up of mostly discrete spherical GNPs that are well distributed throughout the film, as confirmed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy. However, it seems that some GNPs are arranged to form arrays depending on the nature of surface. We also characterize these GNP thin films via UV-vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The as-formed GNP thin films show excellent stability toward solvent washing. We demonstrate that the thin film of GNPs on a glass/quartz surface can be successfully used as a refractive index (RI) sensor for different polar and nonpolar organic solvents. The as-formed GNP thin films on different surfaces show excellent catalytic activity in the borohydride reduction of p-nitrophenol.     

Baryon inhomogeneities due to cosmic string wakes at the quark-hadron transition

Baryon inhomogeneities generated during the quark-hadron transition may alter the abundances of light elements if they persist up to the time of nucleosynthesis. These inhomogeneities survive up to the nucleosynthesis epoch if they are separated by a distance of at least a few metres. In this work we present a model where large sheets of these inhomogeneities separated by a distance of a few km are formed by cosmic string wakes during the quark-hadron transition. The effect of these sheets on nucleosynthesis will also put constraints on the various cosmic string parameters.