Synthesis of new unsymmetrical 4,5-dihydroxy-2-imidazolidinones. Dynamic NMR spectroscopic study of the prototropic tautomerism in 1-(2-benzimidazolyl)-3-phenyl-4,5-dihydroxy-2-imidazolidinone

The acid-catalyzed cyclocondensation in refluxing acetonitrile of aqueous glyoxal with N-heteroaryl-N'-phenylureas 4a-f (heteroaryl = 2-thiazolyl, 2-pyrimidinyl,2-pyrazinyl, 2-pyridinyl, 3-pyridinyl and 2-benzimidazolyl) led to the formation of the corresponding 1-heteroaryl-3-phenyl-4,5-dihydroxy-2-imidazolidinones 5a-f. All the products were characterized by elemental and spectroscopic analyses. The free-energy barrier (Delta G not equal) for prototropic tautomerism in 1-(2-benzimidazolyl)-3-phenyl-4,5-dihydroxy-2-imidazolidinone (5f) was determined by dynamic NMR studies to be 81 +/- 2 KJ mol(-1).     

Pd(0) complex of fuberidazole modified magnetic nanoparticles: A novel magnetically retrievable high-performance catalyst for Suzuki and Stille C-C coupling reactions

Fuberidazole has been successfully immobilized onto nano-Fe₃O₄ supported (3-chloropropyl)trimethoxysilane (3-CPTS) leading to a novel functionalized magnetic nanoparticle (FB/MNP). The Pd(0) complex, Pd-FB/MNP, was prepared by grafting Pd (OAc)₂ on FB/MNP and subsequent reduction of a synthesized Pd (II) complex using NaBH₄. Pd-FB/MNP has been characterized by FT-IR, SEM, TGA, XRD, ICP, EDS, BET and VSM. The Pd(0) complex proved to be an efficient phosphine- and halide-free recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for Suzuki as well as for Stille C-C coupling reactions showing high catalytic activity (up to 98%). Its catalytic activity in both reactions has been studied in PEG-400 as a green solvent. Besides, the selectivity of aryl iodide and aryl bromide over aryl chloride is observed during the C-C coupling reaction. The catalyst could be recovered easily from the reaction mixture using an external magnet device and recycled several times without considerable loss in activity. Additionally, the results of a palladium leaching test of the nano-catalyst demonstrate that no leaching of Pd took place during the C-C coupling process making the procedure environmentally friendly.     

Determination of urinary methylhippuric acids using MIL-53-NH2 (Al) metal–organic framework in microextraction by packed sorbent followed by HPLC–UV analysis

For the analysis of methylhippuric acids (MHAs) in human urine samples, in this study, a new method based on the metal–organic framework (MOF) of MIL-53-NH₂ (Al) in microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) was developed. The synthesis of MIL-53-NH₂ (Al) was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectra, field emission-scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Response surface methodology was used to investigate the influences of several parameters including type and volume of elution, type of conditional solvent, sample volume and extraction cycle on MEPS efficiency. The results showed good recoveries (>94%) and excellent extraction efficiencies (>96%) at three different concentrations of 50, 500 and 1500 μg ml⁻¹ (as low, mid and high concentrations, respectively) of MHA isomers. Calibration curves of MHAs were linear over the concentration range of 1–1500 μg ml⁻¹, with high correlation coefficients (r ≥ 0.998). The reproducibility of the proposed MIL-53-MEPS for determination of three isomers of MHA was found to be in the range of 3.5–11.1%. After optimization of the proposed technique, it was used to analyze MHAs in urine samples of workers exposed to xylenes in a petrochemical plant in Asalouyah, Iran. The results indicated that the MOF–MEPS method was selective, sensitive, rapid and efficient for the extraction of urinary MHAs. The technique is also environmentally friendly and inexpensive, and the MOF sorbent is reusable.     

Radar Absorption Properties of Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4/PANI/epoxy Nanocomposites

A nitrate? citrate gel was prepared from metallic nitrates and citric acid by sol? gel process and was further used to synthesize Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ nanocrystalline powder by auto‐combustion. Then, two novel 15 and 35% (w/w) magnetic Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ containing polyaniline nanocomposites, named as PANI‐Ni15 and PANI‐Ni35, respectively, were prepared via in‐situ polymerization of aniline in an aqueous solution containing proper amount of Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Fe₂O₄ magnetic powder. The incorporation of the nanopowders to PANI matrix was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), IR and SEM. Synthesized PANI‐NiZn ferrite composite particles were subsequently added to an epoxy resin matrix to produce related nanocomposites. The morphological properties of these nanocomposite materials were investigated by SEM and TEM. The electromagnetic‐absorbing properties were studied by measuring the reflection loss in the frequency range of 8.0 to 12.0 GHz. Results showed the reflection loss of the PANI‐Ni35 composite is higher than pure polyaniline and PANI‐Ni15. The good reflection loss of the nanocomposites suggests their potential applicability as radar absorber.     

Fabrication of Al/AlN nano‐composite layers by friction stir processing of 6061 Al‐T6 substrate

Friction stir processing was employed for the production of Al/AlN nano‐composite layers on a 6061 Al‐T6 substrate. Nano‐sized AlN powder was inserted in a groove in the middle length of the substrate. Defect‐free layers were achieved using tool rotation and substrate advancing speeds in the range of 900–1400 rpm and 63–310 mm/s, respectively. Subsequent passes were conducted to break‐up AlN clusters that formed in a non‐uniform fashion after initial pass. The grain size of aluminum matrix was found to decrease by the introduction of AlN powder. A nano‐composite layer with near uniform dispersion of nano‐sized AlN reinforcements with a ~9.6% volume fraction was achieved in a matrix of fine dynamically restorated Al grains with a mean size of ~2.5 µm after three subsequent passes. This layer showed an average micro hardness value of ~164 HV (much greater than ~103 HV of the underlying substrate). In addition, the nano‐composite layer exhibited superior dry sliding wear performance against hardened steel compared to that of 6061‐T6 substrate. Increasing tool rotation and substrate advancing speeds were found to decrease the AlN content of the processed layer possibly due to increasing in powder scattering by the pin tool. This was associated with a decrease and increase in hardness values and wear‐loss data, respectively. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High-accuracy measurement of specular spectral reflectance and transmittance

The realization of spectrophotometric quantities at the Helsinki University of Technology is based on our reference spectrometer. The reference spectrometer is a high-accuracy instrument developed for measuring spectral specular transmittance and reflectance in a wavelength range extending from ultraviolet to near-infrared. The relative uncertainty estimates for transmittance measurements of neutral-density filters are ca. 0.05%. For spectral reflectance the estimated uncertainties are between 0.14% and 0.34% depending on the sample reflectance and the measurement geometry. We have derived and verified equations that enable both the reflectance and transmittance of various samples to be predicted. Utilizing these equations, the reflectance and transmittance can be accurately calculated for samples with known refractive index. For precise calculations, the characteristics of the measurement beam must be taken into account.     

可重复使用的新型催化剂的合成、表征及在绿色条件下催化Suzuki和Heck反应:锚合在磁性纳米多孔的MCM-41上Pd(0)希夫碱络合物

将Pd希夫碱络合物固定在磁性的MCM-41表面上,做为环境友好且可循环使用的新型多相纳米催化剂,并采用红外光谱、振动探针式磁强计、能量散射谱、透射电镜、扫描电镜、热重、电感耦合等离子体发射光谱和X-射线衍射等对其进行了全面的表征.然后将该催化剂用于以PEG为绿色溶剂的一步法Suzuki和Heck合成反应中,均以较高收率得到目标产物.该法主要优点为反应时间短、反应条件绿色友好、操作简便、无需使用有毒的有机溶剂、催化剂使用量低,且底物适用性广.更为重要的是,通过外部磁场即可方便地将催化剂从反应混合物中分离出来,可重复使用数次而活性和稳定性未见明显下降.