Synthesis and catalytic study of open metal site metal–organic frameworks of Cu3(BTC)2 microbelts in selective organic sulfide oxidation

The synthesis of open metal site metal–organic frameworks of Cu₃(BTC)₂ with microbelt morphology and a study of the catalytic oxidation of organic sulfides are reported. This CuBTC was found to be an efficient, selective and waste‐free green heterogeneous co‐catalyst for the green H₂O₂ catalytic oxidation of sulfides. The catalyst can be isolated from the reaction mixture and reused at least five times. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Facile synthesis of oxaspirobicyclic butenolides via a domino Michael addition/aldol reaction/γ-lactonization sequence

A three-component domino reaction approach between a primary amine, a dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate, and 1,3-dimethylalloxan that affords novel oxaspirobicyclic γ-butenolidobarbiturate derivatives is reported. The reaction sequence consists of an initial Michael-addition of primary amines to dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, followed by aldol-like reaction with 1,3-dimethylalloxan, and then γ-lactonization to afford the products. This cascade reaction sequence represents a rapid and unprecedented route to the described biologically interesting molecules.     

Composite electrodes consisting Pt nano-particles and poly (aminophenols) film on pre-treated aluminum substrate as electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation

Electrochemically platinum plated aluminum (Al/Pt) was used as an electrode substrate for the electropolymerization of aminophenols and fabrication of composite electrodes based on platinum nano-particles. The poly(o-aminophenol) (PoAP), poly(m-aminophenol) (PmAP), and poly(p-aminophenol) (PpAP) were synthesized on the Al/Pt electrode, and further modification was performed by deposition of platinum nano-particles onto polymer matrixes. The electrochemical and morphological characteristic of the composed electrodes were carried out by cyclic voltammetry and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol on the composite electrodes was studied by cyclic voltammetry in 0.1 M sulfuric acid as supporting electrolyte. It was found that the Al/Pt/PoAP electrode incorporated Pt nano-particles (Al/Pt/PoAP/Pt) exhibits a higher electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of methanol than the Al/Pt/PmAP/Pt and Al/Pt/PpAP/Pt electrodes. On the other hand, a higher catalytic current for methanol oxidation was found on the Al/Pt/PoAP/Pt electrode in comparison to bulk Pt and Al–Pt (Al with 0.2 mg cm⁻² of Pt particles) electrodes. The effects of various parameters such as thickness of the polymer film, concentration of the monomer, Pt loading method and the Pt amounts, concentration of the methanol, and the medium temperature were studied on the electrooxidation of methanol. The long-term stability of the modified electrode has also been investigated.     

Evaluation of quantum dots applied as switchable layer in a light-controlled electrochemical sensor

Gold electrodes with switchable conductance are created by coating the gold surface with different colloidal quantum dots. For the quantum dot immobilization, a dithiol compound was used. By polarizing the electrode and applying a light pointer, local photocurrents were generated. The performance of this setup was characterized for a variety of different nanoparticle materials regarding drift and signal-to-noise ratio. We varied the following parameters: quantum dot materials and immobilization protocol. The results indicate that the performance of the sensor strongly depends on how the quantum dots are bound to the gold electrode. The best results were obtained by inclusion of an additional polyelectrolyte film, which had been fabricated using layer-by-layer assembly.      

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopic studies of marbles

We present laser-induced breakdown spectroscopic studies of variety of marbles extracted from Quetta region of Boluchistan, Pakistan using a Nd:YAG laser (532 nm) in conjunction with LIBS 2000 detection system. The emission spectra of Onyx (white spot) and Quetta Green Marble samples have been recorded as a function of laser irradiance. The elemental composition and their relative abundance in each sample are fond to be quite different. In Onyx (white spot), calcium dominates while in the Quetta Green marble magnesium is the dominant element. In addition the effect of the laser irradiance on the emission intensity, width and shift of the transition lines have been studied.     

A Degree Constraint for Uniquely Hamiltonian Graphs

A graph, G, is called uniquely Hamiltonian if it contains exactly one Hamilton cycle. We show that if G=(V, E) is uniquely Hamiltonian then Where #(G)=1 if G has even number of vertices and 2 if G has odd number of vertices. It follows that every n-vertex uniquely Hamiltonian graph contains a vertex whose degree is at most c log₂n+2 where c=(log₂3−1)⁻¹≈1.71 thereby improving a bound given by Bondy and Jackson [3].     

One-pot, three-component condensation of 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde derivatives, primary amines with alkyl isocyanides to N-alkyl-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-imino-acetamides

One-pot, three-component condensation of 2-hydroxybenzaldehyde derivatives, primary amines with alkyl isocyanides is reported. N-alkyl-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-iminoacetamide derivatives are generated presumably via the preliminary formation of N, N′-disubstituted benzo[b]furan-2,3-diamines and subsequent oxidation with molecular oxygen.