Gold Catalysis: In Situ EXAFS Study of Homogeneous Oxidative Esterification

Gold complexes were prepared and investigated as catalysts for the oxidative esterification of aldehydes. Stabilisation by pyridine ligands gave good conversions and the in situ extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) study of the reactions indicated that the reaction mixtures contained only mononuclear gold species. Thus, this is the first proof for a homogeneous gold‐catalysed oxidation reaction; the presence of nanoparticles could be excluded experimentally.     

Effect of hemp surface modification on the morphological and tensile properties of linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE) composites

This work investigates different hemp surface modifications (mercerization, maleated polyethylene (MAPE) addition in solution or in melt blending) to improve the properties of linear medium density polyethylene (LMDPE). From the composites produced, a complete morphological and tensile characterization was performed for a fixed hemp content (30% wt.). The morphological analysis showed that both the direct (melt blending) and solution modifications were able to significantly improve the composites interface quality and therefore the tensile properties (151% increase in modulus and 36% increase in strength over the neat matrix) within the range of conditions tested.     

Min-max theory,Willmore conjecture and the energy of links

In this paper we give an overview of some aspects of the min-max theory of minimal surfaces, and discuss recent applications to conformally invariant problems in Geometry and Topology. The goal is to explain what the proofs of the Willmore conjecture for surfaces and the Freedman-He-Wang conjecture for links share in common. This is based on joint work of the authors [19] and on joint work of I. Agol and the authors [1].     

Thermal decomposition of the [Pt(NH3)4]2+ complex in NaX zeolite

The effect of the calcination procedure on the decomposition of the [Pt(NH₃)₄]²⁺ complex in a cesium-containing NaX zeolite was studied by thermal decomposition accompanied by mass spectrometry and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, as well as electron paramagnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy. The decomposition of the complex took place in two steps. Under oxygen, the [Pt(NH₃)₄]²⁺ complex was first converted into the [Pt(NH₃)₂]²⁺ complex in the first step, with predominant nitrogen release. In the second step, corresponding to the decomposition of the remaining two amine ligands, NO was also formed and adsorbed. Oxygen paramagnetic species were also observed. Under He, the decomposition also occurred in two steps with H₂ release.