Catalytic one-pot synthesis of N-phenyl alkyl amides from alkene and aniline in the presence of cobalt on charcoal under carbon monoxide

N-Phenyl alkyl amides were synthesized by the cobalt on charcoal-catalyzed one-pot reaction of alkene and aniline under carbon monoxide; this is the first heterogeneous catalytic formation of N-phenyl alkyl amides.     

Immobilized heterobimetallic Ru/Co nanoparticle-catalyzed Pauson-Khand-type reactions in the presence of pyridylmethyl formate

Heterobimetallic Ru/Co nanoparticles, immobilized on charcoal, were synthesized and used as catalysts in the Pauson-Khand-type reaction in the presence of pyridylmethyl formate instead of carbon monoxide; the catalysts were effective for intra- and intermolecular reactions and easily reused without loss of catalytic activity.     

Transmetalation as a route to novel styryllithium reagents

[structure: see text] Transmetalation of beta-tributyl(styryl)stannanes with n-BuLi gives the functional equivalents of the corresponding styryllithium intermediates. Reaction of the intermediates with chlorotrimethylsilane, iodomethane, or dimethyl sulfate gives the substituted styryl products in moderate to good yields. In all cases, the configuration about the double bond was retained in the products.     

Detection of chlorinated methanes by tin oxide gas sensors

Tin oxide thin films prepared by thermal oxidation of Sn films were used for the detection of chlorinated methanes (CH2Cl2, CHCl3 and CCl4). This resulted in better chemical selectivity, sensitivity, response speed and detection limit than seen with previous detectors. The temperature dependence of the sensing of 1% CCl4 gas was studied and the best sensing behavior was observed at 300 degrees C. The films showed different chemical selectivity in both speed and direction of sensing response to each gas and were stable for more than 3 weeks under operating conditions. The films showed rapid gas sensing (<40 s to reach 90% of full response) and low detection limits (< 4 ppm CCl4). The role of oxygen in the detection of chlorinated methanes and in resistance changes without chlorinated methanes was also studied. The changes at the surface of the film after gas sensing were examined using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry.     

Role of stress on charge transfer through self-assembled alkanethiol monolayers on Au

We have studied charge transfer through alkanethiol molecules self-assembled on Au(111) substrates using interfacial force microscopy. Simultaneous measurement of the tip-substrate current and the normal interfacial force reveals the critical role of tip-film contact. Measurable currents are seen only for tip-applied stresses above about 20 MPa, after which the current rises exponential with stress. We suggest that charge transfer results from stress-induced band-gap states near the Fermi level in these normally highly insulating molecular films.     

Hydrodynamics of nuclear matter in the chiral limit

Using the Poisson bracket method, we construct the hydrodynamics of nuclear matter in the chiral limit, which describes the dynamics of all low-energy degrees of freedom, including the fluid-dynamical and pionic ones. The hydrodynamic equations contain, beside five Euler equations of relativistic fluid dynamics, N(2)(f)-1 second order equations describing propagating pions and N(2)(f)-1 first order equations describing the advection of the vector isospin charges. We present hydrodynamic arguments showing that the pion velocity vanishes at the second order phase transition at N(f) = 2.     

Co/C-catalyzed tandem carbocyclization reaction of 1,6-diynes

Cobalt on charcoal (Co/C) can be used as a catalyst in the tandem carbocycloaddition reaction of 1,6-diyne and carbon monoxide. The reaction product is dependent upon the reaction temperature, the position of the functional group, and the substrate itself.     

Synthesis of poly(p‐phenylenediamine‐ co‐o‐aminophenol)/multi‐walled carbon nanotube composites by emulsion polymerization

Organic–inorganic composites composed of electrically conducting copolymer p‐phenylenediamine‐ co‐o‐aminophenol and carboxylic acid functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes [poly(pPD‐co‐oAP)/c‐MWNTs] were prepared via in situ emulsion pathway using sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) as an emulsifier and potassium persulphate as an oxidant. Acid functionalized MWNTs were used as cores in the formation of tubular shells of the composites. TEM and FESEM analysis showed that a tubular layer of coated copolymer film of several nanometer thicknesses is present on the c‐MWNTs surfaces. FT‐IR spectra endorsed the formation of composites. TGA results indicated that the decomposition temperatures of composites were higher than the bare copolymer. UV‐visible absorption spectra of diluted colloidal dispersion of composites were similar to those of the bare copolymer. The composites were also confirmed by XRD and XPS. Room‐temperature conductivity increases with an increasing fraction of c‐MWNTs. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fabrication of photoluminescent liquid crystal device using an in situ self-assembled molecular layer of a pyrene derivative

An in situ self-assembled molecular layer of 1-pyrenesulfonic acid sodium salt as an alignment agent was formed on indium tin oxide substrates for vertically aligning liquid crystals (LCs). The thus-aligned LCs exhibited uniform vertical alignment under crossed polarisers. The electro-optical characteristic of the LC cell fabricated using this method exhibited better performance than those of conventional LC cells with a polyimide alignment layer. Because the proposed alignment method is a simple one and involves low concentrations of the alignment agent (0.05 wt%), it is highly cost-effective. Further, the pyrene derivative, when mixed with LCs, exhibited photoluminescence (PL) under ultraviolet light. Given that the proposed method resulted in highly vertically aligned LCs and the alignment agent exhibited PL, the method should find wide use in the fabrication of colour-filter-free LC displays.