Triphase catalysis. I. Kinetics and mechanism of alkylation of phenylacetonitrile with alkyl halides catalyzed by aqueous naoh and polymer-supported benzyltriethylammonium chloride

The alkylation and cycloalkylation of phenylacetonitrile (PAN) with excess of 1-bromobutane and 1,4-dibromobutane respectively catalyzed by aqueous NaOH and insoluble polystyrene-bound benzyltriethylammonium chloride were studied and the rates depend upon several experimental parameters. The rate of cycloalkylation of PAN is five times faster than the alkylation and the former proceeds even in the absence of the solid catalyst. Both alkylation and cycloalkylation gave higher rates in reverse addition method than in direct addition. Deprotonation of PAN by hydroxide ion takes place without participation of the polymeric catalyst. The electrostatic force between the positive charge on the nitrogen atom of catalyst and carbanion is responsible for alkylation of active nitrile with polystyrene-bound phase-transfer catalyst. The rates of both the reactions increase with increased stirring speed, ring substitution, hydroxide ion concentration and catalyst amount and decrease with increased particle size and the degree of cross-linking of the polymer. Apparent activation energies for the reactions were calculated. The kinetic results are discussed in terms of mass transfer and a combination of intraparticle diffusion and intrinsic reactivity limitations of the rates.     

A Novel Synthesis of tert- Alkyl Sulfides

tert- Alkyl sulfides are conveniently prepared from α-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)alkyl sulfides by displacement of the 1H-benzotriazol-1-yl group with Grignard reagents. The 1-[α-(alkylthio)alkyl]- and 1-[α-(arylthio)alkyl]-1H-benzotriazole intermediates are easily available by several routes: (i) displacement of the halogen from appropriate halides by sodium salts of thiols, (ii) condensation of 1H-benzotriazole and thiols with carbonyl compounds, or (iii) lithiation of N-substituted 1H-benzotriazoles and subsequent treatment with electrophiles.     

Oxidation of Alkenes by Peroxydisulphate-copper Sulphate

A novel oxidative cleaved product and addition product were obtained from the oxidation of alkenes with peroxydisul-phate-copper(II) systems.     

A New Route to the Synthesis of N-Formyl Lactams Using Vilsmeier Reagent

A convenient synthesis of N-formyl lactams from the corresponding tetralone and flavanone oximes using Vilsmeier reagent is described.     

An Anthracene-Based Metal-Organic Framework for Selective Photo-Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Formic Acid Coupled with Water Oxidation

A Zr-based metal-organic framework has been synthesized and employed as a catalyst for photochemical carbon dioxide reduction coupled with water oxidation. The catalyst shows significant carbon dioxide reduction property with concomitant water oxidation. The catalyst has broad visible light as well as UV light absorption property, which is further confirmed from electronic absorption spectroscopy. Formic acid was the only reduced product from carbon dioxide with a turn-over frequency (TOF) of 0.69 h⁻¹ in addition to oxygen, which was produced with a TOF of 0.54 h⁻¹. No external photosensitizer is used and the ligand itself acts as the light harvester. The efficient and selective photochemical carbon dioxide reduction to formic acid with concomitant water oxidation using Zr-based MOF as catalyst is thus demonstrated here.     

Galactose-Grafted 2D Nanosheets from the Self-Assembly of Amphiphilic Janus Dendrimers for the Capture and Agglutination of Escherichia coli

High aspect ratio, sugar-decorated 2D nanosheets are ideal candidates for the capture and agglutination of bacteria. Herein, the design and synthesis of two carbohydrate-based Janus amphiphiles that spontaneously self-assemble into high aspect ratio 2D sheets are reported. The unique structural features of the sheets include the extremely high aspect ratio and dense display of galactose on the surface. These structural characteristics allow the sheet to act as a supramolecular 2D platform for the capture and agglutination of E. coli through specific multivalent noncovalent interactions, which significantly reduces the mobility of the bacteria and leads to the inhibition of their proliferation. Our results suggest that the design strategy demonstrated here can be applied as a general approach for the crafting of biomolecule-decorated 2D nanosheets, which can perform as 2D platforms for their interaction with specific targets.     

BLEND MEMBRANES FOR DIRECT METHANOL AND PROTON EXCHANGE MEMBRANE FUEL CELLS

Sulphonated polystyrene ethylene butylene polystyrene(SPSEBS)prepared with 35%sulphonation was found to be highly elastic and enlarged up to 300%-400%of its initial length.It absorbed over 110%of water by weight.A major drawback of this membrane is its poor mechanical properties which are not adequate for use as polymer electrolytes in fuel cells.To overcome this,SPSEBS was blended with poly(vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF),a hydrophobic polymer.The blend membranes showed better mechanical properties than the base polymer.The effect of PVDF content on water uptake,ion exchange capacity and proton conductivity of the blend membranes was investigated.This paper presents the results of recent studies applied to develop an optimized in-house membrane electrode assembly(MEA)preparation technique combining catalyst ink spraying and assembly hot pressing.Easy steps were chosen in this preparation technique in order to simplify the method,aiming at cost reduction.The open circuit voltage for the cell with SPSEBS is 0.980 V which is higher compared to that of the cell with Nafion 117(0.790 V).From this study,it is concluded that a polymer electrolyte membrane suitable for proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC)and direct methanol fuel cell(DMFC)application can be obtained by blending SPSEBS and PVDF in appropriate proportions.The methanol permeability and selectivity showed a strong influence on DMFC performance.     

SYNTHESIS,NMR AND MOLECULAR MODELING STUDY OF 4,9a-DIARYL-9,9a-DIHYDRO 1H-[1,4]THIAZINO[4,3-a][1,3]BENZIMIDAZOLES

A series of substituted 4,9a-diaryl-9,9a-dihydro-1H-[1,4]thiazino[4,3-a][1,3]benzimidazoles was prepared in good yields from the reaction of bis(aroylmethyl) sulfides with ortho-phenylenediamine in glacial acetic acid under reflux and under microwave irradiation. Microwave irradiation is found to accelerate the reaction, besides giving better yield in the case of the thiazinobenzimidazoles with electron-withdrawing groups in the aryl rings than the thermal reaction.     

DIASTEREOSELECTIVE SYNTHESIS AND STEREOCHEMISTRY OF (Z)-1-[3-ARYL-2-(PHENYLSULFANYL)-2-OXIRANYL]-1-ETHANONES

Diastereoselective synthesis of a series of (Z)-1-[3-aryl-2-(phenylsulfanyl)-2-oxiranyl]-1-ethanones was effected from the reaction of (Z)-4-aryl-3-(phenylsulfanyl)-3-buten-2-ones with alkaline hydrogen peroxide in tetrahydrofuran. The stereochemistry of the oxiranes has been deduced from two-dimensional NOESY spectrum.     

Synthesis and in vitro anti-arthritic,anti-inflammatory studies on hypervalent pyranoside glycodendrimers with triazole bridging point

Synthesis of novel glycodendrimer scaffolds containing hypervalent sugar pyranosides and triazole bridging points is described. Dendrimers with a greater number of bridging triazole units and α-d-glycopyranosyl surface groups exhibit better anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory activity than dendrimers with less number of triazole and α-d-glycopyranosyl units.