TBHP/R4N+X– promoted hydroaroylation of dialkyl azodicarboxylates with methyl arenes,aldehydes, aryl methanols and arylmethyl chlorides

Efficient TBHP/R₄N⁺X^– promoted hydroaroylations of dialkyl azo-1,2-dicarboxylates with methyl arenes, aldehydes, aryl methanols and arylmethyl chlorides are described. These oxidation/oxygenation and hydroaroylation processes were carried out by tert-butyl hydroperoxide as terminal oxidant/oxygen source, and were catalyzed by tetrabutylammonium bromide and tricaprylmethylammonium chloride as the driving force. During this investigation, all these hydroaroylating sources were found to be highly efficient reagents without the need of any transition-metal.     

Detection of hippuric acid: A glue solvent metabolite,using a mobile test kit

Many testing kits for screening common drugs are widely used in Malaysia, such as the dip strip urine drug testing kit which is specified for detecting drug in abuser. However, currently there is no specific testing kit for screening urine samples to detect glue abusers. This research is dedicated to develop a specific color test method to emphasize the screening for glue abusers, known as G.S. Kit. It contains benzenesulphonyl chloride, pyridine and distilled water. The urine sample is mixed with pyridine and benzenesulphonyl chloride and followed by distilled water. A positive result will be in the form of a color reaction from yellow to red. This novel G.S. Kit would be quite useful for the screening and detection of glue sniffing and toluene abusing qualitatively, as a way of helping National Anti Drug Agency, Department of Education and Royal Police of Malaysia in preventing glue sniffing from becoming a social pandemic.     

Synthesis and properties of optically active amino acid based polyacetylenes bearing eugenol and fluorene moieties

Novel optically active amino acid based polyacetylenes bearing eugenol and fluorene moieties were synthesized, and their properties, including chiroptical ones, were analyzed. N‐[1‐(3,4‐Dimethoxyphenyl)‐2‐propyloxycarbonyl]‐L ‐alanine N′‐propargylamide ( 1 ), N‐[1‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐2‐propyloxycarbonyl]‐L ‐alanine propargyl ester ( 2 ), N‐(9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)‐L ‐alanine N′‐propargylamide ( 3 ), and N‐(9‐fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl)‐L ‐alanine propargyl ester ( 4 ) were polymerized with a rhodium‐zwitterion catalyst in tetrahydrofuran to afford the corresponding polymers with moderate molecular weights ranging from 10,800 to 17,300 in good yields. Because of the large specific rotation and circular dichroism (CD) signal, it was concluded that the poly(N‐propargylamide)s [poly( 1 ) and poly( 3 )] took a helical structure with a predominantly one‐handed screw sense. The solvent and temperature could tune the helical structure of poly( 1 ). On the other hand, the poly(propargyl ester)s [poly( 2 ) and poly( 4 )] exhibited only small specific rotations and CD signals. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 810–819, 2006     

Carbon nanotube-cuprous oxide composite based pressure sensors

In this paper,we present the design,the fabrication,and the experimental results of carbon nanotube (CNT) and Cu 2 O composite based pressure sensors.The pressed tablets of the CNT-Cu 2 O composite are fabricated at a pressure of 353 MPa.The diameters of the multiwalled nanotubes (MWNTs) are between 10 nm and 30 nm.The sizes of the Cu 2 O micro particles are in the range of 3-4 μm.The average diameter and the average thickness of the pressed tablets are 10 mm and 4.0 mm,respectively.In order to make low resistance electric contacts,the two sides of the pressed tablet are covered by silver pastes.The direct current resistance of the pressure sensor decreases by 3.3 times as the pressure increases up to 37 kN/m 2.The simulation result of the resistance-pressure relationship is in good agreement with the experimental result within a variation of ±2%.     

Electrodeposition of Ag nanoparticles on graphenized pencil lead electrode as a sensitive and low-cost sensor for iodate determination

In this study, a simple, sensitive and low-cost iodate electrochemical sensor based on graphenized pencil lead electrode (GPLE) modified with Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) was presented. The GPLE was simply prepared via electrochemical exfoliation of pencil lead electrode (PLE) by applying an optimized potential in acidic media. Afterward, silver nanoparticles were electrochemically deposited on the surface of GPLE using chronoamperometry technique. The fabricated electrode was carefully characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. Electrochemical behavior and also the electrocatalytic performance of the modified electrode toward the reduction of iodate were studied in details using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques. The fabricated sensor responds efficiently to iodate over the concentration range of 0.05 to 75 mM with a detection limit of 0.017 mM and sensitivity of 0.26 µA µM^?1 cm^?2. Remarkably enhanced electrocatalytic performance of the modified electrode was ascribed to the synergistic effect of graphene-like nanostructures with high surface to volume ratio, excellent conductivity and also the excessive electrocatalytic behavior of silver nanoparticles. The modified electrode was successfully employed for the determination of iodate in table and sea salt samples.