Phase transitions in chlorobenzene-cis-decalin mixtures

The dielectric constant ?' and loss tangent tan δ of chlorobenzene-cis-decalin mixtures have been measured in the temperature range 77 K to 330 K and frequency range 0.1 to 100 kHz. On cooling, ?' increases with decreasing temperature upto about 135 K, after which it drops rapidly with decreasing T followed by a slow decrease. This indicates that the liquid mixture goes to an amorphous phase which transforms to a glass phase of restricted dipole rotation below T_g; however, the peak in ?' is due to relaxation in the amorphous phase (α relaxation) and does not give an exact T_g. On heating, the behaviour of the cooling curve is retraced upto 160 K, after which ?' drops suddenly to a value lower than that at 77 K in the glass phase. This indicates the transition to a crystalline phase in which dipole rotational freedom is completely lost. The crystalline phase changes to a eutectic liquid phase of high ?' at a temperature (200 K) lower than the melting point of chlorobenzene and cis-decalin. Dielectric dispersion is observed only in the glass and amorphous phases. The dielectric relaxation time is independent of the concentration of chlorobenzene.     

alpha-thiocyanation of carbonyl and beta-dicarbonyl compounds using (dichloroiodo)benzene-lead(II) thiocyanate

The combination reagent (dichloroiodo)benzene and lead(II) thiocyanate in dichloromethane effects oxidation of various enol silyl ethers, ketene silyl acetals, and beta-dicarbonyl compounds, thereby providing an efficient and convenient method for alpha-thiocyanation of carbonyl and beta-dicarbonyl compounds.     

Redox and oxo-abstraction Reactions of Silylamine with MoOCl4

Trimethylsilyldiethylamine Me₃SiNEt₂ and MoOCl₄ (1:1) undergo a free radical redox reaction in CH₂Cl₂ or Et₂O to form MoCl₃O(HNEt₂). Reduction occurs even in aprotic media like CCl₄ and CS₂ to give Mo^V complexes Mo₂Cl₆O₂(N₂Et₄) and Mo₂Cl₆O₂[(SCNEt₂)₂S₂], respectively. A 2:1 reaction in nonionizing protic solvents undergoes redox cum cleavage to provide MoCl₂O(NEt₂) (HNEt₂) but a reaction at reflux temperature in 1,2-dichloroethane leads to diethylammonium salt, [Et₂NH₂][MoCl₄O(HNEt₂)]. Higher molar reactions (3:1, 4:1) in CH₂Cl₂ or Et₂O are associated with redox reaction as well as oxygen atom abstraction to form de-oxo Mo^IV complex MoCl₃(NEt₂)(HNEt₂)₂, whereas, a 3:1 reaction in CS₂ forms Mo₂Cl₄O(S₂CNEt₂)₄. Compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses, redox titration, magnetic moment, conductance, infrared, electronic absorption and ¹H-NMR measurements.     

Products active on arthropod-IV Insect juvenile hormone mimics—4: hydrindane analogues of cecropia juvenile hormone

Synthesis of cis-hydrindane analogues (2,3) of Cecropia juvenile hormone-I from common intermediate cis-hydrindane-2, 5-dione is presented. The analogues are only moderately active against Dysdercus cingulatus.     

Studies on electroosmotic and electrophoretic behavior of cholesterol in aqueous solutions

Electrical properties of cholesterol interfaces have been investigated. For this purpose electroosmotic and hydrodynamic permeation of water, sodium chloride, barium chloride, aluminum chloride, and urea solutions across a cholesterol plug have been investigated. Dependence of electroosmotic permeability on concentration of electrolytes has also been studied. Electrophoretic mobility of cholesterol particles of known size distribution and dispersed in solutions of varying concentrations of electrolytes and urea has also been studied. The data have been used to estimate ζ potentials in order to have a plausible picture of the electrical double layer at the cholesterol/ solution interfaces.     

Extraction of U(VI) by cyanex-272

Extraction of U(VI) from HNO₃, HCl and HClO₄ media using cyanex-272 (bis[2,4,4 trimethyl pentyl] phosphinic acid)/n-dodecane has been carried out. In the case of HNO₃ and HClO₄ media, the distribution ratio (D) value first decreases and then increases, whereas from HCl medium it first decreases and then remains constant with increase in H⁺ ion concentration. At lower acidities, U(VI) was extracted as UO₂(HA₂)₂ by an ion exchange mechanism, whereas at higher acidities as UO₂(NO₃)₂ ^.2(H₂A₂) following a solvation mechanism. The D for U(VI) by cyanex-272, PC-88A and DEHPA at low acidities follows the order cyanex-272 > PC-88A > DEHPA. Also, cyanex-272 was found to extract U(VI) more efficiently than TBP at 2M HNO₃. The effect of diluents on the extraction of U(VI) by cyanex-272 followed the order cyclohexane > n-dodecane > CCl₄ > benzene. The loading of U(VI) into cyanex-272/n-dodecane from 2M HNO₃ has shown that at saturation point, cyanex-272 was 78% loaded. No third phase was observed at the saturation level. The stripping of U(VI) from the loaded organic phase was not possible with water, it was poor with acetic acid and sodium acetate but quantitative with oxalic acid, ammonium carbonate and sodium carbonate.     

Extraction behavior of uranium(VI), plutonium(IV), zirconium(IV), ruthenium(III) and europium(III) with γ-pre-irradiated solutions of N,N′-methylbutyl substituted amides in n-dodecane

The extraction of plutonium(IV), uranium(VI), zirconium(IV), europium(III) and ruthenium(III) with -pre-irradiated n-dodecane solutions of methylbutyl substituted hexanamide (MBHA), octanamide (MBOA) and decanamide (MBDA) from 3.5M HNO₃ has been studied as a function of absorbed dose up to 184×10⁴ Gray. The distribution ratios (K_d) of uranium(VI) decreased gradually up to a dose of 50×10⁴ Gray and became almost constant thereafter, while ruthenium(III) and europium(III) were not extracted in the entire dose range studied. The K_d values of Pu(IV) decreased gradually up to 10×10⁴ Gray, for MBOA, and 30×10⁴ Gray for MBHA and MBDA and then increased up to a dose of 72×10⁴ Gray, indicating the synergistic effect of radiolytic products at higher doses. The extraction of zirconium(IV) was found to increase gradually up to 72×10⁴ Gray. However, the steep fall in K_d values of plutonium(IV), zirconium(IV) beyond a dose of 72×10⁴ Gray was atrributed to third phase formation. The radiolytic degradation of amides was monitored by quantitative IR spectroscopy and was found to follow the order MBOA>MBDA>MBHA at 184×10⁴ Gray having the amines and carboxylic acids as the main radiolytic products.     

Effect of reaction media on the growth and photoluminescence of colloidal CdSe nanocrystals

Using cadium oxide (CdO) as the Cd precursor and tri-n-octylphosphine selenide (TOPSe) as the Se source, TOP-capped and TOP/tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO)-capped CdSe nanocrystals were synthesized without the use of an acid. The synthetic approach involved the addition of a TOPSe/TOP solution into a CdO/TOP solution with or without TOPO at one temperature and subsequent growth at a lower temperature. The temporal evolution of the optical properties, namely, absorption and luminescence, of the growing nanocrystals was monitored in detail. A comprehensive examination on the control of the photoluminescence (PL) properties was performed by systematically varying the TOP/TOPO weight ratio of the reaction media. Surprisingly, a rational choice of 100% TOP or 80% TOP was found to produce "quality" nanocrystals when monitored under the present experimental conditions and growth-time scale. The term "quality" is mainly based on the sharp features and rich substructure exhibited in the absorption spectra of the growing nanocrystals, as well as the sharp features in the emission spectra with narrow full width at half-maximum (fwhm). There are two distinguishable stages of growth: an early stage (<5 min) and a later stage. TOP plays a major role in the control of a slow growth rate in the early stage, while TOPO controls slow growth in the later stage. The optical sensitivity of the growing nanocrystals when dispersed in nonpolar or polar solvents was studied, including two size-dependent parameters, namely, the solvent sensitivity (PL intensity) and nonresonant Stokes shift (NRSS). The insights gained from the present study enable a synthetic approach in which high-quality CdSe nanocrystals are achieved with high synthetic reproducibility.     

Stabilization of γ-sterilized biomedical polyolefins by synergistic mixtures of oligomeric stabilizers

The stabilization of polyolefins against γ-sterilization has been studied with single or binary additive system. The present attempt is to utilize synergistic mixtures of stabilizers which are approved for food contact applications. Ethylene-propylene (EP) copolymer has been melt-mixed with hindered amine stabilizers (HAS), phenolic antioxidants and organo-phosphites (hydroperoxide decomposer). Samples were sterilized with different doses of γ-radiation. Stabilization was characterized in terms of changes in the functional groups (oxidation products), tensile properties, yellowing and surface morphology by FTIR spectroscopy, Instron, colorimetry (reflectance) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Results were discussed by comparing the stabilizing efficiency of mixtures with and without phenol system. Among phenol containing systems, where we mostly observe discoloration due to the oxidation of hindered phenol and the combination of secondary HAS, tertiary HAS, organo-phosphite and hindered phenol exhibited improved stabilization efficiency than single or binary additive systems. The mixture of secondary HAS and tertiary HAS, has shown antagonistic effect of stabilization whereas their combination with organo-phosphite has exhibited synergistic effect of stabilization even at higher doses of γ-sterilization. The effects have been explained through the interaction between the stabilizers.