Theoretical and experimental correlations of gas dissolution, diffusion, and thermodynamic properties in determination of gas permeability and selectivity in supported ionic liquid membranes

Supported ionic liquid membranes (SILMs) has the potential to be a new technological platform for gas/organic vapour separation because of the unique non-volatile nature and discriminating gas dissolution properties of room temperature ionic liquids (ILs). This work starts with an examination of gas dissolution and transport properties in bulk imidazulium cation based ionic liquids [C(n)mim][NTf2] (n=2.4, 6, 8.10) from simple gas H(2), N(2), to polar CO(2), and C(2)H(6), leading to a further analysis of how gas dissolution and diffusion are influenced by molecular specific gas-SILMs interactions, reflected by differences in gas dissolution enthalpy and entropy. These effects were elucidated again during gas permeation studies by examining how changes in these properties and molecular specific interactions work together to cause deviations from conventional solution-diffusion theory and their impact on some remarkably contrasting gas perm-selectivity performance. The experimental perm-selectivity for all tested gases showed varied and contrasting deviation from the solution-diffusion, depending on specific gas-IL combinations. It transpires permeation for simpler non-polar gases (H(2), N(2)) is diffusion controlled, but strong molecular specific gas-ILs interactions led to a different permeation and selectivity performance for C(2)H(6) and CO(2). With exothermic dissolution enthalpy and large order disruptive entropy, C(2)H(6) displayed the fastest permeation rate at increased gas phase pressure in spite of its smallest diffusivity among the tested gases. The C(2)H(6) gas molecules "peg" on the side alkyl chain on the imidazulium cation at low concentration, and are well dispersed in the ionic liquids phase at high concentration. On the other hand strong CO(2)-ILs affinity resulted in a more prolonged "residence time" for the gas molecule, typified by reversed CO(2)/N(2) selectivity and slowest CO(2) transport despite CO(2) possess the highest solubility and comparable diffusivity in the ionic liquids. The unique transport and dissolution behaviour of CO(2) are further exploited by examining the residing state of CO(2) molecules in the ionic liquid phase, which leads to a hypothesis of a condensing and holding capacity of ILs towards CO(2), which provide an explanation to slower CO(2) transport through the SILMs. The pressure related exponential increase in permeations rate is also analysed which suggests a typical concentration dependent diffusion rate at high gas concentration under increased gas feed pressure. Finally the strong influence of discriminating and molecular specific gas-ILs interactions on gas perm-selectivity performance points to future specific design of ionic liquids for targeted gas separations.     

Use of acousto-optic techniques to detect subharmonic and cavitation activity

Observations were made of the diffraction patterns produced by the acousto-optic effect in superfluid helium and in methanol for both cylindrical and plane wave sound fields. Thresholds for the subharmonic of order $\text{1}\text{2}$ and transient cavitation were determined by observation of abrupt changes in the diffraction patterns. The onset of the subharmonic produced additional diffracted signals in a stable diffraction pattern while onset of cavitation completely disrupted the diffraction pattern.     

Variable temperature H NMR studies on Grubbs catalysts

Variable temperature ¹H NMR studies were conducted to investigate whether steric congestion is influencing the structural rigidity of (IMesH₂)(PCy₃)(Cl)₂RuCHPh (IMesH₂ = 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene) in solution. It was shown that both mesityl ligands rotate at about the same rate around the N-Mesityl bonds in the IMesH₂ ligand and that changing the solvent does not significantly alter this rotation. It was found that the increased steric congestion in (IMesH₂)(PCy₃)(Cl)₂RuCHPh compared to (PCy₃)₂(Cl)₂RuCHPh does affect the rates of rotation around the C_alkylidene-Ph bonds. Unusual chemical shift positions were also observed in the low temperature ¹H NMR spectrum for the aromatic proton signals for (IMesH₂)(PCy₃)(Cl)₂RuCHPh and (PCy₃)₂(Cl)₂RuCHPh.     

The energetics of tetrahydrocarbazole aromatization over Pd(111): a computational analysis

The carbazole moiety is a component of many important pharmaceuticals including anticancer and anti-HIV agents and is commonly utilized in the production of modern polymeric materials with novel photophysical and electronic properties. Simple carbazoles are generally produced via the aromatization of the respective tetrahydrocarbazole (THCZ). In this work, density functional theory calculations are used to model the reaction pathway of tetrahydrocarbazole aromatization over Pd(111). The geometry of each of the intermediate surface species has been determined and how each structure interacts with the metal surface addressed. The reaction energies and barriers of each of the elementary surface reactions have also been calculated, and a detailed analysis of the energetic trends performed. Our calculations have shown that the surface intermediates remain fixed to the surface via the aromatic ring in a manner similar to that of THCZ. Moreover, the aliphatic ring becomes progressively more planer with the dissociation of each subsequent hydrogen atom. Analysis of the reaction energy profile has revealed that the trend in reaction barriers is determined by the two factors: (i) the strength of the dissociating ring-H bond and (ii) the subsequent gain in energy due to the geometric relaxation of the aliphatic ring.     

Redox control of meso-zinc(II) ferrocenylporphyrin based fluorescence switches

The efficient on/off switching of fluorescence from thienyl- and phenyl-substituted porphyrin-ferrocene dyads is achieved through redox control of excited-state electron-transfer quenching.     

1,8-Naphthyridines. Part III. Synthesis of some 6-substituted-1,8-naphthyridin-2(1H)ones

The syntheses of some 1,8-naphthyridines substituted in the 6-position with heterocyclic groups are described. A synthetic route to 6-amino-5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridin-2(1H)one is also presented.     

ASCORBIC ACID AS A PHOTOOXIDATION INHIBITOR

Abstract— The rate constant for total quenching of singlet oxygen by ascorbic acid has been determined using the inhibition of the bleaching of 9, 10-dimethylanthracene by AA in pyridine. The rate constant was 8.4 × 10^-6 M ^-1 s^-1, as determined photochemically, and 1.06 10^-7 M ^-1 s^-1 as determined in a dark reaction.     

Nucleophilic displacement of activated aryl triflates a new synthesis of oxindoles and arylacetic acids

2-Nitroaryl triflates undergo efficient base-catalyzed nucleophilic displacement by dimethyl malonate anion to yield dimethyl nitroarylmalonates, which subsequently are converted in high yields to nitroarylacetic acids and oxindoles.