New penta-ether as the internal donor in the MgCl2-supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts for propylene polymerization

The penta-ether compound was synthesized by the reaction of di(trimethylolpropane) with sodium hydride as the strong base and methyl iodide as the alkyl halide. This compound was characterized by NMR, FTIR, and GC techniques. The MgCl₂-supported titanium catalysts were incorporated with varying amounts of penta-ether compound as the internal donor and also the catalysts without the internal donor were synthesized. The synthesized catalysts and the conventional Ziegler- Natta catalyst were characterized. The titanium contents were determined by spectrophotometry, magnesium by complexometric titration and chloride by argentometric titration. The effects of the new internal donor on propylene polymerization with the prepared MgCl₂-supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts were investigated and then these results were compared to the results obtained using the conventional diisobutyl phthalate-besed-Ziegler-Natta catalyst. The highest crystallinity degree, melting temperature, and isotacticity of polypropylene were obtained using the catalyst with a penta-ether/Mg molar ratio equal to 0.21.     

Effect of multi-ethers and conventional alkoxysilanes as external donors on the 4th generation Ziegler-Natta catalysts for propylene polymerization

The multi-ether compounds with different numbers of methoxy groups containing 1,3-dimethoxy-2,2-bis(methoxymethyl)propane and 1-methoxy-2,2-bis(methoxymethyl)butane were synthesized using the Williamson reaction from pentaerythritol and 1,1,1-tris(hydroxymethyl)propane, respectively, in the presence of sodium hydride and methyl iodide in tetrahydrofuran and they were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and FTIR spectroscopy. These compounds were employed as external donors in the polymerization of propylene using the industrial Ziegler-Natta catalyst. A commercial spherical MgCl₂-supported Ziegler-Natta catalyst containing diisobutyl phthalate as the internal donor was used for the polymerization of propylene. The role of ether compounds and industrial alkoxysilanes on the properties of polypropylene were studied using the xylene solubility method, melt flow index, gel permeation chromatography, scanning electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The addition of the electron donors has led to improvements in the activity and selectivity of the Ziegler-Natta catalyst system.     

Unexpected golden Ullmann reaction catalyzed by Au nanoparticles supported on periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO)

We demonstrated an unprecedented example of Ullmann homocoupling reaction of aryl iodides over a novel recyclable gold catalyst comprising Au nanoparticles supported on a bifunctional periodic mesoporous organosilica (Au@PMO).     

Effect of fiber geometry on macroscale friction of ordered low-density polyethylene nanofiber arrays

Ordered low-density polyethylene (LDPE) nanofiber arrays are fabricated from silicon nanowire (SiNW) templates synthesized by a simple wet-chemical process based on metal-assisted electroless etching combined with colloidal lithography. The geometrical effect of nanofibrillar structures on their macroscale friction is investigated over a wide range of diameters and lengths under the same fiber density. The optimum geometry for contacting a smooth glass surface is presented with discussions on the compromise between fiber tip-contact area and fiber compliance. A friction design map is developed, which shows that the theoretical optimum design condition agrees well with the LDPE nanofiber geometries exhibiting high measured friction.     

Selective and Sensitive Fluorometric Determination of Piroxicam Based on Nitrogen-doped Graphene Quantum Dots and Gold Nanoparticles Coated with Phenylalanine

Journal of Fluorescence - In this study, a sensitive fluorimetric method is proposed for the determination of piroxicam using nitrogen graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) and gold nanoparticles coated...     

Conductometric study of complexation reaction between 15-crown-5 and Cr3+, Mn2+ and Zn2+ metal cations in pure and binary mixed organic solvents

The stability constants (K_f) for the complexation reactions of Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ metal cations with macrocyclic ligand, 15-crown-5 (15C5), in acetonitrile (AN), ethanol (EtOH) and also in their binary solutions (AN–EtOH) were determined at different temperatures, using conductometric method. 15C5 forms 1:1 complexes with Cr³⁺, Mn²⁺ and Zn²⁺ cations in solutions. A non-linear behaviour was observed for changes of logK_f of the metal ion complexes versus the composition of the mixed solvent. The order of stability of the metal–ion complexes in pure AN and in a binary solution of AN–EtOH (mol% AN?=?52) at 25?°C was found to be: (15C5Zn)²⁺?>?(15C5·Mn)²⁺?>?(15C5·Cr)³⁺, but in the case of pure EtOH at the same temperature, it changes to: (15C5·Zn)²⁺?>?(15C5·Cr)³⁺?>?(15C5·Mn)²⁺. The results also show that the stability sequence of the complexes in the other binary solutions of AN–EtOH (mol% AN?=?26 and mol% AN?=?76) varies in order: (15C5·Cr)³⁺?~?(15C5·Zn)²⁺?>?(15C5·Mn)²⁺. The values of the standard thermodynamic quantities (ΔH_C°, ΔS_C°) for formation of (15C15-Cr³⁺), (15C5-Mn²⁺) and (15C5-Zn²⁺) complexes were obtained from the temperature dependence of the stability constants and the results show that the thermodynamics of complexation reactions is affected by nature and composition of the solvent systems and in most solution systems, the complexes are enthalpy stabilized but entropy destabilized.     

2-Chloro-1-methylpyridinium iodide,an efficient reagent for the conversion of alcohols into alkyl thiocyanates both under solvent and solvent-free conditions

A new application of the Mukaiyama reagent for the simple phosphine-free conversion of alcohols into the corresponding alkyl thiocyanates is described. This transformation can be achieved either in acetonitrile or under solvent-free conditions and the products obtained in good to excellent yields. The solvent-free procedure described here is the first report on the solvent-free thiocyanation of alcohols.     

Isocyanide-based four-component synthesis of 1,3-indandionylamidinium betaines

An efficient approach for the synthesis of novel 1,3-indandionylamidinium betaines via four-component reaction of 1,3-indandione, aldehydes, amines, and isocyanides, without assistance of any catalyst and under mild reaction conditions has been reported. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by IR, mass spectroscopic, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

A catalytic asymmetric approach to C1-chiral 3-methylene-indan-1-ols

A sequential (R)-BINAP·Ag^IF (2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthyl) (6–10 mol %), and (Ph₃P)₂Pd^IICl₂ (bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) dichloride) (2 mol %) catalyzed asymmetric Sakurai–Hosomi–Yamamoto allylation/Mizoroki–Heck reaction that affords C₁-chiral 3-methylene-indan-1-ols with enantiomeric excess (ee) up to 80% is reported. Notably, this protocol allows for the use of various o-substituted benzaldehydes and allyltrimethoxysilane. It was also discovered that the presence of electron-rich groups had no effect on the enantioselectivity of the reaction, whereas electron-withdrawing groups lead to erosion in product ee.     

Scattering of focused ultrasonic beams by cavities in a solid half-space

The ultrasonic field generated by a point focused acoustic lens placed in a fluid medium adjacent to a solid half-space, containing one or more spherical cavities, is modeled. The semi-analytical distributed point source method (DPSM) is followed for the modeling. This technique properly takes into account the interaction effect between the cavities placed in the focused ultrasonic field, fluid-solid interface and the lens surface. The approximate analytical solution that is available in the literature for the single cavity geometry is very restrictive and cannot handle multiple cavity problems. Finite element solutions for such problems are also prohibitively time consuming at high frequencies. Solution of this problem is necessary to predict when two cavities placed in close proximity inside a solid can be distinguished by an acoustic lens placed outside the solid medium and when such distinction is not possible.