Thermal hysteresis of some important physical properties of nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles show thermal hysteresis with properties such as surface plasmon absorption, conductivity, and zeta potential. The direction of the incremental change in plasmon peak position and its extinction depend on the nature of surface conjugation. The thermal profile of a surface plasmon resonance spectrum for nanoparticles may serve as a signature for the associated small molecule or macromolecule on which it is seeded. The thermal responses of zeta potential and conductivity profile are found to be independent of the surface conjugation with the later being subjected to a phase transition phenomenon as revealed by a temperature criticality.     

Ion-exchange separation of metal ions with thiosulphate

Summary In a cationic column of Amberlite IR-120 with thiosulphate as the eluting agent it has been possible to separate metal ions from several two to five component mixtures.

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Zusammenfassung Mischungen von 2–5 Metallionen konnten durch Ionenaustausch-chromatographie an Amberlite IR-120 mit Thiosulfat als Eluierungsmittel getrennt werden.

     

Substituted m-phenylene bridges as strong ferromagnetic couplers for Cu(II)-bridge-Cu(II) magnetic interactions: new perspectives

Based on a combined theoretical-experimental study, we propose that substituted m-phenylene ligands (m-N-Phi-N) can act as tuneable strong ferromagnetic couplers connecting Cu(II) ions; a new complex presenting that bridge with J close to +15 cm(-1) has been suggested and synthesized.     

Amino Acid based cationic surfactants in aqueous solution: physicochemical study and application of supramolecular chirality in ketone reduction

The present study provides a molecular understanding of the origin of the chirality in aqueous micelles and its correlation with the proficiency of stereoselective ketone reduction. The effects of varied headgroup architecture on the surface-active properties as well as on other microstructural parameters were studied and correlated to the structural differences of these naturally occurring amino acid containing surfactants (1-4). Micropolarity sensed by pyrene showed that the micelles prepared using 1-4 are mostly hydrated; particularly large headgroup size surfactant produces more polar environment. A theoretical study was done to quantify the varied spatial dissymmetry for all four surfactants. Asymmetric reduction of prochiral ketones was carried out at the aqueous micellar interface of these chiral amphiphiles by exploiting the supramolecular chirality as evidenced from a circular dichroism study. The enantioselectivity of the reduction process is rationally improved through increase in spatial dissymmetry and steric constraint imposed at the micellar interface by the polar head of surfactants.     

Solid State S-Methylation of Thiols and O-Methylation of Phenols and Naphthols with Dimethyl Sulfate Under Microwave Irradiation

Abstract

Mild and efficient S-methylation of thiols and o-methylation of phenols and naphthols occurs with dimethyl sulfate (DMS) supported on basic alumina under microwave irradiation in solventless system.     

Long-time growth kinetics of first order phase transitions in the presence of a boundary layer

The late stage growth mechanism for a first order phase transition, either through nucleation growth or spinodal decomposition, is well understood to be an Ostwald ripening or coarsening process, in which larger domains grow at the expense of smaller ones. The growth kinetics in this regime was shown by Lifshitz and Slyozov to follow at(1/3) law. However, the kinetics is altered if there exists a barrier ahead of the growth front, irrespective of the physical origin of the boundary layer. We present an analytic calculation for the growth kinetics in the presence of a boundary layer, showing that in the limit of barrier-dominated growth, the domains grow with at(1/2) law. This result holds true in the dilute regime independent of whether the growing nuclei are spherical or cylindrical.     

A Simple and Short Synthesis of Z-6-Heneicosen-11-One and Z-1,6-Heneicosen-11-One,The Sex Pheromones of Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth

Z-6-Heneicosen-11-one (1) and Z-1,6-Heneicosen-11-one (2) are the sex pheromones of the Douglas-Fir Tussock moth, ‘Orgyia Pseudo Sugata’, isolated^1,2 in 1975 and 1978 respectively. In contrast with other lepidopterous pheromones, which are unsaturated C₁₂-C₁₄ primary alcohols or acetates, these were found to be C₂₁ ketones. The Douglas-Fir Tussock moth is a severe defoliator of the Fir forest; consequently, considerable interest attends the synthesis of these two pheromones. A number of syntheses of these two pheromones have been reported3 amongst which is one of our synthesis using N,N-dimethyl acetone 4 hydrazone as key intermediate.     

A Preferred Intramolecular ‘Ene’ Reaction Between Ketene and Olefin

Aplysin (1), a marine sesquiterpene was isolated from ‘aplysia kurodai’ and its structure was ellucidated by Hirata-et-al¹. They also reported the synthesis of racemic aplysin². Their synthetic route involved cyclopentanone (2) as a well-characterized intermediate. We visualized the synthesis of cyclobutanone (3) and its subsequent conversion to (2) as an attractive alternative. But during our attempts to synthesize the said cyclobutanone, we have come across a very facile intramolecular ‘ene’ reaction between ketene and olefin. We report our unexpected observations in this communication.     

Thermal investigations on γ-radiation processed natural medicinal products (Ashwagandha,Amla and Hartiki)

DSC and TG studies were carried out on -radiation processed Indian natural products of medicinal importance, namely Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera), Amla (Emblica Officinalis) and Hartiki (Terminalia chebula). DSC thermoanalytical curves were recorded from 35 to 400°C in air and nitrogen atmosphere. Similarly, TG thermoanalytical curves were taken from 35 to 700°C in air and nitrogen atmosphere. Irradiated products gave significantly different thermoanalytical profiles in comparison to non-irradiated samples. The differences were observed above decomposition temperature of 200°C and were non-linear with respect to radiation dose. Partial oxidation of the products during irradiation in air could be responsible for the observed differences.