Linseed oil‐based reactive diluents preparation to improve tetra‐functional epoxy resin properties

Two kinds of bio‐resourced reactive diluents have been synthesized from linseed oil. The prepared epoxidized linseed oil (ELO) and the cyclocarbonated linseed oil (CLO) were separately blended with a petroleum‐based tetra‐functional epoxy resin (TGDDM) to improve its processability and to overcome the brittleness of the thermoset network therefrom. The linseed oil modifications were spectrally established, and processability improvement of the resin blends was rheologically confirmed. The curing of samples was studied by differential scanning calorimetry, and their mechanical properties (ie, tensile, flexural, fracture toughness, and adhesion) were investigated as well. Scanning electron microscopy images were obtained to reconfirm the toughness improvement of the modified thermosets. In contrast of the epoxidized soybean oil (ie, the most conventionally studied bio‐based reactive diluent), ELO and CLO had no negative effects on the thermoset material characteristics. They improved properties such as tensile strength (up to 43.2 MPa), fracture toughness (1.1 MPa m^1/2), and peel‐adhesion strength (4.5 N/25 mm). It was concluded that ELO and CLO were efficient reactive diluents to be used in formulations of polymer composites, surface coatings, and structural adhesives based on epoxy resins.     

Synthesis of Cyano‐pyrrolo[1,2‐a][1,10]phenanthroline Derivatives Using a Multicomponent Condensation

1,10‐Phenanthroline reacts with malonitrile and aldehydes in the presence of isocyanides as domino‐Knoevenagel‐nucleophilic cycloaddition for generation of a new class of 10‐(aryl)‐11‐(alkyl‐ or arylamino‐)pyrrolo[1,2‐a][1,10]phenanthroline‐9‐carbonitrile compounds in excellent yield. All compounds are fully characterized with one structurally authenticated by a single X‐ray diffraction study.     

Kinetic and Mechanistic Insights into the Pathway Leading to Cyclic Crystalline Phosphorus Ylide Formation in the Presence of 3‐Chloropentane‐2,4‐dione: Theoretical and Stopped‐Flow Approaches

In this work, three speculative mechanisms of the reaction between triphenylphosphine and dimethyl acetylendicarboxylate in the presence of 3‐chloropentane‐2,4‐dione were energetically and thermodynamically developed using quantum mechanical calculations and were profoundly compared with stopped‐flow and UV spectrophotometry approaches. The third speculative mechanism that led to the five‐membered ring structure was experimentally and theoretically favorable. The five‐membered ring structure of product was characterized by X‐ray crystallographic data. Also, steps 1 and 2 of the third mechanism were determined as fast and rate‐determining steps, respectively. The experimental kinetic evidence of the formation and decay of intermediate in steps 1 and 2 (fast and rate‐determining steps, respectively) was compatible with theoretical data. Experimental kinetic data were recognized for overall reaction along with activation parameters for fast and rate‐determining steps of the reaction. Theoretical kinetic data (k and E_a) and activation parameters (ΔG^≠, ΔS,^≠ and ΔH^≠) were calculated for each step and overall reactions.     

Amplified emission of phthalocyanine isolated in cryogenic matrices

Laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy of free-base (H(2)Pc) and zinc (ZnPc) phthalocyanines trapped in rare gas and nitrogen matrices reveals a quite unexpected phenomenon with a moderate increase in the laser intensity. In all matrices except Xe, a huge increase occurs in the intensity of an emission band near 755 nm when pumping the S(1) <-- S(0) transition. The band involves a vibrational mode of the ground state, located at 1550 and 1525 cm(-1) for H(2)Pc and ZnPc, respectively. Many of the characteristics of amplified emission (AE) are exhibited by this vibronic transition. Excitation scans recorded for the AE band yield greatly enhanced site selectivity compared to what is obtained in normal fluorescence excitation scans.     

Polyurethane/polystyrene‐silica electrospun nanofibrous composite for the headspace solid‐phase microextraction of chlorophenols coupled with gas chromatography

A novel electrospun composite nanofiber‐based adsorbent (polyurethane/polystyrene‐silica) was fabricated, characterized, and used in the headspace solid‐phase microextraction of the acetylated derivatives of chlorophenols in water samples before gas chromatography with micro electron capture detection. The surface morphology, chemical composition, thermal stability, and structure of the fibers were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda techniques. The effect of the main parameters influencing the efficiency of the method including extraction temperature, salt concentration, and extraction time was investigated and the optimized conditions were obtained. The linear dynamic ranges were 0.1–800 ng/mL. The relative standard deviations (n = 3) and the limits of detection were 2.64–9.57% and 0.0234–0.830 ng/mL, respectively. The relative recoveries for real samples (river water and sewage of our university campus) were between 90.8 and 111%.     

Oxidation reactions catalysed by molybdenum(VI) complexes grafted on UiO‐66 metal–organic framework as an elegant nanoreactor

A heterogeneous catalyst was synthesized by immobilizing Mo(CO)₃ in a UiO‐66 metal–organic framework. The benzene ring of the organic linker in UiO‐66 was modified via liquid‐phase deposition of molybdenum hexacarbonyl, Mo(CO)₆, as starting precursor to form the (arene)Mo(CO)₃ species inside the framework. The structure of this catalyst was characterized using X‐ray diffraction, and chemical integrity was confirmed using Fourier transform infrared and diffuse reflectance UV–visible spectroscopic methods. The metal content was analysed with inductively coupled plasma. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to measure particle size and N₂ adsorption measurements to characterize the specific surface area. This catalytic system was efficiently applied for epoxidation of alkenes and oxidation of sulfides. The Mo‐containing metal–organic framework was reused several times without any appreciable loss of its efficiency.     

Fabrication of an electrochemical sensor based on the electrodeposition of Pt nanoparticles on multiwalled carbon nanotubes film for voltammetric determination of ceftriaxone in the presence of lidocaine, assisted by factorial-based response-surface methodology

A glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is modified with platinum nanoparticle (PtNPs) decorated multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT). The modified electrode is applied for the determination of ceftriaxone (CFX) in the presence of lidocaine. Different methods were used to characterize the surface morphology of the modified electrode. The electrochemical behavior of CFX was investigated at GCE, MWCNT/GCE and PtNPs/MWCNT/GCE. A factorial-based response-surface methodology was used to find out the optimum conditions with minimum number of experiments. Under the optimized conditions, oxidation peak currents increased linearly with CFX concentration in the range of 0.01–10.00 μM with a detection limit of 9.01 nM. The results prove that the modified electrode is also suitable for the determination of CFX in pharmaceutical and clinical preparations.