Efficient microwave-assisted synthesis of oximes from acetohydroxamic acid and carbonyl compounds using BF3·OEt2 as the catalyst

An efficient synthesis of oximes by reaction of carbonyls with acetohydroxamic acid using BF₃·OEt₂ as a catalyst is described.     

Effect of alkaline ultrasonic pretreatment on crystalline morphology and enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose

In this study, ultrasound-assisted alkaline pretreatment is developed to evaluate the morphological and structural changes that occur during pretreatment of cellulose, and its effect on glucose production via enzymatic hydrolysis. The pretreated samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction to understand the change in surface morphology, crystallinity and the fraction of cellulose Iβ and cellulose II. The combined pretreatment led to a great disruption of cellulose particles along with the formation of large pores and partial fibrillation. The effects of ultrasound irradiation time (2, 4 h), NaOH concentration (1–10 wt%), initial particle size (20–180 μm) and initial degree of polymerization (DP) of cellulose on structural changes and glucose yields were evaluated. The alkaline ultrasonic pretreatment resulted in a significant decrease in particle size of cellulose, besides significantly reducing the treatment time and NaOH concentration required to achieve a low crystallinity of cellulose. More than 2.5 times improvement in glucose yield was observed with 10 wt% NaOH and 4 h of sonication, compared to untreated samples. The glucose yields increased with increase in initial particle size of cellulose, while DP had no effect on glucose yields. The glucose yields exhibited an increasing tendency with increase in cellulose II fraction as a result of combined pretreatment.     

Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of N‐Substituted Maleimide Derivatives as Exogenous Antioxidant Agents

A series of N‐substituted maleimide derivatives have been developed via acetic acid‐mediated microwave reaction pathway, which was identified as the incomparable method for this maleimide compounds. All the synthesized compounds were tested for antioxidant activity by DPPH and H₂O₂ methods. Compounds 5h and 5m were displayed with higher antioxidant activity in two methods. The structure–activity relationship demonstrated that the compounds having electron releasing substitutions 5h and 5m generally show beneficial activity than electron capture substitution cores. Thus, compounds 5h and 5m may be useful as an exogenous antioxidant.     

A unified treatment of mixed convection on a permeable horizontal plate

A problem of mixed convection on a horizontal plate is reconsidered assuming that the plate is subjected to a variable temperature or variable heat flux. The plate is considered permeable allowing blowing or suction of the fluid. The results of free and forced convection are obtained as special cases of this study of mixed convection. It is also shown that the results corresponding to prescribed temperature are related to those of prescribed surface heat flux by simple conversion formulae.

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Eine einheitliche Behandlung der Mischkonvektion bei einer durchlässigen horizontalen Platte

Zusammenfassung Ein Problem der Mischkonvektion bei einer horizontalen Platte ist in der Annahme erörtert worden, daß die Platte einer veränderlichen Temperatur und einem veränderlichen Wärmestrom ausgesetzt wird. Hierbei wurde die Platte als durchlässig für Einblasen und Absaugen des Fluids angenommen. Die Ergebnisse der freien und erzwungenen Konvektion wurden als Spezialfälle dieser Studie für Mischkonvektion erhalten. Es wird angezeigt, daß die Ergebnisse, welche die Temperatur beschreiben, mit denen die die Wandwärmestromdichte beschreiben, durch einfache Umrechnungsformeln in Verbindung gebracht werden können.

     

Influence of Nanoclay on the Mechanical Performance of Wild Cane Grass Fiber-Reinforced Polyester Nanocomposites

Natural fiber-reinforced nanocomposites were prepared by incorporating wild cane grass fiber and organically modified montmorillonite (MMT) nanoclay into polyester resin. The composites were formulated up to a maximum volume of fiber of approximately 40% and their mechanical properties were investigated. The mean tensile strength and tensile modulus of nanoclay-filled wild cane grass fiber composites are 6.3% and 18.3% greater than those of wild cane grass fiber composites, respectively, without addition of nanoclay at maximum percentage volume of fiber. The mean flexural strength of nanocomposites at maximum percentage volume of fiber was increased to a maximum of 221 Mpa and flexural modulus to 4.2 Gpa. The mean impact strength of nanoclay-filled wild cane grass fiber composites was increased to 376.7 J/m at maximum percentage volume of fiber. The weight loss of nanoclay-filled wild cane grass fiber/polyester composites was 30% and 22% less than that of composites without nanoclay at maximum percentage volume of fiber. The results indicated that the use of nanoclay showed significant improvement in all the mechanical properties of wild cane grass fiber-reinforced composites.     

Total synthesis of cyclosporin O by convergent approach employing Fmoc-amino acid chlorides mediated by zinc dust

An epimerization free and efficient total synthesis of immunosuppressant cyclosporin O (CsO) by step-by-step assembly of amino acids in solution phase is reported. The couplings were performed by employing Fmoc-amino acid chlorides and were mediated by zinc dust under neutral conditions. The yield and purity of the coupling of sterically hindered N-methylamino acids to N-methylamino acids at positions 8, 9, 10, and 11 were enhanced by repeating the coupling thrice at these particular junctures. All the 10 intermediate peptides pertaining to CsO and the final CsO were isolated and completely characterized through IR, 1H NMR, mass spectrometry, and HPLC techniques.     

Whispering gallery modes and effect of coating on Raman spectra of single microspheres

Raman spectra and fluorescence of BaTiO₃ and silica microspheres of different sizes have been studied. The observed whispering gallery modes (WGMs) have been assigned using theoretical simulations based on the Lorenz–Mie theory. The WGMs are found to have selective enhancements in the Raman spectra. The variations in the Raman spectra with the radial position of the excitation spot and excitation wavelength have been correlated with the morphology‐dependent internal field distributions of the microspheres. The effect of a thin dye coating on the fluorescence and Raman spectra was studied, and a coating thickness of ∼200 nm was estimated from the theoretical simulation of experimentally observed data based on the Aden and Kerker theory. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inertia effects in hydromagnetic lubrication

Summary A theoretical investigation of inertia effects on the load capacity of an externally pressurized bearing with an electrically conducting lubricant is presented. It is shown that there is a negative contribution to the load capacity of the bearing by inertia forces. In the presence of an axial magnetic field the absolute value of the load due to inertia forces decreases when the strength of the field increases while in the presence of an axial current, the load due to inertia forces is independent of axial current. At large values of axial magnetic fields and axial currents, it is shown that the inertia forces can be neglected. A numerical example is considered to study the relative importance of inertia and viscous terms.     

Facile synthesis of 3-aryl/alkylamino 5-aryl/alkyl 1,2,4-oxadiazoles from acylthiourea

Facile and selective synthesis of 3-aryl/alkylamino 5-aryl/alkyl 1,2,4-oxadiazoles starting from N-acylthioureas has been demonstrated. The regio-selectivity is achieved by simply selecting an appropriate base used for the generation of hydroxyl amine from the corresponding hydrochloride salt. This method also avoids the use of toxic cyanogen bromide. The structure of the synthesized oxadiazoles has been resolved by tandem mass spectral studies.