Cellulosic nanoparticles from alfa fibers (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Stipa tenacissima)</Emphasis>: extraction procedures and reinforcement potential in polymer nanocomposites

The microstructure and chemical composition of alfa (Stipa tenacissima) were investigated. The polysaccharide and lignin contents were around 70 and 20 wt%, respectively. From the bleached and delignified fibers, two types of nanosized cellulosic particles were extracted, namely cellulose nanocrystals and microfibrillated cellulose (MFC). The former correspond typically to the elementary crystallite units of the cellulose fibers, with a rod-like morphology and an aspect ratio of about 20. The latter, mechanically disintegrated from oxidized bleached fibres, presents an entangled fibrillar structure with widths in the range 5-20 nm. The reinforcing potential of the ensuing nanoparticles was investigated by casting a mixture of acrylic latex and aqueous dispersion of cellulose nanoparticles. Thermo-mechanical analysis revealed a huge enhancement of the stiffness above the glass transition of the matrix. Significant differences in the mechanical reinforcing capability of the nanoparticles were reported.     

Sonochemical Synthesis and Photocatalytic Properties of Metal Hydroxide and Carbonate (M:Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba) Nanoparticles

In this work Mg(OH)₂, Ca(OH)₂, CaCO₃, SrCO₃ and BaCO₃ nanoparticles were synthesized via a simple sonochemical reaction at room temperature. Nanoparticles were synthesized via a surfactant-free reaction solvent water. Nanostructures materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The photocatalytic behavior of nanoparticles was evaluated using the degradation of a methyl orange aqueous solution under ultraviolet light irradiation. The results show that metal hydroxide and metal carbonate nanoparticles are promising materials with excellent performance in photocatalytic applications.     

Cobalt titanate–cobalt oxide composite thin films deposited from heterobimetallic precursor

A single molecular heterobimetallic complex, [Co₂Ti(μ₃‐O)(TFA)₆(THF)₃] (1) [TFA = trifluoroacetate, THF = tetrahydrofuran], was synthesized, structurally and spectroscopically characterized and implemented as a single‐source precursor for the preparation of CoTiO₃–CoO composite thin films by aerosol‐assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD). The precursor complex was prepared by interaction of Co(OAc)₂.4H₂O [OAc = (CH₃COO^?)] with Ti(iso‐propoxide)₄ in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid in THF, and was analysed by melting point, CHN, FT‐IR, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The precursor complex thermally decomposed at 480 °C to give a residual mass corresponding to a CoTiO₃–CoO composite material. Good‐quality crystalline CoTiO₃–CoO composite thin films deposited at 500 °C by AACVD and characterized through powder X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy/energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy show that the crystallites have a rose‐flower‐like morphology with an average petal size in the range of 2–6 µm. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Host (Nanocavity of Aluminium-Incorporated Mesoporous KIT-6)–guest (12-tungesto(molybdato) Phosphoric Acid) Nanocomposite Material: Efficient and Reusable Catalysts for the Hosomi–Sakurai Three-Component Coupling Reaction

Abstract

The immobilization of heteropoly acids (HPAs) into the Al-functionalized KIT-6 mesoporous molecular sieve has been carried out to see the effect of Al-KIT-6 as a host matrix on the HPA activities. These modified mesoporous molecular sieves are effective catalysts for the Hosomi–Sakurai three-component coupling reaction via condensation of aldehydes, silyl ethers, and allylsilanes.

Supplemental materials are available for this paper. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements to view the free supplemental file.     

APPROXIMATE SOLUTION OF A p-th ROOT FUNCTIONAL EQUATION IN NON-ARCHIMEDEAN (2,β)-BANACH SPACES

In this paper, using the Brzdek's fixed point theorem [9,Theorem 1] in non-Archimedean(2,β)-Banach spaces, we prove some stability and hyperstability results for an p-th root functional equation ■where p∈{1, …, 5}, a_1,…, a_k are fixed nonzero reals when p ∈ {1,3,5} and are fixed positive reals when p ∈{2,4}.     

Al(HSO4)3 and Al2O3-SO3H as Efficient Catalysts for Modified Preparation of 3,4-Dihydropyrimidin-2 (1H)-ones/thiones

An environmentally friendly procedure for the preparation of dihydropyrimidinone derivatives or their sulfur analogues under thermal solvent-free conditions in the presence of aluminium hydrogen sulfate [Al(HSO₄)₃] and alumina sulfuric acid (Al₂O₃-SO₃H) as heterogeneous catalysts was developed.     

Synthesis of new enantiomerically pure spirooxindolopyrrolizidines via a three-component asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides derived from isatin

An efficient, one-pot, three-component procedure for the synthesis of a small library of new chiral spirooxindolopyrrolizidines with high regio-, diastereo-, and enantioselectivity, from the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides and optically active cinnamoyl oxazolidinone is described. The process occurs at room temperature in aqueous ethanol as a green solvent and in the absence of any Lewis acids. The oxazolidinone chiral auxiliary is removed in a non-destructive manner. The reaction mechanism is discussed on the basis of the assignment of the absolute configuration of the cycloadducts, and on theoretical calculations.     

Catalyst-free,aqueous and highly diastereoselective synthesis of new 5-substituted 1H-tetrazoles via a multi-component domino Knoevenagel condensation/1,3 dipolar cycloaddition reaction

An approach for the synthesis of new 5-substituted-tetrazoles via multi-component domino Knoevenagel condensation/1,3 dipolar cycloaddition reaction of carbonyl compounds, malononitrile and sodium azide in water without assistance of any catalyst has been reported. This general protocol provides a wide variety of 5-substituted 1H-tetrazoles in good yields under mild reaction conditions.