Microwave-assisted Cannizzaro reaction—Optimisation of reaction conditions

The microwave-assisted Cannizzaro reaction was studied in order to develop fully reproducible synthetic protocols for transformation of aldehydes to carboxylic acid and alcohols. Optimised were the following process parameters: power, temperature, and time. Aromatic, heteroaromatic and aliphatic aldehydes were used in the studies. It was found that furfural, thiophene-2-carbaldehyde, pyridinecarboxaldehyde and aromatic aldehydes react under mild conditions, while 1-methyl-pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde derivatives and aliphatic aldehydes require more drastic reaction conditions and a longer exposure time to microwave radiation.     

Study on the initiation step of vinyloxirane and 3-butenyloxirane polymerization by alkalide K, K(15-crown-5)2

Transfer of one electron from potassium anion of alkalide K⁻, K⁺(15-crown-5)₂ to the double bond of vinyloxirane results in the oxirane ring opening exclusively in the α-position. K⁰ and radical anions are formed in the process. The former transfers the second electron mainly to the next monomer molecule. The latter dimerize to potassium glycoxides, which initiate the polymerization of vinyloxirane. The introduction of two CH₂ groups between the double bond and the oxirane ring changes the way of electron transfer. The oxirane ring of 3-butenyloxirane becomes the electron acceptor and its opening occurs in the β-position. In this case K⁰ transfers the second electron to the primarily formed radical anion giving an organopotassium intermediate. It reacts with crown ether. Potassium alkoxides are the reaction products. They become the real initiators of 3-butenyloxirane polymerization.     

A 3D implementation of ray tracing combined with diffraction on facets: Verification and a potential application

A 3D implementation of a new model of light scattering applicable to dielectric faceted objects is introduced. The model combines standard geometric optics with diffraction on individual facets. It can be applied to any faceted geometry. The model adds no significant computational overheads to classical geometric optics yet provides much improved results. Initial results for long hexagonal columns are compared to SVM and appear favourable. 2D scattering patterns are calculated for a hexagonal column in a fixed orientation and compared to those created by ice analogue crystals in the laboratory with close agreement. The comparison includes the observation of a guided wave propagating along the length of the column. The new model is then applied to a selection of geometries to illustrate how it could be used to aid particle characterization, particularly in the case of cirrus ice.     

Magnetostrictive properties of Ni-ferrite

Initial curve, major and minor magnetostriction hysteresis loops of the NiFe₂O₄ ferrite as the functions of static magnetic field were investgated. Magnetostriction hysteresis loops as the functions of static induction are also presented. The experimental phenomenon of “liftoff” value of the magnetostriction loop is detected.     

Differential algebra of quantum fermions

Lie coalgebra equips an exterior algebra (algebra of fermions) with a structure of a differential algebra. In similar way we equip an algebra of quantum fermions (quantized exterior algebra) with a structure of a differential algebra. This leads to a notion of a variety of Lie coalgebras for a Hecke braid. This approach is different from that of Gurevich (1988 and 1993), Woronowicz (1989) and of Majid (1993).     

Surface Verwey transition in magnetite

We report density functional studies of the (001) surface of magnetite that account for local Coulomb interactions. Iron cations in the surface layers exhibit charge and t2g orbital ordering that is coupled with the lattice strains. Orbital ordering is present for various surface stoichiometries and causes opening of the band gap Eg approximately 0.3 eV at the surface, such that the (001) surface of Fe3O4 remains insulating also in the high temperature cubic phase. The (radical 2 x radical 2)R45 degrees surface reconstruction is related to orbital ordering.     

微载荷含油轴承摩擦性能研究Ⅰ.摩擦试验机设计

研制了1种针对径向轴承的微载荷摩擦试验机,介绍了其工作原理及结构,即利用外加载荷抵消浮动测试架重量以施加微小载荷,并利用激光位置传感器(PSD传感器)实现无接触位移测量;同时测量了摩擦副的转动角度并计算出摩擦系数;采用摩擦转角测量法和外加力矩平衡摩擦法测量微载荷下的摩擦性能,以测量时间末端位置作为位置基准,通过极限偏载平衡进行载荷标定.结果表明:微载荷摩擦试验机可应用于径向轴承在微小载荷下的摩擦力测量;可以通过在较大范围内设置结构参数来研究径向轴承的摩擦特性;并可利用数据采集技术研究速度和载荷连续变化条件下的摩擦性能.     

Development of zinc alkyl/air systems as radical initiators for organic reactions

This paper reports a series of comparative experiments on the activity of carbon- and oxygen-centred radical species in a model reaction of the radical addition of THF to imines mediated by a series of zinc alkyl/air reaction systems. The study strongly contradicts the notion that generally R˙ radicals are the initiating species in organic reactions mediated by R_nM/air systems, and simultaneously demonstrates that oxygen-centred radical species are the key intermediates responsible for the initiation process. In addition, a new efficient RZn(L)/air initiating system for radical organic reactions exampled by a model reaction of radical addition of THF to imines is developed. Moreover, the isolation and structural characterization of the first zinc alkylperoxide supported by a carboxylate ligand, [Zn₄(μ₃-OOtBu)₃(μ₄-O)(O₂CEt)₃]₂, as well as the novel octanuclear zinc oxo(alkoxide) aggregate with entrapped O–THF species, [Zn₄(μ₄-O)(μ₃-2-O–THF)(O₂CEt)₅]₂, provide clear mechanistic signatures for the mode of function of the RZn(O₂CR′)/air system.