Two new alkaloids and a new polyphenolic compound from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cotula coronopifolia</Emphasis>

Two new alkaloid derivatives of the 3-benzazocine skeleton (cotuzine A and B) and a new polyphenolic substance (3-(1,3-dihydroxyprop-2-yl)-4-hydroxyanisol) (corimen) have been isolated from the aerial part (stems, leaves) of the plant Cotula coronopifolia (L.). These three new structures were established by spectroscopic procedures (¹H, ¹³C, one- and two-dimensional NMR). The stereochemistry of the new alkaloids was established based on different NOE effects revealed on the NOESY spectrum. Mass spectrometry and IR spectroscopy were used to confirm these structures.     

Production, bleaching, and characterization of pulp from Stipa tenacissima

Alfa grass pulping was successfully performed in hydro-organic acid medium under mild conditions (107°C, atmospheric pressure, cooking time: 3 h). Use of an acetic acid/formic acid/water mixture as pulping liquor was perfectly suitable for selective isolation of pulp, lignin, and hemicelluloses. The unbleached pulp obtained in good yield was first delignified by peroxyacids in organic acid medium and then bleached with hydrogen peroxide in a basic medium to give pulp offering good physico-chemical and mechanical characteristics.     

Acetate- and thiol-capped monodisperse ruthenium nanoparticles: XPS, XAS, and HRTEM studies

Monodisperse ruthenium nanoparticles were prepared by reduction of RuCl3 in 1,2-propanediol. The mean particle size was controlled by appropriate choice of the reduction temperature and the acetate ion concentration. Colloidal solutions in toluene were obtained by coating the metal particles with dodecanethiol. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XANES and EXAFS for the Ru K-absorption edge) were performed on particles of two different diameters, 2 and 4 nm, and in different environments, polyol/acetate or thiol. For particles stored in polyol/acetate XPS studies revealed superficial oxidation limited to one monolayer and a surface coating containing mostly acetate ions. Analysis of the EXAFS spectra showed both oxygen and ruthenium atoms around the ruthenium atoms with a Ru-Ru coordination number N smaller than the bulk value, as expected for fine particles. In the case of 2 nm acetate-capped particles N is consistent with particles made up of a metallic core and an oxidized monolayer. For 2 nm thiol-coated particles, a Ru-S bond was evidenced by XPS and XAS. For the 4 nm particles XANES and XPS studies showed that most of the ruthenium atoms are in the zerovalent state. Nevertheless, in both cases, when capped with thiol, the Ru-Ru coordination number inferred from EXAFS is much smaller than for particles of the same size stored in polyol. This is attributed to a structural disorganization of the particles by thiol chemisorption. HRTEM studies confirm the marked dependence of the structural properties of the ruthenium particles on their chemical environment; they show the acetate-coated particles to be single crystals, whereas the thiol-coated particles appear to be polycrystalline.     

Cyanoacetanilides Intermediates in Heterocyclic Synthesis. Part 2: Preparation of Some Hitherto Unknown Ketene Dithioacetal,Benzoazole and Pyridone Derivatives

Ketene dithioacetal 3 , aminopyrazole 5 , tetrazine 7 , benzoazole 9 and pyridone 11 , 12 , 13 and 16 derivatives were prepared from cyanoacetanilide 1 as a starting material.     

Thermodynamic studies on the ferroelectric phase transition in neutron irradiated (LixK1−x)2SO4 crystals at high temperature

Thermodynamic studies of (Li_xK_1?x)₂SO₄, LKS, mixed crystals have been made in the concentration range (x=0.1, 0.2, ...,x=0.5). The thermal behaviour has been investigated by differential thermal analysis, DTA, and differential scanning calorimeter, DSC, in the vicinity of high temperature phases. Also, the effect of the thermal neutron irradiations on the thermal properties of mixed crystals was studied. The results showed a change in the transition temperatureT _c, as well as the value of specific heatC _p at transition temperature, due to the change of stoichiometric ratio and radiation doses. The change of enthalpy and entropy of mixed crystals have been estimated numerically.     

Spiro compounds with fragments of 4-azafluorene-[indeno)2,3-e)-1,2-dihydropyridine] and pyrazoline

9-Phenacylidene-4-azaf luorene and 9-bromo-9-(-bromophenacyl)-4-azafluorene have been used in the synthesis of spiro compounds with fragments of substituted pyrazolines. 1-Methyl-2-oxo-5 phenacylidene-indeno[2, 3-e]-1,2-dihydropyridine and hydrazine gave 1-methyl-2-oxo-3 phenylspiro[indeno(2, 3-e)-1,2-dihydropyridine-5,5-pyrazoline-2].     

Effect of composition,thickness and temperature on non-linear I–V curves in vanadium phosphate glasses

Summary Glass layers of (V₂O₅)_1−x (P₂O₅) _x were prepared by melting appropriate mixtures of V₂O₅ and P₂O₅ powders. The measurements ofI–V characteristic curves show three regions of conduction, namely high-resistance state, turnover point with zero-differential resistance region (∂V/∂I=0) and differential negative-resistance region. The turnover point is strongly dependent on composition, sample thickness and temperature. It is found that the increase of the ratio of phosphorus/vanadium reduces conductance as well as it raises the field required to produce turnover behaviour. The data in the range up to the turnover point are discussed on the basis of an electrothermal process. Results of the negative-resistance state could be explained in terms of a hopping mechanism.     

All-optical logic AND-NOR gate with three inputs based on cross-gain modulation in a semiconductor optical amplifier

We report the realization of a novel all-optical logic AND-NOR gate based on cross-gain modulation (XGM). The used scheme requires only one SOA to perform the logic gate with three input signals. A 8.5 dB dynamic extinction ratio with a switching time of about 650 ps for the rise time and 100 ps for the fall time.     

High-power all-normal-dispersion femtosecond pulse generation from a Yb-doped large-mode-area microstructure fiber laser

We report on an all-normal-dispersion mode-locked fiber laser based on a large-mode-area Yb-doped microstructure fiber and using a high nonlinear modulation depth semiconductor saturable absorber mirror. The laser delivers 3.3 W of average output power with positively chirped 5.5 ps pulses at a center wavelength of 1033 nm. The pulse repetition rate is 46.4 MHz, which results in an energy per pulse of 71 nJ. These pulses are extracavity dechirped down to 516 fs by using bulk gratings. The average power of the dechirped pulses is 2.3 W, which corresponds to a peak power of more than 96 kW.