Synthesis and mesomorphic properties of banana-shaped compounds derived from 2,7-dihydroxynaphthalene

Thirty eight compounds composed of achiral banana-shaped molecules belonging to three new homologous series have been synthesized and their mesomorphic properties investigated. The mesophases have been characterized using a combination of polarized light microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, miscibility methods and X-ray diffraction measurements. All the compounds reported exhibit mesomorphic properties. Most of the homologues in the three series show B₁ and B₂ phases and the transition temperatures of these are lower in the fluoro substituted compounds. Some of the lower homologues of the fluoro substituted derivatives also show the nematic phase.     

Improved excitation uniformity in multiple‐quantum NMR experiments of mixtures

Multiple‐quantum ¹H NMR spectroscopy has been finding a renewed interest for its possible applications in the analysis of mixtures of small molecules, due to its simplification properties. A crucial aspect of this application of multiple‐quantum NMR is the sensitivity of the spectrum intensity to the molecular structure and to the parameterization of the experiment, which could result in the missing of some components. We demonstrate that a general scheme to overcome this drawback consists in varying the experiment parameterizations over a small number of values, selected according the values of the couplings and the relaxation rates. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A simple efficient sequential one-pot intermolecular aza-Michael addition and intramolecular Buchwald–Hartwig α-arylation of amines: synthesis of functionalized tetrahydroisoquinolines

An efficient one-pot sequential intermolecular aza-Michael addition and Pd-catalyzed intramolecular Buchwald–Hartwig α-arylation of secondary amines have been investigated, for the synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinolines. This method is simple and furnished products in very good yield and also successfully applied for the synthesis of novel aza-spirotricylcic ethers.     

Gallium(III)-catalyzed tandem cycloisomerization/Friedel–Crafts alkylation: a facile synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted furans

A tandem cycloisomerization/Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indoles has been achieved in a one-pot process to produce 2,5-disubstituted furans using gallium-catalyzed sequential nucleophilic addition onto metal-activated 1-alkynyl-2,3-epoxy acetates. The reaction proceeds efficiently under mild conditions with complete regioselectivity to afford the substituted furan derivatives in good yields with high diversity.     

Instabilities in free-surface electroosmotic flows

Instability of a thin electrolyte film undergoing a direct current electroosmotic flow has been investigated. The film with a compliant electrolyte–air interface is flowing over a rigid charged substrate. Unlike previous studies, inclusion of the Maxwell stresses in the formulation shows the presence of a new finite wavenumber shear-flow mode of instability, alongside the more frequently observed long-wave interfacial mode. The shear mode is found to be the dominant mode of instability when the electrolyte–solid and electrolyte–air interfaces are of opposite charge or of same charge but have very large zeta-potential at the electrolyte–air interface. The conditions for mode-switch (interfacial to shear) and the direction of the travelling waves are discussed through stability diagrams. Interestingly, the analysis shows that when the interfaces are of nearly same zeta potential, the ‘free’ electrolyte–air interface behaves more like a ‘stationary’ wall because of the ion transport in the reverse direction of the flow.     

K α L 1 satellite multiplet structure of photon-excited chlorine atoms

Summary An attempt is made to study theK _α L ¹ satellite multiplet structure of chlorine atoms in different compounds by photon excitation. A comparison of the averageK _α L ¹ group energy shift from the diagram line with those based on Dirac-Fock evaluations with different number ofM-shell electrons shows a reasonable agreement. The intensity ratios are found to be higher than those studied in Mg compounds in general.     

Spectroscopical splitting of Cu ion energy levels in magnesium lead fluoro silicate glasses

Homogeneous 40.0 MgO-(10-x) PbF₂-50.0 SiO₂: x CuO glasses were prepared using melt-quenching technique under controlled conditions. Spectroscopic studies (UV-vis absorption, ESR, FT-IR) are carried out for these glasses. One broad characteristic visible absorption band is observed around 700-850 nm in these glasses, the optical band gap decreases as the content of the CuO increases in the glass network up to 0.7 mol % then reversal trend is observed. ESR spectra of all these glasses show resonance peaks characteristic of Cu²⁺ ions and hyperfine splitting is resolved with increasing the CuO content in the glass network. From the observed ESR spectra, the spin-Hamiltonian parameters have been evaluated and indicate that Cu²⁺ ions have octahedral coordination with a strong tetragonal distortion in these glasses. By correlating ESR and optical absorption data, the molecular orbital coefficients have been evaluated. FT-IR spectra give important information about the nature of bonds in the glass matrix. The density of the glasses is also measured and is found to decrease with the increase CuO contents in the glass matrix. The physical parameters along with spectroscopic parameters are measured.