Reaction of Huisgen zwitterion with 1,2-benzoquinones and isatins: expeditious synthesis of dihydro-1,2,3-benzoxadiazoles and spirooxadiazolines

[reaction: see text] The zwitterionic intermediate generated from dialkyl azodicarboxylate and triphenylphosphine on reaction with 3-methoxy-1,2-benzoquinones afforded dihydro-1,2,3-benzoxadiazoles. N-Substituted isatins furnished spirooxadiazolines under similar conditions.     

A Copper‐Based Metal–Organic Framework Acts as a Bifunctional Catalyst for the Homocoupling of Arylboronic Acids and Epoxidation of Olefins

A copper(I)‐based metal–organic framework ({[Cu₂Br₂(pypz)]_n?nH₂O} (Cu—Br–MOF) [pypz=bis[3,5‐dimethyl‐4‐(4’‐pyridyl)pyrazol‐1‐yl] methane] has been synthesized by using an elongated and flexible bridging ligand. The structure analysis reveals that each pypz ligand acts as a tritopic ligand connected to two Cu₂Br₂ dimeric units, forming a one‐dimensional zig–zag chain, and these chains further connected by a Cu₂Br₂ unit, give a two‐dimensional framework on the bc‐plane. In the Cu₂Br₂ dimeric unit, the copper ions are four coordinated, thereby possessing a tetrahedral geometry; this proves to be an excellent heterogeneous catalyst for the aerobic homocoupling of arylboronic acids under mild reaction conditions. This method requires only 3 mol % of catalyst and it does not require any base or oxidant—compared to other conventional (Cu, Pd, Fe, and Au) catalysts—for the transformation of arylboronic acids in very good yields (98 %). The shape and size selectivity of the catalyst in the homocoupling was investigated. The use of the catalyst was further extended to the epoxidation of olefins. Moreover, the catalyst can be easily separated by simple filtration and reused efficiently up to 5 cycles without major loss of reactivity.     

Variable Frequency Microwave Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles based on a polyol process and variable frequency microwave (VFM) was investigated. Comparing to a thermal method, the reaction by VFM radiation was much faster. The effects of silver nitrate concentration, poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) concentration, reaction time and reaction temperature were studied. It was found that the higher concentration of silver nitrate, longer reaction time and higher temperature increased the particle size while the higher concentration of PVP decreased the particle size.     

Direct synthesis of Fmoc protected amino acid hydroxamates from acid chlorides mediated by magnesium oxide

The synthesis of Fmoc protected amino acid hydroxamates using Fmoc-amino acid chlorides and magnesium oxide is described. The method is simple and efficient, results in complete conversion, and gives good yields and satisfactory purity.     

Oscillatory Phase of Inflaton and Power-Law Expansion in Bianchi Type-I Universe

A homogeneous massive scalar field, minimally coupled to the spatially homogeneous and anisotropic background metric, in the semiclassical theory of gravity is examined. In the oscillatory phase of inflaton, the approximate leading solution to the semiclassical Einstein equation for the Bianchi type-I universe shows, each scale factor in each direction obeys t ^2/3 power-law expansion. Further noted that the evolution of scale factors are mutually correlated.     

Investigation of the Thermal Conductivity of Selected Rare Earth Aluminates

As a part of the thermophysical property studies on rare earth based oxide ceramics thermal conductivity of the aluminates of samarium and dysprosium was investigated employing laser flash technique and covering a temperature range from 673 to 1373 K. Heat transport behaviour was briefly examined by analysing the variation of thermal resistivity as a function of temperature. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Microhydrodynamical modeling of transverse susceptibility of magnetic inks (Theory of ‘DIMAG’)

The time and field dependence of the transverse susceptibility, χ_t, of a suspension of single domain ferromagnetic Brownian particles in a viscous fluid is calculated. Magnetic interactions are taken into account through the mean field model. The model is used to interpret (so far qualitatively) the so-called DIMAG experiment, in which a DC field is applied to the ink sample for a short period of time and a small perpendicular AC field probes χ_t before, during and after the DC field impact. The relative increase in χ_t, after the DC field is switched on was used earlier to characterize the dispersion quality of inks. We show that in the systems with negative interactions (acicular particles) this increase has a maximum when plotted as a function of the DC field. The maximum shifts to higher fields as the interaction increases, which corresponds to what happens in the DIMAG testing of less dispersed inks.     

An approximate analysis of drying operation of wet fabric

This study describes an approximate theoretical analysis of drying a moving wet fabric exposed to constant radiant heat and hot air blown normal to its surface. By considering the problem as a combination of heat and mass transfer processes, the governing dimensionless groups are identified and their influence on the residence time is established. These groups are then utilized in the prediction of either the residence time or the total length of travel needed to achieve a specific drying level of the fabric.