Application of ionic liquid halide nucleophilicity for the cleavage of ethers: a green protocol for the regeneration of phenols from ethers

We have used the high nucleophilicity of bromide ion in the form of the ionic liquid, 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([bmim][Br]), for the nucleophilic displacement of an alkyl group to regenerate a phenol from the corresponding aryl alkyl ether. Using 2-methoxynaphthalene (1) as a model compound, we found that the combination of ionic liquid [bmim][Br] and p-toluenesulfonic acid with warming effected demethylation in 14 h, affording the desired product 2-naphthol (2) in good yield (97%). Various other protic acids (MsOH, hydrochloric acid (35%), dilute sulfuric acid (50%)) could be used as a proton source in this demethylation reaction. Under the same conditions, cleavage of alkyl alkyl ether 2-(3-methoxypropyl)naphthalene yielded mixture of corresponding 2-(3-bromopropyl)naphthalene and 2-(3-hydroxypropyl)naphthalene. Dealkylation of various aryl alkyl ethers could also be achieved using significantly reduced (i.e., stoichiometric) amounts of concentrated hydrobromic acid (47%) in the ionic liquid. Both procedures afforded the desired products in moderate to good yield; however, cleavage of aryl alkyl cyclic ether, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran, resulted in low yield of the desired product o-2-bromoethylphenol. The convenience of this method for ether cleavage and its effectiveness using only a moderate excess of hydrobromic acid make it attractive as a green chemical method.     

Size-selective synthesis of gold and platinum nanoparticles using novel thiol-functionalized ionic liquids

One-phase synthesis of gold and platinum nanoparticles using new thiol-functionalized ionic liquids (TFILs) is described for the first time. TFILs as stabilizing agents for gold and platinum nanoparticles were designed to have thiol groups on either the cation or anion and symmetrical or unsymmetrical positions only in the cation. Transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and NMR were used for the characterization of nanoparticles. The metal nanoparticles formed using TFILs are crystalline structures with face-centered cubic packing arrangements and have small sizes (the average diameters are 3.5, 3.1, and 2.0 nm for Au and 3.2, 2.2, and 2.0 nm for Pt, respectively) and uniform distributions (the standard deviations are 0.7, 0.5, and 0.1 nm for Au and 1.1, 0.2, and 0.1 for Pt, respectively). It is believed that the nanoparticle size and distribution depend on the number and position of thiol groups in the IL.     

Use of Neural Network to Control a Refractive Index of SiN Film Deposited by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition

Refractive index of silicon nitride film deposited in a plasma enhanced chemical deposition system is modeled by using neural network. The deposition process was characterized with a full factorial experiment. Additional 12 experiments were conducted to test model appropriateness. Predicted model behaviors were in good agreement with actual measurements. Deposition mechanisms were qualitatively examined especially with respect to the pressure. Possible interactions between the pressure and other factors (SiH₄, NH₃, radio frequency (RF) power, and substrate temperature) were examined on the basis of SiH/NH bond ratio. The refractive index increased with increasing either SiH₄ flow rate or RF power. In contrast, the refractive index decreased with increasing NH₃ flow rate. Little interactions between the pressure and RF power were observed. Pressure effect on the refractive index was quite different depending on the level of SiH₄ flow rate or substrate temperature. In general, increasing the pressure increased the refractive index. Meanwhile, the refractive index was insensitive to parameter variations at relatively high pressures. The most complex interaction occurred as the pressure interacted with the temperature. Useful clues to control the refractive index were revealed from the predictive model.     

The Henicosaphosphide Iodides of Potassium and Rubidium,K4P21I and Rb4P21I

The novel ternary polyphosphides M₄P₂₁I (M = K, Rb) have been synthesized from the elements in single crystalline form, representing further examples for the formation of mixed crystals between simple salts and binary phosphides. They form as ruby‐red platelets and dark‐red prisms, respectively, and are only slightly sensitive to moisture and oxygen. The compounds are isotypic (Ccmm (no 63); Z = 4; oP104; K₄P₂₁I: a = 12.853Å; b = 21.795Å; c = 9.748Å; 1168 hkl, R = 0.033; Rb₄P₂₁I: a = 13.281Å; b = 21.868Å; c = 9.771Å; 777 hkl, R = 0.053) and feature corrugated 2D networks formed from two different types of polymerized P₇ units. The networks form large cavities filled by M⁺ and I^‐ ions. Zigzag chains of condensed trigonal M₆ prisms, centered by the I^‐ anions, separate the polyphosphide nets. The mean homoatomic P‐P bond length (d = 2.216Å) corresponds to a P‐P single bond. However, the individual P‐P distances vary with position and function (2.126 ‐ 2.247Å) and these are compared with those of the isolated P₂₁^‐3 anion.     

Diaquabis(1,3‐propanediamine‐κ2N,N′)nickel(II) bis(sulfanilate)

The title compound, [Ni(C₃H₁₀N₂)₂(H₂O)₂](C₆H₆NO₃S)₂, contains alternating layers of sulfanilate anions and di­aqua­bis(1,3‐propane­di­amine)­nickel(II) cations. The Ni atom lies on an inversion centre and is hexacoordinated by the 1,3‐propane­di­amine ligands, which function as N,N′‐bidentate ligands, and the water mol­ecules, which are in a trans arrangement. The sulfanilate anions are arranged in layers, with the sulfonate and amine groups directed towards opposite sides of the layer. The structure is stabilized by a network of hydrogen bonding between the O and N atoms of the sulfanilate anions, the water mol­ecules, and the N atoms of the 1,3‐propane­di­amine ligands.     

Determination of impurities in semiconductor grade silicon by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Instrumental neutron activation analysis has been applied to semiconductor grade silicon to study the concentration levels of impurity elements, the contamination during the single crystal growing process, and the vertical and radial distributions of impurities, along with the decontamination effect in the analysis. Twenty elements of Au, Br, As, W, Cr, Co, Na, Eu, La, Se, Zn, U, Th, Hf, Fe, Sb, Ag, Ce, Tb and Ta have been analyzed in p- and n-type wafers, single crystals and a polycrystal by a single comparator method using two comparators of gold and cobalt. Considerable surface contamination has been found and could be removed by etching the surface with nitric and hydrofluoric acid before and after irradiation. The impurity concentration has been found to be generally increased in the process of single crystal growth. The vertical and radial distributions of impurities have revealed that some impurity elements were more concentrated in the top region of a single crystal rod than in the middle region, and that Br, Cr, La, Eu and Sb were enriched in the central region and As, U and Fe in the outer region.     

In vivo ligation of glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor enhances the T-cell immunity to herpes simplex virus type 1

GITR (glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor) is a recently identified member of the TNF receptor superfamily. The receptor is preferentially expressed on CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells and GITR signals break the suppressive activity of the subset. In this study, we wanted to reveal the in vivo function of GITR in herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection. A single injection of anti-GITR mAb (DTA-1) immediately after viral infection significantly increased the number of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells expressing CD25, an activation surface marker, and secreting IFN-gamma. We confirmed these in vivo observations by showing ex vivo that re-stimulation of CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells with a CD4(+) or CD8(+) T-cell-specific HSV-1 peptide, respectively, induced a significant elevation in cell proliferation and in IFN-gamma secretion. Our results indicate that GITR signals play a critical role in the T-cell immunity to HSV-1.     

Inhibition of CO oxidation on RuO2(110) by adsorbed H2O molecules

Catalytic CO oxidation on the RuO(2)(110) surface was studied at 300 K by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), high-resolution electron-energy-loss spectroscopy (HREELS), and thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). Upon repeatedly exposing the surface to several 10 L of CO and O(2) at 300 K, STM shows that unreactive features accumulate with each CO and O(2) titration run. HREELS and TDS show formation of increasing amounts of H(2)O, retarded formation of O-cus atoms and incomplete removal of CO-bridge molecules during O(2) dosing, and a changing ratio of single- and double-bonded CO-bridge molecules. It is concluded that H(2)O (presumably from the residual gas) is accumulating at the Ru-cus sites thus blocking them, so that the dissociative adsorption of oxygen is prevented and the CO oxidation reaction is suppressed. Some 10% CO- bridge remains on the surface even during oxygen exposure. Consistent with this interpretation, deactivation of the surface is suppressed at 350 K, at the onset of H(2)O desorption.