Selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides using 30% hydrogen peroxide catalyzed with a recoverable silica-based tungstate interphase catalyst

Various types of aromatic and aliphatic sulfides are selectively oxidized to sulfoxides and sulfones in good to excellent yields using 30% H2O2 in the presence of catalytic amounts of a novel recoverable silica-based tungstate interphase catalyst at room temperature. The catalyst can be recovered and reused for at least eight reaction cycles under the described reaction conditions without considerable loss of reactivity. [reaction: see text]     

Hydrophobically Associating Alginate Derivatives: Surface Tension Properties of Their Mixed Aqueous Solutions with Oppositely Charged Surfactants

The comparative study of the interfacial properties of an anionic polysaccharide, sodium alginate (Alg), and its hydrophobically modified derivative (Alg-C(12)), covalently substituted by dodecyl chains (12% mol/mol saccharide unit), was carried out in the absence or in the presence of an oppositely charged surfactant, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB). The drastically different behaviors which were observed are interpreted in terms of the arrangement and mobility of the hydrophobic long alkyl chains, depending on the nature of their fixation, covalent or ionic, on the polysaccharide backbone. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Laser‐micromachined cellulose acetate adhesive tape as a low‐cost smart material

An off‐the‐shelf, moisture‐responsive, acetate‐backed adhesive tape is investigated as a commercially available smart material for fabricating low‐cost, multifunctional, humidity‐responsive millimeter‐scale structures. Laser ablation is used for cutting and thinning‐down the tape to enhance its response. Water‐submerged cantilevers show a radius of curvature of 3 mm or lower (for laser‐thinned cantilevers). Additionally, their humidity response is a function of the angle between the longitudinal axis of the cantilever and polymer orientation. A cut angled at 80° with respect to this orientation results in a tip rotation of up to 25°, enabling the formation of bending cantilevers with twisting behavior. The tape cantilevers are further functionalized with magnetic nanoparticles and used to create four‐finger grippers that close underwater within minutes and can sample 100 µL of liquid. A cyclic humidity monitor is also fabricated using a tape strip that walks unidirectionally on a ratchet‐shaped surface upon exposure to humidity variations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013 , 51, 1263–1267     

A novel and simple method for the preparation of (R)- and (S)-pyrrolidine-2-phosphonic acids: phosphonic acid analogues of proline

A simple and convenient method has been developed for the preparation of (R)- and (S)-pyrrolidine-2-phosphonic acids. The thermal reaction of proline with diethyl phosphite in the presence of benzaldehyde gave an N-benzyl derivative of diethyl pyrrolidine-2-phosphonate, which was transformed into two diastereomeric amides by sequential debenzylation and acylation with (+)-dibenzoyl-l-tartaric anhydride. The two diastereomeric amides were separated by column chromatography and the structure of one of them was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Hydrolysis of the amides in the usual manner afforded (R)- and (S)-pyrrolidine-2-phosphonic acids. The advantages of the present method are that it is easy, rapid, and prepares both enantiomers of pyrrolidine-2-phosphonic acids.     

Synthesis and spatial structure of new chiral dopants from allobetuline series for cholesteric liquid-crystal compositions

Structural Chemistry - New series of chiral dopants for cholesteric liquid-crystal compositions were synthesized on the base of 2-substituted allobetuline derivatives, and their steric structure...     

Resolution of enantiomers of [α-hydroxy-(o-chlorophenyl)methyl]phosphinic acid via diastereomeric salt formation with enantiopure 1-phenylethylamines

The resolution of racemic α-hydroxy-H-phosphinic acid with enantiopure 1-phenylethylamines via diastereomeric salt formation was investigated. X-Ray crystallographic analysis of the salt revealed that (R)-1-phenylethylamine to be efficient resolving agent for obtaining a single enantiomer of [α-hydroxy-(o-chlorophenyl)methyl]phosphinic acid. Resolving racemic α-hydroxy-H-phosphinic acid with (S)-2-phenylethylamine also gave access to (S)-α-hydroxyalkylphosphinic acid in good yield.     

Synthesis of benzodiazepines catalyzed by chitosan functionalized by triacid imide as a superior catalyst

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Chitosan functionalized by triacid imide has been applied as an effective catalyst for the synthesis of benzodiazepines by one-pot reactions of...