Surface modification of γ-alumina membranes by silane coupling for CO2 separation

Top layers of γ-Al₂O₃ composite membranes have been modified by the silane coupling technique using phenyltriethoxysilane for improving the separation factor of CO₂ to N₂. The separation efficiency of the modified membranes was strongly dependent upon the hydroxylation tendency of the support materials and the amount of the special functional group (i.e. phenyl radical) which was coupled onto a top layer. The separation factor through the TiO₂ supported γ-Al₂O₃ membrane was found to be fairly enhanced by silane coupling, but in case of the -Al₂O₃ supported membrane was not. The CO₂/N₂ separation factor through the modified γ-Al₂O₃/TiO₂ composite membrane is 1.7 at 90°C and ΔP = 2 × 10⁵ Pa for the binary mixture containing 50 vol% CO₂. The separation factor is proportional to the CO₂ concentration in the gas mixture, and the modified membrane is stable up to 100°C. The main mechanism of the CO₂ transport through the modified γ-Al₂O₃ layer is known to be a surface diffusion.     

A method for correcting the contact angle from the θ/2 method

The θ/2 method, a widely used technique on measuring the contact angle of a sessile drop, assumes that the drop profile is part of a sphere. However, the shape profile of a sessile drop is governed by the Young–Laplace equation and is different from a sphere, especially for drops with a large bound number (e.g. large volume or small surface tension). The spherical assumption, therefore, causes errors on evaluating the contact angles. The deviation of contact angle from the θ/2 method is evaluated from a theoretical calculation in this work. A simple means is given for correcting the measurement error. The corrected angle results from the drop volume, surface tension, liquid density and the contact angle from θ/2 method. An algorithm for finding the correct contact angle without knowing the density and surface tension is also given. At the end, two examples of pendant drops are given for the illustration.     

Quantum chemical study of several monocyclic complex β‐lactam C‐3, C‐4, and N‐derivatives,and β‐ring model molecules

A quantum chemical study of several complex monocyclic 4‐benzoyl‐4‐phenyl‐β‐lactam derivatives was carried out using cyclobutane, azetidine, 2‐azetidinone, 1‐methyl‐2‐azetidinone, and 3‐methyl‐2‐azetidinone as model compounds. The optimum geometry was obtained for the different conformations. The planarity of the ring was discussed in terms of the influence of the substituents on the amide resonance. To better analyze the amide resonance and the activity of the β‐lactam ring, a vibrational study was also carried out. To examine the influence of solvent polarity on the carbonyl bands, the Fourier transform–infrared (FT‐IR) spectra of the β‐lactam monocyclic derivatives were recorded in CCl₄, C₆H₆, and CHCl₃ solutions. The normal vibrations of the β‐lactam ring in the model compounds were characterized and used in the analysis of the β‐ring of more complex derivatives. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2002     

Michael-Addition Reaction of Malononitrile with α,β-Unsaturated Cycloketones Catalyzed by KF／Al2O3

A series of KF/Al2O3 catalyzed Michael-addition reactions between malononitrile and α,β-unsaturated cycloketones in DMF solution were studied. At room temperature, 2-cyano-3-aryl-3-(1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalen-1-one-2-yl) propionitrile derivatives were synthesized by the reaction between 2-arylmethylidene-1,2,3,4-tetra-hydronaphthalen-1-one and malononitrile. However, if the temperature was increased to 80℃, 2-amino-3-cyano-4-aryl-4H-benzo[h]chromene derivatives were obtained in high yields. When the α,β-unsaturated ketones were replaced by 2,6-biarylmethylidenecyclohexanone or 2,5-biarylmethylidenecyclopentanone, another series of 2-amino-3-cyano-4H-pyran derivatives was isolated successfully. The structures of the products were confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Tocopherols and Triterpenoids from Sida acuta

A new tocopherol derivative, 7_a‐methoxy‐α‐tocopherol ( 1 ), and a new taraxastane triterpene, taraxast‐1,20(30)‐dien‐3‐one ( 5 ), together with four known compounds, β‐tocopherol ( 2 ), α‐tocopherol ( 3 ), α‐tocospiro B ( 4 ) and taraxasterone ( 6 ) were isolated from the whole plant of Sida acuta. Their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis including MS, 1D and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy. Among those compounds, compounds 1 , 2 , and 3 showed significant antioxidant effect (EC₅₀ = 86.9, 68.2, and 70.9 μM, respectively) in the DPPH radicals scavenging activity assay.     

Phosphinophosphiniden-Phosphorane tBu2P?P = P(R)tBu2 aus Li(THF)2[η2-(tBu2P)2P] und Alkylhalogeniden

The Phosphinophosphinidene-phosphoranes ^tBu₂P? P = P(R)^tBu₂ from Li(THF)₂[η²-(^tBu₂P)₂P] and Alkyl Halides We report the formation of ^tBu₂P? P = P(R)^tBu₂ a and (^tBu₂)₂PR b (with R = Me, Et, ⁿPr, ⁱPr, ⁿBu, PhCH₂, H₂C = CH? CH₂ and CF₃) reactions of Li(THF)₂[η²-(^tBu₂P)₂P] 2 with MeCl, MeI, EtCl, EtBr, ⁿPrCl, ⁿPrBr, ⁱPrCl, ⁿBuBr, PhCH₂Cl, H₂C = CH? CH₂Cl or CF₃Br. In THF solutions the ylidic compounds a predominate, whereas in pentane the corresponding triphosphanes b are preferrably formed. With ClCH₂? CH = CH₂ only b is produced; CF₃Br however yields both ^tBu₂P? P = P(Br)^tBu₂ and ^tBu₂P? P = P(CF₃)^tBu₂, but no b . The ratio of a:b is influenced by the reaction temperature, too. The compounds ^tBu₂P? P = P(Et)^tBu₂ 4a and (^tBu₂P)₂PEt 4 b , e. g., are produced in a ratio of 4:3 at ?70°C in THF, and 1:1 at 20°C; whereas 1:1 is obtained at ?70°C in pentane, and 1:2 at 20°C. Neither ^tBuCl nor H₂C = CHCl react with 2 . The compounds a decompose thermally or under UV irradiation forming ^tBu₂PR and the cyclophosphanes (^tBu₂P)_nP_n.     

Enatiomeric analysis of simendan by CE with beta-CD as chiral selector compared with CMPA-HPLC

The chiral separation of simendan enantiomers using capillary electrophoresis was studied with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) as chiral selector. The influences of the concentration and pH of borate buffer solution, beta-CD concentration and methanol content in the background electrolyte were investigated. These factors were compared with those in an HPLC with beta-CD as chiral mobile phase additive (CMPA-HPLC). The quantification properties of the developed CE method were examined. A baseline separation of simendan enantiomers was achieved in the background electrolyte of 20 mmol/L borate buffer (pH 11.0) containing 12 mmol/L beta-CD-methanol (50:50 in volume ratio). The CE method is comparable with CMPA-HPLC in chiral resolution, although the optimal pH in CE (11.0) is much higher than that (6.0) in CMPA-HPLC. This chiral CE method is applicable to the quantitative ananlysis and enantiomeric excess value determination of L-simendan.     

The Constituents of Cynanchum Taiwanianum

The isolation and identification of eleven crystalline components from the aerial part of Cynanchum taiwanianum Yamazaki (Asclepiadaceae) are described. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral evidence and chemical transformation. Besides caffeic acid, β-amyrin, and methyl phaeophorbide a, the isolated flavonoid components are classified into two groups, i.e. kaempferol derivatives (kaempferol, astragalin, afzelin, trifolin) and quercetin derivatives (quercetin, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, hyperin).     

Oxidative cleavage of a tricyclic pyridone to a bicyclic lactam-dione

Two equivalents cf anhydrous m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA) cleaved the pyridone ring of 10-(3-chlorophenyl)-6,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[b][1,8]naph forming; the ten-membered lactam α-diketone 12-(3-chlorophenyl)-7,8,9,10-tetrahydropyrido[2,3-b]azecine-5,6,11(12H)-trione. Under aqueous conditions, one equivalent of m-CPBA and the same pyridone formed the lactam α-ketol 12-(3-chlorophenyl)-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6-hydroxypyrido[2,3-b]azecine-5,11(6H, 12H)-dio     

A brief study of the supercritical fluid chromatographic behavior of lanthanide β-diketonates

The chromatographic behaviors of lanthanide chelates of acetylacetone (ACAC), trifluoroacetylacetone (TFA), thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA), dipivaloylmethane (THD), 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5-octanedione (FOD), and the thenoyltrifluoroacetonepyridine (TTA·Py) adduct were investigated using packed column supercritical fluid chromatography. Mobile phases consisting of neat and alcohol modified CO₂ were used with a phenyl packed stationary phase. Lanthanide complexes of ACAC, THD, and FOD were shown to have better chromatographic performance compared to the corresponding chelates with TFA, TTA, and TTA·Py. In particular, TTA complexes such as Eu(TTA)₃ showed characteristic thermal decomposition in the mobile phase at elevated temperature. In addition, retention behavior was found to be a temperature dependent function of volatility and solubility for all chelates studied.