Microwave-assisted conversion of N-substituted oxazolidin-2,4-diones into α-hydroxyamides

N-Substituted oxazolidin-2,4-diones have been synthesized in a novel one-pot reaction by reacting cyanohydrins stepwise with 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole and primary amines followed by acidic hydrolysis of the intermediate 4-imino-oxazolidin-2-ones. Their microwave-assisted conversion into α-hydroxyamides was accomplished by treatment with catalytic amounts of sodium methoxide in methanol.     

Determination of total mercury in environmental and biological samples by flow injection cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and accurate method has been developed for the determination of total mercury in environmental and biological samples. The method utilises an off-line microwave digestion stage followed by analysis using a flow injection system with detection by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry.

The method has been validated using two certified reference materials (DORM-1 dogfish and MESS-2 estuarine sediment) and the results agreed well with the certified values. A detection limit of 0.2 ng g⁻¹ Hg was obtained and no significant interference was observed. The method was finally applied to the determination of mercury in river sediments and canned tuna fish, and gave results in the range 0.1–3.0 mg kg⁻¹.     

Application of divergent multi-component reactions in the synthesis of a library of peptidomimetics based on γ-amino-α,β-cyclopropyl acids

The multi-component condensation of organozirconocene, aldimine and zinc carbenoid was applied to the stereoselective synthesis of cyclopropane amino acid derivatives. These compounds served as scaffolds for the preparation of a 46-member library. The C- and N-termini of the cyclopropane amino acid derivatives were diversified by condensations with ten amines and ten acylating agents, respectively. To improve yields and accelerate library synthesis, most products were prepared under microwave irradiation and purified by polymer-bound scavengers and SPE methodology. All compounds were analyzed by LC-MS and a representative selection was fully characterized.     

Efficient, protection-free Suzuki-Miyaura synthesis of ortho-biphenyltetrazoles

We describe an efficient protocol for the Suzuki-Miyaura synthesis of ortho-biphenyltetrazoles from non-protected 2-bromophenyltetrazole and arylboronic acids. The optimised conditions were achieved using [1,1′-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene]dichloropalladium(II) as catalyst and Na₂CO₃ as base. A panel of structurally diverse arylboronic acids was used to demonstrate the scope of the coupling procedure.     

Microwave-assisted Suzuki-Miyaura and Heck-Mizoroki cross-coupling reactions of aryl chlorides and bromides in water using stable benzothiazole-based palladium(II) precatalysts

The catalytic activity of benzothiazole-based Pd(II)-complexes was evaluated in Suzuki-Miyaura and Heck-Mizoroki C-C cross-coupling reactions of aryl chlorides and bromides with olefins and arylboronic acids both under thermal as well as microwave irradiation conditions in water. The factors affecting the optimization of such reactions as well as the reusability of the Pd-precatalysts are studied.     

Temperature-dependent dry etching characteristics of III–V semiconductors in HBr- and HI-based discharges

Microwave discharges of HBr/H₂/Ar and H/H₂/Ar with additional do biasing of the sample were used to etch InP, GaAs, and AlGaAs at temperatures between 50–250°C. The etch rates increase by factors of 3–50 and 5–9, respectively, for HBr-and HI-based discharges over this temperature range, but display non-Arrhenius behavior. The etched surfaces became very rough above 100°C for InP with either discharge chemistry due to preferential loss of P, while GaAs and AlGaAs are more tolerant of the elevated temperature etching. The near-surface electrical properties of InP are severely degraded by etch temperatures above 100°C, while extensive hydrogen in-diffusion occurs in GaAs and AlGaAs under these conditions, leading to dopant passivation which can be reversed by annealing at 400°C.     

Synthesis of 5-arylhistidines via a Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling

Microwave irradiation efficiently promoted the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction of a 5-bromohistidine with various arylboronic acids in the presence of a palladium catalyst. This methodology allowed the synthesis of histidines substituted at position 5 of the imidazole ring with a phenyl, a substituted phenyl, a pyridyl or a thienyl ring. The corresponding 5-arylhistidines were obtained in moderate to good yields.     

微波干法催化芳香醛与绕丹宁及N-苯基绕丹宁的缩合反应

利用微波辐射和固体碱性载体试剂催化绕丹宁及N-苯基绕丹宁和芳香醛的缩合反应合成了14个绕丹宁衍生物并研究了影响反应的因素。     

微波辐照下无皂阳离子聚(St-MMA)高分子纳米粒子的制备和表征

讨论了微波辐照下 ,以丙酮 水为分散介质 ,利用阳离子型自由基引发剂偶氮二异丁基脒盐酸盐(AIBA)引发苯乙烯 (St)和甲基丙烯酸甲酯 (MMA)共聚 ,合成出表面带正电荷的P(St MMA)共聚物纳米粒子 ,考察了丙酮用量、单体和引发剂浓度对纳米粒子粒径、粒径分布和乳液稳定性的影响 .结果表明 ,丙酮 水的体积比由 0增加到 1 2 6∶1时 ,粒子的平均水化半径从 12 2 2 1nm降低到 2 4 6 8nm ,粒径分布变宽 ,乳液抗电解质稳定性逐渐增强 ;增加引发剂和共聚单体MMA的浓度 ,粒子的水化半径逐渐减小 ,粒径分散系数增大 .     

Polymer melting and polymer powder sintering by thermal analysis

Sintering of polymeric powders is a peculiar characteristic of many processing technologies, including rotational moulding and selective laser sintering (SLS). During polymer sintering, viscosity reduction in the melt state promotes densification of polymer powders, through a double stage mechanism, involving powder coalescence and bubble removal. In particular, sintering of semi-crystalline polymers is strongly influenced by the melting behaviour. Nevertheless, melting itself in absence of pressure is not necessarily accompanied by powder sintering, unless low viscosities are achieved. In this work, the melting and sintering behaviour of recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE) have been analysed through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA). Efficient models capable of describing the melting temperature distribution and rate of sintering of rHDPE powders have been developed, highlighting the inherent differences between the two distinct processes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.