Solvent-free Brønsted acid-catalyzed Michael addition of nitrogen- and carbon-containing nucleophiles by ultrasound activation

A new method has been developed for the Michael addition of nitrogen- and carbon-containing nucleophiles to cyclic enones. Using this conjugate addition reaction, a variety of different nucleophiles can react with a range of cyclic enones in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid under solvent-free ultrasound irradiation conditions affording the corresponding C–N or C–C adducts in good to excellent yields. Comparatively, performing the reaction under ultrasound irradiation gives higher yields, is more efficient and environmentally benign than performing it at high pressure.     

Optical constants of organic insulators in the UV range extracted from reflection electron energy loss spectra

Reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) spectra were measured for seven insulating organic compounds (DNA, Irganox 1010, Kapton, polyethylene [PE], poly(methyl methacrylate) [PMMA], polystyrene [PS] and polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]). Optical constants and energy band gaps were extracted from the measured REELS spectra after elimination of multiple electron scattering via a deconvolution and fitting the normalised single scattering energy loss spectra to Drude and Drude–Lindhard model dielectric functions, constrained by the Kramers–Kronig sum and f-sum rules. Satisfactory agreement is found for those optical constants for which literature data exists. For PTFE, the observed features in the optical data correspond to its electronic structure.     

Antioxidant capacity and antibacterial activity from Annona cherimola phytochemicals by ultrasound-assisted extraction and its comparison to conventional methods

In recent years, the food, pharmacy, and cosmetic industries have focused on the search of natural compounds with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties; commonly, these compounds are obtained from Kingdom plantae. The aim of the present work is comparing antibacterial and antioxidant capacity of Annona cherimola Mill leaves, using different extraction methods. The ultrasound assisted extraction technique (UAE) was compared with conventional techniques: Soxhlet and maceration. Water and ethanol were used as solvents for leaves extractions performed with these three methods. The main acetogenins reported in Annona cherimola Mill and Annona muricata L. species were simulated using the functional hybrid B3LYP and to confirm its presence, analysis of the compound composition was performed using FT-IR, UV–Vis and HPLC. Total phenolics (TP) and flavonoids (TF) were determined by spectroscopy techniques and novel Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV) electrochemical technique. Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) of the extracts was measured, using the DPPH, FRAP and CUPRAC techniques. The highest antioxidant content was found in the Soxhlet water extracts; even so, the UAE technique presented an attractive alternative due to considerable reduction in extraction time, which was greater than 99%, and possible selectivity in compounds extraction. Finally, antibacterial activity of the extracts was evaluated, obtaining the best results against gram-positive bacteria using UAE water extract. In this way, the UAE technique presents an excellent extraction option due to the considerable reduction in time and energy, as well as the increase in antibacterial activity.     

Sonocatalytic injury of cancer cells attached on the surface of a nickel–titanium dioxide alloy plate

The present study demonstrates ultrasound-induced cell injury using a nickel–titanium dioxide (Ni–TiO₂) alloy plate as a sonocatalyst and a cell culture surface. Ultrasound irradiation of cell-free Ni–TiO₂ alloy plates with 1 MHz ultrasound at 0.5 W/cm² for 30 s led to an increased generation of hydroxyl (OH) radicals compared to nickel–titanium (Ni–Ti) control alloy plates with and without ultrasound irradiation. When human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 cells) cultured on the Ni–TiO₂ alloy plates were irradiated with 1 MHz ultrasound at 0.5 W/cm² for 30 s and then incubated for 48 h, cell density on the alloy plate was reduced to approximately 50% of the controls on the Ni–Ti alloy plates with and without ultrasound irradiation. These results indicate the injury of MCF-7 cells following sonocatalytic OH radical generation by Ni–TiO₂. Further experiments demonstrated cell shrinkage and chromatin condensation after ultrasound irradiation of MCF-7 cells attached on the Ni–TiO₂ alloy plates, indicating induction of apoptosis.     

Waiting times of entangled electrons in normal–superconducting junctions

We consider a normal–superconducting junction in order to investigate the effect of new physical ingredients on waiting times. First, we study the interplay between Andreev and specular scattering at the interface on the distribution of waiting times of electrons or holes separately. In that case the distribution is not altered dramatically compared to the case of a single quantum channel with a quantum point contact since the interface acts as an Andreev mirror for holes. We then consider a fully entangled state originating from splitting of Cooper pairs at the interface and demonstrate a significant enhancement of the probability to detect two consecutive electrons in a short time interval. Finally, we discuss the electronic waiting time distribution in the more realistic situation of partial entanglement.     

Elementary Andreev processes in a driven superconductor–normal metal contact

We investigate the full counting statistics of a voltage-driven normal metal(N)–superconductor(S) contact. In the low-bias regime below the superconducting gap, the NS contact can be mapped onto a purely normal contact, albeit with doubled voltage and counting fields. Hence in this regime the transport characteristics can be obtained by the corresponding substitution of the normal metal results. The elementary processes are single Andreev transfers and electron- and hole-like Andreev transfers. Considering Lorentzian voltage pulses we find an optimal quantization for half-integer Levitons.     

An efficient and practical synthesis of methylene dioximes by combination of ultrasound and phase transfer catalyst

The reaction of oximes with dichloromethane was carried out in 71–98% yields at 20–30 °C for 2–3.5 h in the presence of sodium hydroxide by combination of benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium chloride and ultrasonication. The main advantage of the present procedure is that the reaction time is much shorter than classical methods.     

Ultrasound-assisted crystallization (sonocrystallization)

The positive influence of ultrasound (US) on crystallization processes is shown by the dramatic reduction of the induction period, supersaturation conditions and metastable zone width. Manipulation of this influence can be achieved by changing US-related variables such as frequency, intensity, power and even geometrical characteristics of the ultrasonic device (e.g. horn type size). The volume of the sonicated solution and irradiation time are also variables to be optimized in a case-by-case basis as the mechanisms of US action on crystallization remain to be established. Nevertheless, the results obtained so far make foreseeable that crystal size distribution, and even crystal shape, can be ‘tailored’ by appropriate selection of the sonication conditions.     

低功率超声增强碘帕醇氯氧化的效果和路径

研究了低功率超声(US, <38 W)对NaClO氧化非离子型碘代X射线造影剂—碘帕醇(IPM)的增强作用及机理, 考察了NaClO添加浓度和超声功率的影响, 分析并计算了体系中的主要活性物种及其贡献. 采用高效液相色谱/串联质谱(HPLC/MS/MS)对降解产物进行分析, 推测IPM的降解路径. 结果表明, 低功率US显著增强了NaClO对IPM的氧化效果, 在25 ℃, pH=5.8, NaClO浓度为0.12 mmol/L条件下, 10 mg/L IPM在60 min的降解率达到85.8%. 其中NaClO氧化、 HO·和活性氯自由基(RCSs)是US/NaClO增强IPM降解的主要原因, 自由基分析计算它们的贡献率分别为15.82%, 4.65%和79.53%. NaClO浓度在0~0.24 mmol/L范围内, IPM的降解率随NaClO浓度升高而增加, 60 min后降解率由4.75%增加到91.12%; 超声功率为28.5 W, 降解率达到最高. 在 15~45 ℃温度范围内, IPM的降解过程符合表观一级反应动力学, 反应活化能(E_a)为59.03 kJ/mol. HPLC/MS/MS共检测出5种中间产物, 结合密度泛函理论(DFT)计算结果, 初步推测了IPM在US/NaClO体系中的降解途径和机理.     

几何画板模拟阿贝折射仪测折射率

几何画板模拟阿贝折射仪测量液体折射率的过程,相对传统教学手段,更加科学直观并动态演示。通过修改棱镜折射率和待测液体折射率的参数,通过直观几何光学分析,得到为何阿贝折射仪必须满足棱镜折射率大于待测折射率。利用程序易修改特点研究,棱镜不同顶角和考虑色散现象的模拟结果,定量研究差别。