Enhanced ethanol sensing properties of WO3 modified TiO2 nanorods

Pristine and WO₃ decorated TiO₂ nanorods (NRs) were synthesised to investigate n-n-type heterojunction gas sensing properties. TiO₂ NRs were fabricated via hydrothermal method on fluorine-doped tin oxide coated glass (FTO) substrates. Then, tungsten was sputtered on the TiO₂ NRs and thermally oxidised to obtain WO₃ nanoparticles. The heterostructure was characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Fabricated sensor devices were exposed to VOCs such as toluene, xylene, acetone and ethanol, and humidity at different operation temperatures. Experimental results demonstrated that the heterostructure has better sensor response toward ethanol at 200 °C. Enhanced sensing properties are attributed to the heterojunction formation by decorating TiO₂ NRs with WO₃.     

A Safety Strategy for Producing Poly(Acrylic Acid) of Low Molar Mass

The synthesis of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) of low molar mass under safe conditions is difficult due to the high polymerization rate of acrylic acid (AA) and the fast heat generation. The aqueous‐solution “semibatch” polymerization of non‐ionized AA in almost starved conditions involves high initiator loads when low molar masses are required. This article proposes the simultaneous feeding of AA and nonconventional chain transfer agents (CTA) as a strategy aimed at controlling both the molar masses and the generated heat rate. Three CTAs are investigated: 2‐mercaptoethanol, thioglycolic acid, and isopropyl alcohol. Even when PAA of relatively low molar mass can be produced by adequately selecting the flow rates and concentrations of both AA and CTA, it is found that the nature of CTA can have a significant effect on the polymerizations kinetics. The mechanisms responsible for these effects are discussed with the help of a representative mathematical model.

     

Phenolic compounds,essential oil composition,and antioxidant activity of Angelica purpurascens (Avé-Lall.) Gill

In this study, methanol extracts (MEs) and essential oil (EO) of Angelica purpurascens (Avé-Lall.) Gill obtained from different parts (root, stem, leaf, and seed) were evaluated in terms of antioxidant activity, total phenolics, compositions of phenolic compound, and essential oil with the methods of 2,2-azino-bis(3ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•⁺), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH•) radical scavenging activities, and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), the Folin–Ciocalteu, liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (LC−MS/MS), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC−MS), respectively. The root extract of A. purpurascens exhibited the highest ABTS•⁺, DPPH•, and FRAP activities (IC₅₀: 0.05 ± 0.0001 mg/mL, IC₅₀: 0.06 ± 0.002 mg/mL, 821.04 ± 15.96 µM TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity), respectively). Moreover, EO of A. purpurascens root displayed DPPH• scavenging activity (IC₅₀: 2.95 ± 0.084 mg/mL). The root extract had the highest total phenolic content (438.75 ± 16.39 GAE (gallic acid equivalent), µg/mL)). Twenty compounds were identified by LC−MS/MS. The most abundant phenolics were ferulic acid (244.39 ± 15.64 μg/g extract), benzoic acid (138.18 ± 8.84 μg/g extract), oleuropein (78.04 ± 4.99 μg/g extract), and rutin (31.21 ± 2.00 μg/g extract) in seed, stem, root, and leaf extracts, respectively. According to the GC−MS analysis, the major components were determined as α-bisabolol (22.93%), cubebol (14.39%), α-pinene (11.63%), and α-limonene (9.41%) among 29 compounds. Consequently, the MEs and EO of A. purpurascens can be used as a natural antioxidant source.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF NANOSTRUCTURES:TOOLS AND CHALLENGES

Apart from long-known and applied nanostructures like carbon black for tyres or pigments for coatings nanotechnology has created highly sophisticated structures used for nano/molecular electronics,diagnostics,drug delivery, UV-absorbers etc.Often the main question to be solved analytically is the local determination of tiny amounts of chemicals resulting in an ever increasing need for highly sensitive as well as locally resolved techniques.Applications of techniques like mass spectroscopy,transmission el...     

Synthesis of pyrrole and indole quinoxalinone and oxazinone derivatives by intramolecular copper-catalyzed reactions

Intramolecular N-arylation of pyrrole and indole carboxamides and carboxylates linked with a pendant haloarene by Cu-catalyzed reactions to synthesize pyrrole and indole quinoxalinone and oxazinone derivatives is reported. The ring closure reactions were carried out by conventional heating and MW irradiation. The use of conventional heating affords moderate to good yields of the quinoxalinone and oxazinone derivatives (34-72%), while by using MW heating the best results are obtained (41-99%).     

Photochromic and fluorescence properties of coumarin fulgimides

Four new fulgimides possessing a fluorescent coumarin unit were synthesized from the corresponding fulgides, and their photochromic as well as fluorescence properties were investigated. The open-ring forms of coumarin fulgimides were found to exhibit fluorescence in the visible region. Upon exposure to UV light, the fulgimides were transformed into the nonfluorescent closed-ring forms, which can be reverted to the initial fluorescent open-ring forms on exposure to visible light. The efficiency of quenching of fluorescence was as high as 95% at the photostationary state of UV irradiation.     

Synthesis of novel fused azaheterocycles by photostimulated intramolecular SRN1 reactions with nitrogen nucleophiles

The synthesis of pyrrole, indole, and pyrazole fused azaheterocycles is presented. The anions of carboxamides (6 and 12) and pyrazolylamines (15a-b) react under photostimulation by an intramolecular S_RN1 process to yield fused azaheterocycles with good to excellent yields. We report on an efficient two-step synthesis of new fused azaheterocycles derived from pyrrole, indole, and pyrazole, as well as the synthesis of their precursors. By the reaction of carboxamides (6 and 12) and pyrazolylamines (15a-b) with a base, the corresponding anion could be formed. Then, by an intramolecular photostimulated S_RN1 reaction, the fused azaheterocycles were achieved (54-100%).     

Fast tin-free hydrodehalogenation and reductive radical cyclization reactions: a new reduction process

The photostimulated reactions of several aryl and alkyl chlorides and bromides with the monoanion of reduced ethyl benzoate 5H furnish the reduced products in high yields. If the aryl moieties have suitable double bonds, the cyclized reduced products are obtained in high yields. The photostimulated reaction of 1-allyloxy-2-bromobenzene (1a) with 5H affords 3-methyl-2,3-dihydro-benzofuran (2a) in 97% yield. When 1-allyloxy-2-chlorobenzene (1b) is used, the yield of 2a is only 55%, which increases up to 91% when acetone enolate ion is added to the reaction mixture as entrainment reagent. With diallyl-(2-bromophenyl)amine (3a), and 2-allyloxy-1-halonaphthalenes (chloro, 4b, and bromo, 4a) the cyclized reduced products are obtained in yields above 96%. By competition experiments, 5H reacts ca. 5 times faster with 1-naphthyl radicals than benzenethiolate ions do, which is near the diffusion limit rate.