Esterification of acetic acid with n-Butanol using vanadium oxides supported on γ-alumina

Esterification of acetic acid with n-Butanol has been studied in a heterogeneous reaction system using two γ-alumina-supported vanadium oxide catalysts with different V loadings, which were prepared by the impregnation of a precipitated alumina. The alumina support and the supported catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption, EDX analysis and NH₃-TPD techniques. The effects of the reaction time, of the molar ratio of the reactants, of the speed of agitation and of the mass fraction of the catalyst on the catalytic properties were studied. In the presence of the supported catalyst containing 10 wt % V₂O₅ (10V-Al₂O₃ sample) the conversion reached 87.7% after 210 min of reaction at 100 °C with an n-Butanol-to-acetic acid mole ratio equal to one. The conversion as well as the total acidity measured by TPD of NH₃ increased in the following order: Al₂O₃ < 5V-Al₂O₃ (5 wt % V₂O₅/Al₂O₃) < 10V-Al₂O₃. In all cases the reaction was completely selective to n-butyl acetate. Nevertheless, a loss in catalytic activity after three reaction cycles with 10 V₂O₅–Al₂O₃ catalyst was observed.     

Ultrasound-Assisted Synthesis of Fluorescent Azatetracyclic Derivatives: An Energy-Efficient Approach

We report here an energy-efficient and straight synthesis of two new classes of derivatized fluorescent azatetracycles under ultrasound (US) irradiation. A first class of azatetracyclic compounds was synthesized by heterogeneous catalytic bromination of the α-keto substituent attached to the pyrrole moiety of the tetracyclic cycloadducts, while for the second, one class was synthesized by nucleophilic substitution of the bromide with the azide group. Comparative with conventional thermal heating (TH) under US irradiation, both types of reactions occur with substantially higher yields, shortened reaction time (from days to hours), lesser energy consumed, easier workup of the reaction, and smaller amounts of solvent required (at least three to five-fold less compared to TH), which make these reactions to be considered as energy efficient. The derivatized azatetracycle are blue emitters with λmax of fluorescence around 430–445 nm. A certain influence of the azatetracycle substituents concerning absorption and fluorescent properties was observed. Compounds anchored with a bulky azide group have shown decreased fluorescence intensity compared with corresponding bromides.     

Pyrrolopyridazine derivatives as blue organic luminophores: synthesis and properties. Part 2

Two environmentally friendly methods, one in liquid and other in solid phase, for preparation of highly fluorescent pyrrolopyridazine (PP) derivatives under microwave (MW) irradiation is presented. The first synthesis in solid phase of fluorescent PP derivatives using activated alkynes under MW and conventional heating is also reported. Under MW irradiation the yields are higher, the amount of used solvent in liquid phase is at least five-fold less while solid phase does not use solvents, so these reactions may be considered as environmentally friendly. Eight new blue fluorescent 2-aryl-pyrrolopyridazine derivatives were synthesised. A certain influence of the PP substituents concerning absorption and fluorescent properties was observed. Introduction of a π-conjugated system in the second position of PP moiety increase the fluorescent properties. In the absorption spectra were observed a gradual decrease of wavelengths simultaneously with an increasing of molar extinction coefficient, due to increased number of ester groups from pyrrolic ring.     

Pyrrolodiazine derivatives as blue organic luminophores: synthesis and properties. Part 3

A fast, efficient, general and environmentally friendly method for preparation of highly fluorescent derivatives containing the pyrrolodiazine moiety using microwave (MW) irradiation, in liquid phase, is reported. Under MW irradiation the yields are much higher, sometimes substantially (by almost double) and, the amount of solvent used is at least 5-fold less. The pyrrolopyridazine (PP) derivatives are very intense blue emitters and have high quantum yields (up to 90%) while pyrrolophthalazine (PHP) compounds are still intense blue emitters but the quantum yield is negligible. A certain influence of the substituents concerning fluorescence was found, those ones at the 7 position being crucial for fluorescence. The number of the substituents from the pyrrolo ring seems not to play an important role in regard with the fluorescence but, with an increasing number of substituents a certain hypsochromic shift in the absorption spectra was found.     

An efficient and selective way to new highly functionalized coronands or spiro derivatives using ultrasonic irradiation

A new, selective, straightforward and general method for preparation of highly functionalized coronands or spiro derivatives bearing 1,2-dihydroxyacetophenone unit, under conventional conditions and ultrasonic irradiation, is reported. The reaction setup involves only one step, acylation of an α-chloro-3,4-dihydroxyacetophenone with phthaloyl dichloride derivatives. 1,3- and 1,4-Phthaloyl dichloride derivatives leads to coronands only, while 1,2-phthaloyl dichlorides lead either to coronands or to spiro derivatives. A feasible explanation for the different behavior between conventional and ultrasound methods could be the different reaction mechanism involved in the two procedures: tetrahedral nucleophilic substitution under conventional conditions and radical substitution under ultrasound. Ultrasound induces a remarkable acceleration of the reactions (from days to minutes) and, most significantly, the yields are twice as high. A feasible explanation for the efficiency of the reactions under ultrasonic irradiation is presented.     

Dobrushin Coefficients of Ergodicity and Asymptotically Stable L 1-Contractions

We extend an inequality (which involves the Dobrushin coefficient of ergodicity; see Cohen et al.⁽⁴⁾) to any linear bounded operator with domain and codomain L ¹-spaces. We use the extended Dobrushin coefficient of ergodicity, that appears in the inequality, in order to obtain sufficient conditions for the uniform asymptotic stability of a positive contraction of an L ¹-space. We conclude the paper by studying a class of strongly asymptotically stable positive contractions.     

Fluorescent Azasteroids through Ultrasound Assisted Cycloaddition Reactions

We report here the synthesis and optical spectral properties of several new azasteroid derivatives. The formation of these compounds was explained based on the most probable mechanism. The luminescent heterocycles were synthesized by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions between benzo[f]quinoline and methylpropiolate or dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD). A selective and efficient way for [3+2]-dipolar cycloaddition of benzo[f]quinolinium ylides under ultrasound (US) irradiation (20 kHz processing frequency) is presented. We report substantially higher yields under US irradiation, whereas the solvent amounts required are at least three-fold less compared to classical heating. The azasteroid derivatives are blue emitters with λ_max of fluorescence around 430–450 nm. A certain influence of the azasteroid substituents concerning absorption and fluorescent properties was observed. Compounds anchored with a bulky pivaloyl group or without a C=O carbonyl group have shown increased fluorescence intensity.     

Environmentally Friendly Methods for Syntheses of New Aromatic Bisesters

Two environmentally friendly methods, one in liquid and the other in solid phase, for preparation of phenyl bisesters (bearing alkylating groups) under microwave (MW) irradiation are presented. The MW remarkably enhanced the rate of acceleration for esterification: the reaction time decreased dramatically, the reaction conditions are milder, and the consumed energy decreased considerably. In the most cases, in the liquid phase under MW irradiation, the yields are better, in some cases substantially (almost 75%). In the solid phase under MW irradiation, the yields are moderate to good compared to the liquid phase but excellent compared to conventional heating. Both methods are fast, general, and facile, but because the solid-phase reactions are solvent-free, we consider this one to be the most suitable for synthetic chemistry. A comparative study of MW and conventional heating was done.