Synthesis and Characterization of Silica@Copper Core–Shell Nanoparticles: Application for Conjugate Addition Reactions

Silica@copper (SiO₂@Cu) core–shell nanoparticles were synthesized and well characterized by XRD, TEM, AFM, XPS, UV/Vis, TGA–MS, and ICP–AES techniques. The synthesized SiO₂@Cu core–shell nanoparticles were employed as catalysts for the conjugate addition of amines to α,β‐unsaturated compounds in water to obtain β‐amino carbonyl compounds in excellent yields in shorter reaction times. Furthermore, the catalyst works well for hetero‐Michael addition reactions of heteroatom nucleophiles such as thiols to α,β‐unsaturated compounds. As the reaction is performed in water, it allows for easy recycling of the catalyst with consistent activity.     

The Effect of Boundary Conditions on Gas-phase Synthesised Silver Nanoparticles

We have prepared spherical non-agglomerated silver nanoparticles by an evaporation–condensation–dilution/cooling technique. Silver was evaporated from a crucible in a tubular flow reactor. A porous tube diluter was used to quench the carrier gas at the outlet of the reactor to enhance the formation of small particles and to suppress agglomeration and other particle growth mechanisms. The number size distribution of the prepared particles was measured with a differential mobility analyser–condensation nucleus counter combination and the size and the shape of the particles were analysed with transmission electron microscope. The system was modelled using a sectional aerosol dynamics computer code to estimate the importance of different aerosol processes. In all conditions the particles obtained were non-agglomerated and spherical. The mean particle diameter varied from 4 to 10-nm depending on boundary conditions. From the modelling studies it can be concluded that the nucleation rate is the most important parameter controlling the final particle size.     

Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with epoxides catalyzed by nanocrystalline titanium(IV) oxide

Friedel-Crafts alkylation of indoles with epoxides to afford 3-alkyl indole derivatives at room temperature with moderate to good yields and high regioselectivity using nanocrystalline titanium(IV) oxide catalyst is described.     

The kink of cellular automaton rule 18 performs a random walk

We give an exact characterization of the movement of a single kink in the elementary cellular automaton Rule 18. It is a random walk with independent increments as well as independent delay times. Its statistical parameters are computed to confirm the earlier simulation results by Grassberger.     

Operational characteristics and power scaling of a transverse flow transversely excited CW CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> laser

Transverse flow transversely excited (TFTE) CO₂ lasers are easily scalable to multikilowatt level. The laser power can be scaled up by increasing the volumetric gas flow and discharge volume. It was observed in a TFTE CW CO₂ laser having single row of pins as an anode and tubular cathode that the laser power was not increasing when the discharge volume and the gas volumetric flow were increased by increasing the electrode separation keeping the gas flow velocity constant. The discharge voltage too remained almost constant with the change of electrode separation at the same gas flow velocity. This necessitated revision of the scaling laws for designing this type of high power CO₂ laser. Experimental results of laser performance for different electrode separations are discussed and the modifications in the scaling laws are presented.     

Quasi-intramolecular acid–base reactions in aqueous solutions of metal-complexes of basic ligands I. Generalized theoretical considerations on the deammoniation of [ML m ]X n type ammonia complexes

The theoretical investigation on the distribution of chemical species obtainable as a function of the temperature of the aqueous solutions of metal complexes containing a basic ligand, altogether with the solubility relationship of the compounds to be formed, offers a simple means of planning the preparation of various types of complexes, double and single salts of the central metal cation and onium type compounds of protonated ligand of the central ion and the anion.     

Supercritical fluid extraction combined with solid phase extraction as sample preparation technique for the analysis of β-blockers in serum and urine

A method is developed for the determination of β-blockers in serum and urine at levels of 0.5 μg/mL. The technique uses a combination of solid phase extraction (SPE) with in situ derivatization and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with subsequent gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The optimization of the SFE step shows that a static extraction period can be eliminated. The method gives good linearity (r = 0.991–0.999) and repeatability in the concentration range of 0.5 to 5 μg/mL. Relative standard deviations for oxprenolol, propanolol and metoprolol were less than 5% in serum and 5–11% in urine. Received: 23 May 1997 / Revised: 28 July 1997 / Accepted: 5 August 1997