An Al(OTf)3-catalyzed environmentally benign process for the propargylation of indoles

Al(OTf)₃ catalyzed the alkylation of indoles using secondary/tertiary propargylic alcohols to produce 3-propargylated indoles in excellent yields with high selectivity. The reactions were performed in air with commercial grade solvents, and water was the only side product of the process. The catalyst was recovered after completion of the reaction and re-used with minimum loss of activity over three cycles.     

Two new promelacacinidin dimers,including a novel flavanone-flavanol dimer characterized by a unique C(3)-C(4) linkage,from the heartwood of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia nigrescens</Emphasis>

Two new promelacacinidin biflavonoids, mesquitol-(4α,5)-epimesquitol-4β-ol and a 3′,4′,7,8-tetrahydroxyflavanone(3,4)-ent-epimesquitol, were isolated among others from the heartwood of Acacia nigrescens. The flavanone derived dimer, characterized by a unique C(3) to C(4) bridge, which links the monomers via two stereogenic and sp³ hybridized C-atoms, is the prototype of a new subgroup of the flavonoid family. Assessment of the absolute configuration of all five stereogenic centers of this novel flavanone-derived biflavonoid was achieved by correlating the chiroptical properties of the benzoyl chromophore to the absolute configuration of C(2) of the flavanone moiety and hence the absolute stereochemistry of the other four chiral centers. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 437–441, September–October, 2007. Dedicated to Prof. E. Malan, who initiated and supervised this research project, for a noteworthy contribution in the flavonoid field, and who has since retired.     

Siloxanes with pendent naphthalene diimides: synthesis and fluorescence quenching

Cyclic siloxanes with pendent naphthalene diimide groups were synthesized via hydrosilylation to form amorphous electron-accepting compounds. Photophysical measurements and >99.9% fluorescence quenching of well-known p-type polymers by the siloxanes demonstrate that these siloxanes form a new class of highly efficient n-type materials that provide some control over intermolecular interactions.     

Horizontal Redistribution of Two Fluid Phases in a Porous Medium: Experimental Investigations

Classical models for flow and transport processes in porous media employ the so-called extended Darcy’s Law. Originally, it was proposed empirically for one-dimensional isothermal flow of an incompressible fluid in a rigid, homogeneous, and isotropic porous medium. Nowadays, the extended Darcy’s Law is used for highly complex situations like non-isothermal, multi-phase and multi-component flow and transport, without introducing any additional driving forces. In this work, an alternative approach by Hassanizadeh and Gray identifying additional driving forces were tested in an experimental setup for horizontal redistribution of two fluid phases with an initial saturation discontinuity. Analytical and numerical solutions based on traditional models predict that the saturation discontinuity will persist, but a uniform saturation distribution will be established in each subdomain after an infinite amount of time. The pressure field, however, is predicted to be continuous throughout the domain at all times and is expected to become uniform when there is no flow. In our experiments, we also find that the saturation discontinuity persists. But, gradients in both saturation and pressure remain in both subdomains even when the flow of fluids stops. This indicates that the identified additional driving forces present in the truly extended Darcy’s Law are potentially significant.     

A comparative study on structural,morphological and luminescence characteristics of Zn3(VO4)2 phosphor prepared via hydrothermal and citrate-gel combustion routes

Comparison of structural, morphological and spectroscopic properties of zinc vanadate Zn₃(VO₄)₂ phosphor synthesized via two different methods, viz. citrate-gel combustion and hydrothermal reaction, is presented. Highly crystalline and pure phase micro-rods are achieved by citrate-gel combustion route. The hydrothermal reaction products exhibit ribbon like structures. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic investigation reveals the presence of multiple oxidation states of vanadium in the hydrothermally synthesized phosphor. Luminescence properties have also been compared and the effect of divalent cationic substitution (Ca, Mg) is presented.     

The effects of fractional order on a 3-D quadratic autonomous system with four-wing attractor

In this paper, a fractional 3-dimensional (3-D) 4-wing quadratic autonomous system (Qi system) is analyzed. Time domain approximation method (Grunwald–Letnikov method) and frequency domain approximation method are used together to analyze the behavior of this fractional order chaotic system. It is found that the decreasing of the system order has great effect on the dynamics of this nonlinear system. The fractional Qi system can exhibit chaos when the total order less than 3, although the regular one always shows periodic orbits in the same range of parameters. In some fractional order, the 4 wings are decayed to a scroll using the frequency domain approximation method which is different from the result using time domain approximation method. A surprising finding is that the phase diagrams display a character of local self-similar in the 4-wing attractors of this fractional Qi system using the frequency approximation method even though the number and the characteristics of equilibria are not changed. The frequency spectrums show that there is some shrinking tendency of the bandwidth with the falling of the system states order. However, the change of fractional order has little effect on the bandwidth of frequency spectrum using the time domain approximation method. According to the bifurcation analysis, the fractional order Qi system attractors start from sink, then period bifurcation to some simple periodic orbits, and chaotic attractors, finally escape from chaotic attractor to periodic orbits with the increasing of fractional order α in the interval [0.8,1]. The simulation results revealed that the time domain approximation method is more accurate and reliable than the frequency domain approximation method.     

Ring-closing metathesis as a new methodology for the synthesis of monomeric flavonoids and neoflavonoids

Basic flavonoid (flavene) and neoflavonoid (neoflavene) skeletons were successfully synthesized using ring-closing metathesis, showing that this methodology can be used as a central synthetic tool for the synthesis of at least two of the three basic flavonoid classes.     

A four-wing chaotic attractor generated from a new 3-D quadratic autonomous system

This paper introduces a new 3-D quadratic autonomous system, which can generate two coexisting single-wing chaotic attractors and a pair of diagonal double-wing chaotic attractors. More importantly, the system can generate a four-wing chaotic attractor with very complicated topological structures over a large range of parameters. Some basic dynamical behaviors and the compound structure of the new 3-D system are investigated. Detailed bifurcation analysis illustrates the evolution processes of the system among two coexisting sinks, two coexisting periodic orbits, two coexisting single-wing chaotic attractors, major and minor diagonal double-wing chaotic attractors, and a four-wing chaotic attractor. Poincaré-map analysis shows that the system has extremely rich dynamics. The physical existence of the four-wing chaotic attractor is verified by an electronic circuit. Finally, spectral analysis shows that the system has an extremely broad frequency bandwidth, which is very desirable for engineering applications such as secure communications.