Engine oil acidity detection using solid state ion selective electrodes

Initial results from oil acidity measurements using thick film electrodes are presented. The results suggest that as the oil degrades, its pH/acidity follows a specific trend. Furthermore, an investigation into the feasibility of detecting changes in oil acidity (i.e. TAN value) using ion selective electrodes fabricated utilising thick film technology is presented. The thick-film (screen printing) technique is a decent means for the mass production of rugged, compact and disposable sensors as many such devices can be printed at the same time making them very cost effective to manufacture. Thick-Film ion selective and reference electrodes were fabricated, calibrated and tested in different oil samples varying its acidity. Ruthenium oxide (RuO2) pH sensitive electrodes were screen printed and were used against silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) reference electrodes as well as a commercial glass Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The potentiometric sets of electrodes were calibrated in pH 4, 7 and 10 buffers in a cyclic manner and the voltage was recorded using a high input impedance voltmete

Engine oil acidity detection using solid state ion selective electrodes

Initial results from oil acidity measurements using thick film electrodes are presented. The results suggest that as the oil degrades, its pH/acidity follows a specific trend. Furthermore, an investigation into the feasibility of detecting changes in oil acidity (i.e. TAN value) using ion selective electrodes fabricated utilising thick film technology is presented. The thick-film (screen printing) technique is a decent means for the mass production of rugged, compact and disposable sensors as many such devices can be printed at the same time making them very cost effective to manufacture. Thick-Film ion selective and reference electrodes were fabricated, calibrated and tested in different oil samples varying its acidity. Ruthenium oxide (RuO2) pH sensitive electrodes were screen printed and were used against silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) reference electrodes as well as a commercial glass Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The potentiometric sets of electrodes were calibrated in pH 4, 7 and 10 buffers in a cyclic manner and the voltage was recorded using a high input impedance voltmete

Cascade reactions of substituted 1,2,4-triazines: rapid access to nitrogen-containing polycycles

A new and straightforward methodology for the construction of complex nitrogen-containing polycycles has been developed. This methodology exploits easily prepared 1,2,4-triazines as substrates for a pericyclic reaction cascade, forming the polycycles in good to excellent yield in a single operation

A simplified Ramberg-B䣫lund approach to novel C-glycosides and C-linked disaccharides

Eight illustrious organic chemists in one pot! A route from protected monosaccharides to novel C-glycosides and C-linked disaccharides is described which involves tandem Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons/conjugate addition (Michael-type), followed by tandem halogenation/Ramberg-Bäcklund reaction using the Meyers-Chan procedure (see scheme, R=protected saccharide)

Oxidative addition of N-halosuccinimides to palladium(0): The discovery of neutral palladium(II) imidate ligands, which enhance Stille coupling of allylic and benzylic halides

The Stille coupling of organostannanes and organohalides, mediated by air and moisture stable palladium(II) phosphine complexes containing succinimide or phthalimide (imidate) ligands, has been investigated. An efficient synthetic route to several palladium(II) complexes containing succinimide and phthalimide ligands, has been developed. cis-Bromobis(triphenylphosphine)(N-succinimide)palladium(II) [(Ph3P)2Pd(N-Succ)Br] is shown to mediate the Stille coupling of allylic and benzylic halides with alkenyl, aryl and allyl stannanes. In competition experiments between 4-nitrobromobenzene and benzyl bromide with a cis-stannylvinyl ester, (Ph3P)2Pd(N-Succ)Br preferentially cross-couples benzyl bromide, whereas with other commonly employed precatalysts 4-nitrobromobenzene undergoes preferential cross-coupling. Furthermore, preferential reaction of deactivated benzyl bromides over activated benzyl bromides is observed for the first time. The type of halide and presence of a succinimide ligand are essential for effective Stille coupling. The type of phosphine ligand is also shown to alter the catalytic activity of palladium(II) succinimide complexes

The direct preparation of functionalised cyclopropanes from allylic alcohols or a-hydroxyketones using tandem oxidation processes

New manganese dioxide-mediated tandem oxidation processes (TOPs) have been developed, which facilitate the direct conversion of allylic alcohols and α-hydroxyketones into polysubstituted functionalised cyclopropanes. In the simplest version, the oxidation of an allylic alcohol is carried out in the presence of a stabilised sulfurane, and the intermediate α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound undergoes in situ cyclopropanation. By using a combination of stabilised phosphorane and sulfurane, the direct conversion of allylic alcohols or α-hydroxyketones into functionalised cyclopropanes is achieved, with in situ cyclopropanation being followed by Wittig olefination, or vice versa. The application of these methods to a formal synthesis of the lignan (±)-picropodophyllone, and to novel analogues of the insecticide allethrin II, is described

A versatile, non-biomimetic route to the preussomerins: syntheses of (+ -)-preussomerins F, K and L

The first total syntheses of the title fungal metabolites preussomerins F, K and L are described and their structures confirmed thereby. The syntheses were achieved following a versatile, unified, non-biomimetic approach, which is easily extendable to prepare other known and novel members of this family. Key steps include the functionalisation of a 2-arylacetal anion, tandem one-pot Friedel–Crafts cyclisation–deprotection, regioselective substrate-directable hydrogenation and reductive-opening of epoxides