Continuous-flow transfer hydrogenation of benzonitrile using formate as a safe and sustainable source of hydrogen †

The continuous catalytic transfer hydrogenation of benzonitrile to benzylamine is demonstrated using a palladium on carbon catalyst with triethylammonium formate as reducing agent. Solvent choice was critical in overcoming rapid catalyst deactivation. A 15-fold increase in catalyst productivity was observed in flow compared to batch, which was achieved using an ethanol–water solvent in combination with intermittent catalyst regeneration by washing with water

Microstructure Impacts on Mechanical Properties in a High Temperature Austenitic Stainless Steel

Austenitic and super-austenitic stainless steels are a critical component of the spectrum of high temperature materials. With respect to power generation, alloys such as Super 304H and NF709 span a gap of capability between ferritic and martensitic high chromium steels and nickel-based alloys in boiler tube applications for both conventionally fired boilers and heat-recovery steam generators (HRSG). This research explores a wrought version of a cast austenitic stainless steel, CF8C-Plus or HG10MNN, which offers promise in creep strength at relatively low cost. Various manufacturing techniques have been employed to explore the impact of wrought processing on nano-scale microstructure and ultimately performance, especially in high temperature creep. Transmission electron microscopy has been used to quantify and characterize the creep-strengthening particles examining the relationship between traditional melting and extrusion as compared to powder metallurgy

Continuous-flow transfer hydrogenation of benzonitrile using formate as a safe and sustainable source of hydrogen

The continuous catalytic transfer hydrogenation of benzonitrile to benzylamine is demonstrated using a palladium on carbon catalyst with triethylammonium formate as reducing agent. Solvent choice was critical in overcoming rapid catalyst deactivation. A 15-fold increase in catalyst productivity was observed in flow compared to batch, which was achieved using an ethanol–water solvent in combination with intermittent catalyst regeneration by washing with water

Continuous flow epoxidation of alkenes using a homogeneous manganese catalyst with peracetic acid

Epoxidation of alkenes is a valuable transformation in the synthesis of fine chemicals. Described herein are the design and development of a continuous flow process for carrying out the epoxidation of alkenes with a homogeneous manganese catalyst at metal loadings as low as 0.05 mol%. In this process, peracetic acid is generated in situ and telescoped directly into the epoxidation reaction, thus reducing the risks associated with its handling and storage, which often limit its use at scale. This flow process lessens the safety hazards associated with both the exothermicity of this epoxidation reaction and the use of the highly reactive peracetic acid. Controlling the speciation of manganese/2-picolinic acid mixtures by varying the ligand:manganese ratio was key to the success of the reaction. This continuous flow process offers an inexpensive, sustainable, and scalable route to epoxides

Antiretroviral treatment use, co-morbidities and clinical outcomes among Aboriginal participants in the Australian HIV Observational Database (AHOD)

Background: There are few data regarding clinical care and outcomes of Indigenous Australians living with HIV and it is unknown if these differ from non-Indigenous HIV-positive Australians. Methods: AHOD commenced enrolment in 1999 and is a prospective cohort of HIV-positive participants attending HIV outpatient services throughout Australia, of which 20 (74 %) sites report Indigenous status. Data were collected up until March 2013 and compared between Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants. Person-year methods were used to compare death rates, rates of loss to follow-up and rates of laboratory testing during follow-up between Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants. Factors associated with time to first combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) regimen change were assessed using Kaplan Meier and Cox Proportional hazards methods. Results: Forty-two of 2197 (1.9 %) participants were Indigenous. Follow-up amongst Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants was 332 & 16270 person-years, respectively. HIV virological suppression was achieved in similar proportions of Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants 2 years after initiation of cART (81.0 % vs 76.5 %, p = 0.635). Indigenous status was not independently associated with shorter time to change from first- to second-line cART (aHR 0.95, 95 % CI 0.51-1.76, p = 0.957). Compared with non-Indigenous participants, Indigenous participants had significantly less frequent laboratory monitoring of CD4 count (rate:2.76 tests/year vs 2.97 tests/year, p = 0.025) and HIV viral load (rate:2.53 tests/year vs 2.93 tests/year, p < 0.001), while testing rates for lipids and blood glucose were almost half that of non-indigenous participants (rate:0.43/year vs 0.71 tests/year, p < 0.001). Loss to follow-up (23.8 % vs 29.8 %, p = 0.496) and death (2.4 % vs 7.1 %, p = 0.361) occurred in similar proportions of indigenous and non-Indigenous participants, respectively, although causes of death in both groups were mostly non-HIV-related. Conclusions: As far as we are aware, these are the first data comparing clinical outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous HIV-positive Australians. The forty-two Indigenous participants represent over 10 % of all Indigenous Australians ever diagnosed with HIV. Although outcomes were not significantly different, Indigenous patients had lower rates of laboratory testing for HIV and lipid/glucose parameters. Given the elevated risk of cardiovascular disease in the general Indigenous community, the additional risk factor of HIV infection warrants further focus on modifiable risk factors to maximise life expectancy in this population