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Michael addition reaction between EMME and various O, S, N nucleophiles were investigated in the presence of catalysts such as KF, KOH, or K(OCCH3)3 under solvent‐free conditions either neat or on alumina as solid support. Compared to low reactivity of alcohols (40 to 80% yields according to aliphatic chain), aniline or thiophenol gave good to excellent yields (90–99%).

In order to obtain a homogeneous distribution of fine Si particles in aluminium matrix and thus to improve the adaptability of Al-Si alloy for aerospace and automobile applications, Si particulate reinforced aluminium matrix composites have been processed by using powder metallurgy method. The Si pariticulates with 20–40 μm size and Al alloy powders were mixed, degassed and extruded at 350°C or 400°C depending on the composition of the matrix alloy. The microstructural characteristics of the composites such as interfacial stability at high temperatures have been investigated by various experimental techniques. Wear properties of the composites were investigated by using a pin-on-disk type wear tester. The results were compared with these obtained from the conventionally cast hypereutectic Al-Si alloys and discussed in terms of the observed microstructural characteristics and physical properties such as hardness and tensile properties.

The precipitation behavior of Mg17Al12 in monolithic and Al2O3 short fiber reinforced Mg-Al-Zn alloys was investigated by optical and transmission electron microscopies and hardness measurements. The maximum hardness was obtained when the long and short axes of the platelet type continuous Mg17Al12 precipitates were about 0.3 μm and 0.04 μm, respectively. The area fraction of the discontinuous Mg17Al12 precipitate nodule reached about 0.23. The coarsening behavior of the discontinuous Mg17Al12 precipitate nodule was found to obey the relationship suggested by the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami model. The slope of the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami plot for the Al2O3 short fiber reinforced Mg-Al-Zn alloy was four times larger than that for the monolithic alloy due to the increased number of nucleation sites, i.e. nucleation at the interface between the reinforcing material and the α-Mg matrix as well as at the α-Mg grain boundaries.

Cisplatin [cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum (II)] is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, and one of its most severe side effects is ototoxicity. In the course of developing a new protective agent against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity, we have been interested in a novel synthetic compound, 3-Amino-3-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-1H-quinoline-2,4-dione (KR-22335). We evaluated the effectiveness of KR-22335 as an otoprotective agent against cisplatin-induced toxicity. The otoprotective effect of KR-22335 against cisplatin was tested in vitro in cochlear organs of Corti-derived cell lines, HEI-OC1, and in vivo in a zebrafish (Danio rerio) model. Cisplatin-induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were demonstrated in HEI-OC1 cells. KR-22335 inhibited cisplatin-induced apoptosis and mitochondrial injury in HEI-OC1 cells. KR-22335 inhibited cisplatin-induced activation of JNK, p-38, caspase-3 and PARP in HEI-OC1 cells. Scanning and transmission electron micrographs showed that KR-22335 prevented cisplatin-induced destruction of kinocilium and stereocilia in zebrafish neuromasts. Tissue TUNEL of neuromasts in zebrafish demonstrated that KR-22335 blocked cisplatin-induced TUNEL positive hair cells in neuromasts. The results of this study suggest that KR-22335 may prevent ototoxicity caused by the administration of cisplatin through the inhibition of mitochondrial dysfunction and suppression of ROS generation. KR-22335 may be considered as a potential candidate for protective agents against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.

Solvent-free condensation between malonic acid and aromatic aldehydes is studied in the presence of bentonite. Various diacids are prepared in good to moderate yields and in very short reaction times under microwave irradiation.

Thiophenyl substituted cyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-ones were synthesized and photolyzed in the presence of various amines to afford the amides containing diene moeties via the ketene intermediate under visible light irradiation at 38 degrees C.

Rapid and facile syntheses of N-alkenyl lactam series via condensation between lactams and a variety of aldehydes such as n-propanal, isobutanal, n-butanal, n-hexanal, n-octanal and phenylacetaldehyde were studied under microwave or conventional heating. Various solid catalysts and solvents were examined to maximize the yields of condensation reactions.

A minilibrary of 12 quinoline derivatives was synthesized in the presence of 0.1–0.5 equiv. of diphenylphosphate without any solvents. Each compound was obtained with high yield in 4 min of microwave irradiation.

Thiophenyl substituted cyclohexa-2,4-dien-1-ones were synthesized and photolyzed in the presence of various amines to afford the amides containing diene moeties via the ketene intermediate under visible light irradiation at 38 °C.