March 2012

A new approach for acetylation of wood: Vinyl acetate

The chemical modification of wood has been the subject of research for many decades. The most favoured modification reaction involves the acetylation of wood with acetic anhydride. Reacted acetate provides dimensional stability by bulking the cell wall polymers and reduces further swelling when the woods come into contact with water. In addition that chemical modification also provides biological resistance. With...

Author(s): Nilgül Özmen and Nihat Sami Çetin

March 2012

Synthesis of trans-3,4-dibenzyl-2-oxo-tetrahydrofuran

Trans-3,4-dibenzyl-2-oxo-tetrahydrofuran (6) a substituted tetrahydrofuranoid lignan was synthesized in 70% yield via the Stobbe condensation between (1) benzaldehyde  and (2) diethyl succinate. The structure was confirmed by the spectral data such as infra-red, proton magnetic resonance and mass spectrum. It has two similar but non equivalent aromatic groups which appeared at δ: 6.48 - 6.76 and 7.06 - 7.25...

Author(s): Jack I. R. and Orubite K. O.