The kinetics of the rearrangement of the Z-phenylhydrazone of 3-benzoyl-5-phenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole (1) into the relevant 4-benzoylamino-2,5-diphenyl-1,2,3-triazole (2) induced by amines have been studied in five room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) at different temperatures. The kinetic data collected show that both cationic and anionic parts of RTILs significantly influence the reactivity of the title reaction. The calculated activation parameters allow us to advance hypotheses about the weak interactions operating in RTIL solutions.

The growing number of applications of ionic liquids (ILs) in industry have brought attention to the green credentials of synthesis, as well as their cyto-and ecotoxicities both for their use and accidental leakage into the environment. With the above in mind, we designed a class of ILs with either cations bearing gluconamide motif and aliphatic side chains or the anion incorporating gluconic acid (derived from food waste) moiety. An ionic liquid with imidazolium cation with an appended gluconic amide (bearing 5 hydroxyl groups) moiety was also synthesised for a useful comparison. Different structural features were considered, placing emphasis on the nature and length of the alkyl chain and the nature of the anion. For comparison, two ILs with one hydroxyl group and another without any hydroxyl-groups were prepared.

Insights are provided into the properties of molecular gels formed by diimidazolium salts both in "normal" solvents and ionic liquids. These materials can be interesting for applications in green and sustainable chemistry in which ionic liquids play a significant role, like catalysis and energy. In particular, two positional isomers of a diimidazolium cation have been examined with a wide range of anions for their ability to form gel phases. In particular, di-, tri-, and tetravalent anions bearing aliphatic or aromatic spacers were paired with the divalent cations. The properties of the organo- and ionogels formed have been analyzed by means of several different techniques, including calorimetry, rheology, resonance light scattering, UV/Vis absorption, polarizing optical microscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction measurements. The investigations performed enabled us to obtain a wide range of conductive materials characterized by a high thermal stability and a low corrosiveness of the gelator (organogels) or of both gelator and solvent (ionogels). The information gained should be useful in the broader quest to identify and promote their applications.

Hybrid diimidazolium-based ionogels were obtained by dispersing nitrogen-doped carbon nanodots (NCNDs) in ionic liquid (IL) solutions and by using dicationic organic salts as gelators. The properties of the NCND-ionogels were studied in terms of thermal stability, mechanical strength, morphology, rheological, and microscopic analyses. Insights into the formation of the hybrid soft material were attained from kinetics of sol-gel phase transition and from estimating the size of the aggregates, obtained from opacity and resonance light-scattering measurements. We demonstrate that, on one hand, NCNDs were able to favor the gel formation both in the presence of gelating and nongelating ILs. On the other hand, the gelatinous matrix retains and, in some cases, improves the properties of NCNDs. The NCND-ionogels showed the typical fluorescence emission of the carbon dots and a notable antiradical activity, with higher efficiency as compared to the single components. The presented hybrid materials hold great promise for topical applications in antioxidant fields.

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New materials for l-proline recycling have been developed. These materials have been applied to the l-proline-catalyzed aldol reaction between acetone and several aldehydes. The l-proline has been supported on the surface of modified silica gels with a monolayer of covalently attached ionic liquid with or without additional adsorbed ionic liquid. Good yields and ee values, comparable with those obtained under homogeneous conditions, have been obtained especially with imidazolinium-modified and 4-methylpyridinium-modified silica gels. Moreover, these materials have been easily recovered by simple filtration and studies about their reuse have been carried out. These studies showed that these materials can be used at least up to seven times. Finally, in the case of imidazolinium-modified silica gel, investigations showed that this support can be regenerated giving again a recyclable material with high isolated yields and reproducible ee values up to 13 cycles.

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and Ornamental Crops-Germany are pleased to welcome you to the International Symposium on Vegetable Grafting held in Viterbo, Italy, from October 3 to 5, 2011. The symposium takes place in the Grand Hotel Terme Salus Pianeta Benessere (Viterbo) located in the heart of Tuscia territory that was the ancient home of the Etruscans in the 8 th century BC, and elected Papal seat in the Middle Ages. The symposium intends to reflect on the recent advances in vegetable grafting from different points of view in order to integrate this modernized technology as an effective tool for sustainable horticultural production. The symposium is comprised of scientific sections, with oral and poster presentations, addressing the advancement in grafting techniques, genetics, rootstock breeding, scion-rootstock interaction, phytopatological, physiological, and agronomical aspects of grafted plant response under open field and greenhouse conditions. In addition, the symposium includes a technical tour in the province of Latina, which is one of the most important vegetable production areas in Italy. This tour will provide an opportunity to see the benefits of using grafted plants in terms of increased productivity, and improved tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. We hope that the high scientific level of the symposium together with the beauty of Tuscia territory make it an unforgettable event.