The dielectric properties of epoxy nanocomposites with insulating nano-fillers, viz., TiO 2 , ZnO and Al 2 O 3 were investigated at low filler concentrations by weight. Epoxy nanocomposite samples with a good dispersion of nanoparticles in the epoxy matrix were prepared and experiments were performed to measure the dielectric permittivity and tan delta (400 Hz-1 MHz), dc volume resistivity and ac dielectric strength. At very low nanoparticle loadings, results demonstrate some interesting dielectric behaviors for nanocomposites and some of the electrical properties are found to be unique and advantageous for use in several existing and potential electrical systems. The nanocomposite dielectric properties are analyzed in detail with respect to different experimental parameters like frequency (for permittivity/tan delta), filler size, filler concentration and filler permittivity. In addition, epoxy microcomposites for the same systems were synthesized and their dielectric properties were compared to the results already obtained for nanocomposites. The interesting dielectric characteristics for epoxy based nanodielectric systems are attributed to the large volume fraction of interfaces in the bulk of the material and the ensuing interactions between the charged nanoparticle surface and the epoxy chains.

The highly enantioselective [5 + 2] annulation of enals with vinylethylene carbonates through a cooperative N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)/Pd catalytic system is reported. The use of a bidentate phosphine ligand was crucial to prevent coordination of the NHC organocatalyst to the active Pd catalyst. The complementary and matched combination of the chiral NHC catalyst and chiral phosphine ligand promotes high levels of both reactivity and enantioselectivity (mostly ≥99% ee).

To achieve a compact and reliable design of electrical equipment for the present day requirements, there is an urgent need for better and smart insulating materials and in this respect, the reported enhancements in dielectric properties obtained for polymer nanocomposites seems to be very encouraging. To further understand the dielectric behavior of polymer nanocomposites, this experimental work reports the trends of dielectric permittivities and tan delta (loss tangent) of epoxy nanocomposites with single nano-fillers of Al 2 O 3 and TiO 2 at low filler concentrations (0.1%, 0.5%, 1% & 5%) over a frequency range of 1 MHz-1 GHz. Results show that the nanocomposites demonstrate some very different dielectric characteristics when compared to those for polymer microcomposites. Unlike the usual expectations of increasing permittivity with increasing filler concentration in polymer microcomposites, it has been seen that up to a certain nano-filler concentration and depending on the permittivity of the nano-filler, the permittivities of the epoxy nanocomposites are less than that of the unfilled epoxy at all the measured frequencies. This suggests that there is a very strong dependence of the filler concentration and nano-filler permittivity on the final permittivity of the nanocomposites at all these frequencies. But, in the case of tan delta behavior in nanocomposites, significant effects of filler concentrations were not observed with both Al 2 O 3 and TiO 2 fillers. Tan delta values in nanocomposites with Al 2 O 3 fillers are found to be marginally lower at all filler concentrations when compared with the value for unfilled epoxy. But, in TiO 2-epoxy nanocomposites, although the variations in tan delta are not significant with respect to unfilled epoxy, some interesting trends are observed with respect to the frequencies of measurement.

Diastereodivergent synthesis of enantioenriched α,β-disubstituted-γ-butyrolactones via cooperative N-heterocyclic carbene/Ir catalysis

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