Facile synthesis of rhodamine esters using acetyl chloride in alcohol solution

The rhodamines are a highly fluorescent class of compound used in many different fields of research, from the lasing medium in dye lasers to biological stains and markers for cellular drug resistance. In this study, esters (2-7) of rhodamine 110 (1) were conveniently prepared via the addition of acetyl chloride to a solution of the free acid (1) in the appropriate alcohol. This method conferred several advantages over previous preparations, namely that for low boiling alcohols, simple evaporation of the solution afforded the ester in quantitative yield with no need for purification. For higher boiling point alcohols, a method has been developed which allows the separation of longer chain esters from the alcohol solvent.

Need for systematic synthetic phonics teaching within the early reading curriculum

Both the New Zealand Ministry of Education's Literacy Experts Group and the Australian National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy have recently acknowledged the centrality of systematic instruction in synthetic phonics to early reading instruction, but this conclusion remains contentious in some circles. This paper briefly summarises empirical research in basic psychology and evidence-based evaluation studies supporting the inclusion of systematic synthetic phonics instruction within the early reading curriculum, allowing practising psychologists to develop an informed opinion on this issue.

Spectroscopic studies of synthetic and natural beidellites: A review

This paper represents an overview of the spectroscopic studies of both synthetic and naturally occurring beidellites performed as part of my research over the past 16 years. It shows that detailed information on the local structure of beidellite and changes in this local structure upon heating can be obtained by combining a range of spectroscopic techniques such as mid-infrared, near-infrared, infrared emission, Raman, nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Towards the total synthesis of vibsanin E, 15-O-methylcyclovibsanin B, 3-hydroxyvibsanin E, furanovibsanin A, and 3-O-methylfuranovibsanin A

Studies detailing synthetic approaches to a variety of biosynthetically related vibsanin-type diterpenes (i.e. vibsanin E, 15-O-methylcyclovibsanin B, 3-hydroxy-vibsanin E, furano-vibsanin A, and 3-O-methylfuranovibsanin A) are discussed. Biogenetically modelled approaches are coupled with an in-vestigation of classical and modern six- to seven-membered ring-expansion protocols, which gain access to the central core of these natural products. (c) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co.