Materials, advanced process-related, needs

Two general problems relate to the role of interfaces in advanced materials. The first is simply that we do not have the theory or the computational or experimental ability to understand the interatomic and microscopic interactions at the interfaces between components of an advanced material, on which its properties are critically dependent. There is a general need for research on processes at interfaces and on the stracture-property-performance relationships of interfaces. 

Intramolecular rhodium-catalyzed carbamate C-H insertion has broad utility for substrates fashioned from most 1° and 3° alcohols. As is typically observed, 3° and benzylic C-H bonds are favored over other C-H centers for amination of this type. Stereospecific oxidation of optically pure 3° units greatly facilitates the preparation of enantiomeric tetrasubstituted carbinolamines, and should find future applications in synthesis vide infra). Importantly, use of PhI(OAc)2 as a terminal oxidant for this process has enabled reactions with a class of starting materials (that is, 1° carbamates) for which iminoiodi-nane synthesis has not proven possible. Thus, by obviating the need for such reagents, substrate scope for this process and related aziridination reactions is significantly expanded vide infra). Looking forward, the versatility of this method for C-N bond formation will be advanced further with the advent of chiral catalysts for diastero- and enantio-controlled C-H insertion. In addition, new catalysts may increase the range of 2° alkanol-based carbamates that perform as viable substrates for this process. 

Materials science is currently witnessing an impressive acceleration of activities. New advanced materials are constantly emerging. The materials that will be used or needed in the next decade are not yet known. Since such materials are often used in special environments or under extreme conditions of temperature and pressure, their careful characterization must be done not only at the early stage of their development but also in their entire life cycle. Furthermore, their properties as a function of temperature and pressure must be well established for the optimal control of their processability. Undoubtedly, thermal and calorimetric techniques are essential in this respect. In relating thermal as well as mechanical behavior to materials structures, these techniques are perfectly adapted to provide accurate data in wide ranges of temperature and pressure. 

As we all know, this effort was initiated because of concern over the need for better systems to process and manage radiochemicals safely. Over the past few years, this review of issues related to radiochemical processing has grown into a broader initiative to address nuclear materials safety throughout the nuclear complex. There are 14 functional areas involving nuclear materials. Four of these areas were addressed last year at the first Joint Advanced Research Workshop in Amarillo, Texas ... 

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