The facile oxidation of alcohols to carboxylate salts and H2 is achieved using a simple and readily accessible cobalt pincer catalyst (NNNHtBuCoBr2). The reaction follows an acceptorless dehydrogenation pathway and displays good functional group tolerance. The amine–amide metal–ligand cooperation in cobalt catalyst is suggested to facilitate this transformation. The mechanistic studies indicate that in-situ-formed aldehydes react with a base through a Cannizzaro-type pathway, resulting in potassium hemiacetolate, which further undergoes catalytic dehydrogenation to provide the carboxylate salts and H2.

Ruthenium(ii)-catalysed direct synthesis of ketazines using secondary alcohols is reported.

In an attempt to modify water‐soluble synthetic polymers, graft Copolymerization of methylmethacrylate (MMA) and ethyl acrylate (EA) onto poly(vinyl alcohol), PVA, has been studied by using gamma irradiation from a Co60 source as initiator. The graft copolymerization was carried out in an aqueous medium by the mutual method in air. The effect of total dose and concentration of vinyl monomers on percentage of grafting has been determined. Water plays a significant role in the enhancement of graft copolymerization and the optimum amount of water to afford maximum grafting has been evaluated. The effect of CH3OH on aqueous grafting of MMA and EA by radiation method has been studied. The graft copolymer has been characterized by IR spectroscopic and thermogravimetric methods.

Complexes of tetrasulphur tetranitride with antimony pentachloride, selenium tetrachloride, tellurium tetrachloride, and boron trichloride, and adducts of these complexes with sulphur trioxide, have been prepared. Physical data have been collected and structures proposed.

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