Summary: The preparation and characterization of a new type of nanocomposite material that is based on biodegradable polylactide (PLA) and organically modified layered titanate, is reported. Layered titanate, modified with a N‐(cocoalkyl)‐N,N‐[bis(2‐hydroxyethyl)]‐N‐methylammonium cation, was used as a new nanofiller (OHTO) for the nanocomposite preparation. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses confirmed that titanate layers were intercalated and nicely distributed in the PLA matrix. The materials properties of neat PLA improved remarkably after nanocomposite preparation.UV/vis transmission spectra of neat PLA and a nanocomposite.magnified imageUV/vis transmission spectra of neat PLA and a nanocomposite.

Cover: The structure of pristine protonated layered titanate (HTO) (left) and the bright-field transmission electron microscopy image of a photodegradable nanocomposite (right) prepared by melt extrusion of polylactide and organically modified HTO are shown on the cover.

Back Cover: Despite the immiscibility between octadecylammonium (ODA) and diphenyl sulfide (DFS), the layer expansion in montmorillonite-ODA takes place after mixing with DFS, indicating the DFS intercala-tion into nano-galleries.

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The reductive homocoupling of a carbonyl compound and heterocoupling of a carbonyl compound with a non-protected alcohol were both effected smoothly at room temperature with triethylsilane in the presence of a catalytic amount of bismuth trichloride to afford the corresponding ethers in good yields.