A highly efficient and ecofriendly procedure for tetrahydropyranylation of alcohols and phenols in the presence of in-situ generated I2 under heterogeneous and neutral conditions

Abstract  Molecular iodine generated in situ from Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O/NaI acts as a highly efficient catalyst for tetrahydropyranylation of various alcohols and phenols with 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran in almost quantitative yields. The reaction occurs rapidly in dichloromethane at room temperature, and use of toxic molecular iodine is avoided. Graphical Abstract        

An atomistic simulation study of oxygen-vacancy migration in perovskite electrolytes based on LaGaO3

Abstract  Static lattice simulation techniques were used to calculate the energetic barriers for oxygen-vacancy migration in the perovskite-type oxide LaGaO₃ substituted with alkaline earth cations. The calculated migration energies are found to vary with the number and size of the substituting cations in the immediate neigbourhood of the migrating defect. It is argued that not only the size but also the charge of the cations constituting the saddle-point configuration play a role in determining the migration energy. Graphical abstract        

Synthesis of imidazo[4,5-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]acridones and imidazo[4,5-<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]acridines as potential antibacterial agents

Abstract  New imidazo[4,5-a]acridone derivatives were synthesized from the rearrangement of 3H-imidazo[4′,5′:3,4]benzo[c]isoxazoles. New imidazo[4,5-a]acridines were obtained from the reaction of imidazo[4,5-a]acridones in boiling POCl₃. All of these compounds exhibited antimicrobial activities comparable to streptomycin as reference drug. Graphical abstract        

Structure and conductivity in CeNb<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>9-δ</Subscript>

Abstract  In the search of new materials for solid oxide fuel cells, a study of the structure and electrical conductivity of Mg-doped and nominally pure CeNb₃O_9-δ was undertaken. This material exhibits an orthorhombic crystal structure as determined by Rietveld refinement. Through a combined study of 4-point DC and AC impedance spectroscopy, it was determined that the material presents oxygen ion conductivity, electron conductivity and electron-hole conductivity according to the partial pressure of oxygen and temperature in agreement with a simple defect chemistry model. Finally, some experiments seem to indicate the presence of proton conduction. Graphical Abstract        

Electrochemical sensors and biosensors based on heterogeneous carbon materials

Abstract  An overview of the use of electrochemical sensors made from heterogeneous carbon materials (carbon paste electrodes, screen-printed carbon electrodes) in the field of food analysis is presented. Sensors for inorganic and organic analytes as well as biosensors are summarized. Graphical abstract        

Practical and general method for the direct synthesis of alkyl fluorides from alcohols under mild conditions: a reinvestigation

Abstract  In contrast to the results presented in a previous report, the direct conversion of alcohols to alkyl fluorides with triphenylphosphine and potassium fluoride in CCl₄/DMF under mild conditions failed. Graphical Abstract        

Textural properties of sulfated iron hydroxide promoted with aluminum

Abstract  Aluminum-promoted sulfated iron hydroxide samples were prepared by a coprecipitation method with different loading levels of Al^III followed by sulfation and calcination at 870 K. These samples were characterized by means of thermal gravimetric analysis, X-ray powder diffraction, nitrogen adsorption at 77 K, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and FT-IR spectroscopy using KBr pellets. TGA profiles showed sulfated species with different thermal stabilities in the samples, and incorporation of Al^III causes an increase in the thermal stability of the surface sulfate species. The presence of sulfate ions and Al^III promotion did not modify the crystal phase of α-Fe₂O₃, but it did increase the crystallite size. A textural study showed that the incorporation of Al^III into the sulfated samples led to diminished surface area and pore volume. The pore size distribution exhibited a wide spectrum of mesoporosity in all samples. Graphical Abstract        

Interaction of push–pull <Emphasis Type="Italic">tert-</Emphasis>enamines with phenylglyoxal

Abstract  The reaction of push–pull enamines with 1,2-biselectrophilic phenylglyoxal was investigated. Phenylglyoxal was found to react depending on the structure of the push–pull enamine, affording either a hydroxyalkylation product at the methyl group or the cyclic product via participation of the methyl group and the β-carbon of the enamine. Graphical abstract        

Characterizing ion dynamics in nanoscopic volumes: time-domain electrostatic force spectroscopy on solid electrolytes

Abstract  We use time-domain electrostatic force spectroscopy (TD-EFS) for characterizing the ion dynamics in solid electrolytes on a nanoscopic level. For partially crystallized glass ceramics we are able to distinguish between dynamic processes in the glassy phase, in crystallites, and at interfaces. Nanoscopic polarization spots can be created and directly visualized, and their time evolution can be studied. By applying grid-type spectroscopic measurements, maps of the local relaxation strength can be obtained, giving information about the spatial distribution of the glassy and crystalline phases. Graphical abstract        

Thermal isomerization in cyclopenta[<Emphasis Type="Italic">fg</Emphasis>]aceanthrylene

Abstract  Two mechanisms for the isomerization of cyclopenta[fg]aceanthrylene to acefluoranthene were revealed. The first pathway occurs via a cyclobutyl intermediate, whereas the second pathway involves a transition state that contains an sp ³-hybridized carbon atom. Both patterns show that the Stone-Wales rearrangement requires extremely high activation energy and indicate that the isomerization process can occur only under a drastic temperature regime. Graphical abstract        

Synthesis and study of the fluorescent behavior of 3-pyridinecarbonitriles

Abstract  A series of (2E)-3-(1-chloro-6-methoxy-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl)-1-(4-aryl)prop-2-en-1-ones (chalcones) have been synthesized by a new synthetic route. The 3-pyridinecarbonitrile derivatives were synthesized by the Michael reaction of malononitrile (in base) and aroylacetonitriles (in acid) with chalcones in one pot. The fluorescent properties and quantum yields of these compounds were studied. Graphical Abstract        

Ferric nitrate in the presence of catalytic amounts of KBr or NaBr: an efficient and homoselective catalytic media for the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides

Abstract  A mild, efficient, and highly selective oxidation method of sulfides to sulfoxides using Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O and catalytic amounts of KBr or NaBr in the presence of wet SiO₂ (50% w/w) has been developed. A variety of aliphatic and aromatic sulfides were selectively oxidized at room temperature in good to excellent yields. Graphical abstract        

An efficient and convenient protocol for the synthesis of novel 1′H-spiro[isoindoline-1,2′-quinazoline]-3,4′(3′H)-dione derivatives

Abstract  An efficient and direct procedure for the synthesis of novel spiro[isoindoline-1,2′-quinazoline]-3,4′(3′H)-dione derivatives is described. The process employs a condensation reaction of 2-aminobenzamides and isatins in the presence of a catalytic amount of KAl(SO₄)₂.12H₂O (alum) in ethanol under reflux. Graphical Abstract        

Practical applications of the chemical strain effect in ionic and mixed conductors

Abstract  The chemical strain effect in solids is the deviation from linear elasticity due to the association and dissociation of point defects. Although to date this effect has been observed and studied only in Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_1,9, one may expect that it will be found in other ionic and mixed conductors containing a large concentration of point defects. In this work, some practical applications of materials exhibiting the chemical strain effect are discussed. Based on the example of Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_1,9, mechanical structures built from these materials should exhibit exceptional mechanical stability and are therefore very attractive for use as components of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) or other devices subjected to large and frequent temperature variations. The ability of these materials to withstand large strain without accumulating large stress also makes them potentially useful as flexible elements in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS). Graphical abstract        

Catalytic oxidation of urazoles and bis-urazoles to their corresponding triazolinediones using aluminium nitrate and a catalytic amount of silica sulfuric acid

Abstract  A simple and efficient catalytic oxidation of urazoles and a bis-urazole to the corresponding triazolinediones by treatment with Al(NO₃)₃.9H₂O in the presence of a catalytic amount of silica sulfuric acid is described. A good range of urazole derivatives was selectively oxidized in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature in good to excellent yields. Graphical abstract        

Ultra-thin emissive molecular devices: polarized emission of Ln(III) complex films

Abstract  On ultra-thin films, Tb(III) shows polarized ff-emission in the visible wavelength region induced by intramolecular energy transfer from the photoexcited organic ligand, such as phenanthroline. Pr(III) causes polarized ππ* emission from the chromophore in the ultra-thin film (Langmuir–Blodgett film). Here, the unique optical properties of molecular devices with lanthanide complexes are summarized. Graphical Abstract        

The intrinsic origin of the grain-boundary resistance in Sr-doped LaGaO<Subscript>3</Subscript>

Abstract  In this paper I summarize our recent investigations (Park and Kim, Phys Chem C 111:14903, 2007; Solid State Ionics 179:1329, 2008) on the origin of the grain-boundary resistance in a doped LaGaO₃, a perovskite-structured solid electrolyte. The partial electronic and ionic resistances of the bulk and the grain boundaries, as well as the total resistance, in 1 mol% Sr-doped LaGaO₃ were measured separately by means of a dc-polarization method and ac-impedance spectroscopy. Both of the partial resistances at the grain boundaries were greater than the bulk counterparts, indicating that the grain boundaries impede the ionic as well as the electronic transport in this material. The transference number of the partial electronic conductivity at the grain boundary was however greater than that in the bulk. This fact strongly suggests that both electronic and ionic charge carriers deplete at the grain boundaries to form the space-charge zones and that the grain-boundary cores in this material are positively charged. In light of the fact that the effective charge of the oxygen vacancy (+2) is greater than that of the electron hole (+1), the oxygen vacancies deplete more sharply in the space-charge zones compared to the electron holes such that the grain boundaries become more mixed conducting relative to the bulk. These observations verify that the electrical conduction across the grain-boundaries in 1 mol% Sr-doped LaGaO₃ is governed by the space charge. Graphical Abstract        

Synthesis of 3-(quinoxalin-2-yl)-2H-chromen-2-ones under microwave irradiation

Abstract  A facile procedure for the synthesis of quinoxalines is being reported starting from 3-(2-bromoacetyl)coumarins or 3-(2-bromobutanoyl)coumarins and substituted o-phenylenediamines. The reactions were carried out under catalyst-free and microwave irradiation conditions producing the title compounds in moderate to excellent yields in a short time with easy workup. The structures of all new compounds have been confirmed on the basis of their IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and HRMS data. Graphical Abstract        

Electrochemical production of novel products from 2,3-dimethylhydroquinone in the presence of some β-diketones

Abstract  Electrochemical oxidation of 2,3-dimethylhydroquinone has been studied in the presence of β-diketones as nucleophiles in aqueous solution using cyclic voltammetry and controlled-potential coulometry. The results indicate that the derivatives of 2,3-dimethylhydroquinone participate in a Michael addition reaction to form the corresponding benzofuran derivatives. The electrochemical synthesis has been successfully performed at pH 7.0 and E = 0.1 V versus an Ag|AgCl|KCl (3 M) in an undivided cell in good yield and purity. Graphical Abstract        

The 3D porous metal-organic framework constructed by Cd(II) with 2-methylimidazole-4,5-dicarboxylic acid

Abstract  A 3D metal-organic framework, [C₆H₃CdN₂O₄]·NH₄, was synthesized solvothermally and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure determination. This compound crystallizes in the tetragonal system with the space group P42/nmc. The crystal structure presents a 3D framework and open channels, exhibiting guest-coordination sites at channel walls and strong fluorescent emission. Graphical abstract