Oxygen-deficient titania as alternative support for Pt catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

Insufficient electrochemical stability is a major challenge for carbon materials in oxygen reduction reaction （ORR） due to carbon corrosion and insufficient metal-support interactions. In this work, titania is explored as an alternative support for Pt catalysts. Oxygen deficient titania samples including TiO2-x and TiO2_xNy were obtained by thermal treatment of anatase TiO2 under flowing H2 and NH3, respectively. Pt nanoparticles were deposited on the titania by a modified ethylene glycol method. The samples were characterized by N2-physisorption, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The ORR activity and long-term stability of supported Pt catalysts were evaluated using linear sweep voltammetry and chronoamperometry in 0.1 mol/L HC104. Pt/TiO2_x and Pt/TiO2_xNy showed higher ORR activities than Pt/TiO2 as indicated by higher onset potentials. Oxygen deficiency in TiO2-x and TiO2-xNy contributed to the high ORR activity due to enhanced charge transfer, as disclosed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies. Electrochemical stability studies revealed that Pt/TiOE_x exhibited a higher stability with a lower current decay rate than commercial Pt/C, which can be attributed to the stable oxide support and strong interaction between Pt nanoparticles and the oxygen-deficient TiO2-x support.     

Neutral bidentate organophosphorus compounds as novel ionophores for potentiometric membrane sensors for barium(II)

Bis(diarylphosphine oxide) naphthalene compounds are used as novel ionophores in plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) matrix membrane sensors for barium ions. The most favorable sensor was 1,2-bis(diethylphenylphosphine oxide)naphthalene containing potassium tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate as lipophilic salt and o-nitrophenyloctyl ether as plasticizer for ion-selective electrode membrane construction. The electrode showed excellent properties. It gave a linear response with a Nernstian slope of 30 mV per decade within the concentration range 10(-1)-10(-5) mol L(-1) BaCl2. The electrode exhibits a high selectivity towards Ba2+ with respect to Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Cs+, NH4+, Ag+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Pb2+, Al3+, La3+, and Ce3+ ions. The electrode response was stable over a wide pH range (3-11). The lifetime of the electrode was about 2 months. It was successfully applied to the determination of Ba2+ contents in some rocks.     

Novel DNA sensor for guanine content

The bifunctional complex [Ru(TAP)(2)POQ-Nmet](2+), 1, formed with a [Ru(TAP)(2)Phen](2+) metallic unit linked to a quinoline moiety, and [Ru(TAP)(2)Phen](2+), 2, as reference, have been tested as photoprobes of DNA. Interestingly, 1 exhibits an emission enhancement of a factor of 16-17 upon binding to calf thymus DNA. Moreover, this emission is modulated by the nucleic base content of the polynucleotide. It varies by almost an order of magnitude from a polynucleotide containing 100% of G-C to a guanine-free nucleic acid where the excited-state lifetime reaches about 2 micros. The origins of these interesting properties are analyzed by comparing 1 with reference 2 in the presence of different polynucleotides.     

A case for asymmetric hydrozirconation

Hydrozirconation of cis-2-butene with Cp*ZrHCl[N(t-Bu)C(Me)N(Et)], generated in situ through hydrogenolysis of Cp*ZrCl(SiMe2Ph)[N(t-Bu)C(Me)N(Et)] (5), proceeds in high yield to produce a 1:2 mixture of the kinetically stable, diastereomeric sec-butyl complexes, 3a and 3b. Hydrozirconation of trans-2-butene under identical conditions provides a 2:1 mixture of 3a and 3b. Isolation of diastereomerically pure 3a was achieved through reaction of Cp*ZrCl2[N(t-Bu)C(Me)N(Et)] (4) with sec-butyllithium to provide a 2:1 ratio of 3a and 3b, followed by fractional crystallization. Crystallographic analysis of 3a establishes the relative configuration of the sec-butyl group with respect to the chiral zirconium center, thereby permitting construction of diastereomeric transition states that explain the origin of high face selectivity in the hydrozirconation of cis-2-butene. Finally, both iodinative zirconium-carbon bond cleavage and insertion of tert-butyl isocyanide into the zirconium-carbon bond of the sec-butyl group of 3a were found to proceed in high yield and with retention of the secondary alkyl structure. Together, these results provide a critical platform upon which efforts directed toward the asymmetric hydrozirconation of alkenes can be based.     

Reactions of diborane with ammonia and ammonia borane: catalytic effects for multiple pathways for hydrogen release

High-level electronic structure calculations have been used to construct portions of the potential energy surfaces related to the reaction of diborane with ammonia and ammonia borane (B2H6 + NH3 and B2H6 + BH3NH3)to probe the molecular mechanism of H2 release. Geometries of stationary points were optimized at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level. Total energies were computed at the coupled-cluster CCSD(T) theory level with the correlation-consistent basis sets. The results show a wide range of reaction pathways for H2 elimination. The initial interaction of B2H6 + NH3 leads to a weak preassociation complex, from which a B-H-B bridge bond is broken giving rise to a more stable H3BHBH2NH3 adduct. This intermediate, which is also formed from BH3NH3 + BH3, is connected with at least six transition states for H2 release with energies 18-93 kal/mol above the separated reactants. The lowest-lying transition state is a six-member cycle, in which BH3exerts a bifunctional catalytic effect accelerating H2 generation within a B-H-H-N framework. Diborane also induces a catalytic effect for H2 elimination from BH3NH3 via a three-step pathway with cyclic transition states. Following conformational changes, the rate-determining transition state for H2 release is approximately 27 kcal/mol above the B2H6 + BH3NH3 reactants, as compared with an energy barrier of approximately 37 kcal/mol for H2 release from BH3NH3. The behavior of two separated BH3 molecules is more complex and involves multiple reaction pathways. Channels from diborane or borane initially converge to a complex comprising the H3BHBH2NH3adduct plus BH3. The interaction of free BH3 with the BH3 moiety of BH3NH3 via a six-member transition state with diborane type of bonding leads to a lower-energy transition state. The corresponding energy barrier is approximately 8 kcal/mol, relative to the reference point H3BHBH2NH3 adduct + BH3. These transition states are 27-36 kcal/mol above BH3NH3 + B2H6, but 1-9 kcal/mol below the separated reactants BH3NH3 + 2 BH3. Upon chemical activation of B2H6 by forming 2 BH3, there should be sufficient internal energy to undergo spontaneous H2 release. Proceeding in the opposite direction, the H2 regeneration of the products of the B2H6 + BH3NH3reaction should be a feasible process under mild thermal conditions.     

Molecular Dynamic Simulation Search for Possible Amphiphilic Drug Discovery for Covid-19

To determine whether quaternary ammonium (k21) binds to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome–Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein via computational molecular docking simulations, the crystal structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain complexed with ACE-2 (PDB ID: 6LZG) was downloaded from RCSB PD and prepared using Schrodinger 2019-4. The entry of SARS-CoV-2 inside humans is through lung tissues with a pH of 7.38–7.42. A two-dimensional structure of k-21 was drawn using the 2D-sketcher of Maestro 12.2 and trimmed of C18 alkyl chains from all four arms with the assumption that the core moiety k-21 was without C18. The immunogenic potential of k21/QA was conducted using the C-ImmSim server for a position-specific scoring matrix analyzing the human host immune system response. Therapeutic probability was shown using prediction models with negative and positive control drugs. Negative scores show that the binding of a quaternary ammonium compound with the spike protein’s binding site is favorable. The drug molecule has a large Root Mean Square Deviation fluctuation due to the less complex geometry of the drug molecule, which is suggestive of a profound impact on the regular geometry of a viral protein. There is high concentration of Immunoglobulin M/Immunoglobulin G, which is concomitant of virus reduction. The proposed drug formulation based on quaternary ammonium to characterize affinity to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using simulation and computational immunological methods has shown promising findings.     

Layered Zeolite for Assembly of Two-Dimensional Separation Membranes for Hydrogen Purification

Membrane separation is an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly process. Two-dimensional (2D) molecular sieving membranes featuring unique nanopores and low transport resistance have the potential to achieve highly permeable and selective mixture separation with low energy consumption. High-aspect-ratio zeolite nanosheets with intrinsic molecular-sieving pores perpendicular to the layers are desirable building blocks for fabricating high-performance 2D zeolite membrane. However, a wider application of 2D zeolitic membranes is restricted by the limited number of recognized zeolite nanosheets. Herein, we report a swollen layered zeolite, ECNU-28, with SZR topology and eight-member ring (8-MR, 3.0 Å×4.8 Å) pores normal to the nanosheets. It can be easily exfoliated to construct 2D membrane, which shows a high hydrogen selectivity up to 130 from natural gas and is promising for hydrogen purification and greenhouse gas capture.     

Conclusive evidence for a retention-retention pathway for the molybdenum-catalyzed asymmetric alkylation

Enantiomerically enriched, deuterated branched carbonates (Z)-(S)-PhCH(O2COMe)-CH=CHD (1a), (Z)-(R)-PhCH(O2COMe)CH=CHD (2a), and linear carbonate (E)-(S)-PhCH=CHCHD(O2COMe) (12) were employed as probes in the Mo-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation with sodium dimethyl malonate, catalyzed by ligand complex 10 derived from the mixed benzamide/picolinamide of (S,S)-trans-diaminocyclohexane and (norbornadiene)Mo(CO)4. X-ray crystallography, along with solution NMR structural analysis of the pi-allyl intermediate and competition experiments, conclusively established the reaction proceeded via a retention-retention pathway. This mechanism contrasts with that defined for Pd-catalyzed allylic alkylations, which proceed via an inversion-inversion pathway.     

The quest for beryllium peroxides

There is no experimental proof documented in the literature for the existence of any beryllium peroxide compound. All recent pertinent preparative attempts described in this work, using a range of beryllium salts with various peroxides as reagents under mild conditions, were equally unsuccessful. (1)H and (9)Be NMR investigations of aqueous solutions containing beryllium salts and hydrogen peroxide in a broad pH range also gave no definite evidence for the presence of peroxoberyllates as components of the manifold equilibria in such solutions. Quantum chemical calculations have therefore been carried out to delineate the energetics and structures of various beryllium peroxide model compounds. Standard Hartree-Fock and density functional methods were employed at various levels of sophistication. The series of prototypes considered consists of [BeOH](+), Be(OH)(2), Be(OH)(OOH), Be(OOH)(2), [Be(O(2))(2)](2-), [BeO(2)(OH(2))(2)], and [Be(2)(O(2))(2)(OH(2))(4)] (all in the gas phase). Surprisingly, the triatomic cation [BeOH](+) has been found to have a linear structure. All the Be-O(peroxide) bonds are found to be rather long, suggesting weaker bonding compared to the Be-O bonds in aquo, hydroxo, or oxo complexes. Hydrogen peroxide or anions derived therefrom are therefore not able to compete successfully with water (hydroxide anions) in aqueous solution. In the mononuclear beryllium peroxide molecules, the peroxide groups form chelating units at tetrahedrally 4-coordinate metal atoms. The binuclear compound [Be(2)(O(2))(2)(OH(2))(4)] has a puckered six-membered-ring structure, close to the standard chair conformation. A significant lengthening of the O-O bonds upon coordination to the Be(2+) centers has been calculated, but it is unlikely that the polarization of the peroxide group by the high positive charge density at Be(2+) is significant to cause an intrinsic instability of beryllium peroxides. All structures represent distinct local minima on the potential energy surface and are predicted to be (meta)stable species in nonaqueous media. The field of aluminum peroxides is a similar gray area on the map of metal and metalloid peroxides and is reminiscent of the well-established "diagonal-relation" of Be and Al in the periodic table of the elements.     

C-substituted macrocycles as candidates for radioimmunotherapy

The reaction between aryl aldehydes, the macrocyclic ligand 6-methyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-6-amine (L1), and NaBH3CN produces the corresponding benzyl-substituted ligands in good yield. Copper(II) complexes of the ligands derived from salicylaldehyde (L2), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (L4), and p-carboxybenzaldehyde (L5) were structurally characterized: [CuL2](ClO4)2.3H2O (monoclinic, P2(1)/c, a = 11.915(6) A, b = 13.861(2) A, c = 17.065(8) A, beta = 102.14(2) degrees, Z = 4); [CuL4](ClO4)2 (monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 9.550(3) A, b = 17.977(2) A, c = 14.612(4) A, beta 96.76(1) degrees, Z = 4), and [CuL4](ClO4)2 (monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 9.286(2) A, b = 11.294(1) A, c = 23.609(8) A, beta 93.68(1) degrees, Z = 4). Conjugation of several CuII complexes to a protein (bovine serum albumin) has been pursued with a view to the application of these macrocycles as bifunctional chelating agents in radioimmunotherapy.     

Microencapsulation technology for thiourea corrosion inhibitor

The microencapsulation technology was brought in to solidify corrosion inhibitor in order to prolong the releasing time of it. In this work, thiourea (H₂NCSNH₂) was used as a corrosion inhibitor and microcapsuled using glutin and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), respectively, as protective agent. The re-sealing process was used as a way to prolong the releasing time of the H₂NCSNH₂ encapsulated in microcapsules. It was found that the H₂NCSNH₂ microcapsule corrosion inhibitor using PVA as a protective agent had a better releasing time. The releasing times of the H₂NCSNH₂ microcapsule corrosion inhibitors were prolonged from 18 to 48 h by re-sealing process and using PVA as a protective agent. Both the use of PVA as a protective agent and the application of the re-sealing process decreased the encapsulation efficiency of the H₂NCSNH₂. The performance parameters on protecting Q235 carbon steel from corrosion in 0.1-M H₂SO₄ solution were evaluated by polarization curve and electrochemical impedance spectra methods. The results showed that the H₂NCSNH₂ released into the solution from microcapsules could well protect Q235 carbon steel from corrosion and the corrosion-inhibiting mechanisms of it were the same as that of H₂NCSNH₂.     

A photoactivable probe for calcium binding proteins

Ca2+ as a signaling molecule carries information pivotal to cell life and death via its reversible interaction with a specific site in a protein. Although numerous Ca2+-dependent activities are known, the proteins responsible for some of these activities remain unidentified. We synthesized and characterized a photoreactive reagent, azido ruthenium (AzRu), which interacts specifically with Ca2+ binding proteins and strongly inhibits their Ca2+-dependent activities, regardless of their catalytic mechanisms or functional state as purified proteins, embedded in the membrane or in intact cells. As expected from a Ca2+ binding protein-specific reagent, AzRu had no effect on Ca2+-independent and Mg2+-dependent activities. Az103Ru covalently bound, and specifically labeled, known Ca2+ binding proteins. AzRu is a photoreactive reagent that provides an approach for identification of Ca2+ binding proteins, characterization of their binding sites, and exploration of new Ca2+-dependent processes.     

Surfaces designed for charge reversal

We have created surfaces which switch from cationic at pH < 3 to anionic at pH > 5, by attaching aminodicarboxylic acid units to silica and gold substrates. Charge reversal was demonstrated by monitoring the adsorption of cationic dyes (methylene blue and a tetracationic porphyrin) and an anionic sulfonated porphyrin, at a range of pH using UV-vis absorption and reflection spectroscopy. The cationic dyes bind under neutral conditions (pH 5-7) and are released at pH 1-4, whereas the anionic dye binds under acidic conditions (pH 1-4) and is released at pH 5-7. Gold surfaces were functionalized with two different amphoteric disulfides with short (CH(2))(2) and long (CH(2))(10)CONH(CH(2))(6) linkers; the longer disulfide gave surfaces exhibiting charge reversal in a narrower pH range. Adsorption is much faster on the functionalized gold (t(1/2) = 62 s) than on functionalized silica (t(1/2) = 6900 s), but the final extents of coverage on both surface are similar, for a given dye at a given pH, with maximal coverages of around 2 molecules nm(-)(2). These charge-reversal processes are reversible and can be repeatedly cycled by changing the pH. We have also created surfaces which undergo irreversible proton-triggered charge switching, using a carbamate-linked thiol carboxylic acid which cleaves in acid. These surfaces are versatile new tools for controlling electrostatic self-assembly at surfaces.     

氨基二硫代甲酸酯类化合物的合成新方法

在无水磷酸钾存在下,伯胺、仲胺和哌嗪与二硫化碳和不同的卤代烃于室温反应,高收率的生成对应的氨基二硫代甲酸酯.胺和卤代烃中含有-CONR₂,-OH,-CO₂H,-NO₂,-CO₂R,-CH(OR)₂,-C=C-,-CH₂OR,呋喃环和糖环等对酸或碱敏感的基团不受影响.     

Methods for the synthesis of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,8-naphthyridine fragments for alphaVbeta3 integrin antagonists

The preparation of 3-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)propan-1-amine 2a and 3-[(7R)-7-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl]propan-1-amine 2b, key intermediates in the synthesis of alpha(V)beta(3) antagonists, is described. The syntheses rely on the efficient double Sonogashira reactions of 2,5-dibromopyridine 3 with acetylenic alcohols 4a/4b and protected propargylamines 10a-e followed by Chichibabin cyclizations of 3,3'-pyridine-2,5-diyldipropan-1-amines 9a/9b.     

Key factors for designing single-atom metal-nitrogen-carbon catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction

The electrochemical CO₂ reduction (CO₂RR) is a sustainable approach to mitigate the increased CO₂ emissions and simultaneously produce value-added chemicals and fuels. Metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) based single-atom catalysts (SACs) have emerged as promising electrocatalysts for CO₂RR with high activity, selectivity, and stability. To design efficient SACs for CO₂RR, the key influence factors need to be understood. Here, we summarize recent achievements on M-N-C SACs for CO₂RR and highlight the significance of the key constituting factors, metal sites, the coordination environment, and the substrates, for achieving high CO₂RR performance. The perspective views and guidelines are provided for the future direction of developing M-N-C SACs as CO₂RR catalysts.     

Synthons for coordinatively unsaturated complexes of tungsten, and their use for the synthesis of high oxidation-state silylene complexes

Reduction of Cp*WCl4 afforded the metalated complex (eta6-C5Me4CH2)(dmpe)W(H)Cl (1) (Cp* = C5Me5, dmpe = 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane). Reactions with CO and H(2) suggested that 1 is in equilibrium with the 16-electron species [Cp(dmpe)WCl], and 1 was also shown to react with silanes R2SiH2 (R2 = Ph2 and PhMe) to give the tungsten(IV) silyl complexes Cp*(dmpe)(H)(Cl)W(SiHR2) (6a, R2 = Ph2; 6b, R2 = PhMe). Abstraction of the chloride ligand in 1 with LiB(C6F5)4 gave a reactive species that features a doubly metalated Cp ligand, [(eta7-C5Me3(CH2)2)(dmpe)W(H)2][B(C6F5)4] (4). In its reaction with dinitrogen, 4 behaves as a synthon for the 14-electron fragment [Cp*(dmpe)W]+, to give the dinuclear dinitrogen complex ([Cp*(dmpe)W]2(micro-N2)) [B(C6F5)4]2 (5). Hydrosilanes R2SiH2 (R2 = Ph2, PhMe, Me2, Dipp(H); Dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) were shown to react with 4 in double Si-H bond activation reactions to give the silylene complexes [Cp*(dmpe)H2W = SiR2][B(C6F5)4] (8a-d). Compounds 8a,b (R2 = Ph2 and PhMe, respectively) were also synthesized by abstraction of the chloride ligands from silyl complexes 6a,b. Dimethylsilylene complex 8c was found to react with chloroalkanes RCl (R = Me, Et) to liberate trialkylchlorosilanes RMe2SiCl. This reaction is discussed in the context of its relevance to the mechanism of the direct synthesis for the industrial production of alkylchlorosilanes.     

Development of direct fluorination technology for application to materials for lithium battery

Direct fluorination of 1,3-dioxolan-2-one with elemental fluorine was successfully carried out to provide 4-fluoro-1,3-dioxolan-2-one, which was expected as an additive for lithium ion secondary battery. 4-Fluoro-1,3-dioxolan-2-one was also further fluorinated with elemental fluorine to give three isomers of difluoro derivatives by the same methodology. Another topic is the preparation of trifluoromethanesulfonyl fluoride, an intermediate of lithium battery electrolyte, by the reaction of methanesulfonyl fluoride with elemental fluorine. The use of perfluoro-2-methylpentane as a solvent gave satisfactory selectivity of trifluoromethanesulfonyl fluoride.