Atmospheric-pressure, liquid-phase, selective aerobic oxidation of alkanes catalysed by metal-organic frameworks

Aerobic oxidation of cyclooctane to its corresponding ol/one mixture at atmospheric pressure and in the liquid phase is efficiently promoted by an Fe(BTC) (BTC=1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate) metal-organic framework, incorporating N-hydroxyphthalimide and in several cases reaches a selectivity over 90% at 28% conversion. This catalytic system is further extended to other hydrocarbons, such as ethylbenzene and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (tetralin), with high selectivity (>85%). This high selectivity in the product distribution arises from a radical reaction mechanism that occurs inside a hydrophobic cavity that preferentially adsorbs hydrocarbons over their corresponding alcohols. The system can be reused although there is a gradual decrease in turnover frequency, caused by minor changes in the crystal structure due to the formation of iron oxide nanoparticles. Given the sustainable nature of the oxidant and the mild conditions used, this discovery could serve to develop a new catalyst generation for the oxyfunctionalisation of hydrocarbon feedstocks with the real possibility of finding industrial application.     

Achievements,Challenges, and Perspectives on Nitrogen Electrochemistry for Carbon-Neutral Energy Technologies

Unrestrained anthropogenic activities have severely disrupted the global natural nitrogen cycle, causing numerous energy and environmental issues. Electrocatalytic nitrogen transformation is a feasible and promising strategy for achieving a sustainable nitrogen economy. Synergistically combining multiple nitrogen reactions can realize efficient renewable energy storage and conversion, restore the global nitrogen balance, and remediate environmental crises. Here, we provide a unique aspect to discuss the intriguing nitrogen electrochemistry by linking three essential nitrogen-containing compounds (i.e., N₂, NH₃, and NO₃⁻) and integrating four essential electrochemical reactions, i.e., the nitrogen reduction reaction (N₂RR), nitrogen oxidation reaction (N₂OR), nitrate reduction reaction (NO₃RR), and ammonia oxidation reaction (NH₃OR). This minireview also summarizes the acquired knowledge of rational catalyst design and underlying reaction mechanisms for these interlinked nitrogen reactions. We further underscore the associated clean energy technologies and a sustainable nitrogen-based economy.     

NHPI, CoSPc和TBAB催化的乙苯液-液非均相绿色氧化反应研究

以水为催化剂溶剂与原料乙苯组成液-液非均相体系,以NHPI结合CoSPc组成催化体系,在TBAB为相转移催化剂的作用下,对乙苯的氧化反应条件进行了研究.研究发现乙苯在该催化体系中的最佳氧化条件依次是:水油体积比为3∶1;n(TBAB)∶n(乙苯)=1∶40;n(NHPI)∶n(乙苯)=1∶10,n(NHPI)∶n(CoSPc)=24∶1,反应温度110℃,氧气压力0.75 MPa,搅拌速率350 rpm,反应时间0.5 h.在最佳反应条件下乙苯转化率为60.6%,苯乙酮的选择性为95.2%,1-苯乙醇的选择性为4.5%,产物总选择性达到了99.7%.在此基础上延长反应时间并不能提高乙苯的转化率,苯乙酮的选择性也会下降,研究发现NHPI的分解是乙苯转化率不随反应时间的延长而提高的原因,而苯乙酮的过度氧化为苯甲酸是产物选择性下降的原因.     

A protecting-group-free synthesis of arbusculone,andirolactone, pinnatolide,ipomolactone, cyclocapitelline and isocyclocapitelline

A general approach for a collective synthesis of natural products containing substituted THF ring is described. In this paper, Arbusculone, a small molecule natural product accomplished using a short route, is used as the key intermediate to achieve the total synthesis of Andirolactone, Pinnatolide, Ipomolactone, Cyclocapitelline, Isocyclocapitelline and their two isomers in less than ten steps. The present effort highlights protecting-group-free total syntheses and the shortest route to access these natural products from commercially available cheap starting materials.     

Pd-Mn/Stainless Steel Wire Mesh Catalyst for Catalytic Oxidation of Toluene,Acetone and Ethyl Acetate

A new 0.1%Pd‐6%Mn/stainless steel wire mesh catalyst was prepared and used for volatile organic compounds (VOC) elimination. The supported palladium and manganese catalyst over the stainless steel wire mesh was prepared by using an impregnation method. When an anodic oxidation technology was employed, an anodic oxidation membrane appeared on the stainless steel wire mesh. On the 0.1%Pd‐6%Mn/stainless steel wire mesh catalyst calcined at 500°C, the total oxidation of toluene, acetone and ethyl acetate was respectively at 260, 220 and 320°C. The activity could be stable for over 700 h for toluene oxidation. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigation of the Pd‐Mn/stainless steel wire mesh catalyst shows that the presence of anodic oxidation membrane on the support surface is important for better dispersion of active phases.     

DTA,TG studies of catalytic oxidation of carbon particles over M2 III O3 (MIII=Al,Cr, Fe,Ni)

Carbonizate as a model soot has been submitted to oxidation using Al₂O₃, Cr₂O₃, Ni₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃ as catalysts in the temperature range from RT up to 1000°C. The results obtained indicate that Fe₂O₃ is the most active catalyst in soot oxidation. However, all the catalysts examined are active in transformation of carbonizate components. It has been shown that DTA and TG methods can be used as fast methods testing the carbonizate oxidation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Anodic oxidation of organic pollutants: Anode fabrication,process hybrid and environmental applications

This review summarizes the recent progress in anodic oxidation of organic pollutant for water and wastewater treatment. It supplies the advances in anodes fabrication to improve the anodic performance by different modifications and preparation strategies, focusing on non-active anodes including boron-doped diamond (BDD), PbO₂, SnO₂ and Ti-based anode (e.g., Ti₄O₇, blue titanium oxide). Meanwhile, the tendency of anodic oxidation coupled or combined with other processes (adsorption, membrane separation, biological treatment and advanced oxidation process) for pretreatment or advanced treatment of organic pollutant is presented. Finally, anodic oxidation for environmental application is briefly described; several challenges need to be overcome and perspectives for future study are critically proposed.     

Gamma-, photo-, and thermally-initiated oxidation of isotactic polypropylene

The detailed oxidation products have been identified and compared from the γ-, photo-, and thermally-initiated oxidation of unstabilized polypropylene films. Products were identified and quantified by a combination of iodometric analysis and infrared spectroscopy. Spectral resolution was enhanced by derivatization reactions which allow the quantification of primary, secondary, and tertiary hydroperoxide and alcohol groups as well as more reliable analysis of carbonyl species. In contrast to polyethylene oxidation which yields predominantly ketone with lesser amounts of secondary hydroperoxide and carboxylic acid, polypropylene oxidizes to give predominantly tertiary hydroperoxide and lesser quantities of secondary hydroperoxide and ketone. In addition carboxylic acid groups are a minor product except at high degrees of thermal and photoinitiated oxidation. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Microwave-assisted polymer chemistry: Heck-reaction, transesterification, Baeyer-Villiger oxidation, oxazoline polymerization, acrylamides, and porous materials

Several questions are still open concerning the different effects of microwave (MW) irradiation in organic and macromolecular chemistry. Analyzing experimental results on a relatively broad investigation area, we came to elucidate three main effects of microwave irradiation: efficient non-contact heating, an accelerating effect, and what we term a special effect. In this paper, we report the first MW-assisted synthesis of poly(2,5-dibutoxy-1,4-phenylenevinylene) via Heck-polycondensation as an example for efficient heating. The facile synthesis of the higher lactones 1-oxa-2-oxocyclooctanone and 1-oxa-2-oxocyclononanone via Baeyer-Villiger reaction offers indeed an example for the MW-accelerating effect. A survey of our recent work is also given to explain the effects more in detail and to provide examples of the special MW effect.     

ESR spectra of products of oxidation of endometallofullerenes M@C82 (M = Y,La, Ce,Gd)

The ESR spectra of the products of oxidation of solutions and powders of Y@C₈₂ and La@C₈₂ with fuming sulfuric acid were studied. Based on the oxidation conditions and the sequence of spectral patterns, the spectra were attributed to the radical cations M@C₈₂ ⁿ⁺ (n = 2, 4), dimers M³⁺ ₂@C₁₆₄ ⁺, and polyendometallofullerenes.     

Acceptor‐Substituted Ferrocenium Salts as Strong,Single‐Electron Oxidants: Synthesis,Electrochemistry, Theoretical Investigations,and Initial Synthetic Application

A series of mono‐ and 1,1′‐diheteroatom‐substituted ferrocene derivatives as well as acylated ferrocenes was prepared efficiently by a unified strategy that consists of selective mono‐ and 1,1′‐dilithiation reactions and subsequent coupling with carbon, phosphorus, sulfur and halogen electrophiles. Chemical oxidation of the ferrocene derivatives by benzoquinone, 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyanobenzoquinone, AgPF₆, or 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐oxopiperidinium hexafluorophosphate provided the corresponding ferrocenium salts. The redox potentials of the synthesized ferrocenes were determined by cyclic voltammetry, and it was observed that all new ferrocenium salts have stronger oxidizing properties than standard ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate. An initial application of selected derivatives in an oxidative bicyclization revealed that they mediate the transformation under considerably milder conditions than ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate. Quantum chemical calculations of the reduction potentials of the substituted ferrocenium ions were carried out by using a standard thermodynamic cycle that involved the gas‐phase energetics and solvation energies of the contributing species. A remarkable agreement between theory and experiment was found: the mean average deviation amounted to only 0.030 V and the maximum deviation to 0.1 V. This enabled the analysis of various physical contributions to the computed reduction potentials of these ferrocene derivatives, thereby providing insight into their electronic structure and physicochemical properties.     

Synthesis,characterization, and electrochemical properties of new water-soluble Mn12O12(O2CR)16(H2O)4 clusters

Abstract

We report our attempts to produce water-soluble Mn clusters of the type [Mn₁₂O₁₂(O₂CR)₁₆(H₂O)₄] and the synthesis, spectroscopic, structural, and electrochemical characterization of the three new compounds that were obtained. Clusters 2, 3, and 4 were prepared via substitution of the acetate ligands in [Mn₁₂O₁₂(O₂CMe)₁₆(H₂O)₄] (1) with either 3,4-diaminobenzoic acid, L-proline or L-ascorbic acid, respectively, which are all inexpensive and readily available. Clusters 2, 3, and 4 were characterized by elemental analysis, UV-Vis, and FTIR spectroscopies, XPS, MS, and XRD analysis, suggesting that the clusters retain their structure during the substitution reaction, albeit 4 was obtained partially substituted and reduced. Electrochemical measurements in acetate buffer at pH 6, including continuous cyclic voltammetry scans of the free ligands and of the clusters, imply that 4 is stable to the oxidation process, while in 2 the primary amine ligands are oxidized rapidly, leading to precipitation of the cluster. Overall, the voltammetric measurements support the spectroscopic-based proposed structures.     

Synthesis,structure characterization,and gas sensitive properties of a copolymer of aniline with phenol

A new kind of conductive copolymers of aniline with phenol was designed and synthesized by using oxidation polymerization and the results showed that the apparent inherent conductivities of the copolymers are in the range of 10^?2 to 10^?10 S/cm which covers from conductors to insulators. The results showed that the conductivity of the copolymers strongly depends on synthesis conditions, such as reaction time, molar ratios of oxidizer to monomers and aniline to phenol, concentrations of reactants, and reaction temperature. Compared to the conventional (co)polymers of aniline and its derivatives, the magnitudes of the reversible conductivity changes are very significant, about two orders, and get to the maximum readings in about 5 min when they are exposed to ammonia gas, hydrochloric acid gas, and a various vapors of organic compounds, such as methanol, alcohol, acetone, benzene, toluene, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, etc. It should be noted that with the introduction of the weak acidic structural units into the polyaniline chains, the copolymers are reversibly responded to both acidic and basic gases promptly. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Guanidinium Chlorochromate,a New,Efficient, and Mild Oxidizing Agent for Benzylic and Other Alcohols to Carbonyl Compounds in Water and Organic Solvents

Guanidinium chlorochromate (GCC) has been first reported as a new oxidizing agent for the oxidation of a series of benzylic and a number of other aliphatic and aromatic alcohols to carbonyl compounds and quinones respectively in water in the presence of a phase-transfer catalyst and also in an organic solvent such as methylenechloride.

CTAB assisted hydrothermal synthesis, controlled conversion and CO oxidation properties of CeO2 nanoplates, nanotubes, and nanorods

In this work, CeO₂ nanoplates were synthesized by a hydrothermal reaction assisted by hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) at 100-160 °C. The size of nanoplates was around 40 nm. Further experiment showed that the controlled conversion of nanoplates into nanotubes, and nanorods can be realized by changing the reaction time, temperature, and CTAB/Ce³⁺ ratio value. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements were employed to characterize the samples. The CO oxidation properties of nanorods, nanoplates, and nanotubes were investigated. An enhanced catalytic activity has been found for CO oxidation by using CeO₂ nanoplates as compared with CeO₂ nanotubes and nanorods, and the crystal surfaces (100) of CeO₂ nanoplates were considered to play an important role in determining their catalytic oxidation properties.     

Synthesis,X‐ray Studies,and Catalytic Efficacy of a Novel Iron Complex Containing an N,O‐Type Bidentate Thiazoline Ligand

The reactions of FeCl₃ · 6H₂O and 2‐(2′‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2‐thiazoline as a bidentate O‐N donor thiazoline ligand (thoz) afford a five‐coordinate Fe^III complex [Fe(thoz)₂Cl] with a distorted square pyramidal configuration. Complex [Fe(thoz)₂Cl] was isolated as air‐stable crystalline solids and fully characterized, including by single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis. Complex [Fe(thoz)₂Cl] shows very efficient reactivity in the oxidation of sulfides to their corresponding sulfoxides using urea hydrogen peroxide (UHP) as the oxidant at room temperature in air.     

Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Oxidation of Alkenes,Alkynes, and Alcohols to Organic Acids with Aqueous Hydrogen Peroxide

A protocol that adopts aqueous hydrogen peroxide as a terminal oxidant and [(Me₃tacn)(CF₃CO₂)₂Ru^III(OH₂)]CF₃CO₂ ( 1 ; Me₃tacn=1,4,7‐trimethyl‐1,4,7‐triazacyclononane) as a catalyst for oxidation of alkenes, alkynes, and alcohols to organic acids in over 80 % yield is presented. For the oxidation of cyclohexene to adipic acid, the loading of 1 can be lowered to 0.1 mol %. On the one‐mole scale, the oxidation of cyclohexene, cyclooctene, and 1‐octanol with 1 mol % of 1 produced adipic acid (124 g, 85 % yield), suberic acid (158 g, 91 % yield), and 1‐octanoic acid (129 g, 90 % yield), respectively. The oxidative C?C bond‐cleavage reaction proceeded through the formation of cis‐ and trans‐diol intermediates, which were further oxidized to carboxylic acids via C? C bond cleavage.     

Formation of bromodifluoroacetyl fluoride, CF2BrC(O)F, in the thermal gas-phase oxidation of bromotrifluoroethene, CF2CFBr, initiated by trifluoromethylhypofluorite, CF3OF

The oxidation of CF₂CFBr by molecular O₂, initiated by CF₃OF, has been studied at 273, 253.5, 239 and 218 K. The initial pressure of CF₃OF was varied between 0.9 and 2.4 Torr, that of CF₂CFBr between 11.5 and 30.7 Torr and that of O₂ between 42.5 and 100.7 Torr. The main product was CF₂BrC(O)F (yields 81-95% based on the CF₂CFBr consumed). Minor amounts of C(O)F₂ and C(O)FBr and traces of bromotrifluoroethene epoxide were also formed. The reaction is a chain reaction with bromine atoms as chain carriers. Its basic steps are: the thermal generation of CF₃O radical by abstraction of fluorine atom from CF₃OF, chain initiation by addition of CF₃O to the double bond of alkene, leading, in presence of O₂, to the formation of bromine atom and chain propagation by the reaction of bromine atom with CF₂CFBr, originating CF₂BrCFBrO radical. The predominant fate of the latter is the bromine atom extrusion with CC bond scission playing the minor role. The full mechanism is postulated.     

IBX/n-Bu4NBr/CH2Cl2-H2O: a new mild system for selective oxidation of secondary alcohols

A new alternative system for the chemoselective oxidation of secondary hydroxyl group to ketone with IBX/n-Bu₄NBr in CH₂Cl₂-H₂O has been developed. Under the reaction conditions, the secondary hydroxyl group was highly chemoselectively oxidized to the corresponding ketone, in moderate to good yields at rt, in the presence of primary hydroxyl group within the same molecule.