Synthesis of benzimidazoles/benzothiazoles by using recyclable,magnetically separable nano-Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> in aqueous medium

An efficient, simple, ecofriendly and cost-effective method has been developed for the synthesis of benzimidazole/benzothiazole derivatives by a two-component reaction, involving 1,2-diamino benzene/2-amino thiophenol and substituted aromatic aldehydes using recyclable nano-Fe₂O₃ catalyst (10 mol%) in water afforded with excellent yields (75–85%). The most important feature of this protocol is short reaction times, high yields, aqueous reaction medium, efficient recycling and high stability of the catalyst.     

SnCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>-catalyzed synthesis of carbamates from renewable origin alcohols

Effects of structure and reactivity of renewable origin alcohols in the conversion and selectivity of the SnCl₂-catalyzed reactions in the presence and absence of urea were assessed. Convenient simple and suitable method for the synthesis of carbamates from renewable origin alcohols and urea in one-step are provided. We have assessed the activity of SnCl₂ catalyst, a commercially affordable Lewis acid, in reactions of urea alcoholysis with different natural origin alcohols (geranyl, neryl, bornyl, cinnamyl, α-terpinyl and benzyl alcohols), aiming to synthesize carbamates, which are biologically active compounds, building blocks in organic synthesis and raw material to synthesize polyurethanes. The low cost of urea, the water tolerant catalyst and phosgene free reaction are positive aspects of this carbamates synthesis process. The different reaction pathways were assessed. A mechanism was proposed based on FT-IR experiments and experimental data.     

H<Subscript>3</Subscript>PW<Subscript>12</Subscript>O<Subscript>40</Subscript> anchored on graphene-grafted silica-coated MnFe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> as magnetic catalyst for Mannich reaction

In this study, a three-component nanocomposite consisted of graphene, manganese ferrite and phosphotungstic acid (PTA) has been prepared. This composite, which is designated as Graphene/MnFe₂O₄@PTA, was synthesized through anchoring of PTA–imidazolium ionic liquid on magnetic graphene sheets. The structural and magnetic properties of the fabricated nanocomposite were studied by employing FT-IR, SEM, EDX, TEM, ICP, VSM, P-XRD and BET techniques. The synthesized magnetic nanocomposite was examined as an efficient and recyclable acidic catalyst for Mannich reaction under solvent-free conditions. The products of this reaction, which are an important class of potentially bioactive compounds, were obtained with good to excellent yields, and the catalyst could be readily recycled without any significant loss of its activity.     

Synthesis of water and molecular oxygen highly enriched in <Superscript>17</Superscript>O and <Superscript>18</Superscript>O isotopes from carbon oxides

The reaction of carbon oxides and hydrogen in the presence of the Raney nickel catalyst has been used for water synthesis. A procedure has been developed for the recovery and collection of the synthesized water with minimal losses and without deteriorating the ¹⁷O or ¹⁸O isotope enrichment as compared to the initial CO₂ and CO. The recovery of oxygen with high concentrations of ¹⁷O and ¹⁸O isotopes is based on the reaction of xenon difluoride with water. The yield based on oxygen achieves 99% without reduction of isotope enrichment, which is confirmed by mass-spectral measurements of oxygen isotope concentrations in the initial reagents and final reaction products.     

Hybrid catalytic effects of K<Subscript>2</Subscript>CO<Subscript>3</Subscript> on the synthesis of salicylic acid from carboxylation of phenol with CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

As a base-promoted Kolbe–Schmitt carboxylation reaction, the mechanism of synthesis of salicylic acid derivatives from phenols with CO₂ in the industry is still unclear, even up to now. In this paper, synthesis of 3,6-dichloro salicylic acid (3,6-DCSA) from 2,5-dichloro phenoxide and CO₂ was investigated in the presence of K₂CO₃. We show the reaction can proceed by itself, but it goes at a slower rate as well as a lower yield, compared to the case with the addition of K₂CO₃. However, the yield of 3,6-DCSA is only minorly affected by the size of K₂CO₃, which cannot be explained from the view of catalytic effect. Therefore, K₂CO₃ may on one hand act as a catalyst for the activation of CO₂ so that the reaction can be accelerated, while on the other hand, it also acts as a co-reactant in deprotonating the phenol formed by the side reaction to phenoxide, which is further converted to salicylate.     

Polystyrene nanorod formation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">C</Emphasis><Subscript>12</Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis><Subscript>5</Subscript> hemimicelle thin film templates

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of polystyrene nanorods in hemicylindrical hemimicelles of a nonionic polyoxyethylene surfactant, C ₁₂ E ₅, on graphite. The surface structure is characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and contact angle goniometry. Uniformly aligned polystyrene nanorods are captured by AFM. The nanorod dimensions are studied as a function of the reaction time and styrene monomer concentration. The template synthesis using self-assembled surfactant surface aggregates promises to create functional and stable nanostructures for optoelectronics and surface engineering.     

L-phenyl alanine-attached Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>@SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanoparticles as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of chromenes

In the present paper, L-phenyl alanine has been successfully linked on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles and has been characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDS, TGA, and VSM techniques. This new catalyst was employed for one-pot synthesis of chromenes through the reaction of aldehydes, 4-hydroxycoumarin, and 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione. Significant features of this method are short reaction time, excellent yields, use of green method, and the use of an effective and novel catalyst that could be recovered and reused several times without loss of its catalytic activity.     

Convenient regioselective reaction in presence of H<Subscript>3</Subscript>PW<Subscript>12</Subscript>O<Subscript>40</Subscript>: synthesis and characterization of pyrazolo[3,4-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]quinoline-3,5-diones

We describe regioselective synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline derivatives by multicomponent reaction of dimedone, 5-aminopyrazolone, and aromatic aldehydes in presence of H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ as catalyst. When this multicomponent reaction was investigated without catalyst under reflux conditions, a mixture of products was obtained, while the reaction successfully proceeded to formation of pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline in presence of H₃PW₁₂O₄₀. Good product yield, short experimental time, and low-cost catalyst provide convenient synthesis for formation of pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline pharmacological compounds.     

Elimination of H<Subscript>2</Subscript> from CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>CH=N<Superscript>+</Superscript>HCH<Subscript>3</Subscript>: A synchronous,concerted 1,4-H<Subscript>2</Subscript> elimination

Most H2 eliminations from cations in the gas phase are formally 1,1- or 1,2- processes. Larger ring size H2 eliminations are rare and little studied. Thus, whether the 6-center, 1,4- elimination CH3CH=N+HCH3-->CH2=CHN+H=CH2+H2 is concerted and synchronous, as indicated by isotope effects and predicted by conservation of orbital symmetry, is a significant question. This reaction is characterized here by application of QCI and B3LYP theories. CH bond-breaking and H-H bond-making in this reaction are found by theory to be highly synchronized, consistent with previously established isotope effects and in contrast to "forbidden" 1,2-eliminations from organic cations in the gas phase. This reaction is made feasible by its conservation of orbital symmetry, the energy supplied by formation of the H-H bond, and a favorable geometry of the ion for eliminating H2.     

One-pot synthesis of 2-amino-3-cyano-4-arylsubstituted tetrahydrobenzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]pyrans catalysed by silica gel-supported polyphosphoric acid (PPA-SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>) as an efficient and reusable catalyst

A convenient method for the synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[b]pyrans by a one-pot three-component cyclocondensation of dimedone, aryl aldehydes, and malononitrile in water using silica gel-supported polyphosphoric acid (PPA-SiO₂) as an efficient and reusable catalyst is described. The present methodology offers several advantages, such as a simple procedure with ease of handling, short reaction time, high yields, and the absence of any volatile and hazardous organic solvents.     

Catalytic Activity of the Oxide Catalysts Based on Ni<Subscript>0.75</Subscript>Co<Subscript>2.25</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> Modified with Cesium Cations in a Reaction of N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O Decomposition

The Ni_0.75Co_2.25O₄ catalysts were prepared by a coprecipitation method and modified with cesium cations by impregnation with a solution of cesium nitrate or cesium nitrate with citric acid and ethylene glycol additives (the Pechini method). The catalysts obtained were investigated by X-ray diffraction analysis, the BET method, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature-programmed reduction, and the temperatureprogrammed desorption of oxygen. The activity of the samples in a reaction of nitrous oxide decomposition was determined at temperatures of 200–300°C, in particular, in the presence of oxygen and water in the reaction mixture. It was found that the use of the Pechini method for supporting Cs makes it possible to obtain a more active catalyst, as compared with that prepared by impregnation with cesium nitrate, at the same cesium content (~2%) of the samples.     

Biomaterials obtained by gelation of silica precursor with CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> saturated water containing a carbonic anhydrase enzyme

As part of an effort to develop biomaterials for the capture of CO₂ catalyzed by a carbonic anhydrase enzyme, the effects of an aqueous CO₂ saturated solution and a carbonic anhydrase on the gelation and texture of SiO₂ gels derived from tetramethoxysilane (TMOS), were studied. Both aqueous CO₂ and the enzyme were found to accelerate the gelation of silica, with a stronger effect when both the enzyme and CO₂ saturated aqueous water, were used. According to the gel texture data, aqueous CO₂ acted as an acid type catalyst, while the carbonic anhydrase acted as a weak base type catalyst. Moreover, a gel with a more granular visual aspect was obtained when both the enzyme and CO₂ saturated water were used. The latter characteristic was consistent with a double action of the enzyme, first as a gelation catalyst on the silica precursor, secondly as a reverse protonation catalyst which accelerated the back nucleation of CO₂ gas bubbles from aqueous HCO₃ ⁻ anions.     

Study of Fe-doped V<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalyst for an enhanced NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>-SCR in diesel exhaust aftertreatment

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with ammonia has been considered as the most promising technology, as its effect deals with the NO_X. Novel Fe-doped V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalysts were prepared by sol–gel and impregnation methods. The effects of iron content and reaction temperature on the catalyst SCR reaction activity were explored by a test device, the results of which revealed that catalysts could exhibit the best catalytic activity when the iron mass ratio was 0.05%. It further proved that the VTiFe (0.05%) catalyst performed the best in denitration and its NO_X conversion reached 99.5% at 270 °C. The outcome of experimental procedures: Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area, X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature-programmed reduction and adsorption (H₂-TPR, NH₃-TPD) techniques showed that the iron existed in the form of Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ and the superior catalytic performance was attributed to the highly dispersed active species, lots of surface acid sites and absorbed oxygen. The modified Fe-doped catalysts do not only have terrific SCR activities, but also a rather broad range of active temperature which also enhances the resistance to SO₂ and H₂O.     

Effect of H<Subscript>2</Subscript> in the synthesis of COS using liquid sulfur and CO or CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> as reactants

The synthesis of COS from CO, CO₂ and liquid sulfur in the presence and absence of hydrogen was explored. The reaction of H₂ with liquid sulfur produced H₂S and polysulfanes, which increase the reactivity of liquid sulfur and provide alternative complementary reaction routes for the formation of COS. The reaction from CO₂ proceeds by forming CO as intermediate. Elevated pressure favors formation of COS from both carbon oxides due to the increasing residence time and the saturation of gases in the liquid. Above 350 °C, the solubility of H₂S in sulfur and the hydrogenation of COS limit the conversion of CO. The approach provides a highly efficient method for the preparation of COS under mild reaction conditions, without using a catalyst or water adsorbents.     

Hydridosilazanes hydrolysis-condensation reactions studied by <Superscript>1</Superscript>H and <Superscript>29</Superscript>Si liquid NMR spectroscopy

Hydridosilazane compounds containing Si–N and Si–H bonds can be used as precursors of SiO_x materials. The hydrolysis-condensation reactions of tetramethyldisilazane, as a polyhydridosilazane model compound, were investigated by ¹H and ²⁹Si liquid NMR spectroscopy. These reactions were carried out at room temperature for up to 120 min in presence of water. The identified products are short linear siloxane species (hydride terminated polydimethylsiloxanes M^HD_xM^H) and cyclosiloxanes. Silicon hydride persistence in the reactional mixture suggested that silazane group is more sensitive to hydrolysis reaction than silicon hydride group. Moreover, additional experiments evidenced that the low steric hindrance of the silicon hydride influences the silazane hydrolysis kinetic. Hence the presence of ammonia released during silazane hydrolysis reaction was demonstrated to be a catalyst of the silicon hydride hydrolysis reaction.     

NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>(CH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>5</Subscript>NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>BiCl<Subscript>5</Subscript>: an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of benzoxazole,benzimidazole and benzothiazole heterocycles

In this work, the condensation of aromatic aldehydes with different two-substituted aniline catalyzed by NH₃(CH₂)₅NH₃BiCl₅ as heterogeneous and recyclable catalyst was reported. It was demonstrated that NH₃(CH₂)₅NH₃BiCl₅ can act as an efficient and active catalyst and is reusable for six runs without a significant loss of their catalytic activity. Simple preparation of the catalyst, high catalytic activity and good reusability are noteworthy advantages of this catalytic system in the synthesis of benzoxazole, benzimidazole and benzothiazole heterocycles at room temperature under solvent-free conditions.     

The photoisomerization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-stilbene in Triton X-100/<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-C<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>11</Subscript>OH/H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O microemulsions

Different from organic solvent, self-assemblies are environment friendly media, and moreover, if they are used as micro-reactor, many meaningful and exciting results may be obtained. In this paper, we investigated the photoisomerization of trans-stilbene in Triton X-100/n-C₅H₁₁OH/H₂O microemulsions (a kind of self-assemblies) with different compositions and structures to establish the relationship between the reaction yields and the compositions and structures of microemulsions. The results show that the yield of cis-stilbene is increased with the increase of water content or with the decrease of Triton X-100 content, and oil in water (O/W) structure is the best structure for this reaction, which makes it possible to decrease the pollution of environment by organic solvent always used in organic reactions.     

Porous CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> nanorod-catalyzed synthesis of poly-substituted imino-pyrrolidine-thiones

Porous CeO₂ nanorod has been used as efficient and recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of highly functionalized imino-pyrrolidine-thiones via the reaction of aromatic aldehyde (especially one bearing an electron-donating group), malononitrile, isocyanide and unactivated weakly acidic heterocyclic thiophenol. The high catalytic efficiency of porous CeO₂ nanorod in this reaction was discussed preliminarily based on their morphology and structure.     

Layered LiNi<Subscript>0.80</Subscript>Co<Subscript>0.15</Subscript>Al<Subscript>0.05</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript> as cathode material for hybrid Li<Superscript>+</Superscript>/Na<Superscript>+</Superscript> batteries

LiNi_0.80Co_0.15Al_0.05O₂ (NCA) is explored to be applied in a hybrid Li⁺/Na⁺ battery for the first time. The cell is constructed with NCA as the positive electrode, sodium metal as the negative electrode, and 1 M NaClO₄ solution as the electrolyte. It is found that during electrochemical cycling both Na⁺ and Li⁺ ions are reversibly intercalated into/de-intercalated from NCA crystal lattice. The detailed electrochemical process is systematically investigated by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry, ex situ X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic cycling, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The NCA cathode can deliver initially a high capacity up to 174 mAh g^?1 and 95% coulombic efficiency under 0.1 C (1 C?=?120 mA g^?1) current rate between 1.5–4.1 V. It also shows excellent rate capability that reaches 92 mAh g^?1 at 10 C. Furthermore, this hybrid battery displays superior long-term cycle life with a capacity retention of 81% after 300 cycles in the voltage range from 2.0 to 4.0 V, offering a promising application in energy storage.     

Theoretical study on the H<Subscript>2</Subscript>S activation by PtCH<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>+</Superscript> in the gas phase

The reaction mechanism of the gas-phase PtCH₂ ⁺ with H₂S has been systematically investigated on the doublet and quartet potential energy surfaces at BPW91/6-311++G(2d, p)∪ SDD level. The Pt in PtCH₂ ⁺ prefers to attack S–H bond in H₂S. For PtCH₂ ⁺ + H₂S reaction, the potential energy surfaces (PESs), including three reaction pathways of hydrogen (including one and two hydrogen elimination) and methane elimination, have been explored and characterized. By contrast with hydrogen elimination, methane elimination reaction channel is energetically favorable, which is in good agreement with the experimental observation. The optimal S–H bond activation is the first step, followed by cleavage of Pt–C and Pt–S bond. About the path a and b, the lowering of activation barrier is mainly caused by the more stabilizing transition state interaction \(\varDelta E_{\text{int}}^{ \ne }\), which is the actual interaction energy between the deformed reactants in the transition state.