Thermal Activation of CH4 and H2 as Mediated by the Ruthenium Oxide Cluster Ions [RuOx]+ (x=1–3): On the Influence of Oxidation States

Thermal gas-phase reactions of the ruthenium-oxide clusters [RuO_x]⁺ (x=1–3) with methane and dihydrogen have been explored by using FT-ICR mass spectrometry complemented by high-level quantum chemical calculations. For methane activation, as compared to the previously studied [RuO]⁺/CH₄ couple, the higher oxidized Ru systems give rise to completely different product distributions. [RuO₂]⁺ brings about the generations of [Ru,O,C,H₂]⁺/H₂O, [Ru,O,C]⁺/H₂/H₂O, and [Ru,O,H₂]⁺/CH₂O, whereas [RuO₃]⁺ exhibits a higher selectivity and efficiency in producing formaldehyde and syngas (CO+H₂). Regarding the reactions with H₂, as compared to CH₄, both [RuO]⁺ and [RuO₂]⁺ react similarly inefficiently with oxygen-atom transfer being the main reaction channel; in contrast, [RuO₃]⁺ is inert toward dihydrogen. Theoretical analysis reveals that the reduction of the metal center drives the overall oxidation of methane, whereas the back-bonding orbital interactions between the cluster ions and dihydrogen control the H−H bond activation. Furthermore, the reactivity patterns of [RuO_x]⁺ (x=1–3) with CH₄ and H₂ have been compared with the previously reported results of Group 8 analogues [OsO_x]⁺/CH₄/H₂ (x=1–3) and the [FeO]⁺/H₂ system. The electronic origins for their distinctly different reaction behaviors have been addressed.     

Effect of Anchimeric Assistance in the Reaction of Triphenylphosphine with α,β‐Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids

Quaternization of triphenylphosphine with maleic and cis‐aconitic acids is strongly accelerated by participation of the cis‐carboxyl group in stabilization of the phosphonium zwitterion intermediate by intramolecular hydrogen bonding, in spite of steric hindrance by the acid's reaction center. A similar effect for trans‐isomeric acids is not observed, which can be rationalized on the basis of spatial structures of the generated zwitterions, implying an electrostatic interaction between the phosphonium center and carbonyl oxygen atom. The effect of anchimeric assistance decreases when the intramolecular hydrogen bonding disfavors attack of the phosphine on the sterically less hindered carbon atom of the C=C bond, as observed for cis‐aconitic acid.     

Surface growth mechanisms and structural faulting in the growth of large single and spherulitic titanosilicate ETS-4 crystals

Morphological, surface and crystallographic analyses of titanosilicate ETS-4 products, with diverse habits ranging from spherulitic particles composed of submicron crystallites to large single crystals, are presented. Pole figures revealed that crystal surfaces with a-, b- and c- axes corresponded to 110, 010 and 001 directions, respectively. Thus, technologically important 8-membered ring pores and titania chains in ETS-4 run along the b-axis of single crystals and terminate at the smallest crystal face. Height of the spiral growth steps observed on 1 0 0 and 0 0 1 surfaces corresponded to the interplanar spacings associated with their crystallographic orientation, and is equivalent to the thickness of building units that form the ETS-4 framework. Data suggest that the more viscous synthesis mixtures, with a large driving force for growth, increased the two- and three-dimensional nucleation, while limiting the transport of nutrients to the growth surface. These conditions increase the tendency for stacking fault formation on 1 0 0 surfaces and small angle branching, which eventually results in spherulitic growth. The growth of high quality ETS-4 single crystals (from less viscous synthesis mixtures) occurred at lower surface nucleation rates. Data suggest that these high quality, large crystals grew due to one-dimensional nucleation at spiral hillocks, and indicate that under these conditions un-faulted growth is preferred.     

气相色谱法探究聚醚醚酮的热降解及热氧化降解（英文）

Poly(ether ether ketone)(PEEK)was synthesized via polycondensation of hydroquinone with 4,4′-difluorobenzophenone at 320℃for 5 h.Thermal and thermo-oxidative degradation of PEEK was studied over a wide range of temperatures.In an inert medium,decomposition of the polymer occurred in one stage,with the formation of a coke residue accounting for approximately 50%of the original polymer mass.In air,the mass loss curve exhibited two distinct stages.The first stage involved breakdown of the main polymer chain,the speed of which indicated a radical chain failure mechanism.In the second stage,the rate of mass loss clearly decreased,indicating a transition from the radical chain failure mechanism to simple combustion reactions(wherein the polymer combusted completely).To further investigate the nature of the processes occurring during the pyrolysis of PEEK,the investigations were carried out using gas chromatograph under isothermal conditions.It was concluded that during thermal degradation,the decomposition of the polymer starts with the rupture of ketone and ether bonds and proceeds to destruction of the benzene ring at higher temperatures,which is accompanied by the formation of H2O and CH4.Above 500℃,the polymer degradation further involved thermohydrolysis.The thermo-oxidation of PEEK,which was accompanied mainly by the formation ofH2,was noticeable beginning at 325℃.The total yield of the latter indicated oxidation of fragments of the benzene ring.     

Anodic corrosion of gold in solutions of diaminoalkanes

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Asymmetric syntheses of (R)-4-halo-6,6a,7,8,9,10-hexahydro-5H-pyrazino[1,2-a][1,n]naphthyridines,important 5-HT2C agonist precursors

Asymmetric syntheses of N-protected (R)-4-halo-6,6a,7,8,9,10-hexahydro-5H-pyrazino[1,2-a][1,n]naphthyridines, advanced intermediates for the synthesis of highly potent and selective 5-HT_2C agonists, are described. The key transformation involves ring opening of N-protected bicyclic sulfamidate (R)-hexahydro-3H-pyrazino[1,2-c][1,2,3]oxathiazine 1,1-dioxide with (4-halo-2-fluoropyridin-3-yl)lithiums or (3-bromo-5-fluoropyridin-4-yl)lithium. In situ hydrolyses of the resultant sulfamic acids and subsequent intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitutions (S_NAr) produce the enantiopure tricycles. The two step procedure represents new methodology for the stereoselective syntheses of tetrahydronaphthyridines.     

A Protein‐Based Encapsulation System with Calcium‐Controlled Cargo Loading and Detachment

Protein‐based encapsulation systems have a wide spectrum of applications in targeted delivery of cargo molecules and for chemical transformations in confined spaces. By engineering affinity between cargo and container proteins it has been possible to enable the efficient and specific encapsulation of target molecules. Missing in current approaches is the ability to turn off the interaction after encapsulation to enable the cargo to freely diffuse in the lumen of the container. Separation between cargo and container is desirable in drug delivery applications and in the use of capsids as catalytic nanoparticles. We describe an encapsulation system based on the hepatitis B virus capsid in which an engineered high‐affinity interaction between cargo and capsid proteins can be modulated by Ca²⁺. Cargo proteins are loaded into capsids in the presence of Ca²⁺, while ligand removal triggers unbinding inside the container. We observe that confinement leads to hindered rotation of cargo inside the capsid. Application of the designed container for catalysis was also demonstrated by encapsulation of an enzyme with β‐glucosidase activity.     

EThcD Discrimination of Isomeric Leucine/Isoleucine Residues in Sequencing of the Intact Skin Frog Peptides with Intramolecular Disulfide Bond

Our scientific interests involve de novo sequencing of non-tryptic natural amphibian skin peptides including those with intramolecular S–S bond by means of exclusively mass spectrometry. Reliable discrimination of the isomeric leucine/isoleucine residues during peptide sequencing by means of mass spectrometry represents a bottleneck in the workflow for complete automation of the primary structure elucidation of these compounds. MS³ is capable of solving the problem. Earlier we demonstrated the advanced efficiency of ETD-HCD method to discriminate Leu/Ile in individual peptides by consecutive application of ETD to the polyprotonated peptides followed by HCD applied to the manually selected primary z-ions with the targeted isomeric residues at their N-termini and registration of the characteristic w-ions. Later this approach was extended to deal with several (4–7) broad band mass ranges, without special isolation of the primary z-ions. The present paper demonstrates an advanced version of this method when EThcD is applied in the whole mass range to a complex mixture of natural non-tryptic peptides without their separation and intermediate isolation of the targeted z-ions. The proposed EThcD method showed over 81% efficiency for the large natural peptides with intact disulfide ring, while the interfering process of radical site migration is suppressed. Due to higher speed and sensitivity, the proposed EThcD approach facilitates the analytical procedure and allows for the automation of the entire experiment and data processing. Moreover, in some cases it gives a chance to establish the nature of the residues in the intact intramolecular disulfide loops.

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On the Upper Limits of Oxidation States in Chemistry

The concept of oxidation state ( OS ) is based on the concept of Lewis electron pairs, in which the bonding electrons are assigned to the more electronegative element. This approach is useful for keeping track of the electrons, predicting chemical trends, and guiding syntheses. Experimental and quantum‐chemical results reveal a limit near +8 for the highest OS in stable neutral chemical substances under ambient conditions. OS =+9 was observed for the isolated [IrO₄]⁺ cation in vacuum. The prediction of OS =+10 for isolated [PtO₄]²⁺ cations is confirmed computationally for low temperatures only, but hasn't yet been experimentally verified. For high OS species, oxidation of the ligands, for example, of O^?2 with formation of ^.O^?1 and O?O bonds, and partial reduction of the metal center may be favorable, possibly leading to non‐Lewis type structures.