Solvent effects on catalytic activity of manganese porphyrins with cationic,anionic and uncharged meso substituents: Indirect evidence on the nature of active oxidant species

Oxidation of cyclohexene and styrene with sodium periodate and tetra‐n‐butylammonium periodate (TBAP) catalyzed by MnT(3‐MePy)P(OAc), MnT(4‐SO₃)PP(OAc) and MnTPP(OAc) has been studied in water, methanol, acetonitrile and dichloromethane as solvents. The results show significant dependence of the product distribution on the type of solvent and the electronic nature of the aryl substituents introduced at the porphyrin periphery. While the oxidation of cyclohexene and styrene in the presence of MnT(3‐MePy)P(OAc) and MnTPP(OAc) in water (also in methanol) gave the corresponding epoxides as nearly the sole product, performing the reactions in the presence of MnT(4‐SO₃)PP(OAc) yielded the products of allylic oxidation, cyclohexene‐2‐ol and cyclohexene‐2‐one and acetophenone as the major products. In the case of styrene, performing the reaction in the presence of MnT(4‐SO₃)PP(OAc), MnT(3‐MePy)P(OAc) and MnTPP(OAc) in acetonitrile gave a mixture of styrene oxide and acetophenone as the products. Under the same conditions, the oxidation of cyclohexene afforded cyclohexene oxide as approximately the exclusive product. Furthermore, the oxidation of olefins in dichloromethane gave the corresponding epoxide as the exclusive products. The product distributions observed in the protic and aprotic solvents were used to provide indirect evidence on the relative contribution and reactivity of high valent manganese oxo and periodato Mn(III) porphyrin species to the oxidation reactions.     

Mo (CO)6‐assisted Pd‐supported magnetic graphene oxide‐catalyzed carbonylation‐cyclization as an efficient way for the synthesis of 4(3H)‐quinazolinones

In this paper, a novel catalyst is introduced based on the immobilization of palladium on modified magnetic graphene oxide nanoparticles. The catalyst is characterized by several methods, including transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray fluorescence, vibrating‐sample magnetometer, Fourier transform‐infrared and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. The activity of the catalyst was investigated in the synthesis of 4(3H)‐quinazolinones via Pd‐catalyzed carbonylation‐cyclization of N‐(2‐bromoaryl) benzimidamides by Mo (CO)₆. The Mo (CO)₆ is used as a carbon monoxide source for performing the reaction under mild conditions. The catalyst showed good reusability, and no change in activity was observed after 10 cycles of recovery.     

Thermal decomposition of model compound of algal biomass

This contribution investigates thermal decomposition of leucine, as a representative model compound for amino acids in algal biomass. We map out potential energy surface for a wide array of unimolecular and self-condensation reactions operating in the decomposition of leucine. Decarboxylation and dehydration of leucine ensues by eliminating CO₂ and –OH, respectively, from the –COOH group attached to the α-carbon. The molecular channel for deamination involves cleavage of NH₂ from α-carbon of leucine. The activation energies for direct elimination of CO₂, NH₃, and H₂O from a leucine molecule lie within 20.7 kJ/mol of each other. Activation energies for these decomposition pathways reside below the bond dissociation enthalpy of H–C(α) of 323.1 kJ/mol. The decarboxylation, deamination, and dehydration pathways, via radical-prompted pathways, systematically require lower energy barriers, in reference to closed-shell reaction corridors. Detailed computations at the CBS-QB3 level provide the Arrhenius rate parameters for the unimolecular and bimolecular reactions, and standard enthalpies of formation, standard entropies, and heat capacities for all the products and intermediates. A kinetic analysis of gas-phase reactions, within the context of a plug-flow reactor model, accounts qualitatively for the formation of major products observed experimentally in the thermal degradation of the condensed-phase leucine. Among notable N-containing species, the model predicts the prevailing of NH₃ over HCN and HNCO, in addition to corresponding appreciable concentrations of amines, imines, and nitriles. Our detailed kinetic investigation illustrates a negligible contribution of the self-condensation reactions of leucine in the gas phase.     

Playing with the weakest supramolecular interactions in a 3D crystalline hexakis[60]fullerene induces control over hydrogenation selectivity

Weak forces can play an essential role in chemical reactions. Controlling such subtle forces in reorganization processes by applying thermal or chemical stimuli represents a novel synthetic strategy and one of the main targets in supramolecular chemistry. Actually, to separate the different supramolecular contributions to the stability of the 3D assemblies is still a major challenge. Therefore, a clear differentiation of these contributions would help in understanding the intrinsic nature as well as the chemical reactivity of supramolecular ensembles. In the present work, a controlled reorganization of an hexakis[60]fullerene-based molecular compound purely governed by the weakest van der Waals interactions known, i.e. the dihydrogen interaction – usually called sticky fingers – is illustrated. This pre-reorganization of the hexakis[60]fullerene under mild conditions allows a further selective hydrogenation of the crystalline material via hydrazine vapors exposure. This unique two-step transformation process is monitored by single-crystal to single-crystal diffraction (SCSC) which allows the direct observation of the molecular movements in the lattice and the subsequent solid–gas hydrogenation reaction.

Weak forces play an essential role in chemistry. Controlling these supramolecular interactions will contribute to the creation dynamic absorbent materials with a variety of technological applications as chemosensors and environmental remediation.     

Modeling of iron adsorption on HTTA-loaded polyurethane foam using Freundlich,Langmuir and D-R isotherm expressions

The sorption of Fe(III) at low pH range from 1 to 4.5 on open cell polyether type HTTA-loaded polyurethane foam has been carried out using batch technique. The optimum shaking time for 2.5· 10^–4M solution of Fe(III) was found to be 30 minutes. The concept of macropore and micropore nature of polyurethane foam sorbent offers unique advantages of adsorption. Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms are followed at low concentration range from 1·10^–4 to 3·10^–4M solution of Fe(III). The Freundlich constant (1/n=0.46±0.013 andK=9.16±1.39 mg·g^–1) and Langmuir isotherm constants(M=21.78 mg·g^–1 andb=88.41±9.731·g^–1) were established. The sorption mean free energyE=12.22±0.09 kJ·mol^–1 and loading capacityC _m =145.21±6.1 mg·g^–1 were evaluated using Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm, which suggested that the adsorption mechanism was chemisorption.     

Uptake of Tm(III) ions onto polyurethane foam from H2O - ethanol mixture containing 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN)

Summary The sorption of microquantities of Tm(III) ions on washed polyurethane foam (PUF) from a mixture of aqueous solution and ethanol containing PAN was examined. The maximum sorption of 3.18^. 10^-6M solution of Tm(III) ions was observed at pH 8 with 30-minute equilibration time. The optimum ratio of aqueous-ethanol phase for the sorption of Tm(III) ions was found to be 3:1 v/v, respectively. The sorption rate of metal ions on PUF is followed a first order kinetics and obeyed the equation for an intra particle diffusion process. The equilibrium concentration data of Tm(III) ions could be described satisfactorily by several adsorption isotherms. The Freundlich adsorption isotherm constants 1/nand K_Fare 0.66±0.02 and (5.7±0.3)^. 10^-3mol^. g^-1, respectively. The Langmuir isotherm constants for monolayer coverage (Q) and binding strength of sorption (b) are (2.5±0.7)^. 10^-5mol^. g^-1and (1.6±0.1)^. 10⁴l^. mol^-1, respectively. The sorption capacity derived from Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm is (1.7±0.2)^. 10^-4mol^. g^-1and the sorption free energy (E) is 9.8±0.2 kJ^. mol^-1indicating chemisorption phenomena. The thermodynamic parameters indicate that the sorption of Tm(III) ions onto PUF is endothermic, entropy driven and spontaneous in nature.     

Surface Properties of Low Density Polyethylene upon Low-Temperature Plasma Treatment with Various Gases

The surface of a LDPE was modified by Ar, O₂, N₂, CO₂ gaseous plasma. The changes in surface morphology and surface wettability were investigated using AFM and SEM. The surface chemical changes of LDPE were also characterized by FTIR-ATR. The SEM and AFM results demonstrated variable changes in surface roughness for different types of plasma gas used, the changes being more for the Ar and N₂ plasma treatments. Considering the nature of the LDPE film, XRD studies were carried out to determine changes in the percentage crystalinity. The results showed that all low pressure O₂, Ar, N₂, CO₂ gas plasmas improved the wettability of LDPE films. Contact angles decreased significantly depending on the discharge powers and exposure times. Surface morphology was also found to vary with plasma discharge powers, exposure times, and the type of gas being used. Ar and N₂ gas plasmas in general produced more superior results.     

Biginelli reaction for synthesis of novel trifluoromethyl derivatives of bis(tetrahydropyrimidinone)benzenes

A facile one-pot three-component condensation of terephthalic aldehyde with urea and fluorinated 1,3-dicarbonyl derivatives is developed using catalytic quantities of chlorotrimethylsilane at ambient temperature. As a consequence, efficient synthesis of novel trifluoromethyl derivatives of bis(tetrahydropyrimidinone)benzenes is observed within short time periods. The procedure is shown to be equally efficient when urea is replaced with thiourea or guanidine.     

Synthesis and characterization of some Schiff-base-containing polyimides

The diamine, 4-aminophenyloxy-N-4-[(4-amiophenyloxy)benzylidene]aniline, was prepared via the nucleophilic substitution reaction and was polymerized with different dianhydrides either by one-step solution polymerization reaction or two-step procedure. The latter includes ring-opening polyaddition to give poly(amic acid), followed by cyclodehydration to polyimides. The inherent viscosity ranges from 0.61–0.79 dl/g. Some of the polymers were soluble in most of the organic solvents such as DMSO, DMF, DMAc, NMP, and m-cresol even at room temperature. The degradation temperature of the resultant polymers falls in the ranges from 240–500 °C in nitrogen with only 10% weight loss. Specific heat capacity at 200 °C ranges from 1.0929–2.6275 J g⁻¹ k⁻¹. The temperature at which the maximum degradation of the polymer occurs ranges from 600–630 °C. The glass transition temperature (Tg) values of the polyimides ranged from 185 to 272 °C. The activation energy and enthalpy of the polyimides ranged from 47.5–55.0 kJ/mole and 45.7–53.0 kJ/mole and the moisture absorption in the range of 0.23–0.72%.     

Manganese porphyrins/mesoporous amberlyst 15 nanocomposites: Robust biomimetic catalysts for aqueous oxidation of olefins

In this study, the manganese complexes of N-methylated meso-tetra(2-, 3-, or 4 pyridyl)porphyrins, immobilized into the pores of the sodium salt of mesoporous amberlyst 15 nanoparticles (nanoAmbSO₃Na), nanoAmbSO₃@MnT(2-MePy)P (OAc), nanoAmbSO₃@MnT(3-MePy)P (OAc), and nanoAmbSO₃@MnT(4-MePy)P (OAc), were synthesized and characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), nitrogen adsorption/desorption porosimetry analysis, and diffuse reflectance UV–vis spectroscopy. FESEM images revealed a particle size less than ~40 nm for the nanocomposites. The results of BET are in accord with the occupation of the larger pores of the polymer matrix in the case of MnT(2-MePy)P (OAc) as the most sterically demanding metalloporphyrin of the series, and the smaller pores in the case of the other ones. The immobilized manganese porphyrins were used as catalysts for the oxidation of olefins with sodium periodate in the presence of imidazole (ImH) as the co-catalyst. The negligible oxidative destructions of the immobilized manganese porphyrins under the oxidative conditions allowed the comparison of the inherent catalytic activity of the metalloporphyrins, decreased as nanoAmbSO₃@MnT(4-MePy)P (OAc) > nanoAmbSO₃@MnT(3-MePy)P (OAc) ≫ nanoAmbSO₃@MnT(2-MePy)P (OAc). Contrary to the general belief that electron-deficient metalloporphyrins are more efficient catalysts than the electron-rich ones, the most electron-deficient metalloporphyrin of the series, that is, nanoAmbSO₃@MnT(2-MePy)P (OAc), showed the lowest catalytic activity. Due to the high oxidative stability of the immobilized manganese porphyrins, ring opening of epoxide competes with the epoxidation reaction to decrease the yield of epoxide at longer reaction times than the optimized one.