Cup-shaped E,E-stilbenophane: synthesis,crystal structure and supramolecular chemistry

A new E,E-stilbenophane was synthesised and characterised. The crystal structure of this cyclophane shows that this molecule has a cup-shaped structure, which hosts a phenyl ring of neighbouring molecule as guest in its cavity with a π–π distance of about 3.7 Å. Moreover, the NMR spectra and theoretical analysis (gauge-independent atomic orbitals (GIAO) and quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM)) suggest that the silver recognition by E,E-stilbenophane host molecules is based on cation–π interactions in which the π-electrons of the double bonds play a major role.     

Thermoanalytical study of linkage isomerism in coordination compounds

The non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments revealed that linkage isomerization of both pure trans-[Co(en)₂(ONO)₂]PF₆ (dinitrito isomer) and trans-[Co(en)₂(NO₂)₂]PF₆ (dinitro isomer) occurs in the solid state at elevated temperatures. The process was found to be exothermic for the dinitrito isomer and endothermic for dinitro isomer. The pure isomers could be considered to be in metastable states at ambient temperatures which would be converted to an equilibrium mixture of both isomers (stable state) upon heating. Since the isomerization of both isomers may be described as a two stages process, the corresponding DSC peaks have been resolved into two peaks by means of nonlinear curve fitting tools of PeakFit^® software. The resolution of the peaks helped us to determine enthalpy changes of stepwise isomerization of both isomers. A first-order initial rate and Kissinger methods have been employed to estimate kinetic parameters of the stepwise isomerization reactions. The Kissinger method provided more reliable kinetic results. The high activation energy and positive entropy changes of isomerization of both isomers are considered as indication of a dissociative mechanism in solid state.     

SMFs-supported Pd nanocatalysts in selective acetylene hydrogenation:Pore structure-dependent deactivation mechanism

In the present study,CNFs,ZnO and Al2O3 were deposited on the SMFs panels to investigate the deactivation mechanism of Pd-based catalysts in selective acetylene hydrogenation reaction.The examined supports were characterized by SEM,NH3-TPD and N2adsorption-desorption isotherms to indicate their intrinsic characteristics.Furthermore,in order to understand the mechanism of deactivation,the resulted green oil was characterized using FTIR and SIM DIS.FTIR results confirmed the presence of more unsaturated constituents and then,more branched hydrocarbons formed upon the reaction over alumina-supported catalyst in comparison with the ones supported on CNFs and ZnO,which in turn,could block the pores mouths.Besides the limited hydrogen transfer,N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms results supported that the lowest pore diameters of Al2O3/SMFs close to the surface led to fast deactivation,compared with the other catalysts,especially at higher temperatures.     

Growth Orientation of the Mechanosynthesized Fluorapatite-Based Composite Nanopowders: Influence of Subsequent Thermal Treatment

Growth orientation of fluorapatite–zirconia nanopowders was investigated after mechanical activation and thermal annealing process in the range of 600–1,300 °C for 1 h. Results revealed that during heating of the composite nanopowders the transition of the monoclinic zirconia to tetragonal form and its stabilization by calcium fluoride originating from the decomposition of fluorapatite as well as the formation of a solid solution of calcium fluoride in zirconia occurred. The influence of annealing on the growth orientation of fluorapatite–zirconia composite nanopowders indicated that the crystal growth of fluorapatite was preferentially accentuated on the (002) face in the direction of the crystallographic c-axis after heat treatment. Based on FE–SEM observations, the experimental outcome was composed of both agglomerates and fine particles (~33 nm) after 600 °C, while annealing of the sample at 1,300 °C demonstrated the occurrence of abnormal grain growth.     

Theoretical studies on tautomerism of imidazole-2-selenone

The tautomerism of all possible forms of imidazole selenone (ISe1–ISe6), induced by proton transfer was studied theoretically in different environments including gas phase, continuum solvent, and microhydrated environment with one explicit water molecule. The calculations were performed at the MP2 and CAM-B3LYP levels of theory, separately. It was found that the imidazole selenone, in the form of ISe3, is the most stable isomer in both gas phase and solvent. The activation energy for conversion of ISe3 to imidazole selenol (ISe6), as the second stable form, is 41.72 and 43.0 kcal/mol in the gas phase and water, respectively. The infrared spectral frequencies as well as the vibrational frequency shifts were reported and assigned to their corresponding vibrational modes. In addition, the variation of dipole moments and charges on the atoms with change of solvent was studied. The energies of HOMO, LUMO, and HOMO–LUMO gap were calculated in both gas phase and solvent. Specific solvent effects with addition of water molecule near the electrophilic centers of tautomers and the transition states of proton transfer, assisted by water molecule, were investigated. It was found that the water molecule can form different hydrogen bonds with the molecule. Aggregation of the isomers with water molecule does not change the order of stability of isomers, but proton transfer reaction assisted by a water molecule needs less energy than when the proton shifts through the intramolecular process.     

A mild and green chemistry approach for the synthesis of symmetrical spirooxindole derivatives

A simple and eco-friendly synthesis of the biologically important spirooxindole scaffold was done by the reaction of isatin with activated pyrazolones in the presence of a catalytic amount of p-toluenesulfonic acid in water at room temperature. A variety of symmetrical spirooxindole derivatives were obtained with excellent yields within short reaction time. This method is of great value because of its environmentally benign character, high yield, and easy handling.     

Synthesis and characterization of three new organotin complexes containing piperazine as a bidentate ligand

The reaction of dichlorostannanes R₂SnCl₂ (R=Me 1, Buⁿ 2) with piperazine ligand in molar ratio 1:2, in dry methylene dichloride, in an inert atmosphere leads to the synthesis of R₂Sn(C₄H₉N₂)₂(R=Me 1, Buⁿ 2). In a similar manner, The reaction between Ph₂SnCl₂ and piperazine in dry ethanol in molar ratio 1:1 produces [Ph₂Sn(C₄H₈N₂)]₂ (3). The yields of these new products were excellent and they have been fully characterized by FT-IR, UV–Vis, multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹⁹Sn) NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, as well as elemental analysis. The spectroscopic results indicate that the piperazine ligand is coordinated to tin atom of organotin moieties, through the nitrogen atoms. Furthermore, the ligand behaves as a bidentate fashion in (1) and (2) and gives 1:2 substitution products, while in the complex (3) the two six-membered rings bind in bidentate-chelate forms between the two Sn atoms.     

SMFs-supported Pd nanocatalysts in selective acetylene hydrogenation: Pore structure-dependent deactivation mechanism

In the present study, CNFs, ZnO and Al₂O₃ were deposited on the SMFs panels to investigate the deactivation mechanism of Pd-based catalysts in selective acetylene hydrogenation reaction. The examined supports were characterized by SEM, NH₃-TPD and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms to indicate their intrinsic characteristics. Furthermore, in order to understand the mechanism of deactivation, the resulted green oil was characterized using FTIR and SIM DIS. FTIR results confirmed the presence of more unsaturated constituents and then, more branched hydrocarbons formed upon the reaction over alumina-supported catalyst in comparison with the ones supported on CNFs and ZnO, which in turn, could block the pores mouths. Besides the limited hydrogen transfer, N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms results supported that the lowest pore diameters of Al₂O₃/SMFs close to the surface led to fast deactivation, compared with the other catalysts, especially at higher temperatures.     

Carbon/carbon supercapacitors

Supercapacitors, or electrochemical capacitors, are a power storage system applied for harvesting energy and delivering pulses during short periods of time. The commercially available technology is based on charging an electrical double-layer (EDL), and using high surface area carbon electrodes in an organic electrolyte. This review first presents the state-of-the-art on EDL capacitors, with the objective to better understand their operating principles and to improve their performance. In particular, it is shown that capacitance might be enhanced for carbons having subnanometric pores where ions of the electrolyte are distorted and partly desolvated. Then, strategies for using environment friendly aqueous electrolytes are presented. In this case, the capacitance can be enhanced through pseudo-faradaic contributions involving i) surface functional groups on carbons, ii) hydrogen electrosorption, and iii) redox reactions at the electrode/electrolyte interface. The most promising system is based on the use of aqueous alkali sulfate as electrolyte allowing voltages as high as 2 V to be reached, due to the high overpotential for di-hydrogen evolution at the negative electrode.