CuI/Fe3O4 NPs@Biimidazole IL‐KCC‐1 as a leach proof nanocatalyst for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines in aqueous medium

In the present work, an innovative leach proof nanocatalyst based on dendritic fibrous nanosilica (DFNS) modified with ionic liquid loaded Fe₃O₄ NPs and CuI salts was designed and applied for the rapid synthesis of imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines from the reaction of phenyl acetylene, 2‐aminopyridine, and aldehydes in aqueous medium. The structure of the synthesized nanocatalyst was studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS), energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), vapor–liquid–solid (VLS), and adsorption/desorption analysis (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller [BET] equation) instrumental techniques. CuI/Fe₃O₄NPs@IL‐KCC‐1 with high surface area (225 m² g^?1) and porous structure not only exhibited excellent catalytic activity in aqueous media but also, with its good stability, simply recovered by an external magnet and recycled for eight cycles without significant loss in its intrinsic activity. Higher catalytic activity of CuI/Fe₃O₄NPs@IL‐KCC‐1 is due to exceptional dendritic fibrous structure of KCC‐1 and the ionic liquid groups that perform as strong anchors to the loaded magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and avoid leaching them from the pore of the nanocatalyst. Green reaction media, shorter reaction times, higher yields (71–97%), easy workup, and no need to use the chromatographic column are the advantages of the reported synthetic method.     

Dispersion of polymeric-coated–silica aerogel particles in unsaturated polyester composites: Effects on thermal-mechanical properties

The thermal-mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester (UP) composite were enhanced by the dispersion of silica aerogel (SA) with preserved pores. Low-cost SA was prepared from rice husk via the sol-gel process and ambient pressure drying. A new method was proposed to encapsulate the hydrophobic aerogel surface pores with hydrophilic polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film using the fluidized-bed coating process. The dispersion of PVA-coated aerogel with preserved pores in the polyester matrix resulted in an increase of specific compressive strength (44.1?MPa?·?cm³?g^?1), thermal insulation (0.23?W?m^?1?K^?1), and thermal stability (T_onset?=?310°C), but decreased the glass transition temperature (T_g?=?260°C).     

Highly stable copper/carbon dot nanofluid

Copper/carbon dot nanohybrids (Cu/CD NHs) were prepared via a facile precipitation method through a disproportionation reaction. The surface characterization was performed by various techniques such as XRD, FTIR and TEM. Then, water-based nanofluids composed of Cu/CD NHs at 0.1 and 0.5 mass% were prepared, and their thermo-physical properties including thermal conductivity, viscosity, density and specific heat were evaluated at various temperatures. The water-based Cu/CD nanofluid demonstrated to be a potential heat transfer fluid with a high stability. It was found that the thermal conductivity can be enhanced by increasing the nanoparticle concentration and temperature. Almost 1.25-fold increase in thermal conductivity has been achieved by raising the temperature up to 50 °C and at the concentration of 0.5 mass%. The heat capacity was found to increase with increasing concentration. Moreover, by increasing temperature the density and viscosity of the as-prepared nanofluid decreased, whereas the heat capacity showed an increasing trend.     

Dual aperture control on pH- and anion-driven supramolecular nanoscopic hybrid gate-like ensembles

The development of gate-like systems able to perform certain programmed functions is an interesting way of taking chemistry to the frontiers of nanoscience. In relation to this field, we report a complete study of the behavior of a pH-driven and anion-controlled nano-supramolecular gate-like ensemble obtained by anchoring suitable polyamines on the pore outlets of mesoporous materials of the type MCM-41 (solid N3-S). The release of an entrapped dye (Ru(bipy)3(2+)) from the pore voids into the bulk solution allows us to study the gating effect. A pH-driven open/close mechanism was observed that arises from the hydrogen-bonding interaction between amines at neutral pH (open gate) and Coulombic repulsions at acidic pH between closely located polyammoniums at the pore openings (closed gate). Molecular dynamics simulations using force field methods have been carried out to explain the pH-driven open/close mechanism. For this purpose, a mesoporous silica structure was constructed, taking as base the (111) plane of the beta-crystoballite structure on which large hexagonal nanopores and anchored polyamines were included. From these calculations, it was observed how completely unprotonated amines display poor coverage of the pore (fully open gate), whereas completely protonated amines (simulating a pH 2 or lower) result in a clear reduction of the pore aperture, in agreement with the experimental results. In additional to the pH-driven protocol, opening/closing of the gate-like ensemble can also be modulated via an anion-controlled mechanism. This study was carried out by monitoring the dye released from the pore voids of the N3-S solid at a certain pH in the presence of a range of anions with different structural dimensions and charges, including chloride, sulfate, phosphate, and ATP (C(anion) = 1 x 10(-2) mol dm(-3)). The choice of a certain anionic guest results in a different gate-like ensemble behavior, ranging from basically no action (chloride) to complete (ATP) or partial pore blockage, depending on the pH (sulfate and phosphate). The remarkable anion-controllable response of the gate-like ensemble can be explained in terms of anion complex formation with the tethered polyamines. These experimental studies are also in agreement with computational simulations with fluoride, chloride, iodide, and dihydrogen phosphate anions. In the model, larger anions push the tethered polyamines toward the pore openings more efficiently, and therefore the pore aperture decreases. The studies also show that, for anions showing a strong tendency to form hydrogen-bonding networks (e.g., phosphate), complete pore blockage was observed at acidic pH. Finally, selectivity patterns have been discussed in terms of kinetic rates of the liberation of the Ru(bipy)3(2+) dye from the amine-functionalized dye-containing material N3-S.     

Generation of dynamic chemical signals with microfluidic C-DACs

The utilization of microfluidic "lab-on-a-chip" devices in fundamental medical research, drug discovery and clinical diagnostics has rapidly increased in the past decade. Lab-on-a-chip devices process small volumes of analytes and reagents through on-chip microfluidic signal processing circuits. This paper discusses the implementation of a basic microfluidic circuit block, the concentration digital-to-analog converter (or C-DAC) which produces discretized chemical concentrations in a constant stream of solvent. The chemical concentration is controlled by a time-varying digital word; hence C-DACs are suitable for on-chip generation of arbitrary chemical signals. A 4-bit continuous-flow C-DAC was fabricated in two-level PDMS technology and tested. Several chemical waveforms (sawtooth, cosine, and ramp) were generated at flow rates of 2 microL min(-1) and frequencies of 0.6-4 mHz. The frequency cut off of this C-DAC was approximately 500 mHz.     

Synthesis, structure of [H3dien]·(MF6)·H2O (M=Cr, Fe) and Fe Mössbauer study of [H3dien]·(FeF6)·H2O

Single crystals of [H₃dien]·(FeF₆)·H₂O (I) and [H₃dien]·(CrF₆)·H₂O (II) are obtained by solvothermal synthesis under microwave heating. I is orthorhombic (Pna2₁) with a=11.530(2) Å, b=6.6446(8) Å, c=13.787(3) Å, V=1056.3(2) Å³ and Z=4. II is monoclinic (P2₁/c) with a=13.706(1) Å, b=6.7606(6) Å, c=11.3181(9) Å, β=99.38(1)°, V=1034.7(1) Å³ and Z=4. The structure determinations, performed from single crystal X-ray diffraction data, lead to the R₁/wR₂ reliability factors 0.028/0.066 for I and 0.035/0.102 for II. The structures of I and II are built up from isolated FeF₆ or CrF₆ octahedra, water molecules and triprotonated amines. In both structures, each octahedron is connected by hydrogen bonds to six organic cations and two water molecules. The iron-based compound is also characterized by ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectrometry: the hyperfine structure confirms the presence of Fe³⁺ in octahedral coordination and reveals the existence of paramagnetic spin fluctuations.     

Effect of hydrogen reduction on microstructure and magnetic properties of mechanochemically synthesized Fe-16.5Ni-16.5Co nano-powder

Most recent findings on structural and magnetic properties of Fe-Ni-Co nano-powders produced by mechanical alloying and subsequent low-temperature hydrogen reduction are presented in this paper. At 300 rpm, with ball to powder weight ratio of 20, single phase nickel-cobalt ferrite is mechanically synthesized for 50 h. The as-milled powder is then subjected to 1 h hydrogen reduction at 700 °C. Hydrogen reduction results in the formation of Fe-16.5%Ni-16.5%Co nano-powders. The phases of the powders are identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) utilizing Cu Kα radiation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are used to study the morphology and the average size of the nano-powder particles. Chemical analysis of the phases present in the reduced sample is determined by electron dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The magnetic properties of the powders are measured by a vibration sample magnetometer (VSM). Results indicate a noticeable change in the magnetic properties of the samples due to Ni_0.5Co_0.5Fe₂O₄ compositional change into Fe-16.5Ni-16.5Co nano-powder.     

Structural Analysis of Zincocenes with Substituted Cyclopentadienyl Rings

New zincocenes [ZnCp′₂] ( 2 – 5 ) with substituted cyclopentadienyl ligands C₅Me₄H, C₅Me₄tBu, C₅Me₄SiMe₂tBu and C₅Me₄SiMe₃, respectively, have been prepared by the reaction of ZnCl₂ with the appropriate Cp′‐transfer reagent. For a comparative structural study, the known [Zn(C₅H₄SiMe₃)₂] ( 1 ), has also been investigated, along with the mixed‐ring zincocenes [Zn(C₅Me₅)(C₅Me₄SiMe₃)] ( 6 ) and [Zn(C₅Me₅)(C₅H₄SiMe₃)] ( 7 ), the last two obtained by conproportionation of [Zn(C₅Me₅)₂] with 5 or 1 , as appropriate. All new compounds were characterised by NMR spectroscopy, and by X‐ray methods, with the exception of 7 , which yields a side‐product ( C ) upon attempted crystallisation. Compounds 5 and 6 were also investigated by ¹³C CPMAS NMR spectroscopy. Zincocenes 1 and 2 have infinite chain structures with bridging Cp′ ligands, while 3 and 4 exhibit slipped‐sandwich geometries. Compounds 5 and 6 have rigid, η⁵/η¹(σ) structures, in which the monohapto C₅Me₄SiMe₃ ligand is bound to zinc through the silyl‐bearing carbon atom, forming a Zn? C bond of comparable strength to the Zn? Me bond in ZnMe₂. Zincocene 5 has dynamic behaviour in solution, but a rigid η⁵/η¹(σ) structure in the solid state, as revealed by ¹³C CPMAS NMR studies, whereas for 6 the different nature of the Cp′ ligands and of the ring substituents of the η¹‐Cp′ group (Me and SiMe₃) have permitted observation for the first time of the rigid η⁵/η¹ solution structure. Iminoacyl compounds of composition [Zn(η⁵‐C₅Me₄R)(η¹‐C(NXyl)C₅Me₄R)] resulting from the reactions of some of the above zincocenes and CNXyl (Xyl=2,6‐dimethylphenylisocyanide) have also been obtained and characterised.