Porous V2O5-SnO2/CNTs composites as high performance cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅) exhibits high theoretical capacities when used as a cathode in lithium ion batteries (LIBs), but its application is limited by its structural instability as well as its low lithium and electronic conductivities. A porous composite of V₂O₅-SnO₂/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was prepared by a hydrothermal method and followed by thermal treatment. The small particles of V₂O₅, their porous structure and the coexistence of SnO₂ and CNTs can all facilitate the diffusion rates of the electrons and lithium ions. Electrochemical impedance spectra indicated higher ionic and electric conductivities, as compared to commercial V₂O₅. The V₂O₅-SnO₂/CNTs composite gave a reversible discharge capacity of 198 mAh·g^?1 at the voltage range of 2.05–4.0 V, measured at a current rate of 200 mA·g^?1, while that of the commercial V₂O₅ was only 88 mAh·g^?1, demonstrating that the porous V₂O₅-SnO₂/CNTs composite is a promising candidate for high-performance lithium secondary batteries.     

Novel B,O-chelated fluorescent probe for nitric oxide imaging in Raw 264.7 macrophages and onion tissues

A novel fluorescent probe based on B,O-chelated dipyrromethene chromophore in far-visible and near-infrared spectral region (600–900 nm), boron chelated 8-(3,4-diaminophenyl)-3,5-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indancene (BOPB), has been first developed for nitric oxide (NO) imaging. BOPB, a turn-on fluorescent probe, can react with NO rapidly under physiological condition. The reaction product of BOPB with NO, BOPB-T, emits bright red fluorescence at 643 nm when excited at 622 nm. Meanwhile, BOPB-T displays high fluorescent quantum yield of 0.21 and good photostability. The selectivity for NO over other reactive oxygen/nitrogen species and ascorbic acid has been investigated and BOPB has good specificity for the detection of NO. MTT assay shows that the toxicity of BOPB (below 10 μM) to living cells can be neglected. Based on these investigations, BOPB has been used for NO imaging in Raw 264.7 cells and onion tissues. Meanwhile, mechanical injury to onion tissues results in a brighter fluorescence around the wound, which indicates that more NO has been produced in plant tissues in response to external stimuli. Our studies illustrate that BOPB has advantages of high sensitivity, low background interference and little photo damage on fluorescence imaging of NO.     

Torreyanoxane,a New 3,4‐Secoglutinane Triterpenoid Isolated from the Pulp of Torreya nucifera

Torreyanoxane, a novel 3,4‐secoglutinane triterpenoid, was isolated from the pulp of Torreya nucifera. The structure was determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods.     

Controlling the optimum surfactants concentrations for dispersing carbon nanofibers in aqueous solution

As a new nano-scale functional material, it is necessary to achieve a uniform distribution in the composites for gaining the CNFs’ excellent reinforcing effect. In this paper, CNFs were purified by the method of high temperature annealing treatment. Six surfactants, methylcellulose (MC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), dodecylamine (DDA), N, N-dimethyl formamide (DMF) and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) were used individually and combinatorially in a certain concentration to disperse the CNFs in aqueous solution. To achieve a good dispersion of the CNFs, a method utilizing ultrasonic processing was employed. The CNFs treated by the method of high temperature annealing treatment were characterized by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), and the ultrasonication-driven dispersion of CNFs in aqueous solutions were monitored by UVvis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The experiments reveal that the method of high temperature annealing treatment purified the CNFs and the maximum achievable dispersion of CNFs corresponds to the maximum UV absorbance of the solution. All results show that the surfactants mixture of MC and SDS in a certain concentration of 0.4 and 2.0 g/L has the maximum dispersion effect on CNFs in aqueous solution, the optimum concentration ratio of MC, SDS, and CNFs was 2: 10: 1.     

Dioxygen Oxidation of Alcohols and Aldehydes Over a Cerium Dioxide-Ruthenium System

Treatment of cerium dioxide with small amounts of RuCl₃. 3H₂O allows the mild preparation of an efficient heterogeneous system for the dioxygen oxidation of various alcohols and aldehydes.     

A Convenient and Versatile Method for the Synthesis of Protected Guanidines

Aromatic, aliphatic and sterically hindered amines react smoothly with commercially available N, N'-bis-BOC-S-methylisothiourea 2 in the presence of mercury chloride to give the protected guanidine in good yield. It is particularly noteworthy that 2 can also be employed in a straightforward, two-step synthesis of monoaryl internal guanidines.     

Sulfamic Acid as an Effective Catalyst in Solvent‐Free Synthesis of β‐Enaminoketone Derivatives and X‐ray Crystallography of Their Representatives

Two types of β‐enaminoketone derivatives of 3‐(2‐oxo‐2‐arylethylidene)‐3,4‐dihydro‐1H‐quinoxalin‐2‐ones and 3‐(2‐oxo‐2‐arylethylidene)‐3,4‐dihydro‐benzo[1,4]oxazin‐2‐ ones were effectively and conveniently prepared in good to excellent yields under solvent‐free conditions via the catalysis of sulfamic acid in the corresponding condensations of o‐phenylenediamine and o‐aminophenol with ethyl 2,4‐dioxo‐4‐arylbutyrate respectively. The compounds were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR, and a representative was further determined by X‐ray crystallography.     

Covert Mannich Reaction via Carbon Transfer

1,3‐Dimethylbenzimidazolidine reacts with ketones, which can provide activating α hydrogens and primary or secondary amines under acidic conditions, to yield aminomethylation derivatives by a covert Mannich reaction.     

Atmospheric degradation mechanisms of a simulant organophosphorus pesticide isopropyl methyl methylphosphonate: A theoretical consideration

Calculations using density functional theory were performed to explore the mechanisms for atmospheric degradation of isopropyl methyl methylphosphonate (IMMP). The potential energy surface profiles for OH‐initiated reaction of IMMP were constructed, and all possible degradation channels were considered. Rate constants were further calculated using transition state theory. It was established from these calculations that H‐abstractions from alkyl groups have much lower energy barriers than substitutions of alkoxyl groups, and four possible H‐abstraction channels are competitive. Investigations into the secondary reactions under the presence of O₂/NO were also performed. It is shown that O₂ addition, reaction of peroxide radicals with NO to form RO radicals, and removal of ·RO are the major degradation pathways for alkyl radicals. Four selected products, CH₃OP(O)(CH₃)OC(O)CH₃, CH₃OP(O)(O)CH₃, (CH₃)₂CHOP(O)(CH₃)OH, and (CH₃)₂CHOP(O)(CH₃)OCH?O, are predicted to be the major products in this study. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.