Controlled formation of mass-selected Cu-Au core-shell cluster beams

Synthesis of bimetallic clusters is a topic of accelerated interest; their physical and chemical properties are greatly dependent on their composition, size, and structure. The cluster beam technique is widely used for preparation of clusters. However, creating bimetallic clusters with well-controlled composition, size, and structure, especially for larger clusters (>100 atoms), is still a big challenge. Here we demonstrate that not only size and composition but also the structure of bimetallic clusters can be controlled by tuning aggregation parameters.     

Direct analysis of oligosaccharides and alpha hydroxy acids in fruits using electrosonic spray ionization mass spectrometry

Electrosonic spray ionization (ESSI) is a derivative technique of electrospray ionization (ESI) for mass spectrometry (MS) in which droplets are charged in the course of sonic spray. In this study, we applied ESSI MS to direct analysis of oligosaccharides and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) in fruits. The components were extracted from fruit fleshes by a feasible method prior to ESSI MS analysis, but the fruit juices were analyzed without further pretreatment. The results demonstrate that mainly alkali metal adducts of oligosaccharides are favorably produced in positive ion mode, while deprotonated AHAs and oligosaccharides are produced in negative ion mode. Compared with mass spectra obtained using electrospray droplet impact/secondary ion mass spectrometry (EDI/SIMS), mass spectra using ESSI make the identification of oligosaccharides more straightforward in positive ion mode than in negative ion mode.     

Biotransformation of a taxadiene by ginkgo cell cultures and the tumor multi-drug resistant reversal activities of the metabolites

The biotransformation of 2α,5α,10β-triacetoxy-14-oxo-taxa-4(20),11-diene (1) by cultured Gingko cells afforded four products. Their structures were identified on the basis of analyses of the chemical and spectroscopic (IR, MS, 1H- and 13C-NMR) data. Among them, 2, 3 and 5 were three new compounds, and 4 displayed potent multi-drug resistant (MDR) reversal activities to MX-1/T tumor MDR cells.     

ent‐Kaurane Diterpenes and Further Constituents from Wedelia trilobata

Two new ent‐kaurane diterpenes, wedelidins A ( 8 ) and B ( 9 ), together with eighteen other constituents, including the sesquiterpenoids 1 and 2 , ent‐kaurane diterpenes 3 – 7 , triterpenoids 10 and 11 , steroids 12 – 14 , and flavonoids 15 – 17 as well as benzene derivatives 18 – 20 , were isolated from the aerial parts of Wedelia trilobata. The structures of wedelidins A ( 8 ) and B ( 9 ) were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses (including UV, IR, NMR, and MS). Furthermore, the structures of compounds 2 and 3 were confirmed by X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction analyses.     

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 in methanol to methyl formate over CuO-TiO2 composite catalysts

Photocatalytic reduction of CO(2) on CuO-TiO(2) composite catalysts in the presence of methanol to prepare methyl formate had been investigated. Methanol was used as sacrificial reagent to react with the photo-generated holes in the valence band, and CO(2) was reduced by the electrons in the conduction band. CuO-TiO(2) was optimized for CuO loading, preparation method and calcination temperature. The catalyst of 1.0CuO-TiO(2), calcined at 450°C and CTAB as a dispersant showed the highest overall activity. The heterojunction between CuO and TiO(2) demonstrated with HRTEM played an important role in enhancing the photocatalytic activity.     

Density functional study of AgnPd and AgnPdH clusters

Small Ag_nPd (n = 5) clusters and their hydrides Ag_nPdH (n = 5) have been studied by density functional theory calculations. For bare clusters, the structures in which the Pd atom has a maximum number of neighboring Ag atoms tend to be energetically favorable. Hydrogen prefers binding to Ag? Pd bridge site of Ag_nPd clusters except for Ag₅Pd. The binding energy has a strong odd–even oscillation. The electron transfers are from Ag atoms to Pd in bare clusters and are from metal clusters to H in cluster hydrides. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

Three-step calcination synthesis of high-purity Li8ZrO6 with CO2 absorption properties

Li(8)ZrO(6) contains a high lithium content and may bear a great ability of CO(2) absorption, yet the reports about the properties of CO(2) absorption on Li(8)ZrO(6) are few to date for its difficulty in production. In this paper, high-purity Li(8)ZrO(6) is synthesized via a three-step calcination method combined with an effective lithium source and a suitable initial Li/Zr molar ratio. The produced Li(8)ZrO(6) possesses a great CO(2) absorption capacity of about 53.98 wt % at 998 K, which could be well-maintained in a wide range of CO(2) partial pressures of 0.1-1.0 bar although it decreased gradually during the multicycle process of CO(2) absorption-desorption in a 10% CO(2) feed stream because of the high working temperature. These properties imply that Li(8)ZrO(6) may be a new option for high-temperature CO(2) capture applied in industrial processes such as a steam methane reformer.     

Reversible shuttle action upon dehydration and rehydration processes in cationic coordinatively-bonded (4,4) square-grid nets threaded by supramolecular bonded anions, {[Cu(II)(4,4'-bpy)2(H2O)][Cu(II)(2-pySO3)3](NO3)}·H2O

{[Cu(II)(4,4'-bpy)(2)(H(2)O)][Cu(II)(2-pySO(3))(3)](NO(3))}·H(2)O, obtained serendipitously by the reaction of the constituents in water, consists of parallel coordinatively bonded cationic (4,4) corrugated square-grids polymer of {[Cu(II)(4,4'-bpy)(2)(H(2)O)](2+)}(n) threaded by π-π and H-bonded supramolecular chains of [Cu(II)(2-pySO(3))(3)](-) through the open squares. A single-crystal to single-crystal transformation takes place upon removal of the noncoordinated water by controlled heating. The resulting structure exhibits a rearrangement of the coordination of the copper atoms in the grids, where the Cu-H(2)O bond is elongated from 2.250(3) to 2.628(3) ? while the Cu-NO(3) is shortened from 3.122(3) to 2.796(1) ?. This process is reversible as demonstrated by the single crystal structure after rehydration with corresponding bond distances of 2.224(3) and 3.152(3) ?. Such a cooperative effect may be associated with the Jahn-Teller distortion of the copper(II) ion accompanying the shuttle action of the hydrogen-bonded water and nitrate moiety.     

Palladium-catalyzed direct ortho C-H arylation of 2-arylpyridine derivatives with aryltrimethoxysilane

A Pd(OAc)(2)-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between 2-arylpyridine and aryltrimethoxysilane in the presence of AgF and BQ in 1,4-dioxane was studied. After various reaction parameters (catalyst, oxidant, additive, solvent and reaction temperature) were examined, the optimal conditions for the reaction were identified. The synthesis is compatible to aryltrimethoxysilane with both electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups on the aryl moiety with moderate yields. The kinetic isotope effect (k(H)/k(D)) for the C-H bond activation was provided.     

Active cobalt catalyst for the cleavage of benzyl ether

An improved method for the deprotection of benzyl ethers using a catalytic amount of Co(2)(CO)(8) in the presence of Me(2)PhSiH and CO (1 atm) is described. The deprotection reaction is compatible with double bond or sulfur-containing substrates. The method also tolerates other functional groups, such as Ac, Piv, and Bz, and shows potential selectivity in perbenzylated monosaccharides.