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.     

Hydrogenation reactions of ethylene on neutral vanadium sulfide clusters: experimental and theoretical studies

The reactions of C(2)H(4) with H(2) on neutral vanadium sulfide clusters in a fast flow reactor are investigated by time-of-flight mass spectrometry employing 118 nm (10.5 eV) single photon ionization. The experimental products of these reactions are V(m)S(n)C(2)H(x) (m=1, n=1-3; m=2, n=1-5, and x=4-6). Observation of these products indicates that these V(m)S(n) clusters have high catalytic activity for hydrogenation reactions of C(2)H(4). Density functional theory calculations at the BPW91/TZVP level are carried out to explore the geometric and electronic structures of the V(m)S(n) clusters and to determine reaction intermediates and transition states, as well as reaction mechanisms. All reactions are estimated as overall barrierless or with only a small barrier (0.1 eV), and are thermodynamically favorable processes at room temperature. The ethylene molecule is predicted to connect with active V atoms through its π-orbital or form a σ-bond with active V atoms of catalytic V(m)S(n) clusters. The S atoms bonding with active V atoms play an important role in the dissociation of the H(2) molecule; H atoms transfer to the C(2)H(4) (one after another) following breaking of the H-H bond. A catalytic cycle for C(2)H(4) hydrogenation reactions on a vanadium sulfide catalyst surface is suggested based on our experimental and theoretical investigations.     

Formation of hydroxyl radical from the photolysis of salicylic acid

Photodissociation dynamics of salicylic acid (SA) in the gas phase at different photolysis wavelengths (266, 315-317 nm) is investigated by probing the nascent OH photoproduct employing the single-photon laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique. At all the photolysis wavelengths it is found that the nascent OH radicals are produced mostly in a vibrationally ground state (υ' = 0) and have similar rotational state distributions. The two spin-orbit and Λ-doublet states of the OH fragment formed in the dissociation are measured to have a nonstatistical distribution at each photolysis wavelength. The LIF signal of the OH could be observed upon photolysis at 317 nm but not at 317.5 nm. The threshold of OH formation from SA photodissociation is estimated to be 98.2 ± 0.9 kcal/mol. The effect of the phenolic OH group on the dissociation of SA is discussed.     

Polymorphisms in genes involved in innate immunity and susceptibility to benzene-induced hematotoxicity

Benzene, a recognized hematotoxicant and carcinogen, can damage the human immune system. We studied the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in innate immunity and benzene hematotoxicity in a cross-sectional study of workers exposed to benzene (250 workers and 140 controls). A total of 1,236 tag SNPs in 149 gene regions of six pathways were included in the analysis. Six gene regions were significant for their association with white blood cell (WBC) counts (MBP, VCAM1, ALOX5, MPO, RAC2, and CRP) based on gene-region (P<0.05) and SNP analyses (FDR<0.05). VCAM1 rs3176867, ALOX5 rs7099684, and MPO rs2071409 were the three most significant SNPs. They showed similar effects on WBC subtypes, especially granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes. A 3-SNP block in ALOXE3 (rs7215658, rs9892383, and rs3027208) showed a global association (omnibus P = 0.0008) with WBCs even though the three SNPs were not significant individually. Our study suggests that polymorphisms in innate immunity genes may play a role in benzene-induced hematotoxicity; however, independent replication is necessary.     

Tunable full-color-emitting Ca3Sc2Si3O12:Ce3+, Mn2+ phosphor via charge compensation and energy transfer

A tunable full-color-emitting Ca(3)Sc(2)Si(3)O(12):Ce(3+), Mn(2+) (CSS:Ce(3+),Mn(2+)) phosphor is obtained by addition of doped ions as charge compensation. White LEDs with high R(a) (> 90) are achieved using the single CSS:Ce(3+),Mn(2+) phosphor.