Structural and physical properties of the 6H BaRuO3 polymorph synthesized under high pressure

The single-phase 6H BaRuO₃ with the hexagonal BaTiO₃ structure was synthesized at 5 GPa and 1000 °C. Rietveld refinement of the powder X-ray data for the 6H phase resulted in the lattice parameters to be a=5.7127(1) Å and c=14.0499(2) Å; the average Ru-O distance and direct Ru-Ru distance in the Ru₂O₉ dioctahedron being 1.992(6) and 2.5658(14) Å, respectively. The electrical resistivity of the 6H BaRuO₃ follows a relationship of ρ versus T^3/2 below 60.0 K, a signature deviation from the Fermi-liquid behavior. Both magnetic susceptibility and specific heat data indicate that the 6H BaRuO₃ is an exchange-enhanced Pauli paramagnet due to the electron correlation effect with large Wilson ratio R_W and Stoner enhancement factor. The comprehensive evolution of transport and magnetic properties from 9R across 4H to 6H BaRuO₃ was discussed.     

Effect of Solvent on Competitive Bulk Membrane Transport of Transition and Post Transition Metal Cations Using Decyl-18-crown-6

A series of competitive metal ion transport experiments have been performed. Each involved transport from an aqueous source phase across an organic membrane phase into an aqueous receiving phase. The source phase contained equimolar concentrations of cobalt(II), nickel(II), cupper(II), zinc(II), cadmium(II), silver(I) and lead(II) metal cations. The membrane phase incorporated ionophore, decyl-18-crown-6. The membrane solvents include: chloroform, dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, nitrobenzene and chloroform–nitrobenzene binary solvents. A good transport efficiency and selectivity of Pb²⁺ transport from aqueous solutions are observed in this investigation. The selectivity order for competitive bulk liquid membrane transport of the studied transition and post transition metal cations through chloroform is: Pb²⁺>Co²⁺>Ni²⁺>Ag⁺>Cd²⁺, but in the case of dichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane and nitrobenzene as liquid membranes, the selectivity sequences were found to be: Pb²⁺>Co²⁺>Cd²⁺>Cu²⁺>Ag⁺>Ni²⁺>Zn²⁺, Pb²⁺>Co²⁺>Ag⁺>Ni²⁺>Zn²⁺ and Pb²⁺>Co²⁺>Ni²⁺>Zn²⁺>Cd²⁺>Ag⁺, respectively. The transport rate of the metal cations in chloroform–nitrobenzene binary solvents is sensitive to the solvent composition. The transport processes were studied in absence and presence of the stearic acid and the results show that the sequence of selectivities and ion transport rates change in the presence of stearic acid.     

Fast,Efficient and Low E‐Factor One‐Pot Palladium‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of (Hetero)Arenes

The homocoupling of aryl halides and the heterocoupling of aryl halides with either aryl bromides or arenes bearing an ortho‐lithiation directing group are presented. The use of a Pd catalyst, in combination with t‐BuLi, allows for the rapid and efficient formation of a wide range of polyaromatic compounds in a one pot procedure bypassing the need for the separate preformation of an organometallic coupling partner. These polyaromatic structures are obtained in high yields, in 10 min at room temperature, with minimal waste generation (E‐factors as low as 1.5) and without the need for strict inert conditions, making this process highly efficient and practical in comparison to classical methods. As illustration, several key intermediates of widely used BINOL‐derived structures are readily prepared.     

Hexacyanoferrate‐based ionic liquids as Fenton‐like catalysts for deep oxidative desulfurization of fuels

Two hexacyanoferrate‐based ionic liquids, [C₄Py]₃Fe(CN)₆ and [C₁₆Py]₃Fe(CN)₆, were synthesized and characterized using Fourier transform infrared and mass spectroscopies and CHN analysis. They were employed as Fenton‐like catalysts in extraction and catalytic oxidative desulfurization of model oil with dibenzothiophene (DBT), benzothiophene (BT), 4,6‐dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6‐DMDBT), 4‐methyldibenzothiophene (4‐MDBT) and 3‐methylbenzothiophene (3‐MBT) as substrates. Various polar solvents, such as ionic liquids, water and organic solvents, were applied to choose a suitable extractant. The results showed the removal of DBT reached 97.1% with [C₄Py]₃Fe(CN)₆ as a catalyst and 1‐n‐octyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₈mim]PF₆) as an extractant under optimal conditions. The activity of sulfur removal followed the order DBT > 3‐MBT > BT > 4‐MDBT >4,6‐DMDBT. The effect of water content on sulfur removal was investigated by adding various concentrations of H₂O₂. It was found that excess water had a positive effect on sulfur removal but the catalysts were less sensitive than [FeCl₄^?]‐based catalysts to water. The mechanism was studied using electron spin‐resonance spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. O₂^?? may be the active oxygen species in the catalytic oxidative desulfurization process and the oxidation products of various sulfur compounds were the corresponding sulfoxides and sulfones. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A one step synthesis of novel 4-alkoxy-β-lactams by high pressure promoted [2 + 21 cycloadditions of enol ethers and isocyanates derived from amino acids

Abstract

Novel moni-β-lactams derived from esters of amino acids have been prepared in one step by the high pressure promoted [2 + 2] cycloaddition of enol ethers with isocyanates derived from esters of amino acids. The effect of substituents in the enol ether and in the isocyanate on the scope of the synthesis has been demonstrated.     

Biosynthesis and antioxidant activity of 4NRC β-glycoside

This Letter describes glycosylation of 4-Nerolidylcatechol (4-NRC) the major secondary metabolite from Pothomorphe peltata and Pothomorphe umbellata showing remarkable antioxidant, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-HIV activities. One step biosynthesis was catalyzed by Cunninghamella echinulata ATCC 9245 and the reaction was undertaken in PDSM medium at 27 °C, 200 rpm for 96 h. After purification by silica gel flash column chromatography the 4-NRC β-glycoside was identified by ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry and ¹H NMR. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by differential pulse voltammetry.     

Bio‐Inspired Carbon Monoxide Sensors with Voltage‐Activated Sensitivity

Carbon monoxide (CO) outcompetes oxygen when binding to the iron center of hemeproteins, leading to a reduction in blood oxygen level and acute poisoning. Harvesting the strong specific interaction between CO and the iron porphyrin provides a highly selective and customizable sensor. We report the development of chemiresistive sensors with voltage‐activated sensitivity for the detection of CO comprising iron porphyrin and functionalized single‐walled carbon nanotubes (F‐SWCNTs). Modulation of the gate voltage offers a predicted extra dimension for sensing. Specifically, the sensors show a significant increase in sensitivity toward CO when negative gate voltage is applied. The dosimetric sensors are selective to ppm levels of CO and functional in air. UV/Vis spectroscopy, differential pulse voltammetry, and density functional theory reveal that the in situ reduction of Fe^III to Fe^II enhances the interaction between the F‐SWCNTs and CO. Our results illustrate a new mode of sensors wherein redox active recognition units are voltage‐activated to give enhanced and highly specific responses.     

An Ultraflexible Silicon–Oxygen Battery Fiber with High Energy Density

To satisfy the rapid development of portable and wearable electronics, it is highly desired to make batteries with both high energy densities and flexibility. Although some progress has been made in recent decades, the available batteries share critical problems of poor energy storage capacity and low flexibility. Herein, we have developed a silicon–oxygen battery fiber with high energy density and ultra‐high flexibility by designing a coaxial architecture with a lithiated silicon/carbon nanotube hybrid fiber as inner anode, a polymer gel as middle electrolyte and a bare carbon nanotube sheet as outer cathode. The fiber showed a high energy density of 512 Wh kg⁻¹ and could effectively work after bending for 20 000 cycles. These battery fibers have been further woven into flexible textiles for a large‐scale application.