A Robust Metal-Organic Framework with Scalable Synthesis and Optimal Adsorption and Desorption for Energy-Efficient Ethylene Purification

Adsorptive separation is an energy-efficient alternative, but its advancement has been hindered by the challenge of industrially potential adsorbents development. Herein, a novel ultra-microporous metal-organic framework ZU-901 is designed that satisfies the basic criteria raised by ethylene/ethane (C₂H₄/C₂H₆) pressure swing adsorption (PSA). ZU-901 exhibits an “S” shaped C₂H₄ curve with high sorbent selection parameter (65) and could be mildly regenerated. Through green aqueous-phase synthesis, ZU-901 is easily scalable with 99 % yield, and it is stable in water, acid, basic solutions and cycling breakthrough experiments. Polymer-grade C₂H₄ (99.51 %) could be obtained via a simulating two-bed PSA process, and the corresponding energy consumption is only 1/10 of that of simulating cryogenic distillation. Our work has demonstrated the great potential of pore engineering in designing porous materials with desired adsorption and desorption behavior to implement an efficient PSA process.     

A Hemilabile NHC-Gold Complex and its Application to the Redox Neutral 1,2-Oxyarylation of Feedstock Alkenes

We describe a Au^I complex of a hemi-labile (C^N) N-heterocyclic carbene ligand that is able to mediate oxidative addition of aryl iodides. Detailed computational and experimental investigations have been undertaken to verify and rationalize the oxidative addition process. Application of this initiation mode has resulted in the first examples of “exogenous oxidant-free” Au^I/Au^III catalyzed 1,2-oxyarylations of ethylene and propylene. These demanding yet powerful processes establish these commodity chemicals as nucleophilic-electrophilic building blocks in catalytic reaction design.     

The Highly Controlled and Efficient Polymerization of Ethylene

The highly controlled and efficient polymerization of ethylene is a very attractive but challenging target. Herein we report on a Coordinative Chain Transfer Polymerization catalyst, which combines a high degree of control and very high activity in ethylene oligo- or polymerization with extremely high chain transfer agent (triethylaluminum) to catalyst ratios (catalyst economy). Our Zr catalyst is long living and temperature stable. The chain length of the polyethylene products increases over time under constant ethylene feed or until a certain volume of ethylene is completely consumed to reach the expected molecular weight. Very high activities are observed if the catalyst elongates 60 000 or more alkyl chains and the polydispersity of the strictly linear polyethylene materials obtained are very low. The key for the combination of high control and efficiency seems to be a catalyst stabilized by only one strongly bound monoanionic N-ligand.     

Photocatalytic 2-Iodoethanol Coupling to Produce 1,4-Butanediol Mediated by TiO2 and a Catalytic Nickel Complex

Photocatalytic 2-iodoethanol (IEO) coupling provides 1,4-butanediol (BDO) of particular interest to produce degradable polyesters. However, the reduction potential of IEO is too negative (−1.9 vs NHE) to be satisfied by most of the semiconductors, and the kinetics of transferring one electron for IEO coupling is slow. Here we design a catalytic Ni complex, which works synergistically with TiO₂, realizing reductive coupling of IEO powered by photo-energy. Coordinating by terpyridine stabilizes Ni²⁺ from being photo-deposited to TiO₂, thereby retaining the steric configuration beneficial for IEO coupling. The Ni complex can rapidly extract electrons from TiO₂, generating a low-valent Ni capable of reducing IEO. The photocatalytic IEO coupling thus provides BDO in 72 % selectivity. By a stepwise procedure, BDO is obtained with 70 % selectivity from ethylene glycol. This work put forward a strategy for the photocatalytic reduction of molecules requiring strong negative potential.     

Multiblock Copolymers Based on Highly Crystalline Polyethylene and Soft Poly(ethylene-co-butadiene) Segments: Towards Polyolefin Thermoplastic Elastomers

Block copolymers based on polyethylene (PE) and ethylene butadiene rubber (EBR) were obtained by successive controlled coordinative chain transfer polymerization (CCTP) of a mixture of ethylene and butadiene (80/20) and pure ethylene. EBR-b-PE diblock copolymers were synthesized using the {Me₂Si(C₁₃H₈)₂Nd(BH₄)₂Li(THF)}₂ complex in combination with n-butyl,n-octyl magnesium (BOMAG) used as both the alkylating and chain transfer agent (CTA). Triblock and multiblock copolymers featuring highly semi-crystalline PE hard segments and soft EBR segments were further obtained by the development of a bimetallic CTA, the pentanediyl-1,5-di(magnesium bromide) (PDMB). These new block copolymers undergo crystallization-driven organization into lamellar structures and exhibit a variety of mechanical properties, including excellent extensibility and elastic recovery in the case of triblock and multiblock copolymers.     

Sustainable Synthesis of α-Hydroxycarboxylic Acids by Manganese Catalyzed Acceptorless Dehydrogenative Coupling of Ethylene Glycol and Primary Alcohols**

Herein, we report a straightforward synthesis of valuable α-hydroxycarboxylic acid molecules via an acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of ethylene glycol and primary alcohols. A bench-stable manganese complex catalyzed the reaction, which is scalable, with the product being isolated with high yields and selectivities under mild conditions. The protocol is environmentally benign, producing water and hydrogen gas as the only byproducts. Methanol can also be used as a C1 source for producing the platform molecule lactic acid, with a high turnover of >10⁴. The methodology was also used to functionalize alcohols derived from natural products and fatty acids. Furthermore, it was applied for synthesizing α-amino acid, α-thiocarboxylic acid, and several drugs and bioactive molecules, including endogenous metabolites, Danshensu, Enalapril, Lisinopril, and Rosmarinic acid. Preliminary mechanistic studies were performed to shed light on the mechanism involved in the reaction.     

基于石墨烯的毒死蜱分子印迹电化学传感器的制备及对毒死蜱的测定

利用分子印迹技术,以马来松香丙烯酸乙二醇酯为交联剂,使用自由基热聚合法在石墨烯修饰的玻碳电极表面合成毒死蜱( CPF)分子印迹聚合膜,制得了CPF分子印迹电化学传感器。采用循环伏安法、线性扫描伏安法和电化学交流阻抗法等,考察了此CPF分子印迹膜的电化学性能。在最佳检测条件下,传感器的峰电流与CPF浓度在2.0×10-7~1.0×10-5mol/L范围内呈线性关系,线性方程为Ip(μA)=-7.1834-0.2424C (μmol/L),相关系数r2=0.9959,检出限为6.7×10-8 mol/L(S/N=3)。构建了CPF分子印迹电化学传感器的动力学吸附模型,测得印迹传感器的印迹因子β=2.59,结合速率常数k=12.2324 s。传感器表现出良好的重现性和稳定性,并成功用于实际水样和蔬菜样品中CPF的测定,加标回收率为94.1%~101.4%。     

介质阻挡放电甲醇脱氢偶联一步合成乙二醇反应中氢气的催化作用

利用原位发射光谱表征和在线色谱分析,研究了甲醇介质阻挡放电脱氢偶联一步合成乙二醇反应中氢气的催化作用,考察了放电频率、甲醇和氢气进料量以及反应压力的影响.结果表明,在介质阻挡放电产生的非平衡等离子体中,H2不但能显著提高甲醇转化率,而且能显著提高乙二醇的选择性.在300°C,0.1 MPa,反应器注入功率为11 W,放电频率为12.0 k Hz,甲醇气体进料量为11.1 m L/min,氢气进料量为80–180 m L/min的条件下,甲醇转化率接近30%,乙二醇选择性大于75%.乙二醇收率与激发态氢原子的Hα谱线强度之间存在同增同减关系.由此推测,氢原子是起催化作用的活性氢物种.活性氢物种的生成途径是:基态氢分子通过与电子碰撞变成激发态,激发态氢分子通过第一激发态氢自动解离为基态氢原子.放电反应条件通过影响氢分子解离来影响氢气的催化作用.氢气在非平衡等离子体中显示的催化作用有可能为开辟新的化学合成途径提供重要机遇.     

Flammability characterization and effects of magnesium oxide in halogen-free flame-retardant EVA blends

The effects of magnesium oxide(Mg O) on the flame retardant performance of intumescent systems based on ammonium polyphosphate(APP) and pentaerythritol(PER) in ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer(EVA) were studied. The results showed that Mg O affects both the quality and quantity of residual char. There is an optimal value for the loading amount of Mg O. More or less Mg O loading may cause the formation of defective char layers and worsen the flame retardancy of EVA. According to the results of limiting oxygen index(LOI), vertical flammability test(UL94 rating) and cone calorimetry(CONE), the best flame retardancy with a strong and well intumescent char is obtained from the sample with 1 wt% of Mg O, which has the highest LOI value of 27.9, UL94 rating of V-0 and the lowest peak heat release rate of 242 k W·m?2.