Simultaneous determination of dopamine and serotonin using a carbon nanotubes-ionic liquid gel modified glassy carbon electrode

An electrochemical sensor based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-ionic liquid (IL) composite has been developed for the simultaneous determination of serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA). The CNTs-IL composite modified electrode presents excellent selectivity and sensitivity towards 5-HT and DA and eliminates the interference of ascorbic acid. The parameters which influence the determination of 5-HT and DA have been investigated. Under optimized conditions, linear calibration graphs were obtained in the range from 20 nM to 7 µM, with a detection of limit of 8 nM, for 5-HT, and in the range from 0.1 to 12 µM, with a detection of limit of 60 nM, for DA. The electrode has been applied to the assay of 5-HT and DA in human blood serum with good results.     

Incorporation of an Allene Unit into α‐Pinene via β‐Elimination

The two double‐bond isomers 3‐iodo‐2,6,6‐trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept‐2‐ene ( 6b ) and 3‐iodo‐4,6,6‐trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept‐2‐ene ( 11 ) were synthesized by reacting 2,6,6‐trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptan‐3‐one ( 9 ) with hydrazine, followed by treatment with I₂ in the presence of Et₃N. Treatment of 11 with t‐BuOK as base in diglyme at 220° resulted in the formation of 9 and 6,6‐dimethyl‐4‐methylidenebicyclo[3.1.1]hept‐2‐ene ( 12 ). For the formation of 9 , the cyclic allene 7 is proposed as an intermediate. Treatment of the second isomer, 6b , with t‐BuOK at 170° gave rise to the diene 12 and the dimerization product 17 . The underlying mechanism of this transformation is discussed. On the basis of density‐functional‐theory (DFT) calculations on the allene 7 and the alkyne 15 , the formation of the latter as the intermediate was excluded.     

Dicarboxylate-bridged ruthenium complexes as building blocks for molecular nanostructures

Ruthenium complexes with bridging dicarboxylate ligands were combined with 1,2-di-4-pyridylethylene (dpe), 2,4,6-tri-4-pyridyltriazine (4-tpt), or 2,4,6-tri-3-pyridyltriazine (3-tpt) to give a tetranuclear rectangle or hexanuclear coordination cages. The cages display a trigonal-prismatic geometry, as evidenced by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The 4-tpt-based cages are able to encapsulate polyaromatic molecules such as pyrene, triphenylene, or coronene, whereas the 3-tpt-based cages were found to be incompetent hosts for these guests.     

The effect of activation technology on the electrochemical performance of calcium carbide skeleton carbon

Porous CaC₂-derived carbon (CCDC) was synthesized by one-step route from CaC₂ in a freshly prepared chlorine environment at lower temperature. As-prepared CCDC was activated by H₃PO₄, ZnCl₂, and KOH, respectively. The effects of the activation technology on the structure and morphology of CCDC were studied by X-ray diffraction, physical N₂ adsorption/desorption, and transmission electron microscopy. It has been found that the pore structure and specific surface area of CCDC are apparently improved after activation; the CCDC activated by KOH especially showed an excellent specific surface area of 1,100?m²?g^?1. The electrochemical performance of supercapacitors using activated CCDC as electrode active material was studied by cyclic voltammery, galvanostatic charge/discharge, and cycle life measurements. The results indicated that the CCDCs activated by H₃PO₄, ZnCl₂, and KOH revealed enhanced capacitances of 172.6, 198.1, and 250.1?F?g^?1 in 6?M KOH electrolyte, which were increased by 11.4, 27.8, and 61.2?% compared with the pristine CCDC (155?F?g^?1), respectively. Furthermore, the supercapacitors using all activated CCDCs as electrode active material exhibited excellent cycle stability, and the specific capacitance for all activated CCDC samples had nearly no change after 5,000 cycles.     

A practical and highly efficient transfer hydrogenation of aryl azides using a [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2]2 catalyst and sodium borohydride

Various aniline derivatives were synthesized by selective reduction of aryl azides in the presence of a dichloro(p-cymene)ruthenium(II) dimer ([Ru(p-cymene)Cl₂]₂) via hydrolysis of sodium borohydride. The hydrogenation reactions were carried out in aqueous media at room temperature. Most of the reactions were completed within 10 min with quantitative yields.     

Multicomponent Assembly of Macrocycles and Polymers by Coordination of Pyridyl Ligands to 1,4‐Bis(benzodioxaborole)benzene

Multicomponent reactions between 1,4‐benzenediboronic acid, catechol, and different pyridyl ligands are reported. The condensation of 1,4‐benzenediboronic acid with catechol gives 1,4‐bis(benzodioxaborole)benzene. Upon crystallization, the ester aggregates with the N‐donor ligands through dative B? N bonds. Depending on the nature of the pyridyl ligand, molecularly defined macrocycles or polymeric structures are obtained. 1D polymers are formed with 4,4‐bipyridine and 1,2‐di(4‐pyridyl)ethylene, whereas a 2D network is obtained with the tetradentate ligand tetra(4‐pyridylphenyl)ethylene. These results highlight the utility of dative B? N bonds in structural supramolecular chemistry and crystal engineering.     

The effects of crystal structure of the precursor MnO2 on electrochemical properties of spinel LiMn2O4

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The spinel LiMn2O4 samples for lithium-ion battery have been synthesized through one-step solid-state method using four different polymorphs of MnO2, e.g.,...     

Effect of MgF2 coating on the electrochemical performance of LiMn2O4 cathode materials

Spinel LiMn₂O₄ cathode materials were coated with 1.0, 3.0 and 5.0?wt.% of MgF₂ by precipitation, followed by heat treatment at 400?°C for 5?h in air. The effects of MgF₂ coating on the structural and electrochemical properties of LiMn₂O₄ cathodes were investigated using XRD, SEM, and electrochemical tests. XRD and SEM results show that no significant bulk structural differences are observed between the coated and pristine LiMn₂O₄. The charge–discharge tests show that the discharge capacity of LiMn₂O₄ decreases slightly, but the cyclability of LiMn₂O₄ is clearly improved when the amount of the MgF₂ coated was increased to 3.0?wt.%. The 3.0?wt.% MgF₂-coated LiMn₂O₄ exhibits capacity retention of 80.1 and 76.7 % after 100 cycles at room temperature (25?°C) and elevated temperature (55?°C) at a rate of 1?C, respectively, much higher than those of the bare LiMn₂O₄ (70.1 and 61.6 %). The improvement of electrochemical performance is attributed to the suppression of Mn dissolution into the electrolyte via the MgF₂ coating layer.