Synthesis of Small‐Sized,Porous, and Low‐Toxic Magnetite Nanoparticles by Thin POSS Silica Coating

In this communication, we report the synthesis of small‐sized (<10 nm), water‐soluble, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) coated with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), which contain either polyethylene glycol (PEG) or octa(tetramethylammonium) (OctaTMA) as functional groups. The POSS‐coated MNPs exhibit superparamagnetic behavior with saturation magnetic moments (51–53 emu g^?1) comparable to silica‐coated MNPs. They also provide good colloidal stability at different pH and salt concentrations, and low cytotoxicity to MCF‐7 human breast epithelial cells. The relaxivity data and magnetic resonance (MR) phantom images demonstrate the potential application of these MNPs in bioimaging.     

Chemical reaction dynamics of PeCB and TCDD decomposition: A tight‐binding quantum chemical molecular dynamics study with first‐principles parameterization

The decomposition reaction dynamics of 2,3,4,4′,5‐penta‐chlorinated biphenyl (2,3,4,4′,5‐PeCB), 3,3′,4,4′,5‐penta‐chlorinated biphenyl (3,3′,4,4′,5‐PeCB), and 2,3,7,8‐tetra‐chlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxin (2,3,7,8‐TCDD) was clarified for the first time at atomic and electronic levels, using our novel tight‐binding quantum chemical molecular dynamics method with first‐principles parameterization. The calculation speed of our new method is over 5000 times faster than that of the conventional first‐principles molecular dynamics method. We confirmed that the structure, energy, and electronic states of the above molecules calculated by our new method are quantitatively consistent with those by first‐principles calculations. After the confirmation of our methodology, we investigated the decomposition reaction dynamics of the above molecules and the calculated dynamic behaviors indicate that the oxidation of the 2,3,4,4′,5‐PeCB, 3,3′,4,4′,5‐PeCB, and 2,3,7,8‐TCDD proceeds through an epoxide intermediate, which is in good agreement with the previous experimental reports and consistent with our static density functional theory calculations. These results proved that our new tight‐binding quantum chemical molecular dynamics method with first‐principles parameterization is an effective tool to clarify the chemical reaction dynamics at reaction temperatures. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Aluminum chloride-induced heteroarylation of arenes and heteroarenes. 2. A new synthesis of 4-substituted phthalazin-1(2H)-ones

We herein report the efficient syntheses of 4-(hetero)aryl-substituted 1-chlorophthalazines via heteroarylation of arenes/heteroarenes through AlCl(3)-induced C[bond]C formation reactions. A number of (hetero)arenes were reacted with 1,4-dichlorophthalazine to give aryl/heteroaryl-substituted phthalazines in good to excellent yields. Many of them were converted to the corresponding phthalazin-1(2H)-ones.     

Acid-responsive microcapsules: the loading-unloading processes

A simple and convenient method to prepare acid-responsive microcapsules by using functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes and ytterbium triflate has been developed. Fluorescence active compounds were "pre-loaded" or "post-loaded" in the microcapsules and released later in acidic medium. An interesting "zip-unzip" phenomenon was observed while filming the action of acid on microcapsules under a microscope.     

Daucus carota root enzyme catalyzed Henry reaction: A green approach

Enzyme from Daucus carota root catalyzed Henry reaction of substituted benzaldehydes and nitromethane in phosphate buffer of pH 7 at 28?°C to afford β-nitroalcohols in excellent yields (up to 94%).     

Lewis acid-catalyzed one-pot, three-component route to chiral 3,3'-bipyrroles

3,3'-Bipyrroles 3 could be synthesized using a double Michael addition reaction involving diaroyl acetylene 1 and the appropriate 1,3-dicarbonyls 2 using ammonium acetate as a nitrogen source. The axial chirality of bipyrrole was anticipated from the X-ray crystal structure and DFT calculations and confirmed by separating the racemates on a chiral column and subsequent CD spectra of the enantiomers. The absolute configuration of the enantiomers was achieved by theoretical CD spectra calculation using the ZINDO method.     

Hydro­gen bonding in two tetracyclic indole alkaloids

3-Acetyl-1,6,7,12b-tetra­hydro­indolo­[2,3-a]­quinolizin-2(12H)-one, C₁₇H₁₆N₂O₂, consists of two symmetry-independent mol­ecules and each forms a layered structure stabilized by N—H⃛O and C—H⃛O hydrogen bonds. In 3-acetyl-6,7-di­hydro­indolo­[2,3-a]­quinolizin-4(12H)-one monohydrate, C₁₇H₁₄N₂O₂·H₂O, the structure is stabilized by O—H⃛O, N—H⃛O and C—H⃛O hydrogen bonds, with the ordered water mol­ecule playing a crucial role in the self-assembly. Contribution from the weak interactions to the strong hydrogen-bonded network is a common feature in both structures.     

Palladium catalyzed reaction in aqueous DMF: synthesis of 3-alkynyl substituted flavones in the presence of prolinol

(S)-Prolinol facilitated the coupling reaction of terminal alkynes with 3-iodoflavone under palladium-copper catalysis in aqueous DMF affording a mild and convenient method for the synthesis of 3-alkynyl substituted flavones of potential biological interest.     

Selective reduction of alkenes, α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, nitroarenes, nitroso compounds, N,N-hydrogenolysis of azo and hydrazo functions as well as simultaneous hydrodehalogenation and reduction of substituted aryl halides over PdMCM-41 catalyst under transfer hydrogen conditions

Chemoselective reductions of alkenes, α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, nitro and nitroso compounds, N,N-hydrogenolysis of azo and hydrazo functions as well as simultaneous reduction and hydrodehalogenation of substituted aryl halides, including bulkier substrates, were achieved by catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) using mesoporous PdMCM-41 catalyst. The yields were practically unaffected upon recycling of the catalyst. Further, the CTH process is accomplished without affecting the reduction of any other reducible functional group.     

Surfactant-Mediated and Morphology-Controlled Nanostructured LiFePO4/Carbon Composite as a Promising Cathode Material for Li-Ion Batteries

The synthesis of morphology-controlled carbon-coated nanostructured LiFePO₄ (LFP/Carbon) cathode materials by surfactant-assisted hydrothermal method using block copolymers is reported. The resulting nanocrystalline high surface area materials were coated with carbon and designated as LFP/C123 and LFP/C311. All the materials were systematically characterized by various analytical, spectroscopic and imaging techniques. The reverse structure of the surfactant Pluronic® 31R1 (PPO-PEO-PPO) in comparison to Pluronic® P123 (PEO-PPO-PEO) played a vital role in controlling the particle size and morphology which in turn ameliorate the electrochemical performance in terms of reversible specific capacity (163 mAh g⁻¹ and 140 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 C for LFP/C311 and LFP/C123, respectively). In addition, LFP/C311 demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance including lower charge transfer resistance (146.3 Ω) and excellent cycling stability (95 % capacity retention at 1 C after 100 cycles) and high rate capability (163.2 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1 C; 147.1 mAh g⁻¹ at 1 C). The better performance of the former is attributed to LFP nanoparticles (<50 nm) with a specific spindle-shaped morphology. Further, we have also evaluated the electrode performance with the use of both PVDF and CMC binders employed for the electrode fabrication.