Synthesis of Chemically Asymmetric Silica Nanobottles and Their Application for Cargo Loading and as Nanoreactors and Nanomotors

We report the synthesis of chemically asymmetric silica nanobottles (NBs) with a hydrophobic exterior surface (capped with 3‐chloropropyl groups) and a hydrophilic interior surface for spatially selective cargo loading, and for application as nanoreactors and nanomotors. The silica NBs, which have a “flask bottle” shape with an average diameter of 350 nm and an opening of ca. 100 nm, are prepared by anisotropic sol–gel growth in a water/n‐pentanol emulsion. Due to their chemically asymmetric properties, nanoparticles (NPs) with hydrophilic or hydrophobic surface properties can be selectively loaded inside the NBs or on the outside of the NBs, respectively. A high‐performance nanomotor is constructed by selectively loading catalytically active hydrophilic Pt NPs inside the NBs. It is also demonstrated that these NBs can be used as vessels for various reactions, such as the in situ synthesis of Au NPs, and using Au NP‐loaded NBs as nanoreactors for catalytic reactions.     

Supramolecularly Assembled Nanocomposites as Biomimetic Chloroplasts for Enhancement of Photophosphorylation

Prototypes of natural biosystems provide opportunities for artificial biomimetic systems to break the limits of natural reactions and achieve output control. However, mimicking unique natural structures and ingenious functions remains a challenge. Now, multiple biochemical reactions were integrated into artificially designed compartments via molecular assembly. First, multicompartmental silica nanoparticles with hierarchical structures that mimic the chloroplasts were obtained by a templated synthesis. Then, photoacid generators and ATPase‐liposomes were assembled inside and outside of silica compartments, respectively. Upon light illumination, protons produced by a photoacid generator in the confined space can drive the liposome‐embedded enzyme ATPase towards ATP synthesis, which mimics the photophosphorylation process in vitro. The method enables fabrication of bioinspired nanoreactors for photobiocatalysis and provides insight for understanding sophisticated biochemical reactions.     

Template-free sol–gel synthesis of high surface area mesoporous silica based catalysts for esterification of di-carboxylic acids

High surface area mesoporous silica based catalysts have been prepared by a simple hydrolysis/sol–gel process without using any organic template and hydrothermal treatment. A controlled hydrolysis of ethyl silicate-40, an industrial bulk chemical, as a silica precursor, resulted in the formation of very high surface area (719 m²/g) mesoporous (pore size 67 Å and pore volume 1.19 cc/g) silica. The formation of mesoporous silica has been correlated with the polymeric nature of the ethyl silicate-40 silica precursor which on hydrolysis and further condensation forms long chain silica species which hinders the formation of a close condensed structure thus creating larger pores resulting in the formation of high surface mesoporous silica. Ethyl silicate-40 was used further for preparing a solid acid catalyst by supporting molybdenum oxide nanoparticles on mesoporous silica by a simple hydrolysis sol–gel synthesis procedure. The catalysts showed very high acidity as determined by NH₃-TPD with the presence of Lewis as well as Brønsted acidity. These catalysts showed very high catalytic activity for esterification; a typical acid catalyzed organic transformation of various mono- and di-carboxylic acids with a range of alcohols. The in situ formed silicomolybdic acid heteropoly-anion species during the catalytic reactions were found to be catalytically active species for these reactions. Ethyl silicate-40, an industrial bulk silica precursor, has shown a good potential for its use as a silica precursor for the preparation of mesoporous silica based heterogeneous catalysts on a larger scale at a lower cost.     

Advanced surface functionalization of periodic mesoporous silica: Kinetic control by trisilazane reagents

The surface reactions of mesoporous silica MCM-41 with a series of new trisilylamines (trisilazanes) (SiHMe2)2NSiMe2R and (SiMe2Vin)2NSiMe2R (R = indenyl, norpinanyl, chloropropyl, 3-(N-morpholin)propyl; Vin = vinyl), disilylalkylamine (SiHMe2)iPrNSiMe2(CH2)3Cl, and monosilyldialkylamines Me2NSiMe2R (R = indenyl, chloropropyl, 3-(N-morpholin)propyl) were investigated. 1H, 13C, and 29Si MAS NMR spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption, infrared spectroscopy, and model reactions with calix[4]arene as a mimic for an oxo surface were used to clarify the chemical nature of surface-bonded silyl groups. The trisilylamines exhibited a comparatively slow surface reaction, which allowed for the adjustment of the amount of silylated and nonreacted SiOH groups and led to a stoichiometric distribution of surface functionalities. The 2:1 integral ratio of SiHMe2 and SiMe2R moieties of such trisilazanes was found to be preserved on the silica surface as indicated by microanalytical as well as 13C and 29Si MAS NMR spectroscopic data of the hybrid materials. For example, the reaction of MCM-41 with (SiHMe2)2NSiMe2(CH2)3Cl, (SiHMe2)iPrNSiMe2(CH2)3Cl, and Me2NSiMe2(CH2)3Cl provided bi- and monofunctional hybrid materials with one-third, one-half, or all chemically accessible silanol groups derivatized by chloropropyl groups, respectively. Thus, a molecular precursor strategy was developed to efficiently control the relative amount of three different surface species, SiHMe2 (or SiVinMe2), SiMe2R, and SiOH, in a single reaction step. The reaction behavior of indenyl-substituted monosilazanes and trisilazanes (R = Ind) with calix[4]arene proved that the indenyl substituent can act as a leaving group forming a dimethylsilyl species, which is anchored bipodally on the silica surface, that is, via two Si-O bonds.     

An approach to pancratistatins via ring-closing metathesis: efficient synthesis of novel 1-aryl-1-deoxyconduritols F. cv

Structurally novel cyclitols, 1-aryl-1-deoxyconduritols F, were efficiently prepared from d-xylose, utilizing RCM as a key step. Various aromatic residues were incorporated in the cyclitol skeleton with total stereochemical control, utilizing a diastereoselective aryl cuprate addition to a gamma-alkoxy enoate. The synthetic route establishes a firm foundation for a practical synthesis of the antitumor alkaloid pancratistatin and its aryl analogues. [structure: see text]     

Annulation of beta-aryl-alpha-nitro-alpha,beta-enals and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxan-5-one: a one-step assembly of nitrocyclitols. Application to a short practical synthesis of (+/-)-7-deoxy-2-epi-pancratistatin tetraacetate

A novel, highly stereocontrolled formal [3 + 3] annulation of beta-aryl-alpha-nitro-alpha,beta-enals with the enamine derived from 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxan-5-one and pyrrolidine afforded protected nitrocyclitols with five newly created stereocentres and constituted the key step in a short, gram-scale synthesis of a pancratistatin analogue.     

Characterization of silica-coated tobacco mosaic virus

The deposition of silica on the surface of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) is achieved at a higher pH (>7) as a means to enhance its usefulness as a template for the synthesis of nanostructures. Electron energy loss spectroscopy definitively shows the presence of a silica shell on the surface of the TMV while small angle X-ray scattering differentiates successfully between silica-coated TMV and silica particles in the presence of uncoated TMV. Importantly, coating reactions done in a 50% w/v methanol/water solution produce smaller silica nanostructures during the condensation of the hydrolysis intermediates, possibly aiding in obtaining uniform coating. Furthermore, TMV-templated silica coatings are found to enhance the stability of the virus particle in methanol at conditions that would ordinarily disrupt the assembled particle. Combined these findings demonstrate that TMV can function as an efficient template for the controlled deposition of silica at neutral pH.     

在杂多酸催化剂上苯和1-十二烯烷基化合成十二烷基苯

对不同ＳｉＯ２负载磷钨酸（ＰＷ）催化剂的表面性质、热稳定性、酸性、以及对苯与丙烯和１－十二烯的烷基化反应的催化活性进行了对比研究,结果表明,ＰＷ在ＳｉＯ２上的分散状况与ＳｉＯ２的比表面积和孔径大小有关,ＰＷ与载体表面作用的强弱会直接影响负载型催化剂的热性和酸性,采用不同的ＳｉＯ２可以制得比表面积、孔结构和酸强度不同的负载型ＰＷ催化剂,以满足不同催化反应的要求。     

Synthesis of colloid silica coated with ceria nano-particles with the assistance of PVP

In this paper, a facile synthesis of 100 nm commercial colloid silica coated with nano-ceria core–shell composite particles by the precipitation method using ammonium cerium nitrate and urea as a precipitator with polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP) as an assistant was briefly introduced. The results showed that the colloid silica was surrounded by nano-ceria uniformly forming the core–shell composite particles. The synthesis process was further discussed and optimized. It was found that the type and quantity of surfactant played a key role in the process. PVP connected the surface of colloid silica and that of the ceria precursor.     

Immobilization of palladium in mesoporous silica matrix: preparation, characterization, and its catalytic efficacy in carbon-carbon coupling reactions

Palladium(0) has been immobilized into the silica-based mesoporous material to develop catalyst Pd(0)-MCM-41, which is found to be highly active in carbon-carbon coupling reactions. [Pd(NH3)4]2+ ions have been incorporated into the mesoporous material during synthesis of MCM-41 and subsequently upon treatments with hydrazine hydrate Pd2+ ions present in mesoporous silica matrix were reduced to Pd(0) almost instantaneously. The catalyst has been characterized by small-angle X-ray diffraction, N2 sorption, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM and surface area measurements clearly demonstrate that the immobilization of Pd(0) into the mesoporous silica has a significant effect on pore structure of the catalyst. Nevertheless, after immobilization of palladium the meso-porosity of the material is retained, as evidenced in the nitrogen sorption measurement. The TEM micrograph shows that both MCM-41 and Pd(0)-MCM-41 have similar types of external surface morphology; however, Pd(0)-MCM-41 was less ordered. Pd(0)-MCM-41 showed high catalytic activity toward carbon-carbon bond formation reactions like Heck and Sonogashira coupling, as evidenced in high turn-over numbers. In contrast to many other Pd-based catalysts reported so far, Pd(0)-MCM-41 acts as a truly heterogeneous catalyst in C-C coupling reactions. Notably, the new heterogeneous catalyst is found to be efficient in the activation of arylchloride to give impressive conversion in cross coupling (15-45% for Heck and 30% for Sonogashira) reactions under mild conditions.     

Applications of Single-site Photocatalysts to the Design of Unique Surface Functional Materials

The isolated and tetrahedrally coordinated metal oxide (Ti, V, Cr, Mo and W-oxides) moieties can be included in the silica matrixes of silica-based microporous zeolite and mesoporous silica materials and named as “single-site photocatalysts”. Under UV-light irradiation these single-site photocatalysts form the charge transfer excited state, i.e., the excited electron–hole pair state which is located quite near to each other in different from the manner observed on semiconducting materials such as TiO₂, and play a significant role in various photocatalytic reactions. These single-site photocatalysts not only can promote photocatalytic reactions but also can be utilized to synthesis of functional materials. The nano-sized metal catalyst and visible-light sensitive binary oxide photocatalyst can be synthesized on the excited single-site photocatalyst under UV-light irradiation. The transparent mesoporous silica thin film with single-site photocatalyst generates the super-hydrophilic surface. In this review, our recent applications of single-site photocatalysts to synthesis of the surface functional materials have been introduced.     

Silica‐supported synthesis of some 1,3,5‐trisubstituted 2‐pyrazolines under solvent‐free and microwave irradiation conditions

A simple method for the synthesis of 2‐pyrazolines is described which occurs on silica surface under solvent‐free conditions within 110‐180 sec using microwave irradiation. The results obtained indicate that the use of silica gel as a support in pyrazoline formation reactions can have a profound effect on reaction rates and yields and cause cleaner reaction conditions.     

Synthesis and applications of polyvinylpyridine-grafted silica containing palladium nanoparticles as a new heterogeneous catalyst for heck and suzuki coupling reactions

A new catalytic system based on palladium nanoparticles supported on poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VPy)-grafted silica is introduced. Aminopropylsilica was reacted with acryloyl chloride to form acrylamidopropylsilica. Onto this functionalized silica, 4-vinylpyridine monomer was polymerized by free radical polymerization. The P4VPy-grafted silica was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy and the amount of (P4VPy) grafted was determind by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The complexation of (P4VPy)-grafted silica with Pd(Cl)₂ was carried out to obtain the heterogeneous catalytic system. Transmission electron microscopy images (TEM) showed that palladium dispersed through polymer surface in nanoparticle size. This catalytic system exhibited excellent activity in cross-coupling reactions of aryl iodides, bromides and also chlorides, with olefinic compounds in Heck-Mizoraki, and with benzylbronic acid in Suzuki-Miyaura reactions. The use of aryl chlorides in cross-coupling reactions is usually hardly successful, but excellent results were gained in the presence of terta-n-butylammonium bromide (TBAB) as an additive. The turnover number (TON) of this catalyst reaches up to 9 × 10⁴ in these C-C bond forming reactions. High efficiency of the catalyst along with short reaction time, high yields, easy purification, recyclability, large scale synthesis and simple procedure are among the advantages of this catalytic system     

Influence of Sol-Gel Synthesis Parameters on the Microstructure of Particulate Silica Xerogels

The influence of key sol-gel synthesis parameters on the pore structure of microporous silica xerogels was investigated. The silica xerogels were prepared using an acid-catalyzed aqueous sol-gel process, with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as the silicon-containing precursor. At high H2O : TEOS ratios, sols synthesized at pH 2–3 yielded minimum values of mean micropore diameter and micropore volume. Analysis of the resulting Type I nitrogen adsorption isotherms and the equilibrium adsorption of N(C4F9)3 indicated micropore diameters for these xerogels of less than approximately 10 Å.Xerogel micropore volumes corresponding to sols prepared at pH 3 and an H2O : TEOS ratio of r = 83 were consistent with nearly close packing of silica spheres in the xerogel. Xerogel microstructure was only weakly dependent upon H2O : TEOS ratio during sol synthesis for r > 10. Xerogel micropore volume increased rapidly with sol aging time during an initial induction period of particle formation. However, the xerogel microstructure changed only slowly with time after this initial period, suggesting potential processing advantages for the particulate sol-gel route to porous silica materials.Surface adsorption properties of the silica xerogels were investigated at ambient temperature using N2, SF6, and CO2. CO2 adsorbed most strongly, SF6 also showed measurable adsorption, and N2 adsorption was nearly zero. These results were consistent with the surface transport of CO2, and to a lesser extent SF6, observed in gas permeation studies performed through thin membrane films cast from similarly prepared silica sols.     

MFI/MFI核壳分子筛合成的影响因素及结晶动力学

以低硅铝比ZSM-5 为核, 采用二次生长法水热合成了MFI/MFI核壳分子筛. 发现对核相分子筛进行预处理是合成的关键步骤. 通过控制壳相合成过程(如合成温度、合成时间和核相分子筛加入量)可有效控制核壳分子筛的壳层生长. 以异丙苯(IPB)及1,3,5-三异丙苯(1,3,5-TIPB)裂解为探针反应, 发现与核相分子筛相比, 核壳分子筛的IPB裂解反应活性相当. 而1,3,5-TIPB裂解活性下降68%, 与外表面Al含量下降程度相近, 表明MFI/MFI核壳分子筛较好地保留了分子筛的核相反应活性. 结晶动力学计算结果表明, MFI/MFI核壳分子筛的成核活化能为51.5 kJ·mol-1, 生长活化能为26.5 kJ·mol-1.     

Theoretical study of the reactions of 2-chlorophenol over the dehydrated and hydroxylated silica clusters

Silica is the main component of combustion-generated fly ash and is expected to have an important impact on the formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in municipal waste incinerators. In this work, we theoretically studied the reactions of 2-chlorinated phenol (2-CP) over the clusters (SiO(2))(3) and (SiO(2))(3)O(2)H(4), which mimic the dehydrated and hydroxylated silica structures, respectively. The dehydrated cluster is much more active toward the attack of 2-CP to form highly stable 2-chlorophenolate than the hydroxylated silica cluster. The further dissociation of chlorophenolates to form CP radicals (CPRs) is calculated to be very difficult. The calculated energy barrier of the reaction of 2-CP over the dehydrated (SiO(2))(3) cluster and IR data are in good agreement with early experimental observations. On the basis of the calculated results, we propose that the formation of PCDD/Fs from CPs over silica surfaces may not involve CPRs, but be relevant to the further conversion of chlorophenolates over silica surfaces. This mechanism is very different from the corresponding reactions mediated by transition metal oxides. The results presented here may be helpful to understand the chemisorption mechanism of CPs on silica surfaces in real waste combustion.     

Inner-sphere complexation of cobalt(II) 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline ([Co(neo)]2+) with commercial and sol-gel derived silica gel surfaces

[Co(2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)(solvent)4]2+ ([Co(neo)]2+) undergoes a significant decrease in symmetry to form an inner-sphere surface complex when grafted directly on performed silica or introduced during the sol-gel process. The visible and X-ray absorption spectra of the surface adducts are interpreted in terms of a binding mode in which the Co(II) center has a highly distorted pseudo-C2v symmetry. The interaction of [Co(neo)]2+ with the silica surface was analyzed using an acid-base equilibrium relationship. Half-maximal surface binding was observed at pH ca. 6. Linear fits to the pH dependence data are consistent with inner-sphere binding of a single silanol group to the cobalt center. The formation of the surface species in tetramethoxyorthosilicate (TMOS) sol-gels required approximately 2 equiv of hydroxide anion per cobalt center, suggesting a two-proton-dependent binding event to form a species such as [Co(neo)(SiO)2]. Both sol-gel and silica samples showed essentially identical visible and X-ray absorption spectra, indicating formation of very similar surface adducts when the different synthesis procedures were employed. The maximal binding of [Co(neo)]2+ on three silica samples with different pore diameters and surface areas was compared. Increased binding was found to be inversely proportional to surface area and proportional to pore diameter, indicating a preference for less sterically demanding surface sites.     

Self‐Assembly and Compartmentalization of Nanozymes in Mesoporous Silica‐Based Nanoreactors

Herein, to mimic complex natural system, polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM)‐coated mesoporous silica nanoreactors were used to compartmentalize two different artificial enzymes. PEMs coated on the surface of mesoporous silica could serve as a permeable membrane to control the flow of molecules. When assembling hemin on the surface of mesoporous silica, the hemin‐based mesoporous silica system possessed remarkable peroxidase‐like activity, especially at physiological pH, and could be recycled more easily than traditional graphene–hemin nanocompounds. The hope is that these new findings may pave the way for exploring novel nanoreactors to achieve compartmentalization of nanozymes and applying artificial cascade catalytic systems to mimic cell organelles or important biochemical transformations     

Functionalization of silica gel by ultrasound-assisted surface Suzuki coupling

Mesoporous silica gel was functionalized by various organic functional groups using thiol-ene coupling of surface thiol groups with 4-vinylphenylboronic acid followed by Suzuki coupling with aromatic halides. For better performance, the synthesis was conducted under sonication. The presence of surface functional groups was confirmed by thermoanalysis, FT-IR spectroscopy and characteristic reactions of these groups. Solid-phase conditions of the synthesis eliminate the risk of side reactions of boronic acids.