Effect of HF treatment on the activity of TiO2 thin films for photocatalytic water splitting

The effects of HF treatment on the activity of TiO₂ thin films for the photocatalytic water splitting reaction have been investigated. TiO₂ thin films treated with HF solution (HF-TiO₂) were found to exhibit a remarkable enhancement of the photocatalytic activity for H₂ evolution from a methanol aqueous solution, as well as efficient photoelectrochemical performance under UV light irradiation as compared with the untreated TiO₂. Moreover, Pt-loaded HF-TiO₂ thin films were found to act as efficient and stable photocatalysts for the decomposition of water under UV light irradiation. The mechanistic insights obtained in the present study will be useful in the design of highly efficient photocatalysts for the decomposition of water.     

Self-supported metal sulphide nanocrystals-assembled nanosheets on carbon paper as efficient counter electrodes for quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells

Developing efficient counter electrodes (CEs) and quantum dots made of earth-abundant and non-toxic elements is essential but still challenging for quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). Here, we report a facile strategy to prepare self-supported and robust CoS₂ and NiS nanocrystals-assembled nanosheets directly grown on carbon paper (MSx NS@CP) as efficient counter electrodes for QDSSCs. Such CEs integrate the merits of fast electron transfer from interconnected conductive scaffold, efficient mass transfer from hierarchically vertical nanosheet on 3D open substrate, as well as abundant highly active catalytic sites from metal sulphide nanocrystal units. As a result, QDDSCs based on such CoS₂ NS@CP and NiS NS@CP CEs achieve a PCE of 8.88% and 7.53%, respectively. The detailed analyses suggest that CoS₂ NS@CP has the highest catalytic activity and shows the lowest charger transfer resistance, leading to the highest PCE. These findings may inspire the design and exploration of other self-supported efficient CEs by integrating highly active catalysts onto 3D conductive networks for efficient QDSSCs.     

(BeDABCO)2Pd2Cl6 as an efficient homogeneous catalyst for copper‐free Sonogashira cross‐coupling reaction

An efficient catalytic system using 1‐benzyl‐4‐aza‐1‐azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane chloride and palladium chloride ((BeDABCO)₂Pd₂Cl₆) was developed for the Sonogashira reaction. In the presence of a catalytic amount of this efficient, stable homogeneous catalytic system that is non‐sensitive to air and moisture, various aryl halides were efficiently coupled with phenylacetylene in good yields in H₂O at 50°C under copper‐free conditions. Benzyl dabco as an efficient ligand and also a quaternary ammonium salt had an efficient stabilizing effect on the Pd(0) species. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ultrasmall Cu7S4@MoS2 Hetero‐Nanoframes with Abundant Active Edge Sites for Ultrahigh‐Performance Hydrogen Evolution

Increasing the active edge sites of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) is an efficient strategy to improve the overall activity of MoS₂ for the hydrogen‐evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we report a strategy to synthesize the ultrasmall donut‐shaped Cu₇S₄@MoS₂ hetero‐nanoframes with abundant active MoS₂ edge sites as alternatives to platinum (Pt) as efficient HER electrocatalysts. These nanoframes demonstrate an ultrahigh activity with 200 mA cm^?2 current density at only 206 mV overpotential using a carbon‐rod counter electrode. The finding may provide guidelines for the design and synthesis of efficient and non‐precious chalcogenide nanoframe catalysts.     

(BeDABCO)2Pd2Cl6 (1‐benzyl‐4‐aza‐1‐azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane chloride) as a highly active catalytic system for the Stille cross‐coupling reaction under microwave irradiation

An efficient catalytic system using (BeDABCO)₂Pd₂Cl₆ was developed for the Stille cross‐coupling reaction. The substituted biaryls were produced in excellent yields in short reaction times using a catalytic amount of this catalyst in DMF at 120 °C. The ionic character of homogeneous catalyst and microwave irradiation and also DMF as microwave‐active polar solvent gave higher yields and shorter reaction times than conventional heating. Benzyl DABCO as an efficient ligand and also a quaternary ammonium salt had an efficient stabilizing effect on the Pd(0) species. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CeCl3·7H2O: a highly efficient catalyst for the synthesis of 1-substituted-octahydro-[1,3,2]diazaphospholo[1,5-a]pyridine-1-oxide

An efficient and simple protocol is reported for the synthesis of a new class of 1-substituted-octahydro-[1,3,2]diazaphospholo[1,5-a]pyridine-1-oxides in good to excellent yield (88–95%) via Michaelis–Arbuzov rearrangement. Condensation of diamido phosphite with various halides at 60 °C using CeCl₃·7H₂O as a highly efficient catalyst afforded the products within a short period of reaction time. This procedure is mild, efficient, and non-toxic and stability of the catalyst is the merit of this process. Therefore, this protocol being environmentally benign and efficient, serves as an alternative procedure for the preparation of the title compounds.     

I2O5: mild and efficient reagents for the oxidation of alcohols in water

The mild and efficient nature of HIO₃ and I₂O₅ as environmentally benign, commercially available, atom efficient, and safe reagents for the oxidation of alcohols has been demonstrated. Additionally, these oxidants are highly chemoselective, and effect smooth room temperature oxidation of various electron-rich alcohols with catalytic amounts of KBr in water.     

An efficient vanadium-catalyzed bromination reaction

An efficient catalytic oxidative bromination of arenes, alkenes, and alkynes in aqueous media was achieved under relatively mild conditions by using NH₄VO₃ catalyst combined with H₂O₂, HBr, and KBr. Dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide was found to serve as an efficient surfactant to facilitate the NH₄VO₃-catalyzed bromination in aqueous media.     

Acetohydroxamic acid: a new reagent for efficient synthesis of nitriles directly from aldehydes using Bi(OTf)3 as the catalyst

An efficient method for the preparation of nitriles directly from aldehydes by reaction with AHA using Bi(OTf)₃ as the catalyst is described. Bi(OTf)₃ is shown to be an efficient catalyst also for the conversion of aldoximes into nitriles.     

Palladium‐catalyzed cyanation reaction of aryl halides using K4[Fe(CN)6] as non‐toxic source of cyanide under microwave irradiation

An efficient method for preparation of aryl nitriles—using [Pd{C₆H₂(CH₂CH₂ NH₂)‐(OMe)₂,3,4} (µ‐Br)]₂ complex as an efficient catalyst and K₄[Fe(CN)₆] as a green cyanide source—from aryl bromides, aryl iodides and aryl chlorides under microwave irradiation has been reported. This complex has been demonstrated to be an active and efficient catalyst for this reaction. Using a catalytic amount of this synthesized palladium complex in DMF at 130 °C led to production of the cyanoarenes in excellent yields in short reaction times. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fe3O4@S‐ABENZ@VO: Magnetically separable nanocatalyst for the efficient,selective and mild oxidation of sulfides and oxidative coupling of thiols

Oxovanadium(IV) immobilized on Fe₃O₄@S‐ABEN is reported as a highly efficient nanocatalyst for the oxidation of sulfides and oxidative coupling of thiols (using H₂O₂ as green oxidant), the products of which are obtained in high to excellent yields. The products can be separated by a simple extraction with organic solvent and the catalyst is highly efficient, especially in terms of selectivity of desired product. The catalytic system can be recycled and reused without significant loss of catalytic activity.     

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles/K<Subscript>2</Subscript>S: a simple and scale-up method for the direct synthesis of symmetrical disulfides from aryl halides

A simple, one-pot, efficient and novel protocol has been developed for direct synthesis of symmetrical organic disulfides by domino reaction of aryl halides and K₂S in the presence of magnetic Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles as a readily available, highly efficient and recyclable catalyst. A variety of diaryl disulfides can be obtained in good-to-excellent yields up to 98%.     

Synthesis of Quaternary α-Hydroxy Phosphonates via Direct Hydroxylation of Phosphonate Compounds

It was found for the first time that Cs₂CO₃ serves as highly efficient catalyst for the direct hydroxylation reactions of phosphonates under mild conditions. This reaction provides an efficient approach to quaternary α‐hydroxy phosphonates, which possess intriguing biological activities and are widely used in many areas.     

ZrCl4 dispersed on dry silica gel provides a useful reagent for S-alkylation of thiols with alcohols under solvent-free conditions

ZrCl₄ which is commercially available and not a costly compound, is a relatively safe chemical [LD₅₀ [ZrCl₄, oral rat] = 1688 mg Kg]. In this report we describe the use of ZrCl₄ dispersed on dry silica gel as an efficient reagent for the efficient preparation of thioethers from thiols with alcohols under solvent-free conditions.     

Regioselective Ring Opening of Styrene Oxide Catalyzed by MoO2(acac)2

The ring-opening reaction of styrene oxide with various nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon nucleophiles catalyzed by MoO₂(acac)₂ was described. The corresponding ring-opening compounds with nearly 100% regioselectivities were obtained under mild conditions in moderate to good yields. MoO₂(acac)₂ is a highly efficient catalyst for the ring opening of styrene oxide. The reaction serves as a simple and efficient method for the synthesis of 1,2-bifunctional compounds.     

Highly Efficient CH Hydroxylation of Carbonyl Compounds with Oxygen under Mild Conditions

A transition‐metal‐free Cs₂CO₃‐catalyzed α‐hydroxylation of carbonyl compounds with O₂ as the oxygen source is described. This reaction provides an efficient approach to tertiary α‐hydroxycarbonyl compounds, which are highly valued chemicals and widely used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. The simple conditions and the use of molecular oxygen as both the oxidant and the oxygen source make this protocol very environmentally friendly and practical. This transformation is highly efficient and highly selective for tertiary C(sp³)? H bond cleavage.     

Highly Efficient C?H Hydroxylation of Carbonyl Compounds with Oxygen under Mild Conditions

A transition‐metal‐free Cs₂CO₃‐catalyzed α‐hydroxylation of carbonyl compounds with O₂ as the oxygen source is described. This reaction provides an efficient approach to tertiary α‐hydroxycarbonyl compounds, which are highly valued chemicals and widely used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. The simple conditions and the use of molecular oxygen as both the oxidant and the oxygen source make this protocol very environmentally friendly and practical. This transformation is highly efficient and highly selective for tertiary C(sp³) H bond cleavage.     

1‐(α‐Aminobenzyl)‐2‐naphthol as phosphine‐free ligand for Pd‐catalyzed Suzuki and one‐pot Wittig‐Suzuki reaction

Air stable and easily accessible, 1‐(α‐aminobenzyl)‐2‐naphthols are used as efficient phosphine‐free ligands in palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki reaction for a variety of substrates under conventional heating as well as ultrasonic conditions. Multi‐brominated aromatic substrates were successfully converted to corresponding arylated moieties with good conversion and selectivity. A novel one‐pot two‐step cascade reaction strategy involving Wittig and Suzuki reactions is developed for efficient synthesis of 4‐styryl biphenyls (C₆‐C₂‐C₆‐C₆ unit). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Azo-Functionalized Zirconium-Based Metal−Organic Polyhedron as an Efficient Catalyst for CO2 Fixation with Epoxides

Chemical fixation of CO₂ as C1 source at ambient temperature and low pressure is an energy-saving way to make use of the green-house gas, but it still remains a challenge since efficient catalyst with high catalytic active sites is required. Here, a novel monoclinic azo-functionalized Zr-based metal−organic polyhedron (Zr-AZDA) has been prepared and applied in CO₂ fixation with epoxides. The inherent azo groups not only endow Zr-AZDA with good solubilization, but also act as basic sites to enrich CO₂ showing efficient synergistic catalysis as confirmed by TPD-CO₂ analysis. XPS results demonstrate that the Zr active sites in Zr-AZDA possess suitable Lewis acidity, which satisfies both substrates activation and products desorption. DFT calculation indicates the energy barrier of the rate-determining step in CO₂ cycloaddition could be reduced remarkably (by ca. 60.9 %) in the presence of Zr-AZDA, which may rationalize the mild and efficient reaction condition employed (80 °C and 1 atm of CO₂). The work provides an effective multi-functional cooperative method for improvement of CO₂ cycloaddition.     

Facile construction of symmetric biaryls using (BeDABCO)2Pd2Cl6 as an efficient and highly active catalyst under microwave irradiation

An efficient catalytic system using (BeDABCO)₂Pd₂Cl₆ (BeDABCO, benzyl‐1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) was developed for the homo‐coupling reaction of various aryl halides. Due to the combination of ionic homogeneous metal catalyst and microwave irradiation, symmetric biaryls were produced in excellent yields and short reaction times in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone at 120 °C. BeDABCO as an efficient ligand and also a quaternary ammonium salt had an efficient stabilizing effect on the Pd(0) species in this coupling reaction. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.