Highly concentrated emulsions as novel reaction media

Synthesis of a cationic surfactant, N^α-lauroyl arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (LAM) has been carried out in gel emulsions of the system water/C₁₄E₄/decane. The yields of LAM synthesized in gel emulsions are comparable to those obtained in conventional dimethylformamide (DMF) media. The rate of LAM formation is faster in gel emulsions at short times, the reaction taking place without mechanical energy input and at 25°C.     

Highly efficient and versatile acetylation of alcohols catalyzed by cerium(III) triflate

Cerium(III) triflate is a powerful catalyst for the acetylation of alcohols. The reaction works well for a large variety of simple and functionalized alcohols, without isomerisation of chiral centres. Changes of hydroxyl protective groups are possible in a one-pot procedure. The catalyst can be easily recycled.     

Copper(II) complex intercalated graphene oxide nanocomposites as versatile,reusable catalysts for click reaction

In this work, we report the efficient, high stable copper(II) complexes intercalated graphene oxide (GO) used as green catalysts for copper(II) complex mediated click reaction. Copper(II) Bis(2,2′-bipyridine) [Cu^II (bpy)₂] (C1) and Copper(II) Bis(1,10-phenanthroline) [Cu^II (phen)₂] (C2) have synthesized for the intercalation of corresponding nanocomposites with GO, [GO@Cu^II (bpy)₂] (GO-C1) and [GO@Cu^II (phen)₂] (GO-C2). The noncovalent interaction of complexes supported on the surface of the GO nanosheets proves as an evident active site to facilitate the enhanced catalytic activity of copper-catalyzed alkyne azide cycloaddition (Cu^IIAAC) reaction for the isolation of 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles as click products in shorter reaction time with 80%–91% yield (five examples). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of these composites shows the enhanced interlayers d-spacing range of 1.01–1.12 nm due to the intercalation of copper(II) complexes in between the GO basal planes and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman, UV, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The as-prepared nanocomposites were employed for the typical click reactions using the substrates of azide and acetylene. These classes of composite materials can be referred to recyclable, heterogeneous, green catalysts with high atom economy and could also be used for the isolation of click products in biomolecules.     

Organic reactions in supramolecular gel media: reaction driven release of reagents in a macrocyclisation reaction

A bifunctional reactive organogelator containing p-nitrophenyl carbamate moieties has been reacted with (1R,2R)-(+)-1,2-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediamine to produce a l-valine derived macrocyclic bisurea. The macrocyclisation can be carried out very efficiently in the presence of the supramolecular gel formed by the biscarbamate, although the results indicate that the reaction takes place on the soluble species present in the system. The reversible nature of a supramolecular gel together with the high active surface of its fibrillar network permits the behaviour of the studied gel as an on-demand supplier of reagents to the solution phase.     

Highly enantioselective Henry (nitroaldol) reaction of aldehydes and alpha-ketoesters catalyzed by N,N'-dioxide-copper(I) complexes

A new chiral N,N'-dioxide-Cu(I) catalyst has been developed for the asymmetric Henry (nitroaldol) reaction. The approach benefited from the easy modification of the chiral space. As the highly effective N-oxide ligand, 1d has been adopted for the Henry reaction with both aromatic and heteroaromatic aldehydes. The corresponding nitro-alcohol products were obtained in good yields with high enantiomeric excesses up to 98%. Moreover, alpha-ketoesters were also catalyzed by this catalyst to give attractive optically active alpha-hydroxy beta-nitro esters containing chiral quaternary carbon centers (up to 99% ee). On the basis of a combination of several techniques including the 1H NMR, ESI-HRMS, and MM2 calculations, the proposed mechanism was presented to explain the origin of reactivity and asymmetric inductivity.     

Electrochemical kinetics of the hydrogen reaction on platinum in concentrated HCl(aq)

The hydrogen reaction in concentrated HCl(aq) solutions is a key reaction for the CuCl(aq)/HCl(aq) electrolytic cell. Here, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) were used to obtain new data for the hydrogen reaction on platinum submerged in highly concentrated acidic solutions at 25 °C and 0.1 MPa. LSV and EIS data were collected for Pt in 0.5 mol/L H₂SO₄(aq), 1 mol/L HCl(aq) and 7.71 mol/L HCl(aq) solutions. It was found that exchange current density (j₀) values varied between 1 and 2 mA/cm². An equivalent circuit model was used to obtain comparable j₀ and limiting current density values from EIS data relative to values obtained with LSV data. It was found that as the concentration of acid increased, a noticeable decrease in the performance was observed.     

Highly selective determination of rhodium(III) using silica gel surface-imprinted solid-phase extraction

A novel Rh(III)-imprinted amino-functionalised silica gel sorbent was prepared by a surface imprinting technique for preconcentration and separation of Rh(III) prior to its determination by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Compared with the traditional solid sorbents and non-imprinted polymer particles, the ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs) had higher adsorption capacity and selectivity for Rh(III). The maximum static adsorption capacity of the imprinted and non-imprinted sorbent for Rh(III) was 29.86?mg?g^?1 and 11.23?mg?g^?1, respectively. The imprinted Rh(III) was removed with 2?mL of 3% thiourea?+?2?mol?L^?1 HCl. The obtained imprinted particles exhibited excellent selectivity and rapid kinetics process for Rh(III). The relatively selective factor (α_r) values of Rh(III)/Ru(III), Rh(III)/Au(III), Rh(III)/Pt(IV), Rh(III)/Ir(IV), Rh(III)/Pd(II) were 26.7, 39.0 29.2, 28.1, 43.7, respectively, which were greater than 1. The detection limit (3σ) of the method was 0.26?µg?L^?1. The relative standard deviation of the method was 1.79% for eight replicate determination of 10?µg of Rh³⁺ in 200?mL water sample. The method was validated by analysing standard reference material (GBW 07293), the results obtained is in good agreement with standard values. The developed method was also successfully applied to the determination of trace rhodium(III) in geological samples with satisfactory results.     

Highly enantioselective aza-Henry reaction of N-tosyl imines catalyzed by N,N'-dioxide-Cu(I) complexes

The N,N'-dioxide-Cu(I) complexes have been developed to catalyze the addition of nitromethane to N-tosyl aldimines. The aza-Henry reaction proceeds smoothly affording the corresponding nitro amines in good yields with high enantioselectivities. A catalytic cycle is proposed to explain the origin of reactivity.     

Highly enantioselective aza-Henry reaction of ketoimines catalyzed by chiral N,N'-dioxide-copper(I) complexes

The first example of catalytic enantioselective aza-Henry reaction of ketoimines has been realized using a simple chiral N,N'-dioxide-Cu(I) complex as catalyst. It performs well over a range of substrates to give the corresponding products in moderate to good yields (up to 83%) with high enantioselectivities (up to 96% ee).     

Highly (Z)-selective synthesis of beta-monosubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated cyanides using the peterson reaction

[reaction: see text] The Peterson reaction between (t-BuO)Ph(2)SiCH(2)CN and various aldehydes furnishes the corresponding beta-monosubstituted alpha,beta-unsaturated cyanides with high Z selectivity (Z:E = 92:8 to >98:2).     

A concise study on dimedone: A versatile molecule in multi-component reactions,an outlook to the green reaction media

Dimedone is an interesting and versatile motif in most organic transformations. Its white to light yellow crystals have been utilized as substrate in wide range of organic reactions including multi-component transformations. The notability of dimedone is due to the acidic property of its methylene group which is in equilibrium with its tautomeric enol form. This phenomena permit dimedone to be utilized in several kinds of organic reactions eventuated to several organic molecules with potent pharmaceutical exclusivity. The mentioned nature of dimedone in addition with its low toxicity, easily accessibility and handling, moisture stability, and low cost make it interesting for organic chemists. During the last decades, perfuming an organic transformation based on green chemistry rules, is in demand. In this review the reactions of dimedone has been focused with an outlook to the solvent of media. Each section has been subdivided respect to the temperature of the transformations. All categorizations has been accomplished to the green media. The authors has also calculated the atom economy of each reaction on behalf of green chemistry concept.     

CO(2)-expanded solvents: unique and versatile media for performing homogeneous catalytic oxidations

The work summarized here demonstrates a new concept for exploiting dense phase CO(2), media considered to be "green" solvents, for homogeneous catalytic oxidation reactions. According to this concept, the conventional organic solvent medium used in catalytic chemical reactions is replaced substantially (up to 80 vol %) by CO(2), at moderate pressures (tens of bars), to create a continuum of CO(2)-expanded solvent media. A particular benefit is found for oxidation catalysis; the presence of CO(2) in the mixed medium increases the O(2) solubility by ca. 100 times compared to that in the neat organic solvent while the retained organic solvent serves an essential role by solubilizing the transition metal catalyst. We show that CO(2)-expanded solvents provide optimal properties for maximizing oxidation rates that are typically 1-2 orders of magnitude greater than those obtained with either the neat organic solvent or supercritical CO(2) as the reaction medium. These advantages are demonstrated with examples of homogeneous oxidations of a substituted phenol and of cyclohexene by molecular O(2) using transition metal catalysts, cobalt Schiff-base and iron porphyrin complexes, respectively, in CO(2)-expanded CH(3)CN.     

Highly stable gold(III) complex with a hydantoin ligand in alkaline media

A novel gold(III) complex with a monodentate 5,5-dimethylhydantoin ligand, [Au(dmh)4]-, is square planar in geometry, inert and highly stable in alkaline solutions because of soft acid-base interactions, and electrochemically reduced near -0.3 V vs Ag/AgCl to give a gold(0) film with a high current efficiency.     

Antimony(III) chloride-catalysed Biginelli reaction: a versatile method for the synthesis of dihydropyrimidinones through a different reaction mechanism

Antimony(III) chloride (20 mol %) in refluxing acetonitrile efficiently catalyses the synthesis of dihydropyrimidinones (50-90% yields) by the Biginelli reaction of aromatic aldehydes, acetoacetate esters and urea. This reaction proceeds through 3-ureido-crotonates followed by cyclisation with an aromatic aldehyde to the dihydropyrimidinone.     

Highly versatile enantioselective conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to alpha,beta-unsaturated thioesters

Herein, we report efficient catalysts for the asymmetric copper-catalyzed conjugate addition of Grignard reagents to alpha,beta-unsaturated thioesters. MeMgBr adds to aromatic alpha,beta-unsaturated thioesters with excellent enantioselectivities and moderate to good yields using Josiphos/CuBr and Tol-BINAP/CuI complexes. The use of bulky Grignard reagents leads to unprecedented enantioselectivities in the 1,4-addition to a broad range of aromatic and aliphatic alpha,beta-unsaturated thioesters using Tol-BINAP/CuI. The highest enantioselectivities reported so far for the addition of Grignard reagents to crowded beta-substituted aliphatic substrates are achieved with Tol-BINAP/CuI.     

Water-in-water (W/W) emulsions

Water-in-water (W/W) emulsions are colloidal dispersions of an aqueous solution into another aqueous phase. Such dispersions can be formed in mixtures of at least two hydrophilic macromolecules, which are thermodynamically incompatible in solution, generating two immiscible aqueous phases. W/W emulsions are much less known than conventional oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions, despite the fact that phase separation in aqueous mixtures is highly common. The thermodynamics and the phase behavior of segregative phase separation in mixtures of hydrophilic polymers have focused a great attention, with many excellent scientific reports in the literature. However, the kinetic stability of water-in-water emulsions is generally difficult to control, since amphiphilic molecules do not adsorb on water-water interfaces. Consequently, surfactants are not good stabilizers for W/W emulsions, and until recently, only a limited number of scientific studies have dealt with the formation and stabilization of emulsions in aqueous two-phase systems. Recent advances and successful results in the stabilization of these emulsions, by alternative mechanisms, have triggered a renewed interest. Nowadays, fast progress is being made in formation and stabilization methods, and new knowledge is rapidly acquired, opening a wide range of novel possibilities for practical applications. Interestingly, highly stable water-in-water emulsions can be formulated using fully biocompatible and edible components, and consequently, these emulsions can be used in food formulations, among many other interesting applications. This review describes the general background of research in the field, and focuses on recent scientific advances, including phase behavior, formation, stability and kinetic aspects, as well as applications such as formation of microgels, encapsulation and drug delivery.     

Highly efficient and versatile chemoselective addition of amines to epoxides in water catalyzed by erbium(III) triflate

Er(OTf)₃ is proposed as a highly efficient and reusable catalyst for the opening of epoxides in water with aliphatic as well as aromatic amines leading to the synthesis of β-amino alcohols. The aqueous conditions employed in the present method will make it ‘environmentally friendly’ and potentially useful for industrial applications.