Solid state phase transformations during the oxidation of copper sulfides: Roaster diagrams for the Cu-S-O system

Roaster diagrams that represent the stabilities of condensed phases as a function of temperature and percent oxygen appear to be more useful than the predominance area diagrams (PADs), which show the stability of different phases in the metal-sulfur-oxygen system at constant temperature. Roaster diagrams can be obtained from PADs and represent the intersection of total pressure lines with lines on a PAD extended in temperature. In this paper, PADs at four different temperatures and roaster diagrams for the system Cu-S-O are derived from PADs at total pressures of 0.25 atm and 1 atm. These diagrams show that at total pressures of 0.25 atm and 1 atm the CuO/CuO·CuSO₄ phase transformation occurs at 1063 K and 1133 K at 50% oxygen. The more complex four-component system Cu-As-S-O will follow in a subsequent publications.     

Noble gas compounds and chemistry: a brief review of interrelations and interactions with fluorine-containing species

This review is composed of six vignettes. They deal with respectively: the reaction of Xe and PtF₆; the reaction of O₂ and O₃ with PtF₆; salts of O⁺, the covalent OF, and noble gas-containing cations; synthesis, reactions and structure of [XeO₂]⁺ en route to [XeF]⁺ salts; [Xe₂]⁺, green and related species; neutral xenon oxides, nonmetal oxyanions, and a nonmetal fluoride “mid-valence” crisis. Interrelations and interactions are emphasized.     

Fluorine and Lithium: Ideal Partners for High‐Performance Rechargeable Battery Electrolytes

Further enhancement in the energy densities of rechargeable lithium batteries calls for novel cell chemistry with advanced electrode materials that are compatible with suitable electrolytes without compromising the overall performance and safety, especially when considering high‐voltage applications. Significant advancements in cell chemistry based on traditional organic carbonate‐based electrolytes may be successfully achieved by introducing fluorine into the salt, solvent/cosolvent, or functional additive structure. The combination of the benefits from different constituents enables optimization of the electrolyte and battery chemistry toward specific, targeted applications. This Review aims to highlight key research activities and technical developments of fluorine‐based materials for aprotic non‐aqueous solvent‐based electrolytes and their components along with the related ongoing scientific challenges and limitations. Ionic liquid‐based electrolytes containing fluorine will not be considered in this Review.     

Review article: ion pair potentials for alkali halides and some applications to liquids and defect studies

Abstract

We review the basis on which interionic potentials for alkali halides are obtained. We find that the sizes of the van der Waals terms are known poorly and that the polarizable ion models lack the necessary thermodynamic corrections, however small they may be, to fit low temperature properties of the solid. Although the quantum statistical calculations indicated some damping of van der Waals interactions due to ionic overlap, a systematic study of the basic and modified approaches shows them to be unsatisfactory.     

Expanding the Scope of Hypervalent Iodine Reagents for Perfluoroalkylation: From Trifluoromethyl to Functionalized Perfluoroethyl

A series of new hypervalent iodine reagents based on the 1,3‐dihydro‐3,3‐dimethyl‐1,2‐benziodoxole and 1,2‐benziodoxol‐3‐(1H)‐one scaffolds, which contain a functionalized tetrafluoroethyl group, have been prepared, characterized, and used in synthetic applications. Their corresponding electrophilic fluoroalkylation reactions with various sulfur, oxygen, phosphorus, and carbon‐centered nucleophiles afford products that feature a tetrafluoroethylene unit, which connects two functional moieties. A related λ³‐iodane that contains a fluorophore was shown to react with a cysteine derivative under mild conditions to give a thiol‐tagged product that is stable in the presence of excess thiol. Therefore, these new reagents show a significant potential for applications in chemical biology as tools for fast, irreversible, and selective thiol bioconjugation.     

Electrostatic potential for some non-spherical organic molecules: An oblate-spheroidal dipolar approximation

A spheroidal dipolar expansion is used for the determination of the electrostatic potential due to three non-spherical organic molecules: to-luene, phenol and cyclohexanone. The agreement of experimental facts with the prediction of the most probable reactive sites on each molecule deduced from calculated equipotential maps is discussed.     

Biosensors for environmental monitoring of endocrine disruptors: a review article

This article provides an overview of the applications of biosensors in analysis and monitoring of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the environment. Special attention is devoted to the various types of physical-chemical signal transduction elements, biological mechanisms employed as sensing elements and techniques used for immobilisation of the bioreceptor molecules on the transducer surface. Two different classes of biosensors for EDCs are considered: biosensors that measure endocrine-disrupting effects, and biosensors that respond to the presence of a specific substance (or group of substances) based on the specific recognition of a biomolecule. Several examples of them are presented to illustrate the power of the biosensor technology for environmental applications. Future trends in the development of new, more advanced devices are also outlined.     

Kinetics and mechanism of triethylamine-catalyzed 1,3-proton shift: Optimized and substantially improved reaction conditions for biomimetic reductive amination of fluorine-containing carbonyl compounds

Kinetic study of the triethylamine (TEA)-catalyzed isomerization of imine, derived from benzylamine and trifluoroacetophenone to the corresponding N-benzylidene-2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(phenyl)ethylamine has revealed concerted nature of the mechanism of this reaction via a virtually unionized transition state. As a synthetic bonus of this kinetic study, we found that application of a polar solvent (acetonitrile) and four equivalents of TEA provide for optimal reaction conditions at high concentrations. We demonstrate that application of these reaction conditions allows to substantially increase the reaction rates, chemical yields and results in cleaner formation of the target products.     

Measurement and prediction of tie-line data for mixtures of (water + 1-propanol + diisopropyl ether): LLE diagrams as a function of temperature

Tie-line data for ternary system of (water + 1-propanol + diisopropyl ether (DIPE)) were determined at T = (298.2, 308.2 and 313.2) K under atmospheric conditions. The ternary system exhibited type-I LLE behavior, as (DIPE + water) is the only liquid pair that is partially miscible. The experimental data for this system were predicted with the UNIFAC model with a root mean square deviation of 2.64%. The reliability of the experimental tie-line data was determined through the Othmer–Tobias and Hand plots. Distribution coefficients and separation factors were measured to evaluate the extracting capability of the solvents. The influence of temperature effect on the equilibrium characteristics and separation factor was found to be significant at the temperatures studied.     

Luminophoric organic molecules for anticounterfeit printing ink applications: an up-to-date review

Counterfeiting of currency, valuable documents, and branded products remains an extremely challenging concern for governments, companies, and consumers worldwide, which poses grave monetary, safety, and health consequences. In recent years, organic luminescent materials are being widely used in various fields, especially in advanced optical displays and solid-state lighting as they exhibit exceptional optical properties and chemical stability. These features facilitated the use of organic luminophores as highly promising materials in anticounterfeiting applications too. This review introduces the concerns due to counterfeiting, introduces various techniques to combat the growing threat, and further acknowledges the different types of luminophores currently used in antiforging applications. The article mainly highlights the recent developments in organic solvent-based and eco-friendly water-based formulations for anticounterfeiting purposes that contain organic molecules with various unique features as fluorescent pigments. Furthermore, the limitations of the currently used organic materials and future prospects for fabricating smart luminogens to tackle the counterfeiting problems are also discussed. This review would benefit researchers who are currently working and those who have just entered this fascinating and evolving, but highly demanding, area of security printing.     

Pressurized capillary electrochromatography in a screening for possible antioxidant molecules in Mallotus fingerprints: challenges, potentials and prospects

Because of its eminent high resolution potential and minimal solvent consumption, pressurized capillary electrochromatography (pCEC) may offer an interesting alternative to HPLC for screening applications that need to resolve complex samples. In this paper, its potential was assessed in a screening of plant extracts from Mallotus species to indicate compounds with possible antioxidant activities by means of a PLS model built from their pCEC fingerprints. The main aim of this research was to find out whether pCEC can have an added value for this application. To get a complete overview of the techniques potential for this application, it was also assessed whether the technique can meet the requirements in terms of precision, sensitivity and column robustness. Encountered benefits and downsides were reported. Fingerprints with satisfactory sensitivity and precision could be obtained by concentrating the sample 5-fold and using optimized rinsing procedures, respectively. From the generated pCEC fingerprints of 39 Mallotus samples and their respective DPPH radical scavenging activity test results, a three-component PLS model was being built. The model proved good predictive abilities and easily allowed the indication of possible antioxidant compounds in the fingerprints. Despite its much higher peak capacity, the performance of pCEC to fingerprint the majority of the Mallotus extracts did not surpass that of a custom HPLC method. This was also reflected in its comparable power to indicate possible antioxidant compounds in the fingerprints after modeling. Because of its low detection sensitivity and modest column robustness, the benefit of the lower solvent consumption was partly paid-off by the current need for more system maintenance, also limiting the sample throughput. For the considered screening application, pCEC may suit as a viable but no preferred alternative technique.     

Electrochemical functionalization of carbon surfaces by aromatic azide or alkyne molecules: a versatile platform for click chemistry

The electrochemical reduction of phenylazide or phenylacetylene diazonium salts leads to the grafting of azido or ethynyl groups onto the surface of carbon electrodes. In the presence of copper(I) catalyst, these azide- or alkyne-modified surfaces react efficiently and rapidly with compounds bearing an acetylene or azide function, thus forming a covalent 1,2,3-triazole linkage by means of click chemistry. This was illustrated with the surface coupling of ferrocenes functionalized with an ethynyl or azido group and the biomolecule biotin terminated by an acetylene group.     

Microextraction techniques for the determination of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds from plants: A review

Vegetables and fruits are necessary for human health, and traditional Chinese medicine that uses plant materials can cure diseases. Thus, understanding the composition of plant matrix has gained increased attention in recent years. Since plant matrix is very complex, the extraction, separation and quantitation of these chemicals are challenging.     

Multiscale electrostatic embedding simulations for modeling structure and dynamics of molecules in solution: A tutorial review

The main concepts and important technical details of electrostatic embedding quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulations are explained and illustrated with the intent of assisting newcomers in performing and gauging the accuracy of such simulations, focused on smaller molecules in solution. Beginners are advised on how to increase the reliability and accuracy of the simulations through benchmarking. Central considerations on methodologies for QM/MM Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations are presented, alongside technical fundamentals regarding the construction and manipulation of simulation systems using the python-based Atomic Simulation Environment (ASE). A worked example of QM/MM Born–Oppenheimer MD is included, and a flowchart summarizing the most salient decisions and tasks within the methodology is presented.     

A state-of-the-science review of analytical methods for urinary dialkylphosphate metabolites in the assessment of exposure to organophosphate pesticides: From 2000 to 2022

The general population and workers are exposed to organophosphate insecticides, one of the leading chemical classes of pesticides used in rural and urban areas. This paper aims to conduct an integrative review of the most used analytical methods for identifying and quantifying dialkylphosphate—which are metabolites of organophosphate insecticides—in the urine of exposed workers, discussing their advantages, limitations and applicability. Searches utilized the PubMed, the Scientific Electronic Library Online and the Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations databases between 2000 and 2021. Twenty-five studies were selected. The extraction methods most used were liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) (36%) and solid-phase extraction (SPE) (36%), with the SPE being more economical in terms of time and amount of solvents needed, and presenting the best percentage of recovery of analytes, when compared with LLE. Nineteen studies (76%) used the gas chromatography method of separation, and among these, 12 records (63%) indicated mass spectrometry used as a detection technology (analyzer). Studies demonstrate that dialkylphosphates are sensitive and representative exposure biomarkers for environmental and occupational organophosphate exposure.     

Facile and green methodology for surface‐grafted Al2O3 nanoparticles with biocompatible molecules: preparation of the poly(vinyl alcohol)@poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) nanocomposites

The present work describes preparation of modified alumina with biocompatible, water soluble, and treating agents such as citric acid and ascorbic acid. Also, the influence of the modified nanoparticles (NPs) into the blend of poly(vinyl alcohol)@poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (50/50) matrix was studied. At first, citric acid and ascorbic acid as environmental friendly agents were grafted on the surface of Al₂O₃ NPs. Then, nanocomposites (NCs) with different amounts of modified Al₂O₃ NPs were prepared via a simple ultrasonic method. The characterizations of the molecular structure of the NCs specified that chemical and physical interactions happened between inorganic and organic counterparts. The mutual effect of modified NPs into the polymer matrix was investigated on the structural, interfacial interaction, thermal stability, and optical properties. The results from morphological characterization confirmed changes in morphology of poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) after loading NPs. Uniform dispersion of modified spherical Al₂O₃ NPs powders into the matrix of 50/50 polymers was detected by field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray. Adding M‐NPs into the polymer matrix expressively improved the thermal stability of NCs. Peaks in ultraviolet–visible spectra were shifted to the higher absorption. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Four‐component relativistic DFT calculations of 77Se NMR chemical shifts: A gateway to a reliable computational scheme for the medium‐sized organoselenium molecules

A versatile high‐accuracy computational scheme for the ⁷⁷Se nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts of the medium‐sized organoselenium compounds is suggested within a framework of a full four‐component relativistic density functional theory (DFT). The main accuracy factors (DFT functionals, relativistic geometry, vibrational corrections, and solvent effects) are addressed. The best result is achieved with NMR‐oriented KT2 functional of Keal–Tozer characterized by a fairly small error of only 30 ppm for the span of about 1700 ppm (<2%). © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Rice-husk-supported FeCl3 nano-particles: Introduction of a mild,efficient and reusable catalyst for some of the multi-component reactions

Rice-husk-supported FeCl₃ nano-particles (FeCl₃–RiH) were prepared and used as an environmentally friendly catalyst in the synthesis of β-amino carbonyl compounds, 1,8-dioxo-octahydro xanthenes, and bis-indolyl methanes from simple and readily available precursor molecules.