PEG-400 promoted Pd(OAc)2/DABCO-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions in aqueous media

PEG-400 [poly(ethylene glycol-400)] was found to improve the Pd(OAc)₂/DABCO-catalyzed aqueous Suzuki-Miyaura and Stille cross-coupling reactions. In the presence of Pd(OAc)₂, DABCO, and PEG-400, a variety of aryl halides were coupled with arylboronic acids or organotin compounds efficiently to afford the corresponding cross-coupled products in moderate to excellent yields. The turnover numbers was up to 900,000 for the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction and up to 9800 for the Stille reaction. The catalyst system was also effective for Heck and Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions to some extent.     

Preparation and characterization of mesoporous TiO2-CeO2 nanopowders respond to visible wavelength

Mesoporous TiO₂-CeO₂ nanopowders responding to visible wavelength were synthesized by using a surfactant assisted sol-gel technique. They were obtained using metal alkoxide precursors modified with acetylacetone (ACA) and laurylamine hydrochloride (LAHC) as surfactant. The samples were characterized by XRD, nitrogen adsorption isotherm, SEM, TEM, and selected area electron diffraction (SAED), respectively. The 95 mol% TiO₂-5 mol% CeO₂ system yielded single anatase phase, however, further addition of the CeO₂ formed cubic CeO₂ structure while anatase TiO₂ decreased. Additions of 5 and 10 mol% CeO₂ increased the surface area, but those of 25, 50, and 75 mol% CeO₂ did not affect it very much. By using this mixed metal oxides system, TiO₂ can be modified to respond to the visible wavelength. The mixed metal oxides had catalytic activity (evaluating the formation rate of I₃⁻) about 2-3 times higher than pure CeO₂, while nanosize anatase type TiO₂ materials had no catalytic activity under visible light. The catalytic activity was almost proportional to the specific surface area. The formation rate of I₃⁻ was much improved by changing the calcination temperature and calcination period. Highest catalytic activity in this study was obtained for the 50 mol% TiO₂-50 mol% CeO₂ nanopowders calcined at 250 °C for 24 h.     

Efficient Stille cross-coupling reaction catalyzed by the Pd(OAc)2/Dabco catalytic system

[reaction: see text] An efficient Pd(OAc)2/Dabco-catalyzed Stille cross-coupling reaction procedure has been developed. In the presence of Pd(OAc)2 and Dabco (triethylenediamine), various aryl halides including aryl iodides, aryl bromides, and activated aryl chlorides were coupled efficiently with organotin compounds to afford the corresponding biaryls, alkene, and alkynes in good to excellent yields. Furthermore, high TONs [turnover numbers, up to 980,000 TONs for the coupling reaction of 1-bromo-4-nitrobenzene and furan-2-yltributyltin] for the Stille cross-coupling reaction were observed.     

Mixed conductivity, structural and microstructural characterization of titania-doped yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline/titania-doped yttria stabilized zirconia composite anode matrices

Taking advantage of the fact that TiO₂ additions to 8YSZ cause not only the formation of a titania-doped YSZ solid solution but also a titania-doped YTZP solid solution, composite materials based on both solutions were prepared by solid state reaction. In particular, additions of 15 mol% of TiO₂ give rise to composite materials constituted by 0.51 mol fraction titania-doped yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline and 0.49 mol fraction titania-doped yttria stabilized zirconia (0.51TiYTZP/0.49TiYSZ). Furthermore, Y₂(Ti_1−yZr_y)₂O₇ pyrochlore is present as an impurity phase with y close to 1, according to FT-Raman results. Lower and higher additions of titania than that of 15 mol%, i.e., x=0, 5, 10, 20, 25 and 30 mol% were considered to study the evolution of 8YSZ phase as a function of the TiO₂ content. Furthermore, zirconium titanate phase (ZrTiO₄) is detected when the titania content is equal or higher than 20 mol% and this phase admits Y₂O₃ in solid solution according to FE-SEM-EDX.The 0.51TiYTZP/0.49TiYSZ duplex material was selected in this study to establish the mechanism of its electronic conduction under low oxygen partial pressures. In the pO₂ range from 0.21 to 10^−7.5 atm. the conductivity is predominantly ionic and constant over the range and its value is 0.01 S/cm. The ionic plus electronic conductivity is 0.02 S/cm at 1000 °C and 10^−12.3 atm. Furthermore, the onset of electronic conductivity under reducing conditions exhibits a −1/4 pO₂ dependence. Therefore, it is concluded that the n-type electronic conduction in the duplex material can be due to a small polaron-hopping between Ti³⁺ and Ti⁴⁺.     

Synthesis of [carbonyl-C]acetophenone via the Stille cross-coupling reaction of [1-C]acetyl chloride with tributylphenylstannane mediated by Pd2(dba)3/P(MeNCH2CH2)3N·HCl

The Stille cross-coupling reaction of [1-¹¹C]acetyl chloride with tributylphenylstannane leading to [carbonyl-¹¹C]acetophenone was studied with the goal of developing a new ¹¹C-labeling method for positron emission tomography tracer synthesis. The coupled product [carbonyl-¹¹C]acetophenone was synthesized using the Pd₂(dba)₃/P(MeNCH₂CH₂)₃N·HCl system with a 60-61% radiochemical conversion from [1-¹¹C]acetyl chloride (decay-corrected, n = 3).     

Fe(Cp)2PF6: An efficient catalyst for cyanosilylation of carbonyl compounds under solvent free condition

An efficient method for the addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide (TMSCN) to various aldehydes and ketones has been described using Fe(Cp)₂PF₆ (2.5 mol%) as a catalyst under solvent free condition. Excellent yields of trimethylsilylether of cyanohydrin up to (94%) was achieved within 10 min.     

Selective enhancement effects of silver salts on the transition metal-catalyzed synthesis of gem-difluorinated heterocyclics using 2,2-difluorohomopropargyl amides

The addition of silver salts had an effect on the catalyst activity in the Pd(0)-catalyzed cyclization-coupling tandem reaction, as well as in the Rh(I)-catalyzed Pauson-Khand reaction. The cationic palladium complex generated from Pd(PPh₃)₄ (2.5 mol%) with AgSbF₆ (1.5 equiv.) activates the triple bond of 2,2-difluoropropargylic amides to give the 4,5-disubstituted 3,3-difluoro-γ-lactams, through a sequential 5-endo-dig cyclization and cross-coupling reaction. The γ-lactam was transformed into ring-opened monofluorovinylic compounds after silica-gel chromatography. Pauson-Khand reaction of fluorinated 1,7-enyne amides using catalytic amounts of [Rh(COD)₂]₂ (5 mol%) and AgOTf (20 mol%) gave the corresponding gem-difluorinated bicyclic lactam.     

Potentiometric sensor using sub-micron Cu2O-doped RuO2 sensing electrode with improved antifouling resistance

A Cu₂O-doped RuO₂ sensing electrode (SE) for potentiometric detection of dissolved oxygen (DO) was prepared and its structure and electrochemical properties were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) techniques. Cu₂O-RuO₂-SE displayed a linear DO response from 0.5 to 8.0 ppm (log[O₂], −4.73 to −3.59) within a temperature range of 9-30 °C. The maximum sensitivity of −47.4 mV/decade at 7.27 pH was achieved at 10 mol% Cu₂O. Experimental evaluation of the Cu₂O-doped RuO₂-SE demonstrated that the doping of RuO₂ not only improves its structure but also enhances both sensor's selectivity and antifouling properties. Selectivity measurements revealed that 10 mol% Cu₂O-doped RuO₂-SE is insensitive to the presence of Na⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, NO₃⁻, PO₄²⁻ and SO₄²⁻ ions in the solution in the concentration range of 10⁻⁷-10⁻¹ mol/l.     

Synthesis of nano-sized crystalline oxide ion conducting fluorite-type Y2O3-doped CeO2 using perovskite-like BaCe0.9Y0.1O2.95 (BCY) and study of CO2 capture properties of BCY

Formation of nano-sized Y₂O₃-doped CeO₂ (YCO) was observed in the chemical reaction between proton conducting Y₂O₃-doped BaCeO₃ (BCY) and CO₂ in the temperature range 700-1000 °C, which is generally prepared by wet-chemical methods that include sol-gel, hydrothermal, polymerization, combustion, and precipitation reactions. BCY can capture CO₂ of 0.13 g per ceramic gram at 700 °C, which is comparable to that of the well-known Li₂ZrO₃ (0.15 g per ceramic gram at 600 °C). Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), laser particle size analysis (LPSA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and ac impedance spectroscopy were employed to characterize the reaction product obtained from reaction between BCY and CO₂ and subsequent acid washing. PXRD study reveals presence of fluorite-like CeO₂ (a=5.410 (1) Å) structure and BaCO₃ in reaction products. TEM investigation of the acid washed product showed the formation of nano-sized material with particle sizes of about 50 nm. The electrical conductivity of acid washed product (YCO) in air was found to be about an order higher than the undoped CeO₂ reported in the literature.     

A new promising phosphor, Na3La2(BO3)3:Ln (Ln=Eu, Tb)

We present an efficient way to search a host for ultraviolet (UV) phosphor from UV nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. With the guidance, Na₃La₂(BO₃)₃ (NLBO), as a promising NLO material with a broad transparency range and high damage threshold, was adopted as a host material for the first time. The lanthanide ions (Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺)-doped NLBO phosphors have been synthesized by solid-state reaction. Luminescent properties of the Ln-doped (Ln=Tb³⁺, Eu³⁺) sodium lanthanum borate were investigated under UV ray excitation. The emission spectrum was employed to probe the local environments of Eu³⁺ ions in NLBO crystal. For red phosphor, NLBO:Eu, the measured dominating emission peak was at 613 nm, which is attributed to ⁵D₀-⁷F₂ transition of Eu³⁺. The luminescence indicates that the local symmetry of Eu³⁺ in NLBO crystal lattice has no inversion center. Optimum Eu³⁺ concentration of NLBO:Eu³⁺ under UV excitation with 395 nm wavelength is about 30 mol%. The green phosphor, NLBO:Tb, showed bright green emission at 543 with 252 nm excited light. The measured concentration quenching curve demonstrated that the maximum concentration of Tb³⁺ in NLBO was about 20%. The luminescence mechanism of Ln-doped NLBO (Tb³⁺ and Eu³⁺) was analyzed. The relative high quenching concentration was also discussed.     

Synthesis of diarylmethane derivatives from Stille cross-coupling reactions of benzylic halides

A catalyst precursor prepared in situ from palladium acetate and a phosphine ligand was used for the Stille cross-coupling reaction of benzylic bromides and chlorides with aryltributyltin analogues. The reactions were performed at 80 °C using dppf as ligand in the presence of KF, or more conveniently using PPh₃ in the absence of base, furnishing diarylmethane derivatives in high yields (86-99%). Using Pd(OAc)₂/PPh₃ as catalyst precursor competitive Stille and Suzuki cross-coupling reactions with benzyl chloride showed that in the absence of base or in the presence of KF the Stille product is the majority product, and only the Suzuki product was obtained in the presence of KOH as base.     

Theoretical study on the reaction mechanism of CH4 with CaO

The reaction pathways and energetics for the reaction of methane with CaO are discussed on the singlet spin state potential energy surface at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2df,2p) and QCISD/6-311++G(3df,3pd)//B3LYP/6-311+G(2df,2p) levels of theory. The reaction of methane with CaO is proposed to proceed in the following reaction pathways: CaO + CH₄ → CaOCH₄ → [TS] → CaOH + CH₃, CaO + CH₄ → OCaCH₄ → [TS] → HOCaCH₃ → CaOH + CH₃ or [TS] → CaCH₃OH → Ca + CH₃OH, and OCaCH₄ → [TS] → HCaOCH₃ → CaOCH₃ + H or [TS] → CaCH₃OH → Ca + CH₃OH. The gas-phase methane–methanol conversion by CaO is suggested to proceed via two kinds of important reaction intermediates, HOCaCH₃ and HCaOCH₃, and the reaction pathway via the hydroxy intermediate (HOCaCH₃) is energetically more favorable than the other one via the methoxy intermediate (HCaOCH₃). The hydroxy intermediate HOCaCH₃ is predicted to be the energetically most preferred configuration in the reaction of CaO + CH₄. Meanwhile, these three product channels (CaOH + CH₃, CaOCH₃ + H and Ca + CH₃OH) are expected to compete with each other, and the formation of methyl radical is the most preferable pathway energetically. On the other hand, the intermediates HCaOCH₃ and HOCaCH₃ are predicted to be the energetically preferred configuration in the reaction of Ca + CH₃OH, which is precisely the reverse reaction of methane hydroxylation.     

Pd(OAc)2-catalyzed cross-coupling of polyfluoroarenes with simple aromatics in imidazolium ionic liquids (ILs) without oxidant and additive and with recycling/reuse of the IL

Polyfluoroarenes can be cross-coupled with simple aromatics (benzene, toluene, and anisole), in good isolated yields, by using Pd(OAc)₂ dissolved in imidazolium ILs [(bmim)PF₆ and (bmim)BF₄] as solvent, without the need for an oxidant and an additive. The reaction is catalyzed by HOAc and it is subject to a primary isotope effect (K_H/K_D = 4.87). Competitive cross-coupling reactions of 1,2,4,5-tetrafluorobenzene with benzene/toluene, benzene/anisole, and anisole/toluene gave K_B/K_T = 5.1, K_B/K_A = 5.7, and K_A/K_T = 5.0, respectively, indicative of a remote substituent effect on Pd insertion into the phenyl C-H bond. Mild reaction conditions, simple product isolation and recycling/reuse of the IL are additional advantages of this method.     

Preparation of a new pyrochlore-type compound Na0.32Bi1.68Ti2O6.46(OH)0.44 by hydrothermal reaction

A new pyrochlore-type Na_0.32Bi_1.68Ti₂O_6.46(OH)_0.44 with the cubic cell of a=10.339(5) Å was prepared by hydrothermal reaction using TiO₂ (anatase) and Bi₂O₃ in NaOH solution. This compound was obtained when the molar ratio of NaOH/TiO₂ was above 2 and the reaction temperature was above 240 °C. The TG-curve of as-prepared sample showed a mass loss of 0.8 mass% which was caused by release of OH group. This compound decomposed to a pyrochlore-type compound and a layered-type Na_0.5Bi_4.5Ti₄O₁₅ above 800 °C. The optical band gap of Na_0.32Bi_1.68Ti₂O_6.46(OH)_0.44 was estimated to be 2.5 eV.     

Synthesis, heat capacity and enthalpy of formation of [Ho2(l-Glu)2(H2O)8](ClO4)4·H2O

A complex of holmium perchlorate coordinated with l-glutamic acid, [Ho₂(l-Glu)₂(H₂O)₈](ClO₄)₄·H₂O, was prepared with a purity of 98.96%. The compound was characterized by chemical, elemental and thermal analysis. Heat capacities of the compound were determined by automated adiabatic calorimetry from 78 to 370 K. The dehydration temperature is 350 K. The dehydration enthalpy and entropy are 16.34 kJ mol⁻¹ and 16.67 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The standard enthalpy of formation is −6474.6 kJ mol⁻¹ from reaction calorimetry at 298.15 K.     

K2Mo4O13 phases prepared by hydrothermal synthesis

Hydrothermal synthesis in the K-Mo oxide system was investigated as a function of the pH of the reaction medium. Four compounds were formed, including two K₂Mo₄O₁₃ phases. One is a new low-temperature polymorph, which crystallizes in the orthorhombic, space group Pbca, with Z=8 and unit cell dimensions a=7.544(1) Å, b=15.394(2) Å, c=18.568(3) Å. The other is the known triclinic K₂Mo₄O₁₃, whose structure was re-determined from single crystal data; its cell parameters were determined as a=7.976(2) Å, b=8.345(2) Å, c=10.017(2) Å, α=107.104(3)°, β=102.885(3)°, γ=109.760(3)°, which are the standard settings of the crystal lattice. The orthorhombic phase converts endothermically into triclinic phase at ca. 730 K with a heat of transition of 8.31 kJ/mol.     

Calorimetric study and thermal analysis of [Gd4/3Y2/3(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O and [ErY(Gly)6(H2O)4](ClO4)6·5H2O (Gly: glycin)

Two solid-state coordination compounds of rare earth metals with glycin, [Gd_4/3Y_2/3(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O and [ErY(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O were synthesized. The low-temperature heat capacities of the two coordination compounds were measured with an adiabatic calorimeter over the temperature range from 78 to 376 K. [Gd_4/3Y_2/3(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O melted at 342.90 K, while [ErY(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O melted at 328.79 K. The molar enthalpy and entropy of fusion for the two coordination compounds were determined to be 18.48 kJ mol⁻¹ and 53.9 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for [Gd_4/3Y_2/3(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O, 1.82 kJ mol⁻¹ and 5.5 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for [ErY(Gly)₆(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₆·5H₂O, respectively. Thermal decompositions of the two coordination compounds were studied through the thermogravimetry (TG). Possible mechanisms of the decompositions are discussed.     

One-pot synthesis of difluoromethyl-containing dihydropyrimidinones catalyzed by Yb(PFO)3 under solvent and dehydrating agent free conditions

The difluoromethyl-containing Biginelli dihydropyrimidinone derivatives were synthesized by a one-pot cyclocondensation of ethyl 4,4-difluoroacetoacetate, urea, and a variety of aldehydes in the presence of 5 mol% ytterbium perfluorooctanoate [Yb(PFO)₃] under solvent and dehydrating agent free conditions. The comparison of reaction conditions and products was made among the different 1,3-dicarbonyl substrates (ethyl acetoacetate, ethyl 4,4-difluoroacetoacetate and ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoroacetoacetate) for the Biginelli reaction.     

The DFT and ab initio investigations on the mechanism of CF3O2 + H reaction

The mechanisms for the reaction of CF₃O₂ with atomic hydrogen were studied with ab initio and DFT methods. The results reveal that the reaction could take place on the singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces (PES). For the singlet PES, addition/elimination and substitution mechanisms are determined, and the former one is dominant. The most favorable channel involves the association of CF₃O₂ with H atom to form CF₃O₂H (IM1) via a barrierless process, and then the O–O bond dissociates to give out CF₃O + OH. The secondary product might be CF₃OH + O, formed from the O–O bond cleavage in the initial adduct CF₃O(H)O (IM2). Other products such as CF₃ + O₂H, HF + CF₂O₂ and O₂ + CHF₃ are of no importances because of higher barriers. On the triplet PES, only substitution mechanism is located. With higher barriers involving, the channels on the triplet PES could be negligible compared with the channels on the singlet PES.     

Crystal growth, structure determination, and optical properties of new potassium-rare-earth silicates K3RESi2O7 (RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu)

Single crystals of K₃RESi₂O₇ (RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) were grown from a potassium fluoride flux. Two different structure types were found for this series. Silicates containing the larger rare earths, RE=Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb crystallize in a structure K₃RESi₂O₇ that contains the rare-earth cation in both a slightly distorted octahedral and an ideal trigonal prismatic coordination environment, while in K₃LuSi₂O₇, containing the smallest of the rare earths, lutetium is found solely in an octahedral coordination environment. The structure of K₃LuSi₂O₇ crystallizes in space group P6₃/mmc with a=5.71160(10) Å and c=13.8883(6) Å. The structures containing the remaining rare earths crystallize in the space group P6₃/mcm with the lattice parameters of a=9.9359(2) Å, c=14.4295(4) Å, (K₃GdSi₂O₇); a=9.88730(10) Å, c=14.3856(3) Å, (K₃TbSi₂O₇); a=9.8673(2) Å, c=14.3572(4) Å, (K₃DySi₂O₇); a=9.8408(3) Å, c=14.3206(6) Å, (K₃HoSi₂O₇); a=9.82120(10) Å, c=14.2986(2) Å, (K₃ErSi₂O₇); a=9.80200(10) Å, c=14.2863(4) Å, (K₃TmSi₂O₇); a=9.78190(10) Å, c=14.2401(3) Å, (K₃YbSi₂O₇). The optical properties of the silicates were investigated and K₃TbSi₂O₇ was found to fluoresce in the visible.