A highly efficient cathode catalyst γ-MnO_2@CNT composite for sodium-air batteries

The γ-MnO_2@CNT catalyst was prepared by in situ solid phase synthesis and first applied into sodium-air batteries(SABs). The initial discharge specific capacity of SABs with γ-MnO_2@CNT catalyst can reach 8804 mA h g~(-1) and the overpotential gap is only 140 m V, which is better than the batteries that is catalyzed by α-MnO_2@CNT and pure CNT. Besides, the batteries also exhibit excellent cycle performance, which can keep relatively stable for 246 cycles at 500 mA g~(-1) and 140 cycles at1000 mA g~(-1).     

Magnesium perchlorate as efficient Lewis acid for the Knoevenagel condensation between β-diketones and aldehydes

A new protocol for the Knoevenagel condensation between β-diketones and aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes promoted by Mg(ClO₄)₂ under mild conditions is reported.     

A γ-cyclodextrin thiazolium salt holoenzyme mimic for the benzoin condensation

Several thiazolium salts have been attached to a C-6 carbon of γ-cyclodextrin. They catalyze the benzoin condensation of benzaldehyde very effectively.     

A highly efficient memantine-modified palladium catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction

A new simple Pd(memantine)₂Cl₂ complex was synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and X-ray single crystal structure determination. The Suzuki–Miyaura reaction of aryl bromides catalyzed by Pd(memantine)₂Cl₂ complex was investigated in air with different temperature. The high turnover numbers of 650,000 have been obtained in the reaction of 4-bromonitrobenzene with phenylboronic acid at 80 °C. At room temperature, the complex also showed high activity for Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction of aryl bromides with a wide range of functional groups under air, and the turnover number of up to 99,000 was achieved. The catalytic system also gives good yields toward the reaction of several heteroaryl bromides with thiophenylboronic acid.     

A highly efficient bismuth salts-catalyzed route for the synthesis of α-aminophosphonates

A convenient synthesis of different types of α-amino phosphonates via one-pot solvent-free three component reactions of aldehydes, amines and phosphites catalyzed by bismuth salts has been investigated. Bismuth triflate is found to be the most effective catalyst for this reaction.     

A highly efficient stereoselective synthesis of β-lactams

An efficient strategy for a one-pot, single step synthesis of β-lactams employing an imidazolidinone based chiral auxiliary with various aldimines via asymmetric Mannich-type reaction has been described.     

Polyethylene glycol （PEG） as a benign solvent for Knoevenagel condensation

The Knoevenagel condensation of aromatic aldehydes with active methylene compound proceeded efficiently in polyethylene glycol at room temperature with L-proline as catalyst. The yield is high and the products had E-isomer dominantly. Polyethylene glycol containing L-proline could be recycled and reused for several times without noticeably decreasing in productivity.     

Guanine-La complex supported onto SBA-15: A novel efficient heterogeneous mesoporous nanocatalyst for one-pot,multi-component Tandem Knoevenagel condensation–Michael addition–cyclization Reactions

In this work, we present a simple, environmentally-friendly and economical route for the preparation of a novel lanthanum (III) organometallic complex immobilized onto a highly stable mesoporous silica SBA-15 (La-guanine@SBA-15) using an inexpensive and simple method and available materials. This mesoporous heterogenized complex was comprehensively characterized using FT-IR, XRD, EDS, ICP, MAP, SEM, TGA and BET techniques. The catalytic activity of this mesoporous material was studied in one-pot multi-component tandem Knoevenagel condensation–Michael addition–cyclization reactions in order to prepare a series of benzo [a] pyrano [2, 3-c] phenazine and 4,4′-(arylmethylene)-bis-(3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-ols) derivatives under green conditions. This catalyst exhibited highly recoverable and recyclable features in consecutive reaction runs. Besides, the products were obtained in high yields and short reaction times. In this sense, simple preparation of the catalyst from the commercially available materials, simple operation, high catalytic activity, short reaction times, high yields and the use of green reaction conditions in the mentioned organic synthesis are the most significant advantages of this protocol. In addition, this nanocatalyst was easily recovered, using simple filtration, and reused several times without significant loss of its catalytic efficiency. Moreover, the leaching, heterogeneity and stability of La-guanine@SBA-15 were studied by hot filtration test and ICP technique. Finally, stability of the catalyst after recycling was confirmed by SEM and FT-IR techniques.     

A highly efficient method for the resolution of 8,8′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl

The diastereomeric mixture of monoesters of racemic 8,8′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl and N-CBZ-l-proline was easily separated. Each diastereomer gave enantiomerically pure (R)- or (S)-8,8′-dihydroxy-1,1′-binaphthyl in good yields after hydrolysis.     

Knoevenagel condensation in aqueous media promoted by 2,2′-bipyridinium dihydrogen phosphate as a green efficient catalyst

Research on Chemical Intermediates - A 2,2′-Bipyridine-based ionic compound named 2,2′-bipyridinium dihydrogen phosphate was synthesized by addition of phosphoric acid to a solution of...     

Zirconium@guanine@MCM-41 nanoparticles: An efficient heterogeneous mesoporous nanocatalyst for one-pot,multi-component tandem Knoevenagel condensation–Michael addition–cyclization Reactions

MCM-41-supported nanoscale guanine bonded with Zr (IV) was prepared using sol–gel method and characterized by FT-IR, Raman, XRD, BET, TGA, EDX, ICP, AAS, X-Ray mapping, SEM and TEM techniques. This compound was employed as an efficient, chemoselectivity and green heterogeneous catalyst in order to prepare a series of benzo[a]benzo[6,7]chromeno[2,3-c]phenazine and spiro[benzo[a]benzo[6,7]chromeno[2,3-c] phenazine] derivatives by one-pot, four-component domino reaction from the 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, benzene-1,2-diamines, 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and carbonyl compounds in PEG, at 100 °C and, also, Bis (pyrazolyl) methane derivatives using aldehydes and 3-Methyl-1-phenyl-5-pyrazolone in ethanol under reflux condition. Results indicated that all products were synthesized in short reaction times and high yields in the ranges 78–99%. The Zr-guanine-MCM-41 can be recycled four runs without any significant loss of its catalytic activity. In addition, the stability of the catalyst was confirmed by metal leaching, heterogeneity tests, SEM and FT-IR techniques.     

A highly efficient TfOH-assisted alkylation of azaindoles with α-phenylethanols

A highly efficient TfOH-assisted alkylation reaction of azaindoles with α-phenylethanols was developed. Under the optimal reaction condition, the types of compounds α-methyl-benzyl azaindoles were obtained in 98% yield.     

An efficient Knoevenagel condensation of aldehydes with active methylene compounds over novel,robust CeZrO4−δ catalyst

Research on Chemical Intermediates - In the present work, we explored novel CeZrO4?δ as a catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation of aldehydes with reactive methylene compounds like...     

The efficient synthesis of carbon–carbon double bonds via Knoevenagel condensation using red mud packed in a column

Abstract

Red mud (RM) is generated as a by-product during the production of alumina from bauxite ore. In this study, RM packing in a column is used as a catalyst for carbon–carbon double bond formation via Knoevenagel condensation. The reactants are added to the top of the column and then eluted with solvent. The products are collected in high yields and short time. RM packed in a column eliminates a catalyst separation step from the reaction mixture in this work.     

How accurate is Poisson-Boltzmann theory for monovalent ions near highly charged interfaces?

Surface sensitive synchrotron X-ray scattering studies were performed to obtain the distribution of monovalent ions next to a highly charged interface. A lipid phosphate (dihexadecyl hydrogen-phosphate) was spread as a monolayer at the air-water interface to control surface charge density. Using anomalous reflectivity off and at the L3 Cs+ resonance, we provide spatial counterion (Cs+) distributions next to the negatively charged interfaces. Five decades in bulk concentrations are investigated, demonstrating that the interfacial distribution is strongly dependent on bulk concentration. We show that this is due to the strong binding constant of hydronium H3O+ to the phosphate group, leading to proton-transfer back to the phosphate group and to a reduced surface charge. The increase of Cs+ concentration modifies the contact value potential, thereby causing proton release. This process effectively modifies surface charge density and enables exploration of ion distributions as a function of effective surface charge-density. The experimentally obtained ion distributions are compared to distributions calculated by Poisson-Boltzmann theory accounting for the variation of surface charge density due to proton release and binding. We also discuss the accuracy of our experimental results in discriminating possible deviations from Poisson-Boltzmann theory.     

An efficient method for the preparation of benzyl γ-ketohexanoates

Twenty acid chlorides, 4-(mono/di-benzyloxy)-4-ketobutanoyl chlorides (Ia–XXa) were synthesised by the reaction of monoesters of succinic acid with thionyl chloride. The product thus obtained (4-benzyloxy-4-ketobutanoyl chlorides) was treated with diethylcadmium to convert it into the corresponding keto-esters (Ib–XXb), the mono/di-benzyl-γ-ketohexanoates, with a good yield. All the compounds thus prepared were characterised by physical, spectroscopic (UV-VIS, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR), and mass measurements techniques.     

A durable Ni/La-Y catalyst for efficient hydrogenation of γ-valerolactone into pentanoic biofuels

Zeolite-supported metal catalysts containing hydrogenation centers and acid sites are promising in the chemoselective hydrogenation of biomass platform molecules into value-added chemicals and fuels.The primary challenge of employing such bifunctional catalysts for biomass conversion lies in catalyst stability in the liquid phase under harsh conditions. Herein, we have prepared a Ni/La-Y nanocatalyst via an improved wet impregnation method. Compared with Ni nanoparticles on H-Y, La addition show...