In(OTf)3 catalyzed reductive etherification of 2-aryloxybenzaldehydes and 2-(arylthio)benzaldehydes

2-Aryloxybenzaldehydes and 2-(arylthio)benzaldehydes undergo reductive etherification in presence of 5 mol% In(OTf)₃ and stoichiometric amount of Et₃SiH under solvent free conditions to generate novel symmetrical dibenzyl ethers and thioethers in excellent yields. In(OTf)₃ is found to be superior in terms of catalytic activity over the other metal triflates tested for the reaction. Xanthenes and thioxanthenes, as anticipated, could not be obtained under these conditions.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 1,4-disubstituted 3-methylidenedihydroquinolin-2(1H)-ones

A series of enantiomerically pure or highly enriched (R)- or (S)-3-methylidenetetrahydroquinolin-2-ones was readily prepared by highly diastereoselective Michael additions of various Grignard reagents to quinolin-2(1H)-ones, containing an (R,R)- or (S,S)-di(1-phenylethylamino)phosphoryl group as chiral auxiliary, followed by Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination of formaldehyde. An efficient synthesis of the starting (R,R)- and (S,S)-3-({di[(1-phenylethyl)amino]}phosphoryl)-1-alkyl-quinolin-2(1H)-ones is also described. The relative and absolute configurations of the intermediate adducts and final methylidenequinolinones were established by NMR and X-ray analysis.     

Interface-controlled synthesis of CeO2(111) and CeO2(100) and their structural transition on Pt(111)

Ceria-based catalytic materials are known for their crystal-face-dependent catalytic properties. To obtain a molecular-level understanding of their surface chemistry, controlled synthesis of ceria with well-defined surface structures is required. We have thus studied the growth of CeO_x nanostructures (NSs) and thin films on Pt(111). The strong metal-oxide interaction has often been invoked to explain catalytic processes over the Pt/CeO_x catalysts. However, the Pt-CeO_x interaction has not been understood at the atomic level. We show here that the interfacial interaction between Pt and ceria could indeed affect the surface structures of ceria, which could subsequently determine their catalytic chemistry. While ceria on Pt(111) typically exposes the CeO₂(111) surface, we found that the structures of ceria layers with a thickness of three layers or less are highly dynamic and dependent on the annealing temperatures, owing to the electronic interaction between Pt and CeO_x. A two-step kinetically limited growth procedure was used to prepare the ceria film that fully covers the Pt(111) substrate. For a ceria film of ~3–4 monolayer (ML) thickness on Pt(111), annealing in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) at 1000 K results in a surface of CeO₂ (100), stabilized by a c-Ce₂O₃(100) buffer layer. Further oxidation at 900 K transforms the surface of the CeO₂(100) thin film into a hexagonal CeO₂(111) surface.     

An efficient ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of ethyl-5-(aryl)-2-(2-alkokxy-2-oxoethylidene)-7-methyl-3-oxo-3, 5-dihydro-2H-thiazolo [3, 2-a] pyrimidine-6-carboxylate derivatives

Dihydropyrimidinone derivatives were prepared by tri-component reaction of ethyl aceto acetate, aldehydes and thiourea in the presence of modified montmorillonite nanostructure as a catalyst and used as key intermediates for the synthesis of ethyl-5-(aryl)-2-(2-alkokxy-2-oxoethylidene)-7-methyl-3-oxo-3,5-dihydro-2H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyri midine-6-carboxylate derivatives with use of diethyl and dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate by two methods: (a) in methanol as a solvent under ultrasonic irradiation at ambient temperature (b) in methanol as a solvent at ambient temperature (conventional magnetic stirring). Ultrasound-assisted synthesis provides excellent yields in short reaction times (15–25 min) at room temperature.     

Synthesis of (R)- and (S)-isomers of 2-methylspermidine

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Copper(I) halide-promoted formation of 3-acyl-5-halopyridine moiety from NH-2-(2-acylethynyl)pyrroles and propargylamine

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2-(5-Arylterphenyl-4-yl)quinolines from 2-methylquinoline and 1-(het)aryl-3-phenylprop-2-yn-1-ones in just a one step: A miracle of molecular interplay

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Chiral inducers with (1R,2R)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane core for organo- and metallocatalysis

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Effective synthesis of non-racemic prenalterol based on spontaneous resolution of 3-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propane-1,2-diol

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Synthesis of 2-(polyfluoromethyl)pyrimido-[1,2-a]benzimidazole-4-carbaldehyde derivatives

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Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of 5-(2-(4-(substituted benzo[d]isoxazol-3-yl)piperazin-1-yl)acetyl)indolin-2-one and 5-(2-(4-substitutedpiperazin-1-yl)acetyl)indolin-2-one analogues as novel anti-tubercular agents

A series of thirty-six novel 5-(2-(4-(benzo[d]isoxazol-3-yl)piperazin-1-yl)acetyl)indolin-2-one and 5-(2-(4-substitutedpiperazin-1-yl)acetyl)indolin-2-one analogues were synthesized, characterized and screened for their in vitro anti-tubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain. These compounds exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration between 1.56 and 50 μg/mL. Among these derivatives, compounds 10c, 10d, 10j, 10o and 10v (MIC 6.25 μg/mL) displayed moderate activity, while compounds 10e, 10l, 10q, 10w,10x, 12d, 12e and 12i (MIC 3.12 μg/mL) showed good anti-tubercular activity and compounds 10f, 10k, 10p, 10r, 12f, 12j and 12k (MIC 1.56 μg/mL) exhibited excellent anti-tubercular activity. In addition, MTT assay was accomplished on the active analogues of the series against mouse macrophage (RAW 264.7) cells to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the newly synthesized compounds and selectivity index of the compounds was determined.     

Copper(II) complexes of 2-(pyridine-2-yl)imidazolidine-4-thione derivatives for asymmetric Henry reactions

The preparation of a new series of 2-(pyridine-2-yl)imidazolidine-4-thione derivatives is described. Their corresponding copper(II) complexes were found to be highly enantioselective catalysts for asymmetric Henry reactions (up to 98% ee). Immobilization of these complexes by anchoring onto Merrifield? resin with respect to their use as recyclable catalysts was subsequently performed. The heterogeneous catalysts prepared in this way were tested in the asymmetric Henry reactions and showed high catalytic activity; they can be easily recycled, although their enantioselectivities were only moderate (～50% ee).     

Nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen–the Boger reaction sequence as an approach towards 8-(pyridin-2-yl)coumarins

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Integrating non-precious-metal cocatalyst Ni3N with g-C3N4 for enhanced photocatalytic H2 production in water under visible-light irradiation

Photocatalytic H₂ production via water splitting in a noble-metal-free photocatalytic system has attracted much attention in recent years. In this study, noble-metal-free Ni₃N was used as an active cocatalyst to enhance the activity of g-C₃N₄ for photocatalytic H₂ production under visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). The characterization results indicated that Ni₃N nanoparticles were successfully loaded onto the g-C₃N₄, which accelerated the separation and transfer of photogenerated electrons and resulted in enhanced photocatalytic H₂ evolution under visible-light irradiation. The hydrogen evolution rate reached ～305.4 μmol h^?1 g^?1, which is about three times higher than that of pristine g-C₃N₄, and the apparent quantum yield (AQY) was ～0.45% at λ = 420. Furthermore, the Ni₃N/g-C₃N₄ photocatalyst showed no obvious decrease in the hydrogen production rate, even after five cycles under visible-light irradiation. Finally, a possible photocatalytic hydrogen evolution mechanism for the Ni₃N/g-C₃N₄ system is proposed.     

Synthesis of novel MnOx@TiO2 core-shell nanorod catalyst for low-temperature NH3-selective catalytic reduction of NOx with enhanced SO2 tolerance

In this study, a MnO_x@TiO₂ core-shell catalyst prepared by a two-step method was used for the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO_x with NH₃. The catalyst exhibits high activity, high stability, and excellent N₂ selectivity. Furthermore, it displays better SO₂ and H₂O tolerance than its MnO_x, TiO₂, and MnO_x/TiO₂ counterparts. The prepared catalyst was characterized systematically by transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman, BET, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, NH₃ temperature-programmed desorption and H₂ temperature-programmed reduction analyses. The optimized MnO_x@TiO₂ catalyst exhibits an obvious core-shell structure, where the TiO₂ shell is evenly distributed over the MnO_x nanorod core. The catalyst also presents abundant mesopores, Lewis-acid sites, and high redox capability, all of which enhance its catalytic performance. According to the XPS results, the decrease in the number of Mn⁴⁺ active centers after SO₂ poisoning is significantly lower in MnO_x@TiO₂ than in MnO_x/TiO₂. The core-shell structure is hence able to protect the catalytic active sites from H₂O and SO₂ poisoning.     

Ho改性的Mn-Ce/TiO2催化剂低温脱硝性能的评价和表征

作为引起酸雨、光化学烟雾、雾霾等大气污染问题的主要根源,氮氧化物(NOx)的防治已成为亟待解决的问题.选择性催化还原技术作为最成熟有效的脱硝技术,目前已经被广泛应用于各燃煤电厂.低温脱硝催化剂具有优秀的低温活性,使得脱硝装置可以安放在脱硫装置和除尘装置下游,受到了学者广泛的研究.目前低温脱硝催化剂的研究主要是对催化剂进行改性以提高催化剂的性能,已有许多研究报道了Sn、Ni、Co、Zr、Cr、Ni等对催化剂的改性影响.Ho作为一种改性元素被应用于光催化领域,能提高TiO2的光催化能力.但Ho应用于脱硝领域的研究鲜有报道,其氧化物具有酸性位点有助于脱硝反应,因此研究Ho对低温SCR催化剂的改性作用具有重要意义.本文采用浸渍法制备Ho掺杂的Mn-Ce/TiO2催化剂,研究了Ho的掺杂对于Mn-Ce/TiO2催化剂低温脱硝性能的影响,同时还研究了烟气中的SO2和H2O对催化剂活性的影响,并利用XPS、XRD、H2-TPR、NH3-TPD等表征方法从物理性质和化学性质两方面对Ho改性的影响机理进行了研究.研究发现,Ho的掺杂能提高Mn-Ce/TiO2催化剂的脱硝能力,有助于催化剂N2选择性的提高.分析表明,Ho的掺杂有助于催化剂比表面积的提升,且能提高催化剂的酸性,有利于催化剂对NH3的吸附,从而提高催化剂的性能.XPS表征结果表明Ho掺杂后的催化剂具有更高的化学吸附氧浓度和较高的Mn4+/Mn3+比例, 使得脱硝反应更容易进行.改性后催化剂的抗水抗硫实验结果表明,Ho的掺杂能够提高催化剂的抗水抗硫性能.XRD结果表明,抗水抗硫实验后催化剂表面形成了硫酸铵盐,硫酸铵盐的形成会堵塞催化剂表面的活性位,限制脱硝反应的进行,从而影响催化剂的脱硝活性.同时,400°C下进行再生实验后的催化剂活性有所恢复,但是未能达到抗水抗硫实验前的活性,表明在抗水抗硫实验中催化剂表面形成了除硫酸铵盐以外的其他硫酸盐类.结合XPS和XRD表征结果,推断生成的盐类物质为硫酸锰和硫酸铈,从而导致再生后的催化剂的脱硝活性无法恢复到最初的活性水平.由此可以看出,硫酸盐的形成是催化剂在含硫气氛中失活的主要原因.     

Amidation of carboxylic acids via the mixed carbonic carboxylic anhydrides and its application to synthesis of antidepressant (1S,2R)-tranylcypromine

Primary amidations of carboxylic acids 1 or 3 with NH₄Cl in the presence of ClCO₂Et and Et₃N were developed to afford the corresponding primary amides in 22% to quantitative yields. Additionally, we have applied the amidation to the preparation of various amides containing hydroxamic acids and achieved the synthesis of (1S,2R)-tranylcypromine as an antidepressant medicine via Lossen rearrangement.     

A ceric ammonium nitrate based oxidative cleavage pathway for the asymmetric aldol adducts of oxadiazinones derived from (1R,2S)-N-p-methoxybenzylnorephedrine

An N₄-p-methoxybenzyloxadiazinone has been prepared from (1R,2S)-norephedrine through a process of reductive amination, N-nitrosation, reduction, and cyclization. The oxadiazinone was acylated and employed in the asymmetric aldol addition reaction with aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes to yield aldol adducts in isolated yields ranging from 54% to 90%. Selected aldol adducts were treated with ceric ammonium nitrate in aqueous acetonitrile to afford the desired β-hydroxycarboxylic acids through a tandem process of oxidative cleavage of the N₄-p-methoxybenzyl group and acidic hydrolysis of the N₃-acyl side chain. The β-hydroxycarboxylic acids were recovered in high diastereomeric purity as determined by 500 MHz ¹H NMR spectroscopy and the absolute configuration was confirmed by polarimetry. The chiral auxiliary unit, the 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2H-1,3,4-oxadiazin-2-one (oxadiazinone), was converted into its corresponding 3,6-dihydro-2H-1,3,4-oxadiazin-2-one (oxadiazinone) through an oxidative pathway promoted by the ceric ammonium nitrate.     

Convenient synthesis of 2-(methylsulfonyl)pyrimidine derivatives

An efficient and convenient approach for the preparation of functionalized 2-(methylsulfonyl)pyrimidine derivatives has been developed through cyclic condensation of malonate derivatives with S-methylisothiouronium sulfate followed by derivation and oxidation in water–acetone mixture using oxone as the oxidant. This synthetic strategy provides an efficient and environmentally friendly approach for easy access to 2-(methylsulfonyl)pyrimidine derivatives with considerable yields.     

Ni nanoparticles as electron-transfer mediators and NiSx as interfacial active sites for coordinative enhancement of H2-evolution performance of TiO2

The development of efficient photocatalytic H₂-evolution materials requires both rapid electron transfer and an effective interfacial catalysis reaction for H₂ production. In addition to the well-known noble metals, low-cost and earth-abundant non-noble metals can also act as electron-transfer mediators to modify photocatalysts. However, as almost all non-noble metals lack the interfacial catalytic active sites required for the H₂-evolution reaction, the enhancement of the photocatalytic performance is limited. Therefore, the development of new interfacial active sites on metal-modified photocatalysts is of considerable importance. In this study, to enhance the photocatalytic evolution of H₂ by Ni-modified TiO₂, the formation of NiS_x as interfacial active sites was promoted on the surface of Ni nanoparticles. Specifically, the co-modified TiO₂/Ni-NiS_x photocatalysts were prepared via a two-step process involving the photoinduced deposition of Ni on the TiO₂ surface and the subsequent formation of NiS_x on the Ni surface by a hydrothermal reaction method. It was found that the TiO₂/Ni-NiS_x photocatalysts exhibited enhanced photocatalytic H₂-evolution activity. In particular, TiO₂/Ni-NiS_x(30%) showed the highest photocatalytic rate (223.74 μmol h^?1), which was greater than those of TiO₂, TiO₂/Ni, and TiO₂/NiS_x by factors of 22.2, 8.0, and 2.2, respectively. The improved H₂-evolution performance of TiO₂/Ni-NiS_x could be attributed to the excellent synergistic effect of Ni and NiS_x, where Ni nanoparticles function as effective mediators to transfer electrons from the TiO₂ surface and NiS_x serves as interfacial active sites to capture H⁺ ions from solution and promote the interfacial H₂-evolution reaction. The synergistic effect of the non-noble metal cocatalyst and the interfacial active sites may provide new insights for the design of highly efficient photocatalytic materials.