Effect of the structure of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">ortho</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">meta</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">para</Emphasis> isomers of perhydroterphenyl on their reactivity in heterogeneous catalytic dehydrogenation

The kinetics of the dehydrogenation of the individual ortho, meta, and para isomers of perhydroterphenyl and their mixtures over a (3 wt % Pt)/C catalyst has been investigated in a flow reactor at 280–340°C. The rate of the isomerization of the stereoisomers of the initial substrate (perhydroterphenyl) and terphenyl dehydrogenation products has an effect on the hydrogen release kinetics. The highest reactivity in isomerization is shown by the ortho isomer. The largest amount of hydrogen (7.0 wt %) is released in the dehy-drogenation of perhydro-meta-terphenyl and perhydro-para-terphenyl, whose conversion at 320°C is 96%.     

Reversible hydrogenation—dehydrogenation reactions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">meta</Emphasis>-terphenyl on catalysts with various supports

For developing new composite systems (substrate—catalyst) for hydrogen storage, the activities of Pt and Pd catalysts on various supports were compared in reversible meta-terphenyl hydrogenation and perhydro-meta-terphenyl dehydrogenation. The microstructure of the catalysts was studied. Carbon-supported catalysts are more efficient in both reversible reactions than alumina-supported systems.     

Design of postmetallocene Schiff base-like catalytic systems for polymerization of olefins: XII. Synthesis of tetradentate bis-salicylaldehyde imine ligands

Reactions of salicylaldehyde, 3-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde, and 3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylaldehyde with 1,4-diaminobutane, 1,6-diaminohexane, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, 4,4′-diamino-3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyldiphenylmethane, 4,4′-diamino-5,5′-dicyclopentyl-3,3′-dimethyldiphenylmethane, 4,4′-diamino-5,5′-dicyclohexyl-3,3′-dimethyldiphenylmethane, bis(4-aminophenyl) sulfone, o,o′- and p,p′-diaminodiphenyl ethers, 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)benzene, 2,2-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]propane, and 4,4″-diamino-p-terphenyl gave a series of the corresponding Schiff bases which can be used as tetradentate ligands for the synthesis of titanium and zirconium complexes.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of hydrogen release during the heterogeneous catalytic dehydrogenation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-isomers of perhydro-m-terphenyl

Comparative studies on the temperature dependence of the dehydrogenation of cis- and trans-isomers of perhydro-m-terphenyl are performed in a flow catalytic reactor. Rate constants and equilibrium constants of all elementary acts of this reaction are calculated on basis of experimental data using the KINET 0.8 program for the mathematical modeling of the kinetics of complex reactions. The resulting data indicate that perhydro-m-terphenyl cis- and trans-isomers structural differences have no appreciable effect on dehydrogenation.     

Effect of donor and acceptor properties of solvents on the kinetics of photoreduction of sterically hindered <Emphasis Type="Italic">о</Emphasis>-benzoquinones

Effect of the solvent nature on the kinetics of photoreduction of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone and its six derivatives in the presence of N,N-dimethylaniline and 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)benzaldehyde has been investigated. It has been found that for the о-quinone—amine pair, for which the free energy change of electron transfer is ΔG_e > +0.11 eV, the rate constant of о-quinone photoreduction k_H decreases proportionally to the increase in the acceptor number of the solvent. For the о-quinone—amine pair with ΔG_e < +0.11 eV, the k_H value decreases proportionally to the increase in the donor number of the solvent. It has been established that the enhancement of the electron-acceptor properties of the solvent leads to the emergence of kinetic isotope effect for the reactant pairs of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone and 4,5-dimethoxy-3,6-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone with N,N-di-methylaniline (ΔG_e = +0.11 and +0.22 eV, respectively).     

Thermal Rearrangements of 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>- and 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-Pyrazoles Prepared by Reactions of 9-Diazofluoren with Methyl Tetrolate and Methyl 3-Phenylpropiolate

9-Diazofluoren adds in Et₂O at 20°C to methyltetrolate in keeping with Auwers rule and nonregioselectively adds to methyl-3-phenylpropiolate with the formation of spirocyclic 3H-pyrazoles. The methyltetrolate adduct at boiling in toluene converts into methyl 3a-methyl-3aH-dibenzo[e,g]indazole-3-carboxylate, at 190°C in benzene, into methyl 3-methyl-2H-dibenzo[e,g]indazole-2-carboxylate, and at 160°C in methanol, into 3-methyl-2H-dibenzo[e,g]indazole. Auwers adduct of methyl 3-phenylpropiolate at boiling in benzene gives cyclopropene derivative and at boiling in methanol isomerizes into methyl 3a-phenyl-3aHdibenzo[e,g]indazole-3-carboxylate. Anti-Auwers adduct at boiling in benzene isomerizes into methyl 2-phenylpyrazolo[1,5-f]phenanthridine-3-carboxylate.     

DMT [(−)-(2<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,3<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,4-diol], a highly efficient host compound for nitroaromatic guests: selectivity,X-ray and thermal analyses

In this work, we reveal that the compound (?)-(2R,3R)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,4-diol (DMT) is a highly efficient host material for nitroaromatics o-nitrotoluene (o-NT), m-nitrotoluene (m-NT), p-nitrotoluene (p-NT) and nitrobenzene (NB). Each of these guests was included with a 2:1 host:guest ratio. The host displayed selectivity for p-NT and NB when these guests were mixed in equimolar proportions with any one of the other guest solvents, and the host recrystallized from this binary mixture. A selectivity order for the host in these conditions was thus noted to be NB?≈?p-NT?>?o-NT?>?m-NT. Furthermore, guests were also mixed in non-equimolar proportions and the host behaviour analysed, the results of which were in accordance with observations from the equimolar studies. Additionally, an equimolar quaternary experiment of all four guests provided a somewhat adjusted host selectivity order [p-NT (39.9%)?>?NB (30.2%)?>?m-NT (17.1%)?>?o-NT (12.8%)]. Single crystal diffraction analyses of all four complexes showed the crystals to share the same host packing, and comparable host–guest interactions were observed in each. However, thermal analyses, both DSC and TG, showed that the preferred guests p-NT and NB formed complexes with increased relative thermal stabilities, and this observation correlated with the selective behaviour of the host in competition experiments.     

Fast Determination of Monocyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Ambient Air Using a Portable Gas Chromatography–Photoionization Detector

Many air sampling methods are time consuming and require complex pre-treatment steps. Gas chromatography–photoionization detector (GC–PID) is a rapid method for sampling and analysis. However, although it has been used in a number of studies, its operating conditions and performance parameters have not been optimized systematically. In this study, a GC–PID method for analysis of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in gas samples without pre-concentration or enrichment was developed and optimized. This GC–PID can perform both online and off-line analysis. In online analysis, the sample was pumped directly into a Teflon sample loop (pumped online injection), which resulted in minimal loss of sample. The optimum parameters were as follows: 30-s pumping time, 10 mL min^?1 of carrier gas flow rate, and 40 °C oven temperature. GC–PID was applied to analysis of benzene, toluene and xylene. The calibration curves showed good linearity for online analysis. The results obtained by GC–PID were accurate and reliable, with all the correlation coefficients ≥0.9972 and all the relative standard deviations <3%. A mixture of benzene, toluene, and o-, m-, and p-xylenes was separated satisfactorily in 10 min, except for m- and p-xylene. The performance of the portable GC–PID was compared with that of an ATD–GC–FID for quantification of benzene, toluene and xylene in calibration gas samples, and benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and the o-, m-, and p-xylenes in outdoor ambient air. The results indicated that GC–PID with pumped online injection was stable and accurate for analysis of these monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.     

Microwave-assisted Ni–La/γ-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalyst for benzene hydrogenation

A series of Ni–La/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared by adopting the methods of isometric impregnation and microwave impregnation. The catalysts were characterized with XRD, BET, and SEM, respectively. Inspecting the effects of adding La and the methods of impregnation on the hydrogenation activity of catalysts. The results show that adding a moderate amount of La promotes the dispersing of Ni on the carrier, the methods of microwave impregnation weaks the interaction between Ni and the carrier further, inhibits the formation of NiAl₂O₄, and the activity of catalyst prepared by the methods of microwave impregnation was significantly higher than that prepared by the methods of isometric impregnation. The hydrogenation activity of the Ni–La/γ-Al₂O₃ (WB) dipped with n(Ni): n(La) = 4: 1, microwave irradiation time 30 min with power 600W as well as calcined at 400°C exhibited the best performance. The conversion rate is 91.21% with reaction conditions: T = 160°C, p = 0.8 MPa, air speed 5 h^–1, n(H₂): n(benzene) = 2: 1.     

Magnetic field effects on natural convection flow of a non-Newtonian fluid in an L-shaped enclosure

The effect of magnetic field on natural convection heat transfer in an L-shaped enclosure filled with a non-Newtonian fluid is investigated numerically. The governing equations are solved by finite-volume method using the SIMPLE algorithm. The power-law rheological model is used to characterize the non-Newtonian fluid behavior. It is revealed that heat transfer rate decreases for shear-thinning fluids (of power-law index, n?<?1) and increases for shear-thickening fluids (n?>?1) in comparison with the Newtonian ones. Thermal behavior of shear-thinning and shear-thickening fluids is similar to that of Newtonian fluids for the angle of enclosure α?<?60° and α?>?60°, respectively.     

Reduction of nitrophenols in an electrocatalytic system

Results of research into hydrogenation of o- and p-nitrophenols in an electrocatalytic system on a cathode activated with d- and s-metal catalysts are presented. The optimal conditions for o-aminophenol formation on Raney nickel were identified by the probability-determined method for the experimental design.     

The effect of the precursor structure on the catalytic properties of the nickel—chromium catalysts of hydrogenation reactions

The influence of the Ni²⁺/Cr³⁺ ratio in the precursor compound on the formation of the catalyst structure and its transformation upon the thermal treatment and reductive activation in hydrogen was studied. The precursors with the cation ratio Ni²⁺/Cr³⁺ = (2.3–3)/1 represent a homogeneous system of the stichtite-type structure. The treatment of the precursors at T ～400 °C in an inert atmosphere forms a nanosized phase of the NiO-type structure with the lattice parameter a = 4.186±0.005 Å. At 600 °C the lattice parameter of this phase decreases to the tabulated value (a = 4.177±0.005 Å). The phase of nickel chromite of the cubic spinel structure with the lattice parameter a = 8.320±0.005 Å is also observed. Hydrogen activation of the catalyst preheated at 300 °C in an inert gas leads to the formation of Ni⁰ crystallites with a size of ～5.5 nm and a specific surface area of ～7.0 m² g^?1. This catalyst exhibits high activity and selectivity in benzene hydrogenation and preferential CO hydrogenation in the presence of CO₂. The catalysts with the ratio Ni²⁺/Cr³⁺ = 1/(2?3) containing nickel and chromium hydroxocarbonates as precursors are less active in the hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexane.     

Oligomerization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylpyrroles under the action of iodine

The oligomerization of N-vinylpyrroles (N-vinyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindole, N-vinyl-2-[1-(1-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindole)ethyl]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindole, N-vinyl-2-phenylpyrrole, N-vinyl-3-heptyl-2-phenylpyrrole, N-vinyl-2,3-diphenylpyrrole, and N-vinyl-2-(2-naphthyl)pyrrole) under the action of iodine vapor leads to the formation of iodine-containing oligomers with an iodine content of 17–52% and a yield of up to 99%. The oligomers are paramagnetic and possess conductivity; they are readily soluble in organic solvents (benzene, dioxane, and chloroform) and are stable up to 110–260°C.     

Synthesis of 7-sulfonyl-substituted norpinan-6-ones and -thiones from 1-bromotricyclo[4.1.0.0<Superscript>2,7</Superscript>]heptane

1-Bromotricyclo[4.1.0.0^2,7]heptane reacted with benzene- and methanesulfonyl thiocyanates in benzene at 20°C via anti addition to the central C¹–C⁷ bicyclobutane bond with formation of 6-endo-bromo-6-exo-thiocyanato-7-syn-(R-sulfonyl)bicyclo[3.1.1]heptanes. Treatment of the benzenesulfonyl thiocyanate adduct with potassium tert-butoxide in THF at 20°C gave 7-endo-(benzenesulfonyl)norpinan-6-one, whereas the reaction with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene in methylene chloride afforded 7-exo-(benzenesulfonyl)-norpinane-6-thione which was converted into 7-exo-(benzenesulfonyl)norpinan-6-one by alkaline hydrolysis.     

Electrochemical Reduction of Trichlorobiphenyls: Mechanism and Regioselectivity

The regioselectivity of electrochemical reduction of four trichlorobiphenyls (PCB 28–30 and PCB 37) was studied by cyclic voltammetry and bulk electrolysis. The number of stages and mechanism of electrochemical reduction of each of the examined substrate were inferred on the basis of the experimental electron transfer coefficients and calculated (DFT) bond lengths and potential energy surface sections. GC/MS analysis of the controlled potential electrolysis products showed that chlorine atom in the disubstituted ring of trichlorobiphenyls is reduced more readily than in the monosubstituted ring and that the rate of chlorine reduction changes in the series o-Cl > p-Cl > m-Cl.     

Catalytic Properties of Two <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizopus oryzae</Emphasis> 99-880 Glucoamylase Enzymes Without Starch Binding Domains Expressed in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pichia pastoris</Emphasis>

Catalytic properties of two glucoamylases, AmyC and AmyD, without starch binding domains from Rhizopus oryzae strain 99-880 are determined using heterologously expressed enzyme purified to homogeneity. AmyC and AmyD demonstrate pH optima of 5.5 and 6.0, respectively, nearly one unit higher than the Rhizopus AmyA glucoamylase enzyme. Optimal initial activities are at 60 and 50 °C for AmyC and AmyD, respectively. Inactivation of both enzymes occurs at 50 °C following 30 min pre-incubation. The two enzymes demonstrate substantially slower catalytic rates toward soluble starch relative to AmyA. AmyC has similar k _cat and K _m for oligosaccharides to other Rhizopus and Aspergillus glucoamylases; however, the enzyme has a 2-fold lower K _m ^maltose . AmyD has a 3-fold higher K _m and lower k _cat for maltooligosaccharides than AmyC and other glucoamylases. AmyC (but not AmyD) exhibits substrate inhibition. K _i for substrate inhibition decreases with increasing length of the oligosaccharides. Data from pre-steady-state binding of AmyC to maltose and maltotriose and pre-steady-state to steady-state catalytic turnover experiments of AmyC acting on maltotriose were used to interrogate models of substrate inhibition. In the preferred model, AmyC accumulates an enzyme-maltose-maltotriose dead-end complex in the steady state.     

Theoretical study on the fluorination of benzene with N-Fluoropyridinium salts in acetonitrile solution

The prominent roles of organofluorine compounds in various fields have aroused considerable interest in the development of new methods for carbon-fluorine bond formation. Electrophilic fluorination receives much attention. Density functional theory (DFT) was used to theoretically explore the fluorination activity of 12 N-Fluoropyridinium salts on the substrate of benzene in acetonitrile solution. Geometry optimizations and frequency calculations of the reactants, transition states, and products were performed at B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level for the 12 fluorination reaction channels. Based on the optimized structure, all the stationary points have been corrected by the single point energy at a high-level of M06-2x/6-311++G (d,p). Four substituents were considered in this paper, they are nitro-, cyano-, chloro-, methoxy-, respectively. Three substituted sites (ortho-, meso-, para-) were also concluded. Based on the obtained potential energy surfaces information and analysis of substituent effect, the fluorination reaction channel of oNO₂NFpyr is most efficient due to the lowest reaction energy barrier; therefore, oNO₂NFpyr is a promising optimum fluorinating reagent among the studied 12 N-Fluoropyridinium salts.     

Enantioselection mechanism in Rh-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

Combined experimental and computational study of the Rh-BenzP*-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation (BenzP* is 1,2-bis(tert-butylmethylphosphino)benzene) of five structurally different enamides showed significant diversity in the mechanism of hydrogen activation. In neither case, the mode of the coordination of the C=C double bond or the structure of the most reactive species corresponded to the stereochemical outcome of the reaction product. This fact proved the loss of the chiral information acquired in the resting state and/or in the oxidative addition step and determination of the stereoselection on a later stage of the catalytic cycle. Quantum chemical computations showed that in all cases the stereoselection takes place on the stage of the coordination of the C=C double bond to Rh in a Rh^III non-chelating octahedral complex. The sense of enantioselection is determined via the relative easiness of the chelate cycle formation in a less hindered quadrant of the catalyst. In the case of phenyl-, 4-nitrophenyl-, and 3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)-substituted enamides, the formation of the α-dihydride intermediate in the less hindered quadrant is directed by C—H...π interaction of the tert-butyl group of the catalyst and the aryl substituent of the enamide leading to high R-enantioselectivity. In the case of the tert-butyl-substituted enamide, the formation of α-dihydride is strongly disfavored by steric hindrance and the formation of β-dihydride in the less hindered quadrant results in high S-enantioselectivity. Comparative quantum chemical computations of the asymmetric hydrogenation of the classic system DIPAMP-Rh—methyl (Z)-α-acetamidocinnamate (DIPAMP is 1,2-bis[(2-methoxyphenyl)(phenylphosphino)]ethane) revealed essentially the same mechanism of enantioselection. Early experimental results received alternative rationalization according to our computational data.     

Photolysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ortho</Emphasis>-azidophenol in various solvents

The photolysis of ortho-azidophenol in water, ethanol, acetonitrile, chloroform, and benzene was studied by IR and electronic spectroscopy and thin-layer chromatography. It was found that an equilibrium between ortho-azidophenol and its quinonoid form occurred in benzene. In the photolysis of ortho-azidophenol in benzene, intramolecular hydrogen bonding facilitates the degradation of the azido group through the mechanism of formation of intermediate triazene structures. In the other solvents, which exclude intramolecular hydrogen bonding, the nitrene mechanism of photolysis yielding ortho-aminophenol, ortho-iminoquinone, and an azo compound is operative. The rate of formation of photolysis products depends on the nature of the solvent.     

A thermodynamic study of interaction of Ag+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and K+ cations with 4-hydroxyphenyl-2,5-bis(2-benzofuranyl)pyridine in some binary mixed non-aqueous solvents

In the present work the complexation process between Ag⁺ and Mg²⁺ cations and 4-hydroxyphenyl-2,5-bis(2-benzofuranyl)pyridine (HBFPY) ligand was studied in pure dimethylformamide (DMF), ethanol (EtOH), acetonitrile (AN) and in (DMF-EtOH), (AN-EtOH) and (DMF-AN) binary mixed solvent solutions at different temperatures using the conductometric method. Also in this work the complexation reaction between Ca²⁺, K⁺ cations and HBFPY ligand, was studied in pure dimethylformamide (DMF), propanol (PrOH), 1,4-dioxane (DOX), ethanol (EtOH) and in DMF-PrOH, DMF-DOX and DMF-EtOH binary mixed solvent solutions at different temperatures using the conductometric method. The conductance data show that the stoichiometry of the complexes formed between this ligand and the studied cations is 1 : 1 [ML]. In most cases, addition of HBFPY to solutions of these cations, causes a continuous increase in the molar conductivities which indicates that the mobility of complexed cations is more than the uncomplexed ones. The stability constants of the complexes were obtained from fitting of molar conductivity curves using a computer program, GENPLOT. The stability constant of [Mg(HBFPY)]²⁺ complex in various neat solvents at 15°C decreases in order: EtOH > DMF > AN and the stability constant of [Ag(HBFPY)]⁺ complex in various neat solvents at 35°C decreases in order: DMF > EtOH. The values of standard enthalpy changes (ΔH° _c ) for complexation reactions were obtained from the slope of the Van’t Hoff plots and the changes in standard entropy (ΔS° _c ) were calculated from the relationship ΔH° _c,295.15= ΔH° _c –298.15ΔS° _c .