Preparation of Composite Filters Based on Porous Coordination Polymers by Using a Vacuum Filtration Method for Highly Efficient Removal of Particulate Matters

In this study, two novel crystal materials pcp1 and pcp1‐L have been synthesized successfully. The different conformations of the two crystals are mainly attributed to the introduction of the Schiff‐base ligand L ( L =(E)‐4‐methyl‐N‐((6‐methoxypyridin‐2‐yl)methylene)aniline). Subsequently, pcp1 and pcp1‐L composites have been firstly produced by a vacuum filtration method on various substrates (i.e., melamine foam, plastic mesh, carbon fiber cloth and glass cloth). The obtained robust composites show excellent performance in removing PMs owing to high ζ potential, microporous structure, large conjugation system and electron cloud‐exposed metal center (DFT calculations) of pcp1 and pcp1‐L . Particularly, pcp1‐L @glass cloth with low pressure drop exhibits high thermal stability and high long‐term reproducibility. Additionally, the high removal efficiency of pcp1‐L @glass cloth towards particulate matters could also be maintained, even achieving >99.9 % in the car exhaust gas field test.     

Semisynthesis of ursolic acid-2-(2-thienylidene)-oxadiazole hybrid molecule and an evaluation of its COX inhibition property

A new derivative of ursolic acid containing dual functionality was synthesized. Molecular docking studies and in vitro analysis indicated promising COX inhibition potential for the molecule. The synthesis, characterization, in silico and in vitro studies of the molecule are described here.     

Facile synthesis of 1,2,3-tricarbonyls from 1,3-dicarbonyls mediated by cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate

A mild and efficient protocol for the synthesis of vicinal tricarbonyl compounds from β-dicarbonyls in a single step using cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate as a catalytic oxidant is described. Ease of execution, wide substrate scope and the suitability for the synthesis of commercially important compounds like ninhydrin, alloxan and oxoline make this reaction particularly noteworthy.     

Combined spectroscopic studies on post-functionalized Au25 cluster as an ATR-FTIR sensor for cations

Recently, significant research activity has been devoted to thiolate-protected gold clusters due to their attractive optical and electronic properties. These properties as well as solubility and stability can be controlled by post-synthetic modification strategies. Herein, the ligand exchange reaction between Au₂₅(2-PET)₁₈ cluster (where 2-PET is 2-phenylethanethiol) and di-thiolated crown ether (t-CE) ligands bearing two chromophores was studied. The post-functionalization aimed to endow the cluster with ion binding properties. The exchange reaction was followed in situ by UV-vis, ¹H NMR and HPLC. MALDI mass analysis revealed the incorporation of up to 5 t-CE ligands into the ligand shell. Once functionalized MALDI furthermore showed complexation of sodium ions to the cluster. ATR-FTIR spectroscopic studies using aqueous solutions of K⁺, Ba²⁺, Gd³⁺ and Eu³⁺ showed noticeable spectral shifts of the C–O stretching band around 1100 cm⁻¹ upon complexation. Further spectral changes point towards a conformational change of the two chromophores that are attached to the crown ether. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the di-thiol ligand bridges two staple units on the cluster. The calculations furthermore reproduce the spectral shift of the C–O stretching vibrations upon complex formation and reveal a conformational change that involves the two chromophores attached to the crown ether. The functionalized clusters have therefore attractive ion sensing properties due to the combination of binding properties, mainly due to the crown ether, and the possibility for signal transduction via an induced conformational change involving chromophore units.

Using ligand exchange reactions an atomically precise gold cluster was functionalized with a di-thiolated crown ether. Using in situ infrared spectroscopy films of the resulting composite were shown to incorporate metal cations.     

Pseudo almost periodic solutions for a model of hematopoiesis with an oscillating circulation loss rate

In this paper, a model of hematopoiesis with an oscillating circulation loss rate is investigated. By applying the exponential dichotomy theory, contraction mapping fixed‐point theorem, and differential inequality techniques, a set of sufficient conditions are obtained for the existence and exponential stability of positive pseudo almost periodic solutions of the model. Some numerical simulations are carried out to support the theoretical findings. Our results improve and generalize those of the previous studies. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The chaotic sequences in the Bray-Liebhafsky reaction in an open reactor

Attractor reconstruction is done from the time series obtained by experimental investigation and by deterministic and stochastic simulation of the Bray-Liebhafsky oscillatory reaction. The appearance of deterministic chaos is confirmed and proven by both simulation and experiment, determining Lyapunov exponents for the sequences of flow rate values, as the control parameter. Moreover, unusual chaotic series were additionally recorded in the experiments, which cannot be found in deterministic numerical simulations. Therefore, an explanation of the difference between the dynamic behavior in the experiment and the deterministic simulation was sought and stochastic simulations based on the same reaction model were particularly useful. The fine structure of the chaotic windows, derived from the analysis of deterministic simulations in the range of flow rate values, made the system highly susceptible to noise induced effects, in general.     

Photodegradation kinetics of poly(para-substituted styrene) in solution

The UV irradiation effects on stability of polystyrene, poly(4-methoxystyrene), poly(4-methylstyrene), poly(α-methylstyrene), poly(4-tert-butylstyrene), poly(4-chlorostyrene), and poly(4-bromostyrene) in dichloromethane, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran, and N,N-dimethylformamide solutions were studied in the presence of oxygen at different intervals of irradiation time. The photodegradation was studied at 293 K using fluorescence spectroscopy. Solutions of these polymers were accompanied by quenching of monomer and excimer emissions during the exposure of their solutions to UV light, and by a change in the structure of the fluorescence spectrum. Irradiation of poly(4-methylstyrene) and poly(α-methylstyrene) at excitation wavelength of 265 nm showed an increase of fluorescence intensity of a broad band, at longer wavelength without clear maxima. This may indicate that photodestruction of these polymers by irradiation with light of frequency absorbed by the polymer, may start from a random chain scission, with the possibility of formation of polyene and carbonyl compounds.     

Recent topics of radical-based carbon-carbon bond formations

Radical reactions have been a fascinating arena in organic chemistry for decades and the rapid progress in this field is the topic of this review. Generation of radicals through sustainable catalysis using photoredox catalysts and iron based catalysts have significantly expanded the scope of radical reactions for carbon–carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond formations in recent years. Selective transformations using silver salts and other single electron transfer oxidants have also played significant roles. Cascade reactions based on radical intermediates have even widened the potential of radical reactions for carbocyclic and heterocyclic constructions. The recent advances (2014–2017) in radical based methods for CC bond formations are discussed in this digest review.     

Experimental and kinetic study of catalytic cracking of heavy fuel oil over E-CAT/MCM-41 catalyst

The catalytic cracking of heavy fuel oil was investigated over the equilibrium fluid catalytic cracking catalyst (E-Cat) as a base component with the mesoporous MCM-41 as an additive. The catalytic performance of the E-Cat/MCM-41 system was assessed in a fixed-bed MAT unit. The reaction was performed at temperatures of 500, 530, 550 and 600°C and the product distributions in both gaseous and liquid phases were studied. The yields of products including light olefins, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), gasoline, dry gas, coke and also the conversions obtained over different temperatures were reported and some generalities discussed. The maximum yield of propylene (17.5%) was obtained at 550°C whereas the highest conversion and gasoline yield was gained at 530°C. An eight-lump kinetic model containing 11 kinetic parameters was considered. Those parameters were estimated based on experimental data at specific temperatures by fourth order Runge–Kutta algorithm and the least square method. In addition, Arrhenius equation was used to calculate apparent activation energies. The calculated data of the product yields were in a close agreement with the experimental data.