On the Mechanical Properties of Popgraphene-Based Nanotubes: a Reactive Molecular Dynamics Study

Carbon-based tubular materials have sparked a great interest in future electronics and optoelectronics device applications. In this work, we computationally studied the mechanical properties of nanotubes generated from popgraphene (PopNTs). Popgraphene is a 2D carbon allotrope composed of 5-8-5 rings. We carried out fully atomistic reactive (ReaxFF) molecular dynamics for PopNTs of different chiralities ( and ) and/or diameters and at different temperatures (from 300 up to 1200 K). Results showed that the tubes are thermally stable (at least up to 1200 K). All tubes presented stress/strain curves with a quasi-linear behavior followed by an abrupt drop of stress values. Interestingly, armchair-like PopNTs ( ) can stand a higher strain load before fracturing when contrasted to the zigzag-like ones ( ). Moreover, it was obtained that Young's modulus (Y_Mod) (750–900 GPa) and ultimate strength (σ_US) (120–150 GPa) values are similar to the ones reported for conventional armchair and zigzag carbon nanotubes. Y_Mod values obtained for PopNTs are not significantly temperature-dependent. While the σ_US values for the showed a quasi-linear dependence with the temperature, the exhibited no clear trends.     

Phase-field modeling of void evolution and swelling in materials under irradiation

Void swelling is an important phenomenon observed in both nuclear fuels and cladding materials in operating nuclear reactors. In this work we develop a phase-field model to simulate void evolution and void volume change in irradiated materials. Important material processes, including the generation of defects such as vacancies and self-interstitials, their diffusion and annihilation, and void nucleation and evolution, have been taken into account in this model. The thermodynamic and kinetic properties, such...     

Sterically Constrained Bicyclic Phosphines: A Class of Fascinating Compounds Suitable for Application in Small Molecule Activation and Coordination Chemistry

Bicyclic phosphines with two annulated, electronically unsaturated five-membered heterocycles are available through facile routes. In most cases, their phosphorus atoms are bound to heteroatoms such as oxygen or nitrogen (PN₃ or PN₂O), whereas homoleptic coordination by three sp²-hybridized carbon atoms has been reported only recently. Steric strain causes unique reactivity. Oxidative addition of halogens, N−H or O−H bonds have afforded phosphoranes as valuable materials for secondary processes. Ring opening was identified as an important step for the understanding of these reactions and has been observed experimentally with a diphosphorus-based ring system. A PH₂ derivative has been considered as a model system for small molecule activation, and hydrogen transfer to a diazo compound was observed experimentally. Several of these phosphines are excellent ligands for the coordination of transition-metal atoms. The very bulky PC₃ compound has a basicity similar to that of PPh₃ and may allow the synthesis of complexes with unusually low coordination numbers at the metal atoms. These phosphines found recently renewed interest as promising reagents in various secondary transformations such as the activation of σ-bonds or in coordination chemistry.     

Recent advances in the asymmetric catalytic synthesis of chiral 3-hydroxy and 3-aminooxindoles and derivatives: Medicinally relevant compounds

Several oxindole derivatives, of natural or synthetic origin, have been identified as medicinally appealing compounds, with a plethora of bioactivities reported. Chiral 3-hydroxy and 3-aminooxindole scaffolds have captured the attention of several research groups, due to their importance in drug discovery. In this review, we systematically address the wide variety of asymmetric catalytic methodologies employed in the preparation of these relevant chiral scaffolds, present in many biologically active compounds and/or natural products. Special focus will be given to the nature of the catalyst used.     

Coordinatively Unsaturated Amidotitanocene Cations with Inverted σ and π Bond Strengths: Controlled Release of Aminyl Radicals and Hydrogenation/Dehydrogenation Catalysis

Cationic amidotitanocene complexes [Cp₂Ti(NPhAr)][B(C₆F₅)₄] (Cp=η⁵-C₅H₅; Ar=phenyl ( 1 a ), p-tolyl ( 1 b ), p-anisyl ( 1 c )) were isolated. The bonding situation was studied by DFT (Density Functional Theory) using EDA-NOCV (Energy Decomposition Analysis with Natural Orbitals for Chemical Valence). The polar Ti−N bond in 1 a–c features an unusual inversion of σ and π bond strengths responsible for the balance between stability and reactivity in these coordinatively unsaturated species. In solution, 1 a–c undergo photolytic Ti−N cleavage to release Ti(III) species and aminyl radicals ⋅ NPhAr. Reaction of 1 b with H₃BNHMe₂ results in fast homolytic Ti−N cleavage to give [Cp₂Ti(H₃BNHMe₂)][B(C₆F₅)₄] ( 3 ). 1 a–c are highly active precatalysts in olefin hydrogenation and silanes/amines cross-dehydrogenative coupling, whilst 3 efficiently catalyzes amine-borane dehydrogenation. The mechanism of olefin hydrogenation was studied by DFT and the cooperative H₂ activation key step was disclosed using the Activation Strain Model (ASM).     

Synthesis and Characterization of Benzonitrile-Substituted Silyl Ethers

The silyl ethers (siloxanes) Me_{4? x}Si(OC₆H₅CN)_x (x = 1–4) (1–4), O(Si(OC₆H₄CN) (Me)₂)₂ (5), and Me₃Si–O–C₆F₄CN (6) have been synthesized by the reaction of the respective p-hydroxybenzonitriles and chlorosilanes in the presence of N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) as hydrogen chloride acceptor. All compounds have been fully characterized by CHN-analysis, melting point, IR, Raman, mass spectroscopy, and ¹H, ¹³C, ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy. Furthermore, the crystal structures of these compounds—with the exception of Me₂Si(OC₆H₅CN)₂, which is a liquid—were determined by X-ray diffractometry.     

New Enantioselective Routes to Cyclic and Acyclic S,O-acetals; Enzymatic Resolution of α-Acetoxy Sulfides and Enantioselective Synthesis of the Antiviral Agent Lamivudine

A new method for the synthesis of cyclic and acyclic optically active S,O-acetals is reported, along with subsequent stereocontrolled transformations, culminating in a synthesis of the important antiviral nucleoside Lamivudine.