Global Pathway Analysis: a hierarchical framework to understand complex chemical kinetics

An automated hierarchical framework, Global Pathway Analysis (GPA), is presented to understand complex chemical kinetics. The behaviour of the reacting system at macro level is bridged to the elementary reaction level by Global Pathways, which are the chemical pathways from an initial reactant species to a final product species. For each Global Pathway, its dominancy and effect on the system, such as those on the production or consumption of radicals, are quantified to understand its contribution to the system. Four examples are presented as demonstration: First, the classical second explosion limit of hydrogen is found to be resulted from the change of dominancy of a pressure-dependent Global Pathway, which consumes radical via H?+?O₂?+?M?=?HO₂?+?M reaction. Next, it is found that the negative temperature coefficient (NTC) regime of n-heptane is resulted from the competition between a low-temperature Global Pathway and a high-temperature Global Pathway. Third, a non-monotonic relation between autoignition delays and toluene ratio in toluene/n-decane mixture is analysed. This automated framework has been placed in public domain. Reduced kinetic models can be generated based on Global Pathways too. Finally, this methodology is demonstrated using DNS simulation results of the extinction and re-ignition of a turbulent non-premixed flame. The differences between simulation results are investigated using two different kinetics models via the analysis of global pathways.     

Crossing in the magnetic force-gap hysteresis curve of magnetic levitation systems with a high-Tc superconductor

For the magnetic levitation system consisting of a high-T_c superconductor and permanent magnet, the relation curve of magnetic force with gap between these two components is known as a hysteresis loop, that is, the approaching and departing portions envelop a complete one, and generally these two portions do not cross each other. However, in some special cases this crossing arises, and makes the complete loop broken. In this paper, by the numerical simulation of the magnetic force-gap curve in large numbers of physical and geometrical parameters, two typical crossings were found. To investigate the crossing and explore its physical causes, for one of the crossings, the current density in the superconductor was further calculated and its magnitude and vector distribution at the gaps nearby where the crossing arises were obtained. Based on these calculation results and an adequate discussion, the conclusion was induced that the crossing in the magnetic force-gap hysteresis curve results from applied magnetic field’s incomplete and insufficient penetrating in superconductor.     

A high‐order element based adaptive mesh refinement strategy for three‐dimensional unstructured grid

Adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) shows attractive properties in automatically refining the flow region of interest, and with AMR, better prediction can be obtained with much less labor work and cost compared to manually remeshing or the global mesh refinement. Cartesian AMR is well established; however, AMR on hybrid unstructured mesh, which is heavily used in the high‐Reynolds number flow simulation, is less matured and existing methods may result in degraded mesh quality, which mostly happens in the boundary layer or near the sharp geometric features. User intervention or additional constraints, such as freezing all boundary layer elements or refining the whole boundary layer, are required to assist the refinement process. In this work, a novel AMR strategy is developed to handle existing difficulties. In the new method, high‐order unstructured elements are first generated based on the baseline mesh; then the refinement is conducted in the parametric space; at last, the mesh suitable for the solver is output. Generating refined elements in the parametric space with high‐order elements is the key of this method and this helps to guarantee both the accuracy and robustness. With the current method, 3‐dimensional hybrid unstructured mesh of huge size and complex geometry can be automatically refined, without user intervention nor additional constraints. With test cases including the 2‐dimensional airfoil and 3‐dimensional full aircraft, the current AMR method proves to be accurate, simple, and robust.     

Highly stereoselective anti-aldol reactions catalyzed by simple chiral diamines and their unique application in configuration switch of aldol products

Chiral derivatives of trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane with different N,N-dialkyl groups in well-defined orientations have been synthesized, and applied as catalysts for the asymmetric aldol reaction between a variety of aldehydes and ketones. Enantiomeric catalyst 1j catalyzed the reaction in ethanol and provided excellent diastereoselectivity and enantioselectivity. Significantly, simple replacement of organic solvents with water switched the products of the aldol reactions from anti to syn configuration. Such catalytic reactions led to the products with anti to syn diastereoselectivity up to 99:1 in ethanol, while in water gave the products with syn to anti diastereoselectivity up to 99:1.     

From Zero‐dimensional to One‐dimensional: Use of Metal‐­Ligand Affinity in Supramolecular Assembly

The self‐assembly of 4 ‐ MTPP [ 4 ‐ MTPP = 2‐(methylthio)‐4‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)pyrimidine] with Cu(NO₃)₂ and AgNO₃ was structurally investigated. For Cu(NO₃)₂, a discrete mononuclear Cu^II coordination compound, [Cu( 4 ‐ MTPP )₂(NO₃)₂] ( 1 ), resulted that is exclusively based on Cu–N coordination. For AgNO₃, a unique one‐dimensional double‐chain structure ( 2 ) was obtained with the Ag–N distances varying from 2.181(9) to 2.223(9) Å, and the average Ag–S distance being 2.98 Å. Compared to zero‐dimensional 1 , the extension to one‐dimensional 2 is considered to result from the specific affinity between Ag⁺ and the ligand 4 ‐ MTPP that is attributed to the strong coordinating tendency of silver for aromatic nitrogen and thioether sulfur atoms.     

A Facile Synthesis of Prumycin

Abstract

Benzyl 2,3-anhydro-4-azido-4-deoxy-α-L-ribopyranoside (7), an intermediate for the synthesis of Prumycin was synthesized in 72% yield in seven steps from D-arabinose. Ammonolysis of 7 followed by N-protection with the benzyloxycarbonyl group gave benzyl 4-azido-2-(benzyloxycarbonyl)amino-2,4-dideoxy-α-L-arabinopyranoside (8), which was easily converted to Prumycin.     

Microenvironment Effects in Electrocatalysis: Ionic‐Liquid‐Like Coating on Carbon Nanotubes Enhances the Pd‐Electrocatalytic Alcohol Oxidation

A new catalyst consisting of ionic liquid (IL)‐functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) obtained through 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition support‐enhanced electrocatalytic Pd nanoparticles (Pd@IL(Cl^?)‐CNTs) was successfully fabricated and applied in direct ethanol alkaline fuel cells. The morphology, structure, component and stability of Pd@IL(Cl^?)‐CNTs were systematic characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectra, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The new catalyst exhibited higher electrocatalytic activity, better tolerance and electrochemical stability than the Pd nanoparticles (NPs) immobilized on CNTs (Pd@CNTs), which was ascribed to the effects of the IL, larger electrochemically active surface area (ECSA), and greater processing performance. Cyclic voltammograms (CVs) at various scan rates illustrated that the oxidation behaviors of ethanol at all electrodes were controlled by diffusion processes. The investigation of the different counteranions demonstrated that the performance of the IL‐CNTs hybrid material was profoundly influenced by the subtly varied structures of the IL moiety. All the results indicated that the Pd@IL(Cl^?)‐CNTs catalyst is an efficient anode catalyst, which has potential applications in direct ethanol fuel cells and the strategy of IL functionalization of CNTs could be available to prepare other carbonaceous carrier supports to enhance the dispersivity, stability, and catalytic performance of metal NPs as well.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Biological Evaluation of Two Silver(I) trans‐Cinnamate Complexes as Urease Inhibitors

Two new silver(I) trans‐cinnamates, namely [Ag(2‐cca)(H₂O)]₂ ( 1 ) and [Ag(4‐cca)]_n ( 2 ) (2‐ccaH = 2‐chlorocinnamic acid and 4‐ccaH = 4‐chlorocinnamic acid), were synthesized and structurally characterized. Single crystal X‐ray studies reveal that each silver(I) atom in 1 is two‐coordinate by a 2‐chlorocinnamate ligand and one water molecule to afford a discrete centrosymmetric dimer with the ligand‐unsupported Ag···Ag interactions (3.218(4) Å), while a pair of symmetry‐related silver(I) atoms in 2 are clamped by two μ₂‐η¹:η¹ 4‐chlorocinnamate ligands to yield a binuclear silver(I) moiety incorporating a ligand‐supported Ag···Ag interaction (2.819(5) Å). Both complexes 1 and 2 show potent urease inhibitory activities with the respective IC₅₀ values of 0.66 and 1.10 μM.