Efficient Room‐Temperature,Au+‐Mediated Coupling of a Carbene Ligand with Methane To Generate C2Hx (x=4, 6)

The thermal reactions of the closed‐shell, “naked” gold–carbene complex [Au(CH₂)]⁺ with methane have been explored by using FTICR mass spectrometry complemented by quantum chemical (QC) calculations at the CCSD(T)//BMK level of theory. Mechanistic aspects for this unprecedentedly efficient carbene insertion in the C? H bond of methane have been addressed and the origin of the counterintuitive high reactivity of [Au(CH₂)]⁺ towards this most inert hydrocarbon is discussed.     

1,3‐Dipolar Cycloadditions to (5Z)‐1‐Acyl‐5‐(cyanomethylidene)‐ imidazolidine‐2,4‐diones: Synthesis and Transformations of Spirohydantoin Derivatives

Cycloadditions of various 1,3‐dipoles to (5Z)‐1‐acyl‐5‐(cyanomethylidene)‐3‐methylimidazolidine‐2,4‐diones 8 or 9 , prepared in 3 steps from hydantoin ( 1 ) (Schemes 1 and 2), were studied. In all cases, reactions proceeded regio‐ and stereoselectively. The type of product depended on the 1,3‐dipole and/or dipolarophile employed as well as on reaction conditions. Thus, with stable dipoles under neutral conditions, spirohydantoin derivatives 12 – 16 were obtained (Scheme 2), while under basic or acidic conditions, pyrazole‐ or isoxazole‐5‐carboxamides 18 and 23 – 26 and carboxylate 27 were formed via aromatization of the newly formed dihydroazole ring, followed by the simultaneous cleavage of the hydantoin ring (Schemes 3 – 5).     

离子色谱-直接电导检测法分析哌啶离子液体阳离子

建立了离子色谱-直接电导检测法分析N-甲基,乙基哌啶(［MEPi］+)、N-甲基,丙基哌啶(［MPPi］+)和N-甲基,丁基哌啶(［MBPi］+) 3种哌啶离子液体阳离子的方法。采用磺酸型阳离子交换色谱柱,以乙二胺-柠檬酸-乙腈为流动相。考察了流动相组成及色谱柱温度对哌啶阳离子保留的影响,并讨论了保留规律。结果表明,哌啶阳离子的保留是一个放热过程,即哌啶阳离子的保留时间随着色谱柱温度的升高而缩短,且哌啶阳离子同系物的保留符合碳数规律。在以0.2 mmol/L乙二胺-0.3 mmol/L柠檬酸-3%(v/v)乙腈(pH 4.4)为流动相、流速1.0 mL/min、柱温30 ℃条件下,［MEPi］+、［MPPi］+和［MBPi］+3种哌啶阳离子可以在7 min内分离,检出限(信噪比为3)分别为0.14、0.20和0.56 mg/L,峰面积的相对标准偏差(n=5)在1.2%以下。将此方法应用于分析实验室合成的哌啶离子液体样品,加标回收率在97.6%与105.1%之间。本方法准确、可靠、快速,具有较好的实用性。     

Expeditious Synthesis of Enantiopure,Orthogonally Protected Bis‐α‐Amino Acids (OPBAAs) and their Use in a Study of Nod1 Stimulation

A convenient approach towards the synthesis of orthogonally protected chiral bis‐α‐amino acids (OPBAAs) is described. The key transformations include: (1) a highly stereoselective conjugation (alkylation) of the Schöllkopf bis‐lactim ethers and oxazolidinyl alkyl halides to build a backbone skeleton; and (2) our orthogonal protection strategy. A series of enantiopure OPBAAs bearing a variety of alkyl chain as a spacer; two stereogenic centers; and three protecting groups were prepared as examples. These versatile molecules were applied to the synthesis of biologically interesting di‐ or tri‐peptide analogues, including chiral iE‐meso‐DAP and A‐iE‐meso‐DAP, for the study of Nod1 activation in the innate immune response.     

The mesomorphic and photophysical properties of perylene liquid crystals with different bay-rigid spacers

Three novel perylene derivatives were prepared by introducing two phenyl (biphenyl or naphthyl)-bridging cholesterol units on bay positions and six alkyl chains on imides positions. The influences of different bay-bridging spacers on mesomorphic properties and photophysical properties were investigated. They presented the ordered hexagonal columnar liquid crystalline behaviours, although the large aromatic spacers were bridged on the bay positions. The mesomorphic and photophysical properties could be tuned effectively by the structures of spacers on bay positions. The larger and more rigid aromatic spacer on bay positions resulted in higher phase transition temperatures and stronger fluorescence emission.     

About diffusion mechanism in silica liquid under pressure

We perform a molecular dynamic simulation to study the diffusion mechanism in silica liquid under pressure up to 25 GPa and at temperature of 3000 K. We find that total O―Si―O angle distribution can be expressed by a simple relation between partial O―Si―O angle distribution and fractions of units SiO_x. Specifically, we demonstrate that these liquids consist of identical units SiO₄, SiO₅ and SiO₆ and have common partial O―Si―O angle distribution. We also show that each particle undergoes a series of stages where the particle locates in unchanged unit SiO_x, x = 3, 4, … 7 or OSi_y, y = 1, 2, 3, 4. The diffusivity strongly depends on the rate of transitions Si^ξ → Si^ξ ± 1 and O^ζ → O^ζ ± 1 which is significantly different between low- and high-pressure samples. For low-pressure sample the transitions Si⁴ → Si⁵, Si⁵ → Si⁴, O² → O³ and O³ → O² are dominant, meanwhile for high-pressure sample there are transitions Si^ξ → Si^ξ ± 1 with ξ = 4, 5, 6 and O^ζ → O^ζ ± 1 with ζ = 2, 3, 4. This finding may be common for diffusion in all network-forming liquids. The simulation also reveals the spatially heterogeneous dynamics in low-pressure liquid where a large cluster of immobile particle exists for the time that a number of particles move over several inter-particle distances.     

Cinnamolid‐3β‐ol hemihydrate and 3β‐hydroxycinnamolide acetate,two drimanolide‐class sesquiterpene lactones from Warburgia ugandensis

3β‐Hydr­oxy‐7‐drimen‐12,11‐olide hemihydrate, C₁₅H₂₂O₃·0.5H₂O, (I), has two sesquiterpene mol­ecules and one water mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit. The OH groups of both mol­ecules and both H atoms of the water mol­ecule are involved in near‐linear inter­molecular hydrogen bonds, having O⋯O distances in the range 2.632 (3)–2.791 (2) Å. 3β‐Acet­oxy‐7‐drimen‐12,11‐olide, C₁₇H₂₄O₄, (II), has its ring system in very nearly the same conformation as the two mol­ecules of (I).     

Core/Shell Structured PCM Nanocapsules Obtained by Resin Fortified Emulsion Process

Phase change material (PCM, octadecane) nanocapsules were successfully prepared by resin fortified emulsion (RFE) polymerization using the alkali soluble resin (ASR) of poly(ethylene‐co‐acrylic acid) (EAA) and poly(styrene‐co‐acrylic acid) (SAA). Stable PCM nanocapsules were obtained by resin fortified emulsion polymerization, which could be attributed to the prevention of Ostwald ripening due to PCM being hydrophobic. Analysis of online FTIR measurements throughout the reaction confirmed that the nanocapsules contained octadecane as a PCM. TEM imaging of the PCM nanocapsules showed spherical and core/shell morphology. The characteristics of PCM nanocapsules can be controlled by process parameters. As a result, the particle size and particle size distribution (i.e., polydispersity index (Dw/Dn)) of the PCM nanocapsules were created by adjusting manufacturing conditions. The PCM nanocapsules exhibited thermal energy storage (～49.8 J/g) and release (～47.9 J/g) behavior.     

Understanding cathode materials in aqueous zinc–organic batteries

Organic electrode materials (OEMs) are being investigated as promising candidates for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs) owing to their environmental friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and structural diversity, and tunability. Understanding the correlation between structural regulation of OEMs and their electrochemical property in AZIBs is vital to rational design of OEMs. Herein, we first discuss the fundamentals of the energy storage mechanism of OEMs. Then, strategies to improve the electrochemical performance, including the specific capacity, voltage, rate capability, and cycling stability, are elaborated from the perspective of molecular engineering. Finally, we share our views on the remaining challenges and prospects of OEMs in AZIBs.