Theoretical studies of photovoltaic properties of five new silol dithiophene based D2-A-D1-A-D2 donors

Organic solar cell of silol dithiophene based D₂-A-D₁-A-D₂/PC₇₁BM (D: donor part; A: acceptor part; 1 and 2 denote different units) possesses promising power conversion efficiency. Researchers have studied D₂-A-D₁-A-D₂ molecules carefully, including the effects of the different number of terminal thiophenes, the different central moiety (D₁), and the length of the alkyl chain. However, there are few investigations, especially theoretical studies, on the influences of different A (acceptor) units on the properties of D₂-A-D₁-A-D₂ molecule. In the present work, we have designed and modeled five new D₂-A-D₁-A-D₂ (D₂ = bithiophene and D₁ = silol dithiophene) donors by changing A units (A = diketopyrrolopyrrole, naphtho[1,2-c:5,6-c′]bis[1,2,5]thiadiazole, 5-fluoro-2,1,3-benzoselenadiazole, benzobisthiadiazole, and thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole). We have applied density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT to predict their ground-state electronic structures and the UV–vis spectra, and the open circuit voltages (Vocs) of organic solar cells of D₂-A-D₁-A-D₂/PC₇₁BM. Based on the calculated results, we find that bithiophene thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole siloldithiophene (BTTS) (D₂ = bithiophene, A = thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole, D₁ = silol dithiophene) possesses the highest lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (−2.60 eV) and the lowest highest occupied molecular orbital (−5.33 eV) energies, and the strongest absorption in the visible region. Besides, the solar cell of BTTS/PC₇₁BM has the highest Voc of 1.02 V. These results indicate that it may be a promising donor. In contrast, bithiophene benzobisthiadiazole siloldithiophene (BBBS) (A = benzobisthiadiazole) has low absorption strength in the visible region, which indicates that it may not be a suitable donor material.     

Cobalt-Catalyzed Regio- and Stereoselective Hydroboration of Allenes

An efficient pincer-ligand-based cobalt-complex-catalyzed allene hydroboration affording Z-allylic boronates is described. The reaction demonstrates an excellent regio- as well as Z-stereoselectivity and a wide substrate scope that tolerates many functional groups. Based on solvent-assisted electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (SAESI-MS) studies, a rationale for the cobalt-catalyzed hydroboration involving the highly selective insertion of an allene into the Co−H bond to form Z-allylic cobalt intermediates is proposed.     

Structural-Deformation-Energy-Modulation Strategy in a Soft Porous Coordination Polymer with an Interpenetrated Framework

To achieve unique molecular-recognition patterns, a rational control of the flexibility of porous coordination polymers (PCPs) is highly sought, but it remains elusive. From a thermodynamic perspective, the competitive relationship between the structural deformation energy (E_def) of soft PCPs and the guest interaction is key for selective a guest-triggered structural-transformation behavior. Therefore, it is vital to investigate and control E_def to regulate this competition for flexibility control. Driven by these theoretical insights, we demonstrate an E_def-modulation strategy via encoding inter-framework hydrogen bonds into a soft PCP with an interpenetrated structure. As a proof of this concept, the enhanced E_def of PCP enables a selective gate-opening behavior toward CHCl₃ over CH₂Cl₂ by changing the adsorption-energy landscape of the compounds. This study provides a new direction for the design of functional soft porous materials.     

Light/Electricity Energy Conversion and Storage for a Hierarchical Porous In2S3@CNT/SS Cathode towards a Flexible Li-CO2 Battery

A photoinduced flexible Li-CO₂ battery with well-designed, hierarchical porous, and free-standing In₂S₃@CNT/SS (ICS) as a bifunctional photoelectrode to accelerate both the CO₂ reduction and evolution reactions (CDRR and CDER) is presented. The photoinduced Li-CO₂ battery achieved a record-high discharge voltage of 3.14 V, surpassing the thermodynamic limit of 2.80 V, and an ultra-low charge voltage of 3.20 V, achieving a round trip efficiency of 98.1 %, which is the highest value ever reported (<80 %) so far. These excellent properties can be ascribed to the hierarchical porous and free-standing structure of ICS, as well as the key role of photogenerated electrons and holes during discharging and charging processes. A mechanism is proposed for pre-activating CO₂ by reducing In³⁺ to In⁺ under light illumination. The mechanism of the bifunctional light-assisted process provides insight into photoinduced Li-CO₂ batteries and contributes to resolving the major setbacks of the system.     

A Voltage-Responsive Synthetic Cl−-Channel Regulated by pH

Transmembrane protein channels are an important inspiration for the design of artificial ion channels. Their dipolar structure helps overcome the high energy barrier to selectively translocate water and ions sharing one pathway, across the cell membrane. Herein, we report that the amino-imidazole (Imu) amphiphiles self-assemble via multiple H-bonding to form stable artificial Cl⁻-channels within lipid bilayers. The alignment of water/Cl⁻ wires influences the conduction of ions, envisioned to diffuse along the hydrophilic pathways; at acidic pH, Cl⁻/H⁺ symport conducts along a partly protonated channel, while at basic pH, higher Cl⁻/OH⁻ antiport translocate through a neutral channel configuration, which can be greatly activated by applying strong electric field. This voltage/pH regulated channel system represents an unexplored alternative for ion-pumping along artificial ion-channels, parallel to that of biology.     

Visible-Light-Induced Vicinal Dichlorination of Alkenes through LMCT Excitation of CuCl2

This work demonstrates photoredox vicinal dichlorination of alkenes, based on the homolysis of CuCl₂ in response to irradiation with visible light. This catalysis proceeds via a ligand to metal charge transfer process and provides an exciting opportunity for the synthesis of 1,2-dichloride compounds using an inexpensive, low-molecular-weight chlorine source. This new process exhibits a wide substrate scope, excellent functional group tolerance, extraordinarily mild conditions and does not require external ligands. Mechanistic studies show that the ready formation of chlorine atom radicals is responsible for the facile formation of C−Cl bonds in this synthetic process.     

工业催化:选择性提升策略

工业催化直接或间接贡献了世界GDP的20%-30%,推动了产业变革和社会进步.对于工业催化,开发高活性、高选择性和高稳定性的多相催化剂至关重要,而选择性是最主要的挑战.因为实现催化选择性的精确控制是绿色化学的重要概念之一,更是工业催化可持续发展的重要驱动力;而且,选择性不仅决定了催化过程的原子经济性,也影响到后续分离过程的能耗.针对多数工业催化反应存在'活性越高、选择性越低'的相互制约与矛盾问题,本文以若干能源化工催化反应为例,试图总结催化选择性提升的一般策略,以期为有关工业应用的催化新过程提供科学参考.多相催化一般经历与反应物有关的步骤(反应物的外扩散、内扩散和化学吸附)、与反应有关的步骤(活化和表面反应)、以及与产物相关的步骤(产物脱附、内扩散和外扩散).本文依此归纳并举例说明提高选择性的一般策略.在汽油催化吸附脱硫中,主要利用了催化剂中零价镍-氧化锌耦合活性中心的选择吸附策略,使零价镍优先吸附含硫化合物,从而实现选择性脱硫而不饱和烯烃.在甲苯和甲醇侧链烷基化反应中,主要利用了特定空间分布的酸碱吸附位,实现吸附甲苯和稳定甲醛中间体的协同匹配.在乙苯脱乙基型二甲苯异构化反应中,主要利用了双床层对催化剂功能的分离策略,在不同的择形催化剂床层中分别进行乙苯脱乙基反应和二甲苯异构化反应,从而提高对二甲苯的产量.在苯选择加氢制环己烯反应中,主要利用强化产品脱附的策略,促进环己烯产品从亲水改性的催化剂表面脱附,实现环己烯选择性的提升.这些炼油与化工研究案例中同时存在多个连串-平行反应,主要是利用吸附中心、反应中心在时间或空间上的耦合、解耦或限域策略,调控不同途径的扩散能垒、反应能垒,实现了催化剂选择性的提升.多相催化多是复杂过程,基于提高选择性的初步认识,还要结合具体复杂催化过程,系统研究单策略以及多策略组合作用下的选择催化过程,实现在合理时间尺度、空间尺度上设计高选择性的催化剂,而这本质上是一种介尺度催化.     

Continuous Electrochemical Synthesis of Iso-Coumarin Derivatives from o-(1-Alkynyl) Benzoates under Metal- and Oxidant-Free

A non-oxidant and metal-free strategy for synthesizing iso-coumarin by using a continuous electrochemical microreactor to initiate an oxidative cyclization reaction of o-(1-alkynyl) benzoate and radicals. This efficient and clean continuous electrosynthesis method not only avoids the complicated gas protection operation and production of by-products in the batch processes, but also help to overcome the difficulty that batch metal catalysis and electrocatalysis are difficult to scale up, and has the potential for pilot-scale experiment.