hcp‐Co Nanowires Grown on Metallic Foams as Catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis

The Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is a structure‐sensitive exothermic reaction that enables catalytic transformation of syngas to high quality liquid fuels. Now, monolithic cobalt‐based heterogeneous catalysts were elaborated through a wet chemistry approach that allows control over nanocrystal shape and crystallographic phase, while at the same time enables heat management. Copper and nickel foams have been employed as supports for the epitaxial growth of hcp‐Co nanowires directly from a solution containing a coordination compound of cobalt and stabilizing ligands. The Co/Cu_foam catalyst was tested for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis in a fixed‐bed reactor, showing stability and significantly superior activity and selectivity towards C5+ compared to a Co/SiO₂‐Al₂O₃ reference catalyst under the same conditions.     

Ultrasmall Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles with Europium(III) DO3A as a Bimodal Imaging Probe

A new prototype consisting of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles decorated with europium(III) ions encapsulated in a DO3A organic scaffold was designed as a platform for further development of bimodal contrast agents for MRI and optical imaging. The USPIO nanoparticles act as negative MRI contrast agents, whereas the europium(III) ion is a luminophore that is suitable for use in optical imaging detection. The functionalized USPIO nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, DLS, XRD, FTIR, and TXRF analysis, and a full investigation of the relaxometric and optical properties was conducted. The typical luminescence emission of europium(III) was observed and the main red emission wavelength was found at 614 nm. The relaxometric study of these ultrasmall nanoparticles showed r₂ values of 114.8 mm ^?1_Fes^?1 at 60 MHz, which is nearly double the r₂ relaxivity of Sinerem^®.     

Insights into the Cascade Reaction of CO and Heteroallenes Mediated by Dinitrogen Hafnocene Complexes: The Indirect Effect of Nitride's Nucleophilicity

A DFT mechanistic exploration of the reactivity of the dinitrogen hafnocene complex, [{(η⁵‐C₅H₂‐1,2,4‐Me₃)₂Hf}₂(μ₂‐N₂)], towards mixtures of CO/CO₂ and CO/OCNtBu is reported. The crucial role of the nitride intermediate is highlighted, as well as the importance of the bridging mode of the cyanate ligand between the two Hf metal atoms throughout the process. Interestingly, the CO₂ addition to the nitride intermediate occurs through an outer‐sphere transition state, whereas the addition of the heteroallene is governed by the steric congestion imposed by cyclopentadienyl ligands.     

The Reductive Dehydration of Cellulose by Solid/Gas Reaction with TiCl4 at Low Temperature: A Cheap,Simple, and Green Process for Preparing Anatase Nanoplates and TiO2/C Composites

Metal oxides and metal oxide/carbon composites are entering the development of new technologies and should therefore to be prepared by sustainable chemistry processes. Therefore, a new aspect of the reactivity of cellulose is presented through its solid/gas reaction with vapour of titanium(IV) chloride in anhydrous conditions at low temperature (80 °C). This reaction leads to two transformations both for cellulose and titanium(IV) chloride. A reductive dehydration of cellulose is seen at the lowest temperature ever reported and results in the formation of a carbonaceous fibrous solid as the only carbon‐containing product. Simultaneously, the in situ generation of water leads to the formation of titanium dioxide with an unexpected nanoplate morphology (ca. 50 nm thickness) and a high photocatalytic activity. We present the evidence showing the evolution of the cellulose and the TiO₂ nanostructure formation, along with its photocatalytic activity. This low‐temperature process avoids any other reagents and is among the greenest processes for the preparation of anatase and also for TiO₂/carbon composites. The anisotropic morphology of TiO₂ questions the role of the cellulose on the growing process of these nanoparticles.     

Une méthode simple de calcul des structures électroniques (σ + π) des borazines et des boroxines substitués de symétrie D3h: une estimation théorique de l'aromaticité comparée de ces molécules

Résumé Une utilisation conjointe des méthodes L.C.A.O.-C.U.V. et d'itération tournante permet d'atteindre des structures électroniques ( + ) cohérentes avec l'U.V.(et donc le gradient de population électronique de liaison qui conditionne l'aromaticité) de huit borazines et boroxines, substitués ou non, de symètrie D _3h . L'échelle d'aromaticité obtenue permet de rendre compte des propriétés magnétiques (RMN, RQ, effet Faraday, diamagnétisme) de ce type de molécules. On parvient en particulier aux deux conclusions essentielles suivantes: les borazines sont nettement plus aromatiques que les boroxines isologues et la greffe de groupements méthyles ou d'atomes de chlore, qu'elle se fasse sur le bore ou sur l'azote, confère toujours au dérivé substitué une aromaticité au moins égale à celle du borazine lui-même.

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A simple method to calculate the - and -electron structure of borazines and of substituted boroxines of symmetry D_3h: A theoretical estimation of the relative aromaticity of those molecules

( + ) electronic structures calculations are performed for eight D _3h borazines and boroxines, using in concert previously published U.V.-consistent H.M.O.-L.C.A.O. and bond by bond iteration methods. An estimation of bond electronic populations gradients is so obtained, allowing to set up a new aromaticity scale for such molecules. The main results are the following: Borazines are much more aromatic than isologous boroxines and B-or N-graft of alkyl groups or chlorine atoms never decreases (and generally increases) aromaticity.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird für acht Borazol- und Boroxolverbindungen mit D _3h -Symmetrie unter Verwendung einer am UV-Spektrum geeichten iterativen HMO-LCAO-Theorie die - und -Elektronenstruktur bestimmt. Hiermit kann eine Abschätzung des Gradienten der Bindungselektronendichten gewonnen werden, aus der eine Einteilung der Moleküle nach ihrem aromatischen Charakter hervorgeht. Es ergibt sich, daß die Borazole aromatischer sind als die isoelektronischen Boroxole und daß eine Substitution der H-Atome am Bor oder Stickstoff durch Chlor oder Methylgruppen die Aromatizität fast immer erhöht, jedenfalls aber nie erniedrigt.

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Recherche effectuée dans le cadre de la R.C.P. n du C.N.R.S.     

17O solid-state NMR and first-principles calculations of sodium trimetaphosphate (Na3P3O9), tripolyphosphate (Na5P3O10), and pyrophosphate (Na4P2O7)

The assignment of high-field (18.8 T) (17)O MAS and 3QMAS spectra has been completed by use of first-principles calculations for three crystalline sodium phosphates, Na 3P 3O 9, Na 5P 3O 10, and Na 4P 2O 7. In Na 3P 3O 9, the calculated parameters, quadrupolar constant ( C Q), quadrupolar asymmetry (eta Q), and the isotropic chemical shift (delta cs) correspond to those deduced experimentally, and the calculation is mandatory to achieve a complete assignment. For the sodium tripolyphosphate Na 5P 3O 10, the situation is more complex because of the free rotation of the end-chain phosphate groups. The assignment obtained with ab initio calculations can however be confirmed by the (17)O{ (31)P} MAS-J-HMQC spectrum. Na 4P 2O 7 (17)O MAS and 3QMAS spectra show a complex pattern in agreement with the computed NMR parameters, which indicate that all of the oxygens exhibit very similar values. These results are related to structural data to better understand the influence of the oxygen environment on the NMR parameters. The findings are used to interpret those results observed on a binary sodium phosphate glass.     

Effect of concentrate solution pH and mineral composition of a whey protein diluate solution on membrane fouling formation during conventional electrodialysis

The aim of this work was to study the effect of the concentrate solution pH and the composition in calcium, carbonate and protein of the diluate solution to be treated by conventional electrodialysis on the fouling of ion-exchange membranes. Conductivity, system resistance, pH of the diluate and cation migration were monitored to follow the evolution of the demineralization. Total cation migration was similar for all conditions although different forms of fouling were identified after three consecutive 100 min electrodialysis treatments. The nature of fouling and the membrane surface fouled depended on the concentrate pH value, the diluate mineral composition and the intrinsic composition of the whey isolate. Once conditions leading to membrane fouling were identified, an alternative configuration for our electrodialysis stack is proposed to prevent fouling onset.     

New insights into the polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by rare-earth borohydride complexes: a combined experimental and computational approach

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated by the rare-earth borohydride complexes [Ln(BH(4))(3)(thf)(3)] (Ln=Nd, Sm) or [Sm(BH(4))(Cp*)(2)(thf)] (Cp*=eta-C(5)Me(5)) proceeds at ambient temperature to give rather syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with molar masses M(n) higher than expected and quite broad molar mass distributions, which is consistent with a poor initiation efficiency. The polymerization of MMA was investigated by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations on an eta-C(5)H(5) model metallocene and showed that in the reaction of [Eu(BH(4))(Cp)(2)] with MMA the borate [Eu(Cp)(2){(OBH(3))(OMe)C=C(Me)(2)}] (e-2) complex, which forms via the enolate [Eu(Cp)(2){O(OMe)C=C(Me)(2)}] (e), is calculated to be exergonic and is the most likely of all of the possible products. This product is favored because the reaction that leads to the formation of carboxylate [Eu(Cp)(2){OOC-C(Me)(=CH(2))}] (f) is thermodynamically favorable, but kinetically disfavored, and both of the potential products from a Markovnikov [Eu(Cp)(2){O(OMe)C-CH(Me)(CH(2)BH(3))}] (g) or anti-Markovnikov [Eu(Cp)(2){O(OMe)C-C(Me(2))(BH(3))}] (h) hydroboration reaction are also kinetically inaccessible. Similar computational results were obtained for the reaction of [Eu(BH(4))(3)] and MMA with all of the products showing extra stabilization. The DFT calculations performed by using [Eu(Cp)(2)(H)] to model the mechanism previously reported for the polymerization of MMA initiated by [Sm(Cp*)(2)(H)](2) confirmed the favorable exergonic formation of the intermediate [Eu(Cp)(2){O(OMe)C=C(Me)(2)}] (e') as the kinetic product, this enolate species ultimately leads to the formation of PMMA as experimentally observed. Replacing H by BH(4) thus prevents the 1,4-addition of the [Eu(BH(4))(Cp)(2)] borohydride ligand to the first incoming MMA molecule and instead favors the formation of the borate complex e-2. This intermediate is the somewhat active species in the polymerization of MMA initiated by the borohydride precursors [Ln(BH(4))(3)(thf)(3)] or [Sm(BH(4))(Cp*)(2)(thf)].