Transition Metal (Mn,Fe, Co,Ni)‐Doped Graphene Hybrids for Electrocatalysis

The development of electrocatalysts is crucial for renewable energy applications. Metal‐doped graphene hybrid materials have been explored for this purpose, however, with much focus on noble metals, which are limited by their low availability and high costs. Transition metals may serve as promising alternatives. Here, transition metal‐doped graphene hybrids were synthesized by a simple and scalable method. Metal‐doped graphite oxide precursors were thermally exfoliated in either hydrogen or nitrogen atmosphere; by changing exfoliation atmospheres from inert to reductive, we produced materials with different degrees of oxidation. Effects of the presence of metal nanoparticles and exfoliation atmosphere on the morphology and electrocatalytic activity of the hybrid materials were investigated using electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Doping of graphene with transition metal nanoparticles of the 4th period significantly influenced the electrocatalysis of compounds important in energy production and storage applications, with hybrid materials exfoliated in nitrogen atmosphere displaying superior performance over those exfoliated in hydrogen atmosphere. Moreover, nickel‐doped graphene hybrids displayed outstanding electrocatalytic activities towards reduction of O₂ when compared to bare graphenes. These findings may be exploited in the research field of renewable energy.     

Multinuclear NMR Studies of the Substitlent Effects in N-Phenyl-P,P,P-Triarylphospha-λ5-Azenes,Triaryl-Phosphines and Triarylphosphine Oxides

Abstract

A series of N-phenyl-P,P,P-triarylphospha-λ⁵-azenes (1) as well as their ^l5N labeled analogs was synthesized. The ¹³C, ³¹P, and ¹⁵N NMR spectra of this series and those of two other series of related compounds, namely triarylphosphines (2) and triarylphosphine oxides (3), were measured and are reported. Many satisfactory correlations using the mono-substituent parameter (MSP) and the Taft dual-substituent parameter (DSP) treatments with the ¹³C substituent chemical shifts (SCS), ³¹P SCS, ¹⁵N SCS and the one bond P-N, P-C and C-N coupling constants were observed and will be discussed. Thus, for example, the ³¹P and ¹⁵N chemical shifts in 1 correlated with [sgrave]^?with negative slopes while the ³¹P chemical shifts in 3 correlated with those in 1 with a slope of 2.0. The ¹³C chemical shifts in 1 correlated excellently with the corresponding ones in 3 with slopes very close to unity. The substituent effects on the chemical shifts of the various nuclei were shown to be mainly due to changes in the charge distribution on those nuclei. In 1 the one bond P-N and P-C coupling constants correlated with [sgrave]_p and [sgrave]_R respectively. The one bond P-C coupling constants of 1 correlated quite well with those of 3 with a slope of 0.93 while the corresponding correlation of 1 with 2 was quite poor. Taft DSP treatment of ¹J_PCin 1 and 3 were quite similar, ρI and ρR were both negative and ρR was much larger than ρI. Series 2 showed behavior which was different from that shown by 1 and 3 but similar to that shown by other systems with a lone electron pair on the atom bound to the phenyl ring. The substituent effects on the one bond P-N, P-C and C-N coupling constants will be discussed in terms of bonding and hybridization changes between the directly bonded nuclei.     

Synthesis and Study of a Sulfur Heterocycle Fused p-Phenylene Vinylene Conducting Polymer

Abstract

Poly(benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-4,8-diyl vinylene) (1) has been prepared by the pyrolysis of the precursor polymer 2 and studied. Quantum mechanical calculations on the aromatic and quinoid monomers, oligomers and polymers indicate that 1 is a planar aromatic polymer.     

Metal-Rich Phosphanediyl-and Arsanediyl-Clusters

Abstract

The reactions of primary silylphosphanes and -arsanes 1 with BuLi yield the three-dimensional M₂ER-aggregates 2 (E = P, As). We observed that the double lithiation of 1 in the presence of Li₂O results in the formation of the aggregates 3 and 4.     

The fluorine-NHC gauche effect: a structural and computational study

Herein, we report the synthesis and X-ray structural analysis of a collection of fluorinated metal N-heterocyclic carbenes (Ag, Au, Pd, Rh, Ir) and their precursor salts. The common structural feature of these species is a flanking fluoroethyl group, which is either freely rotating or embedded within a bicyclic framework. Solid state analysis confirmed a gauche conformational preference in all cases with the fluorine adopting a syn clinal arrangement (?_[NCCF]～60°) with respect to the triazolium nitrogen at the vicinal position of the NHC. A density functional theory analysis was employed to quantify these effects and evaluate the influence of electronic modulation of the carbenic carbon [(CN⁺); neutral carbene (C:); metal-bound carbene (CM)], on the relative gauche/anti preference, thus highlighting the potential of this conformational phenomenon as a useful molecular design strategy for controlling the topology of organometallic complexes.     

Synthesis and Complexation Studies of a Convex Bis-porphyrin Tweezer—A Molecular Capsule Precursor

The synthesis and spectroscopic studies of a convex bis-porphyrin based molecular tweezer are reported. The complexation of small bidentate ligands by metallated derivatives of the bis-porphyrin host were monitored through UV–visible and ¹H NMR spectroscopy and yielded large association constants.     

Synthesis of Highly Functionalized Fluorinated Porphyrins

Highly functionalized fluorinated porphyrins were synthesized by a convergent strategy. Nucleophilic substitution using fluorinated branched unit and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin afforded highly functionalized fluorinated porphyrin 8 containing 24 fluorinated chains in the peripheral region.     

Purified oxygen- and nitrogen-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes as metal-free catalysts for selective olefin hydrogenation

Oxygen- and nitrogen-functionalized carbon nanotubes (OCNTs and NCNTs) were applied as metal-free catalysts in selective olefin hydrogenation. A series of NCNTs was synthesized by NH₃ post-treatment of OCNTs. Temperature-programmed desorption, N₂ physisorption, Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed to characterize the surface properties of OCNTs and NCNTs, aiming at a detailed analysis of the type and amount of oxygen- and nitrogen-containing groups as well as surface defects. The gas-phase treatments applied for oxygen and nitrogen functionalization at elevated temperatures up to 600 °C led to the increase of surface defects, but did not cause structural damages in the bulk. NCNTs showed a clearly higher activity than the pristine CNTs and OCNTs in the hydrogenation of 1,5-cyclooctadiene, and also the selectivity to cyclooctene was higher. The favorable catalytic properties are ascribed to the nitrogen-containing surface functional groups as well as surface defects related to nitrogen species. In contrast, oxygen-containing surface groups and the surface defects caused by oxygen species did not show clear contribution to the hydrogenation catalysis.