Sulfamic acid: an efficient, cost-effective and recyclable solid acid catalyst for the three-component synthesis of α-amino nitriles

α-Amino nitriles are synthesized by the three-component coupling reaction of aldehydes, amines and trimethylsilyl cyanide using sulfamic acid as a heterogeneous solid acid catalyst, under solvent-free conditions in excellent yields. The catalyst was recovered by simple filtration and was recycled in subsequent reactions.     

N-tert-Butoxycarbonylation of amines using H3PW12O40 as an efficient heterogeneous and recyclable catalyst

The commercially available heteropoly acid H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ (0.5 mol %) is a very efficient and environmentally benign catalyst for N-tert-butoxycarbonylation of amines (primary, secondary) with di-tert-butyl dicarbonate at room temperature in short reaction times (<10 min). No competitive side products such as isocyanates, ureas, N,N-di-tert-butoxycarbonyls, O-Boc and oxazolidinones were observed. Chiral α-amino alcohols and esters afforded the corresponding N-Boc derivatives chemoselectively in excellent yields.     

2J(P,C) and 3J(P,C) Coupling Constants in Some New Phosphoramidates. Crystal Structures of CF3C(O)N(H)P(O)[N(CH3)(CH2C6H5)]2 and 4‐NO2‐C6H4N(H)P(O)[4‐CH3‐NC5H9]2

Some new phosphoramidates were synthesized and characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P NMR, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The structures of CF₃C(O)N(H)P(O)[N(CH₃)(CH₂C₆H₅)]₂ ( 1 ) and 4‐NO₂‐C₆H₄N(H)P(O)[4‐CH₃‐NC₅H₉]₂ ( 6 ) were confirmed by X‐ray single crystal determination. Compound 1 forms a centrosymmetric dimer and compound 6 forms a polymeric zigzag chain, both via ‐N‐H…O=P‐ intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Also, weak C‐H…F and C‐H…O hydrogen bonds were observed in compounds 1 and 6 , respectively. ¹³C NMR spectra were used for study of ²J(P,C) and ³J(P,C) coupling constants that were showed in the molecules containing N(C₂H₅)₂ and N(C₂H₅)(CH₂C₆H₅) moieties, ²J(P,C)>³J(P,C). A contrast result was obtained for the compounds involving a five‐membered ring aliphatic amine group, NC₄H₈. ²J(P,C) for N(C₂H₅)₂ moiety and in NC₄H₈ are nearly the same, but ³J(P, C) values are larger than those in molecules with a pyrrolidinyl ring. This comparison was done for compounds with six and seven‐membered ring amine groups. In compounds with formula XP(O)[N(CH₂R)(CH₂C₆H₅)]₂, ²J(P,CH₂)_benzylic>²J(P,CH₂)_aliphatic, in an agreement with our previous study.     

The first phosphoramide–mercury(II) complex with a Cl2Hg–OP[N(C)(C)]3 segment

Mercury(II) exhibits a strong preference for linear coordination which has been attributed to relativistic effects splitting the 6p orbitals and promoting sp hybridization. If the two ligands attached to the mercury(II) ion are weak donors, the metal ion can act as a good Lewis acid and expand its coordination number. Moreover, mercury has a special affinity for softer bases, such as S and N atoms, and has much less affinity for hard bases, such as those including an O atom. The asymmetric unit of dichlorido[tris(piperidin‐1‐yl)phosphane oxide‐κO]mercury(II)–dichloridomercury(II) (2/1), [HgCl₂{(C₅H₁₀N)₃PO}]₂·[HgCl₂], is composed of one HgCl₂{(C₅H₁₀N)₃PO} complex and one half of a discrete HgCl₂ entity located on an inversion centre. The coordination environment around the Hg^II centre in the complex component is a distorted T‐shape. Bond‐valence‐sum calculations confirm the three‐coordination mode of the Hg^II atom of the complex molecule. The noncovalent nature of the Hg…Cl and Hg…O interactions in the structure are discussed.     

Ether and Relativity

We consider one of the fundamental debates in performing the relativity theory, namely, the ether and the relativity points of view, in a way to aid the learning of the subjects. In addition, we present our views and prospects while describing the issues that being accessible to many physicists and allowing broader views. Also, we very briefly review the two almost recent observations of the Webb redshift and the ultra high energy cosmic rays, and the modified relativity models that have been presented to justify them, wherein we express that these justifications have not been performed via a single model with a single mechanism.     

3D vs. turbostratic: controlling metal–organic framework dimensionality via N-heterocyclic carbene chemistry

Using azolium-based ligands for the construction of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is a viable strategy to immobilize catalytically active N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) or NHC-derived species inside MOF pores. Thus, in the present work, a novel copper MOF referred to as Cu-Sp5-BF₄, is constructed using an imidazolinium ligand, H₂Sp5-BF₄, 1,3-bis(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-3-ium tetrafluoroborate. The resulting framework, which offers large pore apertures, enables the post-synthetic modification of the C² carbon on the ligand backbone with methoxide units. A combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD), solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) and electron microscopy (EM), are used to show that the post-synthetic methoxide modification alters the dimensionality of the material, forming a turbostratic phase, an event that further improves the accessibility of the NHC sites promoting a second modification step that is carried out via grafting iridium to the NHC. A combination of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) methods are used to shed light on the iridium speciation, and the catalytic activity of the Ir–NHC containing MOF is demonstrated using a model reaction, stilbene hydrogenation.

A new MOF with a saturated N-heterocyclic carbene ligand undergoes a series of structural transformations to produce a turbostratic material, which serves as a better support for an iridium hydrogenation catalyst, when compared to the parent material.     

High-Resolution Temporo-Ensemble PIV to Resolve Pore-Scale Flow in 3D-Printed Fractured Porous Media

Transport in Porous Media - Fractures are conduits that can enable fast advective transfer of (fluid, solute, reactant, particle, etc.) mass and energy. Such fast transfer can significantly affect...     

Unsteady motion of a non-linear viscoelastic fluid

In this paper, we study the unsteady flow of a generalized second grade fluid. Specifically, we solve numerically the linear momentum equations for the flow of this viscoelastic shear-thinning (shear-thickening) fluid surrounding a solid cylindrical rod that is suddenly set into longitudinal and torsional motion. The equations are made dimensionless. The results are presented for the shear stresses at the wall, related to the drag force; these are physical quantities of interest, especially in oil-drilling applications.     

Synthesis of polymeric organic-inorganic hybrid materials. Partially deacetylated chitin-silica hybrid

This work reports the synthesis of a novel polymeric organic-inorganic hybrid. The inorganic component is a silica network obtained by controlled hydrolysis of tetraethyl orthosilicate via sol-gel process and the organic counterpart is partially deacetylated chitin (CHI). The resulting polymer hybrids were homogeneous transparent film forming glassy materials being compatible through a wide composition range. Simultaneous thermal analysis of a CHI/silica 1:1 mixture confirms the intermolecular complex formation between organic and inorganic polymers.     

Electroless deposition of silver nanofractals on copper wire by galvanic displacement as a simple technique for preparation of porous solid‐phase microextraction fibers

A novel and porous solid‐phase microextraction fiber was prepared by quick and simple galvanic displacement reaction and applied to the determination of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sunflower oil. The parameters affecting the porosity and thickness of the fiber, and parameters affecting the extraction efficiency, including the extraction time, temperature, and ionic strength, were investigated and optimized. The morphology of prepared fiber was characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy and thermal and chemical stabilities of the fiber were studied. Under the optimum conditions, the limits of detection ranged between 0.1 ng/mL for pyrene to 1.2 ng/mL for anthracene, and LOQ ranged between 0.3 ng/mL for pyrene to 3.6 ng/mL for anthracene. The relative standard deviations, including repeatability (within fibers) and reproducibility (between fibers), varied between 3.2–8.9 and 5.6–9.8%, respectively.