Cobalt Single-Atom Catalysts with High Stability for Selective Dehydrogenation of Formic Acid

Metal–organic framework (MOF)-derived Co-N-C catalysts with isolated single cobalt atoms have been synthesized and compared with cobalt nanoparticles for formic acid dehydrogenation. The atomically dispersed Co-N-C catalyst achieves superior activity, better acid resistance, and improved long-term stability compared with nanoparticles synthesized by a similar route. High-angle annular dark-field–scanning transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance, and X-ray absorption fine structure characterizations reveal the formation of Co^IIN_x centers as active sites. The optimal low-cost catalyst is a promising candidate for liquid H₂ generation.     

Self-quenching and electronic energy transfer of triplet molecules. The benzaldehyde-biacetyl system in the vapor phase

The triplet-triplet energy transfer from benzaldehyde to biacetyl and the competing self-quenching between triplets and ground state molecules of benzaldehyde were investigated in the dilute vapor phase by monitoring the phosphorescence (T₁(nπ^*)S_o) decay of benzaldehyde. Following excitation into the S₁(nπ^*)S₀ absorption band, a triplet self-quenching rate constant of k_SQ=(2.4±0.1) × 10⁴ s^?1 Torr^?1, corresponding to a gas-kinetic cross section of σ_SQ=0.22 A², was measured. The collision-free lifetime of the benzaldehyde triplet was found to be 2.3 ± 0.4 ms. Substitution of the aldehydic proton by deuterium reduces k_SQ by a factor of two: complete deuteration of the molecule has no further effect. Under the same excitation conditions, the energy transfer rate to biacetyl is k_ET=(2.8 ± 0.1) × 10⁶ s^?1 Torr^?1, with σ_ET = 24 A². This process is not influenced by deuteration.     

Stability and electric parameters of AgJ-sols in the presence of a surface active substance

Summary The electric parameters (permanent dipole moment and electric polarizability) of Agj particles were determined at various concentrations of the surface active substance DDAO (dimethyldodecylamine oxide) by means of the electric birefringence. Information about the stability was obtained from the relaxation times of the particles deduced by the transient electric birefringence. The obtained results show that the minimal stability, which coincides with the investigations of Lyklema and de Keizer, appears at a concentration when the particles are not in the isoelectric point but when they have a maximum value of the permanent dipole moment and a minimum of the electric polarizability. This illustrates the importance of the particles' electric moments for a better understanding of the sot stability in the investigated system.

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Zusammenfassung Es werden die elektrischen Parameter (permanentes Dipolmoment and elektrische Polarisierbarkeit) von AgJ-Teilchen bei verschiedenen Konzentrationen der oberflächenaktiven Substanz DDAO (Dimethyldodecylaminoxid) mit Hilfe der elektrooptischen Doppelbrechung bestimmt. Die Stabilität der Suspensionen wurde aus der Relaxationszeit der Teilchen nach Abschalten von Gleichspannungsimpulsen ermittelt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß die geringste Stabilität, die mit Untersuchungen von Lyklema und de Keizer übereinstimmt, bei einer Konzentration auftritt, bei der die Teilchen nicht den isoelektrischen Punkt erreicht haben, sondern bei der sie ein Maximum des permanenten Dipolmoments und ein Minimum der elektrischen Polarisierbarkeit besitzen. Dies weist auf die Bedeutung der elektrischen Teilchenmomente für ein besseres Verständnis der Solstabilität in dem untersuchten System hin.

     

The Global Methane Cycle: Isotopes and Mixing Ratios,Sources and Sinks

Abstract

A review of the global cycle of methane is presented with emphasis on its isotopic composition. The history of methane mixing ratios, reconstructed from measurements of air trapped in ice-cores is described. The methane record now extends back to 420 kyr ago in the case of the Vostok ice cores from Antarctica. The trends in mixing ratios and in δ¹³C values are reported for the two Hemispheres. The increase of the atmospheric methane concentration over the past 200 years, and by 1% per year since 1978, reaching 1.7 ppmv in 1990 is underlined.

The various methane sources are presented. Indeed the authors describe the methane emissions by bacterial activity under anaerobic conditions in wet environments (wetlands, bogs, tundra, rice paddies), in ruminant stomachs and termite guts, and that originating from fossil carbon sources, such as biomass burning, coal mining, industrial losses, automobile exhaust, sea floor vent, and volcanic emissions. Furthermore, the main sinks of methane in the troposphere, soils or waters via oxidation are also reported, and the corresponding kinetic isotope effects.     

Deslongchamps annulations with benzoquinone monoketals

The so-called Deslongchamps annulation of deprotonated γ,δ-unsaturated β-ketoesters 15 to 2-(alkoxycarbonyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-ones or similarly activated cyclohex-2-en-1-ones offers a versatile access to various kinds of decalindiones. The scope of Deslongchamps annulations was extended by establishing acceptor-substituted benzoquinone monoketals such as 13 as viable substrates. They gave octalindiones such as 35 with diastereoselectivities ≥ 95:5.     

Asymmetric dihydroxylations of enynes with a trisubstituted C═C bond. An unprecedented route to γ-lactone building blocks with a quaternary stereocenter

En route to a comprehensive set of hydroxylactone building blocks (4R,5R)-, (4R,5S)-, (4S,5R)-, and (4S,5S)-5a, Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylations of allylic chlorides (E)- and (Z)-9 were performed. They delivered the four stereoisomers of diol 10 with up to 92% ee and absolute configurations, which were proven to be in accordance with the Sharpless mnemonic.     

Separation of short-chain branched polyolefins by high-temperature gradient adsorption liquid chromatography

A new separation principle was recently introduced into the analytical characterization of polyolefins by researchers from the German Institute for Polymers in Darmstadt. It was demonstrated that polyolefins can be selectively separated via high-performance liquid chromatography on the basis of their adsorption/desorption behaviours at temperatures as high as 160 °C. A Hypercarb? column packed with porous graphite gave the best results. The mobile phase consisted of a mixture of 1-decanol and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene. In this work, the same chromatographic system is applied to the separation of ethylene/alkene and ethylene/norbornene copolymers. It was found that the elution volumes of the samples correlate linearly with the average chemical composition of samples. The elution volume is indirectly proportional to the concentration of branches in the ethylene/alkene copolymer. Branching shortens the length of continuous methylene sequences of the polymer backbone, thus decreasing the probability of orientation of a methylene sequence in a flat conformation on the graphite surface, which enables the most intensive van der Waals interactions between the methylene backbone and the carbon surface. An opposite trend in the elution order has been found for ethylene/norbornene copolymers. The elution volume of the ethylene/norbornene copolymers increased with the concentration of norbornene. It indicates pronounced attractive interactions between graphite and the cyclic comonomer.     

Interaction-induced negative differential resistance in asymmetric molecular junctions

Combining insights from quantum chemistry calculations with master equations, we discuss a mechanism for negative differential resistance (NDR) in molecular junctions, operated in the regime of weak tunnel coupling. The NDR originates from an interplay of orbital spatial asymmetry and strong electron-electron interaction, which causes the molecule to become trapped in a nonconducting state above a voltage threshold. We show how the desired asymmetry can be selectively introduced in individual orbitals in, e.g., oligo(phenyleneethynylene)-type molecules by functionalization with a suitable side group, which is in linear conjugation to one end of the molecule and cross-conjugated to the other end.