Highly efficient synthesis of fused bicyclic 2,3-diaryl-pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones via Lewis acid assisted cyclization reaction

An expedient one-pot synthesis of fused bicyclic 2,3-diaryl-pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones from three readily available components is described. The key step is a Lewis acid assisted cyclization reaction.     

Bond length and the electron density at the bond critical point: X--X, Z--Z, and C--Z bonds (X = Li-F, Z = Na-Cl)

The aim was to investigate the relationship between the bond length and the electron density at the bond critical point in homonuclear X--X and Z--Z and heteronuclear C--Z bonds (X = Li-F, Z = Na-Cl). The d,rho(c) pairs were obtained from 472 target bonds in DFT-optimized (B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p)) small molecular species. These species were selected arbitrarily but with a view to maximize the range widths WR for each atom combination. It was found that (i) with one clear exception, the d(A - A) means (A = X or Z) correlate linearly with the bond lengths d(A(2)) of the respective diatomic molecules; (ii) the d(A - A) means correlate parabolically with n, the formal number of valence electrons in the atoms of the bond; and (iii) with increasing sample size N the ratio WR(rho(c))/WR(d) appears to converge toward a representation f [WR(rho(c))/WR(d)](N-->infinity) characteristic of A. Detailed analysis of the d,rho(c) relationship has shown that by and large simple power regression accounts best for the DFT data. The regression coefficients of d = arho(c) (-b) and rho(c) = alphad(-beta) (b, beta > 0) vary with n in a seemingly irregular manner but one that is consistent with simple chemical notions. The d(A(2)) can be approximated in terms of multilinear MO electron occupancies.     

Development of extraction procedures for the determination of imidacloprid: application to residue analysis and dynamics of two formulations in Chinese cabbage

This study was undertaken to investigate whether an additional column clean-up procedure can affect the accuracy of an analytical method developed for the determination of imidacloprid residues in Chinese cabbage. Thereafter, the residue levels and the degradation rates of imidacloprid were investigated in experimental Chinese cabbage plots after treatment with two different commercial formulations: emulsifiable concentrate (EC) and wettable powder (WP). The analyte was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UVD) and confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) in the select ion-monitoring mode. The mean recoveries ranged from 75.34 to 98.00% and 96.95 to 100.97%, with relative standard deviations of 0.86-4.14 and 1.22-3.52%, in samples treated with and without additional column clean-up procedures, respectively. The minimum detectable amount of imidacloprid was 4 ng, while the limits of detection and quantitation were 0.2 and 0.5 ppm, respectively. The degradation of pesticide was monitored throughout a period of 13 days under greenhouse conditions. Although the behaviors of the EC and WP formulations appear to be similar, the absolute residue levels obtained with EC and WP treatments differed slightly. When imidacloprid formulations were applied (as foliar treatments) according to the recommended rate, the final residues (13 days post-treatment) in Chinese cabbage were much lower than the maximum residue limit (MRL = 3.5 ppm) established by the Korean Food and Drug Administration. Taken together, our study suggests that the analysis of imidacloprid can be performed without an additional column clean-up procedure, and the decline curve and the residue levels in Chinese cabbage could change if the same active ingredient is used in different formulations.     

Preparation of two new liquid chromatographic chiral stationary phases based on diastereomeric chiral crown ethers incorporating two different chiral units and their applications

Two new liquid chromatographic chiral stationary phases based on diastereomeric chiral crown ethers incorporating two different chiral units such as optically active 3,3'-diphenyl-1,1'-binaphthyl and tartaric acid unit were prepared. Between the two CSPs, one was much superior to the other especially in the resolution of tocainide and its analogues (for example, in the resolution of tocainide the separation factor, alpha, was 4.26 vs. 1.00 on the two CSPs). From these results, the two chiral units composing the two diastereomeric chiral crown ether moieties of the stationary phases were expected to show "matched" or "mismatched" effect on the chiral recognition according to their stereochemistry. The different chiral recognition abilities of the two CSPs were rationalized by the different three-dimensional structures of the two diastereomeric chiral crown ethers.     

Molecular engineering of organic sensitizers containing p-phenylene vinylene unit for dye-sensitized solar cells

Three organic sensitizers containing bis-dimethylfluorenyl amino donor and a cyanoacrylic acid acceptor bridged by p-phenylene vinylene unit were synthesized. The power conversion efficiency was quite sensitive to the length of bridged phenylene vinylene groups. A nanocrystalline TiO2 dye-sensitized solar cell was fabricated using three sensitizers. The maximum power conversion efficiency of JK-59 reached 7.02%.     

Living Cationic Ring-Opening Polymerization of Hetero Diels–Alder Adducts to Give Multifactor-Controlled and Fast-Photodegradable Vinyl Polymers

Precise control of multiple structural parameters associated with vinyl polymers is important for producing materials with the desired properties and functions. While the development of living polymerization methods has provided a way to control the various structural parameters of vinyl polymers, the concomitant control of their sequence and regioregularity remains a challenging task. To overcome this challenge, herein, we report the living cationic ring-opening polymerization of hetero Diels–Alder adducts. The scalable and modular synthesis of the cyclic monomers was achieved by a one-step protocol using readily available vinyl precursors. Subsequently, living polymerization of the cyclic monomers was examined, allowing the synthesis of vinyl polymers while controlling multiple factors, including molecular weight, dispersity, alternating sequence, head-to-head regioregularity, and end-group functionality. The living characteristics of the developed method were further demonstrated by block copolymerization. The synthesized vinyl polymers exhibited unique thermal properties and underwent fast photodegradation even under sunlight.     

Solar-Driven CO2 Conversion via Optimized Photothermal Catalysis in a Lotus Pod Structure

Photothermal CO₂ reduction is one of the most promising routes to efficiently utilize solar energy for fuel production at high rates. However, this reaction is currently limited by underdeveloped catalysts with low photothermal conversion efficiency, insufficient exposure of active sites, low active material loading, and high material cost. Herein, we report a potassium-modified carbon-supported cobalt (K⁺−Co−C) catalyst mimicking the structure of a lotus pod that addresses these challenges. As a result of the designed lotus-pod structure which features an efficient photothermal C substrate with hierarchical pores, an intimate Co/C interface with covalent bonding, and exposed Co catalytic sites with optimized CO binding strength, the K⁺−Co−C catalyst shows a record-high photothermal CO₂ hydrogenation rate of 758 mmol g_cat⁻¹ h⁻¹ (2871 mmol g_Co⁻¹ h⁻¹) with a 99.8 % selectivity for CO, three orders of magnitude higher than typical photochemical CO₂ reduction reactions. We further demonstrate with this catalyst effective CO₂ conversion under natural sunlight one hour before sunset during the winter season, putting forward an important step towards practical solar fuel production.     

Easily Scalable Shell-Structured Copper Catalyst with High Activity and Durability for Carbon Dioxide Hydrogenation

Inducing strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) has been a useful way to control the structure of surface active sites. The SMSI often causes the encapsulation of metal particles with an oxide layer. Herein, an amorphous ceria shell was formed on Cu nanoparticles under a mild gas condition with high activity and durability for surface reaction. Cu−Ce solid solution promoted the transfer of surface oxygen species, which induced the ceria shell formation on Cu nanoparticles. This catalyst was used for CO₂ hydrogenation, selectively producing CO with high low-temperature activity and good durability for operation at high temperature. CO₂ activation and H₂ spillover could occur at low temperatures, enhancing the activity. The shell prevented the sintering, assuring durability. This catalyst was applied to a bench-scale reactor without loss in performance, resulting in high CO productivity in all temperature ranges.     

Highly Cooperative CO2 Adsorption via a Cation Crowding Mechanism on a Cesium-Exchanged Phillipsite Zeolite

An understanding of the CO₂ adsorption mechanisms on small-pore zeolites is of practical importance in the development of more efficient adsorbents for the separation of CO₂ from N₂ or CH₄. Here we report that the CO₂ isotherms at 25–75 °C on cesium-exchanged phillipsite zeolite with a Si/Al ratio of 2.5 (Cs-PHI-2.5) are characterized by a rectilinear step shape: limited uptake at low CO₂ pressure (P_CO2) is followed by highly cooperative uptake at a critical pressure, above which adsorption rapidly approaches capacity (2.0 mmol g⁻¹). Structural analysis reveals that this isotherm behavior is attributed to the high concentration and large size of Cs⁺ ions in dehydrated Cs-PHI-2.5. This results in Cs⁺ cation crowding and subsequent dispersal at a critical loading of CO₂, which allows the PHI framework to relax to its wide pore form and enables its pores to fill with CO₂ over a very narrow range of P_CO2. Such a highly cooperative phenomenon has not been observed for other zeolites.     

Self-assembly of metal(II) tetraaza macrocyclic complexes with cyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid-1-carboxylate ligand linked by hydrogen bond

The reaction of [M(L)]Cl₂ · 2H₂O (M = Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺, L = 3,14-dimethyl-2,6,13,17-tetraazatricyclo[14,4,0^1.18,0^7.12]docosane) with 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylic acid (H₂-cbdc) generates 1D and 2D hydrogen-bonded infinite chains [Ni(L)(H-cbdc⁻)₂] (1) and [Cu(L)(H-cbdc⁻)₂] (2). (H-cbdc⁻ = cyclobutane-1-carboxylic acid-1-carboxylate). These complexes have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The crystal structure of 1 shows a distorted octahedral coordination geometry around the nickel(II) ion, with four secondary amines and two oxygen atoms of the H-cbdc⁻ ligand at the trans position. In 2, the coordination environment around the central copper(II) ion shows a Jahn–Teller distorted octahedron with four Cu–N bonds and two long Cu–O distances. The cyclic voltammogram of the complexes undergoes two one-electron waves corresponding to M^II/M^III and M^II/M^I processes. The electronic spectra and electrochemical behavior of the complexes are significantly affected by the nature of the axial H-cbdc⁻ ligand.