First-principles calculations of stable local structures and electronic structures of magnesium secondary battery cathode materials,MgCo2−xMnxO4 (x = 0, 0.5), in second charged state after first discharge

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The stable structures associated with the second charge of MgCo2−xMnxO4 (x = 0, 0.5), where Mg is removed from the stable first-discharge...     

Recent Progress in Homogeneous Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Formic Acid

Recently, there has been a strong demand for technologies that use hydrogen as an energy carrier, instead of fossil fuels. Hence, new and effective hydrogen storage technologies are attracting increasing attention. Formic acid (FA) is considered an effective liquid chemical for hydrogen storage because it is easier to handle than solid or gaseous materials. This review presents recent advances in research into the development of homogeneous catalysts, primarily focusing on hydrogen generation by FA dehydrogenation. Notably, this review will aid in the development of useful catalysts, thereby accelerating the transition to a hydrogen-based society.     

Effect of polycondensation methods on molecular weight distribution of nylon 610

Polycondensation methods greatly influence the molecular weight distribution of poly(hexamethylene sebacamide) (nylon 610) as determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The ratio of weight average molecular weight to number average molecular weight (M_w/M_n) was used as a measure for estimating the molecular weight distribution. The M_w/M_n ratios of nylon 610 obtained from melt, solid phase, and high temperature polycondensation methods were 2 to 3.5, which were expected values for the most probable distribution. However, those for polymers obtained from the direct polycondensation in the presence of triphenylphosphine, interfacial polycondensation and low temperature polycondensation using an acid chloride varied over a wide range from 3.5 to 8.5. The effect of the kind of organic solvents in the interfacial method on the M_w/M_n ratios was especially large, and the molecular weight distribution could be controlled to some extent by selecting an appropriate solvent.     

Regulation of Multicolor Fluorescence Changes Found in Donor-acceptor-type Mechanochromic Fluorescent Dyes

The regulation of multicolor fluorescence changes in mechanochromic fluorescence (MCF) remains a challenging task. Herein, we report the regulation of MCF using a donor-acceptor structure. Two crystal polymorphs, BTD-pCHO(O) and BTD-pCHO(R) produced by the introduction of formyl groups to an MCF dye, respond to a mechanical stimulus, allowing a three-color fluorescence change. Specifically, the orange-colored fluorescence of the metastable BTD-pCHO(O) polymorph changed to a deep-red color in the amorphous-like state to finally give a red color in the stable BTD-pCHO(R) polymorph. This change occurred by mechanical grinding followed by vapor fuming. The two different crystal packing patterns were selectively regulated by the electronic effect of the introduced functional groups. The two types of selectively formed crystals in BTD(F)-pCHO bearing fluorine atoms, and BTD(OMe)-pCHO bearing methoxy groups, respond to mechanical grinding, allowing for the regulation of multicolor MCL from a three-color change to two different types of two-color changes.     

Solid-State Structures and Photoluminescence of Lamellar Architectures of Cu(I) and Ag(I) Paddlewheel Clusters with Hydrogen-Bonded Polar Guests

Two hexanuclear paddlewheel-like clusters appending six carboxylic-acid pendants have been isolated with the inclusion of polar solvent guests: [Cu₆(Hmna)₆]·7DMF (1·7DMF) and [Ag₆(Hmna)₆]·8DMSO (2·8DMSO), where H₂mna = 2-mercaptonicotininc acid, DMF = N,N’-dimethylformamide, and DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide. The solvated clusters, together with their fully desolvated forms 1 and 2, have been characterized by FTIR, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, TG-DTA analysis, and DFT calculations. Crystal structures of two solvated clusters 1·7DMF and 2·8DMSO have been unambiguously determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Six carboxylic groups appended on the clusters trap solvent guests, DMF or DMSO, through H-bonds. As a result, alternately stacked lamellar architectures comprising of a paddlewheel cluster layer and H-bonded solvent layer are formed. Upon UV illumination (λ_ex = 365 nm), the solvated hexasilver(I) cluster 2·8DMSO gives intense greenish-yellow photoluminescence in the solid state (λ_PL = 545 nm, Φ_PL = 0.17 at 298 K), whereas the solvated hexacopper(I) cluster 1·7DMF displays PL in the near-IR region (λ_PL = 765 nm, Φ_PL = 0.38 at 298 K). Upon complete desolvation, a substantial bleach in the PL intensity (Φ_PL < 0.01) is observed. The desorption–sorption response was studied by the solid-state PL spectroscopy. Non-covalent interactions in the crystal including intermolecular H-bonds, CH⋯π interactions, and π⋯π stack were found to play decisive roles in the creation of the lamellar architectures, small-molecule trap-and-release behavior, and guest-induced luminescence enhancement.     

Crystal Structures of Mono-, Di-, and Tri(p-tert-butyl)-thiacalix[4]arenes: Dimeric Self-inclusion Behavior

X-Ray crystal structures of the mono-, di-, and tri(p-tert-butyl)-substituted thiacalix[4]arenes (TC4As; 1, 2, and 3, respectively) have beendetermined. TC4As 1–3 adopt a cone conformation and form dimeric self-inclusion units in such a manner that phenol moieties are inserted into the cavity of each molecule. In all the crystal structures of 1–3, lateralface-to-face interactions exist between the phenol rings that do not bear a tert-butyl substituent, and seemingly, this molecular assembly stabilizes the formation of self-inclusion. TC4As 1 and 2 adopt a cone conformation with C₂ symmetry, leading to the formation of rim-to-rim intermolecular hydrogenbonds so as to link the dimeric units up and down. On the other hand, 3 adopts a regular cone conformation with C₄ symmetry to form cyclic hydrogen bonds withinthe rim part of TC4A.     

A new norsesquiterpenoid from Russula delica Fr

Russulanorol (1), a new norsesquiterpenoid with a novel carbon skeleton, was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Russula delica FR. (Russulaceae) together with three known sesquiterpenoids. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of spectral data and chemical transformation. Compound 1 is an equilibrium mixture of two stereoisomers (1a, b) on the C-11 acetal carbon.     

Efficient synthesis of 2-modified 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D3 with Julia olefination: high potency in induction of differentiation on HL-60 cells

Six novel 2-substituted analogues of 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D(3), 6a,b-8a,b, were efficiently synthesized utilizing (-)-quinic acid as the A-ring precursor. The C2-modified A-rings were prepared as 4-alkylated (3R,5R)-3,5-dihydroxycyclohexanones 12-15 from (-)-quinic acid based on radical allylation at the C4 position of methyl (-)-quinicate. The new type of the CD-ring coupling partner 23 was synthesized from 25-hydroxy Grundmann's ketone 19 to apply to the modified Julia olefination to construct a diene unit between the A-ring and the CD-ring. The coupling yields, including a deprotection step, were 47-62%. After the separation of the diastereomers based on C2 stereochemistry, the structure (2alpha or 2beta) was determined by (1)H NMR experiments and compared to DeLuca's 2-methyl- and 2-ethyl-1alpha,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D(3). Thus, the synthesized 2alpha-(3-hydroxypropyl)-1alpha,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D(3) (8a) showed almost the same potency in binding to the bovine thymus vitamin D receptor (VDR) as the natural hormone 1, while its beta-isomer 8b had only a 3% affinity. Both 2alpha-allyl- and 2alpha-propyl-1alpha,25-dihydroxy-19-norvitamin D(3) (6a and 7a) and their 2beta-analogues (6b and 7b) possessed a weak affinity for the VDR. The strong VDR ligand 8a was ca. 36-fold more potent in induction of HL-60 cell differentiation than 1, and interestingly, even the weaker ligand 8b showed a 6.7-fold higher potency in the cell differentiation activity than that of 1.