Palladium–S‐propyl‐2‐aminobenzothioate immobilized on Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles as catalyst for Suzuki and Heck reactions in water or poly(ethylene glycol)

A moisture‐ and air‐stable heterogenized palladium catalyst was synthesized by coordination of palladium with S‐propyl‐2‐aminothiobenzamide supported on Fe₃O₄ magnetic nanoparticles. The prepared nanocatalyst was characterized using Fourier transform infrared, energy‐dispersive X‐ray and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopies, X‐ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, transmission and scanning electron microscopies, dynamic laser scattering and thermogravimetric analysis. This catalyst could be dispersed homogeneously in water or poly(ethylene glycol) and further applied as an excellent nano‐organometal catalyst for Suzuki and Heck reactions. The catalyst was easily separated with the assistance of an external magnet from the reaction mixture and reused for several consecutive runs without significant loss of its catalytic efficiency or palladium leaching. The leaching of catalyst was examined using hot filtration and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Also, the effects of various reaction parameters on the Suzuki and Heck reactions are discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Second comment on: “The effect of pressure on morphological features and quality of synthesized graphene” [Res Chem Intermed DOI 10.1007/s11164-016-2594-8]

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Alipour et al. studied the effect of pressure on the morphological characteristics and quality of synthesized graphene based on scanning electron...     

A compromised multi-objective solution using fuzzy mixed integer goal programming for market-based short-term unit commitment problem

When implementing, the solution of single-objective unit commitment models may be dissatisfactory or inapplicable. This might mainly be due to not considering the secondary conflicting objectives from the policy-making in internal/external environment of generation companies in the developed models. To attain a practical compromised multi-objective solution for the short-term unit commitment in the deregulated hybrid markets, a novel fuzzy mixed integer linear goal programme is developed in which several complementary objectives with lower relative importances are also incorporated. Non-linear characteristic curves of the generating units are approximated through the piece-wise linear functions. The fuzzy approach is proposed to handle the imprecise nature of the goals’ target levels and priorities as well as some critical data. The critical aspects of power systems are considered in the model. The efficiency of the proposed approach is demonstrated using the experimental results inspired by a real case. The applicable nice feature of our model is that it can easily and efficiently be matched with a various line of unit commitment problems.     

Application of SiO2-Pr-SO3H as an efficient catalyst in the Ritter reaction

Sulfonic-acid-functionalized silica was applied as an efficient heterogeneous acid catalyst in the Ritter reaction to prepare amides by reaction of various benzylic, allylic, and tertiary alcohols with various nitriles in good to excellent yields under solvent-free conditions. The simplicity of the reaction, recovery of catalyst without loss of reactivity, high yield of products, and short reaction time represent improvements over many existing methods.     

NaBH4/Ac2O/DOWEX(R)50WX4: A Convenient System for Fast Preparation of gem‐Diacetates from Aldehydes

Reductive‐acylalation of aldehydes has been carried out by NaBH₄/Ac₂O/DOWEX(R)50WX4 system. A variety of aldehydes (1 mmol) have been reacted with Ac₂O (0.5 mL) and NaBH₄ (1 mmol) in the presence of DOWEX(R)50WX4 (0.5 g) for the preparation of their corresponding acylals within 1 min at room temperature with excellent yields of the products (90‐95%). Ketones do not react with this system.     

Magnetic Nanoparticles Supported Ionic Liquids Improve Firefly Luciferase Properties

Ionic liquids as neoteric solvents, microwave irradiation, and alternative energy source are becoming as a solvent for many enzymatic reactions. We recently showed that the incubation of firefly luciferase from Photinus pyralis with various ionic liquids increased the activity and stability of luciferase. Magnetic nanoparticles supported ionic liquids have been obtained by covalent bonding of ionic liquids-silane on magnetic silica nanoparticles. In the present study, the effects of [γ-Fe₂O₃@SiO₂][BMImCl] and [γ-Fe₂O₃@SiO₂][BMImI] were investigated on the structural properties and function of luciferase using circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, and bioluminescence assay. Enzyme activity and structural stability increased in the presence of magnetic nanoparticles supported ionic liquids. Furthermore, the effect of ingredients which were used was not considerable on K _m value of luciferase for adenosine-5′-triphosphate and also K _m value for luciferin.     

Synthesis and thermogravimetric analysis of inclusion complexes of O2N2-donor Aza-crown macrocyclic ligands with [60]fullerene

A simple method for the formation of inclusion complex of [60]fullerene with two O₂N₂-donor aza-crown macrocyclic ligands was introduced. The products were characterized using UV–vis and IR spectroscopies as well as HPLC, and ESI mass spectrometry. The ESI mass and elemental analysis data revealed that the ratio of macroring:[60]fullerene were not the same. The binding capability of the macrorings as well as the number of the macroring addends to [60]fullerene were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Considering percentage mass loss in different steps of TG and the enthalpy changes in DSC found for each of these products, the number of their addends on [60]fullerene were calculated. Theoretical calculations in semi-empirical level using AM1 suggested that proper orientation of the nitrogen-donor groups on the aza-crown macrorings toward [60]fullerene could be the main factor for the observed difference in the number of macroring addends attached to [60]fullerene.