Intercalation of halogen fluorides into graphite

IF₇ intercalates into graphite accompanied by the partial fluorination of the graphite host. The intercalated species was identified as IF₅ by IR and ¹⁹F nmr spectroscopies. Mass spectrometric analyses of the gases evolved from the intercalate showed only IF₅ and fluorocarbons. Iodine pentafluoride intercalates only in the presence of HF, yielding a compound with the stoichiometry C₈IF₅ and no fluorination of the graphite host. Careful elimination of even traces of HF resulted in no intercalation. Evolved gas analysis showed that the only species recovered from the intercalation was IF₅. The remaining interhalogens, ClF₅, ClF₃, BrF₅ and BrF₃ all intercalate into graphite with extensive fluorination of the lattice. In the case of these four compounds, the intercalate proved to be more difficult to characterize, e.g. stoichiometry was often variable, and ¹⁹F nmr yielded resonances that did not agree with any known halogen fluorides. Thermal decomposition of these intercalates showed little or no gas evolution until relatively high temperatures were reached, whereupon Cl₂ or Br₂ was evolved, followed by fluorocarbons.     

Syntheses of stereochemically diverse nine-membered ring-containing biaryls

[reaction: see text] A library of nine-membered, biaryl-containing rings has been synthesized in parallel on polystyrene macrobeads. Dimeric medium rings were shown to be accessible via a regio- and stereoselective double cyclization.     

Electrospun Nanofibrous Adsorption Membranes for Wastewater Treatment: Mechanical Strength Enhancement

Functional nanofibrous membranes fabricated by electrospinning technology have attracted much attention in the removal of heavy metal ions from contaminated wastewater. The high specific surface area, high porosity and ease of functionality create an enhanced throughput and high adsorption capacity of the nanofibrous membrane. However, the relatively poor mechanical properties of the membrane with a non-woven nanofibrous structure are one of the major concerns, which can limit the applications in wastewater treatment. Different strategies and methodologies were explored to address the problems and were reviewed in this work, highlighting the possibilities of overcoming the poor mechanical properties of the nanofibrous membrane and to ensure the recyclability and reusability of the membrane during the adsorption process.     

Characterization of nanochannel delivery membrane systems for the sustained release of resveratrol and atorvastatin: new perspectives on promoting heart health

Novel drug delivery systems capable of continuous sustained release of therapeutics have been studied extensively for use in the prevention and management of chronic diseases. The use of these systems holds promise as a means to achieve higher patient compliance while improving therapeutic index and reducing systemic toxicity. In this work, an implantable nanochannel drug delivery system (nDS) is characterized and evaluated for the long-term sustained release of atorvastatin (ATS) and trans-resveratrol (t-RES), compounds with a proven role in managing atherogenic dyslipidemia and promoting cardioprotection. The primary mediators of drug release in the nDS are nanofluidic membranes with hundreds of thousands of nanochannels (up to 100,000/mm²) that attain zero-order release kinetics by exploiting nanoconfinement and molecule-to-surface interactions that dominate diffusive transport at the nanoscale. These membranes were characterized using gas flow analysis, acetone diffusion, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM). The surface properties of the dielectric materials lining the nanochannels, SiO₂ and low-stress silicon nitride, were further investigated using surface charge analysis. Continuous, sustained in vitro release for both ATS and t-RES was established for durations exceeding 1 month. Finally, the influence of the membranes on cell viability was assessed using human microvascular endothelial cells. Morphology changes and adhesion to the surface were analyzed using SEM, while an MTT proliferation assay was used to determine the cell viability. The nanochannel delivery approach, here demonstrated in vitro, not only possesses all requirements for large-scale high-yield industrial fabrication, but also presents the key components for a rapid clinical translation as an implantable delivery system for the sustained administration of cardioprotectants.     

An unexpected formation of benzoyl benzoin from benzil during the attempted Knoevenagel type condensation with dimethylmalonate (or malononitrile)

An unexpected product, 2-oxo-1,2-diphenylethyl benzoate (benzoyl benzoin), was isolated during the attempted Knoevenagel reaction of benzil and dimethylmalonate (or malononitrile) in the presence of potassium carbonate. The product was confirmed by spectral analysis as well as by single crystal studies and a mechanism is proposed to explain its formation.     

Boric acid in aqueous micellar medium: an effective and recyclable catalytic system for the synthesis of aryl-7,8-dihydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidine-6-carbonitriles

A simple, green, and efficient protocol is reported for the preparation of aryl-7,8-dihydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]-pyrimidine-6-carbonitriles through one-pot multi component reaction using substituted aromatic aldehydes, malononitrile, and 3-amino[1,2,4]triazole. The reaction is catalyzed by boric acid in aqueous micellar condition. Present protocol incorporates environmentally non-hazardous reaction condition, easy work-up, and use of recyclable catalytic system with associated benefits like excellent yield (84–96%) and shorter reaction time (20 min). Proposed methodology offers rapid access to substituted aryl-7,8-dihydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidine-6-carbonitriles with high atom-economy and catalytic efficiency.     

Highly Luminescent Colloidal Eu3+‐Doped KZnF3 Nanoparticles for the Selective and Sensitive Detection of CuII Ions

This article describes a green synthetic approach to prepare water dispersible perovskite‐type Eu³⁺‐doped KZnF₃ nanoparticles, carried out using environmentally friendly microwave irradiation at low temperature (85 °C) with water as a solvent. Incorporation of Eu³⁺ ions into the KZnF₃ matrix is confirmed by strong red emission upon ultraviolet (UV) excitation of the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are coated with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), which enhances the dispersibility of the nanoparticles in hydrophilic solvents. The strong red emission from Eu³⁺ ions is selectively quenched upon addition of Cu^II ions, thus making the nanoparticles a potential Cu^II sensing material. This sensing ability is highly reversible by the addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), with recovery of almost 90 % of the luminescence. If the nanoparticles are strongly attached to a positively charged surface, dipping the surface in a Cu^II solution leads to the quenching of Eu³⁺ luminescence, which can be recovered after dipping in an EDTA solution. This process can be repeated for more than five cycles with only a slight decrease in the sensing ability. In addition to sensing, the strong luminescence from Eu³⁺‐doped KZnF₃ nanoparticles could be used as a tool for bioimaging.     

Strong Stokes and Upconversion Luminescence from Ultrasmall Ln3+‐Doped BiF3 (Ln=Eu3+, Yb3+/Er3+) Nanoparticles Confined in a Polymer Matrix

Heavy metal fluorides like BiF₃ as a host for lanthanide ions are of interest as bismuth is the only heavy metal that is nontoxic. In this work, we report the synthesis of highly water‐dispersible ultrasmall BiF₃ nanoparticles about 6 nm in size within a poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) matrix by a hydrothermal method. Microscopy analysis reveals that the nanoparticles are well separated and confined within the polymer network. These nanoparticles were found to be excellent hosts for lanthanide (Ln³⁺) ions. Through suitable Ln³⁺ doping, BiF₃ exhibits strong emissions in the visible region upon both UV and near infrared (NIR) excitations. The non‐toxicity of both bismuth and PVP can be advantageous for the potential use of BiF₃ nanoparticles in drug delivery and bioimaging.     

A simple and convenient method for the synthesis of cyclobutenediones from alkynes using new Fe(CO)5/NaH/MeI reagent system

Iron carbonyl complexes prepared in situ using the Fe(CO)₅/NaH/MeI reagent combination and alkynes at 25 °C give the corresponding cyclobutenediones in 50-65% yields after CuCl₂ · 2H₂O oxidation.