Hexacyanoferrate‐based ionic liquids as Fenton‐like catalysts for deep oxidative desulfurization of fuels

Two hexacyanoferrate‐based ionic liquids, [C₄Py]₃Fe(CN)₆ and [C₁₆Py]₃Fe(CN)₆, were synthesized and characterized using Fourier transform infrared and mass spectroscopies and CHN analysis. They were employed as Fenton‐like catalysts in extraction and catalytic oxidative desulfurization of model oil with dibenzothiophene (DBT), benzothiophene (BT), 4,6‐dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6‐DMDBT), 4‐methyldibenzothiophene (4‐MDBT) and 3‐methylbenzothiophene (3‐MBT) as substrates. Various polar solvents, such as ionic liquids, water and organic solvents, were applied to choose a suitable extractant. The results showed the removal of DBT reached 97.1% with [C₄Py]₃Fe(CN)₆ as a catalyst and 1‐n‐octyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C₈mim]PF₆) as an extractant under optimal conditions. The activity of sulfur removal followed the order DBT > 3‐MBT > BT > 4‐MDBT >4,6‐DMDBT. The effect of water content on sulfur removal was investigated by adding various concentrations of H₂O₂. It was found that excess water had a positive effect on sulfur removal but the catalysts were less sensitive than [FeCl₄^?]‐based catalysts to water. The mechanism was studied using electron spin‐resonance spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. O₂^?? may be the active oxygen species in the catalytic oxidative desulfurization process and the oxidation products of various sulfur compounds were the corresponding sulfoxides and sulfones. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and validation of an LC/MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of shionone and epi‐friedelinol in rat plasma for pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of Aster tataricus extract

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method was developed and validated using spinasterol as the internal standard (IS) for the simultaneous determination of shionone and epi‐friedelinol in rat plasma. Plasma samples were pretreated using liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl ether. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C₁₈ column (100 × 2.1 mm, 5 μm) with an isocratic elution consisting of acetonitrile–0.1% formic acid water (75:25, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.30 mL/min. Detection was performed under the selected reaction monitoring scan using an electrospray ionization in the positive ion mode. The mass transitions were as follows: m/z 427.4 → 95.1 for shionone, m/z 411.4 → 205.2 for epi‐friedelinol and m/z 395.3 → 105.2 for IS. All calibration curves exhibited good linearity (r > 0.995) over the concentration range for both components. The intra‐ and inter‐day precisions at three QC and lower limit of quantitation levels were both <10.21% in terms of relative standard deviation, and the accuracy ranged from ?7.13 to 8.02% in terms of relative error. The extraction recoveries of the compounds ranged from 82.07 to 89.81%. The developed method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of shionone and epi‐friedelinol after oral administration of Aster tataricus extract to rats. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Weak Ligand‐Field Effect from Ancillary Ligands on Enhancing Single‐Ion Magnet Performance

A series of bis‐pentamethylcyclopentadienyl‐supported Dy complexes containing different ancillary ligands were synthesized and characterized. Magnetic studies showed that 1 Dy [Cp*₂DyCl(THF)], 1 Dy’ [Cp*₂DyCl₂K(THF)]_n, 2 Dy [Cp*₂DyBr(THF)], 3 Dy [Cp*₂DyI(THF)] and 4 Dy [Cp*₂DyTp] (Tp=hydrotris(1‐pyrazolyl)borate) were single‐ion magnets (SIMs). The 1D dysprosium chain 1 Dy’ exhibited a hysteresis at up to 5 K. Furthermore, 3 Dy featured the highest energy barrier (419 cm^?1) among the complexes. The effects of ancillary ligands on single‐ion magnetic properties were studied by experimental, ab initio calculations and electrostatic analysis methods in detail. These results demonstrated that the QTM rate was strongly dependent on the ancillary ligands and that a weak equatorial ligand field could be beneficial for constructing Dy‐SIMs.     

Visible‐Light‐Induced Trifluoromethylation of Isonitrile‐Substituted Methylenecyclopropanes: Facile Access to 6‐(Trifluoromethyl)‐7,8‐Dihydrobenzo[k]phenanthridine Derivatives

A new visible‐light‐induced trifluoromethylation of isonitrile‐substituted methylenecyclopropanes is developed. A range of substituted 6‐(trifluoromethyl)‐7,8‐dihydrobenzo[k]phenanthridine derivatives are readily furnished by this newly developed tandem reaction with moderate to good yields. This reaction allows the direct formation of two six‐membered rings and three new C?C bonds, including the C?CF₃ bond, under visible light irradiation.