Preparation and evaluation of thermally stable nano-structured self-doped polythiophene coating for analysis of phthalate ester trace levels

Nano‐structured self‐doped polythiophene (SPT) electrodeposited in the presence of fluorinated organic acid was applied as a thermally stable conductive polymer‐based solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) fiber candidate. Quantitative determination of trace levels of phthalate esters including dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) was carried out using this novel fiber, coupling with gas chromatography‐flame ionization detector (GC‐FID). The SPT coating was proved to be stable at high temperatures (～350°C) with a high extraction capacity and long lifetime (more than 60 times). Improved temperature resistance was obtained by the presence of sulfonated groups in the backbone of polymer. Thermal stability of novel SPT was superior to common polythiophene (synthesized in LiClO₄). The extraction procedure was optimized by means of the Taguchi orthogonal array experimental design with an OA₁₆ (4⁵) matrix including extraction temperature, extraction time, salt concentration, stirring rate, and headspace volume. The good linearity was obtained for most compounds with correlation coefficients (R²) of between 0.993 and 0.995. The detection limits were lower than 0.12 ng/mL for dimethyl phthalate, DEP, dibutyl phthalate, and diethylhexyl phthalate. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of water samples with the recoveries from 90±1 to 107±1%.     

A Single-Gallery Model for the In Situ Production of Polyethylene-Clay Nanocomposites

Polyolefin-clay nanocomposites are finding many new applications because of their improved properties, such as high modulus, elevated scratch resistance and low gas permeability. Currently, these composites are produced by melt blending organically modified clay with polyolefins. The most challenging step in this process is the intercalation and exfoliation of the clay to produce a homogenously dispersed phase at the nanoscale. A promising alternative to melt blending is in-situ polymerization, where the polymer is produced between the clay layers in the polymerization reactor. In-situ polymerization of olefins with metallocene catalysts supported on clay can produce nanocomposites using conventional polymerization reactors, provided that the clay can be used as a support for the olefin polymerization catalyst. In this approach, the clay fulfills the functions of catalyst support and dispersed phase in the final nanocomposite. In this work, a mathematical model describing particle growth during in-situ polymerization of ethylene with a metallocene catalyst supported on clay will be discussed. The model expands the approach of the multi-grain model used in heterogeneous olefin polymerization to account for the layered structure of clays.     

Old Reagent,New Results: Aromatization of Hantzsch 1,4-Dihydropyridines with Supported Bismuth Nitrate under Microwave Irradiation in Solventless System

Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyriines were rapidly and efficiently oxidized using bismuth nitrate supported onto silica gel under microwave irradiation.     

An active and selective heterogeneous catalytic system for Michael addition

Potassium fluoride doped natural zeolite was found to be an efficient and selective solid base catalyst for 1,4-Michael addition. The catalyst is easily prepared and the workup procedure simplified by simple filtration.All products were obtained in high yields as well as short reaction times.     

Theoretical Study and NBO Analysis of the Decomposition Kinetics of Oxetane, 2-Methyloxetane and 2,2-Dimethyloxetane

A theoretical study of the thermal decomposition kinetics of oxetane (1), 2-methyloxetane (2), and 2,2-dimethyloxetane (3) has been carried out at the B3LYP/6-311+G**, B3PW91/6-311+G**, and MPW1PW91/6-311+G** levels of theory. The MPW1PW91/6-311+G** method was found to give a reasonable good agreement with the experimental kinetics and thermodynamic parameters. The decomposition reaction of compounds 1～3 yields formaldehyde and the corresponding substituted olefin. Based on the optimized ground state geometries using MPW1PW91/6-311+G** method, the natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis of donor-acceptor (bond-antibond) interactions revealed that the stabilization energies associated with the electronic delocalization from σC3-C4 bonding to σ*O1-C2 antibonding orbitals decrease from compounds 1 to 3. The σC3-C4→σO1-C2 resonance energies for compounds 1～3 are 2.63, 2.59 and 2.45 kcal mol-1, respectively. Further, the results showed that the energy gaps between σC3-C4 bonding and σ*O1-C2 antibonding orbitals decrease from compounds 1 to 3. Also, the decomposition process in these compounds are controlled by σ→σ* resonance energies. Moreover, the obtained order of energy barriers could be explained by the number of electron-releasing methyl groups substituted to the Csp3 atom (which is attached to oxygen atom). NBO analysis shows that the occupancies of σCsp3-O bonds decrease for compounds 1～3 as 3<2<1, and those of σCsp3-O bonds increase in the opposite order (3 > 2 > 1). This fact illustrates a comparatively easier thermal decomposition of the sCsp3-O bond in compound 3 compared to compound 2, and in compound 2 compared to compound 1. NBO results indicate that these reactions are occurring through a concerted and asynchronous four-membered cyclic transition state type of mechanism.     

Combined methane reforming over nano LaNiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> catalyst with modified active surface

In this study, nano catalyst LaNiO₃ with perovskite structure was synthesized using the citrate sol–gel method in the combined methane reforming with CO₂ and O₂ (CRM). The effects of increasing the surface area of the LaNiO₃ perovskite on the catalytic activity were investigated by changing the method of preparing and creating holes in the surface of the samples. Physical and chemical properties of the samples, before and after the reactor test, were determined through ICP, AA, XRD, TGA, TPR, BET, SEM, EDX and TEM techniques. The results of XRD, ICP, AA, SEM, EDX and TEM tests indicated that the citrate sol–gel method is a good way to prepare a homogeneous perovskite LaNiO₃ sample on a scale of nanometers. The results of the TPR test showed using etching in the citrate sol–gel method can produce samples with high stability. The BET results indicated that the surface area of the LaNiO₃ sample tripled with the method suggested in this paper. Changes in preparation method lead to induction time decreasing and temperature increasing. Use of etching in the citrate sol gel method had no significant effect in the results of activity tests versus time reaction at a temperature of 800 °C. TGA curves revealed no production of coke over the process for the produced samples.     

An efficient one-pot synthesis of novel 6-hydroxy-14-aryl-8H-dibenzo[a,i]xanthene-8,13(14H)-diones derived from lawsone

An efficient and convenient procedure for the synthesis of novel 6-hydroxy-14-aryl-8H-dibenzo[a,i]xanthene-8,13(14H)-dione derivatives has been developed by one-pot, three-component condensation reaction between 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione, aromatic aldehydes and 2,3-naphthalenediol in glacial acetic acid under reflux conditions. This domino reaction implies Knoevenagel condensation, Michael addition, intramolecular cyclization and dehydration. The reaction avoids tedious workup procedure due to the direct precipitation of products from the reaction medium. The notable features of this domino transformation are operational simplicity, clean reaction, easy handling, easy purification process and high yields of the products.

Graphical abstract

     

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of di-three-coordinated copper(I) macrocyclic Schiff base complexes

The air-stable di-copper(I) complexes Cu₂L(SCN)₂ (1) and Cu₂L(SCN)_1.86I_0.14 (2) of the N₄ macrocyclic Schiff base ligand L have been synthesized and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, UV-Vis and crystal structure determination. X-ray analysis of the complexes shows an approximate distorted trigonal planar geometry around each copper(I) ion that is constructed from one N-bonded thiocyanate (or iodide in 2) group and two imine nitrogen atoms. DFT calculations were used to determine the structural features of the Cu₂L(SCN)₂ complex, and these were consistent with the experimental data for the complex.     

Green synthetic approach toward new chromeno[4,3-b]quinoline and chromeno[4,3-b]pyridine derivatives

Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds - A facile, convenient, and efficient synthesis of new chromeno[4,3-b]quinoline and chromeno[4,3-b]pyridine derivatives has been accomplished via one-pot...