DFT and CASPT2 study on the mechanism of ethylene dimerization over Cr(II)OH+ cation

In this work, the ethylene coordination and dimerization mechanism over Cr(II)OH(+) cation were systematically investigated using density functional theory (DFT) and complete active space second-order perturbation theory (CASPT2). It was found that Cr(II)OH(+) cation can coordinate with up to four ethylene molecules which gives seven possible stable Cr(II)OH(+)·(C(2)H(4))(n) (n = 1-4) π-complexes. We investigated whether ethylene dimerization over Cr(II)OH(+) cation proceeds through either a carbene mechanism or a metallacycle mechanism. The potential energy surfaces were characterized using four different functionals (M06L, BLYP, B3LYP, and M06). It was found that the potential energy profiles calculated at the M06 level agreed well with the CASPT2 energy profiles. Since the intermediates involved in the proposed catalytic cycles showed different ground spin states, a reaction pathway involving a spin crossing between two potential energy surfaces was observed. The minimum-energy crossing points (MECPs) that connect the two potential energy surfaces were successfully located. The two-state metallacycle reaction pathway with the formation of chromacyclopentane as the rate-determining step was found to be energetically more favorable than the carbene reaction pathway. 1-Butene was formed from the chromacyclopentane by a two-step reductive elimination pathway through a chromium(IV) hydride intermediate.     

(NH4)6[Mn3B6P9O36(OH)3]·4H2O: a new open-framework manganese borophosphate synthesized by using boric acid flux method

A new three-dimensional (3-D) open-framework manganese borophosphate, (NH(4))(6)[Mn(3)B(6)P(9)O(36)(OH)(3)]·4H(2)O (denoted as MnBPO-CJ31), has been synthesized by using boric acid flux method. Its anionic framework structure is constructed by the connection of MnO(6) octahedra and BO(4), PO(4) and PO(3)(OH) tetrahedra. It contains 12-ring channels along the [001] direction with a pore diameter of 7.1 ?. It is the first borophosphate featuring a 3-D anionic partial structure with a B/P ratio of 2/3 and an unprecedented fifteen mer tetrahedral fundamental building unit (FBU) [B(6)P(9)O(36)(OH)(3)] exists in this compound. NH(4)(+) ions locate in the void space to balance the negative charge of the inorganic framework. The compound is further characterized by powder XRD, ICP, CHN, TGA and IR analyses. Magnetic study reveals that MnBPO-CJ31 shows interesting canted antiferromagnetic behaviour at low temperature.     

Glucokinase-activating sesquinlignans from the rhizomes of Acorus tatarinowii Schott

Three novel sesquinlignans, tatanans A (1), B (2), and C (3), have been isolated from the rhizomes of Acorus tatarinowii Schott. Their structures were established by spectroscopic techniques and single-crystal X-ray analysis. Tatanans A-C potently increase GK enzymatic activity with EC(1.5) values in the range of 0.16-1.85 μM. The potent GK activity and unique structural features of tatanans make them promising leads for therapeutic development of antihyperglycemic drugs.     

Deliberately designed processes to physically tether the carboxyl groups of poly(pentacosadiynoic acid) to a poly(vinyl alcohol) glassy matrix to make poly(pentacosadiynoic acid) thermochromically reversible in the matrix

In this article, we demonstrate that by tethering carboxyl groups of poly(10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid) (PDA) to a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix, PDA, which is irreversible in its pure form, becomes reversible in the thermochromism. The tethering is realized by simple but deliberately designed processes: (1) Disperse the commercially available monomer 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (DA) nanocrystals in a PVA aqueous solution by the "NCCM" method invented in our laboratory. (2) Anneal and dry the mixture solution at a temperature higher than the melting point of pure DA crystal. (3) Polymerize the as-annealed DA/PVA blend films by UV irradiation. After the polymerization, PDA/PVA films with completely reversible thermochromism are obtained. The reversible PDA/PVA films can be easily dissolved in water, leading to water-dispersible nanoaggregates with the reversibility. Blends of PDA with other water-soluble polymers such as poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(allyamine) (PAM), were prepared respectively, by the same processes and under the same conditions. It is found that all these nanocomposites are irreversible or partially reversible in the thermochromism; either the relatively low glassy transition temperature of the polymer matrix (in the case of PEO) or the partial ionization nature of the polymer (in the cases of PAA and PAM) is responsible for the irreversibility or the partial reversibility.     

Electrochemical detection of ultratrace nitroaromatic explosives using ordered mesoporous carbon

A sensitive electrochemical sensor has been fabricated to detect ultratrace nitroaromatic explosives using ordered mesoporus carbon (OMC). OMC was synthesized and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements. Glassy carbon electrodes functionalized with OMC show high sensitivity of 62.7 μA cm⁻² per ppb towards 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). By comparison with other materials such as carbon nanotubes and ordered mesoporous silica, it is found that the high performance of OMC toward sensing TNT is attributed to its large specific surface area and fast electron transfer capability. As low as 0.2 ppb TNT, 1 ppb 2,4-dinitrotoluene and 1 ppb 1,3-dinitrobenzene can be detected on OMC based electrodes. This work renders new opportunities to detect ultratrace explosives for applications of environment protections and home securities against chemical warfare agents.     

Thermal degradation mechanism of flame retarded epoxy resins with a DOPO-substitued organophosphorus oligomer by TG-FTIR and DP-MS

A novel phosphorus-containing oligomeric flame retardant, poly(DOPO substituted hydroxyphenyl methanol pentaerythritol diphosphonate) (PDPDP) was synthesized and applied to flame retarded epoxy resins. The thermal degradation behaviors of flame retarded epoxy composites with PDPDP were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermogravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry (TG-FTIR) and direct pyrolysis-mass spectrometry (DP-MS) techniques. The identification of pyrolysis fragment ions provided insight into the flame retardant mechanism. The results showed that the mass loss rate of the EP/PDPDP composites was clearly lower than pure EP when the temperature was higher than 300 °C in air or nitrogen atmosphere. The results also suggested that the main decomposition fragment ions of the EP/PDPDP composite were H₂O, CO₂, CO, benzene, and phenol. The incorporation of PDPDP can reduce the release of combustible gas and induce the formation of char layer, hence the fire potential hazard was reduced.     

Surface structure and catalytic properties of MoO3/CeO2 and CuO/MoO3/CeO2

XRD, LRS, TPR and in situ NH(3) adsorption FT-IR were used to investigate the dispersion state of the copper oxide and molybdena species of MoO(3)/CeO(2) and CuO/MoO(3)/CeO(2) catalysts as well as their surface acidity. The results showed that the molybdena monolayer modification promoted the dispersion of CuO due to the formation of new tetrahedral vacancies. Meanwhile, CuO changed the structure of molybdenum species and then influenced the surface acidity of the samples. A detail discussion about the possible model of the surface structure of the catalyst was presented. In addition, combining with the in situ NH(3) adsorption FT-IR, the relationships between the activities for 'NO + NH(3) + O(2)' reaction and surface acid properties (Br?nsted and Lewis acid sites) of the catalysts were discussed.     

A versatile platform for highly sensitive detection of protein: DNA enriching magnetic nanoparticles based rolling circle amplification immunoassay

A novel rolling circle amplification (RCA) immunoassay based on DNA enriching magnetic nanoparticles and assembled fluorescent DNA nanotags, magnetic nanoparticles-RCA immunoassay, is developed as a versatile fluorescence assay platform for highly sensitive proteins detection.