Highly Robust but Surface‐Active: An N‐Heterocyclic Carbene‐Stabilized Au25 Nanocluster

Surface organic ligands play a critical role in stabilizing atomically precise metal nanoclusters in solutions. However, it is still challenging to prepare highly robust ligated metal nanoclusters that are surface‐active for liquid‐phase catalysis without any pre‐treatment. Now, an N‐heterocyclic carbene‐stabilized Au₂₅ nanocluster with high thermal and air stabilities is presented as a homogenous catalyst for cycloisomerization of alkynyl amines to indoles. The nanocluster, characterized as [Au₂₅(ⁱPr₂‐bimy)₁₀Br₇]²⁺ (ⁱPr₂‐bimy=1,3‐diisopropylbenzimidazolin‐2‐ylidene) ( 1 ), was synthesized by direct reduction of AuSMe₂Cl and ⁱPr₂‐bimyAuBr with NaBH₄ in one pot. X‐ray crystallization analysis revealed that the cluster comprises two centered Au₁₃ icosahedra sharing a vertex. Cluster 1 is highly stable and can survive in solution at 80 °C for 12 h, which is superior to Au₂₅ nanoclusters passivated with phosphines or thiols. DFT computations reveal the origins of both electronic and thermal stability of 1 and point to the probable catalytic sites. This work provides new insights into the bonding capability of N‐heterocyclic carbene to Au in a cluster, and offers an opportunity to probe the catalytic mechanism at the atomic level.     

Improved Transistor Performance by Modulating Molecular Packing with Donor and Acceptor Moieties

The joint of the donor and acceptor moieties allows a facile and effective strategy to develop novel organic conjugated materials. However, few pieces of work report the understanding of the donor–acceptor interactions at the molecular level. Herein, we developed three small molecules containing one acceptor motif with different amounts of the donor unit. By combining theoretical calculations and energy level characterization, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels of the three molecules were proven to be almost identical. The molecular packing modes were evaluated from crystal structure prediction. Owing to the donor–acceptor interactions, the packing mode can be tuned from a 1D slipped stacking to a 2D brick layer. The 2D molecular packing and charge transport channel endowed the materials a higher electron mobility of 3.29 cm² V^?1 s^?1 in the single‐crystal field‐effect transistors after such modulation.     

A Water‐Stable Terbium(III)–Organic Framework as a Chemosensor for Inorganic Ions,Nitro‐Containing Compounds and Antibiotics in Aqueous Solutions

Effective detection of organic/inorganic pollutants, such as antibiotics, nitro‐compounds, excessive Fe³⁺ and MnO₄^?, is crucial for human health and environmental protection. Here, a new terbium(III)–organic framework, namely [Tb(TATAB)(H₂O)]?2H₂O ( Tb‐MOF , H₃TATAB=4,4′,4′′‐s‐triazine‐1,3,5‐triyltri‐m‐aminobenzoic acid), was assembled and characterized. The Tb‐MOF exhibits a water‐stable 3D bnn framework. Due to the existence of competitive absorption, Tb‐MOF has a high selectivity for detecting Fe³⁺, MnO₄^?, 4‐nirophenol and nitroimidazole (ronidazole, metronidazole, dimetridazole, ornidazole) in aqueous through luminescent quenching. The results suggest that Tb‐MOF is a simple and reliable reagent with multiple sensor responses in practical applications. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first Tb^III‐based MOF as an efficient fluorescent sensor for detecting metal ions, inorganic anions, nitro‐compounds, and antibiotics simultaneously.     

Synthesis and properties of near IR induced self-healable polyurethane/graphene nanocomposites

A series of self-healable polyurethane (SHPU)/modified graphene (MG) nanocomposites were synthesized from poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMG) and 4,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) with minute amounts (0–1 wt%) of MG which was chemically modified graphene oxide (GO) with phenyl isocyanate and reduced in the presence of phenylhydrazine.     

Palladium(II)-catalyzed tandem annulation reaction of o-alkynylbenzoates with methyl vinyl ketone for the synthesis of isocoumarins

A palladium(II)-catalyzed highly regioselective tandem reactions of o-alkynylbenzoates with methyl vinyl ketone for the synthesis of isocoumarins was developed. It is a convenient, mild and environmentally benign reaction with moderate to high yield. The reaction is initiated by the Pd(II) species and regenerate the Pd(II) species to complete the catalytic cycle without the necessity of a redox system.     

Palladium-catalyzed hydrodehalogenation of aryl halides using paraformaldehyde as the hydride source: high-throughput screening by paper-based colorimetric iodide sensor

Paraformaldehyde was employed as a hydride source in the palladium-catalyzed hydrodehalogenation of aryl iodides and bromides. High throughput screening using a paper-based colorimetric iodide sensor (PBCIS) showed that Pd(OAc)₂ and Cs₂CO₃ were the best catalyst and base, respectively. Aryl iodides and bromides were hydrodehalogenated to produce the reduced arenes using Pd(OAc)₂ and Pd(PPh₃)₄ catalyst. This catalytic system showed good functional group tolerance. In addition, it was found that paraformaldehyde is the hydride source and the reducing agent for the formation of palladium nanoparticles.     

Trigoxyphins O–T,six new heterodimers from Trigonostemon xyphophylloides

Phytochemical study of the twigs of Trigonostemon xyphophylloides led to the isolation of six new heterodimers, trigoxyphins O (1) and R–T (4–6) comprising of two different degraded diterpenoids, and trigoxyphins P (2) and Q (3) comprising a degraded diterpenoid and a phenylpropanoid, together with a known homodimer, neoboutomannin (7). The structures and relative configurations were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR experiments. Compounds 1–6 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against four human tumour cell lines by MTT assay.     

Palladium-catalyzed C–S bond formation by using N-amido imidazolium salts as ligands

N-Amido imidazolium salt was employed as a ligand in the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides and thiols, and showed good activity in the formation of thioether. The best combination for the coupling with aryl bromides was N-amido imidazolium salt 2 and NaHMDS, and that for the coupling with aryl iodides was N-amido imidazolium salt 1 and KO^tBu. The coupling reactions were conducted in the presence of Pd(OAc)₂ (1 mol %) in DMSO at 80 °C for 12 h.     

Cu/Ni助催化剂对TiO2光催化制取苯酚性能的影响

以TiO₂纳米粒子为主催化剂, 采用“浸渍-还原法”构筑了铜、镍共负载的二氧化钛基光催化系统。以苯为起始原料, H₂O₂为氧化剂, 研究了Cu/Ni助催化剂对TiO₂可见光催化制取苯酚性能的影响并对Cu/Ni助催化剂的作用机制进行了探讨。结果表明, 在可见光照射下, 纯TiO₂纳米粒子对苯氧化制取苯酚反应没有催化活性。铜、镍的引入可以明显地增强TiO₂可见光催化制取苯酚的活性。当使用负载有铜、镍的TiO₂作为催化剂时, 苯酚的产率可达到18%。结果还表明Cu、Ni之间存在着很强的协同作用。在该协同作用下, Cu、Ni共负载的TiO₂纳米粒子表现出了较单一金属负载的TiO₂纳米粒子高得多的光催化活性。     

MFI/BEA双沸石复合物的合成及其在甲烷选择性还原NOx中的应用

以合成的β沸石固液混合物作为ZSM-5沸石的部分原料制备了含有ZSM-5和β沸石的双相沸石复合物MFI/BEA。采用XRD, FTIR, 吡啶红外, NH₃-TPD, TEM, SEM和氮吸附-脱附等对合成的材料进行了表征。结果表明后合成的ZSM-5沸石在β沸石内部孕育生长, MFI/BEA双沸石复合物中两相沸石的组成比例可以通过控制第二步晶化时间来进行有效调控;与单一的Co-ZSM-5或Co-β相比, 通过离子交换法制备的Co-基复合催化剂Co-MFI/BEA在富氧条件下甲烷选择催化还原NO反应中具有高活性和高的稳定性, 并且表现出较好的抗SO₂毒化性能和良好的可逆性。