Single Atom Alloy Preparation and Applications in Heterogeneous Catalysis

There have been remarkable progresses in manipulating heterogeneous catalysts' nanostructures in the past decade. The concept of single atom alloy (SAA) was firstly proposed in 2012 when researchers successfully stabilized single Pd atoms on the Cu(111) surface. However, earlier work in 2009, which focused on replacing one Au atom with a Pd atom in thiolate protected Au₂₅ nanoclusters, could also be considered as the pioneer work of single atom alloy. Both kinds of single atom alloys exhibited the potential of maximum utilization of scarce elements and attractive catalytic performances. The well‐defined structures of SAA catalysts make accurate modeling possible, which further realizes the rational design of single atom alloy catalysts. In this review, we summarize the research trajectory of single atom alloys as well as recent achievements in this field. We also introduce several commonly adopted characterization methods for SAA catalysts such as scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), temperature programmed reaction (TPR), extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra, matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrum (MALDI‐MS) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Through discussing recent progresses in SAA catalysts, we propose that future researches in this filed should be focused on exploring new kinds of metal nanocrystals and controlling the nanostructure of SAA even more precisely.     

Template synthesis in the nickel(II)–thiocarbohydrazide–propanone triple system

The complexing process proceeding in the Ni^II–thiocarbohydrazide (H₂N–H–NC(=S)–NH–NH₂)–propanone triple system in EtOH solution and nickel(II)hexacyanoferrate(II) gelatin-immobilized matrix has been studied. It has been found that in the first case, template synthesis leading, as a minimum, to formation of three coordination compounds of Ni^II with (N,N,S,S)-donor tetradentate ligands having NiL¹, NiL² and NiL³compositions where L¹ is 4,6,6-trimethyl-2,3,7,8-tetraazanonen-3-di(thiohydrazide)-1,9, L² is 4,6,6,12-tetrametyl-1,9-dithio-2,3,7,8,10,11-hexaazatridekadien-3,11-hydrazide-1 and L³ is 2,8,10,10,16-pentamethyl-5,13-dithio-3,4,6,7,11,12,14,15-octaazaheptadekatrien-2,7,15 is observed, whereas in the gelatin-immobilized matrix, a complexing process in the system considered does not occur.     

Angular distributions of photoelectrons in resonantly enhanced multiphoto ionization via the 7s[1 1/2]0 1 and 8s[1 1/2]0 1 states of Xe

Photoelectron angular distributions have been measured for the three-photon resonant one-photon ionization, (3+1), of Xe via the 7s[1 1/2]⁰ ₁ and 8s[1 1/2]⁰ ₁ states. The results are in good agreement with the theoretical predictions of Tang and Lambropoulos [13] for the 8s[1 1/2]⁰ ₁, but not for the 7s[1 1/2]⁰ ₁ state. Furthermore, the results are compared to those which have been obtained by Blazewicz et al. [1] for the three-photon resonant two-photon ionization, (3+2), of Xe via the 6s[1 1/2]⁰ ₁ state.     

An efficient preparation of isosteric phosphonate analogues of sphingolipids by opening of oxirane and cyclic sulfamidate intermediates with alpha-lithiated alkylphosphonic esters

D-erythro-(2S,3R,4E)-Sphingosine-1-phosphonate (1), the isosteric phosphonate analogue of naturally occurring sphingosine 1-phosphate (1a), and D-ribo-phytosphingosine 1-phosphonate (2), the isosteric phosphonate analogue of D-ribo-phytosphingosine-1-phosphate (2a), were synthesized starting with methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-glycerate (4) and D-ribo-phytosphingosine (3), respectively. Oxirane 12 was formed in eight steps from 4, and cyclic sulfamidate 22 was formed in five steps from 3. The phosphonate group was introduced via regioselective ring-opening reactions of oxirane 12 and cyclic sulfamidate 22 with lithium dialkyl methylphosphonate, affording 13 and 23, respectively. The synthesis of 1 was completed by S(N)2 displacement of chloromesylate intermediate 14b with azide ion, followed by conversion of the resulting azido group to a NHBoc group and deprotection. The synthesis of 2 was completed by cleavage of the acetal, N-benzyl, and alkyl phosphonate ester groups.     

Coriatone and corianlactone, two novel sesquiterpenes from Coriaria nepalensis

Both coriatone (1). a novel highly oxygenated picrotoxane-type sesquiterpene, and corianlactone (2). with an unprecedented sesquiterpene basic skeleton, named coriane, were isolated from Coriaria nepalensis Wall. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by analysis of their two-dimensional NMR data, and the structure of 2 was confirmed by X-ray analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 showed no remarkable inhibitory activity toward K(562) cells. They are cytotoxic with IC(50) > 50 microg/mL (cis-platinim: IC(50) = 0.49 microg/mL).     

Effect of substituents (NH2, OH, F) on structures and stability of lithofluorosilylenoids

Isomeric structures and energies of three kinds of lithofluorosilylenoids, R₂SiLiF (R = NH₂, OH, F) were studied using theab initio molecular orbital theory. The calculations show that thermal stability of the three-membered ring structures of these three kinds of silylenoids decreases in the order of substituents NH₂ > OH > F because of the conjugation between NH₂, OH or F and Si atom. The interaction of substituents R with Li atom makes R₂SiLiF have a structure with two Li-A-Si-F (A = N, O, F) four-membered rings, which is the most stable of the isomers of each of three kinds of silylenoids and whose stability decreases in the order of substituents F > OH > NH₂. Inductive effect of substituents influences the thermal stability of the linear structure of silylenoids.