Catalytic Oxidative Cyclocondensation of o‐Aminophenols to 2‐Amino‐3H‐phenoxazin‐3‐ones

The catalytic oxidative cyclocondensation of the o‐aminophenols 1a–f was investigated. The oxidants used were air/laccase, H₂O₂/horseradish peroxidase, H₂O₂/ebselen (3), and TBHP/diphenyl diselenide 4. The products obtained were 2‐amino‐3H‐phenoxazin‐3‐one—questiomycin A, its derivative 2b, and cinnabarinic acid and actinocin (2c,d). Substrates with methyl groups at 4 and 5 positions of benzene ring were converted to different dihydrophenoxazinones 2g,h. Compounds having chlorine atoms at the same positions underwent oxidation to planar phenoxa-zinones 2e,f with elimination of one hydrochloride molecule.     

Phenoxy herbicidal ammonium ionic liquids

Ammonium ionic liquids with the 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetate anion were synthesized and characterized. Physicochemical properties, such as thermal stability, phase transition temperatures, viscosity, density, refractive index, as well as surface activity and herbicidal activity were determined. Improved physicochemical properties suggest a reduced environmental impact of newly formed group of herbicidal ionic liquids (HILs). HILs with a longer substituent can be characterized with better herbicidal activity in comparison with commercial products.     

Analysis of NH3-TPD Profiles for CuSSZ-13 SCR Catalyst of Controlled Al Distribution – Complexity Resolved by First Principles Thermodynamics of NH3 Desorption,IR and EPR Insight into Cu Speciation**

NH₃ temperature-programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD) is frequently used for probing the nature of the active sites in CuSSZ-13 zeolite for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO_x. Herein, we propose an interpretation of NH₃-TPD results, which takes into account the temperature-induced dynamics of NH₃ interaction with the active centers. It is based on a comprehensive DFT/GGA+D and first-principles thermodynamic (FPT) modeling of NH₃ adsorption on single Cu²⁺, Cu⁺, [CuOH]⁺ centers, dimeric [Cu-O-Cu]²⁺, [Cu-O₂²⁻-Cu]² species, segregated CuO nanocrystals and Brønsted acid sites (BAS). Theoretical TPD profiles are compared with the experimental data measured for samples of various Si/Al ratios and distribution of Al within the zeolite framework. Copper reduction, its relocation, followed by the intrazeolite olation/oxolation processes, which are concomitant with NH₃ desorption, were revealed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and IR. DFT/FPT results show that the peaks in the desorption profiles cannot be assigned univocally to the particular Cu and BAS centers, since the observed low-, medium- and high-temperature desorption bands have contributions coming from several species, which dynamically change their speciation and redox states during NH₃-TPD experiment. Thus, a rigorous interpretation of the NH₃-TPD profiles of CuSSZ-13 in terms of the strength and concentration of the active centers of a particular type is problematic. Nonetheless, useful connections for molecular interpretation of TPD profiles can be established between the individual component peaks and the corresponding ensembles of the adsorption centers.     

Phenol adsorption on closed carbon nanotubes

We present the results of systematic studies of phenol adsorption on closed commercially available, unmodified carbon nanotubes. Phenol adsorption is determined by the value of tube-specific surface area, the presence of small amount of surface groups influence adsorption only in very small amount. Phenol can be applied as a probe molecule for comparative analysis of tube surface areas. Tube curvature influences adsorption from solution, i.e., we observe increasing adsorption energy (and slower desorption process) with the decrease in tube curvature. This is in full accordance with molecular simulation results.     

Ionic-like behavior of oppositely charged nanoparticles

Mixtures of oppositely charged nanoparticles of various sizes and charge ratios precipitate only at the point of electroneutrality. This phenomenon-specific to the nanoscale and reminiscent of threshold precipitation of ions-is a consequence of the formation of core-and-shell nanoparticle aggregates, in which the shells are composed of like-charged particles and are stabilized by efficient electrostatic screening.     

Synthesis of quinolines via Friedländer reaction catalyzed by CuBTC metal-organic-framework

Friedl?nder condensation between 2-aminoaryl ketones and different carbonyl compounds, catalyzed by CuBTC was investigated by a combination of various experimental techniques and by density functional theory based modelling. CuBTC exhibiting hard Lewis acid character showed highly improved catalytic activity when compared with other molecular sieves showing high concentraion of Lewis acid sites, e.g. in BEA and (Al)SBA-15. Polysubstituted quinolines were synthesized via a Friedl?nder reaction catalyzed by CuBTC under the solvent-free conditions. High concentration of active sites in CuBTC together with the concerted effect of a pair of adjacent Cu(2+) coordinatively unsaturated active sites are behind a very high quinoline yield reached within a short reaction time. Results reported here make CuBTC a promising catalyst for other Lewis acid-promoted condensations, including those leading to biologically active compounds with a particular relevance for the pharmaceutical industry. The mechanism of a catalyzed Friedl?nder reaction investigated computationally is also reported.     

Molecular tethering or aggregation: is the existence of charge-transfer bands indicative of the formation of blue-box/tetrathiafulvalene inclusion complexes?

The interaction between tetrathiafulvalene and tetracation cyclobis(paraquat-p-phenylene) fragments-the key elements of many rotaxane systems-was investigated theoretically by using ab-initio second-order perturbation methods. In addition to the inclusion complex observed in the solid state, a thermodynamically stable "exterior" complex was identified. Calculation of the UV/Vis spectra for the inclusion and the exterior complexes indicated that the charge-transfer band that is often used to predict the formation of the inclusion complexes in solution is, in reality, due to the exterior mode of complexation. These results suggest that UV/Vis spectroscopy is not a reliable method for assigning the complexation modes in TTF:BB(4+) rotaxanes and related systems.