Isotope fractionation of molecular oxygen during adsorption/desorption by molecular sieve zeolite

The isotope fractionation of O(2) gas during adsorption onto, and desorption from, molecular sieve zeolite (MSZ) has been confirmed. It has been found that the magnitude of fractionation during gas adsorption for the determination of isotope ratio measurements by dual inlet mass spectrometry is significant during desorption but not during adsorption. The isotope shift will take place during insufficient desorption from MSZ and its magnitude varies with the amount of MSZ and its identity. In order to obtain complete desorption and to remove isotope shifts, the use of the minimum amount of 5A MSZ and additional heating at a temperature of 60 degrees C for a period of 10 min just before gas admission into the mass spectrometer are recommended.     

Photoinduced tandem three-component coupling of propanedinitrile, 2,5-dimethylhexa-2,4-diene, and cyanoarenes

A tandem three-component coupling photoreaction proceeds upon photoirradiation of MeCN/H2O solutions containing propanedinitrile (1, malononitrile), 2,5-dimethylhexa-2,4-diene (2), and polycyanoarenes in the presence of phenanthrene and carbonate, leading to selective alpha-monoalkylation of 1. The reaction proceeds via photo-NOCAS (Nucleophile-Olefin Combination, Aromatic Substitution) type mechanism: nucleophilic attack of the anion of 1 to photogenerated 2(*+) is followed by ipso-substitution on the radical anion of the polycyanoarene. It advances under mild, safe, and environmentally friendly conditions such as proceeding at ambient temperature without metals and halogens, and in the presence of weak base. The reaction also represents a novel and metal-free cross-coupling reaction that leads to ipso-substitution on polycyanoarene via aryl-cyano bond cleavage. In addition, the reaction is a rare example of introducing carbon nucleophile in the photoinduced electron transfer reaction, except that of cyanide ion.     

Synthesis of α-trifluoromethylstyrene derivatives via Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling of 2-bromo-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and aryl Grignard reagents

The Ni-catalyzed cross-coupling of 2-bromo-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and aryl Grignard reagents was investigated. When NiCl₂(PPh₃)₂ was used as a catalyst, the highest yield of α-trifluoromethylstyrene (89%) from 2-bromo-3,3,3-trifluoropropene and PhMgBr was obtained in 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone at 50 °C for 30 min. Various α-trifluoromethylstyrene derivatives could be produced in satisfactory yields by NiCl₂(PPh₃)₂-catalyzed coupling using aryl Grignard reagents.     

Synthesis of maremycins A and D1 via cycloaddition of a nitrone with (E)-3-ethylidene-1-methylindolin-2-one

A concise synthesis of maremycins A and D1 has been accomplished via cycloaddition of a chiral cyclic nitrone with ( E)-3-ethylidene-1-methylindolin-2-one as a key step. This synthesis clarifies the stereochemistry of the maremycins and is suitable for large-scale synthesis for biological screening.     

Structures of 17,19-hexatriacontadiyne monolayers on Au(111) studied by infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy

The aggregation and reaction of 17,19-hexatriacontadiyne molecules are studied on a Au(111) surface. The molecular orientation and arrangement are elucidated by infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRAS) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). A vapor-deposited monolayer and a multilayered film formed by adsorption from the solution provide IRA spectra with bands due to the antisymmetric and symmetric stretching of methylenes in the gauche conformation. After the adsorbed film is rinsed with the solvent, however, the spectrum loses the gauche bands and is characterized by the enhanced C-H(distal) and C-H(proximal) stretching bands, which means that all-trans molecules are laid flat. Only STM images for the rinsed film display columnar structures on the herringbones of the reconstructed Au(111) surface; the alkyl chain direction is found to be parallel to the Au atom row. The results indicate that an ordered monolayer is formed first at the liquid-solid interface, and then, disordered overlayers with the gauche conformation are grown but removed by a rinse. Upon exposure to UV light, thus obtained monomer columns are converted into oligomers with flexible backbones and an increased gauche population in the alkyl chains, which resemble red phase polydiacetylenes in LB films.     

Electrical conductivity modulation coupled to a high-spin-low-spin conversion in the molecular system [FeIII(qsal)2][Ni(dmit)2]3.CH3CN.H2O

The synergy between the electrical conductivity within the stacks of Ni(dmit)2 in the newly electrocrystallized [Fe(qsal)2][Ni(dmit)2]3.CH3CN.H2O and the spin conversion of Fe(qsal)2 is evidenced. In addition, the presence of a light-induced excited spin state trapping effect suggests that this complex is a prototypal photoswitchable spin-crossover molecular conductor.     

The porosity, acidity, and reactivity of dealuminated zeolite ZSM-5 at the single particle level: the influence of the zeolite architecture

A combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM), high‐resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR‐SEM), focused‐ion‐beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB‐SEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), confocal fluorescence microscopy (CFM), and UV/Vis and synchrotron‐based IR microspectroscopy was used to investigate the dealumination processes of zeolite ZSM‐5 at the individual crystal level. It was shown that steaming has a significant impact on the porosity, acidity, and reactivity of the zeolite materials. The catalytic performance, tested by the styrene oligomerization and methanol‐to‐olefin reactions, led to the conclusion that mild steaming conditions resulted in greatly enhanced acidity and reactivity of dealuminated zeolite ZSM‐5. Interestingly, only residual surface mesoporosity was generated in the mildly steamed ZSM‐5 zeolite, leading to rapid crystal coloration and coking upon catalytic testing and indicating an enhanced deactivation of the zeolites. In contrast, harsh steaming conditions generated 5–50 nm mesopores, extensively improving the accessibility of the zeolites. However, severe dealumination decreased the strength of the Brønsted acid sites, causing a depletion of the overall acidity, which resulted in a major drop in catalytic activity.     

Photoinduced alignment of polymer liquid crystals containing azobenzene moieties in the side group VII. On He-Ne laser beam irradiation

Photoinduced alignment in a polymer liquid crystal prepared from 6-{1-[4-(2-cyano-4-nitrophenylazo)phenyl]piperazino}hexyl acrylate and 4'-[6-(methacryloyloxy)hexyloxy]-4-cyanobiphenyl was investigated for the first time on irradiation with a polarized He-Ne laser beam at 633 nm. The azobenzene moieties as well as the inert cyanobiphenyl mesogenic units were aligned with the molecular long axis perpendicular to the polarization direction of the irradiation light. Alignment induced on short irradiation was reversible, while that induced under prolonged irradiation was irreversible due to the occurrence of crosslinking which might be caused by photoinduced decomposition of the azobenzene moieties during the photoirradiation process.     

Palladium-catalyzed reaction of allyl carbamates; allylation of carbonucleophiles,and protection-deprotection of amines

Allylation of carbonucleophiles with allylic carbamates under neutral conditions has been studied. The C-allylation of carbonucleophile is competitive with the N-allylation of amines, and the structure of amines is crucial for the selectivity. Bulky secondary amines gave the best results. Also a new method of protection-deprotection of amines as carbamates has been developed. Smooth deprotection is possible by the palladium-catalyzed reaction of allyl carbamates with formic acid. This method is particulary useful for primary amines, including optically active amino acids.     

Shape- and size-controlled synthesis in hard templates: sophisticated chemical reduction for mesoporous monocrystalline platinum nanoparticles

Here we report a novel hard-templating strategy for the synthesis of mesoporous monocrystalline Pt nanoparticles (NPs) with uniform shapes and sizes. Mesoporous Pt NPs were successfully prepared through controlled chemical reduction using ascorbic acid by employing 3D bicontinuous mesoporous silica (KIT-6) and 2D mesoporous silica (SBA-15) as a hard template. The particle size could be controlled by changing the reduction time. Interestingly, the Pt replicas prepared from KIT-6 showed polyhedral morphology. The single crystallinity of the Pt fcc structure coherently extended over the whole particle.