PMAA microgel surface-supported phase transfer catalyst as reusable microreactors for ultra-deep desulfurization

The reusable microreactors, poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) microgels surfacely covered with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride (AEM) and K₂{W(=O)(O₂)₂(H₂O)}₂ (W2) complexes, have been synthesized by using an ion exchange reaction between AEM located on PMAA microgels and W2 in aqueous solution. The final composite microspheres and intermediate products are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrophotometer, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. The results indicated the PMAA/AEM/W2 composite microspheres with surface-wrinkling morphology and core-shell structure. The feasibility of the composite microspheres used as reusable microreactors in catalytic oxidation of dibenzothiophene (DBT) was investigated. Additionally, the effects of some factors, including the amount of the microreactors, temperature, H₂O₂/DBT molar ratio, the loaded amount of AEM, DBT concentration, and recycling times, on the catalytic oxidation were examined. The results demonstrated that the prepared composite microspheres possess high catalytic performance and reusability in the catalytic oxidation of DBT.     

Impacts of some macromolecules on the characteristics of hydrogels prepared from pineapple peel cellulose using ionic liquid

Composite hydrogels were prepared from pineapple peel cellulose with the combinations of polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), к-carrageenan (CN), or soluble starch (SH) in 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride solvent. Impacts of these macromolecules on the texture profile analysis (TPA) parameters, equilibrium swelling ratio (ESR), and sodium salicylate (NaSA) load of the prepared hydrogels were studied. The NaSA release kinetics of the composite hydrogels were also compared. The composite hydrogels exhibited differences in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), TPA parameters, ESR, NaSA load ratio, and release kinetics. CN addition increased the hardness of the hydrogels, while PEG played an opposite role. SH and PVA could decrease hardness, gumminess, and resilience, and SH could increase the springiness and cohesiveness of the hydrogels. Most of the composite hydrogels exhibited the same basic FTIR features as the simple hydrogel. Freeze-dried composite hydrogels exhibited a markedly higher ESR than the oven-dried ones, and additions of PEG, PVA, CN, and SH showed the same effect. Addition of the PEG and PVA combination could lower the ESR of the hydrogels, whereas additions of the PEG and CN combination or PEG and SH combination could markedly increase the ESR of the hydrogels. Addition of PEG, PVA, CN, and SH respectively could increase the NaSA load ratio of the hydrogels. Oven-drying treatment, additions of the PEG and PVA combination or PEG and CN combination were propitious for extending the NaSA fast-release phase of the hydrogels.     

C?H Functionalization/Asymmetric Michael Addition Cascade Enabled by Relay Catalysis: Metal Carbenoid Used for C?C Bond Formation

A combination of either ruthenium(II) or rhodium(II) complexes and quinine‐derived squaramide enables 3‐diazooxindoles, indoles, and nitroalkenes to undergo highly efficient asymmetric three‐component reactions, thus affording optically active 3,3′‐bis(indole)s through a consecutive C C bond‐forming sequence, which turned out to be applicable to the facile total synthesis of (−)‐folicanthine.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed C(sp3)?H Activation: A Facile Method for the Synthesis of 3,4‐Dihydroquinolinone Derivatives

3,4‐Dihydroquinolinones were synthesized by the palladium‐catalyzed, oxidative‐addition‐initiated activation and arylation of inert C(sp³) H bonds. Pd(OAc)₂ and P(o‐tol)₃ were used as the catalyst and ligand, respectively, to improve the efficiency of the reaction. A further advantage of this reaction is that it could be performed in air. A relatively rare seven‐membered palladacycle was proposed as a key intermediate of the catalytic cycle.     

Copper‐Based Ternary and Quaternary Semiconductor Nanoplates: Templated Synthesis,Characterization, and Photoelectrochemical Properties

Two‐dimensional (2D) copper‐based ternary and quaternary semiconductors are promising building blocks for the construction of efficient solution‐processed photovoltaic devices at low cost. However, the facile synthesis of such 2D nanoplates with well‐defined shape and uniform size remains a challenge. Reported herein is a universal template‐mediated method for preparing copper‐based ternary and quaternary chalcogenide nanoplates, that is, CuInS₂, CuIn_xGa_1−xS₂, and Cu₂ZnSnS₄, by using a pre‐synthesized CuS nanoplate as the starting template. The various synthesized nanoplates are monophasic with uniform thickness and lateral size. As a proof of concept, the Cu₂ZnSnS₄ nanoplates were immobilized on a Mo/glass substrate and used as semiconductor photoelectrode, thus showing stable photoelectrochemical response. The method is general and provides future opportunities for fabrication of cost‐effective photovoltaic devices based on 2D semiconductors.     

One-pot reaction for the concise synthesis of spiro[benzofuran-2,2′-naphthalen]-1′-one derivatives

A novel one-pot two-step protocol has been developed to synthesize various spiro[benzofuran-2,2′-naphthalen]-1′-one derivatives from the three-component reaction of tetralones, 2-hydroxyphenyl functionalized α,β-unsaturated ketones, and iodine. One C–C bond and one C–O bond have formed during this process. The notable features of this protocol are simple and mild reaction conditions, applicable to a wide range of readily available starting materials, good yields (up to 91%), and excellent stereoselectivities (up to 97:3).     

Two novel polycyclic spiro lignans from Gymnotheca involucrata

Two novel lignans, gymnothespirolignans A (1) and B (2), possessing a rare polycyclic spiro skeleton, were isolated from the endemic plant of Gymnotheca involucrata Pei. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic evidences and the absolute configurations were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 showed promising antiviral activities against RSV with an IC₅₀ value of 31.87 and 17.51 μM, respectively.     

A dynamic paging scheme for long‐term evolution mobility management

In long‐term evolution, the service area is partitioned into several tracking areas (TAs), which comprise one or more cells (the radio coverages of base stations). The TAs are grouped into TA list (TAL). When an incoming call arrives, the network attempts to connect to the user equipment (UE) by paging the cells in the UE's TAL, which may incur large paging traffic that significantly consumes the limited radio resources. To resolve this issue, this paper proposes a dynamic paging scheme that determines the paging sequence of cells in real time according to the UE movement and call behavior. We compare the performance of the dynamic paging with that of the previously proposed Cell‐TA‐TAL (CTT) paging. Our study indicates that the dynamic paging outperforms the CTT paging when movement pattern is regular and the UE moves frequently. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The frequency of CFVD speed report for highway traffic

The control signals of cellular networks have been used to infer the traffic conditions of the road network. In particular, consecutive handover events are being used to estimate the traffic speed. During traffic congestion, consecutive handover events may be rare because vehicles move slowly, and thus very few or no speed reports would be generated from the congested area.However, the traffic speed report rate during traffic congestion has not been investigated in the literature. In this paper, we present an analytic model to estimate the speed report rate from cellular network signaling in steady traffic conditions, that is, the traffic speed and flow are assumed constant. Real field trial data were used to validate our analytic model. In addition, computer simulations were conducted to study how speed reports are generated in dynamic traffic conditions when traffic speed and flow change rapidly. Our study indicates that in a typical cell of length 1.5 km with a typical expected call holding time of 1 min, no speed report was generated from a congested three‐lane highway. Our study demonstrates that the lack of speed reports from consecutive handover events during rush hours indicates severe traffic congestion, and new methods that can estimate traffic speed from cellular network data during severe traffic congestion need to be developed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Furan-based Phosphaphenanthrene-containing Derivative as a Highly Efficient Flame-retardant Agent for Epoxy Thermosets without Deteriorating Thermomechanical Performances

In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, developing flame retardants from bio-based resources has aroused extensive interest in recent years. In this work, we utilized furfural(biomass) and 9,10-dihydro-9-oxa-10-phosphaphenanthrene-10-oxide(DOPO) to synthesize a biobased co-curing agent(FGD) to combine with 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl methane(DDM) for obtaining a low-phosphorus loading flame-retardant epoxy thermosets. The introduction of FGD decreased the activation energy of the curing progress, enhanced the mechanical properties of the epoxy thermosets, and did not affect the glass transition temperature of the epoxy thermosets. EP-5.0 had a lower thermal degradation rate and a doubled char yield compared with EP-0. The phosphorus content of EP-5.0 was only 0.45 wt%, while EP-5.0 reached the UL-94 V-0 rating with a high LOI value of 32%. Compared with EP-0, the PHRR of EP-2.5 and EP-5.0 decreased by 22.3% and 31.3%, respectively. The SEM results showed that the addition of FGD made the char residues more uniform and denser, which could effectively prevent combustible volatiles from escaping from the degradation area to the flame area and isolate the heat transfer so that the epoxy thermosets had an excellent flame-retardant performance.