BowtieArene: A Dual Macrocycle Exhibiting Stimuli-Responsive Fluorescence

Although highly useful in supramolecular chemistry, pillararenes lack a fluorophore in their skeleton. Here we present BowtieArene, a novel fluorescent dual macrocycle, featuring a central tetraphenylethylene-derived fluorophore and two pillar-like, pentagon-shaped cavities which are comparable to pillar[5]arene. This concisely prepared, figure-of-eight molecule exhibits vapor absorption and host–guest capabilities, as well as intriguing switchable fluorescence. The fluorochromism of BowtieArene can be triggered by multiple external stimuli including solvent, vapor, and mechanical force, with excellent reversibility and stability. Experimental and theoretical evidence indicate that the fluorochromism should be closely related to molecular packing.     

Precise measurement and control of the pressure-driven flows for microfluidic systems

The pressure-driven device is designed and the flow rates of the microfluidic systems can be supplied by the pressure-driven flows, which can significantly reduce the flow-rate fluctuations coming from the pump source. For pressure-driven flows, the flow rates of the fluids can be predicted by measuring the pressure drop along a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing. Especially, by varying the geometrical parameters of the PTFE tubing, the predicted flow rates of the fluids are compared with the experimental measurements, and the testing precision of the pressure-driven flows can be obtained. Meanwhile, the dynamic characteristics of the open-loop and closed-loop control pressure-driven device are comparatively studied. Particularly, a proportional and integral (PI) controller is integrated with the closed-loop control pressure-driven device, and the effects of the parameters of the PI controller on the dynamic characteristics of the pressure-driven devices are mainly discussed. Most importantly, by improving the dynamic characteristics of the pressure-driven devices, precise measurement and control of the pressure-driven flows can be achieved for microfluidic systems.     

Continuous Electrochemical Synthesis of Iso-Coumarin Derivatives from o-(1-Alkynyl) Benzoates under Metal- and Oxidant-Free

A non-oxidant and metal-free strategy for synthesizing iso-coumarin by using a continuous electrochemical microreactor to initiate an oxidative cyclization reaction of o-(1-alkynyl) benzoate and radicals. This efficient and clean continuous electrosynthesis method not only avoids the complicated gas protection operation and production of by-products in the batch processes, but also help to overcome the difficulty that batch metal catalysis and electrocatalysis are difficult to scale up, and has the potential for pilot-scale experiment.     

Catalytic benzene mono-alkylation over three catalysts: improving activity and selectivity with M-Y catalyst

Modified Y type catalyst (M-Y) shows great potential for the preparation of toluene attribute to catalyst topology and synergistic effect of Lewis acid and Brönsted acid in the alkylation reaction. However, it still remains a big challenge to build a reaction mechanism. Thereby, based on the study of HZSM-5, H-beta and M-Y catalysts structure and physical properties, a plausible reaction mechanism was proposed. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N₂ adsorption/desorption, Fourier transform infrared absorption spectra and Pyridine adsorption infrared. The activity of catalysts was tested in benzene alkylation with methanol and was found to be in the following increasing order: Na-Y (no effect)?<?H-Y?<<?HZSM-5?<?H-beta?<?M-Y.