Palladium nanoparticles deposited on a graphene–benzimidazole support as an efficient and recyclable catalyst for aqueous‐phase Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction

Graphene oxide was functionalized with benzimidazole for palladium immobilization. The resultant graphene–benzimidazole‐supported palladium composite (G‐BI‐Pd) was characterized using infrared and Raman spectroscopies, transmission electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. G‐BI‐Pd showed excellent catalytic activity and fast reaction kinetics in the aqueous‐phase Suzuki–Miyaura reaction of aryl iodides and bromides with phenylboronic acid under relatively mild conditions (5–25 min, 80 °C). The catalyst can be used several times without any significant loss of its catalytic activity.     

Fractional distribution of graphene oxide and its potential as an efficient and reusable solid catalyst for esterification reactions

Graphene oxide (GrO) prepared by the Hummers method was separated into three different fractions (GrO₅₀₀₀, GrO₂₀₀₀, and GrO_res) on the basis of their dispersion stability in the water. Infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and elemental analyses revealed that GrO₅₀₀₀ possesses a high degree of oxygen functionalities including phenolic, carboxylic, and ?OSO₂H groups, compared with the other fractions. The GrO₅₀₀₀ was found to be a highly efficient and reusable solid catalyst for the esterification of various carboxylic acids with a variety of alcohols to furnish corresponding esters in high to excellent yields. The catalytic activity of the GrO₅₀₀₀ was attributed to the ability of highly polar GrO₅₀₀₀ scaffold to adsorb/attract reactants, where the acid functionalities of GrO₅₀₀₀ facilitated the esterification process efficiently. The chemical and structural features of GrO₅₀₀₀ were discussed to understand the improved catalytic activity compared with GrO₂₀₀₀ and conventional solid acid catalysts. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

碳纳米管制备蓝光石墨烯量子点及其在柔性有机存储器上的应用

通过化学裁剪法打开碳纳米管获得了粒径一致、性能稳定、具有蓝色荧光的石墨烯量子点。该方法属于化学溶液法，具有成本低廉、工艺简单、条件易控等优势。将该样品与半导体聚合物按一定比例混溶，通过旋涂技术形成基于石墨烯量子点掺杂的聚合物复合薄膜，进而制成柔性存储器。该柔性可弯曲存储器具有低驱动电压、接近10³的ON/OFF 比率、较好的循环次数，较好的重复性和稳定性。该研究结果为柔性有机存储器领域的研究展开了新的方向。     

Effect of addition of iron on morphology and catalytic activity of PdCu nanoalloy thin film as catalyst in Sonogashira coupling reaction

Palladium‐supported catalysts are complex assemblies with a challenging preparation. Minor changes in their preparation conditions can affect the activity, selectivity and lifetime of these catalysts. PdCuFe nanoparticle (NP) thin films were supported on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) by the reduction of the organometallic complex [PdCl_2‌(cod)] (cod = cis ,cis ‐1,5‐cyclooctadiene), and [Cu(acac)₂] and [Fe(acac)₃] (acac = acetylacetonate) complexes at a toluene–water interface. We have investigated the application of the liquid–liquid interface method for preparing ultrathin films of catalysts and have evaluated the catalytic activity of the prepared NPs for the Sonogashira coupling reaction in micelle media. Also, we have investigated the effect of the addition of iron on the morphology, size and catalytic activity of PdCu/RGO NPs. Our study shows that both of the prepared catalysts (PdCu/RGO and PdCuFe/RGO) are efficient and recoverable catalysts for the Sonogashira carbon–carbon coupling reaction. This method has advantages compared to other routes, such as short reaction times, high to excellent yields, facile and low‐cost method for the preparation of the catalysts, and easy separation and reusability of the catalysts.     

Functionalized Organotellurium Halides: Synthesis,Characterization, and Observation of Intra- and Intermolecular Secondary Bonding

Abstract

Activated tellurium, but not selenium, reacts with para-substituted benzoylmethyl bromides as well as with iodoacetamide at their melting points in absence of a solvent to give bis(p-substituted benzoylmethyl)tellurium dibromides, (p-YC₆H₄COCH₂)₂TeBr₂, (Y = H, Me, and MeO) and bis(acetamido)tellurium diiodide, (H₂NCOCH₂)₂TeI₂, respectively. Quick reduction of (p-YC₆H₄COCH₂)₂TeBr₂, with sodium metabisulphite in a two-phase system yields crystalline (p-YC₆H₄COCH₂)₂Te. These tellurides undergo smooth oxidative addition of halogens, interhalogen ICl or a pseudohalogen (SCN)₂. Intramolecular coordination of the carbonyl group in these functionalized diorganotellurium dihalides is evident from IR spectra and shorter Te···O (carbonyl) distances in comparison to the sum of van der Waals radii and completes six coordination around Te atom. Not unexpectedly, therefore, intermolecular secondary bonding effects of the type Te…O, Te···X and X···X are missing in (PhCOCH₂)₂TeBr₂, (p-MeOC₆H₄COCH₂)TeBr₂ and (PhCOCH₂)₂TeI₂. Instead, these compounds provide rare examples, among organotellurium compounds, of supramolecular architecture, where C–H···Br and C–H···O hydrogen bonds and π-π (phenyl ring) interactions appear to be the noncovalent intermolecular associative forces that dominate the crystal packing.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) onto graphene oxide

The polyzwitterionic brushes comprised of poly(2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (pMPC) segments, which are used for surface modification of polymers and biocompatible coatings, were investigated. In this work, reverse surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (RATRP) of zwitterionic 2‐methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) is employed to tailor the functionality of graphene oxide (GeneO) in a well‐controlled manner and produce a series of well‐defined hemocompatible hybrids (termed as GeneO‐g‐pMPC). The complexes were characterized by FT‐IR, XRD, and Raman. Results show that MPC has been coordinated on the graphene oxide sheet. Thermal stability of the nanocomposites in comparison with the neat copolymer is revealed by thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscope images of the nanoconposite displays pMPC chains were capable of existing on GeneO sheet by RATRP. The biocompatibility properties were measured by plasma recalcification profile tests, hemolysis test, and MTT assays, respectively. The results confirm that the pMPC grafting can substantially enhance the hemocompatibility of the GeneO particles, and the GeneO‐g‐pMPC hybrids can be used as biomaterials without causing any hemolysis. With the versatility of RATRP and the excellent hemocompatibility of zwitterionic polymer chains, the GeneO‐g‐pMPC nanoparticles with desirable blood properties can be readily tailored to cater to various biomedical applications. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.