Synthesis and small molecule reactivity of uranium(IV) alkoxide complexes with both bound and pendant N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

The syntheses of two tetravalent uranium alkoxide-carbene complexes are reported, [UIL3], and [UL4] where L = OCMe2CH2[1-C(NCHCHNiPr)]. The latter shows dynamic behaviour of the alkoxycarbene ligands in solution at room temperature, and the crystal structure of [UL4] shows that one carbene group remains uncoordinated. The unbound N-heterocyclic carbene group is trapped by a range of reagents such as 16-valence-electron metal carbonyl fragments and BH3 moieties, forming, for example, [UL3(mu-L)W(CO)5], [UL2(mu-L)2Mo(CO)4], and [UL(n)(L-BH3)(4-n)] (n = 1-4), demonstrating the potential for these hemilabile electropositive metal-carbene complexes to participate in the bifunctional activation of small molecules.     

磁性荧光双功能复合纳米粒子Fe3O4@SiO2@ZrO2:Tb3+的合成和表征

通过原位反应合成法成功合成了一种新型水溶性的磁性荧光复合纳米粒子Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@ZrO₂:Tb³⁺,并通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线粉末衍射仪(XRD)、红外光谱仪(FT-IR)、磁性测试仪和荧光(PL)光谱对其形貌、尺寸、相组成、磁性和荧光性能进行了表征。 结果表明,核(Fe₃O₄@SiO₂)壳(ZrO₂:Tb³⁺)结构组成的磁性荧光复合纳米粒子具有超顺磁性,其饱和磁化强度达到36 emu/g,并且在494 nm(⁵D₄→⁷F₆)、549 nm(⁵D₄→⁷F₅)、587 nm(⁵D₄→⁷F₄)和625 nm(⁵D₄→⁷F₃)处具有4个Tb³⁺特有的荧光发射光谱带峰值。 磁性荧光双功能的复合纳米粒子在生物医学领域具有潜在的应用价值。     

Atom-transfer radical polymerization of styrene with bifunctional and monofunctional initiators: Experimental and mathematical modeling results

Bulk atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene was carried out at 110 °C using benzal bromide as bifunctional initiator and 1-bromoethyl benzene as monofunctional initiator. CuBr/2,2′-bipyridyl was used as the ATRP catalyst. The polymerization kinetic data for styrene with both initiators was measured and compared with a mathematical model based on the method of moments and another one using Monte Carlo simulation. An empirical correlation was incorporated into the model to account for diffusion-controlled termination reactions. Both models can predict monomer conversion, polymer molecular weight averages, and polydispersity index. In addition, the Monte Carlo model can also predict the full molecular weight distribution of the polymer. Our experimental results agree with our model predictions that bifunctional initiators can produce polymers with higher molecular weights and narrower molecular weight distributions than monofunctional initiators. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2212–2224, 2007     

Coupling Reactions of Alkynyl Indoles and CO2 by Bicyclic Guanidine: Origin of Catalytic Activity?

Density functional theory calculations were used to investigate the three possible modes of activation for the coupling of CO₂ with alkynyl indoles in the presence of a guanidine base. The first of these mechanisms, involving electrophilic activation, was originally proposed by Skrydstrup et al. (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed . 2015 , 54 , 6682). The second mechanism involves the nucleophilic activation of CO₂. Both of these electrophilic and nucleophilic activation processes involve the formation of a guanidine‐CO₂ zwitterion adduct. We have proposed a third mechanism involving the bifunctional activation of the bicyclic guanidine catalyst, allowing for the simultaneous activation of the indole and CO₂ by the catalyst. We demonstrated that a second molecule of catalyst is required to facilitate the final cyclization step. Based on the calculated turnover frequencies, our newly proposed bifunctional activation mechanism is the most plausible pathway for this reaction under these experimental conditions. Furthermore, we have shown that this bifunctional mode of activation is consistent with the experimental results. Thus, this guanidine‐catalyzed reaction favors a specific‐base catalyzed mechanism rather than the CO₂ activation mechanism. We therefore believe that this bifunctional mechanism for the activation of bicyclic guanidine is typical of most CO₂ coupling reactions.     

Carbon Nanotube Supported Molybdenum Carbide as Robust Electrocatalyst for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Molybdenum carbide is considered to be one of the most competitive catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) regarding its high catalytic activity and superior corrosion resistance. But the low electrical conductivity and poor interfacial contact with the current collector greatly inhibit its practical application capability. Herein, carbon nanotube (CNT) supported molybdenum carbide was assembled via electrostatic adsorption combined with complex bonding. The N-doped molybdenum carbide nanocrystals were uniformly anchored on the surfaces of amino CNTs, which depressed the agglomeration of nanoparticles while strengthening the migration of electrons. The optimized catalyst (250-800-2h) showed exceptional electrocatalytic performance towards HER under both acidic and alkaline conditions. Especially in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution, the 250-800-2h catalyst exhibited a low overpotential of 136 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm² (η₁₀) with the Tafel slope of 49.9 mV dec⁻¹, and the overpotential only increased 8 mV after 20,000 cycles of stability test. The active corrosive experiment revealed that more exposure to high-activity γ-Mo₂N promoted the specific mass activity of Mo, thus, maintaining the catalytic durability of the catalyst.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Ligand-Linked Pt Nanoparticles: Tunable,Three-Dimensional,Porous Networks for Catalytic Hydrogen Sensing

Porous networks of Pt nanoparticles interlinked by bifunctional organic ligands have shown high potential as catalysts in micro-machined hydrogen gas sensors. By varying the ligand among p-phenylenediamine, benzidine, 4,4‘‘-diamino-p-terphenyl, 1,5-diaminonaphthalene, and trans-1,4-diaminocyclohexane, new variants of such networks were synthesized. Inter-particle distances within the networks, determined via transmission electron microscopy tomography, varied from 0.8 to 1.4 nm in accordance with the nominal length of the respective ligand. While stable structures with intact and coordinatively bonded diamines were formed with all ligands, aromatic diamines showed superior thermal stability. The networks exhibited mesoporous structures depending on ligand and synthesis strategy and performed well as catalysts in hydrogen gas microsensors. They demonstrate the possibility of deliberately tuning micro- and mesoporosity and thereby transport properties and steric demands by choice of the right ligand also for other applications in heterogeneous catalysis.     

Spectral Properties of Bifunctional Schiff Bases, [Bis (X-Phenyl)-Ethane Diimine]

Electronic spectra of five (Bis(X-phenyl)-Ethane diimine] compounds I-V, have been investigated in various organic solvents and aqueous buffer solutions of varying pH's. The observed visible band is assigned to intramolecular CT transition. Furthermore, it is deduced that structure of the o-hydroxy derivative is not entirely planar. The acid dissociation constant values of the hydroxy derivatives have been determined and are discussed.     

4-Nitrophenyl N-(1-Aryl-2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)urethanes: Novel 1,3-Electrophilic Components of Reactions Leading to 6- and 7-Membered Heterocycles

We propose an approach to synthesis of N,O,S-containing 6- and 7-membered heterocycles based on using 4-nitrophenyl N-(1-aryl-2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)urethanes as the electrophilic components in heterocyclizations with bifunctional nucleophilic reagents.