Synthesis and Characterization of an α-Fe2O3-Decorated g-C3N4 Heterostructure for the Photocatalytic Removal of MO

This study describes the preparation of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄), hematite (α-Fe₂O₃), and their g-C₃N₄/α-Fe₂O₃ heterostructure for the photocatalytic removal of methyl orange (MO) under visible light illumination. The facile hydrothermal approach was utilized for the preparation of the nanomaterials. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) were carried out to study the physiochemical and optoelectronic properties of all the synthesized photocatalysts. Based on the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-visible diffuse reflectance (DRS) results, an energy level diagram vs. SHE was established. The acquired results indicated that the nanocomposite exhibited a type-II heterojunction and degraded the MO dye by 97%. The degradation ability of the nanocomposite was higher than that of pristine g-C₃N₄ (41%) and α-Fe₂O₃ (30%) photocatalysts under 300 min of light irradiation. The formation of a type-II heterostructure with desirable band alignment and band edge positions for efficient interfacial charge carrier separation along with a larger specific surface area was collectively responsible for the higher photocatalytic efficiency of the g-C₃N₄/α-Fe₂O₃ nanocomposite. The mechanism of the nanocomposite was also studied through results obtained from UV-vis and XPS analyses. A reactive species trapping experiment confirmed the involvement of the superoxide radical anion (O₂^•−) as the key reactive oxygen species for MO removal. The degradation kinetics were also monitored, and the reaction was observed to be pseudo-first order. Moreover, the sustainability of the photocatalyst was also investigated.     

Influence of counter-anion on the coordination geometry of manganese(II) complexes with methyl-2-pyrazinecarboximidate ligand

Two new complexes of [Mn(2-MPyzCI)₂Cl₂].H²O (1) and [Mn(2-MPyzCI)₂(H₂O)₂](NO₃)₂ (2) were synthesized from the reaction of MnX₂.4H₂O (X=Cl^? and NO₃^?) with 2-cyanopyrazine in methanolic solution. The chelating methyl pyrazine-2-carboximidate (2-MPyzCI) ligand is formed via the methanolysis of 2-cyanopyrazine. Although coordination environment around manganes(II) ions is similar, but these complexes are different in geometrical position of 2-MPyzCI ligands. As both compounds are synthesized under the same reaction conditions, the only difference between these two complexes are counter ions and changing of geometrical position of ligands can be considered as a result of influence of the counter-anions on the molecular structures.     

EPR of Cu2+-doped tris-sarcosine calcium chloride

The EPR study of the Cu²⁺-doped tris-sarcosine calcium chloride (TSCC) at room temperature is reported. Two magnetically inequivalent sites for Cu²⁺ were observed. The rhombic spin Hamiltonian parameters are determined by fitting the EPR spectra for two centres: Cu²⁺(I) g₁ = 2.0276, g₂ = 2.0517, g₃ = 2.4019, A₁ = 82, A₂ = 128, A₃ = 152 [G] and Cu²⁺(II) g₁ = 2.0231, g₂ = 2.0368, g₃ = 2.5294, A₁ = 76, A₂ = 92, A₃ = 156 [G]. The ground state wave function is also determined. The g-anisotropy is evaluated and compared with the experimental value. Further, the optical study of the crystal at room temperature is carried out and the nature of bonding in the complex is discussed.     

Cationic para‐phenyl‐substituted α‐diimine nickel catalyzed ethylene and 4‐methyl‐1‐pentene (co)polymerizations via living/controlled chain‐walking

Upon activation with diethylaluminium chloride (Et₂AlCl), a series of phenyl‐substituted α‐diimine nickel precatalysts conducted 4‐methyl‐1‐pentene (4MP) and ethylene (E) (co)polymerizations via controlled chain‐walking to generate branched amorphous polymers with high molecular weight and narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n < 1.6). The obtained poly(4MP)s were amorphous elastomers with glass transition temperature (T_g) of ?10 ~ ?24 °C, which are higher than that of E‐4MP copolymer ( ? 63.0 °C). At room temperature (25 °C), 4MP polymerization proceeds in a living manner. The microstructures of the produced poly(4MP)s indicated the 2,1‐ and 1,2‐insertion followed by chain‐walking, the latter being predominant. The NMR analyses of the polymers showed that the obtained poly(4MP) possessed methyl, isobutyl, 2,4‐dimethylpentyl and 2‐methylhexyl groups, while the isobutyl and 2,4‐dimethylalkyl branches derived from 4MP were observed in the E‐4MP copolymer. The branch structures and the insertion‐type of monomer were depended on the polymerization temperature, and the content of methyl branch increased with an increase in the polymerization temperature.     

Reaction kinetics and thermochemistry of the chemically activated and stabilized primary ethyl radical of methyl ethyl sulfide,CH3SCH2CH2•, with O2 to CH3SCH2CH2OO•

Oxidation of methyl ethyl sulfide (CH₃SCH₂CH₃, methylthioethane, MES) under atmospheric and combustion conditions is initiated by hydroxyl radicals, MES radicals, generated after loss of a H atom via OH abstraction, will further react with O₂ to form chemically activated and stabilized peroxyl radical adducts. The kinetics of the chemically activated reaction between the CH₃SCH₂CH₂• radical and molecular oxygen are analyzed using quantum Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel theory for k(E) with master equation analysis and a modified strong-collision approach to account for further reactions and collisional deactivation. Thermodynamic properties of reactants, products, and transition states are determined by the B3LYP/6-31+G(2d,p), M062X/6-311+G(2d,p), ωB97XD/6-311+G(2d,p) density functional theory, and CBS-QB3, G3MP2B3, and G4 composite methods. The reaction of CH₃SCH₂CH₂• with O₂ forms an energized peroxy adduct CH₃SCH₂CH₂OO• with a calculated well depth of 34.1 kcal mol⁻¹ at the CBS-QB3 level of theory. Thermochemical properties of reactants, transition states, and products obtained under CBS-QB3 level are used for calculation of kinetic parameters. Reaction enthalpies are compared between the methods. The temperature and pressure-dependent rate coefficients for both the chemically activated reactions of the energized adduct and the thermally activated reactions of the stabilized adducts are presented. Stabilization and isomerization of the CH₃SCH₂CH₂OO• adduct are important under high pressure and low temperature. At higher temperatures and atmospheric pressure, the chemically activated peroxy adduct reacts to new products before stabilization. Addition of the peroxyl oxygen radical to the sulfur atom followed by sulfur-oxygen double bond formation and elimination of the methyl radical to form S(= O)CCO• + CH₃ (branching) is a potentially important new pathway for other alkyl-sulfide peroxy radical systems under thermal or combustion conditions.     

Kinetic study of the reaction of nucleophilic cyclopropanation of C60 fullerene with halogenated maleopimarimide

The kinetics of nucleophilic fullerene cyclopropanation by halomethyl ketones with a diterpene fragment has been studied by the Bingel method, and the influence of the biologically active cyclopropanating agent on the process has been estimated. It has been revealed that favorable conditions for carrying out the reaction result in maximum monofunctionalized methanofullerenes formation with the maximum yield.     

Effective synthesis of methyl 3β-amino-3-deoxybetulinate

A practical method for preparing methyl 3β-amino-3-dexoybetulinate that is based on column chromatographic separation of 3α- and 3β-t-butoxycarbonates and subsequent removal of the protecting group using formic acid is proposed. The structure of methyl 3β-N-(t-butoxycarbonyl)-3-deoxybetulinate was established by an x-ray structure analysis. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 488–490, September-October, 2008.     

Variation of anions in layered double hydroxides: Effects on dispersion and fire properties

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are interesting materials for nanocomposite formation because one can vary the identity of the metals, the anions and the stoichiometry to see the effect of these on the ability of the nano-material to disperse in a polymer and to see what effect dispersion has on the properties of the polymer. In this study, the anions 2-ethylhexyl sulfate (SEHS), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (HDEHP) and dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) have been utilized as the charge balancing anions to synthesize organo-LDHs. Nanocomposites of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polystyrene (PS) with organo-LDHs were prepared both by melt blending and bulk polymerization. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology of the nanocomposites while the thermal stability and fire properties of nanocomposites were studied by thermogravimetric analysis and cone calorimetry; the mechanical properties are also investigated. In general, it is easier to disperse these organo-LDHs in PMMA than in PS, but the sulfate cannot be dispersed at the nanometer level in either material. The addition of these organo-LDHs does not affect the mechanical properties. The best fire properties are obtained with the sulfonate LDH, SDBS; the reduction in the peak heat release rate is almost 50% for both polymers.     

盐酸催化合成α-萘乙酸甲酯

以α-萘乙酸、甲醇为原料,以浓盐酸为催化剂,通过酯化反应合成了植物生长调节剂萘乙酸甲酯。通过正交设计讨论了醇酸摩尔比、催化剂用量、反应时间等因素对酯化产率的影响。在α-萘乙酸50mmol,n(甲醇)：n(α-萘乙酸)=25,催化剂用量为α-萘乙酸质量的17％,反应时间2．0h,酯化温度65℃～69℃的最佳反应工艺条件下,产率97．4％。     

Structure Characterization and Thermal Properties of PMMA／Montmorillonite Nanocomposites via Emulsion Polymerization

Montmorillonite(MMT) modified with sodium silicate can change the arrangement of its layers fromedge-face and edge-edge to face-face. With the fine dispersion of the modified MMT in water, the cation-ex-change reaction was carried out with cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) to obtain organo-montmoril-lonite (OMMT). As OMMT was uniformly dispersed in methyl methacrylate (MMA) monomer, PMMA/OMMT nanocomposites were formed via a common emulsion polymerization. The products were extractedwith hot acetone and characterized by FTIR, molecular weight, X-ray diffraction(XRD), transmission elec-tron microscopy(TEM), DSC and TGA. These results show that most of the OMMT layers have been exfo-liated, while the thermal stability is increased obviously. By means of FTIR spectral analysis, the ratios ofthe macromolecular radicals‘ termination of disproportionation patterns to combination are increased with theaddition of OMMT. This result further confirms the increase of the thermal degradation temperatures andglass transition temperatures of the PMMA/OMMT nanocomposites.