Lithium Insertion Mechanism in Iron-Based Oxyfluorides with Anionic Vacancies Probed by PDF Analysis

The mechanism of lithium insertion that occurs in an iron oxyfluoride sample with a hexagonal–tungsten–bronze (HTB)-type structure was investigated by the pair distribution function. This study reveals that upon lithiation, the HTB framework collapses to yield disordered rutile and rock salt phases followed by a conversion reaction of the fluoride phase toward lithium fluoride and nanometer-sized metallic iron. The occurrence of anionic vacancies in the pristine framework was shown to strongly impact the electrochemical activity, that is, the reversible capacity scales with the content of anionic vacancies. Similar to FeOF-type electrodes, upon de-lithiation, a disordered rutile phase forms, showing that the anionic chemistry dictates the atomic arrangement of the re-oxidized phase. Finally, it was shown that the nanoscaling and structural rearrangement induced by the conversion reaction allow the in situ formation of new electrode materials with enhanced electrochemical properties.     

Zero-temperature properties of randomly self-interacting polymers

We study the zero-temperature behavior of several simple models for randomly self-interacting polymers in one and 1+1 dimensions. Results are based on exact enumeration and closed-form expressions.     

Efficient solid-phase synthesis of 4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-6(1H)-ones

A new and easy protocol for the formation of substituted 4,5-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-6(1H)-ones was developed on solid support. The heterocyclic compounds were formed by nucleophilic reaction of hydrazine on thioamide esters. As cyclization was concomitant with cleavage from the support, substituted 4,5-dihydrotriazinones were obtained in high purity.     

In silico engineering of tailored ink-binding ability at molecular printboards.

Molecular recognition between guest ink molecules and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) cavities at self-assembled monolayers provides a molecular printboard for nanopatterning applications. We recently used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to describe the specificity of ink-printboard binding and here extend the simulations to include charged cyclodextrin hosts, necessary to broaden the chemistry of molecular printboards and bind charged inks such as the ferrocenium cation. Shifting to high pH, or alternatively grafting a charged sidearm onto beta-CD, created three distinct types of anionic beta-CD cavity and we used electronic structure calculations and MD simulations to measure host-guest charge transfer and binding strengths. We find that steric recognition of uncharged organic molecules is retained at the charged printboards, and that improved guest-host electrostatic contacts can strengthen binding of larger inks while penalising small inks, enhancing the level of discrimination. A prudent choice of complementary host-guest shape and charge states thus provides a means of tuning both ink binding strength and specificity at molecular printboards.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Mo-Based Oxide Catalysts and Selective Oxidation of Alkanes

Mo-V-M(=Al, Ga, Bi, Sb and Te)–O mixed oxide catalysts were synthesized hydrothermally for the first time, characterized structurally, and tested for ethane and propane oxidation after activation by various ways. These catalysts were black solids of rod-shaped (fiber like) crystals, which had a layer structure in the direction of fiber axis and a high dimensional arrangement of metal octahedra in the cross-section plane. These fresh crystalline materials became active for catalytic oxidation of alkanes after heat-treatment at 600 °C and subsequent grinding in order to increase exposed plane of the cross-section. The resulting catalysts were very active for an oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane with 80% of the ethylene selectivity in the reaction temperature range of 300 to 400 °C and also showed about 50% selectivity to acrylic acid in the propane oxidation. Multi-functional character which derived from the high dimensional structure of the catalysts and mechanism of the selective alkane oxidation were discussed.     

Free-radical pathways in the decomposition of ketones over polycrystalline TiO(2): the role of organoperoxy radicals.

The oxidative decomposition of various ketones (including acetone, 2-butanone, 4-heptanone, cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone) over dehydrated TiO(2) (P25) powder is investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. For the first time, a series of thermally unstable radical intermediates are observed both on the activated and reduced TiO(2) surface, depending on the adopted experimental conditions. These radical intermediates are identified as organoperoxy-based species of general formula ROO(.-) and RCO(3) (.-). They are formed by reaction of photogenerated charge carriers (either trapped electrons or trapped holes) with the adsorbed ketones in the presence of molecular oxygen. The organoperoxy intermediates are thermally unstable and decompose at temperatures in the region of 180-250 K. This work demonstrates that free-radical pathways involving both organoperoxy and superoxide radicals can be responsible for the thermal- and photodecomposition of ketones over polycrystalline TiO(2) (P25).     

Synthesis and reactivity of enantiomerically pure N-alkyl-2-alkenyl azetidinium salts

A synthesis of stereodefined enantiomerically pure 2-alkenyl azetidines is described using Wittig olefination as key step. The quaternary triflate ammonium salts of these heterocycles were prepared in a stereoselective way and treatment of these azetidinium salts with a base (KHMDS or PhLi) induced a regioselective Stevens rearrangement leading to a 3-alkenyl pyrrolidine. An unprecedented S_N2′ reaction involving phenyllithium as nucleophile and an ammonium as leaving group was observed in one case.     

The effect of photofrin on DNA strand breaks and base oxidation in HaCaT keratinocytes: a comet assay study

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) kills cells via the production of singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species. PDT causes chromosomal damage and mutation to cultured cells. However, DNA damage does not contribute to the phototoxic effect. To study the effect of Photofrin-PDT-induced DNA damage, we used the comet assay in combination with endonuclease III and formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase and a human keratinocyte cell line to investigate photogenotoxicity and its prevention by tocopherol (TOC). This study shows that PDT induced DNA damage in HaCaT cells at doses allowing cells to survive 7 days after irradiation. alpha-TOC did not prevent the acute cell lysis caused by Photofrin-PDT but did prevent Photofrin-PDT-induced DNA damage. However, the concentration of TOC that conferred protection (100 microM) was higher than is detected in human serum. Base oxidation was also measured using the comet assay. Although TOC could prevent frank DNA strand breaks caused by PDT, it was unable to decrease the level of base oxidation as revealed by enzyme-sensitive sites. It is suggested that the potential genotoxic risk from laser-PDT could be low, and that topical micro-TOC at a high concentration may be useful in preventing some types of DNA damage without preventing acute photolysis after Photofrin-PDT.     

Generation of ketyl radical anions by photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between ketones and amines. Synthetic applications

Photoreduction of ketones in the presence of amines led to ketyl radicals through photoinduced electron transfer (PET). Tertiary amines, such as triethylamine (Et₃N) have frequently been used in these reactions. Different reactions can occur from ketyl radicals such as photoreduction, coupling reactions, additions on activated double bonds, cyclizations, bond cleavage of strained rings, tandem reactions such as cyclization-ring opening or ring opening-cyclization.