Highly selective Friedel-Crafts monoalkylation using micromixing

Highly selective Friedel-Crafts monoalkylation of aromatic compounds with N-acyliminium ions has been achieved by efficient 1:1 mixing using a multilamination-type micromixer.     

First-principles calculations of the structural and dynamic properties, and the equation of state of crystalline iodine oxides I2O4, I2O5, and I2O6

The structural and dynamical correlations, and the equation of state of crystalline I(2)O(4), I(2)O(5), and I(2)O(6) are investigated by first-principles calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT). The lattice dynamics results reveal distinctive features in the phonon density of states among the three crystals. The frequencies of the stretch modes in I(2)O(4) and I(2)O(5) are clearly separated from those of the other (e.g., bending) modes by a gap, with all stretch modes above the gap. In contrast, the gap in I(2)O(6) separates the highest-frequency stretch modes with other stretch modes, and there is no gap between the stretch and the other modes in I(2)O(6). The motion of iodine atoms is involved in all vibrational modes in I(2)O(5), but only in low-frequency lattice modes in I(2)O(6). In I(2)O(4), iodine atoms are involved in modes with frequency below 700 cm(-1). Van der Waals correction within our DFT calculations is found to reduce the overestimation of the equilibrium volume, with its effect on structure similar to the pressure effect. Namely, both effects significantly decrease the inter-molecular distances, while slightly increasing the bond lengths within the molecules. This causes the frequencies of some vibrational modes to decrease with pressure, resulting in negative "modes Gru?neisen parameters" for those modes. Thermodynamic properties, derived from the equation of state, of crystalline I(2)O(4), I(2)O(5), and I(2)O(6) are discussed within the quasi-harmonic approximation.     

Recent topics of functionalized organolithiums using flow microreactor chemistry

Examples in this mini-review illustrate the potential of flow microreactor chemistry in chemical science and chemical production. Flow microreactors provide a powerful method for novel transformations via functional organolithiums that cannot be achieved using a conventional macro batch reactor.     

Flow Technology for the Genesis and Use of (Highly) Reactive Organometallic Reagents

In the field of organic synthesis, the advent of flow chemistry and flow microreactor technology represented a tremendous novelty in the way of thinking and performing chemical reactions, opening the doors to poorly explored or even impossible transformations using batch methods. In this Concept article, we would like to highlight the impact of flow chemistry for exploiting highly reactive organometallic reagents, and how, alongside the well-known advantages concerning safety, scalability, and productivity, flow chemistry makes possible processes that are impossible to control by using the traditional batch approach.     

Flash chemistry: fast chemical synthesis by using microreactors

This concept article provides a brief outline of the concept of flash chemistry for carrying out extremely fast reactions in organic synthesis by using microreactors. Generation of highly reactive species is one of the key elements of flash chemistry. Another important element of flash chemistry is the control of extremely fast reactions to obtain the desired products selectively. Fast reactions are usually highly exothermic, and heat removal is an important factor in controlling such reactions. Heat transfer occurs very rapidly in microreactors by virtue of a large surface area per unit volume, making precise temperature control possible. Fast reactions often involve highly unstable intermediates, which decompose very quickly, making reaction control difficult. The residence time can be greatly reduced in microreactors, and this feature is quite effective in controlling such reactions. For extremely fast reactions, kinetics often cannot be used because of the lack of homogeneity of the reaction environment when they are conducted in conventional reactors such as flasks. Fast mixing using micromixers solves such problems. The concept of flash chemistry has been successfully applied to various organic reactions including a) highly exothermic reactions that are difficult to control in conventional reactors, b) reactions in which a reactive intermediate easily decomposes in conventional reactors, c) reactions in which undesired byproducts are produced in the subsequent reactions in conventional reactors, and d) reactions whose products easily decompose in conventional reactors. The concept of flash chemistry can be also applied to polymer synthesis. Cationic polymerization can be conducted with an excellent level of molecular-weight control and molecular-weight distribution control.     

1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine decomposition and chemisorption on Al(111) surface: first-principles molecular dynamics study

We have investigated the decomposition and chemisorption of a 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) molecule on Al(111) surface using molecular dynamics simulations, in which interatomic forces are computed quantum mechanically in the framework of the density functional theory (DFT). The real-space DFT calculations are based on higher-order finite difference and norm-conserving pseudopotential methods. Strong attractive forces between oxygen and aluminum atoms break N-O and N-N bonds in the RDX and, subsequently, the dissociated oxygen atoms and NO molecules oxidize the Al surface. In addition to these Al surface-assisted decompositions, ring cleavage of the RDX molecule is also observed. These reactions occur spontaneously without potential barriers and result in the attachment of the rest of the RDX molecule to the surface. This opens up the possibility of coating Al nanoparticles with RDX molecules to avoid the detrimental effect of oxidation in high energy density material applications.