Overestimated Halogen Atom Transfer Reactivity of α-Aminoalkyl Radicals.

Halogen atom transfer (XAT) is a versatile method for generating carbon radicals. Recent interest has focused on α-aminoalkyl radicals as potential XAT reagents, previously reported to exhibit reactivity comparable to tin radicals. Utilizing an advanced time-resolved EPR technique, the XAT reactions between α-aminoalkyl radicals and organic halides were examined, allowing direct observation of the process through EPR spectroscopy and analysis of radical kinetics.

Direct Observation of All Open-Shell Intermediates in a Photocatalytic Cycle.

Molecular photocatalysis has shown tremendous success in sustainable energy and chemical synthesis. However, visualizing the transient open-shell intermediates in photocatalysis is a significant and long-standing challenge. By employing our recently developed innovative time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance technique, we directly observed all radicals and radical ions involved in the photocatalytic addition of pempidine to -butyl acrylate.

Phosphorus fertiliser application mitigates the negative effects of microplastic on soil microbes and rice growth.

Soil microplastics (MPs) have attracted widespread attention recently. Most studies have explored how soil MPs affect the soil's physicochemical parameters, matter circulation, and soil microbial community assembly. Similarly, a key concern in agricultural development has been the use of phosphorus (P) fertiliser, which is essential for plant health and development.

Effect of different types of biochar on soil properties and functional microbial communities in rhizosphere and bulk soils and their relationship with CH and NO emissions.

Biochar as an agricultural soil amendment plays vital roles in mediating methane (CH) and nitrous oxide (NO) emissions in soils. The link between different types of biochar, bulk soil, and rhizosphere microbial communities in relation to CH and NO emissions is being investigated in this study. The rice pot experiment was conducted using biochar at two temperatures (300°C and 500°C) in combination with three biochar levels (0, 2, 10% w/w).

Visible-Light-Driven Bisfunctionalization of Unactivated Olefins via the Merger of Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer and Carbene Catalysis.

Herein, we reported an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and photo-co-catalyzed alkylacylation of olefins in the presence of the versatile synthon diazo ester, providing a new idea for transient radical generation with the only byproduct being N. Particularly, this radical process employs traditional carbene precursor diazo esters as the radical source, which is the first case in NHC catalysis. Compared to the previous pathway that produces radicals with large discard fragments, this merged channel possesses great atom economy.

DFT Study on the Mechanism of 4,4'-Bipyridine-Catalyzed Nitrobenzene Reduction by Diboron(4) Compounds.

Diboron(4) compounds serve as useful reagents for borylation, diboration, and reduction in organic synthesis. A variety of pyridine derivatives have been found capable of activating diboron(4) compounds, and different reaction mechanisms have been identified. 4,4'-Bipyridine was found to activate diboron(4) to form ,'-diboryl-4,4'-bipyridinylidene in 2015, and very recently, it has been found that this transformation is crucial in the 4,4'-bipyridine-catalyzed reduction of nitroarenes by bis(neopentylglycolato)diboron (Bnep), which features the formation of arylnitrene intermediates.