Enantioselective Isocyanide-based Multicomponent Reaction with Alkylidene Malonates and Phenols.

A highly enantioselective isocyanide-based multicomponent reaction catalyzed by a chiral ,'-dioxide/Mg complex was reported. A wide range of substrates were tolerated in this reaction, including alkyl- and aryl-substituted isocyanides with alkylidene malonates and various phenols, affording the corresponding phenoxyimidate products in good to excellent yields (up to 94% yield) with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 95.5:4.

Assessment of AlN/Mg-8Al Composites Reinforced with In Situ and/or Ex Situ AlN Particles.

In this paper, 8.2AlN/Mg-8Al composites reinforced with in situ and/or ex situ AlN particles have been synthesized. The in situ-formed AlN particles are nano-sized, performing as particle chains.

Positive correlation between human exposure to organophosphate esters and gastrointestinal cancer in patients from Wuhan, China.

As kinds of endocrine disruptors, organophosphate esters (OPEs) pollution in the environment had received increasing attention recently. Food and water intake were two important exposure pathways for OPEs. However, the studies about the potential association between OPEs and gastrointestinal cancer were limited.

N-doped carbon coated MnO/PdCu nanocomposite as a high-performance catalyst for 4-nitrophenol reduction.

This paper reports the chemical synthesis of highly-active MnO/PdCu nanocomposites coated with N-doped carbon (NC) shell using polydopamine (PDA) as the carbon source, which provides high specific surface area and pore volume. The structure and morphology of MnO/PdCu@NC nanocomposites were systematically studied. Taking advantage of the synergistic effects of PdCu alloy and MnO support, the MnO/PdCu@NC catalyst exhibited an outstanding activity toward the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), in comparison to MnO/PdM@NC (M = Ni, Au, Ag), MnO/PdCu@PDA, and commercial Pd/C catalyst.

Evolution and Strengthening Effects of the Heat-Resistant Phases in Al-Si Piston Alloys with Different Fe/Ni Ratios.

The evolution of three major heat-resistant phases (δ-AlCuNi, γ-AlCuNi, T-AlFeNi) and its strengthening effects at high temperature in Al-Si piston alloys with various Fe/Ni ratios were studied using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). With the increase of Fe/Ni ratios, the heat-resistant phases begin to evolve in category, morphology, and distribution. The results show that a suitable Fe/Ni ratio will cause the T-AlFeNi phase to appear and form a closed or semi-closed network with δ-AlCuNi and γ-AlCuNi phases instead of the originally isolated heat-resistant phases.