Oxometallate-Based Ionic Liquid Catalyzed CO-Promoted Hydration of Propargylic Alcohols for α-Hydroxy Ketones Synthesis.

α-Hydroxy ketones are a crucial class of organic compounds prevalent in natural products and pharmaceutical molecules. The CO-promoted hydration of propargylic alcohols is an efficient method for the synthesis of α-hydroxy ketones. Herein, an ionic liquid (IL) was designed to catalyze this reaction individually under atmospheric CO pressure, volatile organic solvents, and additives.

Solvent Free Ambient Pressure CO Cycloaddition Catalyzed by Cobalt-Impregnated 2D-Nanofibrous COFs.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) constitute an evolving class of permanently porous and ordered materials, and they have recently attracted increased interest due to their intriguing morphological features and numerous applications in gas storage, adsorption, and catalysis. However, their low aqueous stabilities and tedious syntheses generally hamper their use in heterogeneous catalysis. Nonetheless, a capable and water-stable heterogeneous catalytic system for coupling CO/epoxides to generate industrially important cyclic carbonates is still of great interest.

Development of modified MgO/biochar composite for chemical adsorption enhancement to cleanup fluoride-contaminated groundwater.

Fluoride contamination in groundwater has become a global environmental issue. Magnesium oxide (MgO) has demonstrated effectiveness as an adsorbent in treating fluoride pollution in groundwater. However, its use in powder and fine granular form often results in losses during the adsorption process, posing challenges for post-treatment recovery and potentially causing secondary environmental pollution.

The Nature of Structural Defects in ZIF-8 Revealed with H and P MAS NMR and X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy.

The metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) attract interest as potential catalysts whose catalytic properties are driven by defects. Several methods have been proposed for the defects-inducing synthesis of MOFs. However, the active species formed on the defective sites remain elusive and uncharacterized, as the spectroscopic fingerprints of these species are hidden by the regular structure signals.

2D MXene-Based Nanoscale Materials for Electrochemical Sensing Toward the Detection of Hazardous Pollutants: A Perspective.

MXenes (MXT), a subgroup of 2-dimensional (2D) materials, specifically comprise transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides. They exhibit exceptional electrocatalytic and photocatalytic properties, making them well-suited for the detection and removal of pollutants from aqueous environments. Because of their high surface area and remarkable properties, they are being utilized in various applications, including catalysis, sensing, and adsorption, to combat pollution and mitigate its adverse effects.

Tuning Coordination in ZIF-67 Through the Solid-State Thermal Synthesis for Balancing Structural Stability and Catalytic Reactivity.

Tailor-made unsaturated coordination of metal ions or organic linkers in zeolitic imidazole frameworks (ZIFs) has great potential in tuning the ZIFs' properties and reactivity for their applications. Taking advantage of the solid-state thermal (SST) method as a facile and eco-friendly synthesis method, the rational coordination of metal ions with imidazole ligands in ZIF-67 through the SST method is investigated. The rational precursor ratio (metal-to-ligand source) under the solvent-free SST method emerges as a perfect strategy to tune the coordinately unsaturated sites within the ZIF-67 frameworks.

Highly efficient aramid fiber supported polypropylene membranes modified with reduced graphene oxide based metallic nanocomposites: antimicrobial and antiviral capabilities.

Polypropylene hybrid polymeric membranes with aramid support have been fabricated using Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS). Different modifying materials, such as metallic nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), improve the properties of these membranes. The nanomaterials and the fabricated membranes have been characterized with FTIR spectrometer, SEM and UV-Vis Spectrophotometer.

A new 1D Mn(II) coordination polymer: Synthesis, crystal structure, hirshfeld surface analysis and molecular docking studies.

The synthesis of novel metal-organic coordination polymers (MOCP) with the chemical formula [MnL (SCN)(OH)]·CHOH [L = 1,5-bis(pyridine-4-ylmethylene) carbonohydrazide] {} was accomplished using two different techniques: solvothermal and sonochemical ultrasonic-assisted. An investigation was carried out to examine the impact of various factors such as reaction time, sonication power, temperature, and reactant concentration on the morphology and size of the crystals. Interestingly, it was found that sonication power and temperature did not affect the crystals' morphology and size.

Multifunctional Biomass-Based Ionic Liquids/CuCl-Catalyzed CO-Promoted Hydration of Propargylic Alcohols: A Green Synthesis of α-Hydroxy Ketones.

α-Hydroxy ketones are a class of vital organic skeletons that generally exist in a variety of natural products and high-value chemicals. However, the traditional synthetic route for their production involves toxic Hg salts and corrosive HSO as catalysts, resulting in harsh conditions and the undesired side reaction of Meyer-Schuster rearrangement. In this study, CO-promoted hydration of propargylic alcohols was achieved for the synthesis of various α-hydroxy ketones.

Theoretical investigation of nucleophilic substitution reaction of phenyl carbonyl isothiocyanates with pyridines in gas and polar aprotic solvent.

This study focuses on the mutual interaction of substituents in the nucleophile and substrate - cross interaction constant, , in the uncatalyzed aminolysis by substituting pyridine with phenyl carbonyl isothiocyanate. The mechanism was found to be a stepwise process with a rate-limiting breakdown of the -NCS leaving group. This stepwise reaction mechanism considers the cross-interaction constant (CIC) with rate-limiting breakdown of tetrahedral intermediate in gas and solvent phases.

Development of innovative and green adsorbents for in situ cleanup of fluoride-polluted groundwater: Mechanisms and field-scale studies.

In this study, the magnesium oxide (MgO)-based adsorbents [granulated MgO aggregates (GA-MgO) and surface-modified MgO powder (SM-MgO)] were developed to remediate a fluoride-contaminated groundwater site. Both GA-MgO and SM-MgO had porous, spherical, and crystalline structures. Diameters for GA-MgO and SM-MgO were 1-1.

Correlating Single-Atomic Ruthenium Interdistance with Long-Range Interaction Boosts Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Kinetics.

Correlated single-atom catalysts (c-SACs) with tailored intersite metal-metal interactions are superior to conventional catalysts with isolated metal sites. However, precise quantification of the single-atomic interdistance (SAD) in c-SACs is not yet achieved, which is essential for a crucial understanding and remarkable improvement of the correlated metal-site-governed catalytic reaction kinetics. Here, three Ru c-SACs are fabricated with precise SAD using a planar organometallic molecular design and π-π molecule-carbon nanotube confinement.

Fabrication and In Vitro Biological Assay of Thermo-Mechanically Tuned Chitosan Reinforced Polyurethane Composites.

The progressive trend of utilizing bioactive materials constitutes diverse materials exhibiting biocompatibility. The innovative aspect of this research is the tuning of the thermo-mechanical behavior of polyurethane (PU) composites with improved biocompatibility for vibrant applications. Polycaprolactone (CAPA) Mn = 2000 g-mol was used as a macrodiol, along with toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI), to develop prepolymer chains, which were terminated with 1,4 butane diol (BD).

Application of novel nanobubble-contained electrolyzed catalytic water to cleanup petroleum-hydrocarbon contaminated soils and groundwater: A pilot-scale and performance evaluation study.

Soil and groundwater contamination caused by petroleum hydrocarbons is a severe environmental problem. In this study, a novel electrolyzed catalytic system (ECS) was developed to produce nanobubble-contained electrolyzed catalytic (NEC) water for the remediation of petroleum-hydrocarbon-contaminated soils and groundwater. The developed ECS applied high voltage (220 V) with direct current, and titanium electrodes coated with iridium dioxide were used in the system.

Acoustic-Activated Se Crystalline Nanodomains at Atomically-Thin Liquid-Metal Piezoelectric Heterointerfaces for Synergistic CO Conversion.

Acoustic-activated polarization at two-dimensional (2D) domains provide supplementary mechanisms for adjustment of empty and occupied orbitals at material heterointerfaces, activating a wide range of physicochemical applications. The piezoelectric nanodomains grown at 2D liquid-metal heterointerfaces represent a new class of polarization-dependent hybrid nanostructures with a highly challenging fabrication process. Here, the controlled growth of selenium-rich piezoelectric nanodomains on the nonpolar 2D surface of liquid Ga-based nanoparticles (NPs) enabled highly efficient and sustainable CO conversion.

Toxicity evaluation of a heavy-metal-polluted river: Pollution identification and bacterial community assessment.

The Salt River is an important urban river in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. In this study, the source identification and risk and toxicity assessment of the heavy-metal-contaminated sediments in the Salt River were investigated. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo), enrichment factor (EF), sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), potential ecological risk index (RI), pollution load index (PLI), and toxic units (TU) were applied to determine effects of heavy metals on microbial diversities and ecosystems.

Amide Functionalized Mesoporous MOF LOCOM-1 as a Stable Highly Active Basic Catalyst for Knoevenagel Condensation Reaction.

Acyl-amide is extensively used as functional group and is a superior contender for the design of MOFs with the guest accessible functional organic sites. A novel acyl-amide-containing tetracarboxylate ligand, bis(3,5-dicarboxy-pheny1)terephthalamide, has been successfully synthesized. The HL linker has some fascinating attributes as follows: (i) four carboxylate moieties as the coordination sites confirm affluent coordination approaches to figure a diversity of structure; (ii) two acyl-amide groups as the guest interaction sites can engender guest molecules integrated into the MOF networks through H-bonding interfaces and have a possibility to act as functional organic sites for the condensation reaction.

Investigation of Sulfonium-Iodide-Based Ionic Liquids to Inhibit Corrosion of API 5L X52 Steel in Different Flow Regimes in Acid Medium.

The present work deals with the corrosion inhibition mechanism of API 5L X52 steel in 1 M HSO employing the ionic liquid (IL) decyl(dimethyl)sulfonium iodide [DDMSI]. Such a mechanism was elicited by the polarization resistance ( ), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques, both in stationary and dynamic states. The electrochemical results indicated that the corrosion inhibition was controlled by a charge transfer process and that the IL behaved as a mixed-type corrosion inhibitor (CI) with anodic preference.

Seasonal Variation of Aflatoxin Levels in Selected Spices Available in Retail Markets: Estimation of Exposure and Risk Assessment.

A total of 603 samples of selected spices from different seasons (winter and summer) were analyzed for the occurrence of aflatoxin B (AFB), total AFs, and tocopherols. The findings revealed that 120 (38.7%) samples from the summer and 136 (46.

Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation: An Overview With an Example of Translation From Lab to Market.

Water oxidation has become very popular due to its prime role in water splitting and metal-air batteries. Thus, the development of efficient, abundant, and economical catalysts, as well as electrode design, is very demanding today. In this review, we have discussed the principles of electrocatalytic water oxidation reaction (WOR), the electrocatalyst and electrode design strategies for the most efficient results, and recent advancement in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst design.

Enhanced Performance of Carbon-Selenide Composite with LaCeNiO Perovskite Oxide for Outstanding Counter Electrodes in Platinum-Free Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

For large-scale applications, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) require the replacement of the scarce platinum (Pt)-based counter electrode (CE) with efficient and cheap alternatives. In this respect, low-cost perovskite oxides (ABO) have been introduced as promising additives to composite-based CEs in Pt-free DSSCs. Herein, we synthesized composites from LaCeNiO (L) perovskite oxide and functionalized-multiwall-carbon-nanotubes wrapped in selenides derived from metal-organic-frameworks (f-MWCNT-ZnSe-CoSe, "F").

State-of-the-Art Mixed Matrix Membranes (MMMs).

The performance of most polymer membranes suffers from the trade-off relationship between permeability and selectivity [...

Cs CO -Promoted C-O Coupling Protocol Enables Solventless (Hetero)aryl Ether Synthesis under Air Atmosphere.

In this work, a Cs CO -promoted synthetic approach was identified for (hetero)aryl ether synthesis via the C-O coupling of various (hetero)aryl chlorides and alcohols/phenol. To our delight, the reactions could be carried out under transition-metal-free and solvent-free conditions. Moreover, analytical-grade reagents and air atmosphere were readily tolerated.

A physicochemical introspection of porous organic polymer photocatalysts for wastewater treatment.

Over the past decade, porous organic polymers (POPs) have emerged as powerful photocatalysts for organic transformations and wastewater decontamination. The surface properties and pore space of POPs have been tailored to find optimal physical dimensions for adsorption and catalysis, whereas playing with the donor-acceptor building units lends them unique prospects for bandgap engineering, beneficial for customized applications including the degradation of simple as well as persistent pollutants. Here in this critical perspective, we focused beyond these generic scenarios and provided a detailed physicochemical explanation for the experimental observations.

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for Cancer Therapy.

MOFs exhibit inherent extraordinary features for diverse applications ranging from catalysis, storage, and optics to chemosensory and biomedical science and technology. Several procedures including solvothermal, hydrothermal, mechanochemical, electrochemical, and ultrasound techniques have been used to synthesize MOFs with tailored features. A continued attempt has also been directed towards functionalizing MOFs via "post-synthetic modification" mainly by changing linkers (by altering the type, length, functionality, and charge of the linkers) or node components within the MOF framework.