Electronic structure modification of metal phthalocyanines by a carbon nanotube support for efficient oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide.

An active and selective two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e ORR) is required for efficient electrosynthesis of HO. This reaction can be promoted by metal phthalocyanines (MPcs), which serve as model catalysts with well-defined structures. MPc molecules have mostly been evaluated on conductive carbon-based substrates, including glassy carbon (GC) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), yet their influence on the electrocatalytic properties is not well understood.

Mesoporous Manganese Oxides with High-Valent Mn Species and Disordered Local Structures for Efficient Oxygen Electrocatalysis.

Active and nonprecious-metal bifunctional electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are vital components of clean energy conversion devices such as regenerative fuel cells and rechargeable metal-air batteries. Porous manganese oxides (MnO) are promising electrocatalyst candidates because of their high surface area and the abundance of Mn. MnO catalysts exhibit various oxidation states and crystal structures, which critically affect their electrocatalytic activity.

Discriminating active sites for the electrochemical synthesis of HO by molecular functionalisation of carbon nanotubes.

The electrochemical production of HO the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e ORR) has recently attracted attention as a promising alternative to the current anthraquinone process. Identification of active sites in O-doped carbon materials, which exhibit high activities and selectivities for the 2e ORR, is important for understanding the selective electrocatalytic process and achieving the rational design of active electrocatalysts. However, this is impeded by the heterogeneous distribution of various active sites on these catalysts.

Humic-like crop stimulatory activities of coffee waste induced by incorporation of phytotoxic phenols in melanoidins during coffee roasting: Linking the Maillard reaction to humification.

Here we showed that the water-soluble components of fresh green coffee beans inhibit the growth of lettuce in hydroponic systems, whereas those of roasted coffee waste facilitate it. The growth enhancement was hardly related to hydroponic parameters (i.e.

Formation of Amides from Imines via Cyanide-Mediated Metal-Free Aerobic Oxidation.

A new protocol for the direct formation of amides from imines derived from aromatic aldehydes via metal-free aerobic oxidation in the presence of cyanide is described. This protocol was applicable to various aldimines, and the desired amides were obtained in moderate to good yields. Mechanistic studies suggested that this aerobic oxidative amidation might proceed via the addition of cyanide to imines followed by proton transfer from carbon to nitrogen in the original imines, leading to carbanions of α-amino nitriles, which undergo subsequent oxidation with molecular oxygen in air to provide the desired amide compounds.