Experimental verification of halomethyl carbinol synthesis from carbonyl compounds using a TiCl-Mg bimetallic complex promoter.

A critical evaluation of the feasibility of a previously published method for synthesising halomethyl carbinols from carbonyl compounds and CHBr or CHCl using a bimetallic TiCl-Mg complex is presented. The synthesis of compounds lacking the -CH- group in their structure was achieved by following the procedures proposed in the reference literature or by introducing modifications to selected process parameters. These compounds were not identified as expected β-halohydrins but as products of reductive dimerisation or subsequent pinacolic rearrangement of carbonyl substrates.

Aqueous photo-RAFT polymerization under ambient conditions: synthesis of protein-polymer hybrids in open air.

A photoinduced reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (photo-RAFT) polymerization technique in the presence of sodium pyruvate (SP) and pyruvic acid derivatives was developed. Depending on the wavelength of light used, SP acted as a biocompatible photoinitiator or promoter for polymerization, allowing rapid open-to-air polymerization in aqueous media. Under UV irradiation (370 nm), SP decomposes to generate CO and radicals, initiating polymerization.

Influence of the hard segments content on the properties of electrospun aliphatic poly(carbonate-urethane-urea)s.

The study investigated the impact of hard segments (HS) content on the morphology and thermomechanical properties of electrospun aliphatic poly(carbonate-urea-urethane)s (PCUUs). The obtained nonwovens exhibited surface porosity ranging from 50% to 57%, and fiber diameters between 0.59 and 0.

All-visible-light-driven stiff-stilbene photoswitches.

Molecular photoswitches are potent tools to construct dynamic functional systems and responsive materials that can be controlled in a non-invasive manner. As P-type photoswitches, stiff-stilbenes attract increasing interest, owing to their superiority in quantum yield, significant geometric differences between isomers, excellent thermostability and robust switching behavior. Nevertheless, the UV-light-triggered photoisomerization of stiff-stilbenes has been a main drawback for decades as UV light is potentially harmful and has low penetration depth.

Agri-waste derived electroactive carbon-iron oxide nanocomposite for oxygen reduction reaction: an experimental and theoretical study.

Herein, we have utilized agri-waste and amalgamating low Fe, to develop an economic iron oxide-carbon hybrid-based electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) with water as a main product following close to 4e transfer process. The electrocatalytic activity is justified by electrochemical active surface area, synergetic effect, and density functional theory calculations.

Corrosion process of stainless steel in natural brine as a source of chromium and iron - the need for routine analysis.

The corrosion of the installations carrying high salinity water is particularly important in the case of utility and therapeutic waters, such as natural brine. The analysis of such complex systems is challenging in the context of routine analysis of Fe and Cr. Both elements can be determined by UV-Vis spectrophotometry after only 1 : 100 dilution and liquid-liquid extraction (LOD = 0.

Open-air green-light-driven ATRP enabled by dual photoredox/copper catalysis.

Photoinduced atom transfer radical polymerization (photo-ATRP) has risen to the forefront of modern polymer chemistry as a powerful tool giving access to well-defined materials with complex architecture. However, most photo-ATRP systems can only generate radicals under biocidal UV light and are oxygen-sensitive, hindering their practical use in the synthesis of polymer biohybrids. Herein, inspired by the photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (PET-RAFT) polymerization, we demonstrate a dual photoredox/copper catalysis that allows open-air ATRP under green light irradiation.

Nitrogen-doped molecular bowls as electron donors in photoinduced electron transfer reactions.

In recent years, the chemistry of curved π-conjugated molecules has experienced a sharp rise. The inclusion of a heteroatom in the carbon network significantly affects its semiconducting properties. In this work, we computationally study the photoinduced electron transfer in a series of C fullerene complexes with experimentally established nitrogen-doped molecular bowls.

Materials characterization of TiO nanotubes decorated by Au nanoparticles for photoelectrochemical applications.

The structural and chemical modification of TiO nanotubes (NTs) by the deposition of a well-controlled Au deposit was investigated using a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM), Raman measurements, UV-Vis spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical investigations. The fabrication of the materials focused on two important factors: the deposition of Au nanoparticles (NPs) in UHV (ultra high vacuum) conditions (1-2 × 10 mbar) on TiO nanotubes (NTs) having a diameter of ∼110 nm, and modifying the electronic interaction between the TiO NTs and Au nanoparticles (NPs) with an average diameter of about 5 nm through the synergistic effects of SMSI (Strong Metal Support Interaction) and LSPR (Local Surface Plasmon Resonance). Due to the formation of unique places in the form of "hot spots", the proposed nanostructures proved to be photoactive in the UV-Vis range, where a characteristic gold plasmonic peak was observed at a wavelength of 580 nm.

Correction: Gold nanoparticles grafted with chemically incompatible ligands.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D1RA00547B.].

Development of effective potassium acetate extractant.

Carboxylates are commonly used in the food and pharmaceutical industry and due to their extensive use, carboxylates present a significant environmental burden. In this context, valine based, heteroditopic receptor 1 was prepared and its ability to bind simultaneously potassium cation and acetate anion in water containing CHCN solutions was demonstrated. Under liquid-liquid extraction conditions the receptor 1 was capable of extracting hydrophilic AcOK salt from aqueous solution and was proved to be nearly ten times more effective than the equimolar mixture of monotopic receptors.

A comprehensive optical and electrical study of unsymmetrical imine with four thiophene rings and their binary and ternary compositions with PTB7 and PCBM towards organic photovoltaics.

A new unsymmetrical imine with four thiophene rings was synthesized in a one-step reaction, starting from the commercially available and relatively inexpensive reagents. The obtained imine in the form of thin films exhibited photoluminescence properties in the 1.8-2.

Toward the synthesis, fluorination and application of N-graphyne.

The discovery of properties and applications of unknown materials is one of the hottest research areas in materials science. In this work, we navigate a route towards these goals by the development of a new type of graphyne nanostructure. It is synthesised by a Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction of 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene with cyanuric chloride resulting in an extended carbon-based material called TCC.

Substituent effects on the stability of the four most stable tautomers of adenine and purine.

Substituent effects at the C2-, C8- and N-positions of adenine and purine in their four the most stable tautomers are studied by means of B97D3/aug-cc-pvdz computation applying substituents of varying electronic properties: NO, CN, CHO, Cl, F, H, Me, OMe, OH and NH. The substituent effect is characterized by the substituent effect stabilization energy (SESE) and substituent Hammett constant . For adenine, SESE is obtained with purine as the reference system.

Copper-catalyzed direct C-H arylselenation of 4-nitro-pyrazoles and other heterocycles with selenium powder and aryl iodides. Access to unsymmetrical heteroaryl selenides.

A one-pot, Cu-catalyzed direct C-H arylselenation protocol using elemental Se and aryl iodides was developed for nitro-substituted, -alkylated pyrazoles, imidazoles and other heterocycles including 4-chromen-4-one. This general and concise method allows one to obtain a large number of unsymmetrical heteroaryl selenides bearing a variety of substituents. The presence of the nitro group was confirmed to be essential for the C-H activation and can also be used for further functionalisation and manipulation.

Switchable conformational changes of DNA nanogel shells containing disulfide-DNA hybrids for controlled drug release and efficient anticancer action.

Oligonucleotide strands containing dithiol (-SS-) groups were used as the co-crosslinkers in PNIPA-AAc based nanogels (NGs). They hybridized with PEG-oligonucleotides introduced into the gels. The specific DNA hybrid formed in the nanogel/nanocarrier was involved in highly efficient accumulation of intercalators.

The effect of compressive stresses on a silicon electrode's cycle life in a Li-ion battery.

Lithium-ion cells are currently very promising electrochemical power sources. New high-capacity electrodes made from silicon are currently under intensive study. As well as its high capacity, silicon undergoes a significant volume increase (up to 300%) during lithiation.

Towards potent but less toxic nanopharmaceuticals - lipoic acid bioconjugates of ultrasmall gold nanoparticles with an anticancer drug and addressing unit.

Modification of ultrasmall gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with the lipoic acid derivative of folic acid was found to enhance their accumulation in the cancer cell, as compared to AuNPs without addressing units. The application of lipoic acid enabled the control of the gold nanoparticle functionalities leading to enhanced solubility and allowing for attachment of both the folic acid and the cytotoxic drug, doxorubicin. More robust attachment of doxorubicin to the nanoparticle through the amide bond resulted in toxicity comparable with that of the drug alone, opening a new perspective for designing more potent, but less toxic nanopharmaceuticals.