Abiotic Formation of Amide Bond via Surface-Supported Direct Carboxyl-Amine Coupling

Silver Surface-Assisted Dehydrobrominative Cross-Coupling between Identical Aryl Bromides

Cross-coupling reactions represent an indispensable tool in chemical synthesis. An intriguing challenge in this field is to achieve selective cross-coupling between two precursors with similar reactivity or, to the limit, the identical molecules. Here we report an unexpected dehydrobrominative cross-coupling between 1,3,5-tris(2-bromophenyl)benzene molecules on silver surfaces. Using scanning tunneling microscopy, we examine the reaction process at the single-molecular level, quantify the selectivity of the dehydrobrominative cross-coupling, and reveal the modulation of selectivity by substrate lattice-related catalytic activity or molecular assembly effect. Theoretical calculations indicate that the dehydrobrominative cross-coupling proceeds via regioselective C-H bond activation of debrominated TBPB and subsequent highly selective C-C coupling of the radical-based intermediates. The reaction kinetics plays an important role in the selectivity for the cross-coupling. This work not only expands the toolbox for chemical synthesis but also provides important mechanistic insights into the selectivity of coupling reactions on the surface.

Rational Design of Waterborne Polyurethane Pressure Sensitive Adhesives for Different Working Temperatures

The appropriate pressure sensitive adhesion performances at working temperature are vital for the applications of waterborne polyurethane (WPU). Understanding the relationship among rheological behaviors, macromolecular structures and adhesive performances can be very useful to the rational design of waterborne polyurethane pressure sensitive adhesives (WPU-PSAs) for different operating temperatures, as well as other kinds of adhesives. In this study, four kinds of WPU-PSAs were prepared by reacting polypropylene glycol (PPG), hydrogenated hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HHTPB), dimethyl alcohol propionic acid (DMPA), 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and four kinds of chain extenders. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), swelling and rheology tests were used in parallel with an analysis of adhesive performances of the dried films of the adhesives. Results showed that, in addition to the nature of chain extenders playing a role on the rheological behaviors and adhesive performances of polymer, the gel content could be used to adjust the macromolecular structure and molecular weight distribution of polymer, thus distinctly affected the adhesive performances of PSA. The relationship among rheological behaviors, macromolecular structure and adhesive performances was investigated, and the rational design of WPU was achieved with appropriate pressure sensitive adhesion properties for different working temperatures of 25 and 60 °C.