Facile Access to Amides from Oxygenated or Unsaturated Organic Compounds by Metal Oxide Nanocatalysts Derived from Single-Source Molecular Precursors

KOH-promoted cascade C-Cl bond activation and amidation of trichloromethyl aromatic compounds with formamides in water

A KOH-promoted cascade C-Cl bond activation and amidation of trichloromethyl aromatic compounds with formamides using water as a solvent has been developed. This methodology suggested an alternative synthetic approach for the synthesis of aryl amide compounds in the absence of catalysts, additives and organic solvents. In addition, the yields of gram-scale reactions are good and provide a basis for synthetic application.

Nitrogen-Doped Mixed-Phase Cobalt Nanocatalyst Derived from a Trinuclear Mixed-Valence Cobalt(III)/Cobalt(II) Complex for High-Performance Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Because of a continuous increase in energy demands and environmental concerns, a focus has been on the design and construction of a highly efficient, low-cost, environmentally friendly, and noble-metal free electrocatalyst for energy technology. Herein we report facile synthesis of the mixed-valence trinuclear cobalt complex 1 by the reaction of 2-amino-1-phenylethanol and CoCl₂·6H₂O in methanol as the solvent at room temperature. Further, 1 was reduced by using aqueous N₂H₄ as a simple reducing agent, followed by calcination at 300 °C for 3 h, yielding a nitrogen-doped mixed phase cobalt [β-Co(OH)₂ and CoO] nanocatalyst (N@MPCoNC). Both 1 and N@MPCoNC were characterized by various physicochemical techniques. Moreover, 1 was authenticated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The hybrid N@MPCoNC reveals a unique electronic and morphological structure, offering a low overpotential of 390 mV for a stable current density of 10 mA cm^-2 with high durability. This N@MPCoNC showed excellent electrocatalytic as well as photocatalytic activity for oxygen evolution reaction compared to 1.

Metal- and solvent-free synthesis of amides using substitute formamides as an amino source under mild conditions

This study described an efficient and practical approach for amide synthesis. The reaction was conducted under metal- and solvent-free conditions at a mild temperature (40 °C) in air, and readily available formamides were used as an amino source. This reaction can be easily upgraded to the gram level with an excellent yield.

Porous Anatase-TiO2(B) Dual-Phase Nanorods Prepared from in Situ Pyrolysis of a Single Molecule Precursor Offer High Performance Lithium-Ion Storage

To overcome the problems faced by TiO₂ materials for lithium-ion batteries usage, such as easy nanoparticles agglomeration during cycling and poor cycling performance, in this study, TiO₂ nanorods with the controlled phase compositions are prepared via direct pyrolysis of single molecule precursors in combination with a simple washing process. By tuning the external cations in the single source precursors, three TiO₂ samples in a nanorod shape with the compositions of pure anatase, anatase-rutile dual phase, and anatase-TiO₂(B) dual phase are synthesized successfully. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and Raman measurements confirm the phase structures and compositions of the three prepared samples. The electrochemical results manifest that all the three nanorod-shaped TiO₂ samples show the long-term cycling stability as negative materials for LIBs. Among them, the TiO₂ sample with the combination of the anatase and TiO₂-B phase shows the best performance, with the specific capacity of ∼184, 164, 140, 105, 80, and 60 mAh g^-1 at 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.5, 3.0, and 5.0 A g^-1, respectively, and showing no capacity loss and low resistance after 1000 cycles at 1.5 A g^-1. By the analysis of the cyclic voltammetry results recorded from different scan rates, the lithium-ion storage mechanism is clarified, which is dominated by the semi-infinite linear diffusion (anatase phase) in combination with the partial surface pseudocapacitive contribution [TiO₂(B) phase]. As a result, this sample shows a great potential as a negative material for LIBs because of its electrochemical stability, high specific capacity, and superior rate capability. The proof-of-concept design of the anatase and TiO₂-B dual phase may provide a new strategy for the synthesis of high performance TiO₂-based anode material for LIBs.

Rhodium-calix[4]pyrrole and rhodium-tetraphenyl porphyrin: preparation, surface grafting and their catalytic application in nitro-benzene reduction

Rhodium containing macromolecules calix[4]pyrrole (RhCP) and tetraphenyl porphyrin (RhTPP) were prepared, grafted on functionalized SBA-15 and demonstrated as promising catalysts for nitro-arene reduction.