A novel, efficient and magnetically recyclable Cu-Ni bimetallic alloy nanoparticle as a highly active bifunctional catalyst for Pd-free Sonogashira and C-N cross-coupling reactions: a combined theoretical and experimental study

In this study, a Fe3O4@SiO2@Cyt-Ni/Cu nanocomposite as a novel heterogeneous bimetallic catalyst was synthesized which exhibits efficient performance for the Sonogashira and C-N cross-coupling reactions. The characterization of the catalyst was studied by FT-IR, PXRD, VSM, EDX, TEM, FE-SEM and TGA analyses. The geometry optimization and relative energies of the designed bimetallic complexes were theoretically determined using density functional theory (DFT) calculation at the B3LYP/6-31G**/LANL2DZ level. The catalyst showed good activity in the coupling of various aryl halides with alkynes (Sonogashira reaction) as well as aryl halide with N-heterocycles and achieved coupling products with good to high yields for all of them in a short time. The high catalytic performance could be due to the synergistic effect between Ni and Cu, which causes the reaction to proceed more efficiently. This heterogeneous nanocatalyst could be easily recovered from the reaction mixture with an external magnet and reused for 7 consecutive runs with minimal loss of catalytic activity.

Base-Promoted Decarboxylative Annulation of Methyl 2-(2-Bromophenyl)acetates and Ynones to Access Benzoxepines

A simple and efficient base-mediated decarboxylative annulation of ynones with methyl 2-(2-bromophenyl)acetates has been developed. A broad range of benzoxepines were prepared with a broad substrate scope and high regioselectivity in moderate to excellent yields under transition-metal-free conditions. This method proceeds through a tandem [2 + 4] annulation, ring-opening decarboxylative reaction, and the intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution reaction. Additionally, the key intermediates were successfully obtained and characterized unambiguously by single-crystal X-ray crystallography, which could favorably support a decarboxylative annulation mechanism. Furthermore, gram-scale reaction and synthetic applications for the further functionalization are also studied.

Unsupported Copper Nanoparticles in the Arylation of Amines

Commercially available copper and copper (II) oxide nanoparticles (CuNPs and CuO NPs) were characterized using TEM and electronography methods to elucidate their true average size and composition. The catalytic amine arylation using unsupported copper nanoparticles differing in their size and copper oxidation state was investigated. The reaction of the model iodobenzene with n-octylamine was shown to be successfully catalyzed by CuNPs of average size 25 and 10/80 nm in the presence of the ligands such as 2-isobutyrylcyclohexanone (L1) and rac-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol (BINOL, L2), giving high yields (up to 95%) of the target N-octylaniline. CuO in bulk and nano forms was shown to be almost equally efficient in this process. Studies on the Cu-catalyzed amination of substituted iodobenzenes and 2-iodopyridine, as well as the arylation of different aliphatic amines and NH-heterocycles, verified that CuNPs (25 or 10/80 nm) with L1 and L2 are the most versatile and efficient nanocatalysts for a variety of substrates. Investigation of copper leaching under different conditions was carried out.

In situ generating Cu2O/Cu heterointerfaces on the Cu2O cube surface to enhance interface charge transfer for the Rochow reaction

Cubic Cu/Cu₂O with heterointerfaces showed enhanced catalytic performance for the Rochow reaction. The resulting Schottky junction enhanced charge transfer efficiency and contributed to easier cleavage of Si–Si bond along {110} crystal plane.

Synthesis of sub-nanometric Cu2O catalysts for Pd-free C–C coupling reactions

The current template route provides Cu₂O nanocrystals with various shapes and depends on the homologues of glucose. These morphology-controlled Cu₂O nanocrystals show high activity for the external base-free Ullmann homocoupling of aryl halides.

Ultralow Thermal Conductivity and Large Figure of Merit in Low-Cost and Nontoxic Core-Shell Cu@Cu2O Nanocomposites

Identification of novel materials with enhanced thermoelectric (TE) performance is critical for advancing TE research. In this direction, this is the first report on TE properties of low-cost, nontoxic, and abundant core-shell Cu@Cu₂O nanocomposites synthesized using a facile and cheap solution-phase method. They show ultralow thermal conductivity of nearly 10^-3 of the copper bulk value, large thermopower of ∼373 μVK^-1, and, consequently, a TE figure of merit of 0.16 at 320 K which is larger than those of many of the potential TE materials such as PbTe, SnSe, and SiGe, showing its potential for TE applications. The ultralow thermal conductivity is mainly attributed to the multiscale phonon scattering from intrinsic defects in Cu₂O, grain boundaries, lattice-mismatched interface, as well as dissimilar vibrational properties. The large thermopower is associated with a sharp modulation in carrier density of states due to charge transfer between Cu and Cu₂O nanoparticles and carrier energy filtering. They are tuned by varying the trioctylphosphine concentration.

Palladium(II) on 4 Å Molecular Sieves: A Simple and Reusable Catalyst for the Preparation of Ynones

Abstract

Pd2+ on 4 Å molecular sieves support has been prepared and investigated. The catalyst has successfully been used in the reaction of acyl chlorides and terminal alkynes yielding ynones. The catalyst can be reused without significant loss of activity.

Graphic Abstract

Tailorable synthesis of heterogeneous enzyme–copper nanobiohybrids and their application in the selective oxidation of benzene to phenol

A new strategy has been developed for the tailor-made synthesis of copper nanoparticle (CuNPs)-enzyme biohybrids in aqueous media for selective benzene monohydroxylation.

Acyl Sonogashira Cross-Coupling: State of the Art and Application to the Synthesis of Heterocyclic Compounds

The acyl Sonogashira reaction represents an extension of Sonogashira cross-coupling to acid chlorides which replace aryl or vinyl halides, while terminal acetylenes are used as coupling partners in both reactions. The introduction of a carbonyl functional group on the alkyne backbone determines a radical change in the reactivity of the products. Indeed, α,β-alkynyl ketones can be easily converted into different heterocyclic compounds depending on the experimental conditions employed. Due to its potential, the acyl Sonogashira reaction has been deeply studied with particular attention to the nature of the catalysts and to the structures of both coupling compounds. Considering these two aspects, in this review, a detailed analysis of the literature data regarding the acyl Sonogashira reaction and its role in the synthesis of several heterocyclic derivatives is reported.

Nanostructured Cu2O Synthesized via Bipolar Electrochemistry

Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) was synthesized for the first time via an open bipolar electrochemistry (BPE) approach and characterized in parallel with the commercially available material. As compared to the reference, Cu2O formed through a BPE reaction demonstrated a decrease in particle size; an increase in photocurrent; more efficient light scavenging; and structure-correlated changes in the flat band potential and charge carrier concentration. More importantly, as-synthesized oxides were all phase-pure, defect-free, and had an average crystallite size of 20 nm. Ultimately, this study demonstrates the impact of reaction conditions (e.g., applied potential, reaction time) on structure, morphology, surface chemistry, and photo-electrochemical activity of semiconducting oxides, and at the same time, the ability to maintain a green synthetic protocol and potentially create a scalable product. In the proposed BPE synthesis, we introduced a common food supplement (potassium gluconate) as a reducing and complexing agent, and as an electrolyte, allowing us to replace the more harmful reactants that are conventionally used in Cu2O production. In addition, in the BPE process very corrosive reactants, such as hydroxides and metal precursors (required for synthesis of oxides), are generated in situ in stoichiometric quantity, providing an alternative methodology to generate various nanostructured materials in high yields under mild conditions.

Synthesis of ynones at room temperature catalyzed by copper chloride cryptand complex under solvent free conditions

An air-stable highly efficient reusable CuCl₂-cryptand-[2.2.Benzo] catalyst is reported first time for coupling reaction of terminal alkynes with different acyl chlorides in the presence of triethylamine acting both as base and solvent at room temperature to give the corresponding ynones. Easy-going, short reaction time, cost-effective, palladium-, phosphorus- and solvent-free, high yield and recyclability up to 5^th times make this method green procedure for ynones’ synthesis with wide substrate variety.

A highly efficient nano-sized Cu2O/SiO2egg-shell catalyst for C–C coupling reactions

Mesoporous SiO₂-supported Cu₂O nanoparticles as an egg-shell type catalyst were prepared by impregnation method. The obtained Cu₂O/SiO₂ egg-shell nanocatalyst had a large surface area and narrow pore size distribution. In addition, most of the Cu₂O nanoparticles, with sizes around 2.0 nm, were highly dispersed in the mesoporous silica. Accordingly, fast reactant diffusion to the active sites would occur, especially when the active metal sites are selectively located on the outer part of the support, i.e., the outer region of the egg shell. In solvent-free Sonogashira reactions for the synthesis of ynones from acyl chlorides and terminal alkynes, this catalyst exhibited a very high catalytic activity. The excellent catalytic performance can be attributed to the synergistic advantages of mesoporous structure and monodispersed Cu₂O nanoparticles.

Mesoporous SiO₂-supported Cu₂O nanoparticles as an egg-shell type catalyst were prepared by impregnation method.

N,N-Dimethylformamide-stabilized copper nanoparticles as a catalyst precursor for Sonogashira–Hagihara cross coupling

We found that DMF-stabilized Cu NPs have high catalytic activity in the Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction at low catalyst loadings (0.2 mol%).

Epoxidised soybean oil–Cu/Cu2O bio-nanocomposite material: synthesis and characterization with antibacterial activity

A facile approach for the synthesis of a novel epoxidised soybean oil–Cu/Cu₂O (ESO–Cu/Cu₂O) bio-nanocomposite material via ultrasound irradiation with antibacterial activity was investigated.

Effect of solvent ratio and counter ions on the morphology of copper nanoparticles and their catalytic application in β-enaminone synthesis

This work reports the synthesis of shape selective copper nanoparticles (NPs) using a microwave irradiation method, using diverse ratios of an ethylene glycol (EG)/water system and their catalytic application in β-enaminones synthesis.

Morphological study of microwave-assisted facile synthesis of gold nanoflowers/nanoparticles in aqueous medium and their catalytic application for reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol

The present work reports a facile synthesis of gold (Au) nanoflowers and nanoparticles with various morphologies using different microwave powers in watts in DMSO.

Transfer hydrogenation of nitroarenes into anilines by palladium nanoparticles via dehydrogenation of dimethylamine borane complex

Reduction of nitroarenes to corresponding amines ​via dehydrogenation of dimethylamine borane using Pd NPs as a catalyst. The developed catalytic system uses dimethylamine borane as a reducing agent which is highly stable, water soluble and non-toxic.