Supercritical water assisted preparation of recyclable gold nanoparticles and their catalytic utility in cross-coupling reactions under sustainable conditions

Design of a new method for one-pot synthesis of 2-amino thiazoles using trichloroisocyanuric acid in the presence of a novel multi-functional and magnetically catalytic nanosystem: Ca/4-MePy-IL@ZY-Fe3O4

In this study, an effective approach was developed to synthesize a novel, multifunctional ionic liquid nanocatalyst based on zeolite-Y with 4-methylpyridinium chloride (4-MePy-Cl) and calcium ions (Ca/4-MePy-IL@ZY). Then, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were produced inside the zeolite pores with the use of ultrasonic waves. XRD, FESEM, FT-IR, EDX-Map, TGA-DTA, VSM, BET, and atomic absorption techniques were used to identify the structure of the magnetic nanocomposite. Then, its catalytic activity in the one-pot synthesis of 2-aminothiazoles using trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) as a green supplier of halogen ions for intermediates was studied. To provide ideal conditions for the preparation of pure products, first, the one-pot reaction of acetophenone and thiourea in various solvents, different temperatures, and the presence of different amounts of nanocatalysts and the molar amount of TCCA was used. Next, the reaction was investigated in the one-pot preparation of 2-aminothiazole derivatives under optimal conditions. This method replaces iodine (I₂), a toxic reagent, for the first time with TCCA, a safe and sustainable source of halogen. The use of non-toxic solvent and a cheap, safe, recyclable nanocatalyst, quick reaction times, high efficiency, and ease of nanocatalyst separation with the aid of a magnet are additional benefits of this method. This has led to this procedure being classified as "green chemistry".

da Silva VA, S. da Silva GF, Santos ECS, de S. Baêta E, Brant de Campos J, Carvalho NMF, Malta LFB, Senra JD. Mild and Rapid Light-Driven Suzuki-Miyaura Reactions Catalyzed by AuPd Nanoparticles in Water at Room Temperature

Organic reactions carried out in water under mild conditions are state-of-the-art in terms of environmentally benign chemical processes. In this direction, plasmonic catalysis can aid in accomplishing such tasks. In the present work, cyclodextrin-mediated AuPd bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) were applied in room-temperature aqueous Suzuki-Miyaura reactions aiming at preparing biaryl products based on fluorene, isatin, benzimidazole and resorcinol, with yields of 77 % up to 95 %. AuPd NPs were revealed to be a physical mixture of Au and Pd particles circa 20 and 2 nm, respectively, through X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, UV-Vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy analyses.

Recent Progress of Metal Nanoparticle Catalysts for C–C Bond Forming Reactions

Over the past few decades, the use of transition metal nanoparticles (NPs) in catalysis has attracted much attention and their use in C–C bond forming reactions constitutes one of their most important applications. A huge variety of metal NPs, which have showed high catalytic activity for C–C bond forming reactions, have been developed up to now. Many kinds of stabilizers, such as inorganic materials, magnetically recoverable materials, porous materials, organic–inorganic composites, carbon materials, polymers, and surfactants have been utilized to develop metal NPs catalysts. This review classified and outlined the categories of metal NPs by the type of support.

Azulene Bridged π-Distorted Chromophores: The Influence of Structural Symmetry on Optoelectrochemical and Photovoltaic Parameters

Conjugated chromophores possessing π-twisted functionality such as tetracyanobutadiene (TCBD) have emerged as promising active layer materials for organic photovoltaics (OPVs). In this study, we disclose the synthesis of two azulenyl chromophores containing one and two TCBD groups. The symmetrical and unsymmetrical structural characteristics of these molecules inflict dissimilar optoelectronic and electrochemical properties. Based on molar absorptivity, aggregation behavior, HOMO-LUMO energies and other quantum chemical parameters, the symmetrical molecule (TATC2) appears to be a better non-fullerene acceptor (NFA) compared to its unsymmetrical counterpart (TATC1). For instance, higher absorptivity and deeper HOMO-LUMO levels for TATC2 (23950 M-1  cm-1 ; -6.01 eV/-3.86 eV) over TATC1 (12200 M1  cm-1 ; -5.46 eV/-3.64 eV) was observed. Validating this structure-property relationship on solar cell prototypes exhibited higher photovoltaic parameters (VOC =0.54 V, FF=0.48, JSC =6.42 mA/cm2 ) for TATC2 than TATC1 (VOC =0.47 V, FF=0.38, JSC =5.77 mA/cm2 ). Though the device parameters are not high, this work uncovers the intrinsic properties of azulene-tethered twisted chromophores as potential π-semiconductor choice for NFA solar cells. In particular, this report explores the utility of azulene-based π-twisted semiconductors as acceptor material for OPVs with cell efficiencies of 1.70 and 1.04 % for TATC2 and TATC1 respectively.

Catalytic Gold Chemistry: From Simple Salts to Complexes for Regioselective C-H Bond Functionalization

Gold coordinated to neutral phosphines (R₃ P), N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) or anionic ligands is catalytically active in functionalizing various C-H bonds with high selectivity. The sterics/electronic nature of the studied C-H bond, oxidation state of gold and stereoelectronic capacity of the coordinated auxiliary ligand are some of the associated selectivity factors in gold-catalyzed C-H bond functionalization reactions. Hence, in this review a comprehensive update about the action of different types of gold catalysts, from simple to sophisticated ones, on C-H bond reactions and their regiochemical outcome is disclosed. This review also highlights the catalytic applications of Au(I)- and Au(III)-species in creating new opportunities for the regio- and site-selective activation of challenging C-H bonds. Finally, it also intends to stress the potential applications in selective C-H bond activation associated with a variety of heterocycles recently described in the literature.

Cycloisomerization of π-Coupled Heteroatom Nucleophiles by Gold Catalysis: En Route to Regiochemically Defined Heterocycles

Since the dawn of millennium, catalytic gold chemistry is at the forefront to set off diverse organic reactions via unique activation of π-bonded molecules. Within this purview, cycloisomerization of heteroatom nucleophiles linked to a π-system is one of the well recognized chemistry for the construction of numerous heterocyclic cores. Though the rudimentary aspects of this transformation are reviewed by several groups in different timeline, a holistic view on regiochemistry of such reactions went largely overlooked. Hence, this account emphasizes the gold catalyzed regioselective cycloisomerization of structurally distinctive π-connected hetero-nucleophiles leading to different heterocycles documented in the last two decades. From an application perspective, this account also highlights those methodologies which find a role in the total synthesis of natural products. Wherever appropriate, mechanistic details and contributing factors for selectivity are also discussed.

Harnessing the TEMPO-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation for Machetti-De Sarlo Reaction toward Sustainable Synthesis of Isoxazole Libraries

A practical synthesis of isoxazole/isoxazoline derivatives via Machetti-De Sarlo reaction under sustainable conditions has been accomplished. This protocol involves the use of readily available 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) to catalyze the cyclocondensation of primary nitroalkanes with alkynes/alkenes to afford a library of isoxazole/isoxazoline products. From an eco-benign perspective, notable advantages of this method are as follows: (i) water as the solvent, (ii) air as the oxidant, (iii) transition metal-free, (iv) no base required, (v) no toxic byproduct, (vi) no need of solvent extraction, (vii) diverse substrate scope, (viii) high chemical yields, (ix) excellent chemo- and regioselectivity, (x) short reaction time, (xi) gram-scale synthesis, (xii) extension to heterogeneous version, and (xiii) catalyst recyclability. For these reasons, the developed method is appropriate for safe laboratory use and can be expected to inspire the progress of TEMPO-based organocatalysis for the preparation of isoxazole/isoxazoline moieties in an environmentally benign fashion.