Solvent-Free Synthesis Enables Encapsulation of Subnanometric FeOx Clusters in Pure Siliceous Zeolites for Efficient Catalytic Oxidation Reactions

Metal/metal oxide clusters possess a higher count of unsaturated coordination sites than nanoparticles, providing multiatomic sites that single atoms do not. Encapsulating metal/metal oxide clusters within zeolites is a promising approach for synthesizing and stabilizing these clusters. The unique feature endows the metal clusters with an exceptional catalytic performance in a broad range of catalytic reactions. However, the encapsulation of stable FeOx clusters in zeolite is still challenging, which limits the application of zeolite-encapsulated FeOx clusters in catalysis. Herein, we design a modified solvent-free method to encapsulate FeOx clusters in pure siliceous MFI zeolites (Fe@MFI). It is revealed that the 0.3-0.4 nm subnanometric FeOx clusters are stably encapsulated in the 5/6-membered rings intersectional voids of the pure siliceous MFI zeolites. The encapsulated Fe@MFI catalyst with a Fe loading of 1.4 wt % demonstrates remarkable catalytic activity and recycle stability in the direct oxidation of methane, while also promoting the direct oxidation of cyclohexane, surpassing the performance of conventional zeolite-supported Fe catalysts.

Mechanochemical Solvent-Free One-Pot Synthesis of Poly-Functionalized 5-(Arylselanyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazoles Through a Copper(I)-Catalyzed Click Reaction

A mechanochemistry-driven practical and efficient synthetic protocol for accessing diverse series of biologically relevant poly-functionalized 5-(arylselanyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazoles through copper(I)-catalyzed click reaction between aryl/heteroaryl acetylenes, diaryl diselenides, benzyl bromides, and sodium azide has been accomplished under high-speed ball-milling. Advantages of this method include operational simplicity, avoidance of using solvent and external heating, one-pot synthesis, short reaction time in minutes, good to excellent yields, broad substrate scope, and gram-scale applications. Furthermore, synthesized organoselenium compounds were synthetically diversified to biologically promising selenones.

TM-Free and TM-Catalyzed Mechanosynthesis of Functional Polymers

Mechanochemically induced methods are commonly used for the depolymerization of polymers, including plastic and agricultural wastes. So far, these methods have rarely been used for polymer synthesis. Compared to conventional polymerization in solutions, mechanochemical polymerization offers numerous advantages such as less or no solvent consumption, the accessibility of novel structures, the inclusion of co-polymers and post-modified polymers, and, most importantly, the avoidance of problems posed by low monomer/oligomer solubility and fast precipitation during polymerization. Consequently, the development of new functional polymers and materials, including those based on mechanochemically synthesized polymers, has drawn much interest, particularly from the perspective of green chemistry. In this review, we tried to highlight the most representative examples of transition-metal (TM)-free and TM-catalyzed mechanosynthesis of some functional polymers, such as semiconductive polymers, porous polymeric materials, sensory materials, materials for photovoltaics, etc.

CO2 Methanation: Solvent-Free Synthesis of Nickel-Containing Catalysts from Complexes with Ethylenediamine

CO₂ methanation was studied in the presence of nickel catalysts obtained by the solid-state combustion method. Complexes with a varying number of ethylenediamine molecules in the coordination sphere of nickel were chosen as the precursors of the active component of the catalysts. Their synthesis was carried out without the use of solvents, which made it possible to avoid the stages of their separation from the solution and the utilization of waste liquids. The composition and structure of the synthesized complexes were confirmed by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, powder XRD and XPS methods. It was determined that their thermal decomposition in the combustion wave proceeds in multiple stages with the formation of NiO and Ni(OH)₂, which are reduced to Ni⁰. Higher ethylenediamine content in the complex leads to a higher content of metal in the solid products of combustion. However, different ratios of oxidized and reduced forms of nickel do not affect the initial activation temperature of nickel catalysts in the presence of CO₂. It was noted that, after activation, the sample obtained from [Ni(C₂H₈N₂)₂](NO₃)₂ exhibited the highest activity in CO₂ methanation. Thus, this complex is a promising precursor for CO₂ methanation catalysts, and its synthesis requires only a small amount of ethylenediamine.

Synthesis of 2-Aminopyrimidine Derivatives and Their Evaluation as β-Glucuronidase Inhibitors: In Vitro and In Silico Studies

Currently the discovery and development of potent β-glucuronidase inhibitors is an active area of research due to the observation that increased activity of this enzyme is associated with many pathological conditions, such as colon cancer, renal diseases, and infections of the urinary tract. In this study, twenty-seven 2-aminopyrimidine derivatives 1-27 were synthesized by fusion of 2-amino-4,6-dichloropyrimidine with a variety of amines in the presence of triethylamine without using any solvent and catalyst, in good to excellent yields. All synthesized compounds were characterized by EI-MS, HREI-MS and NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 1-27 were then evaluated for their β-glucuronidase inhibitory activity, and among them, compound 24 (IC₅₀ = 2.8 ± 0.10 µM) showed an activity much superior to standard D-saccharic acid 1,4-lactone (IC₅₀ = 45.75 ± 2.16 µM). To predict the binding mode of the substrate and β-glucuronidase, in silico study was performed. Conclusively, this study has identified a potent β-glucuronidase inhibitor that deserves to be further studied for the development of pharmaceutical products.

Synthesis of Metal Chalcogenide Semiconductors by Thermal Decomposition of Organosulfur and Organoselenium Compounds

Metal chalcogenides - because of their excellent optical and electrical properties - are important semiconductor materials for optical devices, such as solar cells, sensors, and photocatalysts. The challenges associated with metal chalcogenides are the complexity of the conventional synthesis methods and the stringent synthesis conditions. In this study, the synthesis conditions were simplified in a solvent-free synthesis method using cadmium precursor, thiourea and selenium to synthesize metal chalcogenides, such as CdS and CdSe, which have particularly suitable band gaps for the optical devices. CdS_x Se_1-x solid solution was successfully synthesized under molten thiourea as the reactive reaction medium at relatively low temperatures, even at 180 °C, with residual melamine derivatives in the solid phase. The luminescence properties of CdS_x Se_1-x and the products in the gas and solid phases were investigated. Optimization of the synthesis conditions for solid solutions of CdS_x Se_1-x and the role of organic compounds in the formation of metal chalcogenides are discussed.

Solvent-free synthesis of enantioenriched β-silyl nitroalkanes under organocatalytic conditions

An enantioselective 1,4-conjugate addition of nitromethane to β-silyl α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds catalyzed by bifunctional squaramide catalysts has been developed. This methodology offers both enantiomers of β-silyl nitroalkanes in good to excellent yields (up to 92%) and enantioselectivities (up to 97.5% ee) under solvent-free conditions at room temperature. Control experiments reveal that the presence of a β-silyl group in the enones is crucial for high reactivity under the optimized reaction conditions.

Ionic Liquid-Assisted Grinding: An Electrophilic Fluorination Benchmark

We demonstrated the influence of liquid additives on the rate and selectivity of mechanochemical fluorination of aromatic and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with F-TEDA-BF4. Substoichiometric catalytic quantities of ionic liquids speed up the reaction. We proposed an improved protocol for ionic liquids-assisted fluorination that allows easy and efficient isolation of fluorinated products by vacuum sublimation. A careful choice of additive results in high yields of fluorinated products and low E-factor for the overall process. Here, we report a benchmarking study of various ionic liquids in comparison with representative molecular solvents. A lower viscosity of ionic liquid additive is typically associated with higher yields and a higher degree of difluorination. Ionic liquids with fluorous anions (triflate and triflimide) are shown to be the most efficient catalysts for ionic liquid-assisted grinding.

Electron-rich triarylphosphines as nucleophilic catalysts for oxa-Michael reactions

Electron-rich triarylphosphines, namely 4-(methoxyphenyl)diphenylphosphine (MMTPP) and tris(4-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphine (TMTPP), outperform commonly used triphenylphosphine (TPP) in catalyzing oxa-Michael additions. A matrix consisting of three differently strong Michael acceptors and four alcohols of varying acidity was used to assess the activity of the three catalysts. All test reactions were performed with 1 mol % catalyst loading, under solvent-free conditions and at room temperature. The results reveal a decisive superiority of TMTPP for converting poor and intermediate Michael acceptors such as acrylamide and acrylonitrile and for converting less acidic alcohols like isopropanol. With stronger Michael acceptors and more acidic alcohols, the impact of the more electron-rich catalysts is less pronounced. The experimental activity trend was rationalized by calculating the Michael acceptor affinities of all phosphine-Michael acceptor combinations. Besides this parameter, the acidity of the alcohol has a strong impact on the reaction speed. The oxidation stability of the phosphines was also evaluated and the most electron-rich TMTPP was found to be only slightly more sensitive to oxidation than TPP. Finally, the catalysts were employed in the oxa-Michael polymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate. With TMTPP polymers characterized by number average molar masses of about 1200 g/mol at room temperature are accessible. Polymerizations carried out at 80 °C resulted in macromolecules containing a considerable share of Rauhut-Currier-type repeat units and consequently lower molar masses were obtained.

Catalyst- and Solvent-Free Synthesis of a Chemically Stable Aza-Bridged Bis(phenanthroline) Macrocycle-Linked Covalent Organic Framework

Developing new linkage-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) is one of the major topics in reticular chemistry. Electrically conductive COFs have enabled applications in energy storage and electrochemical catalysis, which are not feasible using insulating COFs. Despite significant advances, the construction of chemically stable conductive COFs by the formation of new linkages remains relatively unexplored and challenging. Here we report the solvent- and catalyst-free synthesis of a two-dimensional aza-bridged bis(phenanthroline) macrocycle-linked COF (ABBPM-COF) from the thermally induced poly-condensation of a tri-topic monomer and ammonia gas. The ABBPM-COF structure was elucidated using multiple techniques, including X-ray diffraction analysis combined with structural simulation, revealing its crystalline nature with an ABC stacking mode. Further experiments demonstrated its excellent chemical stability in acid/base solutions. Electrical-conductivity measurements showed that the insulating ABBPM-COF becomes a semiconducting material after exposure to iodine vapor.

Solvent-Free Mechanochemical Synthesis of a Systematic Series of Pure-Phase Mixed-Halide Perovskites MAPb(Ix Br1-x )3 and MAPb(Brx Cl1-x )3 for Continuous Composition and Band-Gap Tuning

Hybrid perovskites have recently received much attention in optoelectronic applications. However, hybrid perovskites are unstable in a humid environment. Mixed halide perovskites (MHPs) show enhanced stability and band-gap tunability upon engineering of their halide composition. Here, MHPs are prepared through a solvent-free mechanochemical synthesis (MCS) route that allows superior control over halide compositions than the solvent synthesis routes (SS). The MCS route eliminates the problem in the preparation of MAPb(I_x Br_1-x )₃ with continuously varying x, while maintaining the material properties and suppressing phase segregation present in SS routes. UV-vis absorption and X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the production of the desired pure-phase MHPs. For MAPb(I_x Br_1-x )₃ (0≤x≤1), with increased ratio of halide (x), the cubic phase gradually transforms into the tetragonal phase and band-gap tunability is accomplished. The MCS route for the preparation of MHPs is a very promising and efficient technique for superior control in optoelectronic properties, leading to improved control in fabrication approaches.

Solvent-Free Synthesis of Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks and the Catalytic Properties of Their Carbon Materials

Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) are traditionally synthesized solvothermally by using cost- and waste-incurring organic solvents. Here, a direct synthesis method is reported for ZIF-8, ZIF-67, and their heterometallic versions from solid precursors only. This solvent-free crystallization method not only completely avoids organic solvents, but also provides an effective path for the synthesis of homogeneous mixed-metal ZIFs. Furthermore, under templating by NaCl/ZnCl₂ eutectic salt, carbonization of the ZIF materials gives rise to a series of N-containing high-surface-area carbon materials with impressive catalytic properties for the oxygen reduction reaction.

Morphology-Controlled Synthesis of H-type MFI Zeolites with Unique Stacked Structures through a One-Pot Solvent-Free Strategy

H-type aluminosilicate zeolites are extensively used as solid-acid catalysts and support materials in industrial catalysis. However, the conventional synthesis methods involving hydrothermal syntheses and ion-exchange processes suffer from severe water pollution and toxic gas emissions. Herein, H-type MFI zeolite catalysts with a unique stacked structure were directly synthesized in the presence of NH₄ F and with the help of zeolite confinement through a solvent-free route without further ion-exchange procedures. A range of ex situ and in situ characterization procedures were used to provide evidence of the simultaneous use of pre-made ZSM-5 and NH₄ F as a confined Al source and mineralizer, respectively. The confined zeolite framework of ZSM-5 prevented the formation of AlF_x species between NH₄ F and Al atoms, ensuring that the prepared samples had desirable acidic properties. Moreover, the resulting morphology could be controlled by using different silica substrates. The obtained H-type MFI zeolites showed excellent catalytic performance in methanol-to-gasoline reactions owing to their unique structure and directly exposed acidic sites. The developed one-pot strategy provides an alternative method for the facile synthesis of H-type zeolites with defined morphology.

Efficient Synthesis of Five Types of Heterocyclic Compounds via Intramolecular Elimination Using Ultrasound-Static Heating Technique

An experimental technique, ultrasound-static heating, has been developed for the efficient synthesis of heterocyclic compounds. The technique involves ultrasonic irradiation and static heating processes. First, the ultrasonic irradiation process is performed to form an intermediate of the heterocyclic compound under mild conditions and the subsequent static heating process (heating the intermediate under solvent-free conditions without stirring) produces the target heterocyclic compounds via intramolecular elimination.

Maximizing the Number of Interfacial Sites in Single-Atom Catalysts for the Highly Selective, Solvent-Free Oxidation of Primary Alcohols

The solvent-free selective oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes with molecular oxygen is highly attractive yet challenging. Interfacial sites between a metal and an oxide support are crucial in determining the activity and selectivity of such heterogeneous catalysts. Herein, we demonstrate that the use of supported single-atom catalysts (SACs) leads to high activity and selectivity in this reaction. The significantly increased number of interfacial sites, resulting from the presence of individually dispersed metal atoms on the support, renders SACs one or two orders of magnitude more active than the corresponding nanoparticle (NP) catalysts. Lattice oxygen atoms activated at interfacial sites were found to be more selective than O₂ activated on metal NPs in oxidizing the alcohol substrate. This work demonstrates for the first time that the number of interfacial sites is maximized in SACs, providing a new avenue for improving catalytic performance by developing appropriate SACs for alcohol oxidation and other reactions occurring at metal-support interfacial sites.

Graphene Oxide Facilitates Solvent-Free Synthesis of Well-Dispersed, Faceted Zeolite Crystals

Zeolites with molecular dimension pores are widely used in petrochemical and fine-chemical industries. While traditional solvothermal syntheses suffer from environmental, safety, and efficiency issues, the newly developed solvent-free synthesis is limited by zeolite crystal aggregation. Herein, we report well-dispersed and faceted silicalite ZSM-5 zeolite crystals obtained using a solvent-free synthesis facilitated by graphene oxide (GO). The selective interactions between the GO sheets and different facets, which are confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations, result in oriented growth of the ZSM-5 crystals along the c-axis. More importantly, the incorporation of GO sheets into the ZSM-5 crystals leads to the formation of mesopores. Consequently, the faceted ZSM-5 crystals exhibit hierarchical pore structures. This synthetic method is superior to conventional approaches because of the features of the ZSM-5 zeolite.

High-speed vibration-milling-promoted synthesis of symmetrical frameworks containing two or three pyrrole units

The pseudo-five-component reaction between β-dicarbonyl compounds (2 molecules), diamines and α-iodoketones (2 molecules), prepared in situ from aryl ketones, was performed efficiently under mechanochemical conditions involving high-speed vibration milling with a single zirconium oxide ball. This reaction afforded symmetrical frameworks containing two pyrrole or fused pyrrole units joined by a spacer, which are of interest in the exploration of chemical space for drug discovery purposes. The method was also extended to the synthesis of one compound containing three identical pyrrole fragments via a pseudo-seven-component reaction. Access to compounds having a double bond in their spacer chain was achieved by a different approach involving the homodimerization of 1-allyl- or 1-homoallylpyrroles by application of cross-metathesis chemistry.

Fast, Efficient and Low E-Factor One-Pot Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of (Hetero)Arenes

The homocoupling of aryl halides and the heterocoupling of aryl halides with either aryl bromides or arenes bearing an ortho-lithiation directing group are presented. The use of a Pd catalyst, in combination with t-BuLi, allows for the rapid and efficient formation of a wide range of polyaromatic compounds in a one pot procedure bypassing the need for the separate preformation of an organometallic coupling partner. These polyaromatic structures are obtained in high yields, in 10 min at room temperature, with minimal waste generation (E-factors as low as 1.5) and without the need for strict inert conditions, making this process highly efficient and practical in comparison to classical methods. As illustration, several key intermediates of widely used BINOL-derived structures are readily prepared.

Solvent-Free Synthesis of Uniform MOF Shell-Derived Carbon Confined SnO2 /Co Nanocubes for Highly Reversible Lithium Storage

Tin dioxide (SnO₂ ) has attracted much attention in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its abundant source, low cost, and high theoretical capacity. However, the large volume variation, irreversible conversion reaction limit its further practical application in next-generation LIBs. Here, a novel solvent-free approach to construct uniform metal-organic framework (MOF) shell-derived carbon confined SnO₂ /Co (SnO₂ /Co@C) nanocubes via a two-step heat treatment is developed. In particular, MOF-coated CoSnO₃ hollow nanocubes are for the first time synthesized as the intermediate product by an extremely simple thermal solid-phase reaction, which is further developed as a general strategy to successfully obtain other uniform MOF-coated metal oxides. The as-synthesized SnO₂ /Co@C nanocubes, when tested as LIB anodes, exhibit a highly reversible discharge capacity of 800 mAh g^-1 after 100 cycles at 200 mA g^-1 and excellent cycling stability with a retained capacity of 400 mAh g^-1 after 1800 cycles at 5 A g^-1 . The experimental analyses demonstrate that these excellent performances are mainly ascribed to the delicate structure and a synergistic effect between Co and SnO₂ . This facile synthetic approach will greatly contribute to the development of functional metal oxide-based and MOF-assisted nanostructures in many frontier applications.

Solvent-Free Synthesis and Safener Activity of Sulfonylurea Benzothiazolines

A series of novel sulfonylurea benzothiazolines was designed by splicing active groups and bioisosterism. A solvent-free synthetic route was developed for the sulfonylurea benzothiazoline derivatives via the cyclization and carbamylation. All compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, HRMS. The biological activity tests indicated the compounds could protect maize against the injury caused by chlorsulfuron to some extent. The molecular docking result showed that the new compound competed with chlorsulfuron to bind with the herbicide target enzyme active site to attain detoxification.

Mechanochemical synthesis of small organic molecules

With the growing interest in renewable energy and global warming, it is important to minimize the usage of hazardous chemicals in both academic and industrial research, elimination of waste, and possibly recycle them to obtain better results in greener fashion. The studies under the area of mechanochemistry which cover the grinding chemistry to ball milling, sonication, etc. are certainly of interest to the researchers working on the development of green methodologies. In this review, a collection of examples on recent developments in organic bond formation reactions like carbon–carbon (C–C), carbon–nitrogen (C–N), carbon–oxygen (C–O), carbon–halogen (C–X), etc. is documented. Mechanochemical syntheses of heterocyclic rings, multicomponent reactions and organometallic molecules including their catalytic applications are also highlighted.

Solvent-Free Self-Assembly to the Synthesis of Nitrogen-Doped Ordered Mesoporous Polymers for Highly Selective Capture and Conversion of CO2

A solvent-free induced self-assembly technology for the synthesis of nitrogen-doped ordered mesoporous polymers (N-OMPs) is developed, which is realized by mixing polymer precursors with block copolymer templates, curing at 140-180 °C, and calcination to remove the templates. This synthetic strategy represents a significant advancement in the preparation of functional porous polymers through a fast and scalable yet environmentally friendly route, since no solvents or catalysts are used. The synthesized N-OMPs and their derived catalysts are found to exhibit competitive CO₂ capacities (0.67-0.91 mmol g^-1 at 25 °C and 0.15 bar), extraordinary CO₂ /N₂ selectivities (98-205 at 25 °C), and excellent activities for catalyzing conversion of CO₂ into cyclic carbonate (conversion >95% at 100 °C and 1.2 MPa for 1.5 h). The solvent-free technology developed in this work can also be extended to the synthesis of N-OMP/SiO₂ nanocomposites, mesoporous SiO₂ , crystalline mesoporous TiO₂ , and TiPO, demonstrating its wide applicability in porous material synthesis.

Advances in Solid-State Transformations of Coordination Bonds: From the Ball Mill to the Aging Chamber

Controlling the formation of coordination bonds is pivotal to the development of a plethora of functional metal-organic materials, ranging from coordination polymers, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to metallodrugs. The interest in and commercialization of such materials has created a need for more efficient, environmentally-friendly routes for making coordination bonds. Solid-state coordination chemistry is a versatile greener alternative to conventional synthesis, offering quantitative yields, enhanced stoichiometric and topological selectivity, access to a wider range of precursors, as well as to molecules and materials not readily accessible in solution or solvothermally. With a focus on mechanochemical, thermochemical and “accelerated aging” approaches to coordination polymers, including pharmaceutically-relevant materials and microporous MOFs, this review highlights the recent advances in solid-state coordination chemistry and techniques for understanding the underlying reaction mechanisms.

Comprehensive study of the organic-solvent-free CDI-mediated acylation of various nucleophiles by mechanochemistry

Acylation reactions are ubiquitous in the synthesis of natural products and biologically active compounds. Unfortunately, these reactions often require the use of large quantities of volatile and/or toxic solvents, either for the reaction, purification or isolation of the products. Herein we describe and discuss the possibility of completely eliminating the use of organic solvents for the synthesis, purification and isolation of products resulting from the acylation of amines and other nucleophiles. Thus, utilisation of N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) allows efficient coupling between carboxylic acids and various nucleophiles under solvent-free mechanical agitation, and water-assisted grinding enables both the purification and isolation of pure products. Critical parameters such as the physical state and water solubility of the products, milling material, type of agitation (vibratory or planetary) as well as contamination from wear are analysed and discussed. In addition, original organic-solvent-free conditions are proposed to overcome the limitations of this approach. The calculations of various green metrics are included, highlighting the particularly low environmental impact of this strategy.

Synthesis of porous inorganic hollow fibers without harmful solvents

A route for the fabrication of porous inorganic hollow fibers with high surface-area-to-volume ratio that avoids harmful solvents is presented. The approach is based on bio-ionic gelation of an aqueous mixture of inorganic particles and sodium alginate during wet spinning. In a subsequent thermal treatment, the bio-organic material is removed and the inorganic particles are sintered. The method is applicable to the fabrication of various inorganic fibers, including metals and ceramics. The route completely avoids the use of organic solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and additives associated with the currently used fiber fabrication methods. In addition, it inherently avoids the manifestation of so-called macro voids and allows the facile incorporation of additional metal oxides in the inorganic hollow fibers.

Solvent-free syntheses of hierarchically porous aluminophosphate-based zeolites with AEL and AFI structures

Development of sustainable routes for synthesizing aluminophosphate-based zeolites are very important because of their wide applications. As a typical sustainable route, solvent-free synthesis of zeolites not only decreases polluted wastes but also increases product yields. Systematic solvent-free syntheses of hierarchically porous aluminophosphate-based zeolites with AEL and AFI structures is presented. XRD patterns and SEM images show that these samples have high crystallinity. N2 sorption isotherm tests show that these samples are hierarchically porous, and their surface areas are comparable with those of corresponding zeolites from hydrothermal route. Chosen as an example, catalytic oxidation of ethylbenzene with O2 shows that cobalt substituted APO-11 from the solvent-free route (S-CoAPO-11) is more active than conventional CoAPO-11 from hydrothermal route owing to the sample hierarchical porosity.

Synthesis of 5-Substituted Derivatives of Isophthalic Acid as Non-Polymeric Amphiphilic Coating for Metal Oxide Nanoparticles

In the course of development of novel capping ligands with variable steric factor, which will be used as an organic coating for metal oxide nanoparticles, a base-catalyzed nucleophilic oxirane ring-opening addition reaction between dimethyl 5-hydroxyisophthalate and allyl glycidyl ether was studied. The allyl-terminated 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3 adducts and dihydroxylated derivative of the 1-1 adduct, 5-diglyceroxy isophthalic acid, were synthesized. The latter binds to the surface of 5 nm γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles in reaction with their surfactant-free diethylene glycol colloids.