A GeCl₂-mediated addition reaction of α-(N-phthaloylamino)allylic stannane to aldehydes was achieved to give 1,2-amino alcohol derivatives in high anti-selectivity. Various types of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes were applicable. The synthesized N-phthaloylamino alcohols were smoothly transformed to aminoalcohols by conventional methods with no loss of stereochemistry.

A facile method for the synthesis of diverse phenothiazines has been achieved by direct thioamination of aryne intermediates with S-(o-bromoaryl)-S-methylsulfilimines and subsequent intramolecular Buchwald–Hartwig amination. Since various sulfilimines could be prepared easily by odorless copper-catalyzed ipso-thiolation of readily available o-bromoarylboronic acids followed by imination and hydrolysis, this approach enables the synthesis of a wide variety of multisubstituted phenothiazines.

The hydride-fluoride pyrochlore NaCaMg₂F_7−xH_x has been synthesized at high pressure (2 GPa) from binary fluorides and hydrides. Contrary to initial expectations, we did not find strong evidence of selective hydride substitution in special anionic sites. F-center formation under UV irradiation at room temperature was observed, demonstrating the potential lability of hydride and enabling further systematic studies.

The asymmetric Michael reaction of an aldehyde and β-substituted α-nitroacrylate, catalyzed by diphenylprolinol silyl ether, was successfully carried out and good yield was achieved. This reaction has broad substrate generality. Moreover, the product can be easily converted to pyrrolidine or lactone.

A highly selective method for synthesizing monoadduct derivatives of triaminopentanoic acid anhydride (DTPD) was developed by the sequential heating and cooling of DTPD and an amine catalyst, followed by the addition of polymer material. After chelation with Eu³⁺, the concentration of the polymers thus obtained was detected by time-resolved fluorescence even when these polymers were incubated with mouse serum, indicative of the applicability of this method for the pharmacokinetic analyses of polymer-based nanoparticles.

We investigated a new one-pot synthesis method for β-TaON oxynitride using (C₆N₉H₃)_n (melon) as a solid nitrogen source. β-TaON single phase was obtained from Ta₂O₅ using melon heating under a separated and sealed condition in a quartz glass tube. The oxygen and nitrogen contents of prepared β-TaON were almost 100% of the theoretical values.

In this study, we developed a new chemical imaging platform that uses a closed bipolar electrode (cBPE) array for electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection. The cBPE array was successfully applied to use in the chemical imaging of molecular distributions by injection and a self-induced redox cycling. The results show the possibility of high-resolution chemical imaging using a cBPE array.

The poor interfacial interaction between magnetic particles, such as carbonyl iron particles (CIP), and rubber matrix results in deterioration of mechanical properties in magneto-rheological elastomers (MREs). We introduced ZnO filled MREs based on ethylene acrylic elastomer (AEM) to improve interfacial interaction of CIP and rubber matrix, due to ZnO catalyzed reaction between carbonyl and amino group. The mechanical properties of MREs were improved because of improved interfacial interaction. In addition, the magneto-induced properties of MREs were enhanced.

Combining high mobility graphene transistors with efficient light-absorbing graphene quantum dots produces highly sensitive photodetectors with wide spectral response. However, an inherent difficulty in fabricating such devices is the wettability of the hydrophilic graphene quantum dots onto the hydrophobic graphene transistor array. We describe a smooth, uniform coating of a graphene quantum dot layer by adding a non-ionic fluorosurfactant: Capstone FS-30. It reduces the surface tension of hydrophilic graphene quantum dots on the hydrophobic substrate, sufficiently improving the wetting property.

A humidity sensor driven by self-powered graphene oxide film with in-plane proton transfer was successfully fabricated. A 5 × 5 humidity sensor array was built, and finger position was detected via monitoring the humidity change under zero bias voltage. ΔI/I₀ was about 45 at finger distance of 0.8 cm, and reached 450 at distance of 0.2 cm. The facile device preparation procedure and fast current pulse upon exposure to moisture make it suitable for practical applications in smart self-powered humidity sensor systems.

Pore-filling anion exchange membranes for use in fuel cell applications are fabricated by grafting anion exchange polymers onto pore surfaces of a porous substrate. Because grafted polymers are tethered, the membranes realize high stabilities against hydroxide ions and sufficient hydroxide ion conductivities as well. The grafting strategy is consistent with the existing strategy of molecular structure design to improve the membrane alkali stability.

An ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EmimOAc) better catalyzed the acetylation of the aliphatic hydroxyl groups of lignin than the phenolic hydroxyl groups using isopropenyl acetate as an acetyl donor. However, in situ ¹H NMR analyses performed on model compounds revealed that EmimOAc more effectively promoted the acetylation of phenol than 2-phenethyl alcohol. EmimOAc was also found to selectively catalyze the deacetylation of aromatic acetate, and thus the aliphatic hydroxyl groups of lignin were preferentially acetylated.

Ammonium-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSSs) with only cage-like octamers were selectively prepared in high yields (ca. 90%) within relatively short reaction time (7–12 h), when the hydrolytic condensations of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS), 3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyltrimethoxysilane (AEAPTMS), and an APTMS-AEAPTMS mixture, respectively, were performed using superacid trifluoromethanesulfonic acid as a catalyst in dimethyl sulfoxide at ca. 50–60 °C. The reaction was carried out in an open system to concentrate the reaction solution, followed by precipitating and washing using acetone-chloroform mixed solvent.

A highly diastereoselective synthesis of tetralin-fused spirooxindole derivatives was described. Treatment of benzylidene oxindoles with a catalytic amount of Sc(OTf)₃ in refluxing hexane afforded the target compounds in good chemical yields with excellent diastereoselectivities (up to >20:1). Detailed investigation of the reaction mechanism revealed that both interconversion of the two diastereomers and their solubility difference in reaction medium were the key to achieving excellent diastereoselectivities.

Inspired by green lotus leaf, we bio-designed a superhydrophobic gel nanocoating with green photo-luminescence. The ZnO ingredient was prepared by sol-gel method and then modified with stearic acid (STA) to obtain superhydrophobic nano-coating. The microstructures, wettability and photoluminescence of the ZnO were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, contact angle analysis and fluorescence spectrophotometry. The experimental results of ZnO-STA show excellent superhydrophobicity on various substrates and intense green luminescence. These findings can open a new view for luminescent devices with self-cleaning advances.

The methylated DNA base 5-methylcytosine (^mC) is the most important factor in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. 3-cyanovinylcarbazole nucleoside (^CNVK) photocrosslinks with ^mC more rapidly than with cytosine (C). In the present study, we evaluated the effect of the substituents of various 3-vinylcarbazole derivatives on ^mC- and C-mediated DNA photocrosslinking for the quantitative detection of ^mC. We also demonstrated the quantitative detection of ^mC via photocrosslinking using 3-vinylcarbazole derivatives on a DNA chip. The results suggest that this photocrosslinking reaction has potential for the selective detection of ^mC in DNA strands via photocrosslinking using 3-cyanovinylcarbazole derivatives.

Nucleophilic substitution at the hydroxylated internal carbon of sumanene proceeded with anisole or phenol as a nucleophile promoted by trifluoromethansulfonic acid (TfOH) to give the carbon–carbon bond products. The stereochemistry of the substitution was determined to be an inversion using an enantiopure reactant. The result indicated that the nucleophile attacked exclusively from the concave side of the bowl.

The g-C₃N_4/SnO₂ composites were synthesized via a simple two-step method. A sensor based on 10 wt% g-C₃N₄/SnO₂ composites shows excellent gas-sensing properties toward isopropanol compared with other sensors based on different mass ratio. The results indicate its potential application in isopropanol detection.

MOF derived core-shell Cu@C was prepared by the pyrolysis of Cu-BTC and applied in the liquid-phase hydrogenation of ester. The severe aggregation of copper species was inhibited by the carbon shell. Compared with traditional Cu/AC-H₂ catalyst, Cu@C-N₂ displayed higher activity in the hydrogenation of butyl butyrate due to its higher Cu dispersion. Further reduction of Cu@C-N₂ catalyst in H₂ greatly improved the activity, as a result of the appropriate ratio of Cu⁺/Cu⁰, which can activate both ester and H₂ molecules.

Main chain type dithienoarsole (DTA) polymers were synthesized by two kinds of optimized Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that there was no residual metal in the obtained polymers, meaning that lone pairs of the DTA polymers were free from coordination. The emission color was widely tuned by the π-conjugated comonomers. Furthermore, the modification of the DTA polymer was carried out via complexation with gold(I) chloride.

Calcium was intercalated into a graphite-like layered material with a composition of BC₈. The obtained material was a second-stage compound with an intercalated layer spacing of 0.441 nm. This is the first example of calcium intercalation into a graphite network-based material through solid-gas reaction of the material with calcium vapour.

The introduction of aromatic substituents onto the binaphthyl backbone of axially chiral binaphthyl organic fluorophores shifts their circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) wavelengths to higher values and may induce CPL sign inversion. Herein, we succeeded in increasing the CPL wavelength without inverting the CPL sign by introducing an alkenyl group onto the binaphthyl backbone.

A facile method for synthesizing microporous zincosilicate *BEA molecular sieves was proposed using co-precipitated homogeneous zincosilicate gels containing the tetraethylammonium cation (TEA⁺) as an organic structure-directing agent. Characterization of the co-precipitated gels indicated that zinc species and TEA⁺ were distributed in the silicate matrix. Zincosilicate *BEA molecular sieves with a high zinc content were obtained from the gels, while highly crystalline molecular sieves could not be synthesized using conventional zinc and silicon sources under the same conditions.

An integral equation theory for a two-dimensional (2D) fluid system was proposed that enables us to directly compute spatial distribution function on a 2D plane. The structural properties of the planar dumbbell fluid system were examined with a variety of closure equations. The results show a good agreement with the corresponding Monte Carlo simulation.

We fabricated organic-inorganic perovskite [CH(NH₂)₂]_0.8Cs_0.2PbI₃ thin films on compact TiO₂ layers using a one-step method with 1-cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone as an additive without using an antisolvent. The film morphology is dense, and pore-free surfaces were achieved by optimizing the concentration of the additive. An n-i-p planar-structure solar cell consisting of a glass/FTO/TiO₂/[CH(NH₂)]₂]_0.8Cs_0.2PbI₃/spiro-OMeTAD/Ag structure showed power conversion efficiencies of 14.2% and 9.2% during reverse and forward scanning, respectively.

We report a nonflammable gel electrolyte based on two key soft materials: 1) a homogeneous polymer network prepared from tetra-armed poly(ethylene glycol) (TetraPEG) and 2) a tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phosphate (TFEP)-based electrolyte solution. At the equilibrium swelling state, the concentration of the polymer in the TetraPEG gel was relatively low, at only 5.6 wt.%. The TetraPEG gel exhibits a wide electrochemical window of ∼5.0 V and thus works well as an electrolyte for a positive electrode, i.e., a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO₄).

The introduction of phenyl groups not only improves porosity in the poly(ionic liquid) with a high ionic liquid content, but also endows the material with amphiphilic properties, which grants them a potential to be utilized in both aqueous and organic solvents. The amphiphilic poly(ionic liquid), which can be conveniently synthesized, presents highly efficient removal of anionic dyes, due to the presence of a high specific surface area and easily-accessible cationic parts in its porous structure. This poly(ionic liquid) material has a maximum adsorption capacity of ca. 454 mg/g towards methyl orange at room temperature.

5,15-Bis(pentafluorophenyl)-10-nitrocorrole and its pyridinate Ga(III) complex were obtained by nitration of the corresponding meso-free corroles in moderate yields. The acidity of the central NH proton proved to be significantly increased in the freebase form, suggesting the stabilization of 2NH-corrole anionic state due to the resonance effect of the nitro group. Fluorescence quenching was observed for meso-nitrocorrole and its Ga(III) complex.

Phosphorus-centered 4,8,12-triazatriangulene was identified as an efficient exciton blocking material for phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PHOLEDs). The external quantum efficiency values of Ir(ppy)₃-based green PHOLEDs were greatly improved to 20% at 1000 cd m⁻².

Utilizing the redox property of polyaniline (PANI), Ag nanoparticles were uniformly grafted on PANI-coated fabric. After modification with a thiol mixture of HS(CH₂)₉CH₃ and HS(CH₂)₁₀COOH, the prepared fabric exhibited pH-responsive reversible switching between superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity. Such smart fabric can be applied for on-demand corrosive water-oil separation with high flux and efficiency.

Ether-exchange reaction of alkyl aryl ethers with alcohols and thiols via the cleavage of the C(sp²)–O bond is described. Bi(OTf)₃ was found to be a most effective catalyst, and etherification of fused-aromatic ethers proceeded efficiently. Monitoring of reactions revealed conceptually new transetherification between two different ethers, which can be regarded as single-bond metathesis under the same reaction conditions.

An l-Proline (l-Pro)-catalyzed aldol reaction of acetone and p-nitrobenzaldehyde (pNBA) occurs in organic solvents such as DMSO, while the presence of excess water inhibits the reaction. Herein, the reaction was carried out in water, in the presence of liposomes. Most liposomes assisted in the conversion of the substrates (conv. >90%). We conclude that the hydrophobic environment of the liposome can be utilized as a reaction medium for this organocatalytic reaction. Although the l-Pro-catalyzed aldol reaction in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) resulted in a high enantiomeric excess of R product (e.e. >70%), the reactions on liposome membranes resulted in e.e. values of 1%.

In this study, we investigated the effect of photo-irradiation on dry reforming of methane (DRM) over several metal oxides. Among these oxides, strontium titanate (SrTiO₃) exhibited the largest photo-effect and high stability against coking at ∼700 °C. Band-gap excitation of SrTiO₃ is indispensable for driving efficient DRM. These results indicated that the photon energy could be utilized to promote DRM reaction over SrTiO₃.

Various metal nanoparticle catalysts (Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, and Pt) were prepared via liquid-phase reduction and their activity was studied for selective hydrogenation of benzonitrile to corresponding secondary imine under mild conditions (3 bar H₂ and 30 °C). The Rh catalyst with particle size of 2.7 nm exhibited excellent activity for the hydrogenation of benzonitrile to secondary imine. The catalyst was reused and applied to transform various nitriles to corresponding secondary imines.

The surface modification with zinc or indium cyanoferrate species was revealed to significantly increase the rate of H₂ evolution on Pt-loaded ZnIn₂S₄ photocatalyst under visible light in the presence of [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ as an electron donor basically due to the stable redox behavior, in addition to the previously reported cadmium cyanoferrate species. A stepwise modification was found to enable the formation of thin layers of such cyanoferrate on the photocatalyst surface and thereby improve further the rate of H₂ evolution.

In this study, the surface properties of a silica-supported palladium catalyst (Pd/SiO₂) were modified with several organophosphonic acids through simple self-assembly on a tetrahydrofuran interface. Reductive dechlorination of 4-chlorophenol was performed with the modified catalysts in a water-based solvent (water/ethanol, 39:1, v/v). All the modified catalysts promoted hydrodechlorination to produce phenol. This improvement may stem from the hydrophobic organic character imparted to the silica by the tethered phosphonic acid.

In this study, the grafting of poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) onto a self-assembled chitin-nanofiber film was investigated by reacting its living propagating ends with amino groups generated on the film by deacetylation. As the reaction progressed, the product formed a gel with DMSO, the reaction medium, and this gel was further converted into a hydrogel via exchange of the dispersing medium.

The effect of plasmon excitation on metal nanostructures was investigated under electrochemical potential control with intense pulsed laser illumination. The well-defined Au nano-rod structures showed a distinct thermal effect in the form of shape transformation, in the absence of the plasmon-induced electron transfer reaction. It was found that the shape transformation only occurred under the resonance condition of the localized surface plasmon mode excitation.