Crystal-phase engineering of PdCu nanoalloys facilitates selective hydrodeoxygenation at room temperature

Harmonized edge/graphitic‐nitrogen doped carbon nanopolyhedron@nanosheet composite via salt‐confined strategy for advanced K ‐ion hybrid capacitors

Biomass Template Derived Boron/Oxygen Co‐Doped Carbon Particles as Advanced Anodes for Potassium‐Ion Batteries

The production of 4-ethyltoluene via directional valorization of lignin

This work reports a new strategy to directly produce 4-ethyltoluene from lignin, and the yield of 4-ethyltoluene could reach up to 9.50 wt%.

Selective catalytic transformation of lignin with guaiacol as the only liquid product

La(OTf)3 can catalyze the transformation of lignin efficiently with guaiacol as the only liquid product, and guaiacol produced can be isolated easily in a scaled up experiment.

Investigations of Hydrocarbon Species on Solid Catalysts by Inelastic Neutron Scattering

AbstractThe status of surface species on solid catalysts during heterogeneous catalysis is often mysterious. Investigations of these surface species are crucial to deconvolute the reaction network and design more efficient catalysts. Vibrational spectroscopy is a powerful technique to study the interactions between surface species and the catalysts and infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopies have been widely applied to study reaction mechanisms in heterogeneous catalysis. However, IR/Raman spectra are difficult to model computationally and important vibrational modes may be IR-, Raman- (or both) inactive due to restrictions by optical selection rules. Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) is another form of vibrational spectroscopy and relies on the scattering of neutrons by the atomic nucleus. A consequence of this is that INS is not subject to any optical selection rules and all vibrations are measurable in principle. INS spectroscopy has been used to investigate surface species on catalysts in a wide range of heterogeneous catalytic reactions. In this mini-review, we focus on applications of INS in two important fields: petrochemical reactions and C1 chemistry. We introduce the basic principles of the INS technique, followed by a discussion of its application in investigating two key catalytic systems: (i) the behaviour of hydrocarbons on metal-oxide and zeolite catalysts and (ii) the formation of hydrocarbonaceous species on methane reforming and Fischer–Tropsch catalysts. The power of INS in studying these important catalytic systems is demonstrated.

Selective catalytic transformation of lignin with guaiacol as the only liquid product

La(OTf)3 can catalyze the transformation of lignin efficiently with guaiacol as the only liquid product, and guaiacol produced can be isolated easily in a scaled up experiment.

Selective utilization of methoxy groups in lignin for N-methylation reaction of anilines

Methoxy groups in lignin were selectively valorised as a methyl source for the N-methylation reaction of amines.

Ethylenediamine promoted the hydrogenative coupling of nitroarenes over Ni/C catalyst

Selective utilization of methoxy groups in lignin for N-methylation reaction of anilines

Methoxy groups in lignin were selectively valorised as a methyl source for the N-methylation reaction of amines.

Selectively transform lignin into value-added chemicals

A new route to synthesize aryl acetates from carbonylation of aryl methyl ethers

Aryl acetates were synthesized efficiently for the first time by the carbonylation of aryl methyl ethers.

Selective hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehydes over Pt nanoparticles promoted by the cooperation of steric and electronic effects

The selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to unsaturated alcohols can reach high selectivity and activity at room temperature using Pt nanoparticles immobilized on a non-porous Al2O3 support stabilized by aspartic acid.

A new route to synthesize aryl acetates from carbonylation of aryl methyl ethers

Selective hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehydes over Pt nanoparticles promoted by the cooperation of steric and electronic effects

The selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to unsaturated alcohols can reach high selectivity and activity at room temperature using Pt nanoparticles immobilized on a non-porous Al2O3 support stabilized by aspartic acid.

Base-Free Aerobic Oxidation of Alcohols over Copper-Based Complex under Ambient Condition

Transformation of alcohols to esters promoted by hydrogen bonds using oxygen as the oxidant under metal-free conditions

One-pot oxidative transformation of alcohols into esters is very attractive, but metal-based catalysts are used in the reported routes. We discovered that the basic ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM] OAc) could effectively catalyze this kind of reaction using O2 as an oxidant without any other catalysts or additives. The oxidative self-esterification of benzylic alcohols or aliphatic alcohols and cross-esterification between benzyl alcohols and aliphatic alcohols could all be achieved with high yields. Detailed study revealed that the cation with acidic proton and basic acetate anion could simultaneously form multiple hydrogen bonds with the hydroxyl groups of the alcohols, which catalyzed the reaction very effectively. As far as we know, this is the first work to carry out this kind of reaction under metal-free conditions.

Synthesis of formamides containing unsaturated groups by N-formylation of amines using CO2 with H2

Cu(OAc)2–DMAP a cheaper catalytic system can efficiently catalyze selective N-formylation of amines containing unsaturated groups using H2 and CO2 under milder conditions that the unsaturated groups were remained.

Synthesis of nitrogen and sulfur co-doped hierarchical porous carbons and metal-free oxidative coupling of silanes with alcohols

Hierarchically porous N and S co-doped carbon was used as an efficient and robust metal-free catalyst for oxidative coupling of silanes with alcohols.

Heterogeneous Cobalt-Catalyzed DirectN-Formylation of Isoquinolines with CO2and H2

ZnI2 /NEt3 -Catalyzed Cycloaddition of CO2 with Propargylic Alcohols: Computational Study on Mechanism

Selective hydration of asymmetric internal aryl alkynes without directing groups to α-aryl ketones over Cu-based catalyst

The catalyst enlarges the uniqueness of the electron population on the two triple-bond carbon atoms, resulting in highly regioselective hydration.

Selective Utilization of the Methoxy Group in Lignin to Produce Acetic Acid

Selective hydration of asymmetric internal aryl alkynes without directing groups to α-aryl ketones over Cu-based catalyst

The catalyst enlarges the uniqueness of the electron population on the two triple-bond carbon atoms, resulting in highly regioselective hydration.

Titelbild: Selective Utilization of the Methoxy Group in Lignin to Produce Acetic Acid (Angew. Chem. 47/2017)

Cover Picture: Selective Utilization of the Methoxy Group in Lignin to Produce Acetic Acid (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 47/2017)

Copper-catalyzed N-formylation of amines with CO2 under ambient conditions

N-Formylation of amines with CO2 and PhSiH3 catalyzed by a copper complex.

Zinc(ii)-catalyzed reactions of carbon dioxide and propargylic alcohols to carbonates at room temperature

ZnI2/NEt3 can catalyze the reactions of CO2 and propargylic alcohols to form α-alkylidene cyclic carbonates effectively at room temperature under solvent-free conditions, and the yields of the desired products can reach 99%.

N-vinyl pyrrolidone promoted aqueous-phase dehydrogenation of formic acid over PVP-stabilized Ru nanoclusters

Solvent effects on geometrical structures and electronic properties of metal Au, Ag, and Cu nanoparticles of different sizes

CO2as a smart gelator for Pluronic aqueous solutions

Microstructure and Intermolecular Interactions of [Bmim][PF₆]+Water+ Alcohol Systems: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study

The molecular clusters in a supercritical fluid–solid system should be considered as a phase—thermodynamic principle and evidence

High-efficiency red electroluminescence from europium complex containing a neutral dipyrido(3,2-a:2′,3′-c)phenazine ligand in PLEDs

The physicochemical properties of some imidazolium-based ionic liquids and their binary mixtures