12-membered Ring Research Articles

Solvent stabilization of alkene epoxidation transition states within Ti-MFI: Interactions near and far from active sites

Kinetics of alkene epoxidation in Ti incorporated MFI (Ti-MFI) zeolites that contact liquid methanol (CH3OH) depend strongly on the bulk concentration of water ([H2O]) and the density of silanol groups ((SiOH)x) within the framework, because these species influence excess free energy contributions (Gε) that stabilize transition states for epoxidation and hydrogen peroxide derived reactive intermediates. These effects rely on hydrogen bonds among intrapore molecules that couple catalytic events to the structure of the surrounding solvent molecules. Turnover rates for 1-hexene (C6H12) epoxidation with hydrogen peroxide over Ti-MFI zeolites increase by ten-fold both when either [H2O] or (SiOH)x densities increase. Activation enthalpies and entropies of hydrophilic and hydrophobic Ti-MFI materials are similar at the lowest [H2O] (0.005 M H2O), implying solvation environments near active sites do not depend on defect density in the near-absence of H2O. However, kinetic barriers for these same Ti-MFI materials increase and diverge from one another as non-monotonic functions of [H2O] (0.005–5 M H2O), and these differences reflect stabilizing contributions from discrete solvation shells both adjacent (near) and further (or far) from active sites. The structure of these solvation shells must reorganize to accommodate H2O2 activation and formation of epoxidation transition states. Adsorption enthalpies for the epoxide product become more exothermic with larger values of [H2O] over each Ti-MFI catalyst, and the apparent activation enthalpies generally increase as epoxide adsorption enthalpies become more exothermic. Comparisons to trends previously obtained for Ti-BEA catalysts suggest the negative correlation indicates that excess contributions (Hε, Gε) impact reactive species (Ti-OOH) within the 10-membered ring pores of MFI to a greater extent than 12-membered ring pores due to distinctions among hydrogen bonding interactions among bound reactive species, spectating solvent molecules, and extended surfaces of MFI pores.

New types of open-framework vanadium borophosphates with photocatalytic properties.

The exploration of new open-framework polyoxometalates is very significant in structural chemistry and materials science. Herein, three new organic hybrid three-dimensional vanadium borophosphates (H3O)7(H2aeae)3{[Cd(H2O)3]2[H3O⊃(V2BP2O12)6]}·15H2O (1, aeae = 2-(2-aminoethylamino)ethanol) and (H3O)5(H2aeae)3{[TM(H2O)2.5(H2aeae)0.5]2[H3O⊃ (V2BP2O12)6]}·9H2O [TM = Mn(2), Co(3)] were hydrothermally prepared and structurally characterized. The three vanadium borophosphates contain similar 12-member ring crown-shaped clusters [(V2BP2O12)6]18- based on the linkage of six [V2O8] dimers and six [BP2O10] units. The [(V2BP2O12)6]18- cluster is further bridged by the unsaturated [Cd(H2O)3]2+ or [TM(H2O)2.5(H2aeae)0.5]3+ complexes to build new types of open-framework vanadium borophosphates with pores and cavities retained by the protonated H2aeae2+, H3O+ and free H2O. Surprisingly, the monodentate H2aeae2+ ligand coordinating with a metal center was observed in 2 and 3 for the first time as the aeae molecule acted as the trichelating ligand. Their optical absorption edges were determined to be in the range of 2.61-2.68 eV using solid-state UV-vis spectroscopy. 1-3 exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity towards methylene blue (MB) degradation under visible light irradiation, which presented the first example of organic hybrid open-framework vanadium borophosphates as the photo-catalysts for MB degradation.

Synthetic Advances for Mechanistic Insights: Metal-Oxygen Intermediates with a Macrocyclic Pyridinophane System.

ConspectusMetalloenzymes, which are proteins containing earth-abundant transition-metal ions as cofactors in the active site, generate various metal-oxygen intermediates via activating a dioxygen molecule (O2) to mediate vital metabolic functions, such as the oxidative metabolism of xenobiotics and the biotransformation of naturally occurring molecules. By replicating the active sites of metalloenzymes, many bioinorganic chemists have studied the geometric and electronic properties and reactivities of model complexes to understand the nature of enzymatic intermediates and develop bioinspired metal catalysts. Among the reported model complexes, nonporphyrinic macrocyclic ligands are the predominant coordination system widely used in stabilizing and isolating diverse metal-oxygen intermediates, which allows us to extensively investigate the physicochemical characteristics of the analogs of reactive intermediates of metalloenzymes. In particular, it has been reported that the ring size of the macrocyclic ligands, defined by the number of atoms in the macrocyclic ring, drastically affects the identity of the metal-oxygen intermediate. Thus, systematic modification of the macrocyclic ligands has been a great subject being examined in various inorganic fields.In this Account, we describe synthetic advances of a macrocyclic ligand system by introducing pyridine donors into a 12-membered tetraazamacrocyclic ligand (12-TMC) that initially has 4 amine donors. Interestingly, the backbone of the pyridinophane ligand with 2 pyridine and 2 amine donors in a 12-membered ring is shown to be much more folded than in other macrocyclic ligands, thereby allowing the axial and equatorial donors to separately control the electronic structure of metal complexes. Then, we looked over independent electronic and steric effects on metal-oxygen species with thorough physicochemical analysis. The NiIII-peroxo complexes exhibit nucleophilic reactivity dependent on the steric hindrance of the second coordination sphere. Furthermore, the C-H bond strength of the second coordination sphere has also been an important factor in determining the stability of MnIV-bis(hydroxo) intermediates. Electronic tuning on CoIII-hydroperoxo intermediates results in a trend between the electron-donating abilities of para-substituents on pyridine in the pyridinophane ligand and electrophilic reactivities, from which mechanistic insights into the metal-hydroperoxo species have been gained. Importantly, the metal-oxygen intermediates supported by the pyridinophane ligand system have revealed quite challenging chemical reactions, including dioxygenase-like nitrile activation by CoIII-peroxo intermediates and the oxidation of aldehyde and aromatic compounds by manganese-oxygen intermediates. Based on the fine substitution of donors, we have addressed that those novel reactions originated from the unique framework of the pyridinophane system incorporating spin-crossover behavior and high redox potentials of the metal-oxygen intermediates. These results will be valuable for the structure-activity relationship of metal-oxygen intermediates, giving a better understanding on the enzymatic coordination system where amino acid ligands vary for specific chemical reactions.

Relay Catalysis for Highly Selective Conversion of Methanol to Ethylene in Syngas.

The precise C-C coupling is a challenging goal in C1 chemistry. The conversion of methanol, a cheap and easily available C1 feedstock, into value-added and largely demanded olefins has been playing a game-changing role in the production of olefins. The current methanol-to-olefin (MTO) process, however, suffers from limited selectivity to a specific olefin. Here, we present a relay-catalysis route for the high-selective conversion of methanol to ethylene in syngas (H2/CO) typically used for methanol synthesis. A bifunctional catalyst composed of selectively dealuminated H-MOR zeolite and ZnO-TiO2, which implemented methanol carbonylation with CO to acetic acid and selective acetic acid hydrogenation to ethylene in tandem, offered ethylene selectivity of 85% at complete methanol conversion at 583 K. The selective removal of Brønsted acid sites in the 12-membered ring channel of H-MOR favors the selectivity of acetic acid in CH3OH carbonylation. The high capabilities of ZnO-TiO2 in the adsorption of acetic acid and the activation of H2 play key roles in selective hydrogenation of acetic acid to ethylene. Our work provides a promising relay-catalysis strategy for precise C-C coupling of C1 to C2 molecules.

Periodic Defect Engineering of Iron-Nitrogen-Carbon Catalysts for Nitrate Electroreduction to Ammonia.

Iron-nitrogen-carbon single atom catalyst (SAC) is regarded as one of the promising electrocatalysts for NO3 - reduction reaction (NO3 RR) to NH3 due to its high activity and selectivity. However, synergistic effects of topological defects and FeN4 active moiety in Fe-N-C SAC have rarely been investigated. By performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations, 13 defective graphene FeN4 with 585, 484, and 5775 topological line defects are constructed, yielding 585-68-FeN4 with optimal NO3 RR catalytic activity, high selectivity, as well as robust anti-dissolution stability. The high NO3 RR activity on 585-68-FeN4 is well explained by the high valence state of Fe center as well as asymmetric charge distribution on FeN4 moiety influenced by 5- and 8-member rings. This DFT work provides theoretical guidance for engineering NO3 RR performance of iron-nitrogen-carbon catalysts by modulating periodic topological defects.

Novel two-dimensional fused pentagon monolayer as a separation membrane with high desalination properties

The contradiction between supply and demand of freshwater, which has emerged as a global concern, is intensifying as the continued growth of the population on earth, and desalination serves as a tactic to enable open source increment of water resources. Lately, fused pentagon, a hypothetical two-dimensional (2D) carbon allotrope, has focused the attention of researchers due to its extensive five-membered multiple-ring structure and superior properties. However, the potential solute transport mechanism of fused pentagon as a 2D reverse osmosis desalination membrane has not been profoundly elucidated. Here, we combine density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) to explore the promising feasibility of fused pentagon with abundant penta‑carbon rings for desalination applications, and further analyze the properties superiority of such materials featuring periodic pore structures from the electronic level. The results indicate that the membrane structure constructed by a uniform distribution of enriched pentagonal and dodecagonal pores exhibits exceptional structural stability and satisfactory resistance to salt ion aggregation. Compared with other 2D materials, the 12-membered carbon rings of fused pentagon demonstrate remarkable Na ions adsorption properties (adsorption energy value is −2.049 eV, which is superior than those of the compared 2D materials), with a charge transfer of 0.68 |e| as Na ions across the membrane. Moreover, with the physical pressure increased to 95 MPa, the salt ions rejection rate of fused pentagon could present >92.31 % while preserving superior water molecule penetration, which evidences its favorable desalination properties. Promisingly, fused pentagon manifests intrinsic metallicity, which facilitates self-cleaning upon electrical stimulation. This work clarifies the desalination mechanism of fused pentagon monolayer from a theoretical perspective and contributes to an innovative research concept for the development of carbon-based reverse osmosis materials.

Synthesis of (-)-Cotylenol, a 14-3-3 Molecular Glue Component.

Small molecules that modulate the 14-3-3 protein-protein interaction (PPI) network represent valuable therapeutics and tool compounds. However, access has been lost to 14-3-3 PPI molecular glues of the cotylenin class, leading to investigations into the practical chemical syntheses of congeners and analogues. Here we report a concise synthesis of (-)-cotylenol via a 10-step asymmetric entry into a diversifiable 5-8-5 core. This route features a mild Liebeskind-Srogl fragment coupling that tolerates unprecedented steric hindrance to produce a highly congested ketone, and a tandem Claisen-ene cascade that establishes the 8-membered ring. Late-stage control of stereochemistry and functionality leads to (-)-cotylenol and sets the stage for focused library synthesis.

Designing mordenite zeolites with tunable distribution of acid sites in channels and nano-morphology to boost the catalytic behavior performance of dimethyl ether carbonylation

Mordenite (MOR) zeolite is an efficient catalyst for dimethyl ether (DME) carbonylation, which a key step of indirect production of ethanol from syngas. Herein, a nanosheets MOR zeolite with an ultrathin thickness of 10–30 nm can be facilely synthesized by using a commercial cetyltrimethylammonium hydroxide agent. It greatly shortened the pore length of 8-membered ring (8-MR) side pocket and more amount of Brønsted acid sites (BAS) can be exposed. More importantly, the amount of BAS in 8-MR side pockets of the MOR zeolite can be significantly increased. It should be noted that the morphology of MOR zeolite with prismatic, nanosheets, and petal-like can be obtained and precisely regulated. As a result, the conversion of DME over the nanosheets MOR zeolite is increased by nearly 2 times. Our finding proposed a novel strategy for constructing tunable nanosized morphology MOR zeolite and simultaneously directional enrichment of BAS in 8-MR channels.

Enhancement of the dimethyl ether carbonylation activation via regulating acid sites distribution in FER zeolite framework

The carbonylation of dimethyl ether (DME) with CO is a key step for ethanol synthesis from syngas, but traditional mordenite (MOR) zeolite shows low catalytic stability. Herein, various FER zeolite nanosheets were prepared with four types of organic templates. The catalytic performance of FER in DME carbonylation is strongly dependent on the location of strong acid site in framework, which can be effectively regulated by altering organic template. FER-MORP sample synthesized with morpholine shows the highest DME conversion of 53%, thus, giving a methyl acetate space-time yield (STYMA) of 0.889mmol g-1 h-1. DFT calculation, NH3-IR, 1H/27Al/29Si MAS NMR, and in situ DRIFTS results indicate that morpholine directs more Al species, or strong Brønsted acid sites (BAS), to locate in 8-membered ring (8-MR) channels, which not only enhances carbonylation activity but also suppresses formation of coke species. The catalytic performance is well maintained within 4 repeated recycles (∼460 h).

Synthesis of SSZ-13 zeolites using calcined rice husk as silica source for propylene production from ethylene and carbon dioxide adsorption

A zeolite named SSZ-13, with a small pore of 8-membered rings, is an attractive porous material for DeNOx, CO2 capture/separation, methanol-to-olefin conversion, and direct conversion of ethylene to propylene (DCEP). Although the synthesis of SSZ-13 has been done for a long time and is useful for some applications, further development in the synthesis is required to reduce the production cost or to optimize the preparation. On the other hand, the utilization of waste is important for our sustainability. In this study, SSZ-13 zeolite was synthesized using rice husk-derived silica, for the first time, in order to prepare SSZ-13 at a low cost and utilize agricultural byproducts in zeolite synthesis. Via this research, it was found that SSZ-13s could be synthesized readily by using rice husk-derived silica even without seed crystals. Synthesis at 180 °C for 5–7 d leads to SSZ-13 from the gel with a wide range of silica/alumina ratios. Prepared SSZ-13 in proton form, together with a commercial SSZ-13, was utilized in DCEP and CO2 adsorption at low pressure. The two H-SSZ-13s showed very similar performances in DCEP and CO2 capture, showing an agricultural waste or byproduct, rice husk, can be successfully utilized in the preparation of SSZ-13 zeolites.

Hochleitnerite, [K(H2O)]Mn2(Ti2Fe)(PO4)4O2(H2O)10 ⋅ 4H2O, a new paulkerrite-group mineral, from the Hagendorf-Süd pegmatite, Oberpfalz, Bavaria, Germany

Abstract. Hochleitnerite, [K(H2O)]Mn2(Ti2Fe)(PO4)4O2(H2O)10 ⋅ 4H2O, is a new paulkerrite-group mineral from the Hagendorf-Süd pegmatite, Oberpfalz, Bavaria, Germany. It was found in specimens of altered zwieselite, in association with fluorapatite, rockbridgeite, columbite and sub-micrometre rods of uranophane. Hochleitnerite occurs as isolated and intergrown pale-yellow, diamond-shaped tablets with thicknesses reaching 50 µm and lengths of 120 µm. The crystals are flattened on {010}, slightly elongated on [001], and bounded by the {111} and {010} forms. The calculated density is 2.40 g cm−3. Optically, hochleitnerite crystals are biaxial (+), with α= 1.615(2), β= 1.621(2) and γ= 1.645(2) (measured in white light). The calculated 2V is 53.8∘. The empirical formula is [K(H2O)](Mn1.512+Fe0.492+)Σ2.00(Ti1.624+Fe0.193+Al0.15)Σ2.96(PO4)4.00[O1.50F0.23(OH)0.27]Σ2.00(H2O)10 ⋅ 4H2O. Hochleitnerite has space group Pbca and unit-cell parameters a= 10.5513(3) Å, b= 20.6855(17) Å, c= 12.4575(4) Å, V= 2718.96(15) Å3 and Z= 4. The crystal structure was refined using single-crystal data to wRobs= 0.082 for 2242 reflections with I > 3σ(I). The crystal structure contains corner-connected linear trimers of Ti-centred octahedra that share corners with PO4 tetrahedra to form 10-member rings parallel to (010). K+ cations and water molecules are located within the rings. Additional corner sharing of the PO4 tetrahedra with MnO2(H2O)4 octahedra occurs along [010] to complete the 3D framework structure.

Correlation between Si-Al disorder and hydrogen-bonding distance variation in ussingite (Na2AlSi3O8OH) revealed by one- and two-dimensional multi-nuclear NMR and first-principles calculation

Abstract Ussingite (Na2AlSi3O8OH) is a mineral with a unique interrupted framework structure and strong hydrogen bonding. It contains 4-, 6-, and 8-membered tetrahedral rings resembling feldspars, but, unlike the latter, is partially depolymerized. There are four crystallographically distinct tetrahedral (T) sites, two of which (T1, T2) are Q4 [i.e., having 4 next nearest neighbor (NNN) T sites], and the other two (T3, T4) are Q3 (i.e., having 3 NNN T sites), each with NNN (in brackets) of T1(1T2, 1T3, 2T4), T2(1T1, 2T3, 1T4), T3(1T1, 2T2), and T4(2T1, 1T2). There is one unique OH site in the T4-O8-H···O2-T3 configuration, where O8 and O2 are nonbridging O atoms (NBO). In the ordered structure, T1 is fully occupied by Al, and the other three T sites by Si. Previous X-ray and neutron diffraction and 1H and 29Si NMR studies gave contradictory conclusions regarding Si-Al disorder. In this study, we were able to unambiguously clarify the issue via comprehensive one- and two-dimensional 1H, 29Si, 27Al, and 23Na NMR and first-principles calculation. It was revealed that there is ~3% Si-Al disorder that occurs between neighboring T1-(O)-T2 sites, such that the formation of Al-O-Al linkage and Al(Q3) are avoided. The disorder was found to result in the development of Si(Q3) sites with various NNN, including 3Al and 3Si, and neighboring OH sites having significantly shorter and longer hydrogen-bonding distances than in the ordered structure, with 1H chemical shifts near 15~16 ppm and 11 ppm, in addition to a main peak near 13.9 ppm. Good correlation was found between 1H chemical shift, hydrogen-bonding (O-H, H···O, and O···O) distances, and Si-O distances in the Si-O-H···O-Si linkage. This suggests that Si-Al disorder is correlated with variation in hydrogen-bonding distances via through-bond transmission of bond valence variations. This could be a universal phenomenon also applicable to other hydrous minerals. The revelation of preferential partition of Al in Q4 over Q3 sites to avoid the formation of Al-OH and Al-NBO provides insight into their behavior in other partially depolymerized hydrous aluminosilicate systems, such as glasses and melts.

Location of Brønsted sites in deuterated L-zeolite: A combined neutron powder diffraction and computer modeling study

In this work both concentration and location of Brønsted acid sites (BASs) in a deuterated L-zeolite were determined by combining neutron powder diffraction with ab-initio molecular dynamics modelling. From the structure refinement of the acidic L zeolite, two Brønsted acid sites were identified. The first one, D1, is on the framework oxygen O5 pointing toward the center of the 8-membered ring channel; the second one, D2, located in proximity of the framework oxygen O1 pointing toward the 12-membered ring channel running parallel to the c-axis. On the whole, ∼7.7 acid sites were located in the unit-cell, corresponding to 58% and 14% for D1 and D2, respectively. The average structure of the simulated D-LTL was in good agreement with the experimental structure. The modelling revealed that the D2 BAS shows a large degree of mobility, consistent with the high thermal factor associated with that atomic position. The D1 BAS showed a behaviour consistent with static disorder, while the D2 BAS was characterized by a significant degree of dynamical disorder. In addition to these findings, the study also revealed that the O1 BAS had a higher Brønsted base character compared to the average basicity of the framework oxygens of the 12-membered ring channels.

Activity Enhancement of Ferrierite in Dimethyl Ether Carbonylation Reactions through Recrystallization with Sodium Oleate.

Methyl acetate (MA) has a wide range of applications as an important industrial chemical. Traditional MOR zeolite for carbonylation of DME to MA accumulated carbon easily because of a 12-membered ring (12 MR) channel. In this work, we innovatively developed the method of recrystallization ferrierite (FER) zeolite using special chelating ligand sodium oleate which can affect ions other than alkali metals. The characterization results of N2 adsorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) show that hydrothermal recrystallization of ferrierite using sodium oleate resulted in a higher Si/Al ratio, a bigger specific surface area and a larger number of Brønsted acid sites in the eight MR channels, which was more efficient in the reaction of carbonylation of dimethyl ether than ordinary alkali treatment.

Controllable synthesis of diazocine - investigation on electroreduction mechanism for intramolecular cyclization of 2,2′- dinitrodibenzyl in the presence of CO2

11,12-dihydrodibenzo[c,g][1,2]diazocine (Diazocine, 12), a molecular switch capable of reversible interconversion between (at least) two states by light, has been widely used in pharmacology and biochemistry. However, most of the synthetic methods so far have been limited by tedious steps, complicated derivatives, and long reaction times, resulting in poor synthetic yields of 12. Here, we propose a green, effective, and controllable strategy for synthesizing 12. The intramolecular cyclization (8-membered ring) of 2,2′-dinitrodibenzyl (1) was achieved by electrochemical reduction in the presence of CO2, and 12 and its derivatives 11,12-dihydrodibenzo[c,g][1,2]diazocine-N-oxide (DDCG-N, 11) were synthesized. The electrochemical reduction mechanism of 1 in the presence of CO2 was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and in situ FT-IR spectroelectrochemistry. The molecular structures of the electrolytic product (12) and intermediate (11) were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, NMR, and MS. The results show that the electrochemical behavior of 1 in acetonitrile (AN) changes from a reversible two-step 1-electron transfer process (in the absence of CO2) to an irreversible 8-electron transfer process (in the presence of CO2). The 12 and 11 can be obtained by controlling the electrolytic potential and time. Under the optimum conditions, the yields of 12 and 11 were 84% and 71%, respectively.

Aldol condensation of biomass-derived aldehydes and ketones followed by hydrogenation over Ni/HZSM-5 to produce aviation fuel: Role of acid sites

As the aviation sector grows and fossil fuels are utilized, the environment and economy depend on biomass-based aviation fuel. This study investigated acid sites in aldol condensation to produce aviation fuel from biomass-derived aldehydes and ketones over the bifunctional catalyst Ni/HZSM-5. Due to its excellent 10-member ring channels structure, HZSM-5 yielded 63.81% of the targeted condensates as aviation fuel precursor. At 200 °C for 9 h, aldehydes and ketones were converted to 90.32% and 69.53% of the required condensates. Sodium ion-exchange HZSM-5 with different Brönsted acid site quantities was tested for condensation. Brönsted acid sites were the active center for aldol condensation of aldehydes and ketones, increasing product yield. In γ-Al2O3, the overall amount of Brönsted acid and Lewis acid was equivalent to that of HZSM-5, the amount of Lewis acid was much more. The yield of the targeted condensates over γ-Al2O3 was only 46.11%, much lower than that of HZSM-5 (69.53%). Thus, Brönsted acid sites were better than Lewis acid sites for aldol condensation of aldehydes and ketones. The balance of active sites for aldol condensation and hydrogenation increased the intended alkane yield to 62.91% with 20 wt% Ni loading. This study involves improving biomass-based aviation fuel generation.

A Theoretical Investigation of the Structural, Electronic and Mechanical Properties of Pristine and Nitrogen-Terminated Carbon Nanoribbons Composed of 4–5–6–8-Membered Rings

Among the exciting recent advances in the field of carbon-based nanomaterials, the successful realization of a carbon nanoribbon composed of 4–5–6–8-membered rings (ACS Nano 2023 17, 8717) is a particularly inspiring accomplishment. In this communication motivated by the aforementioned achievement, we performed density functional theory calculations to explore the structural, electronic and mechanical properties of the pristine 4–5–6–8-membered carbon nanoribbons. Moreover, we also constructed four different nitrogen-terminated nanoribbons and analyzed their resulting physical properties. The acquired results confirm that the pristine and nitrogen-terminated nanoribbons are are thermally stable direct-gap semiconductors, with very close HSE06 band gaps between 1.12 and 1.25 eV. The elastic modulus and tensile strength of the nitrogen-free 4–5–6–8-membered nanoribbon are estimated to be remarkably high, 534 and 41 GPa, respectively. It is shown that nitrogen termination can result in noticeable declines in the tensile strength and elastic modulus to 473 and 33 GPa, respectively. This study provides useful information on the structural, thermal stability, electronic and mechanical properties of the pristine and nitrogen-terminated 4–5–6–8-membered carbon nanoribbons and suggests them as strong direct-gap semiconductors for electronics, optoelectronics and energy storage systems.

Alicyclic Ring Size Variation of 4-Phenyl-2-naphthoic Acid Derivatives as P2Y14 Receptor Antagonists.

P2Y14 receptor (P2Y14R) is activated by extracellular UDP-glucose, a damage-associated molecular pattern that promotes inflammation in the kidney, lung, fat tissue, and elsewhere. Thus, selective P2Y14R antagonists are potentially useful for inflammatory and metabolic diseases. The piperidine ring size of potent, competitive P2Y14R antagonist (4-phenyl-2-naphthoic acid derivative) PPTN 1 was varied from 4- to 8-membered rings, with bridging/functional substitution. Conformationally and sterically modified isosteres included N-containing spirocyclic (6-9), fused (11-13), and bridged (14, 15) or large (16-20) ring systems, either saturated or containing alkene or hydroxy/methoxy groups. The alicyclic amines displayed structural preference. An α-hydroxyl group increased the affinity of 4-(4-((1R,5S,6r)-6-hydroxy-3-azabicyclo[3.1.1]heptan-6-yl)phenyl)-7-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-2-naphthoic acid 15 (MRS4833) compared to 14 by 89-fold. 15 but not its double prodrug 50 reduced airway eosinophilia in a protease-mediated asthma model, and orally administered 15 and prodrugs reversed chronic neuropathic pain (mouse CCI model). Thus, we identified novel drug leads having in vivo efficacy.

A new 2D Zn(II)-based coordination polymer as photocatalyst for photodegradation of methyl orange in water: Effect of photocatalyst dosage and dye concentration

The metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) a sub-class of well-known coordination polymer are assorted multidimensional materials that could be employed as photocatalysts for dye decomposition present in the wastewater discharge. Herein, a new Zn(II)-based coordination polymer with formula [Zn(bpyp)(5-nip)] (1) (bpyp = 2,5-bis(pyrid-4-yl)pyridine and H2nip= 5-nitroisophthalic acid) has been synthesized and characterized. In 1, the two carboxyl groups of each 5-nip2− ligand adopts μ2-η1:η1 and μ1-η1:η1 coordination fashion to connect ZnII centers into a 1D chain along b direction, which alternately contains 8-membered rings and 16-membered rings. The newly synthesized compounds have been used as the photocatalyst for the photodegradation of methyl blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl violet (MV) dyes under UV light irradiation. The results reveal that amongst all four dyes, 1 decomposes MO dye to maximum extent. The effects of concentration of dyes, and photocatalyst dosages have been monitored on the photocatalytic performance of 1. Under the optimal reaction condition, ∼89.03% photodegradation of MO has been observed at 20 ppm concentration of MO and 20 mg photocatalyst concentration in 50 min time span. The radical trapping experiments suggest that O2·− is the main active species that catalyzes the photodecomposition of dyes. The possible mechanism for the MO degradation of 1 is proposed using density of states (DOS) calculations and Hirshfeld surface analysis.

Adsorption and migration of Cs and Na ions in geopolymers and zeolites

Geopolymers may provide a more sustainable alternative to Portland Cement for various possible applications. Geopolymers have attracted particular interest for the immobilization of pollutants, owing to their high adsorption capacity, high thermal and chemical resistance, and low leachability. However, practical implementation is currently hindered by a limited understanding of how adsorption processes occur in geopolymers, and how they can be engineered to optimize the incorporation of pollutants and avoid their release. In this work, Molecular Dynamics simulations provide insights into these processes at the atomic scale, studying the role of host material composition and structure in the immobilization of Na and Cs ions. The simulations reveal that the most stable configurations for these ions are near the center of 6- and 8-membered aluminosilicate rings, where the coordination with the geopolymer is maximum. Higher contents of Al and degrees of crystallinity are found to yield more stable configurations for Cs ions, with more favorable adsorption enthalpies and lower diffusion coefficients. The comparison of different crystalline zeolite structures reveals that the framework of sodalite, used as the baseline to develop model geopolymer structures, is the most suitable for the immobilization of Cs since there are no channels and it is formed by small 4- and 6-member, all preventing Cs ions from escaping the cavities.