Catalytic Reaction Research Articles

Recent Advances in DNA-Based Nanoprobes for In vivo MiRNA Imaging.

As a post transcriptional regulator of gene expression, microRNAs (miRNA) is closely related to many major human diseases, especially cancer. Therefore, its precise detection is very important for disease diagnosis and treatment. With the advancement of fluorescent dye and imaging technology, the focus has shifted from in vitro miRNA detection to in vivo miRNA imaging. This concept review summarizes signal amplification strategies including DNAzyme catalytic reaction, hybrid chain reaction (HCR), catalytic hairpin assembly (CHA) to enhance detection signal of lowly expressed miRNAs; external stimuli of ultraviolet (UV) light or near-infrared region (NIR) light, and internal stimuli such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), glutathione (GSH), protease and cell membrane protein to prevent nonspecific activation for the avoidance of false positive signal; and the development of fluorescent probes with emission in NIR for in vivo miRNA imaging; as well as rare earth nanoparticle based the second near-infrared window (NIR-II) nanoprobes with excellent tissue penetration and depth for in vivo miRNA imaging. The concept review also indicated current challenges for in vivo miRNA imaging including the dynamic monitoring of miRNA expression change and simultaneous in vivo imaging of multiple miRNAs.

Electrochemical Decarboxylation Coupling Reactions.

Carboxylic acids are attractive synthetic feedstocks with stable, non-toxic, and inexpensive properties that can be easily obtained from natural sources or through synthesis. Carboxylic acids have long been considered environmentally friendly coupling agents in various organic transformations. In recent years, electrochemically mediated decarboxylation reactions of decarboxylic acids and their derivatives (NHPI) have emerged as effective new methods for constructing carbon-carbon or carbon-heterocarbon chemical bonds. Compared with transition metal and photochemistry-mediated catalytic reactions, which do not require the addition of oxidants and strong bases, electrochemically-mediated decarboxylative transformations are considered a sustainable strategy. In addition, various functional groups tolerate the electrochemical decarboxylation conversion strategy well. Here, we summarize the recent electrochemical decarboxylation reactions to better elucidate the advantages of electrochemical decarboxylation reactions.

The Feasibility of Using Electrostatic Interactions for Immobilizing Ru-bda Catalysts in Covalent Organic Framework: A Proof-of-concept.

Heterogenetization of molecular catalysts effectively resolves the separation issues of homogeneous catalysts and expands their application scenarios. In recent years, more and more studies have been using non-covalent interactions to achieve the heterogenization of molecular catalysts. Herein, electrostatic attraction was used to immobilize molecular catalysts, Ru-bda small molecular catalysts in COF materials, where the charged Ru-bda catalysts were immobilized in the oppositely charged COF with a high [Ru] loading content of ~0.2 mmol [Ru] g-1 COF. The leakage experiment verified that the immobilization of Ru-bda catalysts in COF by electrostatic interactions is stable in 0.1 M HClO4 and less than 5% of molecular Ru-bda catalysts were leached into the solution in 2 hours. The chemical water oxidation experiment was conducted as a model catalysis reaction to verify the feasibility of using electrostatic interactions for immobilizing Ru-bda catalysts in COFs. The prepared Ru(bda)@COFs demonstrate a high catalytic activity of 268 μmol L-1 s-1 O2 for chemical water oxidation, illustrating the electrostatic attractions between COF and small molecules that can be used to immobilize homogeneous catalysts in heterogeneous materials. However, the robustness of COF material itself under catalytic conditions should be considered in practical applications.

Fe(II) and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases for natural product synthesis: molecular insights into reaction diversity.

Covering: up to 2024Fe(II) and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (Fe/2OG DOs) are a superfamily of enzymes that play important roles in a variety of catalytic reactions, including hydroxylation, ring formation, ring reconstruction, desaturation, and demethylation. Each member of this family has similarities in their overall structure, but they have varying specific differences, making Fe/2OG DOs attractive for catalytic diversity. With the advancement of current research, more Fe/2OG DOs have been discovered, and their catalytic scope has been further broadened; however, apart from hydroxylation, many reaction mechanisms have not been accurately demonstrated, and there is a lack of a systematic understanding of their molecular basis. Recently, an increasing number of X-ray structures of Fe/2OG DOs have provided new insights into the structural basis of their function and substrate-binding properties. This structural information is essential for understanding catalytic mechanisms and mining potential catalytic reactions. In this review, we summarize most of the Fe/2OG DOs whose structures have been resolved in recent years, focus on their structural features, and explore the relationships between various structural elements and unique catalytic mechanisms and their associated reaction type classification.

Highly efficient dip catalysts using bacterial cellulose impregnated with self-crosslinked glycol chitosan and silver nanoparticles for 4-nitrophenol reduction

The application of environmentally friendly and sustainable catalysts requires efficient and safe preparation methods using cheap and renewable materials. Although many metal nanoparticles (NPs) have low colloidal stability, they are still very effective as catalysts. Using a straightforward method, we developed a bacterial cellulose–glycol chitosan–silver (BC–GCS–Ag) nanocomposite, by introducing both AgNPs and self-crosslinked GCS within the BC network. Self-crosslinking of GCS occurred during the formation of AgNPs by employing the glycol moieties for reduction to produce aldehyde functionalities, thereby forming Schiff's base bonds within the GCS structure. Using GCS, well-defined AgNPs within the BC matrix. The formation of AgNPs and the self-crosslinking of GCS were characterized using UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that spherical AgNPs with a mean diameter of 10 nm exhibited a well-organized structure within the BC–GCS matrix. The BC–GCS–Ag nanocomposite was applied as dip catalyst for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4NP) to 4-aminophenol (4AP), chosen as a model reaction. The results showed that the catalytic reaction was completed within 4 min, with high reusability (10 times) and without loss of catalyst. The reaction followed pseudo-first-order kinetics with a high rate constant of 0.582 min−1. Therefore, the BC–GCS–Ag dip catalyst is an attractive alternative for environmentally friendly and sustainable catalysis, owing to its exceptional catalytic performance, high recyclability, and stability, as well as the minimal environmental footprint of the supporting materials.

Enhancing heat and mass transfer in MHD tetra hybrid nanofluid on solar collector plate through fractal operator analysis

Improved solar heat transfer methods are needed for the widespread use of solar energy. Due of their exceptional thermal characteristics, nanofluids have received a great deal of interest in this field. This research examines the use of tetra hybrid nanofluids in solar applications, with an emphasis on heat and mass transport properties. Due to their advantageous thermal characteristics, these nanofluids are well-suited for solar power production and other thermal applications. Accurate results for velocity, concentration, and temperature profiles are produced thanks to the model's use of fractal fractional derivatives and the Crank-Nicholson method for obtaining numerical solutions. In order to learn how different variables affect heat transport, parametric experiments are performed. The results show that tetra hybrid nanofluids greatly improve heat transfer performance over standard nanofluids. This improvement helps flat-plate solar collectors absorb more sunlight and increase their overall efficiency. The rate of mass transfer between phases may be quantified in the design and research of chemical reactors using the Sherwood number, an important quantity in chemical engineering. Its value is shown in a number of processes, including extraction, distillation, and catalytic reactions.

MOF-mediated cascade reaction system for ultrasensitive detection of alkaline phosphatase activity and organophosphorus pesticides.

Ametal-organic-framework (MOF) fluorescent sensor is reportedbased on NH2-MIL-101(Fe) propelled pesticide and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) catalytic reaction. Different from previous reports, a cascade reaction system combined with MOF structural changes to generate fluorescence was employed. The rationale is that ALP can hydrolyze L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AAP) into L-ascorbic acid (AA), which can reduce Fe3+ to decompose structurally NH2-MIL-101(Fe), resulting in 2-aminoterephthalic acid (NH2-BDC) with intense fluorescence. The fluorescence can be decreased to different degrees due to inhibition of organophosphate pesticides (OPPs) on the activity of ALP. By taking chlorpyrifos (CPY) as the model compoundof anOPP pesticide and adding ALP and CPY into the NH2-MIL-101(Fe) framework, the resulting cascade reaction fluorescence sensors exhibit a good sensitivity for CPY and ALP sensing. The working ranges are 0.02-2 μg/L and 0.2-20 mU/mL with detection limits (LOD) of 5.31 ng/L and 0.05 mU/mL, respectively. The proposed sensor has been actually applied tosatisfactory detection of CPY and ALP in food and serum samples. This fluorescence-based assay may extend the application of MOF-based biosensors.

Photooxidation of Toluene Derivatives under HAT and ROS Synergy.

The valorization of toluene offers a dual solution by addressing its environmental impact while also facilitating the synthesis of a diverse array of valuable fine chemicals and pharmaceutical intermediates, thus ensuring both ecological sustainability and economic viability. We report herein a synergistic approach that harmonizes hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process with the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under mild condition and low catalyst loading, which enables the efficient synthesis of a broad spectrum of esteemed benzoic acid derivatives and aryl ketones through the photocatalytic oxidation of toluene derivatives. Mechanistic elucidation reveals that the HAT reagent anthraquinone has both the capabilities to abstract hydrogen atoms and the ability to generate singlet oxygen 1O2 during energy transfer with triplet oxygen 3O2, and the combination of these two potencies significantly improves the catalytic efficiency of the reaction. This study not only introduces the amalgamation of HAT with ROS generation but also delineates a systematic approach for the selection of HAT reagents with energy transfer proficiency for ROS generation in catalytic oxidation reactions.

Chronopotentiometric Stripping Analysis of Proteins and Their Interactions

Chronopotentiometric constant current stripping analysis (CPS) is a highly sensitive method for protein analysis that does not require modification or labeling. During the CPS analysis, proteins yield the so-called peak H, resulting from the catalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. This peak is sensitive to both local and global changes in protein structure, allowing the study of individual proteins, as well as their complexes. CPS analysis has been utilized in studying biomedically important proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. In this article, we describe the development of CPS protein analysis and its progress over the past decade. We also demonstrate the versatility of the method and its potential applications.

Spin Crossover and Its Application in Organometallic Catalysis: Concepts and Recent Progress.

Spin crossover is one of the most important properties of open-shell metal complexes. In organometallic catalytic reactions, catalysts can alter reaction kinetics by spin crossover, i.e., accelerating or hindering the reaction progression, as well as altering reaction pathways, modulating the reaction selectivity or promoting new reactions. This personal account outlines the introduction and development of important concepts such as "two-state reactivity" involving spin crossover, and proposes a new concept, "spin-responsive catalysis" to summarize the catalytic processes in which spin effects are present. Finally, the electronic mechanism of spin crossover accelerating the reaction and the role of spin crossover in changing the reaction path and regulating the reaction selectivity are introduced by taking two recent typical iron-catalyzed reactions recently reported by our group as examples.

Hydrosilylation of Alkynes Catalyzed by an Iron(II) PCP Pincer Alkyl Complex

Vinylsilanes are very useful building blocks in organic synthesis and have widespread applications in life sciences and materials chemistry. Here we describe the potential of complex cis‐[Fe(PCP‐iPr)(CH2CH2CH3)(CO)2] as an effective catalyst for the hydrosilylation of both terminal and internal alkynes with SiPhH3 to give vinylsilanes. The reactions were typically performed with a catalyst loading of 1 mol% for 24 h at 70oC. The catalytic reaction is initiated by migratory insertion of a CO ligand into the Fe‐alkyl bond to yield an acyl intermediate which reacts with silanes to form the 16e‐ Fe(II) silyl catalyst [Fe(PCP‐iPr)(SiPhH2)(CO)]. In the case of aliphatic terminal alkynes good regioselectivity (anti‐Markovnikov addition) towards the thermodynamically more stable β‐(E)‐vinylsilanes in ratios of up to 10:90 was achieved, while for aromatic alkynes the selectivities were poor with ratios of β‐(Z)‐ to β‐(E)‐vinylsilanes of about 40:60. With internal unsymmetrical alkynes, the two possible regioisomers of the syn‐addition of SiPhH3 were obtained in different ratios with no clear trend towards one regioisomer. Internal symmetrical alkynes yielded exclusively the respective syn‐products in high yields. Mechanistic investigations including deuterium labelling studies were undertaken to provide a reasonable reaction mechanism.

Localized Oxidative Catalytic Reactions Triggered by Cavitation Bubbles Confinement on Copper Oxide Microstructured Particles.

Efficient energy transfer management in catalytic processes is crucial for overcoming activation energy barriers while minimizing costs and CO2 emissions. We exploit here a concept of CuO particle design with multiple gas-stabilizing sites, engineered to function as cavitation nuclei and catalysts. This concept facilitates the selective and efficient acoustic energy transfer directly to the catalyst surface, avoiding the undesired dissipation of acoustic energy into the bulk solution while demonstrating superior cavitation properties at lower acoustic pressure amplitudes. Utilizing a chemical thermometric approach, we demonstrate that the local temperature on the surface of our CuO particles during cavitation bubble implosions can create an effective equivalent temperature of about 360°C. This temperature effect facilitates the efficient catalysis of oxidative reactions using an organic probe molecule. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to assess the decomposition of H2O2 and of pollutant probe molecule on CuO (111). Our work represents a significant advance in sonocatalytic systems, promising efficient energy use in catalytic reactions.

Divalent Lanthanide Hydride Complexes

Molecular hydride complexes have attracted recent attention, and divalent lanthanides as central atoms in particular are very interesting. They open up possibilities of combining hydride reactivity and lanthanide reactivity. To date, only Yb(II), Eu(II) and Sm(II) as well as a mixed‐valent Dy(II)/Dy(III) hydride complexes have been isolated and characterised but the known examples are still low in numbers. In this contribution the development of divalent lanthanide chemistry is summarised, and structural features, reactivity patterns in stoichiometric and catalytic reactions as well as spectroscopic details are outlined.

Nitrate-Anion-Induced Formation of a 2D Metal-Organic Framework with an Unconventional Kagomé Lattice Exhibiting Methanol-Mediated Ketone Catalysis.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with kagomé lattice are attractive for their unique physical and chemical properties, but little attention has been paid to their catalytic properties. Herein, we report a 2D MOF based on a phosphonato-amino-carboxylate ligand (NaHL), i.e., [Na0.33Co(L)(CH3OH)2](NO3)0.33 (2), which exhibits an unconventional kagomé lattice. The formation of this kagomé lattice is caused by the selective recognition of the NO3- anion by the phenolato group of L2- as evidenced by theoretical calculations. Compound 2 can be utilized for the α-methoxymethylation and aminomethylation of aromatic ketones using methanol as a C1 source. Interestingly, compound 2 can be exfoliated in-situ into nanosheets with one-layer thickness under catalytic reaction conditions, which improves the catalytic efficiency. Based on the results of experiments and theoretical calculations, we proposed possible pathways for the catalytic reaction.

Localized Oxidative Catalytic Reactions Triggered by Cavitation Bubbles Confinement on Copper Oxide Microstructured Particles.

Efficient energy transfer management in catalytic processes is crucial for overcoming activation energy barriers while minimizing costs and CO2 emissions. We exploit here a concept of CuO particle design with multiple gas‐stabilizing sites, engineered to function as cavitation nuclei and catalysts. This concept facilitates the selective and efficient acoustic energy transfer directly to the catalyst surface, avoiding the undesired dissipation of acoustic energy into the bulk solution while demonstrating superior cavitation properties at lower acoustic pressure amplitudes. Utilizing a chemical thermometric approach, we demonstrate that the local temperature on the surface of our CuO particles during cavitation bubble implosions can create an effective equivalent temperature of about 360°C. This temperature effect facilitates the efficient catalysis of oxidative reactions using an organic probe molecule. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were used to assess the decomposition of H2O2 and of pollutant probe molecule on CuO (111). Our work represents a significant advance in sonocatalytic systems, promising efficient energy use in catalytic reactions.

Using In situ Transmission Electron Microscopy to Study Strong Metal-Support Interactions in Heterogeneous Catalysis.

Precisely controlling the microstructure of supported metal catalysts and regulating metal-support interactions at the atomic level are essential for achieving highly efficient heterogeneous catalysts. Strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) not only stabilizes metal nanoparticles and improves their resistance to sintering but also modulates the electrical interaction between metal species and the support, optimizing the catalytic activity and selectivity. Therefore, understating the formation mechanism of SMSI and its dynamic evolution during the chemical reaction at the atomic scale is crucial for guiding the structural design and performance optimization of supported metal catalysts. Recent advancements in in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have shed new light on these complex phenomena, providing deeper insights into the SMSI dynamics. Here, the research progress of in situ TEM investigation on SMSI in heterogeneous catalysis is systematically reviewed, focusing on the formation dynamics, structural evolution during the catalytic reactions, and regulation methods of SMSI. The significant advantages of in situ TEM technologies for SMSI research are also highlighted. Moreover, the challenges and probable development paths of in situ TEM studies on the SMSI are also provided.

Defect-Rich Regulatory Activity Strategy: Disordered Structure for Enhanced Catalytic Interfacial Reaction of Chlorobenzene.

In contrast to previous defect engineering methods, the preparation of amorphous materials can obtain abundant defect sites through a simple way, which is expected to effectively degrade Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) under milder conditions. However, in-depth and systematic studies in this area are still lacking. Novel types of amorphous CeMnx catalysts with abundant defects were prepared through simple hydrothermal synthesis and used for Cl-VOCs catalysis for the first time. Experimental characterizations and DFT calculations proved that Ce doping induced MnO2 lattice distortion, which led to the transformation of CeMnx into an amorphous structure and the formation of abundant defect sites. It was observed that CeMn0.16 was able to eliminate chlorobenzene (CB) at 200 °C, and the CO2 yields and the selectivity of inorganic chlorine was significantly higher than that of MnO2. The 18O isotope kinetic experiments revealed that the interfacial reaction process followed the MVK mechanism. The large number of oxygen vacancies accelerated the migration of lattice oxygen from the interior to the exterior, enhancing the ability to trap gas-phase oxygen. Mn4+ acted as the main active center to participate in CB catalysis, and the resulting reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Mn3+-[O2-]-Ce4+ further accelerated the entire oxidation cycle.

Carbon‐Encapsulated Single‐Atom Platinum Nickel Alloy for Efficient and Durable Alkaline Hydrogen Oxidation Through Enhanced Charge Polarization

AbstractDeveloping efficient and stable non‐noble metal electrocatalysts for fuel cells is pivotal yet challenging. Herein, a dual‐modulation strategy by integrating a single‐atom alloy (SAA) core with carbon encapsulation to fabricate an advanced NiPtSA@NC catalyst is proposed, which exhibits an impressive specific activity of 82.0 µA cm−2 and superior stability for alkaline hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). Experimental and theoretical investigations unveil that the superior HOR performance is due to the enhanced water adsorption and optimized hydrogen binding energy over the dual‐modulated Ni active centers with a moderately downshifted d‐band center, which stems from the charge polarization triggered by the introduced Pt atoms, creating an electron‐rich local environment for Pt atoms while electron‐depletion for Ni atoms, as well as inducing electrons transfer from the metallic core to the carbon shell. This study provides an effective dual modulation strategy to construct robust non‐noble metal electrocatalysts for HOR, guiding the catalyst design of other related catalytic reactions.

Spirobifluorene-Based D-A Type Conjugated Polymer Photocatalysts for Water Splitting

Exploring synthetic pathways for efficient photocatalysts has always been a major goal in catalysis. The performance of organic photocatalysts is affected by a variety of complex factors, and how to understand the structure–effect relationship is the key to designing efficient photocatalysts. This work explored the feasibility of constructing large-specific-surface-area conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) based on stereoscopic units like spirobifluorene and achieving efficient photocatalytic activity by modulating the donor–acceptor (D-A) ratio with dibenzothiophene sulfone. Crosslinked pore structures were successfully constructed, and the specific surface area increased with the ratio of spirobifluorene. When the molar ratio of D-A was 1:20, polymer Spso-3 showed the highest photocatalytic hydrogen production activity, at 22.4 mmol h–1 g–1. The findings indicate that constructing D-A type CMPs should be a promising approach to improving the performance of photocatalytic water separation. The appropriate push–pull effect of the D-A structure promotes the photo-induced separation of electron–hole pairs, and the porous structure built on steric units offers ample space for catalytic reactions. This work could provide case references for structural design and the structure–effect relationship of efficient polymer photocatalysts.

Supramolecular PEG-DNA-Ferrocene Nanogels for Synergistically Amplified Chemodynamic Therapy via Cascade Reactions.

Chemodynamic therapy (CDT) has been limited by the tumor microenvironment, such as the low concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The combination of therapeutic strategies that increase H2O2 with CDT can synergistically enhance the therapeutic effect. Herein, a novel supramolecular PEG-DNA-ferrocene nanogel that can codeliver glucose oxidase (GOx) and the hypoxia-activable prodrug tirapazamine (TPZ) was developed to synergistically amplify CDT via cascade reactions. The DNA nanogel was size-controllable and DNase I-responsive and exhibited good biocompatibility. Induced by oxygen consumption and H2O2 generation in the catalytic reaction of GOx, the drugs TPZ and ferrocene in the nanogel underwent the hypoxia-based reaction and the Fenton reaction, respectively. The vitro model tests, intracellular ROS test, MTT experiments, and DNA damage assay demonstrated that the H2O2-based cascade Fenton reaction and the hypoxia-based cascade reaction obviously increased ·OH generation and promoted the apoptosis of cancer cells. This cascade supramolecular nanoplatform provided a promising therapeutic strategy to synergistically amplify CDT.