Scalable strategies for the synthesis of well-defined copper metal and oxide nanocrystals.

This tutorial review highlights the most promising methods for the preparation of well-defined copper metal and oxide nanocrystals. These methodologies could be applied to other metals. We present the main synthetic strategies and associated mechanisms to control monodispersity, size, morphology and structure of metal and oxide nanomaterials which can adopt spherical, polyhedral, cubic, rod, wire, plate shapes and possibly hollow structures. We also consider the scale-up of the production of these nanocrystals, which is crucial for a wide range of potential applications such as catalysis, photovoltaics, electronics, optics and electrocatalysis.

Swift and efficient sono-hydrolysis of nitriles to carboxylic acids under basic condition: role of the oxide anion radical in the hydrolysis mechanism.

Carboxylic acids are promising candidates for new sustainable strategies in organic synthesis. In this paper, we ascertain the potential of ultrasound for the hydrolysis of nitriles into carboxylic acids through the study of key parameters of the reaction: pH, hydrolysis medium, reaction time and activation technique. The positive influence of ultrasound under basic conditions is due to more than mechanical effects of cavitation. Indeed, the rate of hydrolysis is dramatically increased under sonication in NaOH solutions. A radical mechanism involving the oxide anion radical O(*-) is proposed.

Stereoselective stilbene epoxidation over supported gold-based catalysts.

The gold reference catalyst Au/TiO(2) exhibits high activity in the stereoselective epoxidation of trans-stilbene in methylcyclohexane in the presence of 5 mol% TBHP, by taking part in a chain reaction involving the activation of molecular oxygen by a radical produced from methylcyclohexane.