Advancements in double decarboxylative coupling reactions of carboxylic acids.

The double decarboxylative coupling reaction between two (similar or different) molecules of carboxylic acids is an emerging area that has gained considerable attention as a new avenue for forging carbon-carbon bonds. Since this synthetic strategy only utilizes carboxylic acids as easily accessible, non-toxic and stable starting materials, and extrudes carbon dioxide (CO2) as the only waste by-product, it can be considered as an environmentally benign alternative to traditional coupling reactions which mainly rely on the use of toxic organic halides or organometallic reagents. The aim of this review is to highlight the recent advances and developments in this exciting new field that may serve as inspiration for future research to mature it.

Investigation of the substituted-titanium nanocages using computational chemistry.

We are investigated substitution effects of titanium heteroatoms on band gap, charge and local reactivity of C20-nTin heterofullerenes (n = 1-5), at different levels and basis sets. The C18Ti2-2 nanocage is considered as the most kinetically stable species with the widest band gap of 2.86 eV, in which two carbon atoms are substituted by two Ti atoms in equatorial position, individually. The charges on carbon atoms of C20 are roughly zero, while high positive charge (1.256) on the surface of C19Ti1 prompts this heteofullerene for hydrogen storage. The positive atomic charge on Ti atoms and negative atomic charge on their adjacent C atoms implies that these sites can be influenced more readily by nucleophilic and electrophilic regents, respectively. We examined the usefulness of local reactivity descriptors to predict the reactivity of Ti-C atomic sites on the external surface of the heterofullerenes. The properties determined include Fukui function (F.F.); f (k) and local softness s (k) on the surfaces of the investigated hollow cages. Geometry optimization results reveal that titanium atoms can be comfortably incorporated into the CC network of fullerene. It is most likely associated with the triple-coordination characteristic of titanium atoms, which can well match with the sp2-hybridized carbon bonding structure. According to the values of f (k) and s (k) for the C15Ti5 heterofullerene; the carbon atoms in the cap regions exhibit a different reactivity pattern than those in the equatorial portion of the heterofullerene. The titanium impurity can significantly improve the fullerene's surface reactivity and it allows controlling their surface properties. The band gap of C20-nTin …..(H2)n structures is decreased with increasing n. Hence, C15Ti5 is found as the best hydrogen adsorbent.

Carbon fixation of CO2 via cyclic reactions with borane in gaseous atmosphere leading to formic acid (and metaboric acid); A potential energy surface (PES) study.

Carbon dioxide (CO2), a stable gaseous species, occupies the troposphere layer of the atmosphere. Following it, the environment gets warmer, and the ecosystem changes as a consequence of disrupting the natural order of our life. Due to this, in the present reasearch, the possibility of carbon fixation of CO2 by using borane was investigated. To conduct this, each of the probable reaction channels between borane and CO2 was investigated to find the fate of this species. The results indicate that among all the channels, the least energetic path for the reaction is reactant complex (RC) to TS (A-1) to Int (A-1) to TS (A-D) to formic acid (and further meta boric acid production from the transformation of boric acid). It shows that use of gaseous borane might lead to controlling these dangerous greenhouse gases which are threatening the present form of life on Earth, our beautiful, fragile home.

DFT calculations, structural analysis, solvent effects, and non-covalent interaction study on the para-aminosalicylic acid complex as a tuberculosis drug: AIM, NBO, and NMR analyses.

In this study, the effect of non-covalent interactions on the para-aminosalicylic acid complex is explored using density functional theory (DFT) in the gas phase and the solution. Our findings exhibit that the achieved binding energies considerably change on going from the gas phase to the solution. Based on the obtained results, the absolute value of the binding energy of the complex in the polar solvents is lower than the non-polar ones while in the gas phase it is higher than the solution. The atoms in molecules (AIM) and the natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses are applied to estimate the topological properties and the charge transfer during complexation, respectively. The results indicate that the presence of the cation-π interaction increases the strength of the intramolecular hydrogen bond in the studied complex. Finally, the various electronic descriptors such as energy gap, hardness, softness, and electronic chemical potential are investigated to gain further insight into these interactions. According to the achieved results, the high energy gap of the complex in the water solvent indicates high chemical stability and low reactivity compared to the others. On the other hand, the most reactive as well as the softest complex belongs to the gas phase.

Theoretical investigation of the titanium-nitrogen heterofullerenes evolved from the smallest fullerene.

In this survey, we are performed kinetic stability, global reactivity, atomic polar tensor (APT) charge and counter plots of Ti-N heterofullerenes developed from C20 fullerene with the molecular formula of C20-2nTinNn (n = 1-8), at B3PW91/6-311+G∗ level of theory. Also, we are investigated substituent effect of titanium and nitrogen heteroatoms on deuterium adsorption of the heterofullerenes according to density functional theory (DFT). Substituting of Ti-N units with various topology in the cap or equatorial position of heterofullerenes, changes significantly their electronic properties and causes different frontier molecular orbital energy separation (ΔEHOMO-LUMO). Hence, C18Ti1N1 and C10Ti5N5 are found as the best insulated species, while C12Ti4N4 and C4Ti8N8 are considered as the strongest conductive nanocage. Also, C14Ti3N3 cage shows the highest positive APT charge on Ti atom (+1.357, +1.053), while C12Ti4N4 cage shows the lowest positive APT charge on Ti atom (+0.031, -0.292). Accordingly, C14Ti3N3, and C12Ti4N4 exhibit the lowest, and the highest global electrophilicity; ω of 2.58, and 7.01 eV, respectively. As six D2 molecules are approached the C14Ti3N3 heterofullerene, its ΔEHOMO-LUMO (Eg) is increased from 1.29 eV in C14Ti3N3 heterofullerene to 2.11 eV in D2/C14Ti3N3 complex (∼+63.57%) indicating high sensitivity of it to adsorption of six D2 molecules through an exothermic process. As sixteen D2 molecules approaches the C4Ti8N8 nanocage, its Eg reduces from 0.97 to 0.73 eV (∼-24.74%) indicating high electrical conductivity of D2/C4Ti8N8 complex. Therefore, C4Ti8N8 as hopeful sensor, can be generate electrical signals when the D2 molecules approach.

Strategies for the direct oxidative esterification of thiols with alcohols.

This review paper provides an overview of the main strategies for the oxidative esterification of thiols with alcohols. The review is divided into two major parts according to final products. The first includes the methods for the synthesis of sulfinic esters, while the second contains the procedures for the fabrication of sulfonic ester derivatives.

Electronic sensors for alkali and alkaline earth cations based on Fullerene-C60 and silicon doped on C60 nanocages: a computational study.

In this research, we have reported the electrical sensitivity of pristine C60 and silicon doped on C60 (SiC59) nanocages as sensors that can be used for detecting the presence of alkali (Li+, Na+, K+) and alkaline earth (Be2+, Mg2+, Ca2+) cations. The computations are carried out at the B3LYP level of theory with a 6-31G(d) basis set. The atoms in molecules (AIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses are performed to evaluate the intermolecular interactions between cations and nanocages. The physical properties of the selected complexes are also analyzed by the frontier molecular orbital, energy gap, electronegativity, chemical hardness, softness, and other quantities such as work function, number of transferred electron, and dipole moment. The results show that the adsorption process is exothermic and with increasing the charge of cations, the adsorption energies enhance. Our findings also reveal a decrease in the energy gap along with an increase in the electrical conductivity of the respective complexes. Finally, the density of state calculations is presented to confirm the obtained results.

PANI-Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposite as magnetically recoverable organometallic nanocatalyst promoted synthesis of new Azo chromene dyes and evaluation of their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

A new series of azo chromene dyes were synthesized via a facile cyclocondensation reaction of (E)-1,2-diphenyl-1-diazene and 4-aminocoumarin with 1:2 molar ratio catalyzed by the polyaniline-Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposite (PANI-Fe3O4@ZnO). The salient features of this protocol lie in simple experimental procedure, moderate reaction conditions, and uses PANI-Fe3O4@ZnO nanocomposite as a magnetically separable heterogeneous catalyst. Two well-known methods were employed for assessing the antioxidant abilities of the target compounds, including free radical trapping of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), as well as ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. Also, several synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activities by employing the disk diffusion test on Gram-negative as well as Gram-positive bacteria.

Magnetic Nanoparticles Functionalized with Copper Hydroxyproline Complexes as an Efficient, Recoverable, and Recyclable Nanocatalyst: Synthesis and Its Catalytic Application in a Tandem Knoevenagel-Michael Cyclocondensation Reaction.

A novel catalyst has been afforded by attaching of a Cu(proline)2 complex to magnetic nanoparticles through cheap, simple, and readily available chemicals. This catalyst was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, energy-dispersive X-ray, X-ray diffraction, vibrating-sample magnetometry, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and inductively coupled plasma analyses. The catalytic activity of the Fe3O4@NH2@TCT@HProCu nanocatalyst was investigated in a green and effective synthesis of pyran derivatives in high yields by applying three-component reactions of malononitrile, dimedone, and aldehydes in ethanol. Conversion was high under optimal conditions. The obtained nanocatalyst could be easily separated from the mixture of the reaction and was recyclable nine times via a simple magnet without considerable reduction of its catalytic efficiency. Operational simplicity, high product yields, environmental friendliness, ecofriendliness, economical processing, and easy workup are the features of this methodology.

Progress and recent trends in the direct selenocyanation of (hetero)aromatic C-H bonds.

This review covers recent advances in the direct selenocyanation of (hetero)aromatic C-H bonds with an emphasis on the reaction mechanisms. This novel approach is an effective means of preparing a variety of aromatic and heteroaromatic selenocyanates, which are extremely versatile synthetic precursors of selenium-containing compounds, such as selenols, seleninic acids, selenides, diselenides, and trifluoromethyl selenides.

Recent trends in dehydroxylative trifluoro-methylation, -methoxylation, -methylthiolation, and -methylselenylation of alcohols.

Owing to the prevalence of hydroxyl groups on molecules, much attention has been paid to the synthesis of functionalized organic compounds by dehydroxylative functionalization of parent alcohols. In this context, dehydroxylative trifluoromethylation, trifluoromethoxylation, trifluoromethylthiolation, and trifluoromethylselenylation of readily available alcohols have recently emerged as intriguing protocols for the single-step construction of diverse structures bearing C-CF3, C-OCF3, C-SCF3, and C-SeCF3 bonds, respectively. This Mini-Review aims to summarize the major progress and advances in this appealing research area with special emphasis on the mechanistic features of the reaction pathways.

Intermolecular difunctionalization of alkenes: synthesis of ß-hydroxy sulfides.

Direct difunctionalization of carbon-carbon double bonds is one of the most powerful tools available for concomitant introduction of two functional groups into olefinic substrates. In this context, vicinal hydroxysulfenylation of unactivated alkenes has emerged as a novel and straightforward strategy for the fabrication of ß-hydroxy sulfides, which are extremely valuable starting materials in constructing various natural products, pharmaceuticals, and fine chemicals. The aim of this review is to summarize the most representative and important reports on the preparation of ß-hydroxy sulfides through intermolecular hydroxysulfenylation of the corresponding alkenes with special emphasis on the mechanistic features of the reactions.

Hydroxysulfonylation of alkenes: an update.

The direct difunctionalization of inexpensive and widely available alkenes has been recognized as a strong and straightforward tool for the rapid fabrication of complex molecules and pharmaceutical targets by introducing two different functional groups on adjacent carbon atoms of common alkene moieties in a single operation. This synthetic strategy avoids the purification and isolation of the intermediates and thus makes synthetic schemes shorter, simpler and cleaner. In this family of reactions, the hydroxysulfonylation of alkenes has emerged as an increasingly promising strategy for the synthesis of ß-hydroxysulfones, which are found in many biologically important molecules and widespread applications in organic synthesis. The objective of this review is to illustrate the advancements in the field of hydroxysulfonylation of alkenes with special emphasis on the mechanistic details of the reaction pathways.

Recent trends in the direct oxyphosphorylation of C-C multiple bonds.

Due to the wide importance of ß-phosphorylated ketones as key building-blocks in the fabrication of various pharmaceutically active organophosphorus compounds, finding new and truly efficient methods for their preparation from simple, low-cost and ubiquitous feedstock materials within a single click is an interesting subject in organic synthesis. Recently, oxyfunctionalization of carbon-carbon multiple bonds has arisen as a straightforward and versatile tool for the synthesis of complex organic molecules from the simple and easily accessible alkenes/alkynes via a single operation. In this context, oxyphosphorylation of alkenes/alkynes with P(O)-H compounds has attracted considerable attention as a unique procedure for the construction of ß-phosphorylated ketones. In this review, we outline the recent advances and developments in this fast-growing research field with particular emphasis on the mechanistic aspects of reaction.

An Efficient Synthesis of Bis-indolylindane-1,3-diones, Indan-1,3-diones, and Indene-1,3(2H)-denies Using [Hbim]BF 4 Ionic Medium.

We prepared a brand new molecule in one step for the synthesis of bis-indolylindane-1,3-dione and indan-1,3-diones from the reaction of ninhydrin and 3 substituted/unsubstituted indoles using [Hbim]BF4 ionic liquid in excellent yields. The method was also used for the synthesis of novel indene-1,3(2H)-denies derivatives.