Theoretical Insight on the High Reactivity of Reductive Elimination of NiIII Based on Energy- and Electron-Transfer Mechanisms.

Iridium/nickel (Ir/Ni) metallaphotoredox dual catalysis overcomes the challenging reductive elimination (RE) of Ni(II) species and has made a breakthrough progress to construct a wide range of C-X (X = C, N, S, and P) bonds. However, the corresponding reaction mechanisms are still ambiguous and controversial because the systematic research on the nature of this synergistic catalysis is not sufficient. Herein, IrIII/NiII and IrIII/Ni0 metallaphotoredox catalysis have been theoretically explored taking the aryl esterification reaction of benzoic acid and aryl bromide as an example by a combination of density functional theory (DFT), molecular dynamics, and time-dependent DFT computations. It is found that an electron-transfer mechanism is applicable to IrIII/NiII metallaphotoredox catalysis, but an energy-transfer mechanism is applicable to IrIII/Ni0 combination. The IrIII/NiII metallaphotoredox catalysis succeeds to construct a NiI-NiIII catalytic cycle to avoid the challenging RE of Ni(II) species, while the RE occurs from triplet excited-state Ni(II) species in the IrIII/Ni0 metallaphotoredox catalysis. In addition, the lower lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy level of Ni(III) species than that of Ni(II) species accelerates RE from Ni(III) one. The triplet excited-state Ni(II) species can resemble a Ni(III) center, considering the metal-to-ligand charge transfer character to promote the RE.

Superiority of Iridium Photocatalyst and Role of Quinuclidine in Selective α-C(sp3)-H Alkylation: Theoretical Insights.

Recent experimental work reported that visible-light photoredox catalysis coupled with primary sulfonamides and electron-deficient alkenes could efficiently construct C-C bonds at the α-position of primary amine derivatives under mild conditions. Here, a systematic study was conducted to explore the non-negligible excited-state single-electron-transfer (SET) processes and the catalytic cycle. Hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) catalysis containing different site-selective functionalization, involved as a critical process during the reaction, was computationally characterized. The superiorities of iridium-based photoredox catalysts in terms of photoabsorption properties, phosphorescence rates, and electron-transfer rates for SET processes were focused on. In addition, the function of quinuclidine in the entire photocatalytic reaction was also probed. These intrinsic properties and detailed insights into the mechanism are supposed to be helpful to the understanding of the C-C bond functionalization reaction and the future application of the iridium-based photoredox catalyst.

Origin and Regioselectivity of Direct Hydrogen Atom Transfer Mechanism of C(sp3)-H Arylation by [W10O32]4-/Ni Metallaphotoredox Catalysis.

Polyoxometalates (POMs) have a broad array of applied platforms with well-characterized catalysis including photocatalysis to achieve aliphatic C(sp3)-H bond functionalization. However, the reaction mechanism of POMs in organic transformation remains unknown due to the complexity of POM structures. Here, a challenging [W10O32]4-/Ni metallaphotoredox-catalyzed C(sp3)-H arylation of alkane has been investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The calculation revealed that the superficial active center located in bridged oxygen of *[W10O32]4- is responsible for the abstraction of a foreign hydrogen atom and the activation of a C(sp3)-H bond. Furthermore, we discussed this activated process using the direct activation model of the C(sp3)-H σ-bond to deepen our mechanistic understanding of POM mediated C-H bond activation via the hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) pathway. Specifically, comparing three common mechanisms for nickel catalysis inducing by Ni0, NiI, and NiII to construct a C-C bond, the nickel catalytic cycle induced by the NiI active catalyst is profitable in kinetics and thermodynamics. Finally, a radical mechanism merging the ([W10O32]4--*[W10O32]4--[HW10O32]4--[W10O32]4-) decatungstate reductive quenching cycle, ([HW10O32]4--[H2W10O32]4--[HW10O32]4-) electron relay, and (NiI-NiII-NiI-NiIII-NiI) nickel catalytic cycle is proposed to be favorable. We hope that this work would provide a better understanding of the unique catalytic activity of decatungstate anions for the direct functionalization of the C(sp3)-H bond.

[Effect of controlled release fertilizer on nitrous oxide emission from paddy field under plastic film mulching cultivation].

A field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of controlled release fertilizer on N2O emission in paddy field under plastic film mulching cultivation (PM) with water-saving irrigation. Results showed that in the rice growing season, cumulative N2O emissions from the plots applied with urea (PM+U) and with controlled release fertilizer (PM+CRF) were (38.2 +/- 4.4) and (21.5 +/- 5.2) mg N x m(-2), respectively. The N2O emission factors were 0.25% and 0.14% in the treatments PM+U and PM+CRF, respectively. The controlled release fertilizer decreased the total N2O emission by 43.6% compared with urea, of which 49.6% was reduced before the drying period. It also reduced the peak of N2O emission by 52.6%. However, it did not affect soil microbial biomass N and soil NH(4+)-N content at any rice growing stage, and grain yield either. No significant correlation was observed between N2O flux and soil Eh or soil temperature at the depth of 5 cm.