One-Pot Synthesis of Al-P-O Catalysts and Their Catalytic Properties for O-Methylation of Catechol and Methanol.

A series of Al-P-O catalysts (Al-xP-O) were prepared using a P123-assisted one-pot method at different P/Al molar ratios and used for O-methylation of catechol and methanol. The influences of the P/Al molar ratio and P123 addition on catalyst structure and surface acid-base characteristics were investigated in detail. Increasing the P/Al molar ratio more favored crystalline aluminophosphate. The P123-assisted Al3+ and PO43- are known to be stabilized through weak steric force so that the formation of crystalline aluminophosphate could be inhibited at higher P/Al molar ratios. The results showed that the prepared Al-P-O catalysts possessed appropriate weak acid and weak base sites, which was beneficial to the reaction of catechol and methanol. The Al-1.1P-O catalyst synthesized with the assistance of P123 exhibited superior catalytic performances, with 52.5% catechol conversion and higher guaiacol selectivity of 97.6%.

Tacrolimus reduces atherosclerotic plaque formation in ApoE-/- mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammatory corpuscles.

Effect of tacrolimus on atherosclerotic plaques and its influence on Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammatory pathway were studied by establishing the mouse model of atherosclerosis. The mice were divided into 3 groups: C57BL/6 mouse group (WT group), ApoE-/- mouse group (ApoE-/- group) and ApoE-/- mouse + tacrolimus intervention group (ApoE-/- + Tac group). The area of atherosclerotic plaques and the pathological morphologic changes were observed. The NLRP3, interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), IL-18, NLRP3 inflammatory corpuscles, pro-inflammatory factors IL-1ß and IL-18 in the aorta were analyzed. The area of atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-/- mice was increased significantly, and it was significantly reduced after tacrolimus intervention. After tacrolimus intervention, the arterial intima became obviously thinner and no obvious cholesterol crystals were observed. The macrophage infiltration in atherosclerotic plaques was significantly increased, and the content of smooth muscle cells was also increased. The levels of serum IL-1ß, IL-18 and NLRP3 in ApoE-/- mice were significantly increased, and they remarkably declined after tacrolimus intervention. ROS content in atherosclerotic plaques was increased in ApoE-/- mice, and it remarkably declined after tacrolimus intervention. The protein content of NLRP3, ASC, Casp-1, IL-1ß and IL-18 in the aorta in ApoE-/- mice was remarkably increased, and they were inhibited to some extent after tacrolimus intervention. In conclusion, it is speculated that tacrolimus may reduce the formation of AS through inhibiting ROS in macrophages and activation of NLRP3 inflammatory corpuscles and reducing the release of IL-1ß and IL-18.

Nitrogen-doped graphene-activated metallic nanoparticle-incorporated ordered mesoporous carbon nanocomposites for the hydrogenation of nitroarenes.

Herein, nanoscale metallic nanoparticle-incorporated ordered mesoporous carbon catalysts activated by nitrogen-doped graphene (NGr) were fabricated via an efficient multi-component co-assembly of a phenolic resin, nitrate, acetylacetone, the nitrogen-containing compound 1,10-phenanthroline, and Pluronic F127, followed by carbonization. The obtained well-dispersed nitrogen-doped graphene-activated transition metal nanocatalysts possess a 2-D hexagonally arranged pore structure with a high surface area (∼500 m2 g-1) and uniform pore size (∼4.0 nm) and show excellent activity for the selective hydrogenation-reduction of substituted nitroarenes to anilines in an environmentally friendly aqueous solution. The high catalytic performance and durability is attributed to the synergistic effects among the components, the unique structure of the nitrogen-doped graphene layer-coated metallic nanoparticles, and electronic activation of the doped nitrogen.