Electrochemical Comparison of 2D-Flexible Solid-State Supercapacitors Based on a Matrix of PVA/H3PO4.

Different modifications of woven carbon fiber (WCF) based on carbon aerogel (CAG), copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs), and lignin (LIG) has been tested and used to study their effect on the fabrication and performance of a flexible supercapacitor. New symmetric flexible supercapacitors (SFSCs) were fabricated using different separators. According to the electrochemical results, the device fabricated using CAG and woven glass fiber (WGF) in a sandwich type configuration CAG/WGF/CAG embedded in H3PO4/PVA exhibited the best performance (1.4 F/g, 0.961 W/kg, 0.161 Wh/kg). A proof of concept based on a LED powered on and a bending test was done, and the capacitor demonstrated excellent electrochemical values even during and after bending. The new device was able to recover 96.12% of its capacitance when returned to its original unbent position. The manufacturing process was critical, as the fibers or layers must be completely embedded in the gel electrolyte to function effectively. A double flexible supercapacitor connected in parallel was fabricated and it showed higher stability, in the same voltage window, yielding 311 mF/cm2 of areal capacitance.

Exceedingly Facile Ph-X Activation (X = Cl, Br, I) with Ruthenium(II): Arresting Kinetics, Autocatalysis, and Mechanisms.

[(Ph3P)3Ru(L)(H)2] (where L = H2 (1) in the presence of styrene, Ph3P (3), and N2 (4)) cleave the Ph-X bond (X = Cl, Br, I) at RT to give [(Ph3P)3RuH(X)] (2) and PhH. A combined experimental and DFT study points to [(Ph3P)3Ru(H)2] as the reactive species generated upon spontaneous loss of L from 3 and 4. The reaction of 3 with excess PhI displays striking kinetics which initially appears zeroth order in Ru. However mechanistic studies reveal that this is due to autocatalysis comprising two factors: 1) complex 2, originating from the initial PhI activation with 3, is roughly as reactive toward PhI as 3 itself; and 2) the Ph-I bond cleavage with the just-produced 2 gives rise to [(Ph3P)2RuI2], which quickly comproportionates with the still-present 3 to recover 2. Both the initial and onward activation reactions involve PPh3 dissociation, PhI coordination to Ru through I, rearrangement to a η(2)-PhI intermediate, and Ph-I oxidative addition.

Catalytic functionalization of methane and light alkanes in supercritical carbon dioxide.

The development of catalytic methods for the effective functionalization of methane yet remains a challenge. The best system known to date is the so-called Catalytica Process based on the use of platinum catalysts to convert methane into methyl bisulfate with a TOF rate of 10(-3) s. In this contribution, we report a series of silver complexes containing perfluorinated tris(indazolyl)borate ligands that catalyze the functionalization of methane into ethyl propionate upon reaction with ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) by using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as the reaction medium. The employment of this reaction medium has also allowed the functionalization of ethane, propane, butane, and isobutane.

Functionalization of non-activated C-H bonds of alkanes: an effective and recyclable catalytic system based on fluorinated silver catalysts and solvents.

The complexes F(n)-Tp(4Bo,3Rf)Ag(L) (F(n)-Tp(4Bo,3Rf)=a perfluorinated hydrotris(indazolyl) borate ligand; L=acetone or tetrahydrofuran) efficiently catalyze the functionalization of non-activated alkanes such as hexane, 2,3-dimethylbutane, or 2-methylpentane by insertion of CHCO(2)Et units (from N(2)CHCO(2)Et, ethyl diazoacetate, EDA) into their C-H bonds. The reactions are quantitative (EDA-based), with no byproducts derived from diazo coupling being formed. In the case of hexane, the functionalization of the methyl C-H bonds has been achieved with the highest regioselectivity known to date with this diazo compound. This catalytic system also operates under biphasic conditions by using fluorous solvents such as Fomblin or perfluorophenanthrene. Several cycles of catalyst recovery and reuse have been performed, with identical chemo- and regioselectivities.

Cyclic decapeptide gramicidin S derivatives containing phosphines: novel ligands for asymmetric catalysis.

The cyclic peptide gramicidin S was used as a rigid template to provide novel peptide-based bisphosphine ligands for transition metal catalysis. Two bisphosphine-coordinated Rh(I) complexes allowed asymmetric hydrogenation with 10-52% ee and the corresponding Pd(II) analogues catalysed asymmetric allylic alkylation with 13-15% ee.

Highly fluorinated aryl-substituted tris(indazolyl)borate thallium complexes: diverse regiochemistry at the B-N bond.

The synthesis and characterization (mainly by (19)F NMR and X-ray diffraction) of highly fluorinated aryl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazoles and their corresponding thallium hydrotris(indazolyl)borate complexes are reported [aryl = phenyl, pentafluorophenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]. Thanks to N-H···N hydrogen bonds, the indazoles crystallize as dimers that pack differently depending on the nature of the aryl group. The thallium hydrotris(indazolyl)borate complexes Tl[Fn-Tp(4Bo,3aryl)] resulting from the reaction of aryl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazoles [aryl = phenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl] with thallium borohydride adopt overall C(3v) symmetry with the indazolyl groups bound to boron via their N-1 nitrogen in a conventional manner. When the perfluorinated pentaphenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazole is reacted with thallium borohydride, a single regioisomer of C(s) symmetry having one indazolyl ring bound to boron via its N-2 nitrogen, TlHB(3-pentafluorophenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazol-1-yl)(2)(3-pentafluorophenyl-4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindazol-2-yl) Tl[F27-Tp((4Bo,3C6F5)*)], is obtained for the first time. Surprisingly, the perfluorinated dihydrobis(indazolyl)borate complex Tl[F(18)-Bp(3Bo,3C6F5)], an intermediate on the way to the hydrotris(indazolyl)borate complex, has C(s) symmetry with two indazolyl rings bound to boron via N-2. The distortion of the coordination sphere around Tl and the arrangement of the complexes in the crystal are discussed.

Silver-catalyzed C-C bond formation between methane and ethyl diazoacetate in supercritical CO2.

Even in the context of hydrocarbons' general resistance to selective functionalization, methane's volatility and strong bonds pose a particular challenge. We report here that silver complexes bearing perfluorinated indazolylborate ligands catalyze the reaction of methane (CH(4)) with ethyl diazoacetate (N(2)CHCO(2)Et) to yield ethyl propionate (CH(3)CH(2)CO(2)Et). The use of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) as the solvent is key to the reaction's success. Although the catalyst is only sparingly soluble in CH(4)/CO(2) mixtures, optimized conditions presently result in a 19% yield of ethyl propionate (based on starting quantity of the diazoester) at 40°C over 14 hours.

Synthesis of hybrid transition-metalloproteins via thiol-selective covalent anchoring of Rh-phosphine and Ru-phenanthroline complexes.

The preparation of hybrid transition metalloproteins by thiol-selective incorporation of organometallic rhodium- and ruthenium complexes is described. Phosphine ligands and two rhodium-diphosphine complexes bearing a carboxylic acid group were coupled to the cysteine of PYP R52G, yielding a metalloenzyme active in the rhodium catalyzed hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate. The successful coupling was shown by (31)P NMR spectroscopy and ESI mass spectroscopy. In addition wild-type PYP (PYP WT), PYP R52G and ALBP were successfully modified with a (eta(6)-arene) ruthenium(II) phenanthroline complex via a maleimide linker.

Pd-catalysed asymmetric mono- and bis-alkoxycarbonylation of vinylarenes.

The asymmetric alkoxycarbonylation of vinylarenes catalysed by palladium complexes bearing chiral phosphine ligands has attracted much attention over the last decades. The products of both mono- and bis(alkoxycarbonylation) reactions are important intermediates in the syntheses of pharmaceuticals such as 2-arylpropionic acids, the most important class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In this article, a general overview of the topics will be presented and the recent advances in this field will be particularly detailed. Besides the term alkoxycarbonylation, hydroesterification and hydroalkoxycarbonylation are also used in the literature to describe this reaction. Furthermore, more specific terms such as methoxycarbonylation can be found. In this report, the term alkoxycarbonylation will be used as the general term, and specific terms will be used to unambiguously define which reaction is meant.

Pd-catalysed methoxycarbonylation of vinylarenes using chiral monodentate phosphetanes and phospholane as ligands. Effect of substrate substituents on enantioselectivity.

Palladium complexes bearing phospholane 1 and phosphetane 2-4 ligands have been synthesised to be used as catalyst precursors in the asymmetric methoxycarbonylation of vinyl arenes. Single crystals of the complex [PdCl2(2)2] II were obtained from a toluene solution and analysed by X-ray crystallography. Using these complexes, excellent regioselectivity (up to 99%) to the branched esters was obtained. Phosphetane ligands provide higher enantioselectivity than the phospholane under the same reaction conditions and an important influence of the substrate was observed. Enantioselectivity up to 50% was obtained using 4-methoxystyrene.