Thiazolium-based catalysts for the etherification reaction of benzylic alcohols under solvent-free condition
Thiazolium and imidazolium hybrid materials were prepared by radical reactions between a mercaptopropyl-modified SBA-15 mesoporous silica and bis-vinylthiazolium or bis-vinylimidazolium dibromide salts. These hybrid materials were characterized by several techniques and were employed in the etherification reaction of 1-phenylethanol. Solvent-free conditions at 160C under different gas phases (oxygen, air, nitrogen and argon) were used. The thiazolium-based material displayed excellent performances. Further studies were carried out using unsupported thiazolium salts, with or without a methyl group at the C-2 position of the thiazolium moiety. These studies allowed us to propose a reaction me…
In vivo biodistribution of amino-functionalized ceria nanoparticles in rats using positron emission tomography.
A variety of nanoparticles have been proposed for several biomedical applications. To gauge the therapeutic potential of these nanoparticles, in vivo biodistribution is essential and mandatory. In the present study, ceria nanoparticles (5 nm average particle size) were labeled with F-18 to study their in vivo biodistribution in rats by positron emission tomography (PET). The F-18 isotope was anchored by reaction of N-succinimidyl 4-[F-18]fluorobenzoate (F-18-SFB) with a modified nanoparticle surface obtained by silylation with 3-aminopropylsilyl. Radiolabeled ceria nanoparticles accumulated mainly in lungs, spleen, and liver. Metabolic products of the radiolabeled nanoparticulate material w…
Imidazolium functionalized carbon nanotubes for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates: reducing the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis
Single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were functionalized with imidazolium salts bearing vinyl functionalities. An extremely high loading of active species was achieved through a straightforward one-pot procedure involving self-assembly of the imidazolium moieties followed by radical initiated polymerization of the double bonds. The materials were extensively characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, nitrogen physisorption and combustion chemical analysis. The imidazolium functionalized SWCNTs displayed excellent catalytic activity for the reaction of CO2 and epoxides to produce cyclic carbonates as demonstrated by the excellent turnover numbers (TON). Moreove…
A polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-based catalyst for the efficient synthesis of cyclic carbonates
Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane functionalized with imidazolium chloride peripheries (POSS-Imi) was successfully synthesized through a novel synthesis protocol. The solid was extensively characterized via1H NMR, 13C NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as combustion chemical analysis, mass spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, an in-depth investigation through 29Si NMR was performed. POSS-Imi was used for the first time as a catalyst for the conversion of CO2 and epoxides into cyclic carbonates with excellent results in terms of both yield and selectivity. The catalyst displayed improved catalytic performance with respect to unsupported 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chl…