Synthesis and Characterization of Dual Acidic Ionic Liquids

Novel ionic liquids with dual acidity, of which the cation contains Brφnsted acidity and anions contain Lewis acidity were synthesized. These ionic liquids obtained were identified by NMR, FF-IR, SDT and FAB-MS. Their acidities were determined by pyridine probe on IR spectrography.

Environmental chamber study of the photochemical reaction of ethyl methyl sulfide and NO_x

A series of experiments were conducted in a self-made smog chamber at （300 ＋ 1） K and 1.01 × 10^5 Pa to simulate the photochemical reaction of ethyl methyl sulfide （EMS） and NOx. The results showed that the higher the initial concentration of EMS, the more ozone was generated in the simulative reactions. It was found that the light intensity plays a very important role in the evaluation of ozone formation potential for EMS. The parameters of d（Oa-NO） and IR （incremental reactivity） were used to quantify the potential of EMS on ozone formation. The obtained maximum IR values in this article for the five simulative reactions were 1.55 × 10^-2, 0.99 × 10^-2, 1.36 × 10^-2, 2.47 × 10^-2, and 1.65 × 10^-2, respectively. A comparison between the results we obtained here and the results we obtained previously for di-tert-butyl peroxide and acetylene showed that the potential reactivity of EMS on ozone formation was at a relatively low level.

Experimental and Theoretical Study of Hydrogen Atom Abstraction from Ethylene by Stoichiometric Zirconium Oxide Clusters

The reactions of cationic zirconium oxide clusters （ZrxOy^＋） with ethylene （C2H4） were investigated by using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer coupled with a laser ablation/supersonic expansion cluster source. Some hydrogen containing products （ZrO2）xH^＋（x=-1-4） were observed after the reaction. The density functional theory calculations indicate that apart from the common oxygen transfer reaction channel, the hydrogen abstraction channel can also occur in （ZrO2）x^＋＋C2H4, which supports that the observed （ZrO2）xH^＋ may be due to （ZrO2）x^＋＋C2H4→（ZrO2）xH^＋＋C2H3. The rate constants of different reaction channels were also calculated by Rice-Rarnsberger-Kassel-Marcus theory.

Computational design of proteins with novel structure and functions

Computational design of proteins is a relatively new field, where scientists search the enormous sequence space for sequences that can fold into desired structure and perform desired functions. With the computational approach, proteins can be designed, for example, as regulators of biological processes, novel enzymes, or as biotherapeutics. These approaches not only provide valuable information for understanding of sequence-structure-function relations in proteins, but also hold promise for applications to protein engineering and biomedical research. In this review, we briefly introduce the rationale for computational protein design, then summarize the recent progress in this field, including de novo protein design, enzyme design, and design of protein-protein interactions. Challenges and future prospects of this field are also discussed.

Preparation and Visible-light Photocatalytic Activity of Mesoporous H_3PW_(12)O_(40)/TiO_2 Composite

Wormhole-like mesostructured H3PW12O40/TiO2 composite catalyst was prepared by the combination of sol-gel chemistry and solvothermal treatment technique in the presence of a triblock copolymer surfactant. Results of Raman spectra, XRD, BJH pore distribution and TEM image indicate that the composite possess a three- dimensionally interconnected pore mesostructure with a high porosity and large pore size. Keggin units were homogeneously dispersed throughout the composite. This composite can catalyze the photodegradation of crystal violet （CV） under visible-light. The photocatalytic activity is much higher than that of pure TiO2 or H3PW12O40/TiO2 composite prepared in the absence of the surfactant.

Activation of Dinitrogen by Gas-Phase Species

Reactions of gas-phase species with small molecules are being actively studied to understand the elementary steps and mechanistic details of related condensed-phase processes.Activation of the very inert N≡N triple bond of dinitrogen molecule by isolated gas-phase species has attracted considerable interest in the past few decades.Apart from molecular adsorption and dissociative adsorption,interesting processes such as C-N coupling and degenerate ligand exchange were discovered.The present review focuses on the recent progress on adsorption,activation,and functionalization of N2 by gas-phase species(particularly metal cluster ions)using mass spectrometry,infrared photo-dissociation spectroscopy,anion photoelectron spectroscopy,and quantum chemical calculations including density functional theory and high-level ab initio calculations.Recent advances including characterization of adsorption products,dependence of clusters’reactivity on their sizes and structures,and mechanisms of N≡N weakening and splitting have been emphasized and prospects have been discussed.

Experimental and Theoretical Study of Reactions between Manganese Oxide Cluster Cations and Hydrogen Sulfide

Manganese oxide cluster cations Mnm180n＋ were prepared by laser ablation and reacted with hydrogen sulfide （H2S） in a fast flow reactor under thermal collision conditions. A time-of-flight mass spectrometer was used to detect the cluster distributions before and after the interactions with H2S. The experiments suggest that oxygen-for-sulfur （O/S） ex- change reaction to release water took place in the reactor for most of the manganese oxide cluster cations： MnmlSOn＋＋H2S→Mnm18On-1S＋＋H218O. Density functional theory cal- culations were performed for reaction mechanisms of Mn202＋＋H2S, Mn203＋＋H2S, and Mn204＋＋H2S. The computational results indicate these O/S exchange reactions are both thermodynamically and kinetically favorable, thus in good agreement with the experimental observations. The O/S exchange reactions identified in this gas-phase cluster study parallel similar behavior of related condensed phase reaction systems.

Ionization and Dissociation of Benzene and Aniline under Deep Ultraviolet Laser Irradiation

We report a study on photo-ionization of benzene and aniline with incidental subsequent dissociation by the customized reflection time-of-flight mass spectrometer utilizing a deep ultraviolet 177.3 nm laser.Highly efficient ionization of benzene is observed with a weak C4H3+fragment formed by undergoing disproportional C-C bond dissociation.In comparison,a major C5H6+·fragment and a minor C6H6+·radical are produced in the ionization of aniline pertaining to the removal of CNH·and NH·radicals,respectively.First-principles calculation is employed to reveal the photo-dissociation pathways of these two molecules having a structural difference of just an amino group.It is demonstrated that hydrogen atom transfer plays an important role in the cleavage of C-C or C-N bonds in benzene and aniline ions.This study is helpful to understand the underlying mechanisms of chemical bond fracture of benzene ring and related aromatic molecules.

History of the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics and the Friendship between China and Japan in catalysis

This article presents a history of the origins of the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Abbreviated as DICP) and relates the recent friendship between China and Japan in the field of catalysis. Although the official beginning of DICP is in 1949 with the birth of the People’s Republic of China, there are earlier roots that went back to the defeat of Russia by Imperial Japan in 1905. This began a period of occupation and exploitation of Northest Asia by Japan which did not end until its defeat by Allied forces in 1945. During the period of occupation, a laboratory was created called the Central Research Laboratory of the South Manchurian Railroad Company, which was staffed by the best and brightest researchers from Japan, and was able to develop new processes in chemicals and synthetic fuels that fed the Japanese Imperial forces. Between 1945 and 1949, Dalian was administered by the Soviet Union, and the removable equipment from the Laboratory was taken. In this period one individual stood out, the Laboratory Director Marusawa Tsuneya, who risked his life to preserve the scientific records and staff of the institute, and then stayed in Dalian for ten years after the Second World War to help China rebuild its capabilities. The Central Research Laboratory is still preserved as the Old Campus of DICP.The origin of the friendship between China and Japan in catalysis can be traced to Professor Morikawa Kiyoshi, who worked in the Central Research Laboratory and helped commercialize a shale coal liquefaction process. Upon his return to Japan he became Professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and in 1975 organized the first visit by Japanese academics to China. This was reciprocated in visits to Japan in 1977 and 1980 by top researchers such as Zhang Dayu, Min Enze, Tsai Khirui, Lu Jiaxi, and Lin Liwu. This resulted in numerous contacts between individuals, which multiplied geometrically. Notably among these were the personal interactions between Guo Xiexian, the Vice-Director of DICP and Tamaru Kenzi, a Professor at the University of Tokyo, which led to a friendship lasting decades and encompassing generations. In 1981, Guo Xiexian organized the first China-Japan-USA Symposium in Dalian, assisted by Tamaru Kenzi, which was attended by over 90 scientists. This meeting was a big success, and was to lead to the organization of many other multi-country conferences, further promoting exchanges. It culminated with the hosting of China of the 16th International Congress on Catalysis in 2016 in Beijing, with Li Can as President.Today DICP is a sprawling organization with over 1300 permanent staff, and is one of the powerhouses of catalysis in the world. From 2000, it has been led by Directors Bao Xinhe, Zhang Tao, and Liu Zhongmin. The Institute is making enormous contributions to research and producing cutting-edge technology, and its future is bright.

Anti-tumor Metastasis and Crystal Structure of N^1-(1,3,4-Thiadiazole-2-yl)-N^3-m-chlorobenzoyl-urea

The title compound N1-（1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-yl）-N3-m-chlorobenzoyl-urea （C9HTN4OSC1, Mr = 254.70） was prepared by the reaction of m-chlorophenyl isocyanate with 2-amino-1,3,4- thiadiazole in dry acetonitrile. The effect of the title compound on tumor metastasis was analyzed by Lewis-lung-carcinoma model. The bioassay showed that the title compound significantly reduced the number of lung metastasis. The crystal structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystal belongs to the monoclinic system, space group P21/c with a = 11.565（2）, b = 9.5616（19）, c = 10.221（2） A, β = 111.75（3）°, Z = 4, V= 1049.8（4） A3, De = 1.612 Mg/m3, F（000） = 520, g（MoKa） = 0.544 mm^-1, R = 0.0468 and wR = 0.0922 for 1236 observed reflections （I〉 2σ（I）.

How ligand coordination and superatomic-states accommodate the structure and property of a metal cluster:Cu_(4)(dppy)_(4)Cl_(2)vs.Cu_(21)(dppy)_(10)with altered photoluminescence

We have synthesized two copper nanoclusters(NCs)with a protection of the same ligand diphenylphosphino-2-pyridine(C_(17)H_(14)NP,dppy for short),formulated as Cu_(4)(dppy)_(4)Cl_(2)and Cu21(dppy)10,respectively.The former one bears a distorted tetrahedron Cu4 core with its six edges fully protected by chlorine and dppy ligands,while the latter presents a symmetric Cu_(21)core on which ten dppy molecules function as monolayer protection via well-organized monodentate or bidentate coordination.Interestingly,the Cu_(4)(dppy)_(4)Cl_(2)cluster exhibits a strong yellow emission at∼577 nm,while Cu_(21)(dppy)_(10)displays dual emissions in purple(∼368 nm)and green(∼516 nm)regions respectively.In combination with TD-DFT calculations,we demonstrate the origin of altered emissions and unique stability of the two copper nanoclusters pertaining to the ligand coordination and metallic superatomic states.

Kinetic and mechanism of the reaction between Cl and several mono-methyl branched alkanes

Branched alkanes are ubiquitous in the troposphere and play an important role in the chemical processes.In this work,the rate constants and products for the reaction of Cl atoms with 3-methylhexane and 2-methylheptane were measured at room temperature(298±0.2K)and atmospheric pressure using a conventional relative rate method.The rate constants of 3-methylhexane and 2-methylheptane in units of cm~3/(mol·sec)are(3.09±0.31)×10^(-10)and(3.67±0.40)×10^(-10),respectively.Furthermore,the corresponding atmospheric lifetime of the studied branched alkanes with Cl was 6.92-89.90 hours and 5.82-75.69 hours,respectively.The estimated atmospheric lifetimes indicated that the reaction with Cl atoms could be the most important atmospheric degradation pathway for 3-methylhexane and2-methylheptane.Primary gas-phase products of the reactions were identified and quantified,and particle-phase products were also obtained.The atmosphere oxidation mechanism of Cl atoms with 3-methylhexane and 2-methylheptane is proposed.The SOA yields of 3-methylhexane and 2-methylheptane from the reaction of Cl atoms were determined to be7.96%±0.89%and 13.35%±1.50%respectively.Overall,the results reveal that the primary loss process of branched alkanes is the reaction with Cl atoms,which impacts its degradation on a regional scale.

Reaction Kinetics and Secondary Organic Aerosol Composition Analysis of 2-Cyclohexen-1-one with NO_(3) Radicals

Unsaturated ketones are typical oxygenated volatile organic compounds(OVOCs)with high reactivity,and are important precursors in air pollution.The sources of OVOCs are complex and include direct emissions and secondary oxidation formation of VOCs in the atmosphere.2-Cyclohexen-1-one is a widespread substance,and is derived from the industrial catalytic oxidation of cyclohexene.In this paper,we investigated the rate constants of the chemical reactions of 2-cyclohexen-1-one with NO_(3) radicals,which is(7.25±0.29)×10^(-15) cm^(3)·molecule^(-1)·s^(-1) at 298 K and under 1 atm(1 atm=101325Pa).It supplemented the kinetics of NO_(3) radicals database,and revealed its effects in the nighttime atmosphere.In addition,the reaction products of 2-cyclohexen-1-one with NO_(3) radicals were detected by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry(FT-ICR MS),which revealed a series of nitrate esters in the composition of the secondary organic aerosol(SOA),which may reduce atmospheric visibility.Finally,the possible pathways for the generation of the products were developed.

One-pot Synthesis of Lewis Acidic Ionic Liquids for Friedel-Crafts Alkylation

Novel Lewis acidic ionic liquids containing thionyl cations and chloroaluminate anions were obtained by one-pot synthesis for the first time. Their acidities were determined by acetonitrile probe on IR spectrography. The ionic liquids were used as catalyst for Friedel-Crafts alkylation of benzene and 1-dodecene. The turnovers of l-dodecene were higher than 99%. Monoalkylbenzene selectivity was 98%, while the 2-substituent product selectivity was 45%.

Single-molecule optoelectronic devices:physical mechanism and beyond

Single-molecule devices not only promise to provide an alternative strategy to break through the miniaturization and functionalization bottlenecks faced by traditional semiconductor devices,but also provide a reliable platform for exploration of the intrinsic properties of matters at the single-molecule level.Because the regulation of the electrical properties of single-molecule devices will be a key factor in enabling further advances in the development of molecular electronics,it is necessary to clarify the interactions between the charge transport occurring in the device and the external fields,particularly the optical field.This review mainly introduces the optoelectronic effects that are involved in single-molecule devices,including photoisomerization switching,photoconductance,plasmon-induced excitation,photovoltaic effect,and electroluminescence.We also summarize the optoelectronic mechanisms of single-molecule devices,with particular emphasis on the photoisomerization,photoexcitation,and photo-assisted tunneling processes.Finally,we focus the discussion on the opportunities and challenges arising in the single-molecule optoelectronics field and propose further possible breakthroughs.

RO_(x) Budgets and O_(3) Formation during Summertime at Xianghe Suburban Site in the North China Plain

Photochemical smog characterized by high concentrations of ozone(O_(3)) is a serious air pollution issue in the North China Plain(NCP)region,especially in summer and autumn.For this study,measurements of O_(3),nitrogen oxides(NO_(x)),volatile organic compounds(VOCs),carbon monoxide(CO),nitrous acid(HONO),and a number of key physical parameters were taken at a suburban site,Xianghe,in the NCP region during the summer of 2018 in order to better understand the photochemical processes leading to O_(3)formation and find an optimal way to control O_(3)pollution.Here,the radical chemistry and O_(3)photochemical budget based on measurement data from 1−23 July using a chemical box model is investigated.The daytime(0600−1800 LST)average production rate of the primary radicals referred to as RO_(x)(OH+HO2+RO2)is 3.9 ppbv h−1.HONO photolysis is the largest primary RO_(x)source(41%).Reaction of NO2+OH is the largest contributor to radical termination(41%),followed by reactions of RO2+NO2(26%).The average diurnal maximum O_(3)production and loss rates are 32.9 ppbv h−1 and 4.3 ppbv h−1,respectively.Sensitivity tests without the HONO constraint lead to decreases in daytime average primary RO_(x)production by 55%and O_(3)photochemical production by 42%,highlighting the importance of accurate HONO measurements when quantifying the RO_(x)budget and O_(3)photochemical production.Considering heterogeneous reactions of trace gases and radicals on aerosols,aerosol uptake of HO2 contributes 11%to RO_(x)sink,and the daytime average O_(3)photochemical production decreases by 14%.The O_(3)-NO_(x)-VOCs sensitivity shows that the O_(3)production at Xianghe during the investigation period is mainly controlled by VOCs.

Solution-phase Synthesis of One-dimensional Semiconductor Nanostructures

The synthesis of one-dimensional （1D） semiconductor nanostructures has been studied intensively for a wide range of materials due to their unique structural and physical properties and promising potential for future technological applications. Among various strategies for synthesizing 1D semiconductor nanostructures, solution-phase synthetic routes are advantageous in terms of cost, throughput, modulation of composition, and the potential for large-scale and environmentally benign production. This article gives a concise review on the recent developments in the solution-phase synthesis of ID semiconductor nanostructures of different compositions, sizes, shapes, and architectures. We first introduce several typical solution-phase synthetic routes based on controlled precipitation from homogeneous solutions, including hydrothermal/solvothermal process, solution-liquid-solid （SLS） process, high-temperature organic-solution process, and low-temperature aqueous-solution process. Subsequently, we discuss two solution-phase synthetic strategies involving solid tem- plates or substrates, such as the chemical transformation of 1D sacrificial templates and the oriented growth of 1D nanostructure arrays on solid substrates. Finally, prospects of the solution-phase approaches to 1D semiconductor nanostructures will be briefly discussed.

Chiral structures and tunable magnetic moments in 3d transition metal doped Pt_6 clusters

The structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of transition metal doped platinum clusters MPt6 （M=Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn） are systematically studied by using the relativistic all-electron density functional theory with the generalized gradient approximation. Most of the doped clusters show larger binding energies than the pure Pt7 cluster, which indicates that the doping of the transition metal atom can stabilize the pure platinum cluster. The results of the highest occupied molecular orbital （HOMO） lowest unoccupied molecular orbital （LUMO） gaps suggest that the doped clusters can have higher chemical activities than the pure Pt7 cluster. The magnetism calculations demonstrate that the variation range of the magnetic moments of the MPt6 clusters is from 0 μB to 7 μB, revealing that the MPt6 clusters have potential utility in designing new spintronic nanomaterials with tunable magnetic properties.

Exploration of the active phase of the hydrotalcite-derived cobalt catalyst for HCHO oxidation

A series of Co-based oxide catalysts were prepared by calcining hydrotalcite precursors in different atmospheres and studied for HCHO catalytic oxidation. The N2-calcined catalyst exhibits enhanced HCHO oxidation and superior stability. On the basis of H2-TPR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman characterizations, this can be ascribed to better redox ability, octahedrally coordinated Co2+ ions derived from the CoO phase, and other surface oxygen species, such as O2– or O–. The extra octahedrally coordinated Co2+ ions may reside in a more open framework site than the inactive tetrahedrally coordinated Co2+ ions. This species of Co2+ can easily make contact with oxygen and oxidize. The surface oxygen species, along with the octahedrally coordinated Co2+ ions, and a part of the Co3+ species constitute the Co2+-oxygen species-Co3+ sites, which enhance the catalytic activities. According to DRIFTS, Co2+-oxygen species-Co3+ makes oxidation of HCHO and conversion of DOM to formate easier.