Direct catalytic asymmetric vinylogous reactions of an alpha,beta-unsaturated gamma-butyrolactam as a donor are described. A homodinuclear Ni(2)-Schiff base complex promoted a vinylogous Mannich-type reaction of N-Boc imines as well as a vinylogous Michael reaction to nitroalkenes selectively at the gamma-position under simple proton-transfer conditions. Vinylogous Mannich adducts were obtained in 5:1-->30:1 dr and 99% ee, and vinylogous Michael adducts were obtained in 16:1-->30:1 dr and 93-99% ee.

The applications of the novel anion-functionalized protic ionic liquid (ILs), prepared from superbase 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]­undec-7-ene (DBU) with imidazole, in the CO2 absorption have been investigated. It has been detected that this ionic liquid can reversibly capture about 1 mol of CO2 per mole ionic liquid. In addition, the influence of temperature, pressure, water, and substituent of anions has been uncovered. The capture of CO2 was significantly affected by the substituents in imidazole-based anion, suggesting that electric-charge distribution in imidazole ring system can play an important role in determining the reaction of ILs with CO2.

As heavy metal-free quantum dots, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and boron nitride (BN) quantum dots (QDs) have aroused great interest due to features such as good thermal conductivity, chemical stability, and unique optical properties. Although TMDs have been synthesized using different methods, most of these methods require time-consuming or complex steps, limiting the applications of TMDs. We propose a fast and simple method for the synthesis of high-quality molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) QDs and tungsten disulfide (WS 2 ) QDs based on femtosecond laser ablation and sonication-assisted liquid exfoliation. The prepared MoS 2 QDs and WS 2 QDs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The resulting products possessed few-layered thickness with an average size of 3.7 nm and 2.1 nm. Due to the abundance of functional groups on their surface, the MoS 2 QDs and WS 2 QDs showed bright blue-green luminescence under UV irradiation. Our method offers a facile and novel synthetic strategy for TMDs QDs and other two-dimensional nanomaterial quantum dots, such as boron nitride quantum dots (BNQDs).

Development of a new heterobimetallic Ga(O-iPr)(3)/Yb(OTf)(3)/Schiff base 2d complex for catalytic asymmetric alpha-additions of isocyanides to aldehydes is described. Schiff base 2d derived from o-vanillin was suitable to utilize cationic rare earth metal triflates with good Lewis acidity in bimetallic Schiff base catalysis. The Ga(O-iPr)(3)/Yb(OTf)(3)/Schiff base 2d complex promoted asymmetric alpha-additions of alpha-isocyanoacetamides to aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, and alkyl aldehydes in good to excellent enantioselectivity (88-98% ee).

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