N,N-Dimethylformamide: much more than a solvent

High saturation magnetization of γ-Fe2O3 nano-particles by a facile one-step synthesis approach

We have demonstrated the synthesis of γ-Fe₂O₃ nano-particles through a facile and novel calcination process in the air. There is no pH regulation, gas atmosphere, additive, centrifugation or other complicated procedures during the preparing process. A detailed formation process of the nano-particles is proposed, and DMF as a polar solvent may slower the reaction process of calcination. The structures, morphologies, and magnetic properties of γ-Fe₂O₃ nano-particles were investigated systematically, and the pure γ-Fe₂O₃ nano-particles obtained at 200 °C display uniform morphology good magnetic property. The saturation magnetization of obtained pure γ-Fe₂O₃ is about 74 emu/g, which is comparable with bulk material (76 emu/g) and larger than other results. In addition, the photocatalytic activity for degradation of methylene blue is also studied, which shows proper photocatalytic activity.

Syntheses, structures, luminescence and magnetic properties of three high-nuclearity neodymium compounds based on mixed sulfonylcalix[4]arene-phosphonate ligands

The solvothermal reactions of p-tert-butylsulfonylcalix[4]arene (H₄BSC4A), phosphonic acid and neodymium chloride have resulted in three novel high-nuclearity neodymium coordination compounds.

A facile strategy for synthesis of spinel ferrite nano-granules and their potential applications

A number of spinel ferrite nano-granules were synthesized in DMF through a calcination process under air.

Cross-benzoin and Stetter-type reactions mediated by KOtBu-DMF via an electron-transfer process

The KOtBu-DMF system promotes benzoin- and Stetter-like reactions of alpha-diketone donors through a double electron-transfer-based mechanism.

An unexpected route to aldehyde-decorated single-chain nanoparticles from azides

A new route towards the straightforward synthesis of aldehyde-decorated ultrafine single-chain nanoparticles from azides is described.

Metal-organic framework composites with luminescent gold(iii) complexes. Strongly emissive and long-lived excited states in open air and photo-catalysis

The encapsulation of luminescent gold(iii) complexes by metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) lays the groundwork for new phosphorescent materials with activities that are not readily achieved by the host MOF materials or gold(iii) complexes alone. In this work, strong phosphorescence with lifetimes of up to ∼50 μs in open air at room temperature has been achieved by incorporation of cationic cyclometalated gold(iii) complexes into MOFs with anionic frameworks to form AuIII@MOFs. The AuIII@MOFs display solid state two-photon-induced phosphorescence. Photo-reduction of methyl viologen to the reduced radical was achieved inside AuIII@MOFs and in the presence of Et3N upon excitation at λ > 370 nm under ambient conditions. These AuIII@MOFs comprise a class of reusable and size-selective heterogeneous photo-catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of secondary amines to imines as well as five other reactions, including oxidative C-H functionalization under aerobic conditions.

C-N and N-H Bond Metathesis Reactions Mediated by Carbon Dioxide

Herein, we report CO2 -mediated metathesis reactions between amines and DMF to synthesize formamides. More than 20 amines, including primary, secondary, aromatic, and heterocyclic amines, diamines, and amino acids, are converted to the corresponding formamides with good-to-excellent conversions and selectivities under mild conditions. This strategy employs CO2 as a mediator to activate the amine under metal-free conditions. The experimental data and in situ NMR and attenuated total reflectance IR spectroscopy measurements support the formation of the N-carbamic acid as an intermediate through the weak acid-base interaction between CO2 and the amine. The metathesis reaction is driven by the formation of a stable carbamate, and a reaction mechanism is proposed.

Highly Efficient Ruthenium-Catalyzed N-Formylation of Amines with H₂ and CO₂

A highly efficient catalyst system based on ruthenium-pincer-type complexes has been discovered for N-formylation of various amines with CO2 and H2, thus affording the corresponding formamides with excellent productivity (turnover numbers of up to 1,940,000 in a single batch) and selectivity. Using a simple catalyst recycling protocol, the catalyst was reused for 12 runs in N,N-dimethylformamide production without significant loss of activity, thus demonstrating the potential for practical utilization of this cost-effective process. A one-pot two-step procedure for hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol via the intermediacy of formamide formation has also been developed.

Extractive desulfurization of dibenzothiophene by a mixed extractant of N,N-dimethylacetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide and tetramethylene sulfone: optimization by Box–Behnken design

In this paper, the performance of extractive desulfurization (EDS) from gasoline was studied using a mixed solvent, which consisted of N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and tetramethylenesulfone (TMS).

Copper-mediated cyanation of indoles and electron-rich arenes using DMF as a single surrogate

The copper-mediated cyanation of indoles with DMF as a single surrogate of “CN” has been realized.

Concise synthesis of semicarbazides and formylhydrazines via direct addition reaction between aromatic azoarenes and N-substituted formamides

The addition reactions between aromatic azoarenes and N-substituted formamides are described.

Oxidative C–S bond cleavage reaction of DMSO for C–N and C–C bond formation: new Mannich-type reaction for β-amino ketones

A novel oxidative C–S bond cleavage reaction of DMSO for N-methylation and subsequent C–C bond formation is described.

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative carbamoylation of isoquinoline N-oxides with formylamides by means of dual C–H oxidative coupling

A new palladium-catalyzed oxidative carbamoylation reaction of isoquinoline N-oxides with formylamides for the synthesis of isoquinoline-1-carboxamides is described.

Interfacial effects of the CuO/GO composite to mediate the side reactions of N,N-dimethylformamide fragments

The interface between nanocatalysts and graphene oxide (GO) has been found to play a crucial role in enhancing the catalytic activity and improving the selectivity of amination reactions in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The composite catalysts of CuO/GO used for the catalytic coupling of aryl halides with amines in DMF can completely inhibit the side reaction between the aryl halides and fragments of DMF. With identical amounts of Cu-catalysts, the conversion of iodobenzene and the selectivity for the target product reached 100% when CuO/GO composite catalysts were employed, while these results were 70.3 and 42.8%, respectively, when CuO catalysts were used alone. Experimental evidence confirms that the interfacial effect of CuO/GO is the origination of the improved performance of composite catalysts, which has been found to efficiently transfer fragments of DMF to GO and avoid unexpected side reactions during the catalytic process.

Mechanistic Investigations of Cu-Catalyzed Fluorination of Diaryliodonium Salts: Elaborating the CuI/CuIII Manifold in Copper Catalysis

A combination of experimental and density functional theory (DFT) investigations suggests that the Cu-catalyzed fluorination of unsymmetrical diaryliodonium salts with general structure [Mes(Ar)I]+ in N,N'-dimethylformamide proceeds through a CuI/CuIII catalytic cycle. A low concentration of fluoride relative to combined iodonium reagent plus copper ensures that [Mes(Ar)I]+ is available as the reactive species for oxidative "Ar+" transfer to a CuI center containing one or two fluoride ligands. A series of different possible CuI active catalysts (containing fluoride, triflate, and DMF ligands) have been evaluated computationally, and all show low-energy pathways to fluorinated products. The oxidation of these CuI species by [Mes(Ar)I]+ to form cis-Ar(F)CuIII intermediates is proposed to be rate-limiting in all cases. Ar-F bond-forming reductive elimination from CuIII is computed to be very facile in all of the systems examined. The conclusions of the DFT experiments are supported by several experimental studies, including tests showing that CuI is formed rapidly under the reaction conditions and that the fluoride concentration strongly impacts the reaction yields/selectivities.

Modulating glycosylation with exogenous nucleophiles: an overview

The major challenge in carbohydrate synthesis is stereochemical control of glycosidic bond formation. Different glycosylation methods have been developed that are based on the modulation effect of external nucleophiles. This review highlights the development, synthetic application, challenges and outlook of the modulated glycosylation methods.