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19 pages, 1719 KB  
Article
Nucleophilic, Ferrocenium-Catalyzed Ring-Opening Reactions of Propargylic Alcohols with Unactivated Cyclopropyl Substituents to Afford Enynes: Trends and Selectivity
by Sai Anvesh Bezawada, Cody D. Amann, Navya Reddy Sattineni and Eike B. Bauer
Inorganics 2026, 14(6), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics14060165 (registering DOI) - 16 Jun 2026
Abstract
Ferrocenium-catalyzed transformations provide a practical and sustainable approach to propargylic substitution reactions. Herein, we investigate the ring-opening of cyclopropyl-substituted propargylic alcohols with alcohol nucleophiles, catalyzed by ferrocenium tetrafluoroborate ([FeCp2][BF4]) to afford synthetically valuable enyne ethers. Mechanistic studies using GC [...] Read more.
Ferrocenium-catalyzed transformations provide a practical and sustainable approach to propargylic substitution reactions. Herein, we investigate the ring-opening of cyclopropyl-substituted propargylic alcohols with alcohol nucleophiles, catalyzed by ferrocenium tetrafluoroborate ([FeCp2][BF4]) to afford synthetically valuable enyne ethers. Mechanistic studies using GC and NMR spectroscopy reveal that the reaction proceeds via initial formation of a ring-closed propargylic ether intermediate, which subsequently undergoes ring opening to the enyne ether. Experimental evidence supports a carbocationic pathway in which the ferrocenium cation promotes ionization to a stabilized cyclopropyl ether intermediate, followed by intramolecular, ferrocenium-assisted cyclopropyl ring opening to the enyne product. Reaction rates and product distributions are strongly influenced by temperature and solvent polarity, with polar solvents and elevated temperatures favoring ring opening. At room temperature, the ring-closed substitution product predominates, whereas efficient formation of enynes occurs at 65 °C. The reaction progresses faster in a polar solvent, indicating an ionic mechanism. Studies employing substrates containing substituted cyclopropyl rings demonstrated pronounced regioselectivity during nucleophilic ring opening with alcohols, with preferential cleavage of the bond between the two substituted carbon atoms. This selectivity is consistent with partial positive-charge stabilization in the transition state. The corresponding enyne ether products were isolated in 98–31% isolated yields, in most cases as a single regio- and E/Z stereoisomer (5 h at 45 °C, 5 mol% [FeCp2][BF4] catalyst load, six equivalents alcohol nucleophile). The ferrocenium-catalyzed cyclopropyl ring opening establishes a convenient method for accessing enyne motifs, which are important structural units in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Organometallic Chemistry 2026)
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25 pages, 7195 KB  
Article
Theoretical and Experimental Investigations of High-Entropy (TiVNbTa)2AlC MAX Phase
by Lexing Che, Mingdong Bao, Zhihua Sun and Yingwen Cao
Materials 2026, 19(12), 2593; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19122593 (registering DOI) - 16 Jun 2026
Abstract
High-entropy MAX phases (TiVNbTa)2AlC have attracted increasing attention due to their potential advantages in structural stability, damage tolerance, and mechanical reliability under complex service environments. This work studied the crystal and electrical structures with the elastic properties, the synthesis reactions and [...] Read more.
High-entropy MAX phases (TiVNbTa)2AlC have attracted increasing attention due to their potential advantages in structural stability, damage tolerance, and mechanical reliability under complex service environments. This work studied the crystal and electrical structures with the elastic properties, the synthesis reactions and further wear resistance of HE-MAX (TiVNbTa)2AlC theoretically and experimentally. The charge transfer between both M-C atoms and M-Al atoms turned more intense, which correspondingly strengthened the M-C and M-Al bonds, respectively. Because of the dope on M-sites, (TiVNbTa)2AlC exhibited larger fracture toughness KIC and a lower brittle index M, which suggested lower brittleness, better crack extension resistance, and higher damage tolerance than Ti2AlC. In this work, high-entropy (TiVNbTa)2AlC MAX phase ceramics were successfully synthesized by a powder metallurgy route combined with pressureless sintering and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The effects of raw material composition and sintering temperature on phase evolution, microstructure formation, mechanical properties, and tribological behavior were systematically investigated. The results show that a highly pure (TiVNbTa)2AlC phase with a phase fraction of 96.8% could be obtained at a molar ratio of M:Al:C = 2:1.2:0.8 and a sintering temperature of 1550 °C. Phase evolution analysis indicated that the reaction process followed the sequence of intermetallic compound (IMC) formation → carbide formation → MAX phase formation. Severe lattice distortion induced by the multi-principal-element solid solution significantly enhanced the hardness of the material, which was markedly higher than that of conventional ternary MAX phases. Owing to its higher hardness and more homogeneous solid-solution structure, HE-MAX (TiVNbTa)2AlC could inhibit the formation of surface microcracks and reduce the driving force for crack propagation to some extent. Therefore, the lower wear rate not only reflected improved tribological performance but also demonstrated the beneficial role of high-entropy design in enhancing resistance to surface damage. Full article
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38 pages, 27721 KB  
Review
Dimensionality-Controlled Structure and Magnetism in Nickel Ferrite (NiFe2O4): A Novelty-Oriented Theoretical Review
by Mahmoud AlGharram, Tariq AlZoubi, Yahia Makableh and Jestin Mandumpal
Magnetochemistry 2026, 12(6), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/magnetochemistry12060069 (registering DOI) - 16 Jun 2026
Abstract
Nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) is one of the most studied inverse-spinel ferrites because it combines moderate saturation magnetization, comparatively high electrical resistivity, chemical stability, and broad synthesis flexibility. Yet the literature shows that the measured structure and magnetism of NiFe [...] Read more.
Nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) is one of the most studied inverse-spinel ferrites because it combines moderate saturation magnetization, comparatively high electrical resistivity, chemical stability, and broad synthesis flexibility. Yet the literature shows that the measured structure and magnetism of NiFe2O4 are not intrinsic constants; they evolve strongly with dimensionality, size, thickness, strain state, cation distribution, surface spin disorder, and synthesis pathway. This review develops a unified theoretical and literature-based interpretation of how dimensionality reshapes the structural and magnetic behavior of NiFe2O4 across bulk ceramics, nanoparticles, one-dimensional nanostructures, polycrystalline thin films, and ultrathin epitaxial films. The review is anchored in the two uploaded nickel ferrite attachments and expanded using internet-sourced journal literature on spinel inversion, surface effects, mechanochemical synthesis, sputtered and pulsed laser deposited thin films, and epitaxial ultrathin-film anomalies. The central novelty of this article is the formulation of a dimensionality-dependent framework in which the observed magnetic response is governed by a competition among three coupled factors: (i) the cation-distribution function, which controls the A–B superexchange balance and therefore the net ferrimagnetic moment; (ii) the microstructural coherence function, which measures how crystallinity, strain, defects, and anti-phase boundaries preserve or degrade exchange continuity; and (iii) the surface/interface spin-order parameter, which quantifies the loss or reconfiguration of magnetic order at free surfaces and buried interfaces. Within this framework, bulk NiFe2O4 behaves as a near-equilibrium inverse spinel with relatively stable magnetization, whereas nanoscale NiFe2O4 experiences strong spin canting and finite-size suppression due to the growing fraction of disordered surface spins. Thin films introduce a distinct regime in which strain, texture, anti-phase boundaries, substrate mismatch, and growth kinetics determine both anisotropy and magnetization. In ultrathin epitaxial films, off-equilibrium cation redistribution and interface-controlled electronic reconstruction may even generate magnetization values far above bulk expectations. The review also compares major synthesis routes—solid-state reaction, sol–gel, co-precipitation, hydrothermal growth, reactive milling, combustion, pulsed laser deposition, and radio-frequency sputtering—and explains why each route biases the final dimensionality-dependent properties differently. A set of word-style equations is provided to formalize spinel inversion, finite-size suppression, anisotropy scaling, coercivity trends, and superparamagnetic crossover. Beyond summarizing the field, the review proposes a regime map linking dimensionality to characteristic structural defects and magnetic signatures, and it identifies unresolved questions concerning the true origin of enhanced magnetization in ultrathin NiFe2O4, the interplay between anti-phase boundaries and strain, and the distinction between intrinsic inversion changes and extrinsic substrate artifacts. The resulting article offers a submission-ready, originality-focused review that positions dimensionality as the master variable governing structure–magnetism correlations in nickel ferrite. Full article
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30 pages, 3028 KB  
Article
Machine Learning-Assisted Synthesis-to-Optics Screening of Ag@SiO2/Polymer Nanocomposites for Visible Spectrum Negative Effective Permittivity
by Zahra Lalegani, Luigi La Spada, Seyyed Ali Seyyed Ebrahimi and Mohammad Hossein Zeinabadi
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(12), 6068; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16126068 (registering DOI) - 16 Jun 2026
Abstract
Machine learning (ML)-assisted design of epsilon-negative polymer nanocomposites requires a clear connection between experimentally controllable synthesis parameters, core–shell nanoparticle geometry, and the resulting effective optical response. The targeted optical response is unusual because the polymer film is predicted to exhibit near-zero or negative [...] Read more.
Machine learning (ML)-assisted design of epsilon-negative polymer nanocomposites requires a clear connection between experimentally controllable synthesis parameters, core–shell nanoparticle geometry, and the resulting effective optical response. The targeted optical response is unusual because the polymer film is predicted to exhibit near-zero or negative real effective permittivity in selected visible spectrum regions, arising from Ag core plasmonic polarizability, SiO2-mediated dielectric spacing, nanoparticle filling factor, and effective medium coupling rather than from the intrinsic polymer matrix. In this study, a two-stage ML-assisted synthesis-to-optics framework is developed for Ag@SiO2 core–shell nanoparticle/polymer composite films intended for visible spectrum effective permittivity screening. In the first stage, Stöber synthesis parameters, including water volume, ethanol volume, TEOS content, catalyst volume, reaction time, Ag nanoparticle size, and Ag nanoparticle concentration, were used to predict SiO2 shell thickness. In the second stage, Ag core size, SiO2 shell thickness, wavelength, and nanoparticle filling factor were used to screen the real effective permittivity of Ag@SiO2/polymer nanocomposites within an effective medium design space. Using a duplicate-aware validation workflow, Gradient Boosting provided the strongest held-out test performance for shell thickness prediction, with a test R2 of 0.8997, MAE of 7.1822 nm, RMSE of 8.8344 nm, and cross-validation R2 of 0.5371 ± 0.4648. The relatively large cross-validation variability indicates that the model is useful for interpolation-based synthesis screening but should not be interpreted as fully robust across heterogeneous literature-derived data. For the optical response task, the highest held-out test performance was obtained by a Decision Tree model (test R2 = 0.7586), but cross-validation results were unstable, indicating that the epsilon model should be interpreted as a design space screening tool rather than a generalizable predictor. Design window analysis identified candidate negative effective permittivity regions primarily at 400 nm and high nanoparticle filling factor, with predicted Re(εeff) values ranging from −5.4229 to −0.2086 across selected windows. The main contribution of this work is the treatment of SiO2 shell thickness as a bridge variable between Stöber-derived synthesis control and effective permittivity screening. Experimental validation remains necessary to confirm the predicted design windows, particularly because shell uniformity, Ag core polydispersity, nanoparticle aggregation, polymer dispersion, high-filling-factor feasibility, and effective medium validity can strongly influence the measured optical response. Full article
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21 pages, 3180 KB  
Review
Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Polypyrrole for Energy Storage Application
by Chidera Nwosu and Jude O. Iroh
Energies 2026, 19(12), 2839; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19122839 (registering DOI) - 15 Jun 2026
Abstract
Microwave-assisted polymerization is a transformative technique for synthesizing conductive polymers such as polypyrrole (PPy). Unlike conventional chemical or electrochemical methods that rely on external heating or electrode mediated oxidation, microwave irradiation induces volumetric and selective heating through dipole orientation and ionic conduction, which [...] Read more.
Microwave-assisted polymerization is a transformative technique for synthesizing conductive polymers such as polypyrrole (PPy). Unlike conventional chemical or electrochemical methods that rely on external heating or electrode mediated oxidation, microwave irradiation induces volumetric and selective heating through dipole orientation and ionic conduction, which leads to faster reaction kinetics, improved uniformity and higher yields. This review highlights the fundamental mechanisms governing microwave polymer interactions, compares conventional and microwave-assisted polymerization routes and traces the evolution of pyrrole polymerization. Special emphasis is placed on the microwave-synthesized PPy composites and their superior electrochemical performance in energy storage, sensing and biomedical applications. Case studies of graphene/PPy, PPy–metal oxide (e.g., SnO2@PPy nanotubes) and magnetic ferrite hybrids (e.g., BaFe12O19/PPy) nanocomposites demonstrate enhanced electrical conductivity, specific capacitance and more uniform nanostructures. Beyond energy storage, microwave polymerization techniques have led to the development of PPy composites that are used for sensing, antimicrobial activity and photothermal cancer therapy, highlighting the technique’s versatility across biomedical sciences. Reactor scale up, temperature and pressure control under sealed conditions, reproducibility and deeper mechanism understanding of how microwave radiation influences nucleation, chain growth, doping and charge transport were identified as the outstanding challenges that must be addressed to transform microwave-assisted synthesis from pilot to industrial scale. Overall, microwave-assisted polymerization is on its way to becoming a mainstream, energy efficient method for manufacturing high performance polymer composite materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section D: Energy Storage and Application)
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15 pages, 1119 KB  
Article
Chemo-Enzymatic Synthesis of the Key Chiral Intermediate of d-Biotin
by Chang-Li Xu, Xiao-Mei Wu, Bao-Di Ma and Yi Xu
Catalysts 2026, 16(6), 552; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16060552 (registering DOI) - 15 Jun 2026
Abstract
The (3aS, 6aR)-lactone serves as the key chiral intermediate for the synthesis of d-biotin. A promising approach involves the asymmetric hydrolysis of meso-dimethyl ester catalyzed by an esterase to yield the (4S, 5R)-monomethyl ester, which [...] Read more.
The (3aS, 6aR)-lactone serves as the key chiral intermediate for the synthesis of d-biotin. A promising approach involves the asymmetric hydrolysis of meso-dimethyl ester catalyzed by an esterase to yield the (4S, 5R)-monomethyl ester, which is subsequently reduced and cyclized to afford (3aS, 6aR)-lactone. This study first optimized the fermentation medium and culture conditions for the recombinant E. coli pET21a-EstSIT01 harboring the Microbacterium esterase gene, which exhibits high selectivity for the asymmetric synthesis of (4S, 5R)-monomethyl ester. Under optimal conditions (fermentation medium: glycerol 25 g/L, yeast extract 15 g/L, NaCl 10 g/L, MgSO4•7H2O 5 g/L; induction was initiated 2 h post-inoculation at 30 °C and pH 7.2), the enzyme activity increased 5.1-fold compared to the initial level, reaching 1072.7 U/L. Secondly, the reaction conditions for the whole-cell synthesis of (4S, 5R)-monomethyl ester catalyzed by EstSIT01 were optimized. The results indicated that organic solvents adversely affected enzyme stability, while high buffer salt concentration negatively impacted enzyme activity at elevated substrate concentrations. The optimal reaction strategy involved maintaining the pH of the aqueous reaction system at 7.5 by the controlled addition of aqueous ammonia to neutralize the (4S, 5R)-monomethyl ester produced during the reaction. Using 17.5 g/L cells and 200 mM substrate meso-dimethyl ester in deionized water, with the reaction pH mentioned at 7.5, complete conversion (100%) was achieved within 4 h at 30 °C. The space–time yield reached 441.6 g/L/d, exceeding the typical requirement for industrial biotransformation (>100 g/L/d), with 99.1% enantiomeric excess (ee) of (4S, 5R)-monomethyl ester. Finally, (4S, 5R)-monomethyl ester was reduced using sodium borohydride to synthesize (3aS, 6aR)-lactone with an ee value of 98.7%. The overall yield from meso-dimethyl ester to (3aS, 6aR)-lactone was 86.2%. These results demonstrate that this integrated chemo-enzymatic approach constitutes a greener method with promising potential for industrial application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 15th Anniversary of Catalysts: The Future of Enzyme Biocatalysis)
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14 pages, 7940 KB  
Article
Design, Synthesis, and Performance of Heme-Derived Carbon Towards Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reaction
by Jiatong Li, Qiming Sun, Tianyi Zhang, Jicheng Ma, Dehua Li and Shuangxi Xing
Chemistry 2026, 8(6), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemistry8060083 (registering DOI) - 15 Jun 2026
Abstract
The development of highly efficient, stable, and cost-effective non-precious metal electrocatalysts to replace conventional platinum-based materials holds profound significance for accelerating the commercialization of advanced energy conversion devices, such as zinc–air batteries (ZABs). Herein, we propose a facile and highly efficient strategy to [...] Read more.
The development of highly efficient, stable, and cost-effective non-precious metal electrocatalysts to replace conventional platinum-based materials holds profound significance for accelerating the commercialization of advanced energy conversion devices, such as zinc–air batteries (ZABs). Herein, we propose a facile and highly efficient strategy to prepare a defect-rich, highly active nitrogen-doped porous carbon-based electrocatalyst (denoted U-Fe-N-C, urea-assisted iron–nitrogen–carbon material), via high-temperature co-pyrolysis of heme with urea. Our results demonstrate that urea not only serves as an excellent nitrogen source during pyrolysis, introducing abundant topological defects and heteroatom doping sites, but also induces the carbon substrate to form a hierarchical sponge-like porous structure with a high specific surface area. This unique microenvironment effectively prevents the agglomeration of iron species at high temperatures, achieving enhanced dispersion of iron species stabilized within the nitrogen-rich carbon matrix. Electrochemical evaluations reveal that under the optimal synthesis conditions (a precursor mass ratio of 1:3, calcination at 900 °C), U-Fe-N-C exhibits excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalytic performance, delivering a half-wave potential of 0.731 V vs. RHE, and shows long-term operational durability that significantly surpasses that of commercial Pt/C. Furthermore, liquid rechargeable zinc–air batteries assembled with U-Fe-N-C as the air cathode deliver remarkable cycling stability, operating for up to 270 h of charge–discharge cycling without noticeable performance degradation. This study not only provides useful insights into the mechanisms of pore formation and assistance but also offers a practical perspective for the rational design and scalable synthesis of high-performance metal–nitrogen–carbon (M-N-C) electrocatalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalytic Conversion of Biomass and Its Derivatives)
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20 pages, 531 KB  
Article
Decarboxylative-Allylation of Pyroglutamic Acid Derivatives: Stereocontrolled Access to Acyclic and Conformationally Restricted α,γ-Disubstituted γ-Amino Acids
by Hugo Casas-Morales, Dácil Hernández, Mario Ordoñez, Alicia Boto and Ivan Romero-Estudillo
Molecules 2026, 31(12), 2087; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31122087 (registering DOI) - 14 Jun 2026
Viewed by 70
Abstract
The synthetic strategy relies on the highly diastereoselective alkylation at the C4 position of L-pyroglutamic acid derivatives, followed by a decarboxylation-allylation process that enables the incorporation of diverse substituents, including aromatic substituents, affording trans-3,5-disubstituted γ-lactams with excellent diastereiosmeric ratio (dr > [...] Read more.
The synthetic strategy relies on the highly diastereoselective alkylation at the C4 position of L-pyroglutamic acid derivatives, followed by a decarboxylation-allylation process that enables the incorporation of diverse substituents, including aromatic substituents, affording trans-3,5-disubstituted γ-lactams with excellent diastereiosmeric ratio (dr > 98:2). The resulting γ-lactams were efficiently transformed into a series of α,γ-disubstituted γ-amino acids through hydrogenation and acidic hydrolysis. Furthermore, cross-metathesis reactions with styrene and 1-decene enabled the introduction of structurally diverse lipophilic side chains, furnishing the corresponding γ-amino acids in good overall yields (71–77%) and high diastereoisomeric ratio from >98:2 to 92:8. In addition, N-allylation followed by ring-closing metathesis and hydrogenation provided access to a previously unexplored conformationally constrained γ-amino acid. Overall, seven α,γ-disubstituted γ-amino acids, including fluorinated and conformationally restricted derivatives, were synthesized from common intermediates with high stereocontrol. The developed methodology offers a versatile platform for the preparation of structurally diverse and underexplored γ-amino acid building blocks of potential interest in peptide synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and antimicrobial agent development. Full article
53 pages, 5818 KB  
Review
Multiscale Thermodynamic and Exergetic Assessment of Tri-Reforming of Methane for CO2 Valorization and Process Intensification
by Parisa Ebrahimi, Methene Briones Cutad, Anand Kumar and Mohammed J. Al-Marri
Energies 2026, 19(12), 2832; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19122832 (registering DOI) - 14 Jun 2026
Viewed by 76
Abstract
Tri-reforming of methane (TRM) has emerged as a promising pathway for low-carbon syngas production by integrating steam reforming, dry reforming, and partial oxidation within a single process. This coupling enables simultaneous CH4 utilization and CO2 valorization while enabling internal heat generation [...] Read more.
Tri-reforming of methane (TRM) has emerged as a promising pathway for low-carbon syngas production by integrating steam reforming, dry reforming, and partial oxidation within a single process. This coupling enables simultaneous CH4 utilization and CO2 valorization while enabling internal heat generation and flexible adjustment of the H2/CO ratio for downstream synthesis. However, TRM performance cannot be adequately evaluated using conversion or energy efficiency alone, because the process involves complex interactions among competing reaction pathways, transport phenomena, catalyst stability, and thermodynamic irreversibility. This review provides a multiscale critical assessment of TRM from both first-law energy and second-law exergy perspectives, linking reaction-network fundamentals to reactor-level behavior and system-level performance. The literature evidence shows that although high temperatures and near-autothermal operation can enhance CH4 conversion and reduce external heat demand, these conditions may simultaneously intensify deep oxidation, hotspot formation, carbon-forming tendencies, and exergy destruction. While equilibrium analyses help define feasible operating windows, they are insufficient without kinetic modeling and reactor-scale studies that capture spatial non-uniformities and pathway competition. Across reported TRM systems, exergy destruction is consistently concentrated within the reformer, identifying the reacting core as the dominant thermodynamic bottleneck. Accordingly, the key challenge in TRM is not simply to maximize conversion but to preserve chemical work potential while maintaining syngas quality and operational stability. Viewed from this perspective, TRM is better understood as an irreversibility-aware multiscale design problem in which optimal performance depends on the integrated optimization of catalyst functionality, reactor architecture, heat management, and system-level operation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reforming of Methane for Hydrogen Energy and Synthesis Gas)
18 pages, 4182 KB  
Article
Chicken Bile-Mediated Silver Nanoparticles: Performance in Antibacterial Activity and Photodegradation of Disperse Orange 1
by Muhammad Bilal, Javed Ali, Zahida Bibi, Tallat Munir, Esraa M. Bakhsh, Kalsoom Akhtar and Sher Bahadar Khan
Catalysts 2026, 16(6), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16060549 (registering DOI) - 13 Jun 2026
Viewed by 165
Abstract
Chicken bile-mediated silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were synthesized and evaluated via UV–Vis, SEM, FTIR, and XRD. The synthesis of Ag-NPs was validated by observing a color change that was visible to the naked eye and via UV–Vis spectroscopy. A peak at 435 nm in [...] Read more.
Chicken bile-mediated silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were synthesized and evaluated via UV–Vis, SEM, FTIR, and XRD. The synthesis of Ag-NPs was validated by observing a color change that was visible to the naked eye and via UV–Vis spectroscopy. A peak at 435 nm in the UV–Vis spectrum suggest the formation of Ag-NPs. The FTIR spectrum indicated that Ag+ reduction into Ag-NPs may occur due to proteins that are present in chicken bile. The XRD results showed that the nanoparticles were crystalline in nature, with a crystallite size of 25 nm. The SEM images showed that spherical-shaped nanoparticles with an average size of 20–60 nm were formed. The effects of different parameters, such as extract concentration, pH, and temperature, on the shape and reaction rate of Ag-NPs were examined. The results showed that the formation of Ag-NPs increased substantially in basic medium and they were found to be more stable at 60 °C. The prepared Ag-NPs were evaluated for their antibacterial activity and photocatalytic efficiency in degrading Disperse Orange 1 (DOI) dye. The antibacterial assessment of the synthesized Ag-NPs showed significant antibacterial activity. Based on the photodegradation study, it was found that the synthesized Ag-NPs showed high activity and almost complete (97%) degradation of DOI within the first 100 min. Thus, the overall results reveal that the prepared Ag-NPs offer a better approach for remediating the aforementioned contaminants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis by Metals and Metal Oxides)
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76 pages, 9266 KB  
Review
Recent Advances in Quinoline Synthesis: Sustainable Catalytic Strategies and Emerging Methodologies
by Ignacio M. López-Coca, Shima Ghafouriraz, Silvia Izquierdo, Carlos J. Durán-Valle, Mohammad Qandalee and Alireza Soltani
Molecules 2026, 31(12), 2081; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules31122081 (registering DOI) - 13 Jun 2026
Viewed by 266
Abstract
Quinoline derivatives constitute a privileged class of nitrogen-containing heterocycles with extensive applications in medicinal chemistry, agrochemicals, materials science, and functional organic materials. Owing to their broad biological and industrial relevance, the development of efficient, selective, and sustainable synthetic methodologies for quinoline construction remains [...] Read more.
Quinoline derivatives constitute a privileged class of nitrogen-containing heterocycles with extensive applications in medicinal chemistry, agrochemicals, materials science, and functional organic materials. Owing to their broad biological and industrial relevance, the development of efficient, selective, and sustainable synthetic methodologies for quinoline construction remains an active area of research. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in quinoline synthesis, with particular emphasis on catalytic strategies aligned with the principles of green and sustainable chemistry. Classical transformations, including the Friedländer, Skraup, and Povarov reactions, are revisited in the context of modern catalytic developments that improve reaction efficiency, substrate scope, selectivity, and environmental compatibility. Special attention is devoted to homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic systems based on both platinum-group and earth-abundant transition metals, highlighting the growing importance of borrowing-hydrogen and acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling methodologies. Recent progress in nanocatalysis, photocatalysis, multicomponent reactions, ionic-liquid-mediated transformations, and metal-free protocols is also critically discussed. Furthermore, solvent-free processes, microwave-assisted synthesis, and recyclable catalytic systems are examined as practical approaches toward minimizing waste generation and energy consumption. Mechanistic aspects, catalytic design principles, substrate limitations, and sustainability metrics are evaluated throughout the review to provide a critical perspective on current methodologies. Collectively, the advances summarized herein demonstrate the rapid evolution of quinoline synthesis toward more atom-economical, environmentally benign, and operationally efficient processes, while also identifying future opportunities for the development of next-generation catalytic platforms for quinoline-based heterocycle construction. Full article
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11 pages, 4568 KB  
Article
Preparation of Eu(III) Luminescent Hybrid Nanomaterials via Oxidation Induced by Gas-Phase Vacuum Evaporation Approach and Their Anti-Counterfeiting Applications
by Wenzhe Wu, Shaofeng Chen, Wei Ling, Yiwei Tang, Yuji Du, Peilin Liang, Shi-Jian Su and Dongcheng Chen
Nanomaterials 2026, 16(12), 741; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16120741 (registering DOI) - 13 Jun 2026
Viewed by 211
Abstract
Europium (Eu) is a rare-earth element with unique optoelectronic properties that underpin its applications in displays and lighting, X-ray imaging, anti-counterfeiting, and biomedicine. Conventional methods typically involve the synthesis of europium-based luminescent materials in powder or crystalline form via high-temperature solid-state reactions or [...] Read more.
Europium (Eu) is a rare-earth element with unique optoelectronic properties that underpin its applications in displays and lighting, X-ray imaging, anti-counterfeiting, and biomedicine. Conventional methods typically involve the synthesis of europium-based luminescent materials in powder or crystalline form via high-temperature solid-state reactions or solution processes, followed by secondary processing such as spin coating or evaporation to fabricate films or devices. In this work, we report a direct approach to prepare trivalent europium-based luminescent materials using divalent europium bromide (EuBr2) as the precursor via a gas-phase vacuum evaporation approach (GPVEA). This “deposition-as-synthesis” method enables the fabrication of the hybrid nanoscale films with various blending ratios, which exhibit changes in the fine structure of the emission peaks. The luminescence spectra remain nearly identical across the temperature range from 80 K to 320 K. The photoluminescence emission intensity is stronger in air than in a vacuum. The films show a maximum photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 8.27% and good photostability, with an emission decay of 3.44% over 50 min under continuous 300 nm excitation. Through patterned design, we demonstrate their value for anti-counterfeiting applications. This work thus provides guidance for the preparation of europium-based luminescent nanomaterials via GPVEA and their application in anti-counterfeiting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quantum Dots in LED and Advanced Display Technologies)
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32 pages, 8788 KB  
Article
Green Synthesis and Characterization of Konjac Glucomannan-Capped Cerium Nanoparticles for Photocatalytic Degradation of Naphthol Blue Black and Methyl Orange Dyes in Wastewater
by Juan José Andrade Sepúlveda, Javiera Moraga Muñoz, Pandian Lakshmanan, Kishor Kumar Sadasivuni, Saravanan Chandrasekaran, Diana Abril, Radha Devi Pyarasani and John Amalraj
Nanomaterials 2026, 16(12), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16120739 (registering DOI) - 13 Jun 2026
Viewed by 248
Abstract
Green synthesis of KGM-capped CeO2 nanoparticles was successfully achieved through a simple coprecipitation method using Konjac Glucomannan (KGM) as a biopolymeric capping and stabilizing agent. The reaction conditions were optimized by varying pH (9–11) and temperature (30–70 °C) to evaluate their influence [...] Read more.
Green synthesis of KGM-capped CeO2 nanoparticles was successfully achieved through a simple coprecipitation method using Konjac Glucomannan (KGM) as a biopolymeric capping and stabilizing agent. The reaction conditions were optimized by varying pH (9–11) and temperature (30–70 °C) to evaluate their influence on nanoparticle formation and photocatalytic performance. The synthesized KGM–CeO2 nanoparticles were comprehensively characterized using FTIR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, XRD, SEM–EDS, TEM, DLS, and ZP analysis to investigate their structural, optical, morphological, and surface properties. The characterization results confirmed the successful formation of porous sponge-like branched CeO2 nanostructures with irregular morphology. XRD analysis revealed the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles with an average crystallite size of approximately 7.7 nm, while DLS analysis showed an average hydrodynamic particle size of 29.7 nm with a biomodal particle size distribution. The positive zeta potential value (+16.75 mV) confirmed good colloidal stability and reduced agglomeration due to effective capping by KGM. The synthesized nanoparticles also exhibited favorable optical properties with band gap values suitable for photocatalytic applications. The adsorption and photocatalytic degradation performance of the KGM–CeO2 nanoparticles was investigated against synthetic textile dyes, including Naphthol Blue Black (NBB), Methyl Orange (MO), and a mixed NBB–MO dye system under acidic conditions. Using an adsorbent dosage of 50 mg and dye concentrations of 100 mg/L, the material achieved degradation efficiencies of approximately 99% for NBB, 91% for MO, and 52% for the mixed dye system under UV irradiation for 120 min. Adsorption kinetic studies indicated that the pseudo-second-order model provided the best fit, suggesting that chemisorption is the dominant adsorption mechanism involving multifunctional surface interactions. These findings are particularly relevant for industrial wastewater treatment, since actual textile effluents typically contain complex mixtures of dyes and organic contaminants rather than single dye pollutants. The mixed dye experiments, therefore, provide a more realistic simulation of industrial wastewater conditions. Overall, the synthesized KGM–CeO2 nanoparticles demonstrate excellent potential as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable multifunctional material for adsorption-assisted photocatalytic treatment of dye-contaminated wastewater. Further optimization of operational conditions and catalyst surface properties may enhance its efficiency in multicomponent wastewater systems. Full article
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28 pages, 1246 KB  
Review
Research Progress in the Preparation of Lactide
by Meiqi Tian, Yingjian Zhou, Junhao Wang, Ziqi Cai, Zhipeng Li and Zhengming Gao
Polymers 2026, 18(12), 1484; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18121484 (registering DOI) - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 294
Abstract
Driven by the growing demand for sustainable polymers, polylactic acid (PLA) has attracted increasing attention due to its renewable origin and biodegradability. Lactide, the key cyclic monomer for PLA production via ring-opening polymerization (ROP), plays a decisive role in determining the molecular weight, [...] Read more.
Driven by the growing demand for sustainable polymers, polylactic acid (PLA) has attracted increasing attention due to its renewable origin and biodegradability. Lactide, the key cyclic monomer for PLA production via ring-opening polymerization (ROP), plays a decisive role in determining the molecular weight, stereoregularity, and final performance of PLA materials. However, current lactide synthesis processes still face significant challenges, including competing side reactions under high-temperature and high-vacuum conditions, difficulties in controlling stereochemical purity, and relatively high energy consumption. In this review, recent advances in lactide synthesis are systematically analyzed by examining the two principal industrial routes: the one-step process based on the direct dehydration–cyclization of lactic acid (LA), and the two-step process involving prepolymerization of LA followed by depolymerization/cyclization of oligomeric intermediates. The reaction mechanisms, key intermediates, and major side reactions—including racemization, transesterification, and deep polycondensation—are discussed, together with the regulatory roles of catalytic systems and reaction–separation coupling strategies. Comparative analysis reveals that the one-step route offers advantages in process integration and potential energy efficiency, whereas the two-step route provides superior control over stereochemical purity and process stability. Future research directions focusing on green catalysts, process intensification, and sustainable lactide production are also highlighted. Full article
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21 pages, 23940 KB  
Article
Mitochondrial Signaling and Ultrastructure in the Myocardium During Long-Term Adaptation to Hypoxia
by Natalya Khmil, Elita Germanova, Lyubov Pavlik, Galina Mironova and Ludmila Lukyanova
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(12), 5331; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27125331 (registering DOI) - 12 Jun 2026
Viewed by 147
Abstract
In the myocardium of rats of two phenotypes (low and high resistance to hypoxia), the dependence of the reaction of catalytic subunits of mitochondrial enzyme complexes I–V and the severity of ultrastructural changes in mitochondria upon exposure to repeated hypoxia (20 days—three daily [...] Read more.
In the myocardium of rats of two phenotypes (low and high resistance to hypoxia), the dependence of the reaction of catalytic subunits of mitochondrial enzyme complexes I–V and the severity of ultrastructural changes in mitochondria upon exposure to repeated hypoxia (20 days—three daily hourly exposures to hypoxic mixtures of −14% O2, 10.5% O2 and 8% O2, equivalent to 3000 m, 5000 m and 7000 m). The dynamics of expression of catalytic subunits of mitochondrial complexes I–V and ultrastructural changes in three subpopulations of mitochondria were analyzed. During the course of exposure to hypoxia (training sessions) each repeated hypoxic exposure under any regimen caused an activation of mitochondrial complex II and mitochondrial complexes III–V. At 14–10.5% O2, this reaction was repeated with each hypoxic exposure during 8–12 training sessions. After 20 sessions, ATP synthesis returned to its initial level, indicating the completion of adaptation. These changes correlated with optimization of the mitochondrial ultrastructure, which was most pronounced at 14% O2. On the contrary, at 8% O2 under conditions of inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase (mitochondrial complex II), ATP synthesis was suppressed; and pronounced structural disorders of mitochondria developed. Thus, we have demonstrated that mitochondrial enzymes and the ultrastructure of subpopulations of myocardial mitochondria are informative indicators of the functional and metabolic state of the heart. Full article
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