SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Functional groups”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 433 records · Page 24

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2021

Surface Functionalization of Black Phosphorus with Nitrenes: Identification of P=N Bonds by Using Isotopic Labeling

Abstract Surface functionalization of two‐dimensional crystals is a key path to tuning their intrinsic physical and chemical properties. However, synthetic protocols and experimental strategies to directly probe chemical bonding in modified surfaces are scarce. Introduced herein is a mild, surface‐specific protocol for the surface functionalization of few‐layer black phosphorus nanosheets using a family of photolytically generated nitrenes (RN) from the corresponding azides. By embedding spectroscopic tags in the organic backbone, a multitude of characterization techniques are employed to investigate in detail the chemical structure of the modified nanosheets, including vibrational, X‐ray photoelectron, solid state 31 P NMR, and UV‐vis spectroscopy. To directly probe the functional groups introduced on the surface, R fragments were selected such that in conjunction with vibrational spectroscopy, 15 N‐labeling experiments, and DFT methods, diagnostic P=N vibrational modes indicative of iminophosphorane units on the nanosheet surface could be conclusively identified.

Walz Mitra, Kendahl L.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Preparation of Potassium Acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) from Carboxylic Acids by Copper‐Catalyzed Borylation of Mixed Anhydrides**

Abstract We report the preparation of potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) from widely available carboxylic acids. Mixed anhydrides of carboxylic acids were prepared using isobutyl chloroformate and transformed to the corresponding KATs using a commercial copper catalyst, B 2 (pin) 2 , and aqueous KHF 2 . This method allows for the facile preparation of aliphatic, aromatic, and amino acid‐derived KATs and is compatible with a variety of functional groups including alkenes, esters, halides, nitriles, and protected amines.

Tung, Pinku↗

DOE OSTI2023

An Electrochemical Strategy to Synthesize Disilanes and Oligosilanes from Chlorosilanes**

Abstract Silanes are important compounds in industrial and synthetic chemistry. Here, we develop a general approach for the synthesis of disilanes as well as linear and cyclic oligosilanes via the reductive activation of readily available chlorosilanes. The efficient and selective generation of silyl anion intermediates, which are arduous to achieve by other means, allows for the synthesis of various novel oligosilanes by heterocoupling. In particular, this work presents a modular synthesis for a variety of functionalized cyclosilanes, which may give rise to materials with distinct properties from linear silanes but remain challenging synthetic targets. In comparison to the traditional Wurtz coupling, our method features milder conditions and improved chemoselectivity, broadening the functional groups that are compatible in oligosilane preparation. Computational studies support a mechanism whereby differential activation of sterically and electronically distinct chlorosilanes are achieved in an electrochemically driven radical‐polar crossover mechanism.

Guan, Weiyang↗

DOE OSTI2023

Discovery of the Azaserine Biosynthetic Pathway Uncovers a Biological Route for α‐Diazoester Production

Abstract Azaserine is a bacterial metabolite containing a biologically unusual and synthetically enabling α‐diazoester functional group. Herein, we report the discovery of the azaserine ( aza ) biosynthetic gene cluster from Glycomyces harbinensis . Discovery of related gene clusters reveals previously unappreciated azaserine producers, and heterologous expression of the aza gene cluster confirms its role in azaserine assembly. Notably, this gene cluster encodes homologues of hydrazonoacetic acid (HYAA)‐producing enzymes, implicating HYAA in α‐diazoester biosynthesis. Isotope feeding and biochemical experiments support this hypothesis. These discoveries indicate that a 2‐electron oxidation of a hydrazonoacetyl intermediate is required for α‐diazoester formation, constituting a distinct logic for diazo biosynthesis. Uncovering this biological route for α‐diazoester synthesis now enables the production of a highly versatile carbene precursor in cells, facilitating approaches for engineering complete carbene‐mediated biosynthetic transformations in vivo.

Van Cura, Devon↗

DOE OSTI2024

Biosynthesis of Strained Amino Acids by a PLP‐Dependent Enzyme through Cryptic Halogenation

Abstract Amino acids (AAs) are modular building blocks which nature uses to synthesize both macromolecules, such as proteins, and small molecule natural products, such as alkaloids and non‐ribosomal peptides. While the 20 main proteinogenic AAs display relatively limited side chain diversity, a wide range of non‐canonical amino acids (ncAAs) exist that are not used by the ribosome for protein synthesis, but contain a broad array of structural features and functional groups. In this communication, we report the discovery of the biosynthetic pathway for a new ncAA, pazamine, which contains a cyclopropane ring formed in two steps. In the first step, a chlorine is added onto the C 4 position of lysine by a radical halogenase, PazA. The cyclopropane ring is then formed in the next step by a pyridoxal‐5′‐phosphate‐dependent enzyme, PazB, via an S N 2‐like attack at C 4 to eliminate chloride. Genetic studies of this pathway in the native host, Pseudomonas azotoformans , show that pazamine potentially inhibits ethylene biosynthesis in growing plants based on alterations in the root phenotype of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. We further show that PazB can be utilized to make an alternative cyclobutane‐containing AA. These discoveries may lead to advances in biocatalytic production of specialty chemicals and agricultural biotechnology.

Sosa, Max B.↗

DOE OSTI2021

Preparation of Potassium Acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) from Carboxylic Acids by Copper-Catalyzed Borylation of Mixed Anhydrides**

Here we report the preparation of potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) from widely available carboxylic acids. Mixed anhydrides of carboxylic acids were prepared using isobutyl chloroformate and transformed to the corresponding KATs using a commercial copper catalyst, B 2 (pin) 2 , and aqueous KHF 2 . This method allows for the facile preparation of aliphatic, aromatic, and amino acid-derived KATs and is compatible with a variety of functional groups including alkenes, esters, halides, nitriles, and protected amines.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2023

An Electrochemical Strategy to Synthesize Disilanes and Oligosilanes from Chlorosilanes**

Silanes are important compounds in industrial and synthetic chemistry. Here, we develop a general approach for the synthesis of disilanes as well as linear and cyclic oligosilanes via the reductive activation of readily available chlorosilanes. The efficient and selective generation of silyl anion intermediates, which are arduous to achieve by other means, allows for the synthesis of various novel oligosilanes by heterocoupling. In particular, this work presents a modular synthesis for a variety of functionalized cyclosilanes, which may give rise to materials with distinct properties from linear silanes but remain challenging synthetic targets. In comparison to the traditional Wurtz coupling, our method features milder conditions and improved chemoselectivity, broadening the functional groups that are compatible in oligosilane preparation. Furthermore, computational studies support a mechanism whereby differential activation of sterically and electronically distinct chlorosilanes are achieved in an electrochemically driven radical-polar crossover mechanism.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2023

Discovery of the Azaserine Biosynthetic Pathway Uncovers a Biological Route for α‐Diazoester Production

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2025

Structure–Activity Relationships of Inactive‐Conformation Binding EGFR Inhibitors: Linking the ATP and Allosteric Pockets

ABSTRACT The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase is an important therapeutic target in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the continual emergence of resistance mutations in the treatment of EGFR mutation‐positive NSCLC with currently approved tyrosine kinase inhibitors warrants the development of next‐generation inhibitors. Since research for ATP‐competitive EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) that extend into the back pocket has been neglected in the recent past, we survey the extent to which such binding functional groups can be incorporated into an ATP‐site imidazole scaffold. We find thatmeta‐substituted amide linkers derivatized with fluorine in 2,6‐positions and/or a hydroxy group in 3‐position of the back pocket phenyl exhibit the highest potency. Structural insights into how the back pocket groups are bound through points of connection provide new directions for the discovery and optimization of inactive conformation targeting agents in EGFR and other kinases.

Chemistry↗

DOE OSTI2023

Three-dimensional Polymers as Organic Cathodes for Affordable and Sustainable Sodium/Potassium-ion Batteries

Redox-active polymers (RAPs) are promising organic electrode materials for affordable and sustainable batteries due to their flexible chemical structures and negligible solubility in the electrolyte. Developing high-dimensional RAPs with porous structures and crosslinkers can further improve their stability and redox capability by reducing the solubility and enhancing reaction kinetics. Further, this work reports two three-dimensional (3D) RAPs as stable organic cathodes in Na-ion batteries (NIBs) and K-ion batteries (KIBs). Carbonyl functional groups are incorporated into the repeating units of the RAPs by the polycondensation of Tetrakis(4-aminophenyl)methane and two different dianhydrides. The RAPs with interconnected 3D extended conjugation structures undergo multi-electron redox reactions and exhibit high performance in both NIBs and KIBs in terms of long cycle life (up to 8000 cycles) and fast charging capability (up to 2 A g -1 ). The results demonstrate that developing 3D RAPs is an effective strategy to achieve high-performance, affordable, and sustainable NIBs and KIBs.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

DOE OSTI2020

Covalent Linkage and Macrocylization Preserve and Enhance Synergistic Interactions in Catalytic Amyloids

The self-assembly of short peptides into catalytic amyloid-like nanomaterials has proven to be a powerful tool in both understanding the evolution of early proteins and identifying new catalysts for practically useful chemical reactions. Here we demonstrate that both parallel and antiparallel arrangements of beta-sheets can accommodate metal ions in catalytically productive coordination environments. Moreover, synergistic relationships, identified in catalytic amyloid mixtures, can be captured in macrocyclic and sheet-loop-sheet species, that offer faster rates of assembly and provide more complex asymmetric arrangements of functional groups, thus paving the way for future designs of amyloid-like catalytic proteins. Finally, our findings show how initial catalytic activity in amyloid assemblies can be propagated and improved in more-complex molecules, providing another link in a complex evolutionary chain between short, potentially abiotically produced peptides and modern-day enzymes.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2022

Multigram Synthesis of a Combustion‐Relevant δ‐Ketohydroperoxide through Sulfonylhydrazine Substitution

Abstract A synthesis of a δ‐ketohydroperoxide is described, addressing potential functional‐group compatibilities in these elusive species relevant to combustion and atmospheric chemistries. The hydroperoxide is installed via sulfonylhydrazine substitution, which was found to be more effective than displacement of secondary halides. As part of this protocol, it was observed that 1,2‐dimethoxyethane is an advantageous medium for the reaction, avoiding the formation of a tetrahydrofuran hydroperoxide side product. This discovery facilitated the multigram synthesis (6 steps, 41 % yield overall) and discrete characterization of the target δ‐ketohydroperoxide.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2022

E ‐selective Semi‐hydrogenation of Alkynes under Mild Conditions by a Diruthenium Hydride Complex

Abstract The synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of a new class of diruthenium hydrido carbonyl complexes bound to the t Bu PNNP expanded pincer ligand is described. Reacting t Bu PNNP with two equiv of RuHCl(PPh 3 ) 3 (CO) at 140 °C produces an insoluble air‐stable complex, which was structurally characterized as [Ru 2 ( t Bu PNNP)H(μ‐H)Cl(μ‐Cl)(CO) 2 ] ( 1 ) using solid‐state NMR, IR and X‐ray absorption spectroscopies and follow‐up reactivity. A reaction with KO t Bu results in deprotonation of a methylene linker to produce [Ru 2 ( t Bu PNNP * )H(μ‐H)(μ‐O t Bu)(CO) 2 ] ( 3 ) featuring a partially dearomatized naphthyridine core. This enables metal‐ligand cooperative activation of H 2 analogous to the mononuclear analogue, [Ru( t Bu PNP*)H(CO)]. In contrast to the mononuclear system, the bimetallic analogue 3 catalyzes the E ‐selective semi‐hydrogenation of alkynes at ambient temperature and atmospheric H 2 pressure with good functional group tolerance. Monitoring the semi‐hydrogenation of diphenylacetylene by 1 H NMR spectroscopy shows the intermediacy of Z ‐stilbene, which is subsequently isomerized to the E ‐isomer. Initial findings into the mode of action of this system are provided, including the spectroscopic characterization of a polyhydride intermediate and the isolation of a deactivated species with a partially hydrogenated naphthyridine backbone.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2022

Hydrothermal synthesis of chiral carbon dots

Abstract Nanocolloids that are cumulatively referred to as nanocarbons, attracted significant attention during the last decade because of facile synthesis methods, water solubility, tunable photoluminescence, easy surface modification, and high biocompatibility. Among the latest development in this reserach area are chiral nanocarbons exemplified by chiral carbon dots (CDots). They are expected to have applications in sensing, catalysis, imaging, and nanomedicine. However, the current methods of CDots synthesis show often contradictory chemical/optical properties and structural information that required a systematic study with careful structural evaluation. Here, we investigate and optimize chiroptical activity and photoluminescence of L‐ and D‐ CDots obtained by hydrothermal carbonization of L‐ and D‐ cysteine, respectively. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrates that they are formed via gradual dehydrogenation and condensation reactions of the starting amino acid leading to particles with a wide spectrum of functional groups including aromatic cycles. We found that the chiroptical activity of CDots has an inverse correlation with the synthesis duration and temperature, whereas the photoluminescence intensity has a direct one, which is associated with degree of carbonization. Also, our studies show that the hydrothermal synthesis of cysteine in the presence of boric acid leads to the formation of CDots rather than boron nitride nanoparticles as was previously proposed in several reports. These results can be used to design chiral carbon‐based nanoparticles with optimal chemical, chiroptical, and photoluminescent properties.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2020

Deep Eutectic Solvent Extraction of High-Purity Lignin from a Corn Stover Hydrolysate

Here, a lactic acid/chlorine chloride-based deep eutectic solvent (DES) was used for the extraction of high-purity lignin (up to 94.7%) in high yield (up to 75%) from the hydrolysis/fermentation residue corn stover hydrolysate (CSH), which was generated from a pilot-plant-scale biorefinery. A range of extraction conditions were investigated, which involved varying reaction temperature, time, and DES composition. The relationship between lignin yield, purity, and structural characteristics with DES treatment conditions was determined. The extraction of high-purity lignin from hydrolysis/fermentation residues presents a promising approach for enhancing the economic feasibility of a lignocellulose biorefinery. It was also determined that DES extraction can produce lignin with a controlled range of molecular weight and functional group content.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Molecular Insights Into the Ionic Assembly of Poly-Galacturonic Acid Oligomers - Impact of Charge, Ionic Radius, and Polymer Functionalization

Pectin, a major class of matrix polysaccharides present in plant cell walls (PCW), contains widespread anionic saccharides that cross-link in the presence of cations. It modulates important functions such as cell-cell adhesion and determines the PCW's biomechanical properties. It is known that mono-, di-, and tri-valent cations facilitate cross-linking; however, significant knowledge gaps remain in understanding the structure and mechanism of pectin cross-linking. In this study, replica-exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) simulations were employed to elucidate the role of ionic charge, ionic radii, and functional groups on the cross-linking of homogalacturonan (HG), the most abundant pectin molecule. Our enhanced sampling approach in fully solvated environments suggests more effective cross-linking with higher-valent and smaller ions, and that the "zipper" conformation is more favorable than the prevalent "egg-box" conformation. These findings advance our fundamental understanding of pectin matrix structure in PCWs and provide a solid foundation to probe structure-property relationships in pectic polysaccharides.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2022

Adsorption of methylene blue by bismuth impregnated biochar of different biomass materials: pore structure and surface chemistry characteristics

Abstract In this study, three different types of biochar (biomass materials were beech wood, corncob, and bamboo) were loaded with bismuth to form bismuth impregnated biochars (named respectively as Bi@WBC, Bi@CBC, and Bi@BBC) to investigate their properties (pore structure and surface chemistry characteristics) on methylene blue (MB) removal capacities. Three bismuth impregnated biochars made from different biomass materials were ranked for their adsorption capacity of MB as follows: Bi@WBC > Bi@CBC > Bi@BBC, in which Bi@WBC showed the largest Langmuir adsorption capacity of 178.59 mg g −1 . While the specific surface area (SSA) and pore volume of Bi@WBC were the largest (accounting for 477.74 m 2 g −1 and 0.15 cm 3 g −1 , respectively), according to the FTIR and XPS results, Bi@WBC (72.3%) exhibited a higher proportion of BiO bonds than the Bi@CBC (52.3%) and Bi@BBC (48.4%) did. Conclusively, the rich porous structure and surface functional groups of Bi@WBC affected the adsorption capacity of MB, and the chemical adsorption provided the main contribution. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Li, Peiyi↗

DOE OSTI2023

Impact of carbamate formation on the surface tension of epoxy‐amine curing systems

Abstract Epoxy‐amine reactive systems, including their surface tension, have been studied due to their use and importance in composites and adhesives in laboratory and industrial applications. Understanding how the system's surface tension changes during curing could help target applications for tailored composites. Using the Wilhelmy plate method, surface tensions for epoxy‐curing agent systems were investigated under different environments. While the epoxy exhibited an expected negative temperature coefficient of −0.096 mN/m/°C, the curing agent exhibited a positive temperature coefficient of 0.073 mN/m/°C, which is due to the curing agent reacting with atmospheric CO 2 to form carbamate through a zwitterion pathway and functional groups accumulating at the surface of the reacting systems. Carbamate formation results in a surface tension below that of the individual constituents in the epoxy‐amine curing agent system. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to verify in situ formation of carbamate, and by reducing the system's temperature, it was demonstrated that the system surface tension profiles displayed micellar surfactant‐like characteristics. FTIR was used to explore the difference in composition between the surface and the bulk, in particular carbamate formation at the surface, resulting in a lowering of the surface tension of reacting systems.

Shenk, Timothy M.↗