Electrochemical Behavior of Cellulose Nanofibrils Functionalized with Dicyanovinyl Groups

Cellulose is considered one of the most important renewable sources of biopolymers on Earth. It has attracted widespread attention due to its physical–chemical characteristics, such as biocompatibility, low toxicity, biodegradability, low density, high strength, stability in organic solvents, in addition to having hydroxyl groups, which enable its chemical modification. In this study, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were functionalized with dicyanovinyl groups through nucleophilic vinylic substitution (SNV) and used as electrocatalyst in electrochemical of carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction. Results indicate that introducing dicyanovinyl groups into the structure of nanocellulose increases electrocatalytic activity as compared to that of pure nanocellulose, shifting the onset potential of the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction to more positive values as compared to those for the reaction with argon. The atomic force microscopy (AFM) images show no changes in the morphology of CNFs after chemical modification.

Nucleophilic vinylic substitution in bicyclic methyleneaziridines: SNVπ or SNVσ?

A stereoselective synthesis of the monodeuterated methyleneaziridine shown allowed the stereochemical course of formal SNV-mode ring-opening with copper-based organometallics to be assigned.

Selective Hydrodefluorination of Hexafluoropropene to Industrially Relevant Hydrofluoroolefins

The selective hydrodefluorination of hexafluoropropene to HFO-1234ze and HFO-1234yf can be achieved by reaction with simple group 13 hydrides of the form EH3L (E = B, Al; L = SMe2, NMe3). The chemoselectivity varies depending on the nature of the group 13 element. A combination of experiments and DFT calculations show that competitive nucleophilic vinylic substitution and addition-elimination mechanisms involving hydroborated intermediates lead to complementary selectivities.<br>

Selective Hydrodefluorination of Hexafluoropropene to Industrially Relevant Hydrofluoroolefins

The selective hydrodefluorination of hexafluoropropene to HFO-1234ze and HFO-1234yf can be achieved by reaction with simple group 13 hydrides of the form EH3L (E = B, Al; L = SMe2, NMe3). The chemoselectivity varies depending on the nature of the group 13 element. A combination of experiments and DFT calculations show that competitive nucleophilic vinylic substitution and addition-elimination mechanisms involving hydroborated intermediates lead to complementary selectivities.<br>