Yolk-shell TiO2 microspheres were synthesized via a one-pot template-free solvothermal method building on the aldol condensation reaction of acetylacetone. This unique structure shows superior light scattering ability resulting in power conversion efficiency as high as 11%. This work provided a new synthesis system for TiO2 microspheres from solid to hollow and a novel material platform for hig...

A new metallo-capsule has been synthesised that consists of three copper(II) ions and two molecules of a tris-deprotonated tripodal ligand in which three 2,4-pentanedione groups are linked via their gamma-carbons through thioether spacers to the 1,3,5-positions of a triazine core.

Reaction of [Ti4Zr4O6(OBu)4(OMc)16] (OMc = methacrylate) with acetylacetone (acacH) resulted in dissection of the cluster and formation of [Ti(OBu)2(acac)2] and the smaller cluster [Ti2Zr4O4(OMc)16]. In contrast, the same reaction with [Zr6O4(OH)4(OOCR)12]2·6RCOOH (R = Et, CH2CH=CH2) led to site-selective substitution of two carboxylate ligands and formation of isostructural [Zr6O4(OH)4(OOCR)12...

A new strategy for the synthesis of curcuminoids is described involving the reaction of acetylacetone difluroboronite with an aromatic aldehyde in the presence of n-butylamine as catalyst. The new intermediate products, curcuminoid difluroboronites, of symmetrically substituted curcuminoids like curcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin are stable, can be isolated and hydrolysed with aq. methanol at pH...

The selectivity of immobilised 8-hydroxyquinoline for lead is shown to be improved by the use of masking agents during pre-concentration, prior to determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Interference by iron, copper, aluminium and zinc is suppressed by including triethanolamine, thiourea, fluoride, acetylacetone or cyanide in the buffer as masking agents. Species such as iron or ...

The nitrosation of acetylacetone (AcAc) has been revised in an aqueous acid medium of perchloric acid and buffers of mono-, di-, or tri-chloroacetic acid. The results show that in the presence of buffers, under conditions of [nit] ≪ [AcAc] (nit = sodium nitrite) the reaction cannot be studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy, contrary to the recently published paper by García-Rio et al. (J. Org. Chem., 2...

The strategy for converting glucose directly to new types of furanic compounds under mild conditions is based on retro-aldol condensation followed by aldol C2 and C4 fragments with acetylacetone.

Spherical shaped nanoparticles of series Y(2 - x)Eu(x)O(3) (x = 0.06, 0.10, 0.20, and 2) and Gd(2 - x)Eu(x)O(3) (x = 0.06, 0.10) were prepared by thermolysis of 2,4-pentanedione complexes of Y, Gd, and Eu. The bixbyite phase of Gd(2 - x)Eu(x)O(3) samples was formed at 500 degrees C, whereas the thermal decomposition of Y and Eu complexes' mixtures occurred at higher temperatures. Linearity in t...