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New strategy developed for remote dihalogenation of alkenes

A team led by Prof. CHEN Qing'an developed a phosphordiamidate-catalyzed strategy for the selective synthesis of 1,3-, 1,4-, and 2,3-dihalogenation products. The method achieves regioselective dihalogenation under mild conditions with broad substrate compatibility and functional group tolerance.

Bacterium produces “organic dishwashing liquid” to degrade oil

A marine bacterium produces an organic detergent to attach to oil droplets, allowing it to feed on energy-rich chains. The synthetic pathway of this detergent involves three enzymes and has potential biotech applications for microbial production of key chemical compounds.

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Light broaden the scope of alkene synthesis

Researchers at National University of Singapore develop a straightforward method to convert common chemicals into valuable alkenes using light. The new method simplifies the production of alkenes from abundant feedstock chemicals, enabling the creation of complex bioactive molecules.

A holy grail found for catalytic alkane activation

Hokkaido University researchers have developed a novel method to activate alkanes, making it easier to convert these building blocks into valuable compounds. The new technique utilizes confined chiral Brønsted acids, improving efficiency and selectivity in producing desired products.

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Structure of 'oil-eating' enzyme opens door to bioengineered catalysts

Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have produced the first atomic-level structure of an enzyme that selectively breaks carbon-hydrogen bonds, suggesting ways to engineer it for producing desired products. The detailed structure reveals how the enzyme operates under ordinary conditions and produces few unwanted byproducts.

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Giving oxygen to the question of air quality

Alkanes participate extensively in autoxidation reactions with oxygen molecules, overturning current chemical knowledge and implications for air quality prediction and efficient fuel combustion. The discovery also sheds light on atmospheric conversion of volatile organic molecules into particulate matter.

Scientists use light to convert fatty acids into alkanes

Researchers have developed an efficient method to convert biomass-derived fatty acids into alkanes under mild conditions. The process utilizes photocatalytic decarboxylation with light, generating alkyl radical intermediates and achieving high yields of Cn-1 alkanes.

Building a better chemical building block

The National Science Foundation awards $354,954 to Dr. Giannis Mpourmpakis' research on dehydrogenation of alkanes on metal oxides. This breakthrough could enable more efficient and cost-effective chemical production using abundant natural gas reserves.

Heat flow through single molecules detected

An international team of researchers has successfully measured how heat passes between two gold electrodes through a single molecule. The study employed a scanning thermal microscope to detect the vibrations of atoms in an alkane molecule carrying the heat, providing valuable insights into thermal conduction at the molecular scale.

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New discovery may lead to the development of super premium gasoline

Researchers at the University of Illinois have made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize the petroleum industry. By altering the molecular structure of alkanes, they can significantly increase their flow rate, potentially reducing fueling times to mere seconds.

Chemists find 'huge shortcut' for organic synthesis using C-H bonds

Researchers have developed a method to selectively functionalize unreactive carbon-hydrogen bonds in alkanes, a key step towards revolutionizing organic synthesis. The breakthrough enables the transformation of simple molecules into valuable chemicals with controlled site selectivity and chirality.

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Sniffing out a dangerous vapor

University of Utah engineers developed a handheld scanner that can detect small traces of alkane fuel vapor, crucial for preventing oil pipeline leaks and detecting explosives. The portable device will be used to locate leaks in pipelines, airplane fuel tanks, and security threats, providing real-time warnings.

Scientists turn toxic by-product into biofuel booster

Researchers develop bi-functional enzyme to increase alkane output in bacteria and plants, eliminating hydrogen peroxide inhibition. The combo enzyme boosts reaction efficiency by producing oxygen, a key component required for activity.

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Biomass as a source of raw materials

Scientists develop catalytic process to convert phenolic components of bio-oil directly into cycloalkanes and methanol. The 'one-pot' reaction uses palladium metal on a carbon support and phosphoric acid as a proton source.

Green diesel: New process makes liquid transportation fuel from plants

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a four-phase catalytic reactor to convert biomass-derived carbohydrates into sulfur-free liquid alkanes. The process produces 90% of the energy found in the feedstock and creates twice the energy as ethanol production, with no additional heating or distillation required.