A composition, method, and article of manufacture are disclosed. The composition includes a silica particle with light upconversion molecules bound to its surface. The method includes obtaining silica particles and light upconversion molecules having sidechains with reactive functional groups. The method further includes binding the light upconversion molecules to surfaces of the silica particles. The article of manufacture includes the composition.

A composition, method, and article of manufacture are disclosed. The composition and the article of manufacture include a silica particle and light upconversion molecules incorporated into the silica particle. The method includes obtaining sidechain-modified light upconversion molecules, and incorporating the sidechain-modified light upconversion molecules into a silica particle to form a light upconversion particle.

Methods, kits, cartridges, and compounds related to generating chlorine dioxide by exposing ClO.sub.2.sup.− to at least one of an iron porphyrin catalyst or an iron porphyrazine catalyst are described.

A process for use of composite catalysts for oxidation of amines during synthesis of energetic compounds. This method overcomes the safety concerns associated with dangerous reaction conditions for these energetic materials. The process requires exposing phthalocyanine conjugated to an inorganic substrate to the precursor reactant and activating the composite material to light and oxygen to covert amine groups into oxidized nitrogen species.

The present disclosure provides novel methods of making aluminum complexes with utility for promoting epoxide carbonylation reactions. Methods include reacting neutral metal carbonyl compounds with alkylaluminum complexes.

Improved catalytic methods are disclosed. The methods include both hydrogenation and disproportionation catalysis. While the reaction conditions for hydrogenation and disproportionation differ, the catalysts disclosed herein can be used for either process. In certain aspects, the methods utilize a catalyst: CpM(N—N)L.sub.n; wherein Cp is a substituted or unsubstituted cyclopentadienyl ligand; wherein M is selected from the group consisting of Ir and Rh; wherein N—N is a substituted or unsubstituted bidentate ligand selected from the group consisting of a bipyridine ligand and a phenanthroline ligand; wherein n is 0 or 1; and wherein when n is 1 L is selected from the group consisting of an anion and a molecule of a solvent.

The invention provides novel manganese catalysts such as [Mn(.sup.tBuPc)], which are general for the amination of all types of C(sp.sup.3)-H bonds (aliphatic, allylic, propargylic, benzylic, ethereal), including strong 1.sup.o aliphatic C—H bonds, while achieving excellent chemoselectivity, stereospecificity, and high functional group tolerance. We demonstrate the late-stage diversification of bioactive complex molecules that encompass the range of C(sp.sup.3)-H bond types, such as selective 1.sup.o C—H aminations of betulinic acid and pleuromutilin derivatives. The catalysts' unprecedented balance of reactivity and selectivity is in part attributed to its mechanism of C—H amination that lies between stepwise and concerted.

Provided are methods of carbonylating cyclic substrates to produce carbonylated cyclic products. The cyclic substrates may be 2, 2-di substituted epoxides and the cyclic products may be β,β-di substituted lactones. The method may be carried out by forming and pressurizing a reaction mixture of the cyclic substrate, a solvent, carbon monoxide, and a [LA.sup.+][CO(CO)4.sup.−] catalyst, where [LA.sup.+] is a Lewis acid capable of coordinating to the cyclic substrate. The method may proceed with a regio selectivity of 90:10 or greater. The resulting carbonylated cyclic products may be converted to ketone aldol products that retain the stereochemistry and enantiomeric ratio of the carbonylated cyclic products.

A lithium secondary battery is provided and, more specifically, a lithium secondary battery comprising a cathode catalyst including a transition metal composite having a stable structure in which four nitrogens are bonded to the transition metal as a cathode catalyst for a reduction reaction of sulfur generated during operation of the lithium secondary battery having a sulfur-containing material included in a cathode thereof, thereby improving performance and longevity of the battery.

A method of synthesizing a doped carbonaceous material includes mixing a carbon precursor material with at least one dopant to form a homogeneous/heterogeneous mixture; and subjecting the mixture to pyrolysis in an inert atmosphere to obtain the doped carbonaceous material. A method of purifying water includes providing an amount of the doped carbonaceous material in the water as a photocatalyst; and illuminating the water containing the doped carbonaceous material with visible light such that under visible light illumination, the doped carbonaceous material generates excitons (electron-hole pairs) and has high electron affinity, which react with oxygen and water adsorbed on its surface forming reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals, singlet oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, that, in turn, decompose pollutants and micropollutants.