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As a prerequisite elementary step, carburization of iron oxides to form iron carbides is critically important to display activity for iron‐based Fischer–Tropsch synthesis catalysts. The positive role of the Cu promoter to advocate the reduction of the iron oxides has long been known. Nevertheless, its complex influence along the carburization of catalyst precursors remains controversial. Here, we resolve this decades‐long question by using a state‐of‐the‐art in situ X‐ray diffraction (XRD) method to elucidate the multi‐role of Cu promoter in modulation of carburization rate, composition of post‐carburization samples, and morphology evolution of prepared iron carbide particles under CO/He (v/v=2 %/98 %) and H2/CO/He (v/v/v=8 %/2 %/90 %) gaseous environment, by excluding the possible interference from promoter components other than Cu. We anticipate that this study enriches current tool box in the research of a specific promoter of the Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis catalysts. In situ seeing is believing: The complex influence of Cu promoter along the carburization of iron catalyst precursors has been elucidated by using a state‐of‐the‐art in situ X‐ray diffraction (XRD) method. Particularly, the multi‐role of Cu promoter in modulation of carburization rate, composition of post‐carburization samples, and morphology evolution of prepared iron carbide particles under CO/He (v/v=2 %/98 %) and H2/CO/He (v/v/v=8 %/2 %/90 %) gaseous environment, by excluding the possible interference from promoter components other than Cu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zn- and Na-modulated Fe catalysts were fabricated by a simple coprecipitation/washing method. Zn greatly changed the size of iron species, serving as the structural promoter, while the existence of Na on the surface of the Fe catalyst alters the electronic structure, making the catalyst very active for CO activation. Most importantly, the electronic structure of the catalyst surface suppresses the hydrogenation of double bonds and promotes desorption of products, which renders the catalyst unexpectedly reactive toward alkenes-especially C5+ alkenes (with more than 50% selectivity in hydrocarbons)-while lowering the selectivity for undesired products. This study enriches C1 chemistry and the design of highly selective new catalysts for high-value chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A general and mild hydrosilylation of thioalkynes is described. With the cationic catalyst [Cp*Ru(MeCN)3]+ and the bulky silane (TMSO)3SiH, a range of thioalkynes underwent smooth hydrosilylation at room temperature with excellent α regioselectivity and syn stereoselectivity. DFT calculations provided important insight into the mechanism, particularly the unusual syn selectivity with the [Cp*Ru(MeCN)3]+ catalyst. The sulfenyl group in the substrates was found to provide important chelation stabilization to direct the reaction through a new mechanistic pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retroviral integrase, an essential enzyme for replication of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) and other retroviruses, contains three structurally distinct domains, an N-terminal domain, the catalytic core and a C-terminal domain. To elucidate their spatial arrangement, we have solved the structure of a fragment of HIV-1 integrase comprising the N-terminal and catalytic core domains. This structure reveals a dimer interface between the N-terminal domains different from that observed for the isolated domain. It also complements the previously determined structure of the C-terminal two domains of HIV-1 integrase; superposition of the conserved catalytic core of the two structures results in a plausible full-length integrase dimer. Furthermore, an integrase tetramer formed by crystal lattice contacts bears structural resemblance to a related bacterial transposase, Tn5, and exhibits positively charged channels suitable for DNA binding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]