New aluminum–organophosphorus hybrid nanorods (AOPH-NR) have been prepared by reacting aluminum hydroxide (ATH) with dibenzylphosphinic acid (DBPA) with aluminum hydroxide (ATH) and used to prepare nanocomposites with epoxy resin. In order to determine the structure–property relationship of these composites, several other phosphinic acids of the general formula (R(CH₂)_n)₂POOH (R = ester, allyl, nitrile, n = 1 or 2), and corresponding AOPHs were synthesized. FTIR, Raman, TGA, and XRD examinations showed that only AOPH-NR possesses a highly hybrid structure and high thermostability. SEM and TEM confirmed the nanorod morphology of AOPH-NR. The formation mechanism can be described as a decomposing–reforming process. This characteristic causes AOPH-NR to exhibit superior properties. Limiting oxygen index (LOI) determination and cone calorimeter analysis showed that the incorporation of only 4.25 wt% AOPH-NR remarkably improved the LOI value to as much as 28.0 and led to a 23% reduction in peak heat release rate (PHRR). Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) indicated that the mechanical properties of epoxy resin were also improved by incorporating AOPH-NR. In this way, the aluminum–organophosphorus hybridization via reacting ATH with specific organophosphinic acids shows promise as a means of improving flame retardancy and mechanical properties simultaneously. The thermal and anti-flaming properties of composites, combined with the properties of AOPHs, allowed us to discover the important role that the release and migration of phosphorus species plays in fire-retarding materials. This provides a new insight into the design of high-performance flame retardants.

Double-walled Al–P–Si hybrid decomposable nanorods, which have a silica coated aluminum phosphonate nanostructure, were in situ prepared by thorough but ordered reconstruction of montmorillonite. The reconstruction was facilely performed through hydrothermal reaction of montmorillonite with diphenyl phosphoric acid. The formation process of nanorods involves the decomposition of montmorillonite, the repolymerization to generate aluminum phosphonates, the assembly via π–π stacking interactions to form a 1D nanostructure, and the coating of silica on aluminum phosphonate nanorods. Interestingly, it was found that only layered silicates exhibited such reconstruction into hybrid nanorods. The decomposition of the nano-sized sandwich structure may lead to highly reactive Si–O tetrahedra and a synergistic reaction process. The nanorods showed decomposition around 400 °C, producing nanoparticles mainly composed of aluminum silicates. The fire property test showed that epoxy/Al–Si–P hybrid nanorod nanocomposites exhibited outstanding flame retardant performance. One possible explanation for this is that nano-sized particles resulting from decomposition easily migrated to the surface of epoxy resins, consequently forming protective layers.

A one pot deboronation/cyclization of 9-amide-o-carboranes for the synthesis of nido-7,8-carborane fused oxazole by cooperation of Pd(OAc)₂, AgOAc and K₂CO₃ has been developed. A plausible mechanism involving an amide directed electrophilic palladation of the B–H bond and deboronation/cyclization process was proposed based on the successful isolation and structural characterization of the key deboronated intermediate.