A general strategy for the synthesis of arylthio cyclopropyl carbaldehydes and ketones via a Brønsted acid catalyzed arylthiol addition/ring contraction reaction sequence has been exploited. The procedure led to a wide panel of cyclopropyl carbaldehydes in generally high yields and with broad substrate scope. Mechanistic aspects and synthetic applications of this procedure were investigated.

The acid-promoted syntheses of 2-(benzyloxy)cyclobutanones and bis(benzyloxy)dioxatricyclo decanes were achieved starting from 2-hydroxycyclobutanone and variously functionalized benzyl alcohols.

Membranes with high CO₂ solubility are essential for developing a separation technology with low carbon footprint. To this end, physical blend membranes of [BMIM][Ac] and [BMIM][Succ] as Ionic Liquids (ILs) and PIM-1 as the polymer were prepared trying to combine the high permeability properties of PIM-1 with the high CO₂ solubility of the chosen ILs. Membranes with a PIM-1/[BMIM][Ac] 4/1 ratio nearly double their CO₂ solubility at 0.8 bar (0.86 cm³ (STP)/cm³ cmHg), while other ratios still maintain similar solubilities to PIM-1 (0.47 cm³ (STP)/cm³ cmHg). Moreover, CO₂ permeability of PIM-1/[BMIM][Ac] blended membranes were between 1050 and 2090 Barrer for 2/1 and 10/1 ratio, lower than PIM-1 membrane, but still highly permeable. The here presented self-standing and mechanically resistant blend membranes have yet a lower permeability compared to PIM-1 yet an improved CO₂ solubility, which eventually will translate in higher CO₂/N₂ selectivity. These promising preliminary results will allow us to select and optimize the best performing PIM-1/ILs blends to develop outstanding membranes for an improved gas separation technology.

Graphene is a 2D carbon material with peculiar features such as high electrical conductivity, high thermal conductivity, mechanical stability, and a high ratio between surface and thickness. Applications are continuously growing, and the possibility of dispersing graphene in low-boiling green solvents could reduce its global environmental impact. Pristine graphene can be dispersed in high concentration only in polar aprotic solvents that usually have high boiling points and high toxicity. For this reason, the oxidized form of graphene is always used, as it is easier to disperse and to subsequently reduce to reduced graphene oxide. However, compared to pristine graphene, reduced graphene oxide has more defects and has inferior properties respect to graphene. In this work, the polymerization of (diethyl maleate derivate) on graphene obtained by sonication was performed in a microwave reactor. The obtained material has good stability in ethanol even after a long period of time, therefore, it can be used to deposit graphene by mass production of inks or by casting and easy removal of the solvent. The thermal annealing by heating at 300–400 °C in inert atmosphere allows the removal of the polymer to obtain pristine graphene with a low number of defects.