Chlorine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide was prepared by using graphene oxide and sulfuryl chloride as raw materials. It is firstly reported that the hydroxyl group in graphene oxide can be substituted by chlorine in sulfuryl chloride. The product has a wider pore size and average interlayer space, and its surface area can be easily utilized. The adsorption data indicate that the material has high adsorption capacity on methylene blue. The adsorption process follows a second-order rate and Bangham diffusion kinetic model. The adsorption of methylene blue preferably fitting the Langmuir adsorption isotherm suggests monolayer coverage of the adsorbed molecules. The adsorption capacity of the product for methylene blue is 221.4 mg g À1 at room temperature, which is significantly higher than those of reduced graphene oxide (80.0 mg g À1 ) and active carbon (46.7 mg g À1 ).

A highly practical, catalytic enantioselective cyclic phosphite addition to aldehydes and ketones was developed. The reaction rate of the asymmetric hydrophosphonylation was significantly enhanced by the addition of silver carbonate. Particularly, significant improvement has been achieved on the asymmetric hydrophosphonylation of unactivated ketones, giving quaternary α-hydroxy phosphonates with excellent enantioselectivity (up to 99% ee).

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHc) is the site of action of a new class of herbicides. On the basis of the previous work for O,O'-dimethyl α-(substituted-phenoxyacetoxy)alkylphosphonates (I), further synthetic modifications were made by introducing a fural and a thienyl group to structure I. A series of α-(substituted-phenoxyacetoxy)-α-heterocyclylmethylphosphonate derivatives (II) were synthesized as potential inhibitors of PDHc. The postemergent activity of the title compounds II was evaluated in greenhouse experiments. The in vitro efficacy of II against PDHc was also examined. Compounds II with fural as R(3) and 2,4-dichloro as X and Y showed significant herbicidal activity and effective inhibition against PDHc from plants. O,O'-Dimethyl α-(2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetoxy)-α-(furan-2-yl)methylphosphonate II-17 had higher inhibitory potency against PDHc from Pisum sativum than against PDHc from Oryza sativa in vitro and was most effective against broadleaf weeds at 50 and 300 ai g/ha. II-17 was safe for maize and rice even at the dose of 900-1200 ai g/ha. Field trials at different regions in China showed that II-17 (HWS) could control a broad spectrum of broad-leaved and sedge weeds at the rate of 225-375 ai g/ha for postemergent applications in maize fields. II-17 (HWS) displayed potential utility as a selective herbicide.

Glycine‐functionalized reduced graphene oxide (GRGO) was prepared through the reaction of glycine and chlorine‐functionalized reduced graphene oxide. The product was characterized by SEM, HRTEM, IR, Raman, and XPS. The nitrogen content (8.28%) was high in product, peak at 285.8 eV was assigned to the C–N bond, which implied that the chlorine residues in raw material were substituted by amine group of glycine. The intensity ratio of D and G peak was about 1.5, which also implied that more saturated carbon atoms were present in the product. Results of SEM, IR, and XPS confirmed that glycine molecules were attached to graphene sheets. Compared with reduced graphene oxide (61.5 mg/g) and active carbon (45.2 mg/g), GRGO had a good adsorption capacity (98.9 mg/g) for methylene blue. The adsorption process was fitted to three kinetic models and three adsorption isotherm models. The adsorption process complied with pseudo‐second order kinetic model and Langmuir model.

A facile method to synthesize highly reduced graphene oxide in solid phase was developed. The reduced graphene oxide was scarcely prepared in solid phase. Solid substances act as spacers and pillaring agents. Sheets can not be close to each other in reduction process, and sheets agglomeration might not form. After reduction reaction is complete, the spacers and pillaring agents are removed. The average interlayer spacing and surface area of product are bigger than those of reduced graphene oxide. The product has few-layered sheet, and the ratio of carbon to oxygen is high, which might imply that the product is more similar to graphene compared to reduced graphene oxide. The specific capacitance of product is almost three times higher than that of reduced graphene oxide at the same current density.