Oxygen reduction in acid media: influence of the heat treatment on the FeNPc(1–20 isomer mixture impregnated on carbon blacks and active charcoals
Oxygen reduction with the aid of a number of FeNPc(1–2) impregnated carbon supports in sulphuric acid solutions has been investigated. 
 
Loading of the carbon samples amounted to about 10 wt.%. After a 10 day stay in the aerated solutions the samples were investigated with rotating disk electrode and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques. The most active and stable samples correspond to mono- or submonolayers of FeNPc deposited on high dibutylphthalate adsorption carbon blacks. Comparison with data obtained previously on Norit BrX impregnations emphasizes the role of the electron density on the inner nitrogen atoms rather than that on the iron centres.
N4-chelates as electrocatalyst for cathodic oxygen reduction
N4-chelates have been investigated as catalysts for the cathodic reduction of oxygen in acid solution. The catalytic activity is influenced by the structure of the macrocyclic ring system, by the kind of the central atom and by the support material. Chelates containing iron and cobalt in connection with active carbon are the prevalent materials. The activity, stability and the selectivity of the catalyst selected can be increased by thermal treatment in inert gas (argon) up to 1000°C. Physical, spectroscopical and analytical investigations were made to elucidate this effect. Hypotheses are discussed about the structure of the active component after the thermal treatment on the basis of these results.
Phloroglucinol derivatives from Hypericum japonicum.
The isolation and identification of a new phloroglucinol derivative (2), a diterpenol (4), together with the known compounds flavesone (1) and sarothralen B (3), from the aerial parts of Hypericum japonicum are reported. Their structures were established by extensive spectral analysis and the structure of (3) has also been confirmed by a single crystal X-ray determination.