Supramolecular Sensor for Astringent Procyanidin C1: Fluorescent Artificial Tongue for Wine Components

An artificial tongue that detects astringent components for a comprehensive evaluation of taste has not been established to date. Herein, we first propose fluorescent polythiophene (PT) derivatives ( S1 – S3 ) modified with 3-pyridinium boronic acid as supramolecular chemosensors for wine components including astringent procyanidin C1. After numerous attempts for the synthetic conditions, more than 95 mol % of the PT unit was modified with the pyridinium boronic acid moiety. To evaluate the PT derivatives as chemosensors of the artificial tongue, qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed with four types of wine components (i.e., sweet, sour, bitter, and astringent tastes) in combination with pattern recognition models. Notably, procyanidin C1 in the actual wine sample was successfully detected in a quantitative manner. In other words, we have established an authentic artificial tongue using PT based supramolecular chemosensors.     

Enhancement of the electrocatalytic oxidation of dyeing wastewater (reactive brilliant blue KN-R) over the Ce-modified Ti-PbO2 electrode with surface hydrophobicity

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Rational hydrophobic anode has been considered as a promising approach for water pollution remediation. However, the construction method of the hydrophobic...     

An efficient synthesis of 9-anthrone lactone derivatives via the Knoevenagel condensation and intramolecular cyclization

One-step synthesis of 9-anthrone lactone derivatives from 1-acetyloxyanthraquinone with a variety of dicarbonyl substrates in the presence of K₂CO₃ by Knovenagel condensation and intramolecular cyclization is developed. Possible reaction mechanisms have been investigated using the density functional theory (DFT), which has been widely used in the study of reaction mechanism. The strategy could be useful for the synthesis of the core structure of marine natural product aspergiolide.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of europium pentafluorinated β-diketonate complexes

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Two pentafluorinated β-diketone ligands, 4,4,5,5,5-pentafluoro-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)pentane-1,3-dione (PFMP) and 4,4,5,5,5-pentafluoro-1-(4-dimethyl...     

Coordinate transformation and construction of finite element mesh in a diverted tokamak geometry

A coordinate transformation technique between straight magnetic field line coordinate system (Ψ, θ) and Cartesian coordinate system (R, Z) is presented employing a Solov'ev solution of the Grad-Shafranov equation. Employing the equilibrium solution, the poloidal magnetic flux Ψ(R, Z) of a diverted tokamak, magnetic field line equation is solved computationally to find curves of constant poloidal angle θ, which provides us with explicit relations R = R(Ψ, θ) and Z = Z(Ψ, θ). Correspondingly, conversion from one coordinate to the other along particle trajectories in the vicinity of separatrix is demonstrated. Based on the magnetic structure, a finite element mesh is generated in a diverted tokamak geometry to solve Poisson's equation.     

Gaussian unitary ensembles with two jump discontinuities,PDEs, and the coupled Painlevé II and IV systems

We consider the Hankel determinant generated by the Gaussian weight with two jump discontinuities. Utilizing the results of Min and Chen [Math. Methods Appl Sci. 2019;42:301‐321] where a second‐order partial differential equation (PDE) was deduced for the log derivative of the Hankel determinant by using the ladder operators adapted to orthogonal polynomials, we derive the coupled Painlevé IV system which was established in Wu and Xu [arXiv: 2002.11240v2] by a study of the Riemann‐Hilbert problem for orthogonal polynomials. Under double scaling, we show that, as , the log derivative of the Hankel determinant in the scaled variables tends to the Hamiltonian of a coupled Painlevé II system and it satisfies a second‐order PDE. In addition, we obtain the asymptotics for the recurrence coefficients of orthogonal polynomials, which are connected with the solutions of the coupled Painlevé II system.     

A Mechanistic Study of the Multiple Roles of Oleic Acid in the Oil-Phase Synthesis of Pt Nanocrystals

Oleic acid (OAc) is commonly used as a surfactant and/or solvent for the oil-phase synthesis of metal nanocrystals but its explicit roles are yet to be resolved. Here, we report a systematic study of this problem by focusing on a synthesis that simply involves heating of Pt(acac)₂ in OAc for the generation of Pt nanocrystals. When heated at 80 °C, the ligand exchange between Pt(acac)₂ and OAc leads to the formation of a Pt^II–oleate complex that serves as the actual precursor to Pt atoms. Upon increasing the temperature to 120 °C, the decarbonylation of OAc produces CO, which can act as a reducing agent for the generation of Pt atoms and thus formation of nuclei. Afterwards, several catalytic reactions can take place on the surface of the Pt nuclei to produce more CO, which also serves as a capping agent for the formation of Pt nanocrystals enclosed by {100} facets. The emergence of Pt nanocrystals further promotes the autocatalytic surface reduction of Pt^II precursor to enable the continuation of growth. This work not only elucidates the critical roles of OAc at different stages in a synthesis of Pt nanocrystals, but also represents a pivotal step forward toward the rational synthesis of metal nanocrystals.     

Twist and sliding dynamics between interpenetrated frames in Ti-MOF revealing high proton conductivity

We report the design and synthesis of a titanium catecholate framework, MOF-217, comprised of 2,4,6-tri(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine (TDHT) and isolated TiO₆ clusters, with 2-fold interpenetrated srs topology. The dynamics of the organic linker, breaking the C_3h symmetry, allowed for reversible twist and sliding between interpenetrated frames upon temperature change and the inclusion of small molecules. Introduction of 28 wt% imidazole into the pores of MOF-217, 28% Im-in-MOF-217, resulted in four orders of magnitude increase in proton conductivity, due to the appropriate accommodation of imidazole molecules and their proton transfer facilitated by the H-bond to the MOF structure across the pores. This MOF-based proton conductor can be operated at 100 °C with a proton conductivity of 1.1 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹, standing among the best performing anhydrous MOF proton conductors at elevated temperature. The interframe dynamics represents a unique feature of MOFs that can be accessed in the future design of proton conductors.

Twist and sliding dynamics observed in a titanium catecholate MOF induced by imidazole for efficient proton conduction.     

Cross‐Linked Aptamer–Lipid Micelles for Excellent Stability and Specificity in Target‐Cell Recognition

The specific binding ability of DNA–lipid micelles (DLMs) can be increased by the introduction of an aptamer. However, supramolecular micellar structures based on self‐assemblies of amphiphilic DLMs are expected to demonstrate low stability when interacting with cell membranes under certain conditions, which could lead to a reduction in selectivity for targeting cancer cells. We herein report a straightforward cross‐linking strategy that relies on a methacrylamide branch to link aptamer and lipid segments. By an efficient photoinduced polymerization process, covalently linked aptamer–lipid units help stabilize the micelle structure and enhance aptamer probe stability, further improving the targeting ability of the resulting nanoassembly. Besides the development of a facile cross‐linking method, this study clarifies the relationship between aptamer–lipid concentration and the corresponding binding ability.     

醇预处理载体制备的 Ir-Re/SiO2催化剂上甘油氢解反应

甘油是生物柴油的副产物,将其转化为高附加值的化学品,能提高生物柴油产业的经济性.1,3-丙二醇是聚酯和聚氨酯的单体,也用于合成医药和用作有机合成中间体,甘油直接催化氢解反应制1,3-丙二醇极具发展潜力.另外,甘油是生物质转化的重要平台分子之一,与目标产物的分子结构相比较,生物质平台分子通常含有过多的含氧基团,尤其是多余的羟基,通过甘油氢解反应研究多羟基的选择性活化和脱除,可以加深对生物质脱氧规律的认识.因此,研究甘油氢解反应制1,3-丙二醇催化剂和工艺,不仅具有潜在的应用前景,而且具有重要理论价值.然而,目前的甘油氢解催化剂性能还不够高,我们希望通过一些表面改性的方法处理载体硅胶,从而改变金属前驱体与载体表面的作用.因此,本文使用 C1–C4的正构醇处理硅胶载体,其负载的 Ir-Re催化剂上甘油氢解反应转化率从42.7%提高到59.5%,仲羟基脱除收率从21.6%提高到28.3%.研究发现,当处理载体所用正构醇的碳数从1增加到3时,对应催化剂上甘油转化率逐渐增加至最高;但当使用更正丁醇时,对应催化剂上甘油转化率下降.为了探究催化剂活性改变的原因,我们首先采用红外光谱(FT-IR)和氮气物理吸附确定烷氧基基团嫁接到硅胶载体上.程序升温还原结果发现,预处理载体相应的催化剂开始还原温度降低,表明在这些催化剂上形成了颗粒尺寸较小的Ir粒子. X-射线衍射分析发现,在新鲜的和使用后的催化剂上均未检测出Re物种的衍射峰,说明Re高度分散于催化剂表面.吸附吡啶的FT-IR结果表明,未处理和丙醇预处理硅胶负载的催化剂上均没有强酸位,它们的B/L酸比值相近,约为3.3.催化剂的吸附COFT-IR结果表明, CO线性吸附于Ir/SiO2催化剂上的主要吸收峰位置在2084 cm–1;而Re的加入使得该吸收峰红移,表明Ir和ReOx物种之间存在相互作用.透射电镜(TEM)、H2-程序升温脱附和NH3-程序升温脱附结果发现,醇预处理催化剂上具有更多的Ir-ReOx界面,而界面位点的数量与甘油转化率大小一致,表明Ir-ReOx位点可能就是甘油氢解的活性中心.反应后催化剂的TEM结果表明,醇预处理催化剂上的Ir颗粒要小于未处理催化剂的,其中丙醇预处理硅胶负载的催化剂上Ir粒径最小.这是由于醇处理催化剂上存在很多孤立的Si–OH,它们与金属前驱体相互作用有利于形成较小的金属颗粒.这些孤立的Si-OH则是由于表面烷氧基基团的隔离作用所形成的.当处理载体所用正构醇的碳数从1增加到3时,烷氧基的碳链变长,分隔作用越好,阻止金属前驱体聚集的程度越强,因而Ir物种和Re物种的分散度增加.但是当处理醇的碳数增加到4时,形成的表面烷氧基基团可能阻止了Re物种和Ir物种间相互作用,从而使得Ir和Re物种的分散度均降低,相应催化剂活性随之降低.