Mechanism of Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Conia‐ene Reaction of β‐Ketoesters with Alkynes: A DFT Study

Density functional calculations have been performed to comparatively investigate two possible pathways of Au(I)‐catalyzed Conia‐ene reaction of β‐ketoesters with alkynes. Our studies find that, under the assistance of trifluoromethanesulfonate (TfO), the β‐ketoester is the most likely to undergo Model II to isomerize into its enol form, in which TfO plays a proton transfer role through a 6‐membered ring transition state. The coordination of the Au(I) catalyst to the alkynes triple bond can enhance the eletrophilic capability and reaction activity of the alkynes moiety, which triggers the nucleophilic addition of the enol moiety on the alkynes moiety to give a vinyl‐Au intermediate. This cycloisomerizaion step is exothermal by 21.3 kJ/mol with an energy barrier of 56.0 kJ/mol. In the whole catalytic process, the protonation of vinyl‐Au is almost spontaneous, and the formation of enol is a rate‐limiting step. The generation of enol and the activation of Au(I) catalyst on the alkynes are the key reasons why the Conia‐ene reaction can occur in mild condition. These calculations support that Au(I)‐catalyzed Conia‐ene reactions of β‐ketoesters with alkynes go through the pathway 2 proposed by Toste.     

A low dielectric constant polyimide/polyoxometalate composite

A silane‐modified mono‐lacunary Keggin‐type polyoxometalate (POM), (Bu₄N)₄[SiW₁₁O₃₉{(CH₂?CH? Si)₂O}] (SiW₁₁? CH?CH₂), was obtained by reaction of vinyltrimethoxysilane with K₈(SiW₁₁O₃₉) in acidic MeCN/H₂O mixed solutions. Then, the modified polyoxometalate was physically blended with the pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA)‐4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA) poly(amic acid) and the blends were thermally imidized to form polyimide/ polyoxometalate composites. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicates that the polyoxometalate clusters cannot form crystalline structures in the composite, suggesting that the blending leads to improved compatibility between the polymer matrix and the modified polyoxometalate. The EDS (W‐mapping) studies on the composite films reveal that the polyoxometalate clusters are well dispersed in the polyimide matrix. The physical incorporation of modified POM into polyimide remarkably reduced the dielectric constant of the latter from 3.29 to 2.05 when 20 wt% of SiW₁₁? CH?CH₂ was used. Besides, the addition of the modified POM into polyimide increased the storage modulus of polyimide without severely affecting its thermal properties. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel ion‐imprinted hydrogel for recognition of potassium ions with rapid response

A novel ion‐imprinted strategy is developed for synthesizing responsive hydrogels with rapid response to potassium ions. With potassium ions as templates, ion‐imprinted poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide‐co‐benzo‐15‐crown‐5‐acrylamide) (P(NIPAM‐co‐B15C5Am)) hydrogels are synthesized with 15‐crown‐5 crown ethers mounted on the polymer networks in pairs; therefore, it is very easy and fast for the crown ethers to capture potassium ions again by their Venus flytrap action and form stable 2:1 “host–guest” complexes with potassium ions in the ion‐recognition process. As a result, the response rate of the ion‐imprinted hydrogels to potassium ions is significantly faster than that of normal P(NIPAM‐co‐B15C5Am) hydrogels in which 15‐crown‐5 crown ethers are randomly pendent on the polymeric networks. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

3,4‐Dihydroxy‐L‐phenylalanine for Preparation of Gold Nanoparticles and as Electron Transfer Promoter in H2O2 Biosensor

3,4‐Dihydroxy‐L ‐phenylalanine (dopa) and 2‐(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)ethylamine (dopamine) were investigated as reducing agent and stabilizer for synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) by one‐pot heating of a solution of HAuCl₄/dopa or dopamine. AuNPs with different sizes were obtained by controlling the mass ratios of HAuCl₄/dopa or dopamine. The formation mechanism for AuNPs was also proposed. Immobilization of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and promotion of its electron transfer by polydopa film were investigated for preparation of H₂O₂ biosensor. Alkaline dopa solution was dropped onto a gold electrode for the formation of polydopa film. HRP was immobilized on the polydopa film through interactions between heme centre of HRP and the amine and carboxyl groups in polydopa. The AuNPs embedded in the polydopa film improved the electron transfer efficiency. These two factors allowed successful development of a H₂O₂ sensor with HRP@polydopa‐AuNPs electrode. Due to its biocompatibility, the polydopa‐AuNPs film provided good retention of enzyme activity and long‐term stability of the sensor. A rapid catalytic response (3 s) and a linear range from 0.006 to 5.0 mmol L^?1 were obtained for H₂O₂. This facile preparation strategy can be extended to other enzyme‐based biosensors.     

High throughput identification of components from traditional Chinese medicine herbs by utilizing graphene or graphene oxide as MALDI-TOF-MS matrix

In this work, graphene or graphene oxide was utilized, for the first time, to identify small molecular components from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs, by acting as matrix of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Due to the large surface area of graphene or graphene oxide, the analytes were trapped tightly to the matrix, which avoids the contamination of the ion source and vacuum system. Besides, their excellent electronic, thermal and mechanical properties make them desired matrices for MALDI-TOF-MS. Stable analysis was achieved with no background inference even at the concentration of 100 nM. Moreover, the limit of detection (LOD) could be greatly lowered by utilizing graphene or graphene oxide as a pre-enrichment adsorbent. In summary, the promoted MALDI-TOF-MS methodology was demonstrated to be simple, sensitive, fast, cost effective and, most importantly, high throughput.     

Pseudoceramines A-D, new antibacterial bromotyrosine alkaloids from the marine sponge Pseudoceratina sp

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the CH(2)Cl(2)/MeOH extract of the Australian marine sponge Pseudoceratina sp. resulted in the purification of four new bromotyrosine alkaloids, pseudoceramines A-D (1-4), along with a known natural product, spermatinamine (5). The structures of 1-5 were determined by spectroscopic methods. Pseudoceramines A (1) and B (2) feature a rare bromotyrosyl-spermine-bromotyrosyl sequence, and pseudoceramine C (3) is the first example of bromotyrosine coupled with an N-methyl derivative of spermidine. Compounds 1-5 were screened for inhibition of toxin secretion by the type III secretion (T3S) pathway in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Compounds 2 and 5 inhibited secretion of the Yersinia outer protein YopE (IC(50) = 19 and 6 μM, respectively) and the enzyme activity of YopH (IC(50) = 33 and 6 μM, respectively).     

A ratiometric fluorescent probe for oxalate based on alkyne-conjugated carboxamidoquinolines in aqueous solution and imaging in living cells

A novel ratiometric fluorescent probe for oxalic acid was designed and synthesized, based on the zinc-containing [DAQZ@2Zn(2+)] complex. It shows highly selective "on-off" fluorescence changes with a more than 20 nm blue shift in wavelength for oxalic acids in aqueous solution. Moreover, it can fluorescently respond to oxalic acid in living cells.     

N-heterocyclic amine-directed structures and properties of two Cu(II) diphosphonates

By introducing the second organic N-heterocyclic ligands 4'-(4-pyridyl)-4,2':6',4'-terpyridine (pyterpy) and 4,4'-bipyridyl (4,4'-bipy), two examples of Cu(II)-diphosphonates, [Cu(3)(HL)(2)(Hpyterpy)(2)]·2H(2)O 1 and [Cu(4)(HL)(2)(4,4'-bipy)(H(2)O)(5)] 2 based on 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonic acid (H(5)L = CH(3)C(OH)(PO(3)H(2))(2)), have been hydrothermally obtained and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR, TG-DSC. The single-crystal X-ray diffractions reveal that compound 1 has a one-dimensional fishbone-like chain constructed by anions [Cu(3)(HL)(2)(2-)](n) while simultaneously organic cations [Hpyterpy(+)](n) suspending both sides, and compound 2 exhibits two-dimensional inorganic-organic alternate arrangement layer built from 1-D ladder-like inorganic chain with tetranuclear cluster [Cu(4)O(10)] via 4,4'-bipy linkage. The results of electrochemical measurements indicate half-wave potential of 1 (E(1/2)(1) = 1.01 V) is less than that of 2 (E(1/2)(2) = 1.20 V), indicating a good D-A system in ICT for 1. Moreover fluorescent measurements reveal that emission intensity of 1 centered at 422 nm is larger than that of 2 emitted at 420 nm, caused by intraligand π*-π emission state of organic N-heterocyclic amine (λ(ex) = 233 nm). Magnetism data indicate that compound 1 exhibits ferrimagnetic interactions between metal centers, while compound 2 has antiferromagnetic property.     

Ba5Ga4Se10: a new selenidogallate containing the novel [Ga4Se10](10-) anionic cluster with Ga in a mixed-valence state

The new compound Ba(5)Ga(4)Se(10) has been synthesized for the first time. It crystallizes in the tetragonal space group I4/mcm with a = 8.752(2) ?, c = 13.971(9) ?, and Z = 2. The structure contains discrete [Ga(4)Se(10)](10-) anions and charge-compensating Ba(2+) cations. The novel highly anionic [Ga(4)Se(10)](10-) cluster is composed of two Ga(Se)(4) tetrahedra and two Ga(Ga)(Se)(3) tetrahedra with Ga in the 2+/3+ valence states. It also exhibits an unusually long Ga-Se distance of 2.705(2) ?, which has only been observed under high pressure conditions before. A band gap of 2.20(2) eV was deduced from the UV/vis diffuse reflectance spectrum.     

Anion induced diversification from heptanuclear to tetranuclear clusters: syntheses, structures and magnetic properties

Three new polynuclear complexes, [Co(7)(bm)(12)]·(ClO(4))(2)·13H(2)O (1), [Co(4)(bm)(4)Cl(4)(C(3)H(7)OH)(4)] (2), and [Co(4)(bm)(4)(μ-HCO(2))(2)(μ(2)-HCO(2))(2)(C(3)H(7)OH)(2)] (3) (Hbm = (1H-Benzimidazol)-methanol), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, powder X-ray diffraction and X-ray single-crystal diffraction. Compound 1 features a centrosymmetric wheel-like heptanuclear Co(II) cluster. Compound 2 having a I4(1)/a space group exhibits a tetranuclear Co(II) cluster with a cubane topology in which the central Co(II) ion and oxygen atoms from bm occupy the alternate vertices of the cube. However, compound 3 has a tetranuclear Co(II) cluster with a C2/c space group different from that of compound 2. These results show that the geometries and sizes of the corresponding anions as well as their coordinating and hydrogen-bonding properties are essential in determining the final structures of the assemblies. Magnetic properties of 1-3 in the 2-300 K have also been discussed. The {Co(7)} (1) and {Co(4)} (2) cores display dominant ferromagnetic interactions while the {Co(4)} (3) core displays dominant anti-ferromagnetic interactions.