Structural variation from trinuclears to 1D chains: Syntheses,structures and properties

Five complexes [Co₃(Hpmad)₆]·(4‐sb)₂·(CH₃COO)₂·(H₂O)₂ ( 1 ), [Co₃(Hpmad)₆]·(3‐sb)₂·(CH₃COO)₂·(H₂O)_0.5 ( 2 ), [Co(Hpmad)₂(4‐sb)]_n ( 3 ), [Co(Hpmad)₂(3‐sb)]_n ( 4 ) and {[Co(Hpmad)(SO₄)(H₂O)₂]·H₂O}_n ( 5 ) [Hpmad is 2‐pyrimidineamidoxime, H₂(4‐sb) is 4‐sulfobenzoic acid and H₂(3‐sb) is 3‐sulfobenzoic acid], were prepared at room temperature. Complexes 1 – 5 were characterized by elemental analyses, single crystal X‐ray diffractions, powder X‐ray diffractions, infrared spectra, thermogravimetric analyses, fluorescence spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Complexes 1 and 2 possess the linear trinuclear Co²⁺ structures. Complexes 3 and 4 exhibit similar one‐dimensional (1D) chains. Complex 5 comprises the 1D helical chain. The change of anion in cobalt salt from CH₃COO^? to Cl^? to SO₄^2? leads to the structural evolution from the linear trinuclear Co²⁺ structure to the 1D chain to the 1D helical chain. Complexes 1 – 5 exhibit the Hpmad‐based emissions. The magnetic properties of 1–5 were also investigated.     

A novel form-stable paraffin-based hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene binder containing microencapsulated paraffin wax

Leakage and incompatibility of paraffin wax (PW) in hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) binders is a major obstacle to its application in polymer-bonded explosives (PBX). In order to solve this issue, we designed a microencapsulated PW (MePW)/PW/HTPB composite in this paper. Melamine–formaldehyde-shelled MePW (MF MePW)/PW/HTPB composites with different contents of MePW and PW were prepared by cast molding method. The chemical composition, crystallinity and microstructure of MePW/PW/HTPB composites were analyzed with Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope, respectively. The results showed that PW and MF MePW have been uniformly dispersed in HTPB without any chemical interaction. Moreover, differential scanning calorimeter analysis, thermal gravimetric analyzer, thermal cycling test, leaking test, tensile and compressive test were used to investigate the thermal and mechanical properties of these composites. The composites have high latent heat and good thermal reliability. The thermal stability, tensile and compressive strength of MePW/PW/HTPB composites were dramatically increased with the increasing mass fraction of MePW. The introduction of MePW can obviously prevent the leakage of PW in both HTPB binders and PBX. Consequently, it is anticipated that MePW can be used in the next-generation of paraffin-based high-temperature PBX systems.

     

Joint Remote Preparation of an Arbitrary Two-Qubit State in Noisy Environments

Utilizing a general joint remote state preparation (JRSP) model, we investigate the JRSP of an arbitrary two-qubit quantum state in noisy environments. Two important decoherence noise models, the amplitude-damping noise and the phase-damping noise, have been considered in our paper. Our investigation of the noisy environment mainly focuses on the process of distributing the channel state. We use fidelity to describe how close the output state with the prepared state are, and how much information has been lost in the transmission. Interestingly, studies show that, if the initial state is successfully prepared, the fidelities in these two cases will only depend on the amplitude parameter of the initial state and the decoherence noisy rate, but have nothing to do with the phase information. Finally, we make some discussions for these two cases to show that in which noisy environment more information will be lost.     

A mild CuI-catalyzed Glaser-type homo-coupling reaction using α,α-dibromo-β-dicarbonyl compounds as oxidants

Exploration of α,α-dibromo-β-dicarbonyl compounds as novel organic oxidants for the mild Cu(I)-catalyzed Glaser-type homo-coupling reaction has been achieved, which provides an alternatively efficient pathway for the construction of 1,3-conjugated structures. In addition, the mechanism of this reaction was investigated.     

From Lead Iodide to a Radical Form Lead‐Iodide Superlattice: High Conductance Gain and Broader Band for Photoconductive Response

Superlattice materials offer new opportunities to modify optical and electrical properties of recently emerging 2D materials. The insertion of tetraethylbenzidine (EtDAB) into interlamination of the established 2D PbI₂ semiconductor through a mild solution method yielded the first lead iodide superlattice, EtDAB?4PbI₂ (EtDAB=tetraethylbenzidine), with radical and non‐radical forms. The non‐radical form has a non‐ionic structure that differs from the common ionic structures for inorganic–organic hybrid lead halides. The radical form shows five orders of magnitude greater conductance and broader photoconductive response range (UV/Vis → UV/Vis‐IR), than pure PbI₂ and the non‐radical form of the superlattice.     

Dioxomolybdenum(VI) complex covalently attached to amino‐modified graphene oxide: heterogeneous catalyst for the epoxidation of alkenes

Transition metal salen complex MoO₂–salen was successfully tethered onto amino‐functionalized graphene oxide (designated as MoO₂–salen–GO), which was tested in the epoxidation of various alkenes using tert‐butylhydroperoxide or H₂O₂ as oxidant. Characterization results showed that dioxomolybdenum(VI) complex was successfully grafted onto the amino‐functionalized graphene oxide and the structure of the graphene oxide was well preserved after several stepwise synthesis procedures. Catalytic tests showed that heterogeneous catalyst MoO₂–salen–GO was more active than its homogeneous analogue MoO₂–salen in the epoxidation of cyclooctene due to site isolation. In addition, the MoO₂–salen–GO catalyst could be reused three times without significant loss of activity. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Foldable Detergents for Membrane Protein Study: Importance of Detergent Core Flexibility in Protein Stabilization

Membrane proteins are of biological and pharmaceutical significance. However, their structural study is extremely challenging mainly due to the fact that only a small number of chemical tools are suitable for stabilizing membrane proteins in solution. Detergents are widely used in membrane protein study, but conventional detergents are generally poor at stabilizing challenging membrane proteins such as G protein-coupled receptors and protein complexes. In the current study, we prepared tandem triazine-based maltosides (TZMs) with two amphiphilic triazine units connected by different diamine linkers, hydrazine (TZM−Hs) and 1,2-ethylenediamine (TZM−Es). These TZMs were consistently superior to a gold standard detergent (DDM) in terms of stabilizing a few membrane proteins. In addition, the TZM−Es containing a long linker showed more general protein stabilization efficacy with multiple membrane proteins than the TZM−Hs containing a short linker. This result indicates that introduction of the flexible1,2-ethylenediamine linker between two rigid triazine rings enables the TZM−Es to fold into favourable conformations in order to promote membrane protein stability. The novel concept of detergent foldability introduced in the current study has potential in rational detergent design and membrane protein applications.     

Enhanced electrochemical properties of a novel polyvinyl formal membrane supporting gel polymer electrolyte by Al2O3 modification

Polyvinyl formal (PVFM)‐based dense polymer membranes with nano‐Al₂O₃ doping are prepared via phase inversion method. The membranes and also their performances as gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) for lithium ion battery are studied by field emission scanning electron microscope, X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, mechanical strength test, electrolyte uptake test, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and charge–discharge test. The polymer membrane with 3 wt % nano‐Al₂O₃ doping shows the improved mechanical strength of 12.16 MPa and electrolyte uptake of 431.25% compared with 10.47 MPa and 310.59% of the undoped sample, respectively. The membrane absorbs and swells liquid electrolyte to form stable GPE with ionic conductivity of 4.92 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 at room temperature, which is higher than 1.77 × 10^?4 S cm^?1 of GPE from the undoped membrane. Moreover, the Al₂O₃‐modified membrane supporting GPE exhibits wide electrochemical stability window of 1.2–4.8 V (vs. Li/Li⁺) and good compatibility with LiFePO₄ electrode, which implies Al₂O₃‐modified PVFM‐based GPE to be a promising candidate for lithium ion batteries. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 572–577