Enhancement of Visible-Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution Activity of 2D π-Conjugated Bipyridine-Based Covalent Organic Frameworks via Post-Protonation

Photocatalytic hydrogen (H₂) evolution represents a promising and sustainable technology. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs)-based photocatalysts have received growing attention. A 2D fully conjugated ethylene-linked COF (BTT-BPy-COF) was fabricated with a dedicated designed active site. The introduced bipyridine sites enable a facile post-protonation strategy to fine-tune the actives sites, which results in a largely improved charge-separation efficiency and increased hydrophilicity in the pore channels synergically. After modulating the degree of protonation, the optimal BTT-BPy-PCOF exhibits a remarkable H₂ evolution rate of 15.8 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under visible light, which surpasses the biphenyl-based COF 6 times. By using different types of acids, the post-protonation is proved to be a potential universal strategy for promoting photocatalytic H₂ evolution. This strategy would provide important guidance for the design of highly efficient organic semiconductor photocatalysts.     

Protonation of the lithio derivatives of the 1,2,4-tri-phosphaferrocenes, [LiFe(η-P2C2Bu2PBu)(η-C5R5)] (R = H, Me): Crystal and molecular structure of [Fe(η-P3C2Bu2BuH)(η-C5Me5)]

A new synthetic route is described to generate the 4-centre-5 electron donor ring system (P₃C₂^tBu₂BuH), via protonation of the lithium salts [LiFe(η⁴-P₂C₂^tBu₂PBu)(η⁵-C₅R₅)] (R = H, Me). The molecular structure of [Fe(η⁴-P₃C₂^tBu₂BuH)(η⁵-C₅R₅)] (R = Me) has been determined by a single crystal X-ray study.     

Study of the cyclen derivative 2-[1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecan-1-yl]-ethanethiol and its complexation behaviour towards d-transition metal ions

The compound 2-[1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecan-1-yl]-ethanethiol (L2) has been synthesized and characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Its thiol-protected precursor L1 has also been isolated and characterized, including by X-ray structural analysis. The protonation constants of L2 were determined by potentiometric methods at 25.0 °C and 0.10 mol dm⁻³ KNO₃ ionic strength. ¹³C NMR studies and 2D NMR spectra recorded at different pD values have been used to analyse its protonation scheme. Stability constants of L2 with Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ were also determined by potentiometry, and the Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes were studied in solution by NMR, UV–Vis, and EPR spectroscopies. The pM values (pH 7.4) calculated for the metal complexes of L2 are higher than the corresponding values found for cyclen and cyclam, but the selectivity of L2 for Cu²⁺ is low.     

分子梭协助离子跨膜运输的机理研究

采用增强采样分子动力学模拟研究了一轮烷型分子梭协助K⁺跨膜转运的机制, 该轮烷由两亲性的轴和套在轴上的大冠醚环及连接在大冠醚环上的小冠醚环构成, 轴上有3个带正电的结合位点. 通过计算穿梭过程的自由能变化, 探索了溶剂(氯仿、 乙腈、 水、 氯仿-乙腈)以及中间结合位点对该轮烷穿梭运动的影响, 并分析了中间位点在其携带K⁺穿越细胞膜(采用水-氯仿-水模拟)过程中的重要作用. 结果表明, 改变溶剂不会改变轮烷(不携带K⁺)的运动模式, 但随着溶剂极性的增加穿梭所需克服的自由能能垒显著降低; 在氯仿-乙腈混合溶剂中, 中间结合位点的质子化状态, 不影响轮烷(不携带K⁺)的穿梭能垒; 然而在模拟细胞膜的环境中, 该结合位点的质子化与去质子化相比大幅降低了穿梭的能垒, 促进了K⁺的跨膜转运, 表明中间位点的质子化对于离子转运至关重要, 进一步分析表明轮烷中大环穿梭和小环摆动的协同作用, 也是加速离子跨膜转运的另一关键因素.     

Synthesis of carboxylic acids based on the closo-decaborate anion

A series of new boron-containing carboxylic acids was prepared by the ring-opening reaction of cyclic oxonium derivatives of the closo-decaborate anion [B₁₀H₁₀]²⁻ with methyl esters of hydroxybenzoic acids or the cyanide anion followed by hydrolysis of the obtained nitrile and esters. Acid hydrolysis of the esters results in protonation of the oxygen atom connected to the boron cage, with the formation of the corresponding O-protonated acids, isolated in the solid state. The compounds synthesized can be used in radionuclide diagnostics and boron neutron capture therapy of cancer.     

微量光度滴定法测定咔咯化合物的质子化和去质子化常数

采用微量光度滴定法测定了两种具有不同取代基的新型咔咯化合物,三(4-氯苯基)咔咯(化合物1)和三(2,4-二氯苯基)咔咯(化合物2)在非水溶剂中的质子化和去质子化常数。结果表明:化合物1和化合物2在二氯甲烷中均可以与三氟乙酸反应得到一个质子生成正一价阳离子,其质子化常数(lgKb)分别为4.2和4.0。在甲醇溶液中,化合物1和化合物2与氢氧化钠反应时可以失去一个质子生成负一价阴离子,其去质子化常数(lgKa)分别为3.4和3.5。而在二氯甲烷中与碱反应时,化合物1和化合物2均能够一步失去两个质子生成负二价阴离子,其累积去质子化常数(lgβ2)分别为7.9和11.0。     

Mesomorphic and optical properties of undoped and doped azomethines

Three calamitic azomethines were prepared by the condensation of the benzene-1,4-dicarboxaldehyde with the three aliphatic amines (LCOA1–LCOA3). The structures of the azomethines were characterized by means of FTIR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectroscopies and elemental analysis; the results showed an agreement with the proposed structure. The azomethines emitted blue or green light. An influence of n-decyl sulfonic acid (DSA) on mesomorphic behaviors, absorption and emission wavelengths was investigated. The liquid crystalline properties of the azomethines were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and wide and small angle X-ray diffraction (WAXS and SAXS). The mesomorphic properties of the compounds depend on both the length of the outer flexible spacers and the kind of connection between the alkyl groups and the imine group, i.e. directly via aliphatic chain or by phenyl ring. LCOA1–LCOA2 exhibited smectic and nematic phases, whereas the LCOA3 did not exhibit thermotropic liquid crystal properties. Basing on the comparison of thermal behaviors and optoelectronic properties of undoped (LCOAX) and doped (LCOAX/DSA) azomethines it was shown that ionic self-organized processes are powerful and are able to tune: i) the processability, ii) the LC behavior, and iii) the maximum of emission band of the synthesized azomethines.     

一种天然产物Wangzaozin A的细胞毒活性

从总序香茶菜Isodon racemosa (Hemsl) Hara植物中分离得到一个对人类肿瘤细胞Bel-7402和HD-8910具有毒活性的对映-贝壳衫烷型二萜Wangzaozin A化合物(1). 应用密度泛函理论(DFT)B3LYP方法, 对该分子的几何构型进行优化, 结果表明用B3LYP/6-31G(d)优化的几何参数与它的X射线衍射结构参数基本一致. 在优化的几何构型基础上, 采用规范不变原子轨道(GIAO)法, 在B3LYP理论水平分别用6-31G(d), 6-31G(d,p), 6-31+G(d,p)和6-31++G(d,p)基组进行核磁共振(NMR)化学位移值计算, 预测的1H和13CNMR化学位移值与实验值吻合; 统计误差分析表明, 用B3LYP/6-31G(d)优化的分子构型接近实际的分子构型. 因此, DFT方法适用这一类型化合物的构型和NMR参数进行预测. 在几何优化的基础上, 在B3LYP/6-31G(d)水平上, 对Wangzaozin A分子的静电位(MEP)进行理论计算. MEP三维图表明, 在Wangzaozin A分子中α-亚甲基环戊酮的羰基和羟基附近出现富电子区域(负电位), 起着供电子作用, 与受体的正电子区域结合. 这些结果从理论上支持了α-亚甲基环戊酮结构是一种抗肿瘤活性中心的看法.     

Good correlation between the calculated gas-phase first proton macroaffinities of some triazacycloalkanes ([X]aneN3, X = 9–12) with their protonation constants in solution

A theoretical study on first protonation step of a series of triazacycloalkanes with general formula {([X]aneN₃, X = 9–12)} (X = 9, L222; X = 10, L223; X = 11, L233; X = 12, L333) is reported. The geometry of all ligands and their monoprotonated forms were fully optimized at both the Hartree–Fock and DFT (B3LYP) levels of theory using 6-31+G* basis set. Then the first proton macroaffinities were calculated from the proton microaffinities according to defined equations. It is shown that there are good correlations between the calculated gas-phase first proton macroaffinities of these ligands with their protonation constants in solution.     

反式双氧锰(V)咔咯配合物的稳定性

采用密度泛函理论(DFT)的B3LYP方法对反式双氧锰(V)咔咯配合物阴离子的稳定性及其质子化物种进行了理论计算. 结果表明: 反式双氧锰(V)咔咯配合物阴离子构型稳定, 其反式双氧锰键O=Mn=O由锰原子的d轨道与两个氧原子的p轨道分别构成一个σ轨道和两个π轨道; 随着外围取代基吸电性增强, O=Mn=O键长缩短, 拉曼伸缩振动频率增大; 其质子化过程中得到两个质子的轴向氧原子与锰原子的距离超出正常化学键的范围, 从而形成水分子并脱离原来分子, 导致质子化行为是不可逆过程, 而形成单氧的咔咯锰(V)-氧配合物.