A Molecular Cable Car for Transmembrane Ion Transport

The controlled transport of molecular and ionic substrates across bilayer membranes is a fundamental task for the operation of living organisms. It is also a highly fascinating and demanding challenge for artificial molecular machines. The recent report of a synthetic transmembrane molecular shuttle that can transport potassium ions selectively down a gradient in a liposomal system makes a small but significant step towards this goal.     

Cyclohexane‐1,3‐dione as a derivatizing agent for the analysis of aldehydes by micelar electrokinetic chromatography with diode array detection

Aldehydes are important compounds in a large number of samples, especially food and beverages. In this work, for the first time, cyclohexane‐1,3‐dione (CHD) was used as a derivatizing reagent aiming aldehyde (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, and valeraldehyde) analysis by MEKC‐DAD. The optimized separation of the derivates was performed using a voltage program (+20 kV, 0–15 min.; +23 kV, 15–17 min.) at a temperature of 26°C, and using as the running buffer a mixture containing 100 mmol/L of sodium dodecyl sulfate and 29 mmol/L of sodium tetraborate at pH 9.2, with maximum absorbance at 260 nm. CHD was compared with two other derivatizing agents: 3‐methyl‐2‐benzothiazolinone hydrazone and phenylhydrazine‐4‐sulfonic acid. The CHD‐aldehyde derivatives were also characterized by LC‐MS. The calibration curves for all aldehydes had r² above 0.999 and LODs ranged from 0.01 to 0.7 mg/L. The optimized methodology was applied in sugar cane brandy (cachaça) samples successfully. CHD showed to be an alternative derivatization reagent due to its stability, aqueous solubility, high selectivity and sensitivity, reduced impurities, and simple preparation steps.     

Design and Synthesis of Imidazole and Triazole Pyrazoles as Mycobacterium Tuberculosis CYP121A1 Inhibitors

The emergence of untreatable drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a major public health problem worldwide, and the identification of new efficient treatments is urgently needed. Mycobacterium tuberculosis cytochrome P450 CYP121A1 is a promising drug target for the treatment of tuberculosis owing to its essential role in mycobacterial growth. Using a rational approach, which includes molecular modelling studies, three series of azole pyrazole derivatives were designed through two synthetic pathways. The synthesized compounds were biologically evaluated for their inhibitory activity towards M. tuberculosis and their protein binding affinity (K_D). Series 3 biarylpyrazole imidazole derivatives were the most effective with the isobutyl ( 10 f ) and tert-butyl ( 10 g ) compounds displaying optimal activity (MIC 1.562 μg/mL, K_D 0.22 μM ( 10 f ) and 4.81 μM ( 10 g )). The spectroscopic data showed that all the synthesised compounds produced a type II red shift of the heme Soret band indicating either direct binding to heme iron or (where less extensive Soret shifts are observed) putative indirect binding via an interstitial water molecule. Evaluation of biological and physicochemical properties identified the following as requirements for activity: LogP >4, H-bond acceptors/H-bond donors 4/0, number of rotatable bonds 5–6, molecular volume >340 ų, topological polar surface area <40 Ų.     

Catalytic properties of mesoporous materials supported heteropoly acids for Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclic ketones

Three mesoporous molecular sieves loaded silicotungstic acids, named HSiW/SBA-15, HSiW/MCM-41, HSiW/MCM-48, were prepared and characterised by XRD, FT-IR, TEM and SEM. The catalytic performance of the prepared materials for the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclic ketones was carried out in the presence of 30%H₂O₂ under mild conditions. These loading materials were proved to be efficient and reusable catalysts, they all exhibited excellent catalytic performance for the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclic ketones with 30% H₂O₂ as oxidant. Many cyclic ketones were efficiently converted to the corresponding lactones with up to 90% conversions and high selectivities under the optimum reaction conditions.

Cyclic ketones were efficiently oxidised by mesoporous materials sopported silicotungstic acid to the corresponding lactones with 30%H₂O₂ as oxidant. All of the catalysts showed promising recyclability in the reactions.     

A Structurally Robust Chiral Borate Ion: Molecular Design,Synthesis, and Asymmetric Catalysis

Catalysis by chiral weakly‐coordinating anions (WCAs) remains underdeveloped due to the lack of a molecular design strategy for exploiting their characteristics, such as the non‐nucleophilic nature. Here, we report the development of a chiral borate ion comprising an O,N,N,O‐tetradentate backbone, which ensures hitherto unattainable structural robustness. Upon pairing with a proton, the hydrogen borate acts as an effective catalyst for the asymmetric Prins‐type cyclization of vinyl ethers, providing access to structurally and stereochemically defined dihydropyrans. The key to selectivity control is the distinct ability of the borate ion to discriminate the prochiral faces of the acyclic oxonium ion intermediate and dictate the regiochemical outcome. We anticipate that this study paves the way for exploring the untapped potential of WCA catalysis for selective chemical synthesis.     

A Chemically Soldered Polyoxometalate Single-Molecule Transistor

Polyoxometalates have been proposed in the literature as nanoelectronic components, where they could offer key advantages with their structural versatility and rich electrochemistry. Apart from a few studies on their ensemble behaviour (as monolayers or thin films), this potential remains largely unexplored. We synthesised a pyridyl-capped Anderson–Evans polyoxometalate and used it to fabricate single-molecule junctions, using the organic termini to chemically “solder” a single cluster to two nanoelectrodes. Operating the device in an electrochemical environment allowed us to probe charge transport through different oxidation states of the polyoxometalate, and we report here an efficient three-state transistor behaviour. Conductance data fits a quantum tunnelling mechanism with different charge-transport probabilities through different charge states. Our results show the promise of polyoxometalates in nanoelectronics and give an insight on their single-entity electrochemical behaviour.     

Reverse Thinking of the Aggregation-Induced Emission Principle: Amplifying Molecular Motions to Boost Photothermal Efficiency of Nanofibers**

Using reverse thinking of the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) principle, we demonstrate an ingenious and universal protocol for amplifying molecular motions to boost photothermal efficiency of fibers. Core–shell nanofibers having the olive oil solution of AIE-active molecules as the core surrounded by PVDF-HFP shell were constructed by coaxial electrospinning. The molecularly dissolved state of AIE-active molecules allows them to freely rotate and/or vibrate in nanofibers upon photoexcitation and thus significantly elevates the proportion of non-radiative energy dissipation, affording impressive heat-generating efficiency. Photothermal evaluation shows that the core–shell nanofibers with excellent durability can reach up to 22.36 % of photothermal conversion efficiency, which is 26-fold as the non-core–shell counterpart. Such a core–shell fiber can be used for photothermal textiles and solar steam generation induced by natural sunlight with green and carbon-zero emission.     

Manipulating Light-Induced Dynamic Macro-Movement and Static Photonic Properties within 1D Isostructural Hydrogen-Bonded Molecular Cocrystals

Smart molecular crystals with light-driven mechanical responses have received interest owing to their potential uses in molecular machines, artificial muscles, and biomimetics. However, challenges remain in control over both the dynamic photo-mechanical behaviors and static photonic properties of molecular crystals based on the same molecule. Herein, we show the construction of isostructural co-crystals allows their light-induced cracking and jumping behaviors (photosalient effect) to be controlled. Hydrogen-bonded co-crystals from 4-(1-naphthylvinyl)pyridine ( NVP ) with co-formers (tetrafluoro-4-hydroxybenzoic acid ( THA ) and tetrafluorobenzoic acid ( TA )) crystallize as isostructural crystals, but have different static and dynamic photo-mechanical behaviors. These differences are due to alternations in the orientation of NVP and hydrogen-bonding modes of the co-formers. After light activation, the 1D NVP-TA crystal splits and shears off within 1 s. For NVP-THA , its photostability and high quantum yield give novel photonic properties, including low optical waveguide loss, highly polarized anisotropy, and efficient up-conversion fluorescence.     

铋化物发光玻璃中银表面等离激元对铒离子的发光增强作用

局域表面等离激元可以由自由空间的光直接激发,这也是局域表面等离激元的优点所在。研究铋化物发光玻璃中纳米银颗粒的表面等离激元对铒离子发光的增强效应、进一步的提高铋化物发光玻璃中铒离子的发光性能很有意义。首先,测量了(A)Er 3+(0.5%)Ag(0.5%):铋化物发光玻璃与(B)Er 3+(0.5%):铋化物发光玻璃样品的吸收谱,发现(A)Er 3+(0.5%)Ag(0.5%):铋化物发光玻璃在约600.0 nm处有一个较弱的宽的银表面等离激元共振吸收峰。同时发现两者都有典型的铒离子的吸收峰,它们的吸收几乎完全一样:在波峰形状、峰值强度和峰值波长等方面都很相近。测量了(A)Er 3+(0.5%)Ag(0.5%):铋化物发光玻璃和(B)Er 3+(0.5%):铋化物发光玻璃样品的激发谱,发现有位于379.0,406.0,451.0,488.0和520.5 nm的5个550.0 nm可见光的可见激发谱峰,和位于379.0,406.5,451.0,488.5,520.5,544.0,651.5和798.0 nm的8个1531.0 nm红外光的红外激发谱峰,容易指认出依次为Er 3+的4I 15/2→4G 11/2,4I 15/2→2H 9/2,4I 15/2→(4F 3/2,4F 5/2),4I 15/2→4F 7/2,4I 15/2→2H 11/2,4I 15/2→4S 3/2,4I 15/2→4F 9/2和4I 15/2→4I 9/2跃迁的吸收峰,通过测量发现(A)Er 3+(0.5%)Ag(0.5%):铋化物发光玻璃相对于(B)Er 3+(0.5%):铋化物发光玻璃样品的可见和红外激发谱的最大增强依次分别是238%和133%。最后,测量了它们的发光谱,发现有位于534.0,547.5和658.5 nm的三组可见发光峰,容易指认出依次为Er 3+的2H 11/2→4I 15/2,4S 3/2→4I 15/2,4F 9/2→4I 15/2荧光跃迁。还发现红外发光峰位于978.0和1531.0 nm,依次为Er 3+的4I 11/2→4I 15/2和4I 13/2→4I 15/2的荧光跃迁。通过测量发现(A)Er 3+(0.5%)Ag(0.5%):铋化物发光玻璃相对于(B)Er 3+(0.5%):铋化物发光玻璃样品的可见和红外发光谱的最大增强依次分别是215%和138%。对于银表面等离激元增强铒离子发光的机理,认为主要为纳米银颗粒的局域表面等离激元共振,造成金属纳米结构附近产生的局域电场的强度要远大于入射光的电场强度,从而导致了金属纳米结构对入射光产生强烈的吸收和散射,进而导致了荧光的增强;即局域表面等离子体共振局域场的场增强效应。