Bifunctional Iminophosphorane-Catalyzed Enantioselective Nitroalkane Addition to Unactivated α,β-Unsaturated Esters**

Herein we describe the enantioselective intermolecular conjugate addition of nitroalkanes to unactivated α,β-unsaturated esters, catalyzed by a bifunctional iminophosphorane (BIMP) superbase. The transformation provides the most direct access to pharmaceutically relevant enantioenriched γ-nitroesters, utilizing feedstock chemicals, with unprecedented selectivity. The methodology exhibits a broad substrate scope, including β-(fluoro)alkyl, aryl and heteroaryl substituted electrophiles, and was successfully applied on a gram scale with reduced catalyst loading, and, additionally, catalyst recovery was carried out. The formal synthesis of a range of drug molecules, and an enantioselective synthesis of (S)-rolipram were achieved. Additionally, computational studies revealed key reaction intermediates and transition state structures, and provided rationale for high enantioselectivities, in good agreement with experimental results.     

Control of porosity geometry in amino acid derived nanoporous materials

Substitution of the pillaring ligand in the homochiral open-framework [Ni(2)(L-asp)(2)(bipy)] by extended bipy-type ligands leads to a family of layer-structured, homochiral metal-organic frameworks. The 1D channel topology can be modified by the nature of the organic linker, with shape, cross-section and the chemical functionality tuneable. In addition, the volume of these channels can be increased by up to 36 % compared to the parent [Ni(2)(L-asp)(2)(bipy)]. The linker 1,4-dipyridylbenzene (3rbp) gives access to a new layered homochiral framework [Ni(2)(L-asp)(2)(3rbp)] with channels of a different shape. In specific cases, non-porous analogues with the linker also present as a guest can be activated to give porous materials after sublimation. Their CO(2) uptake shows an increase of up to 30 % with respect to the parent [Ni(2)(L-asp)(2)(bipy)] framework.     

Synchrotron X‐ray CT characterization of titanium parts fabricated by additive manufacturing. Part I. Morphology

Synchrotron X‐ray tomography has been applied to the study of titanium parts fabricated by additive manufacturing (AM). The AM method employed here was the Arcam EBM^® (electron beam melting) process which uses powdered titanium alloy, Ti64 (Ti alloy with approximately 6%Al and 4%V), as the feed and an electron beam for the sintering/welding. The experiment was conducted on the Imaging and Medical Beamline of the Australian Synchrotron. Samples were chosen to examine the effect of build direction and complexity of design on the surface morphology and final dimensions of the piece.     

Flexible Hierarchical TiO2/Fe2O3 Composite Membrane with High Separation Efficiency for Surfactant‐Stabilized Oil‐Water Emulsions

Globally, efficient oil‐water separation for surfactant‐stabilized oil‐water emulsions has been in urgent demand. The current options available for separation are neither sustainable nor resistant to fouling. Herein, we introduce a hierarchically nanostructured TiO₂/Fe₂O₃ composite membrane, which is capable of separating surfactant‐stabilized oil‐water emulsions with high separation efficiency. The high oil rejection rate is contributed by the acquisition of an interconnected delicate network and underwater superoleophobic interface. Meanwhile, its self‐cleaning function promote the facile recovery of the contaminated membrane. Furthermore, the mechanical flexible characteristic of the TiO₂/Fe₂O₃ composite membrane widens its applicability in industrial employment. Thanks to these properties, this novel membrane can be considered as a practical option for treating surfactant‐stabilized oil‐water emulsions.     

Predicting class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) binders using multivariate statistics: comparison of discriminant analysis and multiple linear regression

The accurate in silico identification of T-cell epitopes is a critical step in the development of peptide-based vaccines, reagents, and diagnostics. It has a direct impact on the success of subsequent experimental work. Epitopes arise as a consequence of complex proteolytic processing within the cell. Prior to being recognized by T cells, an epitope is presented on the cell surface as a complex with a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) protein. A prerequisite therefore for T-cell recognition is that an epitope is also a good MHC binder. Thus, T-cell epitope prediction overlaps strongly with the prediction of MHC binding. In the present study, we compare discriminant analysis and multiple linear regression as algorithmic engines for the definition of quantitative matrices for binding affinity prediction. We apply these methods to peptides which bind the well-studied human MHC allele HLA-A*0201. A matrix which results from combining results of the two methods proved powerfully predictive under cross-validation. The new matrix was also tested on an external set of 160 binders to HLA-A*0201; it was able to recognize 135 (84%) of them.     

A double quantum (129)Xe NMR experiment for probing xenon in multiply-occupied cavities of solid-state inclusion compounds

A method is presented for detecting multiple xenon atoms in cavities of solid-state inclusion compounds using (129)Xe double quantum NMR spectroscopy. Double quantum filtered (129)Xe NMR spectra, performed on the xenon clathrate of Dianin's compound were obtained under high-resolution Magic-Angle Spinning (MAS) conditions, by recoupling the weak (129)Xe-(129)Xe dipole-dipole couplings that exist between xenon atoms in close spatial proximity. Because the (129)Xe-(129)Xe dipole-dipole couplings are generally weak due to dynamics of the atoms and to large internuclear separations, and since the (129)Xe Chemical Shift Anisotropy (CSA) tends to be relatively large, a very robust dipolar recoupling sequence was necessary, with the symmetry-based SR26 dipolar recoupling sequence proving appropriate. We have also attempted to measure the (129)Xe-(129)Xe dipole-dipole coupling constant between xenon atoms in the cavities of the xenon-Dianin's compound clathrate and have found that the dynamics of the xenon atoms (as investigated with molecular dynamics simulations) as well as (129)Xe multiple spin effects complicate the analysis. The double quantum NMR method is useful for peak assignment in (129)Xe NMR spectra because peaks arising from different types of absorption/inclusion sites or from different levels of occupancy of single sites can be distinguished. The method can also help resolve ambiguities in diffraction experiments concerning the order/disorder in a material.     

An enantioselective Brønsted acid catalyzed enamine Mannich reaction

An enantioselective Br?nsted acid catalyzed Mannich reaction between acetophenone derived enamines and N-Boc imines has been developed. Simple diol (S)-H(8)-BINOL has been identified as the optimal catalyst, to afford versatile beta-amino aryl ketones in good yield and enantiomeric excess.