Mixed-valence Cu(II)Cu(I)15I17 cluster builds up a 3D metal-organic framework with paramagnetic and thermochromic characteristics

Four cubane-like Cu4I4 units are assembled around an iodine atom to form the giant, mixed-valent Cu(II)Cu(I)15I17 cluster. The Cu(II)Cu(I)15I17 cluster and a bipyrazole linker form a 3D open framework with paramagnetic and thermochromic properties. This paper also touches on the resemblance of this cluster to the self-similar object of a Sierpinski tetrahedron.     

Constructing Interfacial Energy Transfer for Photon Up‐ and Down‐Conversion from Lanthanides in a Core–Shell Nanostructure

We report a new mechanistic strategy for controlling and modifying the photon emission of lanthanides in a core–shell nanostructure by using interfacial energy transfer. By taking advantage of this mechanism with Gd³⁺ as the energy donor, we have realized efficient up‐ and down‐converted emissions from a series of lanthanide emitters (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, Dy³⁺, and Sm³⁺) in these core–shell nanoparticles, which do not need a migratory host sublattice. Moreover, we have demonstrated that the Gd³⁺‐mediated interfacial energy transfer, in contrast to energy migration, is the leading process contributing to the photon emission of lanthanide dopants for the NaGdF₄@NaGdF₄ core–shell system. Our finding suggests a new direction for research into better control of energy transfer at the nanometer length scale, which would help to stimulate new concepts for designing and improving photon emission of the lanthanide‐based luminescent materials.     

Waring-Goldbach Problem for Unlike Powers

In this paper, it is proved that with at most O（N65/66） exceptions, all even positive integers up to N are expressible in the form p^2 2＋p^3 3＋p^4 4＋p^5 5. This improves a recent result O（N19193/19200＋ε） due to C. Bauer.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine Analogues of the ZSTK474 Class of Phosphatidylinositol 3‐Kinase Inhibitors

Using a scaffold‐hopping approach, imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine analogues of the ZSTK474 (benzimidazole) class of phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) inhibitors have been synthesized for biological evaluation. Compounds were prepared using a heteroaryl Heck reaction procedure, involving the palladium‐catalysed coupling of 2‐(difluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines with chloro, iodo or trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy (trifloxy) substituted 1,3,5‐triazines or pyrimidines, with the iodo intermediates being preferred in terms of higher yields and milder reaction conditions. The new compounds maintain the PI3K isoform selectivity of their benzimidazole analogues, but in general show less potency.     

Utilization of the highly environment-sensitive emission properties of rhenium(I) amidodipyridoquinoxaline biotin complexes in the development of biological probes

We report the synthesis and characterization of luminescent rhenium(I) amidodipyridoquinoxaline biotin complexes [Re(CO)3(dpqa)(L)](PF6) (dpqa = 2-(n-butylamido)dipyrido[3,2-f:2',3'-h]quinoxaline; L = 4-(biotinamidomethyl)pyridine (py-4-CH2-NH-biotin) (1), 3-(N-((2-biotinamido)ethyl)amido)pyridine (py-3-CO-NH-en-NH-biotin) (2), 4-(N-((6-biotinamido)hexanoyl)aminomethyl)pyridine (py-4-CH2-NH-cap-NH-biotin) (3)), and their biotin-free counterpart [Re(CO)3(dpqa)(py)](PF6) (py = pyridine (4)). Upon irradiation, these complexes exhibited intense triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (3MLCT) (dpi(Re) --> pi(dpqa)) emission in fluid solutions at 298 K and in alcohol glass at 77 K. However, the emission became much weaker in aqueous buffer, probably due to the interactions of water molecules with the amide substituent of the dpqa ligand. These properties render the complexes good candidates as luminescent probes for hydrophobic media, such as the substrate-binding sites of proteins. The avidin-binding properties of the new biotin complexes have been studied by 4'-hydroxyazobenzene-2-carboxylic acid (HABA) assays, emission titrations, and competitive association and dissociation assays. Most importantly, the complexes showed a profound increase in emission intensities upon binding to avidin. Additionally, we found that the fluorescence of anthracene was quenched by these rhenium(I) complexes, and the 3MLCT emission of the complexes was also quenched by anthracene. On the basis of these findings, new homogeneous assays for biotin using these complexes, avidin, and anthracene-labeled avidin have been designed.     

Combination of a dinuclear Zn2+ complex and a medium effect exerts a 10(12)-fold rate enhancement of cleavage of an RNA and DNA model system

The catalytic ability of a dinuclear Zn2+ complex of 1,3-bis-N1-(1,5,9-triazacyclododecyl)propane (3) in promoting the cleavage of an RNA model, 2-hydroxypropyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate (HPNPP, 1), and a DNA model, methyl p-nitrophenyl phosphate (MNPP, 4), was studied in methanol solution in the presence of added CH3O- at 25 degrees C. The di-Zn2+ complex (Zn2 :3), in the presence of 1 equiv of added methoxide, exhibits a second-order rate constant of (2.75 +/- 0.10) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1) for the reaction with 1 at s(s)pH 9.5, this being 10(8)-fold larger than the k2 value for the CH3O- promoted reaction (kOCH3 = (2.56 +/- 0.16) x 10(-3) M(-1) s(-1)). The complex is also active toward the DNA model 4, exhibiting Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a KM and kmax of 0.37 +/- 0.07 mM and (4.1 +/- 0.3) x 10(-2) s(-1), respectively. Relative to the background reactions at s(s)pH 9.5, Zn2 :3 accelerates cleavage of each phosphate diester by a remarkable factor of 1012-fold. A kinetic scheme common to both substrates is discussed. The study shows that a simple model system comprising a dinuclear Zn2+ complex and a medium effect of the alcohol solvent achieves a catalytic reactivity that approaches enzymatic rates and is well beyond anything seen to date in water for the cleavage of these phosphate diesters.     

Electron promotion by surface functional groups of single wall carbon nanotubes to overlying metal particles in a fuel-cell catalyst

A remarkable promotion: Functional groups added onto single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can significantly influence the activity of a noble metal for formic acid oxidation. Phenolate groups on SWNTs under alkaline conditions can double the activity of 20 % w/w Pd compared to unmodified SWNTs. This catalyst has 14 times higher activity than the commercial benchmark catalyst (10 % w/w Pd on Vulcan).