Nickel (II) tetrapyridyl complexes as electrocatalysts and precatalysts for water oxidation

Two nickel complexes, [Ni(tpen)](ClO₄)₂.0.5CH₃COCH₃ ( 1 ) and [Ni(tpbn)](ClO₄)₂ ( 2 ), of tetrapyridyl ligands N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridyl-methyl)-1,2-ethanediamine (tpen) and N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-pyridyl-methyl)-1,4-butanediamine (tpbn) were prepared and their catalysis for water oxidation reaction (WOR) studied. In 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS) of pH 8.0, complex 1 is a homogeneous molecular catalyst with an overpotential of ~440 mV and a Faradaic efficiency of 89%. At pH ≥ 9.0, complex 1 degraded gradually during the catalytic process and formed NiO_x composite (nickel oxide with general formula Ni_xO_yH_z) active for WOR. In contrast, complex 2 deteriorated under measured conditions (pH 8.0–12.0) and formed NiO_x composite active for WOR. The NiO_x composite derived from 1 in 0.1 M PBS at pH 11.0 showed an activity with an overpotential of ~500 mV, a Tafel slope of ~90 mV/decade and a Faradaic efficiency of 97%. Mechanisms were proposed for water oxidation catalyzed by 1 and 2 . This work revealed that the catalytic activity of the nickel complexes was related to the flexibility of the tetrapyridyl ligands and the adaptability of the coordination sphere of the nickel(II) center.     

Cobalt-Catalyzed Regio- and Stereoselective Hydroboration of Allenes

An efficient pincer-ligand-based cobalt-complex-catalyzed allene hydroboration affording Z-allylic boronates is described. The reaction demonstrates an excellent regio- as well as Z-stereoselectivity and a wide substrate scope that tolerates many functional groups. Based on solvent-assisted electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (SAESI-MS) studies, a rationale for the cobalt-catalyzed hydroboration involving the highly selective insertion of an allene into the Co−H bond to form Z-allylic cobalt intermediates is proposed.     

Crystal phase control in two-dimensional materials

It is the nature of crystals to exist in different polymorphs. The recent emergence of two-dimensional (2D) materials has evoked the discovery of a number of new crystal phases that are different from their bulk structures at ambient conditions, and revealed novel structure-dependent properties, which deserve in-depth understanding and further exploration. In this contribution, we review the recent development of crystal phase control in 2D materials, including group V and VI. transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), group IVA metal chalcogenides and noble metals. For each group of materials, we begin with introducing the various existing crystal phases and their structure-related properties, followed by a detailed discussion on factors that influence these crystal structures and thus the possible strategies for phase control. Finally, after summarizing the whole paper, we present the challenges and opportunities in this research direction.     

UPLC–ESI–Q-TOF–MS/MS analysis of anticancer fractions from Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis and Ophiocordyceps sinensis

Ophiocordyceps xuefengensis (O. xuefengensis), a new species of caterpillar fungus, has been identified as the sister taxon of Ophiocordyceps sinensis (O. sinensis). The aims of the present study are to evaluate the anticancer activity and to qualitatively analyze the potential bioactive chemical constituents of O. xuefengensis and O. sinensis, comparatively. An MTT assay was used to evaluate the in vitro anticancer activities of different fractions from O. xuefengensis and O. sinensis. The results show that ethyl acetate fractions of O. xuefengensis and O. sinensis have significant in vitro anticancer activity. These two bioactive fractions were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization with quadrupole–time of flight tandem mass spectrometry technology. A total of 82 compounds and 101 compounds were identified or tentatively characterized in the bioactive fractions of O. xuefengensis and O. sinensis, respectively. Among these compounds, 68 existed in both O. xuefengensis and O. sinensis. A total of 67 compounds were reported in O. xuefengensis and 8 compounds were reported in caterpillar fungus for the first time. This is the first detailed comparative analysis of the in vitro anticancer activity and chemical ingredients between O. xuefengensis and O. sinensis. The application of this work will provide reliable fundamental pharmacological substances for the use of O. xuefengensis by Yao people.     

Energy band modulation of GaAs/Al0.26Ga0.74As quantum well in 3D self-assembled nanomembranes

In this study, we investigate the modulation of energy band in 3D self-assembled nanomembranes containing GaAs/Al_0.26Ga_0.74As quantum wells (QWs). Photoluminescence (PL) characterizations demonstrate that the self-assembled structures have different optical transition properties and the modulation of the energy band is thus realized. Detailed spectral analyses disclose that the small strain change in structures with different curvatures cannot cause remarkable change in energy bands in Al_0.26Ga_0.74As layer. On the other hand, the optical transitions of GaAs QW layer is influenced by the strain evolution in term of light emission intensity. We also find the first order Stark effect in rolled-up nanomembrane with diameter of 150 μm, which is closely connected with the coupling effect between the deformation potential and the piezoelectric potential. Our work may pave a way for the fabrication of high performance rolled-QW infrared photo-detectors.     

Linearly χ-bounding (P6, C4)-free graphs*

Given two graphs and , a graph is -free if it contains no induced subgraph isomorphic to or . Let and be the path on vertices and the cycle on vertices, respectively. In this paper we show that for any -free graph it holds that , where and are the chromatic number and clique number of , respectively. Our bound is attained by several graphs, for instance, the 5-cycle, the Petersen graph, the Petersen graph with an additional universal vertex, and all -critical -free graphs other than (see Hell and Huang [Discrete Appl. Math. 216 (2017), pp. 211–232]). The new result unifies previously known results on the existence of linear -binding functions for several graph classes. Our proof is based on a novel structure theorem on -free graphs that do not contain clique cutsets. Using this structure theorem we also design a polynomial time -approximation algorithm for coloring -free graphs. Our algorithm computes a coloring with colors for any -free graph in time.     

Et2Zn-mediated stoichiometric C(sp)-H silylation of 1-alkynes and chlorosilanes

A first example of an Et₂Zn mediated silylation of 1-aklynes is reported. A series of functional groups are tolerated in this reaction. Mechanistic studies support Zn alkynilides as intermediates in the reaction. This reaction protocol provides a practical method for the preparation of alkynylsilanes and expands the application of organometallic zinc in organic synthesis.     

A Renal‐Clearable Duplex Optical Reporter for Real‐Time Imaging of Contrast‐Induced Acute Kidney Injury

Despite its high morbidity and mortality, contrast‐induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI) remains a diagnostic dilemma because it relies on in vitro detection of insensitive late‐stage blood and urinary biomarkers. We report the synthesis of an activatable duplex reporter (ADR) for real‐time in vivo imaging of CIAKI. ADR is equipped with chemiluminescence and near‐infrared fluorescence (NIRF) signaling channels that can be activated by oxidative stress (superoxide anion, O₂^.?) and lysosomal damage (N‐acetyl‐β‐d ‐glucosaminidase, NAG), respectively. By virtue of its high renal clearance efficiency (80 % injected doses after 24 h injection), ADR detects sequential upregulation of O₂^.? and NAG in the kidneys of living mice prior to a significant decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and tissue damage in the course of CIAKI. ADR outperforms the typical clinical assays and detects CIAKI at least 8 h (NIRF) and up to 16 h (chemiluminescence) earlier.     

Adaptive finite time distributed 6-DOF synchronization control for spacecraft formation without velocity measurement

Nonlinear Dynamics - In this paper, the problem of distributed finite time six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) synchronization control for spacecraft formation flying (SFF) with the external disturbances...