Cloud-Enabled Handheld NIR Spectroscopy: A Transformative Approach for Real-Time Forensic Analysis of Cannabis Specimens

In the past few years, there has been significant interest within the forensic community regarding the deployment of portable solutions that provide real-time results. This article introduces an innovative technology or technology architecture that enables the integration of a handheld device, specifically, Viavi MicroNIR, with a cloud-based system. This cloud system encompasses a server responsible for data processing and a mobile application acting as a user interface. To demonstrate the transformative impact of this technology on field operators, the analysis of cannabis specimens has been utilized. System's capacity to distinguish between CBD-type and THC-type cannabis has been particularly highlighted, along with the remarkable congruence observed between the near-infrared (NIR) spectra and the reference analytical method involving ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) The article will present the advantages of this application primarily focusing on its potential to alleviate the burden on laboratories by expediting routine illicit drug analysis. Viavi MicroNIR technology provides laboratory personnel with additional time to handle more complex cases, thereby enhancing overall efficiency.     

Lewis Acid Catalyzed Condensation–Cyclization Cascade: Direct Synthesis of Di/Trifluoromethyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinazolines

Condensed heterocycles such as quinazolines constitute the framework of many promising drugs. The great impact of the dramatic fluorine effect in pharmaceuticals prompted a great surge in the quest for fluorinated drug design resulting in over 20 % fluorine‐containing drugs in the market today. Therefore, finding an efficient and cost‐effective method for the direct synthesis of fluorine‐tagged quinazoline systems is of great significance in the pharmaceutical arena. For the first time, a one‐pot sequential condensation–cyclization reaction to form selectively the difluoro/trifluoromethylated tetrahydroquinazolines from simple components difluoro/trifluoroacetaldehyde hemiacetal and aromatic amines is reported. Our recent studies using difluoro/trifluoroacetaldehyde hemiacetal as simple and elegant difluoro/trifluoromethyl synthons and metal triflates such as gallium triflate as safe and stable Lewis acid catalysts led us to this direct synthesis protocol for the expedient and convenient synthesis of fluorinated quinazolines. DFT calculations at PCM/B3LYP/6‐31++G** were carried out for evaluating a possible reaction mechanism for this cyclization. According to the DFT calculations, product stereochemistry is thermodynamically driven, favoring the cis isomer as the major product, which is also confirmed experimentally.     

Sequential Synthesis of 3 d–3 d, 3 d–4 d,and 3 d–5 d Hybrid Polyoxometalates and Application to the Electrocatalytic Oxygen Reduction Reactions

The Co₇(AlePy)₂ polyoxometalate, which encloses a {(PW₉)₂Co^II₇} core covalently bound to two free aminopyridine groups through bisphosphonate ligands ( AlePy ), has been isolated. It can be used as a precursor, allowing the synthesis of heterometallic hybrid compounds, as illustrated by the characterization of cobalt/zinc ( Co₇(AlePyZn)₂ ), cobalt/palladium ( Co₇(AlePyPd)₂ ), and cobalt/platinum ( Co₇(AlePyPt)₂ ) species. A composite based on the water‐insoluble precious metal‐free Co₇(AlePyZn)₂ compound and the low‐cost carbon material Vulcan XC‐72 has been selected as a cathode material ( Co₇Zn/C ) for oxygen reduction reaction studies. The electrocatalytic performances of the Co₇Zn/C hybrids were assessed at neutral and basic pH, showing that Co₇Zn/C exhibits high selectivity for the four‐electron reduction of O₂. Moreover, its durability is superior to that of a commercial Pt/C catalyst with 20 % loading. Also, comparative studies performed in the presence of methanol have indicated that Co₇Zn/C has a much better tolerance to the crossover effect than Pt/C . Altogether, these results indicate for the first time that, even in neutral media, polyoxometalate/carbon composites can represent low‐cost oxygen reduction catalysts that can function stably, for a long time, and with high performance.     

A Ruthenium(II)–Copper(II) Dyad for the Photocatalytic Oxygenation of Organic Substrates Mediated by Dioxygen Activation

Dioxygen activation by copper complexes is a valuable method to achieve oxidation reactions for sustainable chemistry. The development of a catalytic system requires regeneration of the Cu^I active redox state from Cu^II. This is usually achieved using extra reducers that can compete with the Cu^II(O₂) oxidizing species, causing a loss of efficiency. An alternative would consist of using a photosensitizer to control the reduction process. Association of a Ru^II photosensitizing subunit with a Cu^II pre‐catalytic moiety assembled within a unique entity is shown to fulfill these requirements. In presence of a sacrificial electron donor and light, electron transfer occurs from the Ru^II center to Cu^II. In presence of dioxygen, this dyad proved to be efficient for sulfide, phosphine, and alkene catalytic oxygenation. Mechanistic investigations gave evidence about a predominant ³O₂ activation pathway by the Cu^I moiety.     

Evaluation of the Effect of Citronellol Group on Functionalized Mesogenic Materials by Capillary GC

In this paper, the effects of functionalization with terpenes on two new liquid-crystalline stationary phases for gas chromatography (GC) are described. Citronellol was used as the terminal group in the first material, and tetrahydrogeraniol was used with a second material. Inverse GC showed that the new materials have wide liquid-crystalline ranges (mesophases), 371–500 and 395–501 K, respectively. Moreover, they show good thermal stability up to 523 K and good potential as stationary phases for capillary GC. To clarify the effects of the liquid crystal structures and functional groups on retention and separation, the chromatographic behaviors of the two stationary phases were compared by eluting alkylbenzenes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic compounds, and terpenoids. The selectivities for a wide range of analytes achieved using the citronellol column were significantly better than those obtained using the tetrahydrogeraniol column. The columns showed different retention behaviors and fine resolutions for some of the main constituents of essential oils. Introduction of the double bond of citronellol greatly improved the polarization interactions involved in the shape recognition of the liquid-crystalline state for isomers. The new citronellol liquid-crystalline stationary phase, therefore, has a high affinity for natural compounds.

     

Electrodes/Electrolyte Interfaces in the Presence of a Surface‐Modified Photopolymer Electrolyte: Application in Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

Since hundreds of studies on photoanodes and cathodes show that the electrode/electrolyte interfaces represent a key aspect at the base of dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC) performances, it is reported here that these interfaces can be managed by a smart design of the spatial composition of quasi‐solid electrolytes. By means of a cheap, rapid, and green process of photoinduced polymerization, composition‐tailored polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) with siloxane‐enriched surfaces are prepared, and their properties are thoroughly described. When assembled in DSSCs, the interfacial action promoted by the composition‐tailored PEMs enhances the photocurrent and fill factor values, thus increasing the global photovoltaic conversion efficiency with respect to the non‐modified PEMs. Moreover, the presence of the siloxane‐chain‐enriched surface increases the hydrophobicity and reduces the water vapor permeation into the device, thus enhancing the cell′s durability.     

Insights into the Complexity of Weak Intermolecular Interactions Interfering in Host–Guest Systems

The recognition properties of heteroditopic hemicryptophane hosts towards anions, cations, and neutral pairs, combining both cation–π and anion–π interaction sites, were investigated to probe the complexity of interfering weak intermolecular interactions. It is suggested from NMR experiments, and supported by CASSCF/CASPT2 calculations, that the binding constants of anions can be modulated by a factor of up to 100 by varying the fluorination sites on the electron‐poor aromatic rings. Interestingly, this subtle chemical modification can also reverse the sign of cooperativity in ion‐pair recognition. Wavefunction calculations highlight how short‐ and long‐range interactions interfere in this recognition process, suggesting that a disruption of anion–π interactions can occur in the presence of a co‐bound cation. Such molecules can be viewed as prototypes for examining complex processes controlled by the competition of weak interactions.     

Total Synthesis and Bioactivity Mapping of Geodiamolide H

The first total synthesis of the actin-stabilizing marine natural product geodiamolide H was achieved. Solid-phase based peptide assembly paired with scalable stereoselective syntheses of polyketide building blocks and an optimized esterification set the stage for investigating the key ring-closing metathesis. Geodiamolide H and synthetic analogues were characterized for their toxicity and for antiproliferative effects in cellulo, by characterising actin polymerization induction in vitro, and by docking on the F-actin target and property computation in silico, for a better understanding of structure-activity relationships (SAR). A non-natural analogue of geodiamolide H was discovered to be most potent in the series, suggesting significant potential for tool compound design.