Simultaneous identification and analysis of cassane diterpenoids in Caesalpinia minax Hance by high‐performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry

Cassane diterpenoids were successfully and simultaneously identified in Caesalpinia minax Hance by high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 59 peaks were detected, and among them 51 compounds, including 41 furanocassane diterpenoids, 10 furanolactone cassane diterpenoids were simultaneously identified and characterized on the basis of the protonated molecule, retention behavior, and fragments in MS². Ten compounds, including seven novel compounds, were identified or tentatively identified for the first time in C. minax. In a positive ion mode, the fragmentation pathways of cassane diterpenoids were also analyzed for the first time. The relative amounts of the five main diterpenoids (caesalpinin L, caesalpinin F₂, bondcellpin C, caesalpinin E, and ξ‐caesalmin) were simultaneously quantified by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Results showed that the newly discovered and known components of C. minax can be used to determine the material basis of bioactivity; this method can also be applied to analyze cassane diterpenoids in herbal medicines from the genus Caesalpinia belonging to the family Fabaceae.     

Amide Moieties Modulate the Antimicrobial Activities of Conjugated Oligoelectrolytes against Gram-negative Bacteria

Cationic conjugated oligoelectrolytes (COEs) are a class of compounds that can be tailored to achieve relevant in vitro antimicrobial properties with relatively low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. Three distyrylbenzene-based COEs were designed containing amide functional groups on the side chains. Their properties were compared to two representative COEs with only quaternary ammonium groups. The optimal compound, COE2−3C−C3-Apropyl , has an antimicrobial efficacy against Escherichia coli with an MIC=2 μg mL⁻¹, even in the presence of human serum albumin low cytotoxicity (IC₅₀=740 μg mL⁻¹) and minimal hemolytic activity. Moreover, we find that amide groups increase interactions between COEs and a bacterial lipid mimic based on calcein leakage assay and allow COEs to readily permeabilize the cytoplasmic membrane of E. coli. These findings suggest that hydrogen bond forming moieties can be further applied in the molecular design of antimicrobial COEs to further improve their selectivity towards bacteria.     

Recent advances in electrochemistry of pyridinium-based electrophores: A structronic approach

The context of molecular structronics (from “molecular structure” and “electronics”) is that of molecular-level electrochemical storage of energy of sustainable origin (wind, solar). Due to its discontinuous availability, storage of this energy is a key issue. The targeted type of storage relies on implementing “electron reservoirs” within the structronic molecules by electrochemically forming dedicated chemical bonds according to non-catalytic processes. Reservoir bonds are therefore integral parts of the molecular backbone of structronic assemblies. When filled, electron reservoirs manifest themselves in the form of elongated covalent bonds that are to be cleaved for electron releasing (discharging) on demand. The scope of this short review is limited to pyridinium electrophores as particularly suited building blocks for the development of structronics.     

In Silico Design and SAR Study of Dibenzyl Trisulfide Analogues for Improved CYP1A1 Inhibition

Dibenzyl trisulfide (DTS) is a natural compound with potential cancer-preventive properties occurring in Petiveria alliacea L., an ethnomedicinal plant native to the Americas. Previous studies revealed its inhibitory activity toward cytochrome P450 (CYP)1 enzymes, key in the activation of environmental pollutants. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to design novel DTS analogues, aimed at improving not only inhibitory activity, but also specificity toward CYP1A1. This was achieved by targeting interactions with CYP1A1 residues of identified importance. Three-dimensional structures for the novel analogues were subjected to molecular docking with several CYP isoforms, before being ranked in terms of binding affinity to CYP1A1. With three hydrogen bond donors, two hydrogen bond acceptors, a molecular mass of 361 Da, and a log P of 3.72, the most promising DTS analogue obeys Lipinski's rule of five. Following synthesis and in vitro validation of its CYP1A1-inhibitory properties, this compound may be useful in future cancer-preventive approaches.     

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.     

基于吡嗪空穴传输层的合成及在p-i-n型钙钛矿太阳能电池中的应用

钙钛矿太阳能电池由于具有高的光电转换效率,简单的溶液加工工艺,较低的成本等优势因而拥有广阔的应用前景。有机小分子空穴传输层材料在钙钛矿太阳能电池中扮演着极其重要的角色。在本工作中,我们设计和合成了基于吡嗪为分子中心核,三苯胺为分枝的X型空穴传输层材料PT-TPA。与Si-OMeTPA对比,吡嗪的引入不仅不会影响其结晶性,并且能够改善其电荷转移特性和分子中心共平面性,从而显著提升了PT-TPA的空穴迁移率。在非掺杂的情况之下,基于PT-TPA空穴传输层的p-i-n型钙钛矿太阳能电池展现出17.52%的光电转换效率,与相同条件下基于Si-OMeTPA空穴传输层的器件相比,效率提高了近15%。     

The Roles of Composition and Mesostructure of Cobalt-Based Spinel Catalysts in Oxygen Evolution Reactions

By using the crystalline precursor decomposition approach and direct co-precipitation the composition and mesostructure of cobalt-based spinels can be controlled. A systematic substitution of cobalt with redox-active iron and redox-inactive magnesium and aluminum in a cobalt spinel with anisotropic particle morphology with a preferred 111 surface termination is presented, resulting in a substitution series including Co₃O₄, MgCo₂O₄, Co₂FeO₄, Co₂AlO₄ and CoFe₂O₄. The role of redox pairs in the spinels is investigated in chemical water oxidation by using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN test), electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and H₂O₂ decomposition. Studying the effect of dominant surface termination, isotropic Co₃O₄ and CoFe₂O₄ catalysts with more or less spherical particles are compared to their anisotropic analogues. For CAN-test and OER, Co³⁺ plays the major role for high activity. In H₂O₂ decomposition, Co²⁺ reveals itself to be of major importance. Redox active cations in the structure enhance the catalytic activity in all reactions. A benefit of a predominant 111 surface termination depends on the cobalt oxidation state in the as-prepared catalysts and the investigated reaction.     

固态电解质中锂离子传输机理研究进展

固态电解质在室温下表现出非凡的离子导电性,使其有潜力应用于全固态锂离子电池。开发新的高性能固态电解质需要对锂离子传输机理及其规律进行深入研究。本文论述了近期研究中锂离子传输机理方面的研究进展,包括离子传输理论基础的概述;总结Li₁₀GeP₂S₁₂、Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂和Li_1+xAl_xTi_2-x(PO₄)₃固态电解质材料中晶体结构、离子传输和研究进展;阐述锂离子传输中结构特征、传输机理（单离子跳跃传输和多离子协同传输）以及构效关系;总结（反）Meyer-Neldel规则的关键问题和相关电解质材料。最后,展望了给出电解质材料的设计策略和未来机理研究的重点,为无机固态电解质材料的探索提供新的思路和方向。