Pd‐catalyzed desulfitative Hiyama coupling with sulfonyl chlorides

Palladium‐catalyzed desulfitative Hiyama cross‐coupling reactions of various arylsulfonyl chlorides with aryltriethoxysilane have been achieved in good yields. The reported cross‐coupling reactions are tolerant to the common functional groups regardless of electron‐withdrawing or electron‐donating, making these transformations attractive alternatives to the traditional cross‐coupling approaches. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

石墨化碳黑净化柱结合HPLC－PDA和LC－MS/MS快速检测苹果汁中展青霉素

基于石墨化碳黑材料制备了一种固相萃取柱（GCB柱）,结合高效液相色谱－二极管阵列检测法（HPLC－PDA）和液相色谱－串联质谱法（LC－MS/MS）评估了GCB柱和4种商业化固相萃取柱（Retain AX、PAX、MAX和HLB）的净化效果,并对澄清型苹果汁中影响展青霉素准确定量的杂质进行了分析。结果发现,苹果汁经上述5种净化柱净化后,大大降低了杂质干扰,色谱图、信噪比和基质效应显著改善。其中,GCB净化为HPLC－PDA分析提供了理想的色谱图,为LC－MS/MS分析提供了可接受的基质效应（-14%）、优于HLB净化的色谱图以及与Retain AX净化相当的信噪比。建立的稳定同位素稀释－液相色谱－串联质谱法（SIDA－LC－MS/MS）可以克服基质效应和净化损失对检测结果准确性的影响。采用HPLC－PDA和SIDA－LC－MS/MS分析时,GCB净化比HLB净化的方法更灵敏;MAX、HLB和GCB净化均能得到较好的回收率（82% ~ 102%）和较小的相对标准偏差（≤ 9%）。所开发的GCB净化方法仅需上样和洗脱2步,且在重力作用下过柱仅需10 min,比其他固相萃取净化更简单快捷,净化能力良好。实际样品经GCB柱净化和HPLC－PDA、SIDA－LC－MS/MS分别分析,展青霉素的平均含量为34 μg·kg-1。GCB柱较好的净化效果和较低的使用成本将有助于其在展青霉素常规检测中的广泛应用。     

Rich-defect carbon nanotubes for highly sensitive detection of Dopamine

Dopamine (DA) plays an essential role in the central nervous, renal, hormonal and cardiovascular systems. Various modified carbon nanotubes (CNT)-based dopamine sensors have been reported, but inexpensive, highly sensitive plain CNT-based ones are seldom studied. In this work, a facile and inexpensive CNT-based DA sensor is made by rich-defect multi-walled carbon nanotubes (RD-CNT) via an ultrasound method. The defect and elemental states of the RD-CNT are systematically studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and X-ray-photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Results show that massive holes and cracks exist in RD-CNT. The level of defects increases from the additional exposed edges. The electrochemical characterizations indicate that the electrochemical sensor has the highest sensitivity of 438.4 μA/(μM ⋅ cm²) among all carbon materials-based DA sensors while well meeting the clinically required detection range and selectivity. The DA sensor was further used to detect live healthy human serum and live PC12 cells with satisfactory results, thus holding great promise for an inexpensive but sensitive DA sensor in practical applications of clinical diagnosis and biological research.     

固相萃取净化/超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定养殖环境中地西泮及其代谢物

建立了固相萃取净化/超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(SPE/UPLC-MS/MS)同时测定养殖水和沉积物样品中地西泮及其3种代谢物的分析方法。水样经0.45μm玻璃纤维膜过滤,沉积物采用1%氨水-乙酸乙酯提取后,均通过混合型阳离子交换固相萃取(MCX SPE)柱富集净化。目标物用5%氨水-乙腈溶液洗脱后吹干,1 mL 40%乙腈水溶液溶解残渣,UPLC-MS/MS测定。经Phenomenex Kinetex C₁₈(100 mm×2.1 mm,1.7μm)色谱柱分离,乙腈和0.1%甲酸水溶液为流动相进行梯度洗脱。采用电喷雾正离子电离,多反应监测(MRM)模式下测定,内标法定量。4种目标物在0.1～100μg/L范围内的线性关系良好,相关系数(r²)大于0.999。水体和沉积物中的方法检出限分别为1.0～2.0 ng/L和0.02～0.05μg/kg,定量下限分别为2.0～5.0 ng/L和0.05～0.1μg/kg;平均加标回收率为90.2%～115%,相对标准偏差(RSD,n=6)为2.1%～9.6%。该方法灵敏度高,实用性强,可满足养殖环境中地...     

Selective In Situ Analysis of Mature microRNAs in Extracellular Vesicles Using a DNA Cage-Based Thermophoretic Assay

Mature microRNAs (miRNAs) in extracellular vesicles (EVs) are involved in different stages of cancer progression, yet it remains challenging to precisely detect mature miRNAs in EVs due to the presence of interfering RNAs (such as longer precursor miRNAs, pre-miRNAs) and the low abundance of tumor-associated miRNAs. By leveraging the size-selective ability of DNA cages and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-enhanced thermophoretic accumulation of EVs, we devised a DNA cage-based thermophoretic assay for highly sensitive, selective, and in situ detection of mature miRNAs in EVs with a low limit of detection (LoD) of 2.05 fM. Our assay can profile EV mature miRNAs directly in serum samples without the interference of pre-miRNAs and the need for ultracentrifugation. A clinical study showed that EV miR-21 or miR-155 had an overall accuracy of 90 % for discrimination between breast cancer patients and healthy donors, which outperformed conventional molecular probes detecting both mature miRNAs and pre-miRNAs. We envision that our assay can advance EV miRNA-based diagnosis of cancer.     

Self-Accelerating Diels–Alder Reaction for Preparing Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity

It is a formidable challenge in polycondensation to simultaneously construct multiple covalent bonds to prepare double-stranded polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) with fused multicyclic linkages. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to develop a self-accelerating Diels–Alder reaction for successfully preparing double-stranded PIMs with fused multicyclic backbone structures. A self-accelerating Diels–Alder reaction was developed based on the [4+2] cycloaddition of sym-dibenzo-1,5-cyclooctadiene-3,7-diyne (DIBOD) and ortho-quinone compounds. In this reaction, the cycloaddition of ortho-quinone with the first alkyne of DIBOD activates the second alkyne, which reacts with ortho-quinone at a rate constant 192 times larger than that of the original alkyne. Using this self-accelerating reaction to polymerize DIBOD and spirocyclic/cyclic difunctional ortho-quinone monomers, a novel stoichiometric imbalance-promoted step-growth polymerization method was developed to prepare PIMs. The resultant PIMs possess intrinsic ultramicropores with pore sizes between 0.45 to 0.7 nm, high specific surface areas above 646 m² g⁻¹, and good H₂ separation performance.     

Catalytic Diastereo- and Enantioselective Cyclopropanation of gem-Dihaloalkanes and Terminal Olefins

Chiral cyclopropane derivatives are essential in synthetic chemistry and drug discovery. Their synthesis commonly relies on asymmetric cyclopropanation of diazo compounds, potentially explosive and needing stabilizing substituents. Thus, asymmetric catalytic transformations of non-stabilized carbenes or carbenoids remain a formidable challenge. Herein, we report the unprecedented chromium-catalyzed asymmetric cyclopropanation of readily available gem-dihaloalkanes and terminal olefins. Distinct from previous approaches, gem-dihaloalkanes serve as suitable precursors for non-stabilized carbenes or carbenoids, furnishing various functionalized chiral cyclopropanes. Mechanistic studies, including radical trapping, non-linear effect, and UV/Vis spectroscopy, provide insights into the catalytic process, featuring radical-polar crossover.     

Didepside Formation by the Nonreducing Polyketide Synthase Preu6 of Preussia isomera Requires Interaction of Starter Acyl Transferase and Thioesterase Domains

Orsellinic acid (OA) derivatives are produced by filamentous fungi using nonreducing polyketide synthases (nrPKSs). The chain-releasing thioesterase (TE) domains of such nrPKSs were proposed to also catalyze dimerization to yield didepsides, such as lecanoric acid. Here, we use combinatorial domain exchanges, domain dissections and reconstitutions to reveal that the TE domain of the lecanoric acid synthase Preu6 of Preussia isomera must collaborate with the starter acyl transferase (SAT) domain from the same nrPKS. We show that artificial SAT-TE fusion proteins are highly effective catalysts and reprogram the ketide homologation chassis to form didepsides. We also demonstrate that dissected SAT and TE domains of Preu6 physically interact, and SAT and TE domains of OA-synthesizing nrPKSs may co-evolve. Our work highlights an unexpected domain–domain interaction in nrPKSs that must be considered for the combinatorial biosynthesis of unnatural didepsides, depsidones, and diphenyl ethers.     

Ortho-Alkoxy-benzamide Directed Formation of a Single Crystalline Hydrogen-bonded Crosslinked Organic Framework and Its Boron Trifluoride Uptake and Catalysis

Boron trifluoride (BF₃) is a highly corrosive gas widely used in industry. Confining BF₃ in porous materials ensures safe and convenient handling and prevents its degradation. Hence, it is highly desired to develop porous materials with high adsorption capacity, high stability, and resistance to BF₃ corrosion. Herein, we designed and synthesized a Lewis basic single-crystalline hydrogen-bond crosslinked organic framework (H_COF-50) for BF₃ storage and its application in catalysis. Specifically, we introduced self-complementary ortho-alkoxy-benzamide hydrogen-bonding moieties to direct the formation of highly organized hydrogen-bonded networks, which were subsequently photo-crosslinked to generate H_COFs. The H_COF-50 features Lewis basic thioether linkages and electron-rich pore surfaces for BF₃ uptake. As a result, H_COF-50 shows a record-high 14.2 mmol/g BF₃ uptake capacity. The BF₃ uptake in H_COF-50 is reversible, leading to the slow release of BF₃. We leveraged this property to reduce the undesirable chain transfer and termination in the cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers. Polymers with higher molecular weights and lower polydispersity were generated compared to those synthesized using BF₃ ⋅ Et₂O. The elucidation of the structure–property relationship, as provided by the single-crystal X-ray structures, combined with the high BF₃ uptake capacity and controlled sorption, highlights the molecular understanding of framework-guest interactions in addressing contemporary challenges.     

Highly Segregated Lamello‐Columnar Mesophase Organizations and Fast Charge Carrier Mobility in New Discotic Donor–Acceptor Triads

Four new donor–acceptor triads (D–A–D) based on discotic and arylene mesogens have been synthesized by using Sonogashira coupling and cyclization reactions. This family of triads consists of two side‐on pending triphenylene mesogens, acting as the electron‐donating groups (D), laterally connected through short lipophilic spacers to a central perylenediimide (PI), benzo[ghi]perylenediimide (BI), or coronenediimide (CI) molecular unit, respectively, playing the role of the electron acceptor (A). All D–A–D triads self‐organize to form a lamello‐columnar oblique mesophase, with a highly segregated donor–acceptor (D–A) heterojunction organization, consequent to efficient molecular self‐sorting. The structure consists in the regular alternation of two disrupted rows of triphenylene columns and a continuous row of diimine species. High‐resolution STM images demonstrate that PI‐TP2 forms stable 2D self‐assembly nanostructures with some various degrees of regularity, whereas the other triads do not self‐organize into ordered architectures. The electron‐transport mobility of CI‐TP2, measured by time‐of‐flight at 200 °C in the mesophase, is one order of magnitude higher than the hole mobility. By means of this specific molecular designing idea, we realized and demonstrated for the first time the so‐called p–n heterojunction at the molecular level in which the electron‐rich triphenylene columns act as the hole transient pathways, and the coronenediimide stacks form the electron‐transport channels.