Switching the Switch: Ligand Induced Disulfide Formation in HDAC8

Human histone deacetylase 8 is a well-recognized target for T-cell lymphoma and particularly childhood neuroblastoma. PD-404,182 was shown to be a selective covalent inhibitor of HDAC8 that forms mixed disulfides with several cysteine residues and is also able to transform thiol groups to thiocyanates. Moreover, HDAC8 was shown to be regulated by a redox switch based on the reversible formation of a disulfide bond between cysteines Cys₁₀₂ and Cys₁₅₃. This study on the distinct effects of PD-404,182 on HDAC8 reveals that this compound induces the dose-dependent formation of intramolecular disulfide bridges. Therefore, the inhibition mechanism of HDAC8 by PD-404,182 involves both, covalent modification of thiols as well as ligand mediated disulfide formation. Moreover, this study provides a deep molecular insight into the regulation mechanism of HDAC8 involving several cysteines with graduated capability to form reversible disulfide bridges.     

Journey from Small-Molecule Diyne Structures to 2D Graphdiyne: Synthetic Strategies

Graphdiyne (GDY) exhibits unique characteristics of a highly conjugated π system, evenly distributed nanopores, and a direct band gap. This has encouraged multidisciplinary research groups to investigate its application in energy conversion and storage, catalysts, electronic devices, sensing, and separation. Herein, the achievements of synthetic strategies for preparing small-molecule diyne structures (GDY substructure), 1D nanoribbons, and 2D GDY are presented. These studies may help future investigations into the basic structure-related properties of GDY and synthetic methodology for the future developments of GDY-related 2D carbon materials.     

Enhancement of Photocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Production by Surface Modification of Pt-TiO2 Nanoparticles with a Double Layer of Photosensitizers

To investigate the effect of the surface structure of dye-sensitized photocatalyst nanoparticles, we prepared three types of Ru^II-photosensitizer (PS)-double-layered Pt-cocatalyst-loaded TiO₂ nanoparticles with different surface structures, Zr- RuCP⁶ -Zr- RuP⁶ @N wt %Pt-TiO₂, RuCP⁶ -Zr- RuP⁶ @N wt %Pt-TiO₂, and RuCP² -Zr- RuP⁶ @N wt %Pt-TiO₂ (N=0.2, 1, and 5), and evaluated their photocatalytic H₂ evolution activity in the presence of redox-reversible iodide as the electron donor. Although the driving force of the electron injection from I⁻ to the photo-oxidized Ru^III PS is comparable, the activity increased in the following order: RuCP² -Zr- RuP⁶ @1 wt %Pt-TiO₂ < RuCP⁶ -Zr- RuP⁶ @1 wt %Pt-TiO₂ < Zr- RuCP⁶ -Zr- RuP⁶ @1 wt %Pt-TiO₂. The apparent quantum yield of Zr- RuCP⁶ -Zr- RuP⁶ @1 wt %Pt-TiO₂ in the first hour reached 1 %. Zeta-potential measurements suggest that the surface Zr⁴⁺-phosphate groups attracted I⁻ anions to the nanoparticle–solution interface. Our results indicate that the surface modification of dye-sensitized photocatalysts is a promising approach to enhance photocatalytic activity with various redox mediators.     

Synthesis,characterization and redox properties of Ar–C=N→Ge←N=C–Ar containing system

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The Polymer Physics of Multiscale Charge Transport in Conjugated Systems

Conjugated polymers are promising candidates for next‐generation low‐cost flexible electronics. Field‐effect transistors comprising conjugated polymers have witnessed significant improvements in device performance, notably the field‐effect mobility, in the last three decades. However, to truly make these materials commercially competitive, a better understanding of charge‐transport mechanisms in these structurally heterogeneous systems is needed for providing systematic guides for further improvements. This review assesses the key microstructural features of conjugated polymers across multiple length scales that can influence charge transport, with special attention given to the underlying polymer physics. The mechanistic understanding from collective experimental and theoretical studies point to the importance of interconnected ordered domains given the macromolecular nature of the polymeric semiconductors. Based on the criterion, optimization to improve charge transport can be broadly characterized by efforts to (a) promote intrachain transport, (b) establish intercrystallite connectivity, and (c) enhance interchain coupling. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 1559–1571     

Birnbaum‐Saunders distribution: A review of models,analysis, and applications

Birnbaum and Saunders introduced a two‐parameter lifetime distribution to model the fatigue life of a metal, subject to cyclic stress. Since then, extensive work has been done on this model providing different interpretations, constructions, generalizations, inferential methods, and extensions to bivariate, multivariate, and matrix‐variate cases. More than 200 papers and one research monograph have already appeared describing all these aspects and developments. In this paper, we provide a detailed review of all these developments and, at the same time, indicate several open problems that could be considered for further research.     

High-Throughput Synthesis and Characterization of Aryl Silicones by Using the Piers–Rubinsztajn Reaction

Arylsilicones are widely exploited for their thermal and optical properties. The creation of phenylsilicone elastomers with specific physical properties is typically done by a “one-off” formulation and test process. Herein, it is demonstrated that high-throughput synthesis methods can be used to rapidly prepare a series of arylsilicone elastomers and then the relative impact of different aryl groups on their physical properties is assessed. Aromatic groups were incorporated into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomers by exploiting the relative reactivity of different functional groups in the Piers–Rubinsztajn reaction. To analyze trends in the silicone mechanical properties as a function of increasing aryl concentration—structure/property relationships—libraries of elastomers were both quickly synthesized and characterized by using high-throughput suites starting from low viscosity silicone oils/monomers in 96-well plates. Liquid handling parameters were optimized to effectively work with the silicones. Incorporating aryl instead of alkyl crosslinkers into the PDMS backbone increased the silicone elastomer modulus by approximately 50 % (at a crosslink density of 6 %); elastomers prepared with an aromatic crosslinker with three contact points led to much higher moduli compared with those with one contact point at the same crosslink density. When located at precise rather than random points on the silicone chains, diphenylsilicones had lower moduli than analogous monophenylsilicones.     

Single‐armed salamo‐like dioxime and its multinuclear Cu (II), Zn (II) and Cd (II) complexes: Syntheses,structural characterizations,Hirshfeld analyses and fluorescence properties

Three multinuclear Cu (II), Zn (II) and Cd (II) complexes, [Cu₂(L)(μ‐OAc)]·CHCl₂ ( 1 ), [Zn₂(L)(μ‐OAc)(H₂O)]·3CHCl₃ ( 2 ) and [{Cd₂(L)(OAc)(CH₃CH₂OH)}₂]·2CH₃CH₂OH ( 3 ) with a single‐armed salamo‐like dioxime ligand H₃L have been synthesized, and characterized by FT‐IR, UV–vis, X‐ray crystallography and Hirshfeld surfaces analyses. The ligand H₃L has a linear structure and C‐H···π interactions between the two molecules. The complex 1 is a dinuclear Cu (II) complex, Cu1 and Cu2 are all five‐coordinate possessing distorted square pyramidal geometries. The complex 2 also forms a dinuclear Zn (II) structure, and Zn1 and Zn2 are all five‐coordinate bearing distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometries. The complex 3 is a symmetrical tetranuclear Cd (II) complex, and Cd1 is a hexa‐coordinate having octahedral configuration and Cd2 is hepta‐coordinate with a pentagonal bipyramidal geometry, and it has π···π interactions inside the molecule. In addition, fluorescence properties of the ligand and its complexes 1 – 3 have also been discussed.     

Thermal properties and structure of electrospun blends of PVDF with a fluorinated copolymer

We report the structure and thermal properties of blends comprising poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and a random fluorinated copolymer (FCP) of poly(methyl methacrylate)‐random‐1H,1H,2H,2H‐perfluorodecyl methacrylate, promising membrane materials for oil–water separation. The roles of processing method and copolymer content on structure and properties were studied for fibrous membranes and films with varying compositions. Bead‐free, nonwoven fibrous membranes were obtained by electrospinning. Fiber diameters ranged from 0.4 to 1.9 μm, and thinner fibers were obtained for PVDF content >80%. As copolymer content increased, degree of crystallinity and onset of degradation for each blend decreased. Processing conditions have a greater impact on the crystallographic phase of PVDF than copolymer content. Fibers have polar beta phase; solution‐cast films contain gamma and beta phase; and melt crystallized films form alpha phase. Kwei's model was used to model the glass transition temperatures of the blends. Addition of FCP increases hydrophobicity of the electrospun membranes. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 312–322