FeOOH@Metal–Organic Framework Core–Satellite Nanocomposites for the Serum Metabolic Fingerprinting of Gynecological Cancers

High-throughput metabolic analysis is of significance in diagnostics, while tedious sample pretreatment has largely hindered its clinic application. Herein, we designed FeOOH@ZIF-8 composites with enhanced ionization efficiency and size-exclusion effect for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS)-based metabolic diagnosis of gynecological cancers. The FeOOH@ZIF-8-assisted LDI-MS achieved rapid, sensitive, and selective metabolic fingerprints of the native serum without any enrichment or purification. Further analysis of extracted serum metabolic fingerprints successfully discriminated patients with gynecological cancers (GCs) from healthy controls and also differentiated three major subtypes of GCs. Given the low cost, high-throughput, and easy operation, our approach brings a new dimension to disease analysis and classification.     

Double-Shelled C@MoS2 Structures Preloaded with Sulfur: An Additive Reservoir for Stable Lithium Metal Anodes

The growth of Li dendrites hinders the practical application of lithium metal anodes (LMAs). In this work, a hollow nanostructure, based on hierarchical MoS₂ coated hollow carbon particles preloaded with sulfur (C@MoS₂/S), was designed to modify the LMA. The C@MoS₂ hollow nanostructures serve as a good scaffold for repeated Li plating/stripping. More importantly, the encapsulated sulfur could gradually release lithium polysulfides during the Li plating/stripping, acting as an effective additive to promote the formation of a mosaic solid electrolyte interphase layer embedded with crystalline hybrid lithium-based components. These two factors together effectively suppress the growth of Li dendrites. The as-modified LMA shows a high Coulombic efficiency of 98 % over 500 cycles at the current density of 1 mA cm⁻². When matched with a LiFePO₄ cathode, the assembled full cell displays a highly improved cycle life of 300 cycles, implying the feasibility of the proposed LMA.     

Fabricating Dual-Atom Iron Catalysts for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction: A Heteroatom Modulator Approach

Understanding the thermal aggregation behavior of metal atoms is important for the synthesis of supported metal clusters. Here, derived from a metal–organic framework encapsulating a trinuclear Fe^III₂Fe^II complex (denoted as Fe₃) within the channels, a well-defined nitrogen-doped carbon layer is fabricated as an ideal support for stabilizing the generated iron nanoclusters. Atomic replacement of Fe^II by other metal(II) ions (e.g., Zn^II/Co^II) via synthesizing isostructural trinuclear-complex precursors (Fe₂Zn/Fe₂Co), namely the “heteroatom modulator approach”, is inhibiting the aggregation of Fe atoms toward nanoclusters with formation of a stable iron dimer in an optimal metal–nitrogen moiety, clearly identified by direct transmission electron microscopy and X-ray absorption fine structure analysis. The supported iron dimer, serving as cooperative metal–metal site, acts as efficient oxygen evolution catalyst. Our findings offer an atomic insight to guide the future design of ultrasmall metal clusters bearing outstanding catalytic capabilities.     

Intrinsic Apyrase-Like Activity of Cerium-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs): Dephosphorylation of Adenosine Tri- and Diphosphate

Apyrase is an important family of extracellular enzymes that catalyse the hydrolysis of high-energy phosphate bonds (HEPBs) in ATP and ADP, thereby modulating many physiological processes and driving life activities. Herein, we report an unexpected discovery that cerium-based metal–organic frameworks (Ce-MOFs) of UiO-66(Ce) have intrinsic apyrase-like activity for ATP/ADP-related physiological processes. The abundant Ce^III/Ce^IV couple sites of Ce-MOFs endow them with the ability to selectively catalyse the hydrolysis of HEPBs of ATP and ADP under physiological conditions. Compared to natural enzymes, they could resist extreme pH and temperature, and present a broad range of working conditions. Based on this finding, a significant inhibitory effect on ADP-induced platelet aggregation was observed upon exposing the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to the biomimetic UiO-66(Ce) films, prefiguring their wide application potentials in medicine and biotechnology.     

Rare-earth metal derivatives supported by aminophenoxy ligand: Synthesis,characterization and catalytic performance in lactide polymerization

A library of rare-earth metal derivatives supported by an aminophenoxy ligand was prepared and their catalytic performance in lactide polymerization was investigated. It was found that the synthetic strategy had a profound effect on the formation of aminophenoxy rare-earth metal complexes. Amine elimination between Ln[N(SiMe₃)₂]₃(μ-Cl)Li(THF)₃ (Ln = Yb, Y) and 1 equiv. of the aminophenol [HONH] ([HONH] = ο-OCH₃-C₆H₄NHCH₂(3,5-^tBu₂-C₆H₂-2-OH)) in toluene gave the unexpected heterobimetallic bis(aminophenoxy) rare-earth metal complexes [ON]₂LnLi(THF)₂ (Ln = Yb ( 1 ), Y ( 2 )). When the reactions were carried out in THF and TMEDA, amine elimination produced the aminophenoxy rare-earth metal amide complexes {[ON]LnN(SiMe₃)₂}₂ (Ln = Yb ( 5 ), Y ( 6 )) in ca 85% isolated yields. Complexes 5 and 6 could also be obtained from salt metathesis reaction of {[ON]LnCl(THF)}₂ (Ln = Yb ( 3 ), Y ( 4 )) with NaN(SiMe₃)₂ in a 1:2 molar ratio. In addition, treatment of complexes 3 and 4 with NaOAr (Ar = &bond;C₆H₄-4-^tBu) and (SiMe₃)₂NC(NPrⁱ)₂Na in 1:4 and 1:2 molar ratios provided the corresponding aminophenoxy rare-earth metal derivatives {[ON](μ-OAr)Ln(μ-OAr)Na(THF)₂}₂ (Ln = Yb ( 7 ), Y ( 8 )) and {[ON]Ln[(ⁱPrN)₂CN(SiMe₃)₂]}₂ (Ln = Yb ( 9 ), Y ( 10 )), respectively. These complexes were fully characterized, and their molecular structures were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Polymerization experiments showed that complexes 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 9 and 10 were highly active for the ring-opening polymerization of l -lactide in toluene, and complex 1 promoted l -lactide polymerization in a controlled fashion. The polymerization of rac-lactide initiated by the neutral aminophenoxy rare-earth metal complexes 5 , 6 , 9 and 10 in THF afforded heterotactic polymers.     

SCR performance enhancement of NiMnTi mixed oxides catalysts by regulating assembling methods of LDHs-Based precursor

A series of NiMnTi mixed metal oxides (Ni/Mn-TiO₂, Mn/NiTi-LDO and TiO₂/NiMn-LDO, NiMnTi-LDO) were synthesized via different assembling methods and evaluated in the selective catalytic reduction of NO_x with NH₃(NH₃-SCR). As the results presented, catalysts via diverse assembling methods of LDHs templates afforded different catalytic denitrification (DeNO_x) performance, which might be related to the exposure degree of active constituents and the interaction intensity between metal components. Noticeably, compared with Ni/Mn-TiO₂, Mn/NiTi-LDO and TiO₂/NiMn-LDO catalysts, the NiMnTi-LDO catalyst deriving from one step in-situ method NiMnTi-LDH precursor template exhibited the most desirable performance at temperature window of 150–360 °C in NH₃-SCR (above 90% NO_x conversion with 95% N₂ selectivity). The specific structure and property of samples were correlated by means of a series of characterizations, where the results indicated that NiMnTi-LDO possessed the highest surface area, the strongest redox ability, the most abundant acid amount and the best dispersion.     

Synthesis,structural, spectroscopic,and thermal studies of some transition-metal complexes of a ligand containing the amino mercapto triazole moiety

A new series of transition-metal complexes of Schiff base ligand containing the amino mercapto triazole moiety ( HL ) was prepared. The Schiff base and its metal complexes were elucidated by different spectroscopic techniques (infrared [IR], ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance, UV–Visible, mass, and electron spin resonance [ESR]), and magnetic moment and thermal studies. Quantum chemical calculations have been carried out to study the structure of the ligand and some of its complexes. The IR spectra showed that the ligand is chelated with the metal ion in a neutral, tridentate, and bidentate manner using NOS and NO donors in complexes 1 – 6 , 10–12 , and 7 and 8 , respectively, whereas it behaves in a monobasic tridentate fashion using NOS donor sites in copper(II) nitrate complex ( 9 ). The magnetic moment and electronic spectra data revealed octahedral and square pyramidal geometries for complexes 2 , 11 , 12 , and 5 – 8 and 10 , respectively. However, the other complexes were found to have tetrahedral ( 4 ), trigonal bipyramidal ( 1 and 3 ), and square planar ( 9 ) structures. Thermal studies revealed that the chelates with different crystallized solvents undergo different types of interactions and the decomposition pathway ended with the formation of metal oxygen (MO) and metal sulfur (MS) as final products. The ESR spectrum of copper(II) complex 10 is axial in nature with hyperfine splitting with ²B_1g as a ground state. By contrast, complexes 7 and 8 undergo distortion around the Cu(II) center, affording rhombic ESR spectra. The HL ligand and some of its complexes were screened against two bacterial species. Data showed that complex 12 demonstrated a better antibacterial activity than HL ligand and other chelates.     

Intramolecular orbital engineered hetero bimetallic Ce-Fe MOF with reduced transition energy and enhanced visible light property

A structurally stable, 3d-4f heterometallic coordination polymer has been solvothermally synthesised and evaluated for its accomplished materials properties. The light absorption activity in the visible band was higher for unique Ce-Fe MOF than that of the homometallic Ce-MOF or Fe- MOF. The intimate overlap of two different metal clusters in heterometallic environmental induced the formation of low line conduction orbital, which ultimately lowered the transition energy. The heterometallic acquired an additional sensitisation from a Fe-μ3-oxo cluster that had vibrantly enhanced the light uptake activity. The vacancy created in the 6s, 5d orbital of Ce in Ce-Fe MOF contributed to the photo-excitation of electrons and reduced the recombination time. This distinct intramolecular arrangement assisted the exciton trapping characteristic. Also, the presence of multiple metal cores in the framework aided to confine the increased number of excitons for a redox reaction. The solar photocatalysis study with acetaminophen revealed these improved materialistic features by degrading it 94.6% with a rate constant of 0.0137 min⁻¹. The recycle studies confirmed the robust stability of the synthesised MOF.     

Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of bidentate thiosemicarbazone ligand: Synthesis,structural, theoretical,biological studies and molecular modeling

The conventional condensation and refluxing process was employed to synthesize Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes of Methylcarbamatethiosemicarbazone ligand. Reactions were carried out at the pH of 7. The molar ratio of the ligand and metal salt was 2:1. The structures of the synthesized metal complexes were suggested by different analytical techniques such as magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance, IR, EPR and UV spectroscopy. Experimental studies confirmed the octahedral geometry for all the complexes. The geometry of the ligand and complexes were also confirmed by theoretical studies. The complexes were investigated for biological action against pathogenic fungi (C. krusei, C. albican) and bacteria (S. aureus, E. coli). The antimicrobial results confirmed superior inhibition potential of the metal complexes as compared with the parent ligand. The enhanced antimicrobial activities might be due to the chelation. Molecular-docking assays confirmed the strong interaction of ligand with target antimicrobial protein DNA gyrase-B.     

Alkali Metal–Promoted Facile Synthesis of Secondary Amines from Imines and Carbodiimides

We present here an efficient method for the hydroboration of aldimines (-C=N-) with pinacolborane (HBpin) using an alkali metal catalyst, potassium benzyl. The reaction was accomplished with unprecedented catalytic efficiency under mild and solvent-free conditions to afford the high yield of the corresponding N-boryl amines up to 97%. Various functionalities on aldimines were incorporated for hydroboration. The corresponding boryl amines were subjected to further hydrolysis to yield the corresponding secondary amines with good yields up to 89%. This protocol for the reaction demonstrates an atom-economic and green method with diverse imines that bears excellent functional group tolerance. Chemoselective reduction of imines was also attained, with good yields of 74–89%. We also propose the most plausible mechanism involving the formation of metal hydride as the active pre-catalyst.