Mechanism of Insertion Reactions between Silylenoid H2SiLiF and GeH3R (R =F,OH, NH2): a Theoretical Study

Theoretical investigations on the insertion reaction mechanisms of three- membered-ring silylenoid H2 Si Li F with GeH 3R(R = F, OH, NH2) have been systematically carried out by combined density functional theory(DFT) and ab initio quantum chemical calculations. The geometries of all stationary points for these reactions were optimized using the B3 LYP method and then the QCISD method was used to calculate the single-point energies. The calculated results indicate that, there are one precursor complex(Q), one transition state(TS), and one intermediate(IM) which connect the reactants and the products along the potential energy surface. The insertion reactions of three-membered-ring silylenoid with Ge H3 R proceed in a concerted manner, forming H2RSi-Ge H3 and Li F. The calculated potential energy barriers of the three reactions are 29.17, 30.90, and 54.07 k J/mol, and the reaction energies for the three reactions are –127.05, –116.91, and –103.31 k J/mol, respectively. The insertion reactions in solvents are similar to those in vacuum. Under the same situation, the insertion reactions should occur easily in the following order: GeH 3-F GeH 3-OH GeH 3-NH2. The elucidations of the mechanism of these insertion reactions provided a new mode of silicon-germanium bond formation.     

Distinct effect of xenobiotics on the metal‐binding properties of protein molecules

The X‐ray standing‐wave method was applied to study the elemental composition and molecular organization of ordered protein films of alkaline phosphatase exposed to different xenobiotics (drug compounds, lead). Binding of metal ions from triply distilled water to protein molecules has been experimentally observed. Definite differences in the arrangement of impurity metal ions in the films have been established. The considerable enhancement of protein–metal interactions is attributed to partial rearrangement of the protein native structure, induced by xenobiotics.     

Conventional vs. Microwave- or Mechanically-Assisted Synthesis of Dihomooxacalix[4]arene Phthalimides: NMR,X-ray and Photophysical Analysis §

Direct O-alkylation of p-tert-butyldihomooxacalix[4]arene (1) with N-(bromopropyl)- or N-(bromoethyl)phthalimides and K₂CO₃ in acetonitrile was conducted under conventional heating (reflux) and using microwave irradiation and ball milling methodologies. The reactions afforded mono- and mainly distal di-substituted derivatives in the cone conformation, in a total of eight compounds. They were isolated by column chromatography, and their conformations and the substitution patterns were established by NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, COSY and NOESY experiments). The X-ray structures of four dihomooxacalix[4]arene phthalimide derivatives (2a, 3a, 3b and 5a) are reported, as well as their photophysical properties. The microwave (MW)-assisted alkylations drastically reduced the reaction times (from days to less than 45 min) and produced higher yields of both 1,3-di-substituted phthalimides (3a and 6a) with higher selectivity. Ball milling did not reveal to be a good method for this kind of reaction.     

Doxorubicin Encapsulation in Carbon Nanotubes Having Haeckelite or Stone–Wales Defects as Drug Carriers: A Molecular Dynamics Approach

Doxorubicin (DOX), a recognized anticancer drug, forms stable associations with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). CNTs when properly functionalized have the ability to anchor directly in cancerous tumors where the release of the drug occurs thanks to the tumor slightly acidic pH. Herein, we study the armchair and zigzag CNTs with Stone–Wales (SW) defects to rank their ability to encapsulate DOX by determining the DOX-CNT binding free energies using the MM/PBSA and MM/GBSA methods implemented in AMBER16. We investigate also the chiral CNTs with haeckelite defects. Each haeckelite defect consists of a pair of square and octagonal rings. The armchair and zigzag CNT with SW defects and chiral nanotubes with haeckelite defects predict DOX-CNT interactions that depend on the length of the nanotube, the number of present defects and nitrogen doping. Chiral nanotubes having two haeckelite defects reveal a clear dependence on the nitrogen content with DOX-CNT interaction forces decreasing in the order 0N > 4N > 8N. These results contribute to a further understanding of drug-nanotube interactions and to the design of new drug delivery systems based on CNTs.     

Anti-Cancer Effects of Carnosine—A Dipeptide Molecule

Background: Carnosine is a dipeptide molecule (β-alanyl-l-histidine) with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-glycation, and chelating properties. It is used in exercise physiology as a food supplement to increase performance; however, in vitro evidence suggests that carnosine may exhibit anti-cancer properties. Methods: In this study, we investigated the effect of carnosine on breast, ovarian, colon, and leukemic cancer cell proliferation. We further examined U937 promonocytic, human myeloid leukemia cell phenotype, gene expression, and cytokine secretion to determine if these are linked to carnosine’s anti-proliferative properties. Results: Carnosine (1) inhibits breast, ovarian, colon, and leukemic cancer cell proliferation; (2) upregulates expression of pro-inflammatory molecules; (3) modulates cytokine secretion; and (4) alters U937 differentiation and phenotype. Conclusion: These effects may have implications for a role for carnosine in anti-cancer therapy.     

Te溶剂Bridgman法CdMnTe晶体核辐射探测器的制备和表征

碲锰镉(CdMnTe)作为性能优异的室温核辐射探测器材料,可用于环境监测和工业无损检测领域。本文中采用Te溶剂Bridgman法生长In掺杂Cd_0.9Mn_0.1Te晶体,制备成10 mm×10 mm×2 mm大小的室温单平面探测器,研究了该探测器对²⁴¹Am@59.5 keV γ射线源的能谱响应。通过表征红外透过率、电阻率以及探测器能谱响应等参数,综合评定了探测器用CdMnTe晶体的质量、电学和探测器性能。结果表明,晶片的红外透过率均在55%以上,最好可达到60%。采用湿法钝化,100 V偏压下的漏电流由钝化前的9.48 nA降为钝化后的7.90 nA,钝化后的电阻率为2.832×10¹⁰ Ω·cm。在-400 V反向偏压下,CdMnTe探测器对²⁴¹Am@59.5 keV γ射线源的能量分辨率在钝化前后分别为13.53%和12.51%,钝化后的电子迁移率寿命积为1.049×10^-3 cm²/V。研究了探测器的能量分辨率随电压的变化特性,当偏压≤400 V时,探测器的能量分辨率主要由载流子的收集效率决定,而当偏压>400 V时,能量分辨率由漏电流决定。本文研究结果表明,Te溶剂Bridgman法生长的CdMnTe晶体质量较好,电阻率和电子迁移率寿命积满足探测器制备需求。     

两例相同混合配体构筑的Pb(Ⅱ)/Ag(I)配位聚合物及其荧光性质

多齿配体2-咪唑乙酸(Hima)、4,4'-连吡啶分别与金属盐Pb(NO₃)₂和AgNO₃反应,得到[Pb₂(4,4'-bipy)(ima)(NO₃)₃]_n(1, 3D framework)和[Ag₄(4, 4'-bipy)₃(ima)₂(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₂]_n(2, 3D framework)两个配位聚合物。根据配位聚合物的结构特点,研究了这两个配位聚合物荧光性质等物理化学性能。配位聚合物1在最大激发波长(λ_ex=346 nm)激发下,荧光的最大发射波长为552 nm,配位聚合物2在最大激发波长(λ_ex=369 nm)激发下,荧光的最大发射波长为444 nm。这可能是由于金属和配体之间发生了电荷转移(LMCT)。