Conjugated polymer nanoparticles with aggregation induced emission characteristics for intracellular Fe3+ sensing

In this article, a novel zwitterionic conjugated polyelectrolyte containing tetraphenylethene unit was synthesized via Pd‐catalyzed Sonogashira reaction. The resulting polymer (P2), which exhibited typical aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) properties, was weakly fluorescent in dilute DMSO solution and showed bright fluorescence emissions when aggregated in DMSO/water mixtures or fabricated into conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPNs). The nanoparticles from P2 could be prepared by reprecipitation method with an average diameter around 23 nm. Notably, the cell‐staining efficiencies of lipid‐P2 nanoparticles could be enhanced with lipid encapsulation and these nanoparticles were endocytosed via caveolae‐mediated and clathrin‐mediated endocytosis pathways. Furthermore, the lipid‐P2 nanoparticles with low cytotoxicity, high photostability and efficient cell staining ability could be employed for in vitro detection of Fe³⁺ ions in A549 cells. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1686–1693     

Thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione based copolymers for high performance organic solar cells and organic field effect transistors

Donor-acceptor type copolymers have wide applications in organic field-effect transistors and organic photovoltaic devices. Thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione (TPD), as an electron-withdrawing unit, has been widely used in D-A type copolymers recently. Till now, the highest power conversion efficiency and mobility of TPD-based copolymers are over 8% and 1.0 cm² V^-1 s^-1 respectively. In this review, the recent progress of TPD-based copolymers in organic solar cells and organic transistors is summarized.     

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.     

Silver(I)‐Catalyzed Enantioselective [3+2]‐Cycloaddition Reaction of α‐Silylimines: A Facile Route to Quaternary‐Carbon‐Rich Scaffolds

A silver‐catalyzed highly enantioselective 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction of α‐silylimines with pyrone‐based trisubstituted olefins was developed affording bi‐ and tricyclic α‐quaternary‐carbon‐rich pyrano‐pyrrolidines in excellent yields. The tricyclic benzopyrone adducts thus obtained were efficiently transformed into highly complex tetracyclic scaffolds supporting four consecutive stereogenic centers with three quaternary carbons.     

Is PdII‐Promoted σ‐Bond Metathesis Mechanism Operative for the PdPEPPSI Complex‐Catalyzed Amination of Chlorobenzene with Aniline? Experiment and Theory

Reduction of the Pd?PEPPSI precatalyst to a Pd⁰ species is generally thought to be essential to drive Buchwald–Hartwig amination reactions through the well‐ documented Pd⁰/Pd^II catalytic cycle and little attention has been paid to other possible mechanisms. Considered here is the Pd?PEPPSI‐catalyzed aryl amination of chlorobenzene with aniline. A neat reaction system was used in new experiments, from which the potentially reductive roles of the solvent and labile ligand of the PEPPSI complex in leading to Pd⁰ species are ruled out. Computational results demonstrate that anilido‐containing Pd^II intermediates involving σ‐bond metathesis in pathways leading to the diphenylamine product have relatively low barriers. Such pathways are more favorable energetically than the corresponding reductive elimination reactions resulting in Pd⁰ species and other putative routes, such as the Pd^II/Pd^IV mechanism, single electron transfer mechanism, and halide atom transfer mechanism. In some special cases, if reactants/additives are inadequate to reduce a Pd^II precatalyst, a Pd^II‐involved σ‐bond metathesis mechanism might be feasible to drive the Buchwald–Hartwig amination reactions.     

Zn or O? An Atomic Level Comparison on Antibacterial Activities of Zinc Oxides

For the first time, the influence of different types of atoms (Zn and O) on the antibacterial activities of nanosized ZnO was quantitatively evaluated with the aid of a 3D‐printing‐manufactured evaluation system. Two different outermost atomic layers were manufactured separately by using an ALD (atomic layer deposition) method. Interestingly, we found that each outermost atomic layer exhibited certain differences against gram‐positive or gram‐negative bacterial species. Zinc atoms as outermost layer (ZnO?Zn) showed a more pronounced antibacterial effect towards gram‐negative E. coli (Escherichia coli), whereas oxygen atoms (ZnO?O) showed a stronger antibacterial activity against gram‐positive S. aureus (Staphylococcus aureus). A possible antibacterial mechanism has been comprehensively discussed from different perspectives, including Zn²⁺ concentrations, oxygen vacancies, photocatalytic activities and the DNA structural characteristics of different bacterial species.     

银纳米颗粒对聚合物太阳能电池性能的提高

采用水溶性银纳米颗粒附着在反型太阳能电池的电子传输层上,用以提高有机太阳能电池的短路电流。所制备的器件结构为ITO/ZnO/Ag NPs/P3HT(Poly 3-hexylthiophene):PC_[60]BM/MoO₃/Ag。其金属银纳米颗粒的表面等离激元在410 nm处出现了共振吸收峰,半峰全宽约为60 nm。器件的光电流在可见光范围内均有所增加,短路电流相对于标准器件提高了20.2%,光电转化效率相对提高了17.2%。     

Asymmetric cross-aldol reaction of isatin and ketones catalyzed by crude earthworm extract as efficient biocatalyst

ABSTRACT

The asymmetric cross-aldol reaction of simple ketones (acetone, cyclohexanone) with isatin derivatives in the presence of crude extract from earthworms as green and effective biocatalyst proceeds easily in MeCN/H₂O (1:1) as solvent to afford 3-hydroxy-2-oxindoles derivatives. Ten compounds were synthesized in high yields (62–88%) and moderate ee (29–42%). Structure of the synthesized compounds has been characterized on the basis of NMR spectra and CHN analysis. The ee of the obtained compounds was determined by chiral phase HPLC analysis.     

颗粒毛细效应影响因素的离散元分析

颗粒毛细效应是指将一根细管插入填充有颗粒物质的容器中并对管施加竖直振动时颗粒在管内上升并最终达到一个稳定的高度的现象, 该现象为颗粒物料的逆重力输运提供了一种潜在的技术途径. 为探究颗粒毛细效应的影响因素, 采用离散元方法, 模拟再现了颗粒毛细效应过程,展示了不同管径下颗粒竖直方向速度演变特性, 考察了不同容器宽度和振动条件下颗粒最终毛细上升高度随管径的演变规律. 结果表明, 在容器宽度与粒径比为40、管振幅与粒径比为14.33、管振动频率为12 Hz情况下, 管径与粒径比$D/d = 3.33$时, 管内颗粒堵塞严重, 使得颗粒上升缓慢,并造成颗粒柱中断; $D/d = 8.33$时, 起初毛细上升高度增加迅速, 随后毛细上升高度的增大逐渐减缓, 管内颗粒在管径方向几乎不存在速度梯度; $D/d =15$时, 随着颗粒毛细上升高度的增大, 管内颗粒柱分离为速度截然不同的两层, 上层颗粒在管径方向几乎不存在速度梯度, 而下层颗粒存在明显的速度梯度.研究还发现, 在毛细效应能够发生的管径范围内, 存在一个对应于颗粒最终毛细上升高度最大值的临界管径, 当管径小于临界管径时, 颗粒最终毛细上升高度随管径的增大而增大, 当管径大于临界管径时, 颗粒最终毛细上升高度随管径的增大而趋于减小; 增大容器宽度,临界管径有所增大; 增大振幅、适当提高频率能够有效促进临界管径的增大.