Adatom Defect Induced Spin Polarization of Asymmetric Structures

The spin polarization of carbon nanomaterials is crucial to design spintronic devices. In this paper, the first-principles is used to study the electronic properties of two defect asymmetric structures, Cap-(9, 0)-Def [6, 6] and Cap-(9, 0)-Def [5, 6]. We found that the ground state of Cap-(9, 0)-Def [6, 6] is sextet and the ground state of Cap-(9, 0)-Def [5, 6] is quartet, and the former has a lower energy. In addition, compared with Cap-(9, 0) CNTs, the C adatom on C₃₀ causes spin polarization phenomenon and Cap-(9, 0)-Def [6, 6] has more spin electrons than Cap-(9, 0)-Def [5, 6] structure. Moreover, different adsorb defects reveal different electron accumulation. This finding shows that spin polarization of the asymmetric structure can be adjusted by introducing adatom defects.     

In Situ Labeling and Distance Measurements of Membrane Proteins in E. coli Using Finland and OX063 Trityl Labels

In situ investigation of membrane proteins is a challenging task. Previously we demonstrated that nitroxide labels combined with pulsed ESR spectroscopy is a promising tool for this purpose. However, the nitroxide labels suffer from poor stability, high background labeling, and low sensitivity. Here we show that Finland (FTAM) and OX063 based labels enable labeling of the cobalamin transporter BtuB and BamA, the central component of the β-barrel assembly machinery (BAM) complex, in E coli. Compared to the methanethiosulfonate spin label (MTSL), trityl labels eliminated the background signals and enabled specific in situ labeling of the proteins with high efficiency. The OX063 labels show a long phase memory time (T_M) of ≈5 μs. All the trityls enabled distance measurements between BtuB and an orthogonally labeled substrate with high selectivity and sensitivity down to a few μm concentration. Our data corroborate the BtuB and BamA conformations in the cellular environment of E. coli.     

对称季铵碱的烷基链长度对草酸电还原反应的影响

研究了四种不同烷基链长度的对称季铵碱对草酸电还原制备乙醛酸反应的影响。线性扫描测试考察了添加剂对铅电极上阴极反应的影响,结果表明对称季铵碱在电极表面的吸附对析氢反应的抑制程度大于其对草酸电还原反应的抑制程度,且随着对称季铵碱中烷基链长度的增加,添加剂抑制析氢反应效果更明显。计时安培法的结果证明添加剂可影响草酸向电极表面的扩散,随着对称季铵碱中烷基链长度的增加,草酸的扩散系数呈现出先增加后减小的趋势。恒流电解实验结果表明,添加剂能有效提高草酸电还原反应的电流效率,且提高效果随对称季铵碱所含烷基链长度的增加而增强。因此,添加剂的吸附对阴极表面析氢反应的抑制作用是草酸电还原反应电流效率提高的主要原因。本研究表明,四丁基氢氧化铵为添加剂时,草酸还原为乙醛酸的电流效率最高。     

End‐Functionalized Palladium SCS Pincer Polymers via Controlled Radical Polymerizations

A direct and facile route toward semitelechelic polymers, end‐functionalized with palladated sulfur–carbon–sulfur pincer (Pd^II‐pincer) complexes is reported that avoids any post‐polymerization step. Key to our methodology is the combination of reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization with functionalized chain‐transfer agents. This strategy yields Pd end‐group‐functionalized materials with monomodal molar mass dispersities (Đ ) of 1.18–1.44. The RAFT polymerization is investigated using a Pd^II‐pincer chain‐transfer agent for three classes of monomers: styrene, tert‐butyl acrylate, and N‐isopropylacrylamide. The ensuing Pd^II‐pincer end‐functionalized polymers are analyzed using ¹H NMR spectroscopy, gel‐permeation chromatography, and elemental analysis. The RAFT polymerization methodology provides a direct pathway for the fabrication of Pd^II‐pincer functionalized polymers with complete end‐group functionalization.

     

Metal‐Folded Single‐Chain Nanoparticle: Nanoclusters and Self‐Assembled Reduction‐Responsive Sub‐5‐nm Discrete Subdomains

Easy access to discrete nanoclusters in metal‐folded single‐chain nanoparticles (metal‐SCNPs) and independent ultrafine sudomains in the assemblies via coordination‐driven self‐assembly of hydrophilic copolymer containing 9% imidazole groups is reported herein. ¹H NMR, dynamic light scattering, and NMR diffusion‐ordered spectroscopy results demonstrate self‐assembly into metal‐SCNPs (>70% imidazole‐units folded) by neutralization in the presence of Cu(II) in water to pH 4.6. Further neutralization induces self‐assembly of metal‐SCNPs (pH 4.6–5.0) and shrinkage (pH 5.0–5.6), with concurrent restraining residual imidazole motifs and hydrophilic segment, which organized into constant nanoparticles over pH 5.6–7.5. Atomic force microscopy results evidence discrete 1.2 nm nanoclusters and sub‐5‐nm subdomains in metal‐SCNP and assembled nanoparticle. Reduction of metal center using sodium ascorbate induces structural rearrangement to one order lower than the precursor. Enzyme mimic catalysis required media‐tunable discrete ultrafine interiors in metal‐SCNPs and assemblies have hence been achieved.     

基于杂交链式反应辅助多重信号放大的端粒酶灵敏检测

端粒酶是真核细胞维持端粒长度的关键逆转录酶,其生物活性的高低可以为多种癌症的临床诊断和预后治疗提供有价值的信息.本研究以人宫颈癌细胞(HeLa细胞)裂解液中的端粒酶为研究对象,通过借助杂交链式反应辅助多重信号放大策略,提出了一种新颖、灵敏的检测端粒酶电化学方法.首先将端粒酶的延伸引物自组装在金电极表面,当端粒酶存在时,端粒酶能够催化引物的延伸,产生与发卡环探针H1部分互补的序列,进而引发杂交链式反应,形成由两个发卡环探针(H1和H2)交替杂交而形成的DNA长链.由于H1和H2末端均修饰有生物素,加入链霉亲和素修饰辣根过氧化物酶后,辣根过氧化物酶被被连接到电极表面,催化邻苯二胺氧化生成2,3-二氨基吩嗪,产生显著的电化学信号.实验结果表明,本研究建立的端粒酶电化学检测方法高效、可行,线性范围宽,灵敏度高,可以检测每毫升10个HeLa细胞裂解液中的端粒酶.本方法具有较好的选择性,能有效区分端粒酶和对照蛋白.     

Catalytic chain transfer polymerization of isobutylene: The role of nucleophilic impurities

Fast polymerization of isobutylene (IB) initiated by tert‐butyl chloride using ethylaluminum dichloride·bis(2‐chloroethyl) ether complex (T. Rajasekhar, J. Emert, R. Faust, Polym. Chem. 2017, 8, 2852) was drastically slowed down in the presence of impurities, such as propionic acid, acetone, methanol, and acetonitrile. The effect of impurities on the polymerization rate was neutralized by using two different approaches. First, addition of a small amount of iron trichloride (FeCl₃) scavenged the impurity and formed an insoluble · impurity complex in hexanes. The polymerization rate and exo‐olefin content were virtually identical to that obtained in the absence of impurities. Heterogeneous phase scavenger (FeCl₃) exhibited better performance than homogenous phase scavengers. In the second approach, conducting the polymerization in wet hexanes, the fast polymerization of IB was retained in the presence of impurities with a slight decrease in exo‐olefin content. ¹H NMR studies suggest that nucleophilic impurities are protonated in the presence of water, and thereby neutralized. Mechanistic studies suggest that the rate constant of activation (k_a), rate constant of propagation (k_p), and rate constant of β‐proton elimination (k_tr) are not affected by the presence of impurities. To account for the retardation of polymerization in the presence of impurities, delay of proton transfer to monomer in the chain transfer step is proposed. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3697–3704