Interplay between Cation–π and Coinage‐Metal–Oxygen Interactions: An Ab Initio Study and Cambridge Structural Database Survey

The interplay between cation–π and coinage‐metal–oxygen interactions are investigated in the ternary systems N???PhCCM???O (N=Li⁺, Na⁺, Mg²⁺; M=Ag, Au; O=water, methanol, ethanol). A synergetic effect is observed when cation–π and coinage‐metal–oxygen interactions coexist in the same complex. The cation–π interaction in most triads has a greater enhancing effect on the coinage‐metal–oxygen interaction. This effect is analyzed in terms of the binding distance, interaction energy, and electrostatic potential in the complexes. Furthermore, the formation, strength, and nature of both the cation–π and coinage‐metal–oxygen interactions can be understood in terms of electrostatic potential and energy decomposition. In addition, experimental evidence for the coexistence of both interactions is obtained from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD).     

A new naphthalenone isolated from the green walnut husks of Juglans mandshurica Maxim.

Phytochemical study of green walnut husks of Juglans mandshurica Maxim. led to the isolation of a new naphthalenone, (4R)-3,4-dihydro-4-butoxy-5-hydroxy-naphthalen-1(2H)-one (1), together with 16 known compounds. Compounds 4–6, 13, 14 and 17 were isolated from the genus Juglans for the first time, and their chemotaxonomic significance was also evaluated.     

An improved cell membrane chromatography method for the simultaneous screening of two epidermal growth factor receptor antagonists from radix scutellariae

A high‐expression epidermal growth factor receptor cell membrane chromatography using the silica gel with the average particle size of 3 μm as the stationary phase carrier coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry was established for the online screening of epidermal growth factor receptor antagonists from Radix Scutellariae (Huang Qin in Chinese), a traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, the growth factor receptor cell membrane chromatography model using the smaller particle size carrier showed a higher efficiency for simultaneous screening baicalein, another one of the potential epidermal growth factor receptor antagonists from Radix Scutellariae extract besides wogonin, which was found in our previous work. The molecular docking result showed the occupancy site and binding mode of baicalein and wogonin with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase were similar to gefitinib. The result of the assay for the in vitro inhibitory activity showed that baicalein and wogonin inhibited the growth of the high‐expression epidermal growth factor receptor cell in a dose‐dependent manner and even achieved a better inhibition effect than gifitinib in the low‐dosage range.     

Iron(III)‐Selective Chelation‐Enhanced Fluorescence Sensing for In Vivo Imaging Applications

A “turn‐on” pattern Fe³⁺‐selective fluorescent sensor was synthesized and characterized that showed high fluorescence discrimination of Fe³⁺ over Fe²⁺ and other tested ions. With a 62‐fold fluorescence enhancement towards Fe³⁺, the probe was employed to detect Fe³⁺ in vivo in HeLa cells and Caenorhabditis elegans, and it was also successfully used to elucidate Fe³⁺ enrichment and exchange infected by innexin3 (Inx3) in hemichannel‐closed Sf9 cells.     

Synthesis,structure and characterization of two new metal–organic coordination polymers based on the ligand 5‐iodobenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylate

Two new coordination polymers (CPs) formed from 5‐iodobenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylic acid (H₂iip) in the presence of the flexible 1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)butane (bimb) auxiliary ligand, namely poly[[μ₂‐1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)butane‐κ²N³:N^3′](μ₃‐5‐iodobenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylato‐κ⁴O¹,O^1′:O³:O^3′)cobalt(II)], [Co(C₈H₃IO₄)(C₁₀H₁₄N₄)]_n or [Co(iip)(bimb)]_n, (1), and poly[[[μ₂‐1,4‐bis(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)butane‐κ²N³:N^3′](μ₂‐5‐iodobenzene‐1,3‐dicarboxylato‐κ²O¹:O³)zinc(II)] trihydrate], {[Zn(C₈H₃IO₄)(C₁₀H₁₄N₄)]·3H₂O}_n or {[Zn(iip)(bimb)]·3H₂O}_n, (2), were synthesized and characterized by FT–IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), solid‐state UV–Vis spectroscopy, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis and powder X‐ray diffraction analysis (PXRD). The iip²⁻ ligand in (1) adopts the (κ¹,κ¹‐μ₂)(κ¹, κ¹‐μ₁)‐μ₃ coordination mode, linking adjacent secondary building units into a ladder‐like chain. These chains are further connected by the flexible bimb ligand in a trans–trans–trans conformation. As a result, a twofold three‐dimensional interpenetrating α‐Po network is formed. Complex (2) exhibits a two‐dimensional (4,4) topological network architecture in which the iip²⁻ ligand shows the (κ¹)(κ¹)‐μ₂ coordination mode. The solid‐state UV–Vis spectra of (1) and (2) were investigated, together with the fluorescence properties of (2) in the solid state.     

Highly stable and reusable imprinted artificial antibody used for in situ detection and disinfection of pathogens

Sandwich ELISA methods have been widely used for biomarker and pathogen detection because of their high specificity and sensitivity. However, the main drawbacks of this assay are the cost, the time-consuming procedure for the isolation of antibodies and their poor stability. To overcome these restrictions, we herein fabricated artificial antibodies based on imprinting technology and developed a sandwich ELISA for pathogen detection. Both the capture and detection antibodies were obtained via an in situ method, with simplicity, rapidity and low cost. The peroxidase mimics, the CeO₂ nanoparticles, as signal generators were integrated with the detection antibody. The fabricated artificial antibodies exhibited not only natural antibody-like binding affinities and selectivities, but also superior stability and reusability. The detection limit was about 500 CFU mL^–1, which is much lower than that of traditional ELISA methods (10⁴ to 10⁵ CFU mL^–1). Furthermore, the capture antibody can disinfect pathogens in situ.     

Is a polymer semiconductor having a “perfect” regular structure desirable for organic thin film transistors?

This study utilized high temperature NMR and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-ToF) mass spectrometry to reveal that appreciable amounts of structural defects are present in the diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)–quaterthiophene copolymers (PDQT) synthesized by the Stille coupling polymerization with Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂, Pd₂(dba)₃/P(o-tol)₃, and Pd(PPh₃)₄ catalyst systems. It was proposed that these structural defects were produced via homocoupling side reactions of the C–Br bonds and the organostannane species. Model Stille coupling reactions further substantiated that the amount of structural defects are catalyst-dependent following the order of Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ > Pd₂(dba)₃/P(o-tol)₃ > Pd(PPh₃)₄. To verify the structural assignments, “perfect” structurally regular PDQT polymers were prepared using Yamamoto coupling polymerization. When compared to the structurally regular polymers, the polymers containing defects exhibited notable redshifts in their absorption spectra. Surprisingly, the “perfect” structurally regular polymers showed poor molecular ordering in thin films and very low charge transport performance as channel semiconductors in organic thin film transistors (OTFTs). On the contrary, all the “defected” polymers exhibited much improved molecular ordering and significantly higher charge carrier mobility.     

DNA based multi-copper ions assembly using combined pyrazole and salen ligandosides

The DNA structure is an ideal building block for the construction of functional nano-objects. In this direction, metal coordinating base pairs (ligandosides) are an appealing tool for the future specific functionalization of such nano-objects. We present here a study, in which we combine the metal ion coordinating pyrazole ligandoside with the interstrand crosslinking salen ligandoside system. We show that both ligandosides, when combined, are able to create stable multi-copper ion complexing DNA double helix structures in a cooperative fashion.     

A two‐dimensional layered CdII coordination polymer with a three‐dimensional supramolecular architecture incorporating mixed multidentate N‐ and O‐donor ligands

The combination of N‐heterocyclic and multicarboxylate ligands is a good choice for the construction of metal–organic frameworks. In the title coordination polymer, poly[bis{μ₂‐1‐[(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1H‐tetrazole‐κ²N³:N⁴}(μ₄‐butanedioato‐κ⁴O¹:O^1′:O⁴:O^4′)(μ₂‐butanedioato‐κ²O¹:O⁴)dicadmium], [Cd(C₄H₄O₄)(C₉H₈N₆)]_n, each Cd^II ion exhibits an irregular octahedral CdO₄N₂ coordination geometry and is coordinated by four O atoms from three carboxylate groups of three succinate (butanedioate) ligands and two N atoms from two 1‐[(1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐yl)methyl]‐1H‐tetrazole (bimt) ligands. Cd^II ions are connected by two kinds of crystallographically independent succinate ligands to generate a two‐dimensional layered structure with bimt ligands located on each side of the layer. Adjacent layers are further connected by hydrogen bonding, leading to a three‐dimensional supramolecular architecture in the solid state. Thermogravimetric analysis of the title polymer shows that it is stable up to 529 K and then loses weight from 529 to 918 K, corresponding to the decomposition of the bimt ligands and succinate groups. The polymer exhibits a strong fluorescence emission in the solid state at room temperature.     

A three‐dimensional coordination polymer based on the Zn4(μ3‐OH)2 unit: poly[[(μ4‐benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)bis(μ3‐benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylato)bis(μ3‐hydroxido)bis(1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione)tetrazinc] dihydrate]

The title compound, {[Zn₄(C₈H₄O₄)₃(OH)₂(C₁₂H₆N₂O₂)₂]·2H₂O}_n, has been prepared hydrothermally by the reaction of Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O with benzene‐1,4‐dicarboxylic acid (H₂bdc) and 1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione (pdon) in H₂O. In the crystal structure, a tetranuclear Zn₄(OH)₂ fragment is located on a crystallographic inversion centre which relates two subunits, each containing a [ZnN₂O₄] octahedron and a [ZnO₄] tetrahedron bridged by a μ₃‐OH group. The pdon ligand chelates to zinc through its two N atoms to form part of the [ZnN₂O₄] octahedron. The two crystallographically independent bdc²⁻ ligands are fully deprotonated and adopt μ₃‐κO:κO′:κO′′ and μ₄‐κO:κO′:κO′′:κO′′′ coordination modes, bridging three or four Zn^II cations, respectively, from two Zn₄(OH)₂ units. The Zn₄(OH)₂ fragment connects six neighbouring tetranuclear units through four μ₃‐bdc²⁻ and two μ₄‐bdc²⁻ ligands, forming a three‐dimensional framework with uninodal 6‐connected α‐Po topology, in which the tetranuclear Zn₄(OH)₂ units are considered as 6‐connected nodes and the bdc²⁻ ligands act as linkers. The uncoordinated water molecules are located on opposite sides of the Zn₄(OH)₂ unit and are connected to it through hydrogen‐bonding interactions involving hydroxide and carboxylate groups. The structure is further stabilized by extensive π–π interactions between the pdon and μ₄‐bdc²⁻ ligands.