Cuprous Oxide Catalyzed Oxidative CC Bond Cleavage for CN Bond Formation: Synthesis of Cyclic Imides from Ketones and Amines

Selective oxidative cleavage of a C? C bond offers a straightforward method to functionalize organic skeletons. Reported herein is the oxidative C? C bond cleavage of ketone for C? N bond formation over a cuprous oxide catalyst with molecular oxygen as the oxidant. A wide range of ketones and amines are converted into cyclic imides with moderate to excellent yields. In‐depth studies show that both α‐C? H and β‐C? H bonds adjacent to the carbonyl groups are indispensable for the C? C bond cleavage. DFT calculations indicate the reaction is initiated with the oxidation of the α‐C? H bond. Amines lower the activation energy of the C? C bond cleavage, and thus promote the reaction. New insight into the C? C bond cleavage mechanism is presented.     

Rare Earth Ion Mediated Fluorescence Accumulation on a Single Microbead: An Ultrasensitive Strategy for the Detection of Protein Kinase Activity at the Single‐Cell Level

A single microbead‐based fluorescence imaging (SBFI) strategy that enables detection of protein kinase activity from single cell lysates is reported. We systematically investigated the ability of various rare earth (RE) ions, immobilized on the microbead, for specific capturing of kinase‐induced phosphopeptides, and Dy³⁺ was found to be the most prominent one. Through the efficient concentration of kinase‐induced fluorescent phosphopeptides on a Dy³⁺‐functionalized single microbead, kinase activity can be detected and quantified by reading the fluorescence on the microbead with a confocal fluorescence microscope. Owing to the extremely specific recognition of Dy³⁺ towards phosphopeptides and the highly‐concentrated fluorescence accumulation on only one microbead, ultrahigh sensitivity has been achieved for the SBFI strategy which allows direct kinase analysis at the single‐cell level.     

Controlled Synthesis of N‐Doped Carbon Nanospheres with Tailored Mesopores through Self‐Assembly of Colloidal Silica

Limited strategies have been established to prepare monodisperse mesoporous carbon nanospheres (MCNs) with tailored pore sizes. In this work, a method is reported to synthesize MCNs by combining polymerization of aniline with co‐assembly of colloidal silica nanoparticles. The controlled self‐assembly behavior of colloidal silica enables the formation of uniform composite nanospheres and convenient modulation over mesopores. After carbonization and removal of sacrificial templates, the resultant MCNs possess tunable mesopores (7–42 nm) and spherical diameters (90–300 nm), as well as high surface area (785–1117 m² g^?1), large pore volume (1.46–2.01 cm³ g^?1) and abundant nitrogen moieties (5.54–8.73 at %). When serving as metal‐free electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), MCNs with an optimum pore size of 22 nm, compared to those with 7 and 42 nm, exhibit the best ORR performance in alkaline medium.     

In Situ Solid‐State Generation of (BN)2‐Pyrenes and Electroluminescent Devices

New BN‐heterocyclic compounds have been found to undergo double arene photoelimination, forming rare yellow fluorescent BN‐pyrenes that contain two B? N units. Most significant is the discovery that the double arene elimination can also be driven by excitons generated electrically within electroluminescent (EL) devices, enabling the in situ solid‐state conversion of BN‐heterocycles to BN‐pyrenes and the use of BN‐pyrenes as emitters for EL devices. The in situ exciton‐driven elimination (EDE) phenomenon has also been observed for other BN‐heterocycles.     

Interim Anatase Coating Layer Stabilizes Rutile@CrxOy Photoanode for Visible‐Light‐Driven Water Oxidation

Ternary core–shell heterostructured rutile@anatase@Cr_xO_y nanorod arrays were elaborately designed as photoanodes for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting under visible‐light illumination. The four‐fold enhanced and stabilized visible‐light photocurrent highlights the unique role of the interim anatase layer in accelerating the interfacial charge transfer from the Cr_xO_y chromophore to rutile nanorods.     

Airbrush Formation of Liquid Crystal/Polymer Fibers

A homogeneous solution of a low‐molecular‐weight liquid crystal and a polymer spontaneously phase separates during airbrushing to form uniform fibers with a fluid liquid‐crystal core surrounded by a solid polymer sheath. This structure forms because it effectively minimizes the interfacial energy of the phase‐separated components while minimizing the elastic energy of the liquid‐crystal core. These fibers incorporate the sensitive stimuli response of liquid crystals while maintaining the structural integrity, flexibility, and large surface‐area‐to‐volume ratios inherent in fibers. We demonstrate the electro‐ and thermo‐optical response of the resulting fibers. They may find use as biological and chemical sensors. The resulting fibers have the potential to shape the future of flexible/wearable electronics and sensors.     

Green Approach to the Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Mesh Surface for Oil/Water Separation

We report a simple and environment friendly method to fabricate superhydrophobic metallic mesh surfaces for oil/water separation. The obtained mesh surface exhibits superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity after it was dried in an oven at 200 °C for 10 min. A rough silver layer is formed on the mesh surface after immersion, and the spontaneous adsorption of airborne carbon contaminants on the silver surface lower the surface free energy of the mesh. No low‐surface‐energy reagents and/or volatile organic solvents are used. In addition, we demonstrate that by using the mesh box, oils can be separated and collected from the surface of water repeatedly, and that high separation efficiencies of larger than 92 % are retained for various oils. Moreover, the superhydrophobic mesh also possesses excellent corrosion resistance and thermal stability. Hence, these superhydrophobic meshes might be good candidates for the practical separation of oil from the surface of water.     

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of a new benzamide from endophytic Streptomyces sp. YIM 67086

A new benzamide (1) and four known compounds (2–5) were isolated from endophytic Streptomyces YIM67086, and their structures were determined as 2-amino-3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxybenzamide (1), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (2), phenylacetic acid (3), N-acetyltyramine (4) and p-hydroxytruxinic acid (5). Compound 5 was first found in the microorganism. The antimicrobial activities of compounds 1–5 and antioxidant activity of compound 1 were investigated.     

Depolymerization of Free‐Radical Polymers with Spin Migrations

The mechanism of depolymerization is one of the most essential issues in chemical engineering and materials science. In this work, we investigate the depolymerization reactions of three typical free‐radical poly(alpha‐methylstyrene) tetramers by using first‐principles density functional theory. The calculated results show that these reactions all need to overcome the energy barriers in the range of 0.58 to 0.77 eV, and that breaking the C?C bond at the chain end leads to the dissociation of alpha‐methylstyrene monomers from the polymers. Electronic‐structure analysis indicates that the reactions occur easily at the CR₃ unsaturated end, and that the frontier molecular orbitals that participate in the reactions are mainly localized at the unsaturated ends. Meanwhile, spin population analysis presents the unique net spin‐transfer process in free‐radical depolymerization reactions. We hope the current findings can contribute to understanding the free‐radical depolymerization mechanism and help guide future experiments.     

Simultaneous quantification of 10 saponins in Chinese Shizhu Panax by UPLC-ESI-MS

A simple and rapid method was established and validated for the simultaneous quantification of 10 saponins, namely ginsenosides-Rb₁, Rb₂, Rb₃, Rc, Rd, Rg₁, Rg₂, Re, Rf and Notoginsenside R₁, in Chinese Shizhu Panax by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with an electrospray mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS). In addition, the contents of the analytes in different parts of Chinese Shizhu Panax were also analysed. The results showed that the concentration of saponins had a reference to the different parts of Chinese Shizhu Panax. The established method could be used as a new analytical approach for assessment of the quantity of Chinese Shizhu Panax.