Tuning the Structure and Properties of N-doped Positively Charged Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

A detailed study of the geometry, aromatic character, electronic and magnetic properties for a series of positively charged N-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was performed. Magnetic properties of the examined molecules were analyzed by means of the magnetically induced current density calculated using the diamagnetic-zero version of the continuous transformation of origin of current density (CTOCD-DZ) method. The comparative study of the local aromaticity of the studied molecules was performed using several different indices: energy effect (ef), harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity (HOMA) index, six centre delocalization index (SCI) and nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS). The presence of N-atoms in the inner rings was found to cause a planarity distortion in the studied N-doped systems. The geometric changes and charged nature of the studied N-doped systems do not significantly influence the current density and the local aromaticity distribution in comparison with the corresponding parent benzenoid hydrocarbons. The present study demonstrates how quantum chemical calculations can be used for rational design of novel PAHs and for fine tuning of their properties.     

基于实时无标记技术研究流式分选后细胞活性的检测方法

利用流式细胞法、细胞计数试剂盒（CCK-8）法、实时细胞功能分析（RTCA）法分别检测分选前后细胞的活性,综合比较了3种方法的检测原理、操作特点等。结果显示,流式细胞法测得的分选后细胞凋亡率为（3.85 ± 0.008）%,分选前细胞凋亡率为（14.09 ± 0.021）%,分选后细胞凋亡率低于分选前,具有统计学差异（P < 0.05）;分选前后的活细胞比例显示,分选后活细胞比例高于分选前,具有显著性统计学差异（P < 0.001）。CCK-8法测得的分选后细胞活性高于分选前,具有显著性统计学差异（P < 0.001）;RTCA法测得的分选后细胞连续增殖活性明显高于分选前,具有极显著性统计学差异（P < 0.000 1）。结果显示,相较于CCK-8法和流式细胞法,RTCA法的细胞用量少、可回收,操作简便,无需标记,检测灵敏度高,可获得实时动态的细胞生长曲线,适合研究分选后细胞长效动态的活性变化,可为基础和临床分选后活细胞的功能研究提供检测手段。     

热激活延迟荧光材料的光物理行为及性能预测

热激活延迟荧光(Thermally activated delayed fluorescence, TADF)材料由于三线态激子可通过反系间窜越(Reverse intersystem crossing, RISC)转换为单线态激子,在有机发光二极管(Organic light-emitting diodes, OLEDs)中理论上可达到100%的激子利用率而被广泛关注。但实验上开发设计高性能TADF材料较为复杂且研究周期较长,理论研究可以从本质上建立材料结构-性能的关系,预测材料的性质并提供一定的分子设计策略。本文围绕高性能TADF材料的开发,从发光原理出发,系统阐述了分子的设计策略及光物理参数如材料单-三线态能级差(Single-triplet energy gap, ΔE_ST)、系间/反系间窜越速率、吸收/发射光谱、辐射/非辐射速率等的计算原理、计算方法和研究进展。最后我们探讨了TADF材料理论研究面临的机遇和挑战,通过对TADF材料的理论研究综述和研究前景的展望,期待吸引更多的研究工作者,推动该领域的发展和突破。     

零价铁去除水中(类)金属(含氧)离子技术发展的黄金十年(2011-2021)

应用零价铁(ZVI)去除水中(类)金属(含氧)离子是近年来研究的热点。在ZVI除污染过程中,同步提升ZVI除污的反应活性与电子效率对该技术进一步推广应用至关重要。本文综述了近十年(2011-2021年)ZVI的提升技术,主要涉及硫化、外加弱磁场、投加Fe²⁺、投加氧化剂以及其他新型技术。从不同体系广谱研究以及单一体系具体研究的角度,系统分析了这些技术对ZVI去除含氧水体中(类)金属(含氧)离子的反应活性、去除容量、电子效率的提升表现及作用机制。最后,对ZVI技术未来的研究方向作出了展望,以期促进ZVI技术的进一步完善与发展。本文有望为增强零价铁去除污染物的实际效能提供新的探索方向并完备相关理论基础。     

Delocalized \begin{document}$\pi_3^6$\end{document} Bond in OX\begin{document}$_2$\end{document} (X=Halogen) Molecules

OX\begin{document}$_2$\end{document} (X=halogen) molecules was studied theoretically. Calculation results show that delocalized \begin{document}$\pi_3^6$\end{document} bonds exist in their electronic structures and O atoms adopt the sp\begin{document}$^2$\end{document} type of hybridization, which violates the prediction of the valence shell electron pair repulsion theory of sp\begin{document}$^3$\end{document} type. Delocalization stabilization energy is proposed to measure the contribution of delocalized \begin{document}$\pi_3^6$\end{document} bond to energy decrease and proves to bring extra-stability to the molecule. These phenomena can be summarized as a kind of coordinating effect.     

A Mechanistic Switch in C-H Bond Activation by Elusive Fe\begin{document}$^\text{V}$\end{document}(O)(TAML) Reaction Intermediate: A Theoretical Study

The divergent behavior of C-H bond oxidations of aliphatic substrates compared to those of aromatic substrates shown in Gupta's experiment was mechanistically studied herein by means of density functional theory calculations. Our calculations reveal that such difference is caused by different reaction mechanisms between two kinds of substrates (the aliphatic cyclohexane, 2, 3-dimethylbutane and the aromatic toluene, ethylbenzene and cumene). For the aliphatic substrates, C-H oxidation by the oxidant Fe\begin{document}$^{\rm{V}}$\end{document}(O)(TAML) is a hydrogen atom transfer process; whereas for the aromatic substrates, C-H oxidation is a proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) process with a proton transfer character on the transition state, that is, a proton-coupled electron transfer process holding a proton transfer-like transition state (PCET(PT)). This difference is caused by the strong \begin{document}$\pi$\end{document}-\begin{document}$\pi$\end{document} interactions between the tetra-anionic TAML ring and the phenyl ring of the aromatic substrates, which has a "pull" effect to make the electron transfer from substrates to the Fe=O moiety inefficient.     

Utilization of photocatalysts in decarboxylative coupling of carboxylic N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) esters

Recently, the visible-light photoredox decarboxylative couplings of N-(acyloxy)phthalimides (NHPI esters) and its derivatives have become an efficient chemical transformation. Under visible light, the NHPI esters undergo a single-electron transfer (SET) process to afford the corresponding carbon or nitrogen radicals that participate in many chemical transformations. The photoredox decarboxylative couplings have been applied to achieve construction of an array of carbon–carbon and carbon–heteroatom bonds as well as the synthesis of carbocycles and heterocycles. This review categorises photocatalysts, discusses the application and catalysis mechanisms of NHPI esters, and details recent progress in this field.     

Photocatalysis in Supramolecular Fluorescent Metallacycles and Metallacages

The utilization of photocatalytic techniques for achieving light-to-fuel conversion is a promising way to ease the shortage of energy and degradation of the ecological environment. Fluorescent metallacycles and metallacages have drawn considerable attention and have been used in widespread fields due to easy preparation and their abundant functionality including photocatalysis. This review covers recent advances in photocatalysis in discrete supramolecular fluorescent metallacycles and metallacages. The developments in the utilization of the metallacycles skeletons and the effect of fluorescence-resonance energy transfer for photocatalysis are discussed. Furthermore, the use of the ligands decorated by organic chromophores or redox metal sites in metallacages as photocatalysts and their ability to encapsulate appropriate catalytic cofactors for photocatalysis are summarized. For the sake of brevity, macrocycles and cages with inorganic coordination complexes such as ruthenium complexes and iridium complexes are not included in this minireview.     

Plasmonic Pollen Grain Nanostructures: A Three-Dimensional Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS)-Active Substrate

A new route has been developed to design plasmonic pollen grain-like nanostructures (PGNSs) as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active substrate. The nanostructures consisting of silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles along with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoclusters as spacers were found highly SERS-active. The morphology of PGNSs and those obtained in the intermediate stage along with each elemental evolution has been investigated by a high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy. The optical band gaps and crystal structure have been identified by UV-vis absorption and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) measurements, respectively. For PGNSs specimen, three distinct absorption bands related to constituent elements Ag, Au, and ZnO were observed, whereas XRD peaks confirmed the existence of Ag, Au, and ZnO within the composition of PGNSs. SERS-activity of PGNSs was confirmed using Rhodamine 6G (R6G) as Raman-active dyes. Air-cooled solid-state laser kits of 532 nm were used as excitation sources in SERS measurements. SERS enhancement factor was estimated for PGNSs specimen and was found as high as 3.5×10⁶. Finite difference time domain analysis was carried out to correlate the electromagnetic (EM) near-field distributions with the experiment results achieved under this investigation. EM near-field distributions at different planes were extracted for s-, p- and 45° of incident polarizations. EM near-field distributions for such nanostructures as well as current density distributions under different circumstances were demonstrated and plausible scenarios were elucidated given SERS enhancements. Such generic fabrication route as well as correlated investigation is not only indispensable to realize the potential of SERS applications but also unveil the underneath plasmonic characteristics of complex SERS-active nanostructures.     

Spectrochemical analysis using LIBS and ICP-OES techniques of herbal medicine (Tinnevelly Senna leaves) and its anti-cancerous/antibacterial applications

Tinnevelly senna leaves are being applied to cure many diseases especially in developing countries and sub-Saharan region due to many bioactive compounds such as sennosides, phenols, and flavonoids. The conventional methods to isolate and analyze plant extracts biomolecules are not very effective as well cost effective as they require hazardous chemical solvents and reagents, which are time-consuming processes. The major objective of the present study is to investigate the feasibility of the Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technique for rapid, eco-friendly, and multi-elemental analysis of Senna leaves extracts and study their antibacterial and anticancer potentials. The elegant LIBS technique was applied as a qualitative and quantitative method for Senna leaves sample’s elemental analysis and their biological activities were measured by evaluating anti-cancer and anti-bacterial analysis. The quantitative analysis of Senna leaves extracts was done using the calibration-free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (CF-LIBS) algorithm showing their appreciable content of several nutrient elements, and the obtained results were in close conformity with these achieved by using the standard analytical ICP OES technique. We studied the bactericidal efficacy of the Senna leaves extract against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) by AWD assays and morphogenesis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the anticancer activity was also investigated where different concentrations of Senna leaves extract were tested on cancer cells (HCT-116 and HeLa) and normal cells (HEK-293) using the cell metabolic activity MTT assay and Propidium iodide (PI) staining. We have also calculated the inhibitory concentration (IC50) value for the various extracts concentrations (25 µg/ml, 50 µg/ml, 100 µg/ml, 150 µg/ml, 200 µg/ml, and 225 µg/ml). We have found that IC₅₀ value for HCT-116 cells were 13.5 µg/ml, 17.5 µg/ml, 21.5 µg/ml, 22.5 µg/ml, 26 µg/ml and 33.5 µg/ml and for HeLa cells 15.25 µg/ml, 21.25 µg/ml, 23.5 µg/ml, 262.5 µg/ml, 36.25 µg/ml, and 39.50 µg/ml. The bactericidal efficacy of the Senna leaves extract showed significant inhibition against Gram-positive bacterium. Both MTT and PI analysis showed that Senna leaves extract induced profound inhibition on HCT-116 growth and proliferation. Additionally, Senna leaves extract did not exert an inhibitory influence on normal (HEK-293), which is non-cancerous cells. We suggest that the extract specifically targets the cancerous cells, which could be highly beneficial for the development of future safe anticancer and antibacterial drugs using these extracts.