1,2-Dihydro-1-hydroxy-2,3,1-benzodiazaborine Bearing an Acridine Moiety as a Circular Dichroism Probe for Determination of Absolute Configuration of Mono-Alcohols

A new chiral probe molecule for mono-alcohols is developed by using 1,2-dihydro-1-hydroxy-2,3,1-benzodiazaborine (DAB) bearing an acridine moiety 1 . In the presence of mono-alcohols, DAB 1 forms borate 2 by boronic ester formation, followed by coordination of the acridine moiety to the boron atom. Borate 2 has a chiral center on the boron atom and works as a stereodynamic circular dichroism (CD) probe molecule for chiral mono-alcohols based on the π–π interaction between the acridine moiety and the carbon–carbon unsaturated moiety on mono-alcohols.     

Highly sensitive perylene tetra-(alkoxycarbonyl) based colorimetric and ratiometric probes for fluorine detection

Fluoride anion (F^?) affects environmental, biological, and chemical processes significantly. Therefore, its detection has received increasing attention, and sensitive, effective, and convenient probes for F^? detection need to be developed urgently. In this work, two perylene tetra-(alkoxycarbonyl) (PTAC) based colorimetric and ratiometric probes, P1 and P2, were developed for the detection of F^?. The interactions between F^? and these two probes were investigated by absorption, electrochemistry, ¹H NMR, and density functional methods. Both the two probes were complexed with F^? with a ratio of 1:1. The detection limits of P1 and P2 were 0.22 μM and 0.87 μM, respectively. It was worth noting that the absorption peak of P1 showed a 190 nm red shift when sensing F^?, and P1 is the largest red shift value reported in F^? probes based on PTAC derivatives. This phenomenon was resulted from the unique configuration and deprotonation of P1 that can promote the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). This strategy provides an example for the development of other ion probes based on D-A type ICT mechanism.     

Probing molecular environments with a fictitious isotopic dipole

A HD-like (HD: mono-deuterated hydrogen molecule) isotopic dipole moment is proposed as a sensible probe for molecular environments, in particular for electrostatic fields and polarizable (reactive) sites of molecules. Fictitious nuclear masses are chosen in order to yield a rigid dipole with a small appropriate magnitude. Upon subtracting the Born-Oppenheimer energy, the interaction is reduced to field-dipole-like and dipole-polarizability-like terms, the last one being particularly informative since connected to potentially reactive sites. Possible asymmetries of this term appear as signatures of charged sites in the molecule. The field strength and orientation are easily obtained by identifying the minimum field-dipole energy configuration and flipping the dipole from it. Tests with hydrogen, water, benzene, and chlorobenzene molecules confirm the good performance of the method. In an application to test the present models for hydrogen activation by a frustrated Lewis pair, the full potential of the method is assessed.     

Amorphous Aggregation of Amyloid Beta 1‐40 Peptide in Confined Space

The amorphous aggregation of Aβ1‐40 peptide is addressed by using micromolding in capillaries. Both the morphology and the size of the aggregates are modulated by changing the contact angle of the sub‐micrometric channel walls. Upon decreasing the hydrophilicity of the channels, the aggregates change their morphology from small aligned drops to discontinuous lines, thereby keeping their amorphous structure. Aβ1‐40 fibrils are observed at high contact angles.     

Direct Estimation of the Surface Location of Immobilized Functional Groups for Concerted Catalysis Using a Probe Molecule

The location of active sites during concerted catalysis by a metal complex and tertiary amine on a SiO₂ surface is discussed based on the interaction between the functionalized SiO₂ surface and a probe molecule, p‐formyl phenylboronic acid. The interactions of the probe molecule with the surface functionalities, diamine ligand, and tertiary amine, were analyzed by FT‐IR and solid‐state ¹³C and ¹¹B MAS NMR. For the catalyst exhibiting high 1,4‐addition activity, the diamine ligand and tertiary amine base exist in closer proximity than in the catalyst with low activity.     

Imaging and tracking an electrostatic charge micro-domain by Kelvin force microscopy as evidence of water adsorption on mica surface

Muscovite mica is a widely accepted substrate for scanning probe microscopy (SPM) investigations. However, mica has intrinsic properties that alter samples and obstruct their analysis due to free charges build-up, ionic exchange and water adsorption taking place at the surface. In addition to interfacial phenomena, there is a growing interest in electrostatic charges on insulators as they are crucial in diverse applications. Despite the high demand for studies of this nature, experimental set-ups capable of resolving charge build-up at the micro-scale are still scarce and technically limited. Here, we report the imaging of surface charge dissipation on freshly cleaved mica by Kelvin-probe Force Microscopy (KPFM). A local electrostatic charge micro-domain was generated by friction between an atomic force microscope (AFM) tip and mica, and its decay was tracked by two-dimensional mapping using KPFM. We found time-dependent charge dissipation, which is attributed to the adsorption of water molecules on mica surface.     

Full physicochemical characterization of malic acid: Emphasis in the potential as food ingredient and application in pectin gels

Malic acid, a carboxylic acid most found in fruits, is a smooth taste substance used as flavoring and preservative agent in foods, although not as used as citric acid. There are no studies focusing in quantitative results or investigations on its physicochemical properties, useful to the food industry, or even the confirmation of its calcium chelating, buffer texturizer and antioxidant alleged properties. Thus, the aim of this work was the assessment of most physicochemical properties of malic acid, solid and in solution, that could be useful to the food industry understand its real potential. The following analyses were carried out: melting point; structure (NMR, XRD, FTIR and SEM/EDS); TGA/DTG; solubility, hygroscopicity; antioxidant activity, iron chelating and antibacterial activities and stability of pectin gels. The melting temperature found was 129.71 °C. TGA/DTG exhibited first loss of mass around 140 °C. In the temperature range of 10 to 55 °C, it exhibited a high solubility in water, from 48.12 to 61.49 (100w), respectively. The tested bacteria, related to food spoilage, were inhibited by DL-malic acid 10% or higher. Chelating and antioxidant activities showed expressive results even in 1% solution. Pectin gels with malic acid had stronger structure and less syneresis than citric acid gels. In addition, calcium chelating, buffer texturizer and antioxidant properties were confirmed. Thus, malic acid has potential to be applied in a wide variety of food products as fortified beverages, frozen and refrigerated items, oils, pectin gels, hard and soft candies, and biofilms, due to all the characteristics quantified.     

碳量子点/曙红Y比率型荧光探针测定L-抗坏血酸

以天然生物质去皮的蓖麻为碳源,采用一步水热法合成了荧光性能优良的绿色荧光蓖麻碳量子点(CO-CQDs),对其形貌和发光性能进行了表征。通过将该CO-CQDs与荧光极强的卤代荧光素染料曙红Y(EY)复合,二者可形成荧光发射峰相距较远的新型CO-CQDs/EY复合物。在pH=4.00的Na2HPO4-柠檬酸缓冲溶液中,在320 nm的激发波长下,CO-CQDs/EY复合物于405 nm和540 nm处显示出两个独立的荧光发射峰。在该体系中加入Cr(Ⅵ),405 nm和540 nm两处的荧光信号均显著猝灭。L-抗坏血酸(L-ascorbic acid,AA)的加入可使复合物于540 nm的荧光信号恢复,而405 nm处的荧光强度基本不变。据此建立了一种以CO-CQDs/EY复合物为比率型荧光探针测定AA的新方法。实验测定了荧光信号恢复的最佳条件和影响荧光恢复的因素,初步探讨了反应机理。在优化的实验条件下,该探针于540 nm/405 nm两处的荧光强度比值与AA的浓度在5.0×10^-8~4.0×10^-6 mol/L范围内呈良好线性关系,检出限为3.7×10^-8 mol/L。该探针用于检测药物、水果和蔬菜中AA的含量,结果满意。     

消光式核壳二聚体传感器的设计与光谱特性分析

根据ITO/Au纳米核壳二聚体粒子在生物医学领域的应用合理性,设计了一种实时检测生物液体的核壳二聚体探针消光式传感器;由偶极子理论推导出输出波长与外界环境折射率关系;利用MATLAB设计ITO/Au纳米核壳二聚体粒子结构;采用软件DDSCAT7.3结合离散偶极近似法,利用二聚体有效半径模拟计算了300~950nm可见光到红外光波段不同核壳比、二聚体间距、以及不同介质折射率的消光光谱;根据传感芯片折射率与偶极共振、耦合八级共振的响应关系得出ITO/Au二聚体的折射率灵敏特性。与传统Ag/Au核壳纳米粒子相比,ITO/Au纳米核壳二聚体结构引入了可作为传感芯片灵敏性自参考参数的耦合八级共振峰,同时ITO/Au二聚体结构的折射率灵敏度可达到419nm/RIU。这些工作及其结果对制作消光式传感器具有重要的意义。