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.     

Surface and volume non-invasive methods for the structural monitoring of the bass-relief ‘Madonna con Bambino’ (Gorizia,Northern Italy)

Abstract

Structural analysis of marble statues, carried out by non-invasive and in situ methods, is crucial to define the state of conservation of the artworks and to identify the deterioration phenomena that can affect them. In this work, we combined in situ non-destructive techniques, ultrasonic tomography (US), ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence (UV-IF) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to study the bass-relief ‘Madonna con Bambino’ (Gorizia, Italy). The US revealed the presence of some metallic pivots, associated with areas of high sound velocity; moreover, a more degraded area has been identified in the lower part of the bass-relief. The acquired UV-IF image confirmed the presence of surface degradation, allowing a preliminary evaluation of the extension of a fracture, from surface to bulk. In addition, the different materials (both original and/or integrations) that compose the studied surface have been identified. The XRF has contributed to define the nature of the inorganic materials applied during undocumented previous restoration works on the surface as filler for lacunae.     

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.     

超声搅拌磁流变抛光液的声场仿真分析

为了探究超声搅拌磁流变抛光液的制备及优化工艺,利用多物理场数值计算方法,建立了超声搅拌磁流变抛光液的声场仿真模型,并进行了频域分析。研究了不同液位深度、超声变幅杆探入深度,不同功率下磁流变抛光液的声场分布。通过测量磁流变抛光液的声场强度对声场仿真进行了验证。结果表明：随着距变幅杆距离的增加,声强逐渐减弱,高声强区域主要分布在换能器轴线附近。声强在距变幅杆20mm范围内急剧衰减,变幅杆最佳探入深度为10mm,增大功率有助于空化区域的扩大。声场仿真结果与实验测量结果基本一致,对磁流变抛光液的制备提供了数值计算基础。     

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.