Molybdenum (VI)‐functionalized UiO‐66 provides an efficient heterogeneous nanocatalyst in oxidation reactions

A novel heterogeneous nanocatalyst was established by supporting molybdenum (VI) on Zr₆ nodes in the structure of the well‐known UiO‐66 metal–organic framework (MOF). The structure of the UiO‐66 before and after Mo (VI) immobilization was confirmed with XRD, DR‐FTIR and UV–vis spectroscopy, and the presence and amount of Mo (VI) was identified by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. TEM imaging confirmed the absence of Mo clusters on the MOF surface, while SEM confirmed that the appearance of the MOF has not changed upon immobilizing the Mo (VI) catalyst. BET adsorption measurements were used to confirm the porosity of the catalyst. The catalytic activity of this heterogeneous catalyst was investigated in oxidation of sulfides with H₂O₂ in acetonitrile and oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophene. Easy work up, convenient and steady reuse and high activity and selectivity are prominent properties of this new hybrid material.     

Database Survey of Single-and-Half Phosphorus–Oxygen Bonds in Salts with the C2PO2 Segment: Crystal Structure of [NH2C5H4NH][(C6H5)2P(O)(O)]⋅2H2O

Crystallography Reports - For structures with a C2PO2 skeleton, a comparison of “single-and-half” phosphorus–oxygen bonds with single and double phosphorus–oxygen bonds is...     

Generation of Haploid Spermatids on Silk Fibroin-Alginate-Laminin-Based Porous 3D Scaffolds

In vitro production of sperm is a desirable idea for fertility preservation in azoospermic men and prepubertal boys suffering from cancer. In this study, a biocompatible porous scaffold based on a triad mixture of silk fibroin (SF), alginate (Alg), and laminin (LM) is developed to facilitate the differentiation of mouse spermatogonia stem cells (SSCs). Following SF extraction, the content is analyzed by SDS-PAGE and stable porous 3D scaffolds are successfully prepared by merely Alg, SF, and a combination of Alg-SF, or Alg-SF-LM through freeze-drying. Then, the biomimetic scaffolds are characterized regarding the structural and biological properties, water absorption capacity, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and mechanical behavior. Neonatal mice testicular cells are seeded on three-dimensional scaffolds and their differentiation efficiency is evaluated using real-time PCR, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry. Blend matrices showed uniform porous microstructures with interconnected networks, which maintained long-term stability and mechanical properties better than homogenous structures. Molecular analysis of the cells after 21 days of culture showed that the expression of differentiation-related proteins in cells that are developed in composite scaffolds is significantly higher than in other groups. The application of a composite system can lead to the differentiation of SSCs, paving the way for a novel infertility treatment landscape in the future.     

The Effect of Calcium Perovskite and Newly Developed Magnetic CaFe2O4/CaTiO3 Perovskite Nanocomposite on Degradation of Toxic Dyes Under UV–Visible Radiation

Journal of Cluster Science - In this research, we used a fast and simple method for synthesis of calcium titanate (CaTiO3) and calcium ferrite (CaFe2O4) nanostructures: microwave assisted...     

Structure Characterization and Lead Detoxification Effect of Carboxymethylated Melanin Derived from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lachnum</Emphasis> Sp.

In the present study, an intracellular melanin, named LIM205, was separated from Lachnum YM205 mycelia and was purified on a Sephadex G-15 column. The molecular weight of LIM205 was determined as 522 Da, and its molecular formula was speculated as C₂₈H₁₄N₂O₇S. The possible chemical structure of LIM205 was determined according to the results of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and pyrolysis/GC-MS analysis. With the aim to increase its water solubility, its carboxymethylated derivative, named CLIM205, was formed by the substitution of hydrogen atoms in LIM205 with one, two, and three carboxymethylate groups. FT-IR, UV, and ESI-MS analysis demonstrated that the carboxymethylate groups were conjugated onto LIM205. The lead detoxification activities of LIM205 and CLIM205 had also been investigated. In vivo test showed that both LIM205 and CLIM205 reduced the tissue lead concentration, enhanced lead excretion, and reversed lead-induced alterations in superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in mice, with CLIM205 showed better efficacy. The study indicates that LIM205 and CLIM205 have significant lead detoxification effect which will contribute to solve related problems.     

Direct breath figure formation on PMMA and superhydrophobic surface using in situ perfluoro-modified silica nanoparticles

Breath figure formation was carried out directly on the surface of poly(methylmethacrylate) using a mixture of a good solvent, tetrahydrofuran, and a nonsolvent, water. Direct breath figure formation was coined for this method and a mechanism was proposed to describe the figure formation by the method based on hypothesizes available for the normal breath figure formation. The proposed mechanism is such that the sonication effect, immersion time, and water content on characteristics of the obtained figures can be explained. The figured surface was then made superhydrophobic with a water contact angle of 175° using in situ growing of perfluoro modified silica nanoparticles inside the figure cell by one-pot method. The spherical modified silica nanoparticles were detected being trapped by figure features providing a mechanical entrapment of the low-surface energy nanoparticles. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013     

Bi(NO3)3 · 5H2O mediated synthesis of 4,4′-diaminotriarylmethane leuco malachite compounds under solvent-free conditions

In this report, we described the synthesis and characterization of a variety of diaminotriarylmethane derivatives with dimethylamino functional groups. These compounds were synthesized by the tandem regio-selective electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction of N,N-dimethylaniline with aryl aldehydes to form the corresponding diaminotriarylmethane compounds. In our strategy, Bi(NO₃)₃ was used as a catalyst under solvent free conditions to afford the desired products in good to excellent yields.