Paradigms and Paradoxes: Fractional and Other Non-integer Charges in Chemistry—an Understanding of Aromaticity

Structural Chemistry - In the current study, the energetics of fractionally (and indeed arbitrary non-integer) charged species is explicitly discussed for the enhanced understanding of aromaticity...     

Fast,Facile and Solvent-Free Dry-Melt Synthesis of Oxovanadium(IV) Complexes: Simple Design with High Potency towards Cancerous Cells

A range of oxobis(phenyl-1,3-butanedione) vanadium(IV) complexes have been successfully synthesized from cheap starting materials and a simple and solvent-free one-pot dry-melt reaction. This direct, straightforward, fast and alternative approach to inorganic synthesis has the potential for a wide range of applications. Analytical studies confirm their successful synthesis, purity and solid-state coordination, and we report the use of such complexes as potential drug candidates for the treatment of cancer. After a 24 hour incubation of A549 lung carcinoma cells with the compounds, they reveal cytotoxicity values elevenfold greater than cisplatin and remain non-toxic towards normal cell types. Additionally, the complexes are stable over a range of physiological pH values and show the potential for interactions with bovine serum albumin.     

The Tetracyanopyridinide Dimer Dianion, σ‐[TCNPy]22−

The reaction of 2,3,5,6‐tetracyanopyridine (TCNPy) and Cr(C₆H₆)₂ forms diamagnetic σ‐[TCNPy]₂^2? possessing a 1.572(3) Å intrafragment sp³–sp³ bond. This is in contrast to the structurally related 1,2,4,5‐tetracyanobenzene and 1,2,4,5‐tetracyanopyrazine that form π‐dimer dianions possessing long, multicenter bonds.     

Design and experimental validation of a nonlinear controller for underactuated surface vessels

Nonlinear Dynamics - This paper addresses the problem of trajectory tracking control of an underactuated surface vessel moving in a two-dimensional space in the presence of unknown disturbances. In...     

Differential evolution with enhanced diversity maintenance

Optimization Letters - Differential evolution (de) is a popular population-based meta-heuristic that has been successfully used in complex optimization problems. Premature convergence is one of the...     

Synthesis of Polymers Containing Potassium Acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) and Post-polymerization Ligation and Conjugation

We report the synthesis of monomers for atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent bearing trifluoroborate iminiums (TIMs), which are quantitatively converted into potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) after polymerization. The resulting KAT-containing polymers are suitable for rapid amide-forming ligations for both post-polymerization modification and polymer conjugation. The polymer conjugation occurs rapidly, even under dilute (micromolar) aqueous conditions at ambient temperatures, thereby enabling the synthesis of a variety of linear and star-shaped block copolymers. In addition, we applied post-polymerization modification to the covalent linking of a photocaged cyclic antibiotic (gramicidin S) to the side chains of the KAT-containing copolymer. Cellular assays revealed that the polymer–antibiotic conjugate is biocompatible and provides efficient light-controlled release of the antibiotic on demand.     

Materials Space-Tectonics: Atomic-level Compositional and Spatial Control Methodologies for Synthesis of Future Materials

Reactions occurring at surfaces and interfaces necessitate the creation of well-designed surface and interfacial structures. To achieve a combination of bulk material (i.e., framework) and void spaces, a meticulous process of “nano-architecting” of the available space is necessary. Conventional porous materials such as mesoporous silica, zeolites, and metal–organic frameworks lack advanced cooperative functionalities owing to their largely monotonous pore geometries and limited conductivities. To overcome these limitations and develop functional structures with surface-specific functions, the novel materials space-tectonics methodology has been proposed for future materials synthesis. This review summarizes recent examples of materials synthesis based on designing building blocks (i.e., tectons) and their hybridization, along with practical guidelines for implementing materials syntheses and state-of-the-art examples of practical applications. Lastly, the potential integration of materials space-tectonics with emerging technologies, such as materials informatics, is discussed.