Structural Effects in Visible‐Light‐Responsive Metal–Organic Frameworks Incorporating ortho‐Fluoroazobenzenes

The ability to control the interplay of materials with low‐energy photons is important as visible light offers several appealing features compared to ultraviolet radiation (less damaging, more selective, predominant in the solar spectrum, possibility to increase the penetration depth). Two different metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) were synthesized from the same linker bearing all‐visible ortho‐fluoroazobenzene photoswitches as pendant groups. The MOFs exhibit different architectures that strongly influence the ability of the azobenzenes to isomerize inside the voids. The framework built with Al‐based nodes has congested 1D channels that preclude efficient isomerization. As a result, local light–heat conversion can be used to alter the CO₂ adsorption capacity of the material on exposure to green light. The second framework, built with Zr nodes, provides enough room for the photoswitches to isomerize, which leads to a unique bistable photochromic MOF that readily responds to blue and green light. The superiority of green over UV irradiation was additionally demonstrated by reflectance spectroscopy and analysis of digested samples. This material offers promising perspectives for liquid‐phase applications such as light‐controlled catalysis and adsorptive separation.     

Environmentally Compatible Access to α-Trifluoromethylseleno-Enones

α-Trifluoromethylselenolated enones constitute valuable building-blocks for further synthesis of innovative fluorinated compounds. Herein, we described an easy access to such compounds in green conditions through a Morita-Baylis-Hillman like reaction. These conditions have also been extended to higher fluorinated homologs.     

Long-wavelength Ultraviolet A1 and Visible Light Photoprotection: A Multimodality Assessment of Dose and Response

Human skin is exposed to visible light (VL; 400–700 nm) and long-wavelength ultraviolet A1 (UVA1) radiation (370–400 nm) after the application of organic broad-spectrum sunscreens. The biologic effects of these wavelengths have been demonstrated; however, a dose–response has not been investigated. Ten subjects with Fitzpatrick skin phototype IV-VI were enrolled. Subjects were irradiated with 2 light sources (80–480 J cm⁻²): one comprising VL with less than 0.5% UVA1 (VL+UVA1) and the other pure VL. Skin responses were evaluated for 2 weeks using clinical and spectroscopic assessments. 4-mm punch biopsies were obtained from nonirradiated skin and sites irradiated with 480 J cm⁻² of VL+UVA1 and pure VL 24 h after irradiation. Clinical and spectroscopic assessments demonstrated a robust response at VL+UVA1 sites compared with pure VL. Histology findings demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the marker of inflammation (P < 0.05) and proliferation (P < 0.05) at the irradiated sites compared with nonirradiated control. Threshold doses of VL+UVA1 resulting in biologic responses were calculated. Results indicate that approximately 2 h of sun exposure, which equates to VL+UVA1 dose (~400 J cm⁻²), is capable of inducing inflammation, immediate erythema and delayed tanning. These findings reinforce the need of photoprotection beyond the UV range.     

Enantioselective Approach for Expanding the Three-Dimensional Space of Tetrahydroquinoline to Develop BET Bromodomain Inhibitors**

The pharmaceutical industry has a pervasive need for chiral specific molecules with optimal affinity for their biological targets. However, the mass production of such compounds is currently limited by conventional chemical routes, that are costly and have an environmental impact. Here, we propose an easy access to obtain new tetrahydroquinolines, a motif found in many bioactive compounds, that is rapid and cost effective. Starting from simple raw materials, the procedure uses a proline-catalyzed Mannich reaction followed by the addition of BF₃ ⋅ OEt₂, which generates a highly electrophilic aza-ortho-quinone methide intermediate capable of reacting with different nucleophiles to form the diversely functionalized tetrahydroquinoline. Moreover, this enantioselective one-pot process provides access for the first time to tetrahydroquinolines with a cis-2,3 and trans-3,4 configuration. As proof of concept, we demonstrate that a three-step reaction sequence, from simple and inexpensive starting compounds and catalysts, can generate a BD2-selective BET bromodomain inhibitor with anti-inflammatory effect.     

Adaptive Catalytic Systems for Chemical Energy Conversion

The rapidly growing importance of green hydrogen and renewable carbon resources as essential feedstocks for sustainable chemical value chains opens room for disruptive innovations regarding chemical production processes. The fluctuation and variability associated with non-fossil energy and raw material supply holds many challenges for catalysts to cope with the resulting dynamics. However, many new opportunities also arise once catalyst design starts to aim at performance that is “adaptive” rather than “task-specific”. In this Scientific Perspective, we propose to define adaptivity in catalysis on the basis of three essential properties that are reversibility, rapidity, and robustness (R³ rule). Promising design strategies and selected examples are described to substantiate the scientific concept and to highlight its potential for chemical energy conversion.     

Green Synthesis of Cuprous Oxide Nanoparticles Using Andean Capuli (Prunus serotina Ehrh. var. Capuli) Cherry

Journal of Cluster Science - Copper oxide nanoparticles have gained considerable attention in the past two decades due to their simplicity and exhibit a range of potentially useful physical...     

Iterated Stochastic Processes: Simulation and Relationship with High Order Partial Differential Equations

In this paper, we consider the composition of two independent processes: one process corresponds to position and the other one to time. Such processes will be called iterated processes. We first propose an algorithm based on the Euler scheme to simulate the trajectories of the corresponding iterated processes on a fixed time interval. This algorithm is natural and can be implemented easily. We show that it converges almost surely, uniformly in time, with a rate of convergence of order 1/4 and propose an estimation of the error. We then extend the well known Feynman-Kac formula which gives a probabilistic representation of partial differential equations (PDEs), to its higher order version using iterated processes. In particular we consider general position processes which are not necessarily Markovian or are indexed by the real line but real valued. We also weaken some assumptions from previous works. We show that intertwining diffusions are related to transformations of high order PDEs. Combining our numerical scheme with the Feynman-Kac formula, we simulate functionals of the trajectories and solutions to fourth order PDEs that are naturally associated to a general class of iterated processes.     

Electrodes based on zeolites modified with cobalt and/or molybdenum for pesticide degradation: part II—2,4,6-trichlorophenol degradation

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) is a persistent pollutant introduced in water by industrial processes and pesticides. We have studied the electrooxidation of...     

Topological methods for transients of driven systems

We consider the application of topological methods (such as knot, braid and Nielsen-Thurston theory) to transient, rather than periodic, orbits of periodically-forced nonlinear oscillators. The methods are restricted to systems with a three-dimensional phase space.

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Sommario Si considera l'applicazione di metodi topologici (basati sulle teorie dei nodi, delle trecce e di Nielsen-Thurston) allo studio delle orbite transitorie, piuttosto che stazionarie, di oscillatori nonlineari forzati periodicamente. Tali applicazioni sono ristrette a sistemi aventi spazio delle fasi tridimensionale.