Chemoselective Chromium(II)‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling Reactions of Dichlorinated Heteroaromatics with Functionalized Aryl Grignard Reagents

Chromium(II) chloride catalyzes the chemoselective cross‐coupling reaction of dichloropyridines with a range of functionalized (hetero)aromatic Grignard reagents at room temperature. Functional groups, such as esters and acetals, are well tolerated in this transformation. Previously challenging substrates, quinolines and isoquinolines, participate in the selective Cr‐catalyzed cross‐coupling in cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) as the solvent. The effective purging of Cr salts is demonstrated by using various solid supports.     

Recent Advances of the Halogen–Zinc Exchange Reaction

For the preparation of zinc organometallics bearing highly sensitive functional groups such as ketones, aldehydes or nitro groups, especially mild halogen–zinc exchange reagents have proven to be of great potential. In this Minireview, the latest research in the area of the halogen–zinc exchange reaction is reported, with a special focus lying on novel dialkylzinc reagents complexed with lithium alkoxides. Additionally, the preparation and application of organofluorine zinc reagents and transition-metal-catalyzed halogen–zinc exchange reactions are reviewed.     

One-step synthesis of VB2 powder by epoxy-assisted borothermal reduction of V2O5

Vanadium diboride was directly synthesized by borothermal reduction of V₂O₅ with the addition of epoxy resin as a reducing agent for the low-temperature reduction of vanadium(V) to vanadium(IV), which leads to the gradual removal of oxygen by the formation of CO gas. The slow rate of gas release prevents destruction of green body, which usually occurs during conventional borothermal reduction. This makes it possible to directly obtain VB₂ powder with an average particle size of 200–300 nm without need to prepare intermediate lower vanadium oxides.     

铝基火花源发射光谱仪测定MB1镁合金中锰含量

建立了用铝基体火花源原子发射光谱仪现有通道硬件测定镁合金(MB1)中锰元素含量的方法.方法线性相关系数为0.967 6,RSD为1.66%.对8个未知样品进行了测试,结果与化学分析方法所得结果一致.     

An Efficient Halogen‐Free Electrolyte for Use in Rechargeable Magnesium Batteries

Unlocking the full potential of rechargeable magnesium batteries has been partially hindered by the reliance on chloride‐based complex systems. Despite the high anodic stability of these electrolytes, they are corrosive toward metallic battery components, which reduce their practical electrochemical window. Following on our new design concept involving boron cluster anions, monocarborane CB₁₁H₁₂^? produced the first halogen‐free, simple‐type Mg salt that is compatible with Mg metal and displays an oxidative stability surpassing that of ether solvents. Owing to its inertness and non‐corrosive nature, the Mg(CB₁₁H₁₂)₂/tetraglyme (MMC/G4) electrolyte system permits standardized methods of high‐voltage cathode testing that uses a typical coin cell. This achievement is a turning point in the research and development of Mg electrolytes that has deep implications on realizing practical rechargeable Mg batteries.     

Interactions of DNA with graphene and sensing applications of graphene field-effect transistor devices: A review

Graphene field-effect transistors (GFET) have emerged as powerful detection platforms enabled by the advent of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) production of the unique atomically thin 2D material on a large scale. DNA aptamers, short target-specific oligonucleotides, are excellent sensor moieties for GFETs due to their strong affinity to graphene, relatively short chain-length, selectivity, and a high degree of analyte variability. However, the interaction between DNA and graphene is not fully understood, leading to questions about the structure of surface-bound DNA, including the morphology of DNA nanostructures and the nature of the electronic response seen from analyte binding. This review critically evaluates recent insights into the nature of the DNA graphene interaction and its affect on sensor viability for DNA, small molecules, and proteins with respect to previously established sensing methods. We first discuss the sorption of DNA to graphene to introduce the interactions and forces acting in DNA based GFET devices and how these forces can potentially affect the performance of increasingly popular DNA aptamers and even future DNA nanostructures as sensor substrates. Next, we discuss the novel use of GFETs to detect DNA and the underlying electronic phenomena that are typically used as benchmarks for characterizing the analyte response of these devices. Finally, we address the use of DNA aptamers to increase the selectivity of GFET sensors for small molecules and proteins and compare them with other, state of the art, detection methods.     

Facile and Mild Synthesis and Characterization of Some New Diazo Dyes on the Basis of Schiff Bases in the Presence of Nanocrystalline Magnesium Oxide as a Base Catalyst under Solvent‐free Conditions

In this research, some new diazo dyes including Schiff base have been synthesized by the condensation reaction between ethylenediamine and derivatives of salicylaldehyde containing diazo functional groups in the presence of nanocrystalline magnesium oxide as a solid base catalyst under solvent‐free conditions. Nanocrystalline magnesium oxide has been characterized by XRD, BJH and TEM techniques. The corresponding products have been obtained in excellent yields and high purity. All of the obtained diazo‐Schiff bases are highly colored and can be applicable as useful diazo dyes and characterized by spectroscopy data.     

Comparison of structural,thermodynamic, kinetic and mass transport properties of Mg2+ ion models commonly used in biomolecular simulations

The prevalence of Mg²⁺ ions in biology and their essential role in nucleic acid structure and function has motivated the development of various Mg²⁺ ion models for use in molecular simulations. Currently, the most widely used models in biomolecular simulations represent a nonbonded metal ion as an ion‐centered point charge surrounded by a nonelectrostatic pairwise potential that takes into account dispersion interactions and exchange effects that give rise to the ion's excluded volume. One strategy toward developing improved models for biomolecular simulations is to first identify a Mg²⁺ model that is consistent with the simulation force fields that closely reproduces a range of properties in aqueous solution, and then, in a second step, balance the ion–water and ion–solute interactions by tuning parameters in a pairwise fashion where necessary. The present work addresses the first step in which we compare 17 different nonbonded single‐site Mg²⁺ ion models with respect to their ability to simultaneously reproduce structural, thermodynamic, kinetic and mass transport properties in aqueous solution. None of the models based on a 12‐6 nonelectrostatic nonbonded potential was able to reproduce the experimental radial distribution function, solvation free energy, exchange barrier and diffusion constant. The models based on a 12‐6‐4 potential offered improvement, and one model in particular, in conjunction with the SPC/E water model, performed exceptionally well for all properties. The results reported here establish useful benchmark calculations for Mg²⁺ ion models that provide insight into the origin of the behavior in aqueous solution, and may aid in the development of next‐generation models that target specific binding sites in biomolecules. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

“海水提镁”项目式教学设计与实践*

依托广西北海市丰富的海洋资源,创设了“在北海能否建提镁厂”的驱动性总任务,师生合议将任务规划为3个大问题和6个子任务。学生采用信息收集、分类、比较、推理、实验、系统分析等认知策略,最终以ppt的形式进行成果汇报,通过组间评价、核心问题讨论、决策性问题辩论等方式逐步落实项目目标。