Engineering A Uranyl‐Specific Binding Protein from NikR

A new pick‐up line : The first uranyl‐selective DNA‐binding protein is designed using the E. coli nickel(II)‐responsive protein NikR as the template. The resulting NikR′ protein binds uranyl (see picture) with a dissociation constant K_d=53 nM and selectively binds to DNA in the presence of uranyl.

     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Photoluminescent Nanoparticle Based on Fullerene–Silica Hybridization

Bright lights : Fullerene–silica hybrid nanoparticles have bright photoluminescence, high photostability, and low cytotoxicity, which are assets for bioimaging agents. The origin of the photoluminescence of the nanoparticle is the C–O–Si bond (see picture).

     

Pivotal Role of Fluorine in Tuning Band Structure and Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Activity of Nitrogen‐Doped TiO2

Synergistic interactions between N and F can be used to tune the band structures of N‐doped TiO₂ (see scheme). Reduction potential of conduction band electron is positively shifted to weaken unwanted O₂ reduction, but enhances the target reduction reaction in air. The tuning also enhances the oxidation ability of the valence band to oxidize water to O₂, which makes photocatalytic reduction proceed without any organic sacrificial reagents.

     

Enhanced Electron‐Transfer Properties of Cofacial Porphyrin Dimers through π–π Interactions

π–π assisted : Photoinduced electron transfer from cofacial porphyrin dimers to electron acceptors is prominently accelerated, whereas the back electron transfer is decelerated, relative to the corresponding porphyrin monomer (see figure).

     

Tuning of Electronic Properties of Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes under Homogenous Conditions

Reversible and non‐bonding interaction between SWNTs and ODCB is observed from the analyses of visible near‐infrared absorption data and Raman spectroscopies (see spectra). The solvent effect on SWNTs effectively controls the electronic structure of SWNTs under homogeneous conditions.

     

A Rhenium Tricarbonyl 4′‐Oxo‐terpy Trimer as a Luminescent Molecular Vessel with a Removable Silver Stopper

Shining metal cups : A luminescent tube of triangular cross‐section and stoppered by a silver ion (see picture: Re yellow, N blue, O red) is formed in two steps from commercial materials. The silver ion can be removed to give a tube, and both species are potential hosts for small ions and molecules; a change in luminescence is triggered by the encapsulation of silver.

     

Catalytic Asymmetric Intramolecular Hydroarylations of ω‐Aryloxy‐ and Arylamino‐Tethered α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes

Economical approach : The first organocatalytic asymmetric intramolecular hydroarylation of phenol‐ and aniline‐derived enals offers one of the most straightforward and atom‐economic approaches to enantioriched chromans and tetrahydroquinolines (up to 96 % ee; see scheme).