β-Lactams: retrospect and prospect

Interest in β-lactams as a class was prompted by the discovery of penicillin and cephalosporin, and this interest continues unabated because of the therapeutic importance of β-lactam antibiotics and recent finding of new naturally occurring β-lactams. As a result of vigorous research, a vast literature has accumulated over the years, and the chemistry of β-lactams continues to be a blossoming field. In this article, an attempt has been made to evaluate critically this prolific development, and the chemistry of β-lactams is presented in an integrated form and in its proper perspective under the following headings.     

Improved and efficient synthesis of Maxacalcitol

Maxacalcitol,the 22-oxa-derivative of 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3,has been used as an antihyperparathyroidism and antipsoriatic drug.In this paper,an alternative synthetic route has been developed using commercially available vitamin D2as the starting material.In addition,as a key intermediate,the asymmetric synthesis of 20（S）-alcohol 14 with the chiral auxiliary（R-CBS） was described for the first time.This new synthetic route afforded Maxacalcitol with improved overall yield（13.9%） in eleven steps.     

A review of CFC and halon treatment technologies – The nature and role of catalysts

The purpose of this review article is to provide readers with an account of CFC and halon treatment technologies as depicted in the patent and open literature. Destruction technologies, in which halons and CFCs are converted into species such as CO₂, HX or X₂ (X = Br, Cl, F), are treated less extensively. Emphasis has been placed on conversion processes, which aim at transforming (rather than destroying) CFC or halon into environmentally benign and useful products. It has been found that catalytic hydrodehalogenation over transition metal based catalysts, Pd in particular, has great potential for conversion of CFCs and halons to hydrofluorocarbons. In this regard, the focus of this review is on catalytic hydrodehalogenation, including an assessment of reaction mechanisms, catalytic activity, selectivity and durability.     

Electrochemical production and use of chlorinated oxidants for the treatment of wastewater contaminated by organic pollutants and disinfection

In the last years, an increasing attention has been devoted to the use of electrogenerated chlorinated oxidants for the treatment of wastewater polluted by recalcitrant organics and/or for the disinfection of water contaminated by pathogen microorganisms. In this review, more recent and relevant findings were presented and critically discussed. The main advantages and disadvantages of this technique were commented, including the potential formation of toxic chlorinated organic specie and of chlorate and perchlorate or the difficult selection of proper operative parameters, as well as the key points that should be addressed to enhance the use on an applicative scale.     

Nanodiamonds for advanced optical bioimaging and beyond

Nanodiamond (ND) has emerged as an intriguing material in recent years both industrially and in research. During the last decade, ND has furthered its way into the biomedical field, mainly due to its inherent photoluminescent properties. In parallel, the development of advanced biomedical imaging methods and techniques has faced a steep upswing, making these two a ‘perfect match’. The optical and physical properties of ND can be tuned, rendering them highly interesting as versatile biomedical imaging probes. In this short review, we will cover a few of the most recently emerged applications of NDs in biomedical imaging and contemplate on current challenges and future directions.     

The analytical and chemometric procedures used to profile illicit drug seizures

Over the last 20 years there has been an increasing interest in the development of robust systems, both analytical and statistical, to enable the linkage of seizures of illicit drug to each other. Much of this work has concentrated on the analysis of synthetic drugs, such as amphetamine and its analogues. In recent years, the analysis of both organic and elemental impurities as well as isotope ratios has advanced the usefulness of the techniques available. The application of specific chemometric methods to the derived analytical data has begun to provide the possibility of robust methods by which the resultant information can be interrogated.     

Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes and DNA--from structural probes to cellular imaging and therapeutics

In the last few decades, coordination complexes based on d(6) metal centres and polypyridyl ligand architectures been developed as structure- and site-specific reversible DNA binding agents. Due to their attractive photophysical properties, much of this research has focused on complexes based on ruthenium(II) centres and, more recently, attention has turned to the use of these complexes in biological contexts. As the rules that govern the cellular uptake and cellular localisation of such systems are determined they are finding numerous applications ranging from imaging to therapeutics. This review illustrates how the interdisciplinary nature of this research-which takes in synthetic chemistry, biophysical and in cellulo studies-makes this an exciting area in which an array of further applications are likely to emerge.     

A Comprehensive Review for Groundwater Contamination and Remediation: Occurrence,Migration and Adsorption Modelling

The provision of safe water for people is a human right; historically, a major number of people depend on groundwater as a source of water for their needs, such as agricultural, industrial or human activities. Water resources have recently been affected by organic and/or inorganic contaminants as a result of population growth and increased anthropogenic activity, soil leaching and pollution. Water resource remediation has become a serious environmental concern, since it has a direct impact on many aspects of people’s lives. For decades, the pump-and-treat method has been considered the predominant treatment process for the remediation of contaminated groundwater with organic and inorganic contaminants. On the other side, this technique missed sustainability and the new concept of using renewable energy. Permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) have been implemented as an alternative to conventional pump-and-treat systems for remediating polluted groundwater because of their effectiveness and ease of implementation. In this paper, a review of the importance of groundwater, contamination and biological, physical as well as chemical remediation techniques have been discussed. In this review, the principles of the permeable reactive barrier’s use as a remediation technique have been introduced along with commonly used reactive materials and the recent applications of the permeable reactive barrier in the remediation of different contaminants, such as heavy metals, chlorinated solvents and pesticides. This paper also discusses the characteristics of reactive media and contaminants’ uptake mechanisms. Finally, remediation isotherms, the breakthrough curves and kinetic sorption models are also being presented. It has been found that groundwater could be contaminated by different pollutants and must be remediated to fit human, agricultural and industrial needs. The PRB technique is an efficient treatment process that is an inexpensive alternative for the pump-and-treat procedure and represents a promising technique to treat groundwater pollution.     

First and second order derivative spectrophotometric determination of benzyl alcohol and diclofenac in pharmaceutical forms

Diclofenac sodium is a drug with analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is present in numerous pharmaceutical preparations. In injectable forms, it is usually accompanied by benzyl alcohol as an excipient, which is used as a blocking anesthetic (4%) and an antiseptic (4-10%). In this work spectrophotometric methodology was used in order to determine diclofenac and benzyl alcohol in injectable formulations by applying, on the one hand, the first-derivative method of crossing zero for diclofenac sodium and on the other, second derivative for benzyl alcohol. The results obtained show that this method has a significant advantage over other techniques and it is appropriate for routine pharmaceutical analysis.     

Bond length alternation- and data mining-assisted exploration of molecular adsorbates with π-conjugation and amines for two-dimensional halide perovskite surface

Structural Chemistry - The molecular approach has been suggested as an effective surface engineering method to improve the optoelectronic performance of the halide perovskite materials. In this...     

FT-NIR spectroscopy for non-invasive identification of natural polymers and resins in easel paintings

In the present study, the analytical strengths and limitations of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to non-invasively characterize organic components in painting materials have been investigated. In spite of the increased amount of information available today from advanced modern analytical instrumentations dedicated to cultural heritage, the non-invasive identification of materials belonging to the wide class of organic compounds historically used in paintings is still a challenging task. Near-infrared spectroscopy offers several attractive features that make this technique particularly suitable to this purpose. In fact, it is non-invasive, allows for non-contact measurements in reflectance mode, gives molecular information on complex macromolecules, and can be performed on-site by means of portable devices. First-derivative transformation of reflectance spectroscopic data has been applied to provide a simple and fast way to deduce more information from NIR spectra. This approach has allowed spectral features to be identified that can be useful to distinguish different compounds belonging to the classes of lipids, proteins, and resins. To this purpose, at first, a spectral database of pure standard has been collected. Our analytical approach was then successfully validated on pictorial models reproducing the typical stratigraphy of an easel painting. As final step, the study of a real painting has been attempted and a drying oil, animal glue, and a terpenic natural resin, as well as an earth pigment were clearly identified, as cross-validated by GC-MS analysis.     

Understanding and Controlling Fluorinated Diacyl Peroxides and Fluoroalkyl Radicals in Alkene Fluoroalkylations

The demand for practical methods for the synthesis of novel fluoroalkyl molecules is increasing owing to their diverse applications. Our group has achieved efficient difunctionalizing fluoroalkylations of alkenes using fluorinated carboxylic anhydrides as user-friendly fluoroalkyl sources. Fluorinated diacyl peroxide, prepared in situ from carboxylic anhydrides, enables the development of novel reactions when used as a radical fluoroalkylating reagent. In this account, we aim to provide an in-depth understanding of the structure, bonding, and reactivity of fluorinated diacyl peroxides and radicals as well as their control in fluoroalkylation reactions. In the first part of this account, the physical properties and reactivity of diacyl peroxides and fluoroalkyl radicals are described. In the subsequent part, we categorize the reactions into copper-catalyzed and metal-free methods utilizing the oxidizing properties of fluorinated diacyl peroxides. We also outline examples and mechanisms.     

Synthesis and characterization of indium-doped ZnO nanowires with periodical single-twin structures

In-doped ZnO (IZO) nanowires have been synthesized by a thermal evaporation method. The morphology and microstructure of the IZO nanowires have been extensively investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The products in general contain several kinds of nanowires. In this work, a remarkable type of IZO zigzag nanowire with a periodical twinning structure has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). HRTEM observation reveals that this type of IZO nanowire has an uncommonly observed zinc blend crystal structure. These nanowires, with a diameter about 100 nm, grow along the [111] direction with a well-defined twinning relationship and a well-coherent lattice across the boundary. In addition, an IZO nanodendrite structure was also observed in our work. A growth model based on the vapor-liquid-solid mechanism is proposed for interpreting the growth of zigzag nanowires in our work. Due to the heavy doping of In, the emission peak in photoluminescence spectra has red-shifted as well as broadened seriously.     

Cutting-edge LC–MS/MS applications in clinical mass spectrometry: Focusing on analysis of drugs and metabolites

In recent years, liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) has become a fundamental technology in clinical practice. In Japan, the LC–MS/MS system is used in many large hospitals. It has become popular among pharmacists and laboratory technicians. LC–MS/MS has some advantages in terms of accuracy, speed, and comprehensiveness compared to conventional automated chemical testing equipment. However, LC–MS/MS is by no means a universal method, and it is necessary to understand its characteristics before using it. In the field of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), there is an issue with linearity in comprehensive measurement; however, ion-abundance adjustment methods, such as in-source collision-induced dissociation, have been proposed as a solution to this problem. The development of a biomarker analysis includes search, identification, and quantification, and it is necessary to select an appropriate mass spectrometric method for each step. In this paper, we review cutting-edge technologies that can expand the performance of LC–MS/MS in the clinical field and consider current issues and future prospects.     

Recognition and activation by ureas and thioureas: stereoselective reactions using ureas and thioureas as hydrogen-bonding donors

Hydrogen-bonding interaction plays a crucial role in the molecular recognition and activation processes of various biologically important reactions that are mediated by enzymes and antibodies in living organisms. Recently, it has been shown that a hydrogen-bonding donor can be used as a general acid catalyst for various types of reactions in organic chemistry. In this article, we describe enantioselective reactions catalyzed by urea and thiourea derivatives as general acid catalysts as well as diastereoselective reactions. This perspective provides an overview of this rapidly growing field.     

DNA-templated photonic arrays and assemblies: design principles and future opportunities

Molecular photonics is a rapidly developing and multi-disciplinary field of research involving the construction of molecular assemblies comprising photoactive building blocks that are responsive to a light stimulus. A salient challenge in this field is the controlled assembly of these building blocks with nanoscale precision. DNA exhibits considerable promise as an architecture for the templated assembly of photoactive materials. In this Concept Article we describe the progress that has been made in the area of DNA photonics, in which DNA acts as a platform for the construction of optoelectronic assemblies, thin films and devices.     

基于钯催化C-H键活化的多米诺反应

近年来,多米诺反应作为一种合成复杂分子的高效手段已得到有机合成化学家的广泛关注。该反应过程中,不需改变反应条件和添加试剂,中间体也无需分离和提纯,实现了原子经济和环境友好。通过C-H键活化直接构建碳-碳键和碳-杂原子键,大大拓展了传统偶联反应的底物范围,同样具有高原子经济性,已经广泛地作为多米诺反应中的一个高效步骤。此外,钯催化剂运用广泛,能够与多种官能团兼容,是多米诺反应的理想金属催化剂。本文综述了基于钯催化C-H键活化的多米诺反应的最新研究进展,以反应中钯的价态变化进行分类,介绍有关反应的特点、优势及其在天然产物合成中的应用。     

Antioxidant and photo-antioxidant abilities of catechins

Catechins are studied vigorously, in particular, concerning the antioxidant ability as polyphenol, which is generally considered responsible for photo-antioxidant natures of catechins. In this study, the antioxidant and photo-antioxidant abilities of (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, and epigallocatechin have been investigated kinetically and discussed in detail. As a result, this study clarifies that a strong antioxidant is not always a good photo-antioxidant as well as that catechins show a high antioxidant ability in an initial oxidation process and acquire a photo-antioxidant ability with the progress of photo-oxidation. In particular, (+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin convert into quercetin to show a remarkable photo-antioxidant ability almost comparable to quercetin. In this case, (−)-epicatechin has a higher photo-antioxidant ability than (+)-catechin, although they differ only in the configurations. These facts are explained by the direct conversion of the catechins into quercetin.     

Structure and properties of an exceptional low molecular weight hydrogelator

Research for low molecular weight (LMW) hydrogelators has become an area of increasing interest due to many possible new applications for such compounds. They might serve as templates for nanostructures or in biomedical applications and even in drug discovery. In this investigation, we explored the structure-gelling relations of a LMW hydrogelator that can form a hydrogel in water at room temperature. To this end, various analytical techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance, rheology, X-ray scattering, birefringence, and microscopy were applied to gain better insight on the structure of the gel and to provide an explanation for this unique gelation behavior.