Evolved stereoselective hydrolases for broad-spectrum G-type nerve agent detoxification

A preferred strategy for preventing nerve agents intoxication is catalytic scavenging by enzymes that hydrolyze them before they reach their targets. Using directed evolution, we simultaneously enhanced the activity of a previously described serum paraoxonase 1 (PON1) variant for hydrolysis of the toxic S(P) isomers of the most threatening G-type nerve agents. The evolved variants show ≤340-fold increased rates and catalytic efficiencies of 0.2-5?× 10(7)?M(-1) min(-1). Our selection for prevention of acetylcholinesterase inhibition also resulted in the complete reversion of PON1's stereospecificity, from an enantiomeric ratio (E)?< 6.3?× 10(-4) in favor of the R(P) isomer of a cyclosarin analog in wild-type PON1, to E > 2,500 for the S(P) isomer in an evolved variant. Given their ability to hydrolyze G-agents, these evolved variants may serve as broad-range G-agent prophylactics.     

A selective fluorescent ratiometric chemodosimeter for mercury ion

A selective fluorescent chemodosimeter for mercury ion based on the mercury-promoted intramolecular cyclic guanylation of thiourea connected on 1, 8-naphthalimide is described.     

Fluorogenic Hg2+-selective chemodosimeter derived from 8-hydroxyquinoline

[reaction: see text] A new thioamide derivative of 8-hydroxyquinoline-benzothiazole was prepared, and its fluorogenic chemodosimetric behaviors toward transition-metal ions were investigated. The thioamide derivative showed highly Hg2+-selective fluorescence enhancing properties (167-fold) in 30% aqueous acetonitrile solution. The selective and sensitive signaling behaviors were found to originate from the Hg2+ ion induced transformation of the very weak fluorescent thioamide derivative into a highly fluorescent amide analogue.     

Fluorescent chemodosimeter for selective detection of cyanide in water

A coumarin-based fluorescent chemodosimeter with a salicylaldehyde functionality as a binding site has been developed for selective detection of cyanide anions over other anions in water at biological pH.     

Borondipyrromethene-derived Cu2+ sensing chemodosimeter for fast and selective detection

Here, we report a new Cu(2+)-selective fluorescent turn-on probe BODIPY-EP, in which the 2-pyridinecarboxylic acid is connected to a 6-hydroxyindole-based BODIPY platform through an ester linkage. The ester bond of BODIPY-EP is selectively hydrolyzed by the reaction with Cu(2+) under mild and neutral conditions to generate BODIPY-OH, showing strong characteristic fluorescence of BODIPY-OH. The favorable features of BODIPY-EP towards Cu(2+) include fast response, large fluorescence enhancement and high selectivity. We further demonstrated that the membrane-permeable probe reacts with intracellular Cu(2+) and exhibits bright fluorescence in living cells.     

A seminaphthofluorescein-based fluorescent chemodosimeter for the highly selective detection of cysteine

A fluorescent chemodosimeter for cysteine detection was developed based on a tandem conjugate addition and intramolecular cyclization reaction. The method exhibited an excellent selectivity for cysteine over other biothiols such as homocysteine and glutathione.     

Unique emission from polymer based lanthanide alloys

The incorporation of metal-ligand interactions into macromolecules imparts them with unique and potentially useful properties. We report novel macromolecules prepared via ATRP that contain activated esters for subsequent incorporation of terpyridine. The addition of lanthanide ions (Eu3+ and Tb3+) gave metal functionalized polymers that exhibited excellent emission of either pink (Eu3+) or green (Tb3+) light. A unique yellow luminescence was generated when these two different metal ions were incorporated into the same molecular backbone at a 1:1 ratio, producing an alloy. Upon heating above 50 degrees C, selective thermochromism, from yellow to orange/pink, was observed.     

A selective colorimetric chemodosimeter for the naked eye detection of benzoate anion

A new semicarbazide biphenyl derivative is able to act as a selective chemodosimeter for benzoate.     

A ratiometric chemodosimeter for highly selective naked-eye and fluorogenic detection of cyanide

A simple indole-based chemosensor (1) with a very low molecular weight of 207 g mol⁻¹ has been synthesized for the highly reactive and selective detection of CN⁻ in aqueous media, even in the presence of other anions, such as F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻, AcO⁻, S₂⁻${{\mathrm{S}}_2}^{-}$, SCN⁻, NO₂⁻${{\text{NO}}_2}^{-}$, NO₃⁻${{\text{NO}}_3}^{-}$, CO₃⁻${{\text{CO}}_3}^{-}$, BzO⁻, H₂PO₄⁻${{\mathrm{H}}_2{\text{PO}}_4}^{-}$, and HSO₄⁻${{\text{HSO}}_4}^{-}$. The sensor achieves rapid detection of cyanide anion in 2 min, and the pseudo-first-order rate constant is estimated as 1.576 min⁻¹. The colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent response of the sensor to CN⁻ is attributable to the addition of CN⁻ to the electron-deficient dicyanovinyl group of 1, which prevents intramolecular charge transfer. The sensing mechanism is supported by density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory calculations. Moreover, sensor 1 exhibits both high accuracy in determining the concentration of CN⁻ in real samples and 1-based test strips can conveniently detect CN⁻ without any additional equipment. The detection limit of the sensor 1 (1.1 μM) for cyanide is lower than the maximum permissible level of CN⁻ (1.9 μM) in drinking water.     

A highly selective and sensitive turn-on catalytic chemodosimeter for Cu in aqueous solution

We report herein the first diaminocyclopent-2-enone-based catalytic chemodosimeter (3) for naked-eye and turn-on fluorescent detections of Cu²⁺ in pure aqueous solution. Compound 3 easily made available from furan-2-carbaldehyde and 2-aminobenzoic acid was found to show a highly selective and sensitive response toward Cu²⁺ by way of Cu²⁺-coordination promoted formation of Stenhouse salt and subsequent decomposition to highly fluorescent 2-aminobenzoate.     

A selective fluorogenic chemodosimeter for Hg based on the dimerization of desulfurized product

A simple Hg²⁺-selective chemodosimetric system based on thiosemicarbazone was investigated. The transformation of thiosemicarbazone into semicarbazone selectively exerted by Hg²⁺ ions and the dimerization of semicarbazone resulted in a pronounced OFF–ON-type fluorescent signaling behavior. The coexistent metal ions, such as Fe³⁺, Ca²⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cr³⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Fe²⁺, had no obvious interference with the detection of Hg²⁺. In addition, S₁₂–Hg²⁺ plays a high sensitivity for basic anions to form an ‘OFF–ON–OFF’ type signaling behavior, with the Hg²⁺-induced emission spectra can be quenched. Moreover, test strips based on S₁₂ exhibited a good selectivity to Hg²⁺. We believe the test strips could act as a convenient and efficient Hg²⁺ test kit.     

Highly selective fluorescence turn-on chemodosimeter based on rhodamine for nanomolar detection of copper ions

A highly selective fluorescent chemodosimeter based on rhodamine is synthesized which undergoes Cu(2+) driven hydrolysis in aqueous media to produce fluorescence turn-on changes with a detection limit up to the nanomolar range.     

Highly selective two-photon chemosensors for fluoride derived from organic boranes

[reaction: see text] Three organoboron compounds are shown to be two-photon fluorescent sensors for fluoride anion with high sensitivity and selectivity. The recognition mechanism is attributed to the unique steric structure of the bulky dimesitylboryl group and the Lewis acid-base interaction between trivalent boron atom and fluoride anion.     

A highly selective and sensitive fluorescein-based chemodosimeter for Hg2+ ions in aqueous media

A new fluorescein-based chemodosimeter (II) for Hg²⁺ ion was designed and synthesized, and it displayed excellent selective and sensitive toward Hg²⁺ ion over other commonly metal ions in aqueous media. II was a colorless, non-fluorescent compound. Upon addition of Hg²⁺ to the solution of II, the thiosemicarbazide moiety of II would undergo an irreversible desulfurization reaction to form its corresponding oxadiazole (IV), a colorful and fluorescent product. During this process, the spirocyclic ring of II was opened, causing instantaneous development of visible color and strong fluorescence emission in the range of 500-600 nm. Based on the above mechanism, a fluorogenic Hg²⁺-selective chemodosimeter was developed. The fluorescence increase is linearly with Hg²⁺ concentration up to 1.0 μmol L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 8.5 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol L⁻¹ (3σ). Compared with the rhodamine-type chemodosimeter, II is more stable in aqueous media and exhibits higher sensitivity toward Hg²⁺. The findings suggest that II will serve as a practical chemodosimeter for rapid detection of Hg²⁺ concentrations in realistic media.     

Fluorescent coumarinyldithiane as a selective chemodosimeter for mercury(II) ion in aqueous solution

A coumarin-based dithiane (1) was synthesized for the selective detection of Hg²⁺ with respect to dual chromo- and fluorogenic changing events in an aqueous solution by the mercury-promoted transformation of a dithiane group into an aldehyde functional unit. The Hg²⁺-selective response of the chemodosimeter was clearly observed in aqueous buffer as well as in human blood plasma medium.     

A highly selective colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent chemodosimeter for imaging fluoride ions in living cells

A simple but highly selective colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent chemodosimeter was designed and synthesized to detect fluoride ions (F(-)) in aqueous solution and living cells by virtue of the strong affinity of F(-) toward silicon.     

A selective, sensitive, and chromogenic chemodosimeter for cyanide based on the 1,1'-binaphthyl scaffold

A highly selective chemodosimeter 1 for cyanide based on the 1,1'-binaphthyl skeleton is described which demonstrated significant visual change and a low limit of detection. Interestingly, a reversible process triggered successively by CN(-) and Au(3+) is also observed and determined by fluorescence, UV-vis spectra, (1)H NMR titration, and ESI-MS.     

Borohydride reducing agent derived from anion exchange resin: selective reduction of α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.

Borohydride exchange resin (BER) exhibited selectivity in the reduction of α, β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to the corresponding unsaturated alcohols.     

A highly selective chemodosimeter for the rapid detection of Hg2+ ions in aqueous media

A novel S,S′-diallyl carbohydrazonodithioate derivative 3 of rhodamine B hydrazone was developed as a chemodosimeter for selective detection of mercury ions based on Hg²⁺ promoted cyclization. The allyl groups of 3 play a key role in the binding and selection of Hg²⁺ ions. The probe responds selectively to Hg²⁺ over various other competitive cations with marked chromo- and fluorogenic changes. The formation of stable oxadiazole derivative 8 was a strong driving force for this high selectivity. Practically, this probe is more promising because of the remarkable high selectivity, faster response, low detection limit, and aqueous solubility of 3.     

金属有机骨架衍生 Ni基材料催化烷烃选择氧化

N掺杂碳基纳米材料由于具有高稳定性、良好的导电性、较大的孔体积和比表面积等特点而受到了国内外广泛的关注,在气体吸附、催化、电化学以及燃料电池等许多领域表现出潜在应用价值. N掺杂碳材料的制备主要采用两种方法,即后合成法和原位合成法.后合成法是指采用含 N化合物(如尿素等)对已合成的碳材料进行处理,但所制材料中 N含量往往偏低,且 N活性位不够稳定.要得到 N含量较高且稳定的 N掺杂碳材料常常采用原位合成法,即以富氮前体作为模板,在热解过程中 N原位嵌入碳纳米材料中,因而具有结构稳定, N含量丰富等优点.
　　金属有机骨架(MOFs)材料是一种新型的类沸石类多孔材料,是由金属离子和有机配体通过配位键键合而成的拓扑结构.该类材料具有较高的孔隙率和比表面积以及结构可调控性等特点.通过调节金属中心和配体种类,引入含 N配体,可以得到不同类型的含 N的 MOFs.此外,含 N的 MOFs在一定温度下热解能有效减少 N元素的流失,因此, MOFs是一类优秀的用于制备 N掺杂碳基纳米材料的模板材料.近年来,以含 N的金属有机骨架材料为模板,通过简单热解一步合成 N掺杂碳基纳米催化剂,已成为国内外研究的热点之一.
　　本文在惰性气氛中采用直接热解 Ni基 MOF方法制备了 N掺杂 C包裹的 Ni纳米颗粒,并利用 X射线粉末衍射(PXRD)、N2吸附脱附、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、原子吸收光谱(AAS)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)等对该复合材料的组成和结构进行了表征.
　　 PXRD测试结果表明,经过热解,催化剂中出现了大量的金属 Ni粒子,说明 Ni-MOF中的 Ni2+离子在热解过程中被原位还原成了 Ni纳米颗粒. N2吸附脱附结果表明,热解前的 Ni-MOF结构中只存在微孔结构,但是热解 Ni@C-N材料中生成了大量的介孔或大孔结构,从而有利于反应底物与催化剂活性位点的接触. SEM结果表明,在较低的温度下热解,催化剂可以保持 MOFs原来的构型,且结构疏松多孔;而在较高的温度下热解,如800oC,将有大量的碳纳米管生成. TEM结果表明,随着热解温度升高,催化剂中 Ni纳米颗粒逐渐增大.从 HRTEM测试结果可以清晰看出,高温热解时有石墨烯结构生成,并且生成的 Ni纳米颗粒原位嵌入了石墨烯结构中,因而有利于 Ni纳米颗粒的分散,从而提高催化剂的活性. XPS结果进一步证明,热解过程中, Ni2+被原位还原成了零价的 Ni纳米粒子,此外, N 1s谱图也进一步证明 N在热解过程中原位嵌入了生成的石墨烯结构中.
　　随后,以乙基苯选择性氧化为模型反应,测试了 Ni@C-N材料的催化活性.结果表明,该材料在烷烃选择氧化反应中表现出很高的催化活性和选择性,尤其是 Ni@C-N-900-8h,在温和的反应条件下,可有效催化一系列饱和烷烃的选择氧化,获得很高的氧化产物收率,且重复利用多次后其活性和选择性没有明显的下降.