Highly Sensitive and Selective Amperometric Detection of Periodate at Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with a Cyclometalated Iridium(III) Complex and Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Single‐wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were used as an immobilization matrix to incorporate [Ir(ppy)₂(phen‐dione)](PF₆) complex onto a glassy carbon electrode for the study of electrocatalytic reduction of periodate ion. Detailed preliminary electrochemical data for the Ir(III)‐complex in acetonitrile solution and for the modified GCE/SWCNTs/[Ir(ppy)₂(phen‐dione)](PF₆)/CGE are presented. The modified electrode was applied to selective amperometric detection of periodate through its electrocatalytic reduction to iodide at 0.200 V and pH 2.0. The use of amperometry resulted in two calibration plots over the concentration ranges of 1‐20 μM and 20‐450 μM, with a detection limit of 0.6 μM and sensitivity of 198 nA μM^?1.     

Electrochemical Behavior and Determination of L‐Tyrosine at Single‐walled Carbon Nanotubes Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

Based on single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE/SWCNTs), a novel method was presented for the determination of L ‐tyrosine. The GCE/SWCNTs exhibited remarkable catalytic and enhanced effects on the oxidation of L ‐tyrosine. In 0.10 mol/L citric acid‐sodium citrate buffer solution, the oxidation potential of L ‐tyrosine shifted negatively from +1.23 V at bare GCE to +0.76 V at GCE/SWCNTs. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the linear range of the modified electrode to the concentration of L ‐tyrosine was 5.0×10^?6–2.0×10^?5 mol/L (R₁=0.9952) and 2.7×10^?5–2.6×10^?4 mol/L (R₂=0.9998) with a detection limit of 9.3×10^?8 mol/L. The kinetic parameters such as α (charge transfer coefficient) and D (diffusion coefficient) were evaluated to be 0.66, 9.82×10^?5 cm² s^?1, respectively. And the electrochemical mechanism of L ‐tyrosine was also discussed.     

Electrocatalytic Reduction of Oxygen at Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Cobalt Porphyrin Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

The multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode exhibited electrocatalytic activity to the reduction of oxygen in 0.1 M HAc‐NaAc (pH 3.8) buffer solution. Further modification with cobalt porphyrin film on the MWNTs by adsorption, the resulted modified electrode showed more efficient catalytic activity to O₂ reduction. The reduction peak potential of O₂ is shifted much more positively to 0.12 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), and the peak current is increased greatly. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), were used to characterize the material and the modified film on electrode surface. Electrochemical experiments gave the total number of electron transfer for oxygen reduction as about 3, which indicated a co‐exist process of 2 electrons and 4 electrons for reduction of oxygen at this modified electrode. Meanwhile, the catalytic activities of the multilayer film (MWNTs/CoTMPyP)_n prepared by layer‐by‐layer method were investigated, and the results showed that the peak current of O₂ reduction increased and the peak potential shifted to a positive direction with the increase of layer numbers.     

Functionalization of Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes by Thermo‐Grafting with α‐Methylstyrene‐Containing Copolymers

The present article reports on a strategy for the functionalization of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by grafting with various polymer chains. Copolymers consisting of α‐methylstyrene (AMS) and a second monomer, that is glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) or styrene (St), were synthesized in advance. The copolymers were heated in the presence of MWCNTs in solution, decomposition of the AMS sequences occurred, providing macroradicals, which further attacked the double bonds on the MWCNT surfaces. Grafting of the copolymer chains onto the surface of the MWCNTs was thus achieved, as demonstrated by FT‐IR, XPS and Raman technologies. The resulting poly(AMS‐co‐GMA)‐g‐MWCNTs could be uniformly dispersed in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) and acetone, and the poly(AMS‐co‐St)‐g‐MWCNTs also could be uniformly dispersed in DMF.

     

Direct Electrochemistry of Hemoglobin on Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes Modified Carbon Ionic Liquid Electrode and Its Electrocatalysis

In this article we report on the fabrication of a carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE) by using a room temperature ionic liquid of 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF₆) as binder. It was further modified by single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) to get a SWCNTs modified CILE denoted as SWCNTs/CILE. The redox protein of hemoglobin (Hb) was further immobilized on the surface of SWCNTs/CILE with the help of Nafion film. UV‐vis and FT‐IR spectra indicated that the immobilized Hb retained its native conformation in the composite film. The direct electrochemistry of Hb on the SWCNTs/CILE was carefully studied in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Cyclic voltammetric results indicated that a pair of well‐defined and quasireversible voltammetric peaks of Hb heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) was obtained with the formal potential (E°') at ?0.306 V (vs. SCE). The electrochemical parameters such as the electron transfer coefficient (α), the electron transfer number (n) and the apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k_s) were calculated as 0.34, 0.989 and 0.538 s^?1, respectively. The fabricated Hb modified electrode showed good electrocatalytic ability to the reduction of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) in the concentration range from 20.0 to 150.0 mmol/L with the detection limit of 10.0 mmol/L (3σ).     

Glucose Biosensor Based on Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotube Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

An amperometric glucose biosensor based on multi‐walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) modified glassy carbon electrode has been developed. MWCNT‐modified glassy carbon electrode was obtained by casting the electrode surface with multi‐walled carbon nanotube materials. Glucose oxidase was co‐immobilized on the MWCNT‐modified glassy carbon surface by electrochemical deposition of poly(o‐phenylenediamine) film. Enhanced catalytic electroreduction behavior of oxygen at MWCNT‐modified electrode surface was observed at a potential of ?0.40 V (vs. Ag|AgCl) in neutral medium. The steady‐state amperometric response to glucose was determined at a selected potential of ?0.30 V by means of the reduction of dissolved oxygen consumed by the enzymatic reaction. Common interferents such as ascorbic acid, 4‐acetamidophenol, and uric acid did not interfere in the glucose determination. The linear range for glucose determination extended to 2.0 mM and the detection limit was estimated to be about 0.03 mM.     

Highly Sensitive Electrochemical Sensor for Nitric Oxide Using the Self‐Assembled Monolayer of 1,8,15,22‐Tetraaminophthalocyanatocobalt(II) on Glassy Carbon Electrode

Glassy carbon (GC) electrode modified with a self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) of 1,8,15,22‐tetraaminophthalocyanatocobalt(II) (4α‐Co^IITAPc) was used for the selective and highly sensitive determination of nitric oxide (NO). The SAM of 4α‐Co^IITAPc was formed on GC electrode by spontaneous adsorption from DMF containing 1 mM 4α‐Co^IITAPc. The SAM showed two pairs of well‐defined redox peaks corresponding to Co^III/Co^II and Co^IIIPc^?1/Co^IIIPc^?2 in 0.2 M phosphate buffer (PB) solution (pH 2.5). The SAM modified electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of nitric oxide (NO) by enhancing its oxidation current with 310 mV less positive potential shift when compared to bare GC electrode. In amperometric measurements, the current response for NO oxidation was linearly increased in the concentration range of 3×10^?9 to 30×10^?9 M with a detection limit of 1.4×10^?10 M (S/N=3). The proposed method showed a better recovery for NO in human blood serum samples.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of Molecular Bottle‐Brush Functionalized Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Superior Dispersibility in Water

Molecular bottle‐brush functionalized single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with superior dispersibility in water are prepared by a one‐pot synthetic methodology. Elongating the main‐chain and side‐chain length of molecular bottle‐brushes can further increase SWCNT dispersibility. They show significant enhancement of SWCNT dispersibility up to four times higher than those of linear molecular functionalized SWCNTs.

     

Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetric Detection of Single‐Stranded DNA at Electrochemically Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

Electrochemically modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was used to study the electrochemical oxidation and detection of denatured single‐stranded (ss) DNA by means of adsorptive stripping voltammetry. The modification of GCE, by electrochemical oxidation at +1.75 V (vs.SCE) for 10 min and cyclic sweep between +0.3 V and ?1.3 V for 20 cycles in pH 5.0 phosphate buffer, results in 100‐fold improvement in sensitivity for ssDNA detection. We speculated that the modified GCE has a high affinity to single‐stranded DNA through hydrogen bond (specific static adsorption). Single‐stranded DNA can accumulate at the GCE surface at open circuit and produce a well‐defined oxidation peak corresponding to the guanine residues at about +0.80 V in pH 5.0 phosphate buffer, while the native DNA gives no signal under the same condition. The peak currents are proportional to the ssDNA concentration in the range of 0–18.0 μg mL^?1. The detection limit of denatured ssDNA is ca. 0.2 μg mL^?1 when the accumulation time is 8 min at open circuit. The accumulation mechanism of ssDNA on the modified GCE was discussed.     

The Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Thymine at α‐Cyclodextrin Incorporated Carbon Nanotube‐Coated Electrode

Electrocatalytic oxidation of thymine at α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CD) incorporated carbon nanotube‐coated electrode (CNT/CE) was thoroughly studied in alkaline media. CNT showed an electrocatalytic effect on the oxidation of thymine, formation of a supramolecular inclusion complex between α‐CD and thymine at CNT/CE further enhanced the sensitivity to thymine. The electrocatalytic behavior was further developed as a sensitive detection scheme for thymine by differential pulse voltammetry. A linear calibration over the concentration range from 2.5×10^?5 to 1.8×10^?3 mol/L in pH 10.8 NaHCO₃‐Na₂CO₃ buffer solution was obtained with a detection limit of 5×10^?6 mol/L.     

β‐Cyclodextrin Incorporated Carbon Nanotube Paste Electrode as Electrochemical Sensor for Nifedipine

In this work a carbon paste electrode modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes/β‐cyclodextrin (MWCNTs/β‐CD) was constructed and applied to the determination of nifedipine. The electrochemical behavior of nifedipine at this electrode was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Characterization of the modified electrode was conducted with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. After adsorption of nifedipine on the MWCNTs/β‐CD paste electrode at 0.0 V for 6 min, a well defined reduction peak was produced in sodium hydroxide of 0.05 M. The calibration curve was linear from 7.0×10^?8 to 1.5×10^?5 M. The detection limit was obtained as 2.5×10^?8 M. The results demonstrated that this electrochemical sensor has excellent sensitivity and selectivity. This sensor was applied for determination of nifedipine in drug dosage and blood serum with excellent recoveries.     

A convenient synthesis of α,α′‐ homo‐ and α,α′‐hetero‐bifunctionalized poly(ε‐caprolactone)s by ring opening polymerization: The potentially valuable precursors for miktoarm star copolymers

Two new ring opening polymerization (ROP) initiators, namely, (3‐allyl‐2‐(allyloxy)phenyl)methanol and (3‐allyl‐2‐(prop‐2‐yn‐1‐yloxy)phenyl)methanol each containing two reactive functionalities viz. allyl, allyloxy and allyl, propargyloxy, respectively, were synthesized from 3‐allylsalicyaldehyde as a starting material. Well defined α‐allyl, α′‐allyloxy and α‐allyl, α′‐propargyloxy bifunctionalized poly(ε‐caprolactone)s with molecular weights in the range 4200–9500 and 3600–10,900 g/mol and molecular weight distributions in the range 1.16–1.18 and 1.15–1.16, respectively, were synthesized by ROP of ε‐caprolactone employing these initiators. The presence of α‐allyl, α′‐allyloxy and α‐allyl, α′‐propargyloxy functionalities on poly(ε‐caprolactone)s was confirmed by FT‐IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and MALDI‐TOF analysis. The kinetic study of ROP of ε‐caprolactone with both the initiators revealed the pseudo first order kinetics with respect to ε‐caprolactone consumption and controlled behavior of polymerization reactions. The usefulness of α‐allyl, α′‐allyloxy functionalities on poly(ε‐caprolactone) was demonstrated by performing the thiol‐ene reaction with poly(ethylene glycol) thiol to obtain (mPEG)₂‐PCL miktoarm star copolymer. α‐Allyl, α′‐propargyloxy functionalities on poly(ε‐caprolactone) were utilized in orthogonal reactions i.e copper catalyzed alkyne‐azide click (CuAAC) with azido functionalized poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) followed by thiol‐ene reaction with poly(ethylene glycol) thiol to synthesize PCL‐PNIPAAm‐mPEG miktoarm star terpolymer. The preliminary characterization of A₂B and ABC miktoarm star copolymers was carried out by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 844–860     

CuI/amino acid‐catalyzed coupling and cyclization of β‐bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated amides with terminal alkynes leading to (3Z)‐3‐alkylidenepyrrol‐1‐ones

β‐Bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated amides are coupled and cyclized with terminal alkynes in DMF at 110 °C in the presence of a catalytic amount of CuI and amino acid along with a base to give the corresponding (3Z)‐3‐alkylidenepyrrol‐1‐ones in moderate to good yields. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Manganese(III) Acetate Catalyzed Oxidative Radical Additions of α‐Dicarbonyl Compounds to 1‐ and 2‐Phenylcyclohepta‐1,3,5‐triene

Manganese(III) acetate catalyzed oxidative radical‐addition reactions of α‐dicarbonyl compounds such as methyl acetoacetate ( 6 ), acetylacetone ( 7 ), and dimedone ( 8 ) to the mixture of 1‐ and 2‐phenylcyclohepta‐1,3,5‐triene ( 4 and 5 ) were investigated (Scheme 1). The 1‐phenylcyclohepta‐1,3,5‐triene ( 4 ) formed mainly [2+3] and [4+3] dihydrofuran addition products derived from cycloheptatriene and [2+3] dihydrofuran addition products derived from the norcaradiene structure. The 2‐phenylcyclohepta‐1,3,5‐triene ( 5 ) formed mainly [6+3] dihydrofuran addition products derived from cycloheptatriene and [4+3] dihydrofuran addition products derived from the norcaradiene structure. The structures of isolated products were established by their spectroscopic data (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, MS, and elemental analysis) and comparison with literature data. The formation mechanism of the products is discussed.     

Radical‐initiated polymerization of β‐methyl‐α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone

β‐Methyl‐α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactone (MMBL) was synthesized and then was polymerized in an N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) solution with 2,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) initiation. The homopolymer of MMBL was soluble in DMF and acetonitrile. MMBL was homopolymerized without competing depolymerization from 50 to 70 °C. The rate of polymerization (R_p) for MMBL followed the kinetic expression R_p = [AIBN]^0.54[MMBL]^1.04. The overall activation energy was calculated to be 86.9 kJ/mol, k_p/k_t^1/2 was equal to 0.050 (where k_p is the rate constant for propagation and k_t is the rate constant for termination), and the rate of initiation was 2.17 × 10^?8 mol L^?1 s^?1. The free energy of activation, the activation enthalpy, and the activation entropy were 106.0, 84.1, and 0.0658 kJ mol^?1, respectively, for homopolymerization. The initiation efficiency was approximately 1. Styrene and MMBL were copolymerized in DMF solutions at 60 °C with AIBN as the initiator. The reactivity ratios (r₁ = 0.22 and r₂ = 0.73) for this copolymerization were calculated with the Kelen–Tudos method. The general reactivity parameter Q and the polarity parameter e for MMBL were calculated to be 1.54 and 0.55, respectively. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1759–1777, 2003     

Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Crosslinked Poly(vinyl alcohol) Nanocomposites Comprising Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes,Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes,and Buckminsterfullerene

We report a facile method to accomplish the crosslinking reaction of PVA with SWNTs, MWNTs, and C‐60 using MW irradiation. Nanocomposites of PVA crosslinked with SWNT, MWNT and C‐60 were prepared expeditiously by reacting the respective carbon nanotubes with 3 wt.‐% PVA under MW irradiation, maintaining a temperature of 100 °C, representing a radical improvement over literature methods to prepare such crosslinked PVA composites. This general preparative procedure is versatile and provides a simple route to manufacture useful SWNT, MWNT and C‐60 nanocomposites.

     

The Renaissance of α‐Methylene‐γ‐butyrolactones: New Synthetic Approaches

The amount of research activity concerning α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactones and α‐alkylidene‐γ‐butyrolactones has increased dramatically in recent years. This Review summarizes the structural types, biological activities, and biosynthesis of these compounds, concentrating on publications from the past 10 years. Traditional approaches to α‐methylene‐γ‐butyrolactones and α‐alkylidene‐γ‐butyrolactones are then reviewed together with novel approaches, including those from our own research group, reported more recently.     

Phenyliodine(III) Triflate Mediated Synthesis of 5‐Benzoyldihydro‐2(3H)‐furanones

A direct and efficient method for the preparation of 5‐benzoyldihydro‐2(3H)‐furanones was realized by cyclization of 4‐benzoylbutyric acids in the presence of phenyliodine(III) triflate.     

Paste Electrode Based on Short Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Room Temperature Ionic Liquid: Preparation,Characterization and Application in DNA Detection

A paste electrode (SWNT&RTIL PE) has been prepared using carboxylic group‐functionalized short single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) mixed with 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIMPF₆, one kind of room temperature ionic liquid, RTIL). Its electrochemical behavior was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in comparison with the paste electrode using mineral oil as a binder. Results highlighted the advantages of the paste electrode: not only higher conductivity, but also lower potential separation (ΔE_p), higher peak current (i_p) and better reversibility towards dopamine (DA), methylene blue (MB) and K₃[Fe(CN)₆]. The SWNT&RTIL PE could be used to detect the number of guanine bases and adenine bases contents in per mol oligonucleotides according to the current response in the range of 0.05–2.0 nM. Based on the current response of guanine bases, oligonucleotides could be detected sensitively in the B–R buffer solution with a detection limit of 9.9 pM. The heterogeneous electron transfer rate constant (k_s) of guanine bases contents in the oligonucleotides was investigated and its value was 0.90 s^?1. In essence the SWNT&RTIL PE showed high sensitivity, reliability, stability and reproducibility for the detection of DNA.     

Palladium‐catalyzed carbonylative cyclization of β‐bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids with 2,2‐dimethylhydrazine leading to 1‐(dimethylamino)‐1H‐pyrrole‐2,5‐diones

β‐Bromo‐α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids are carbonylatively cyclized with 2,2‐dimethylhydrazine under carbon monoxide pressure in THF in the presence of a catalytic amount of a palladium catalyst along with a base to give 1‐(dimethylamino)‐1H‐pyrrole‐2,5‐diones. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.