Blowing bubbles : Hydrogen evolution by proton reduction with [(C5Me5)2Fe] occurs at a soft interface between water and 1,2‐dichloroethane (DCE). The reaction proceeds by proton transfer assisted by [(C5Me5)2Fe] across the water–DCE interface with subsequent proton reduction in DCE. The interface essentially acts as a proton pump, allowing hydrogen evolution by directly using the aqueous proton.
Osmabenzenes can be easily synthesized from two η2‐coordinated olefin osmacycles in the presence of benzonitrile by means of facile hydrogen‐transfer conversions (see graphic). Mechanisms for the formation of osmabenzenes are proposed based on DFT calculations.
Gold and pearls : Multifunctional nanoparticles, each composed of a single, amine‐modified gold nanorod, decorated with multiple “pearls” of Fe3O4 nanoparticles capped with carboxy groups, are prepared. Their effectiveness in simultaneous targeting, dual‐mode imaging, and photothermal ablation of breast cancer cells is demonstrated.
ONOO. is an important intermediate in the autoxidation of nitrogen monoxide by dioxygen. A formerly unknown red isomer of N2O4, ONOONO (see figure), formed in 2‐methylbutane at 113 K from nitrogen monoxide and dioxygen, is converted to O2NNO2 upon warming.
Hide and seek : The composition of a dynamic covalent equilibrium reaction is determined by measuring the ‘left‐over’ concentration of a reference compound (blue object, see picture). Reaction of the reference compound with a scavenger generates a characteristic UV/Vis signal that is independent of the molecular structure of the target.
Trifunctional green catalysis : In‐depth characterization shows that oxidant‐free selective oxidation of alcohols by silver nanoparticles on γ‐Al2O3, as a new heterogeneous catalyst, proceeds through cooperation of silver, acid, and base sites (see figure).
Crystal gazing : A simple Pd‐catalyzed site‐specific nanoetching method was developed to visualize the polycrystalline nature of Fe3O4 (see picture), Fe2O3, MnFe2O4, CoFe2O4, and MnO nanoparticle systems. The technique relies on the very fast etching speed of the grain interface within bi‐ or polycrystalline nanocrystals.
For controlled release and targeted delivery of curcumin in an aqueous medium a method of encapsulating curcumin and magnetic nanoparticles inside porous silica matrix has been developed. Curcumin and superparamagnetic nanoparticles are loaded inside porous silica in a single process. The graphic shows the TEM image of microtomed sample of Fe3O4 particles surrounded by a silica matrix.
A cunning plan : In the multifunctional fluorescent probe MitoPY1 the phosphonium head group (red) targets mitochondria and the boronate group (green) responds to hydrogen peroxide. MitoPY1 reacts selectively with mitochondrial H2O2 in living cells, and an increase in fluorescence is triggered by the conversion of MitoPY1 into MitoPY1ox (yellow).
