Shape,Size, and Phase‐Controlled Rare‐Earth Fluoride Nanocrystals with Optical Up‐Conversion Properties

High‐quality rare‐earth fluorides, α‐NaMF₄ (M=Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Y, Yb, and Lu) nanocrystals and β‐NaMF₄ (M=Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Y, Yb, and Lu) nanoarrays, have been synthesized by using oleic acid as a stabilizing agent through a facile hydrothermal method at 130–230 °C. The phase, shape, and size of the products are varied by careful control of synthetic conditions, including hydrothermal temperature and time, and the amounts of reactants and solvents. Tuning the hydrothermal temperature, time, and the amount of NaOH can cause the transformation from the cubic α‐NaMF₄ to hexagonal phase β‐NaMF₄. Upon adjustment of the amount of NaOH, NaF, M³⁺, and ethanol, the morphologies for the β‐NaMF₄ nanoarrays can range from tube, rod, wire, and zigzagged rod, to flower‐patterned disk. Simultaneously, the size of the rare‐earth fluoride crystals is variable from 5 nm to several micrometers. A combination of “diffusion‐controlled growth” and the “organic–inorganic interface effect” is proposed to understand the formation of the nanocrystals. An ideal “1D growth” of rare‐earth fluorides is preferred at high temperatures and high ethanol contents, from which the tube‐ and rodlike nanoarrays with high aspect ratio are obtained. In contrast, the disklike β‐NaMF₄ nanoarrays with low aspect ratios are produced by decreasing the ethanol content or prolonging the reaction time, an effect probably caused by “1D/2D ripening”. Multicolor up‐conversion fluorescence is also successfully realized in the Yb³⁺/Er³⁺ (green, red) and Yb³⁺/Tm³⁺ (blue) co‐doped α‐NaYF₄ nanocrystals and β‐NaYF₄ nanoarrays by excitation in the NIR region (980 nm).     

The performance of 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid as mobile phase additive in HPLC‐based lipophilicity assessment

Ionic liquids have been widely used as green alternative mobile phase additives to shield the residuals silanols groups and modify the stationary/mobile phase HPLC systems. The present study aimed to evaluate the performance of the ionic liquid 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([EMIM][BF4]) in producing extrapolated logk_w indices suitable to substitute for octanol–water logP or logD values. The effect of [EMIM][BF4] was investigated for a set of basic and neutral drugs using two different columns, BDS and ABZ⁺. [EMIM][BF4] was added simply alone or in combination with n‐octanol and was compared with the conventional masking agent n‐decylamine. [EMIM][BF4] reduced the retention by suppressing silanophilic interactions, althoug to a lower extent than n‐decylamine. Addition of n‐octanol further decreased the retention by shielding silanol sites on BDS and/or interacting with polar groups through hydrogen bonding on ABZ⁺. Logk_w/logD_7.4 relationships proved moderate compared with those derived upon addition of n‐decylamine. They were considerably improved upon the introduction of protonated fraction F⁺ in the correlation, reflecting ion pair formation between the chaotropic anion [BF4]^‐ and the protonated basic compounds. In this aspect, the ionic liquid [EMIM][BF4], although efficient as a masking agent, cannot be recommended as mobile phase additive to reproduce octanol–water partitioning. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Strong Single‐Band Blue Emission from Colloidal Ce3+/Tm3+‐Doped NaYF4 Nanocrystals for Light‐Emitting Applications

An intense single‐band blue emission at λ=450 nm is observed from Tm³⁺ ions through Ce³⁺ sensitization, for the first time, in colloidal Ce³⁺/Tm³⁺‐doped NaYF₄ nanocrystals. The intense Tm³⁺ emission through broad‐band excitation is advantageous for developing luminescent nanocomposites because they can be easily incorporated into polymers. The composites can easily be coated over UV light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) to develop phosphor‐based blue LEDs.     

Synthesis and Infrared Multi‐band Absorption Properties of Core‐shell NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+@SiO2 Nanoparticles

Due to the unique size effects, nanomaterials in infrared absorption have attracted much attention for their strong absorption in the infrared region. To achieve the infrared multi‐band absorption, we propose to synthesize a core‐shell structure nanomaterial consisting of NaYF₄:Yb³⁺, Er³⁺ core and a layer of SiO₂ as shell. A series of NaYF₄:Yb³⁺, Er³⁺ nanocrystals were synthesized through hydrothermal method by adjusting the ratio of citric acid(CA)‐to‐NaOH, and the effects of CA concentration, and NaOH concentration were studied in detail. NaYF₄:Yb³⁺, Er³⁺@SiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized by sol‐gel method using TEOS as silica source. The results show that the core‐shell NaYF₄:Yb³⁺, Er³⁺@SiO₂ nanoparticles were successfully synthesized. Up‐conversion spectra of these nanoparticles were recorded with 980 nm laser excitation under room temperature. There are no changes of the emission centers of nanoparticles before or after silica coating, but the emission intensities of nanoparticles after silica coating are weakened. Furthermore, the property of infrared multi‐band absorption was tested through ultraviolet‐visible‐near infrared spectrophotometer and infrared absorption spectra. The results illustrate that the multi‐band infrared absorption nanomaterial was successfully synthesized.     

On the Dynamic Interaction of n‐Butane with Imidazolium‐Based Ionic Liquids

The impact of a reactant from the gas phase on the surface of a liquid and its transfer through this gas/liquid interface are crucial for various concepts applying ionic liquids (ILs) in catalysis. We investigated the first step of the adsorption dynamics of n‐butane on a series of 1‐alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ILs ([C_nC₁Im][Tf₂N]; n=1, 2, 3, 8). Using a supersonic molecular beam in ultra‐high vacuum, the trapping of n‐butane on the frozen ILs was determined as a function of surface temperature, between 90 and 125 K. On the C₈‐ and C₃‐ILs, n‐butane adsorbs at 90 K with an initial trapping probability of ≈0.89. The adsorption energy increases with increasing length of the IL alkyl chain, whereas the ionic headgroups seem to interact only weakly with n‐butane. The absence of adsorption on the C₁‐ and C₂‐ILs is attributed to a too short residence time on the IL surface to form nuclei for condensation even at 90 K.     

1‐Octanol/Water Partition Coefficients of 1Alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium Chloride

The solubilities of 1alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride, [C_nmim][Cl], where n=4, 8, 10, and 12, in 1octanol and water have been measured by a dynamic method in the temperature range from 270 to 370 K. The solubility data was used to calculate the 1octanol/water partition coefficients as a function of temperature and alkyl substituent. The melting point, enthalpies of fusion, and enthalpies of solid–solid phase transitions were determined by differential scanning calorimetry, DSC. The solubility of [C_nmim][Cl], where n=10 or 12 in 1octanol is comparable and higher than that of [C₄mim][Cl] in 1octanol. Liquid 1n‐octyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride, [C₈mim][Cl], is not miscible with 1octanol and water, consequently, the liquid–liquid equilibrium, LLE was measured in this system. The differences between the solubilities in water for n=4 and 12 are shown only in α₁ and γ₁ solid crystalline phases. Additionally, the immiscibility region was observed for the higher concentration of [C₁₀mim][Cl] in water. The intermolecular solute–solvent interaction of 1butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride with water is higher than for other 1alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chlorides. The data was correlated by means of the UNIQUAC ASM and two modified NRTL equations utilizing parameters derived from the solid–liquid equilibrium, SLE. The root‐mean‐square deviations of the solubility temperatures for all calculated data are from 1.8 to 7 K and depend on the particular equation used. In the calculations, the existence of two solid–solid first‐order phase transitions in [C₁₂mim][Cl] has also been taken into consideration. Experimental partition coefficients (log P) are negative at three temperatures; this is evidence for the possible use of these ionic liquids as green solvents.     

Graphene‐Oxide‐Modified Lanthanide Nanoprobes for Tumor‐Targeted Visible/NIR‐II Luminescence Imaging

The synthesis of hydrophilic lanthanide‐doped nanocrystals (Ln³⁺‐NCs) with molecular recognition ability for bioimaging currently remains a challenge. Herein, we present an effective strategy to circumvent this bottleneck by encapsulating Ln³⁺‐NCs in graphene oxide (NCs@GO). Monodisperse NCs@GO was prepared by optimizing GO size and core–shell structure of NaYF₄:Yb,Er@NaYF₄, thus combining the intense visible/near‐infrared II (NIR‐II) luminescence of NCs and the unique surface properties and biomedical functions of GO. Such nanostructures not only feature broad solvent dispersibility, efficient cell uptake, and excellent biocompatibility but also enable further modifications with various agents such as DNA, proteins, or nanoparticles without tedious procedures. Moreover, we demonstrate in proof‐of‐concept experiments that NCs@GO can realize simultaneous intracellular tracking and microRNA‐21 visualization, as well as highly sensitive in vivo tumor‐targeted NIR‐II imaging at 1525 nm.     

Phase- and size-controllable synthesis of hexagonal upconversion rare-earth fluoride nanocrystals through an oleic acid/ionic liquid two-phase system

Herein, we introduce a facile, user- and environmentally friendly (n-octanol-induced) oleic acid (OA)/ionic liquid (IL) two-phase system for the phase- and size-controllable synthesis of water-soluble hexagonal rare earth (RE = La, Gd, and Y) fluoride nanocrystals with uniform morphologies (mainly spheres and elongated particles) and small sizes (<50?nm). The unique role of the IL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BmimPF(6)) and n-octanol in modulating the phase structure and particle size are discussed in detail. More importantly, the mechanism of the (n-octanol-induced) OA/IL two-phase system, the formation of the RE fluoride nanocrystals, and the distinctive size- and morphology-controlling capacity of the system are presented. BmimPF(6) is versatile in term of crystal-phase manipulation, size and shape maintenance, and providing water solubility in a one-step reaction. The luminescent properties of Er(3+)-, Ho(3+)-, and Tm(3+)-doped LaF(3), NaGdF(4), and NaYF(4) nanocrystals were also studied. It is worth noting that the as-prepared products can be directly dispersed in water due to the hydrophilic property of Bmim(+) (cationic part of the IL) as a capping agent. This advantageous feature has made the IL-capped products favorable in facile surface modifications, such as the classic Stober method. Finally, the cytotoxicity evaluation of NaYF(4):Yb,Er nanocrystals before and after silica coating was conducted for further biological applications.     

Controllable Synthesis of Nearly Monodisperse Spherical Aggregates of CeO2 Nanocrystals and Their Catalytic Activity for HCHO Oxidation

Herein, we report a facile surfactant‐assisted solvothermal synthetic method to prepare nearly monodisperse spherical CeO₂ nanocrystals. A good control of the size of CeO₂ nanocrystals in the range of 100–500 nm was achieved by simply varying the synthetic parameters such as reaction time, volume ratio of ethanol to water (R), molar ratio of PVP, and concentration of Ce(NO₃)₃?6 H₂O in solution. A possible mechanism for the growth of spherical CeO₂ nanocrystals is proposed. The obtained CeO₂ nanocrystals with a surface area of up to 47 m²g^?1 were then employed as a catalyst support. By loading Au‐Pd nanoparticles (about 3 wt. %) onto the CeO₂ support, an Au‐Pd/CeO₂ catalyst was prepared that exhibited high catalytic activity for HCHO oxidation. At the low temperature of 50 °C, the percentage of HCHO conversion was 100 %, suggesting potential applications in preferential oxidation and other catalytic reactions. These Au‐Pd/CeO₂ catalysts may also find applications in indoor formaldehyde decontamination and industrial catalysis. The facile solvothermal method can be extended to the preparation of other metal oxide nanocrystals and provides guidance for size‐ and morphology‐controlled synthesis.     

Ferroelastic n‐butyl­ammonium dihydrogen­phosphate

Crystals of n‐butyl­ammonium di­hydrogenphosphate, C₄H₉NH₃⁺·H₂PO₄^?, reveal ferroelasticity at room temperature and a number of phase transitions when heated up to approximately 373 K. Some of these phase transitions show hysteresis effects. All atoms except two H atoms exist in pairs linked by the lost symmetry operations derived from the prototypic space group P2/b2₁/n2₁/a. Each of these two different H atoms is involved in an asymmetric hydrogen bond between an oxy­gen pair. Ferroelastic switching is concomitant with jumps of these hydrogen species from donor to acceptor O atoms. The studied structure belongs to the structural family of n‐hexyl‐ to n‐decyl­ammonium di­hydrogenphosphates and differs by localization of alternating layers from n‐propyl‐ and n‐pentyl­ammonium di­hydrogenphosphates. The studied crystal was slightly twinned; the minor domain constituted approximately 2%.     

Octanol/water partitioning simulation by RP‐HPLC for structurally diverse acidic drugs: Comparison of three columns in the presence and absence of n‐octanol as the mobile phase additive

The advantageous effect of n‐octanol as a mobile phase additive for lipophilicity assessment of structurally diverse acidic drugs both in the neutral and ionized form was explored. Two RP C₁₈ columns, ABZ⁺ and Aquasil, were used for the determination of logk_w indices, and the results were compared with those previously reported on a base‐deactivated silica column. At pH 2.5, the use of n‐octanol‐saturated buffer as the mobile phase aqueous component led to high‐quality 1:1 correlation between logk_w and logP for the ABZ⁺ column, while inferior statistics were obtained for Aquasil. At physiological pH, the correlations were significantly improved if strongly ionized acidic drugs were treated separately from weakly ionized ones. In the latter case, 1:1 correlations between logD_7.4 and logk_w^oct indices were obtained in the presence of 0.25% n‐octanol. Concerning strongly ionized compounds, adequate correlations were established under the same conditions; however, slopes were significantly lower than unity, while large negative intercepts were obtained. According to the absolute difference (diff = logD_7.4–logk_w) pattern, base‐deactivated silica showed a better performance than ABZ⁺, however, the latter seems more efficient for the lipophilicity assessment of highly lipophilic acidic compounds. Aquasil may be the column of choice if logD_7.4<3 with the limitation, however, that very hydrophilic compounds cannot be measured.     

Synthesis of 10 nm β‐NaYF4:Yb,Er/NaYF4 Core/Shell Upconversion Nanocrystals with 5 nm Particle Cores

A new method is presented for preparing gram amounts of very small core/shell upconversion nanocrystals without additional codoping of the particles. First, ca. 5 nm β‐NaYF₄:Yb,Er core particles are formed by the reaction of sodium oleate, rare‐earth oleate, and ammonium fluoride, thereby making use of the fact that a high ratio of sodium to rare‐earth ions promotes the nucleation of a large number of β‐phase seeds. Thereafter, a 2 nm thick NaYF₄ shell is formed by using 3–4 nm particles of α‐NaYF₄ as a single‐source precursor for the β‐phase shell material. In contrast to the core particles, however, these α‐phase particles are prepared with a low ratio of sodium to rare‐earth ions, which efficiently suppresses an undesired nucleation of β‐NaYF₄ particles during shell growth.     

Rare‐Earth Nanoparticles with Enhanced Upconversion Emission and Suppressed Rare‐Earth‐Ion Leakage

Upconversion emissions from rare‐earth nanoparticles have attracted much interest as potential biolabels, for which small particle size and high emission intensity are both desired. Herein we report a facile way to achieve NaYF₄:Yb,Er@CaF₂ nanoparticles (NPs) with a small size (10–13 nm) and highly enhanced (ca. 300 times) upconversion emission compared with the pristine NPs. The CaF₂ shell protects the rare‐earth ions from leaking, when the nanoparticles are exposed to buffer solution, and ensures biological safety for the potential bioprobe applications. With the upconversion emission from NaYF₄:Yb,Er@CaF₂ NPs, HeLa cells were imaged with low background interference.     

HPLC法拆分(-)-2(S)-苄基-4-酮-4-(顺式-全氢化异吲哚-2-基)丁酸钙对映体

目的：建立刺激胰岛素分泌的新型降糖药物(-)-2 (S)-苄基-4-酮-4-(顺式-全氢化异吲哚-2-基)丁酸钙对映体的HPLC拆分方法。方法：采用Sumichiral OA-3300手性柱(250 × 4.6 mm I.D., 5 μm), 柱温35℃,以0.05 mol·L-1醋酸铵的甲醇溶液为流动相,检测波长为210 nm。结果：本品两对映体在22分钟内实现良好分离,分离度达3以上,S－异构体分别在0.028 ~ 5.6 μg mL-1和0.03 ~ 6.0 μg mL-1范围内线性关系良好,回归方程分别为：Y=1.32×103x-2.54 (r=0.9997)和Y=1.15×103x-1.78 (r=0.9998),最低检测限分别为0.15 ng和0.10 ng,方法精密度RSD低于1.0% (n=5)。结论：建立的对映体分离方法可用于本品光学异构体的质量控制。     

Ambipolar Field‐Effect Transistor (FET) and Redox Characteristics of a π‐Conjugated Thiophene/1,3,4‐Thiadiazole CT‐Type Copolymer

Summary: A π‐conjugated charge transfer‐type copolymer consisting of an electron‐donating thiophene and an electron‐accepting 1,3,4‐thiadiazole, P(ThdzTh), underwent facile electrochemical p‐ and n‐doping, as revealed by cyclic voltammetry. The copolymer gave a new ambipolar field‐effect transistor (FET), which showed typical I_DS (source–drain current)–V_DS (source–drain voltage) curves in both a p‐type working mode and an n‐type working mode. In the n‐type working mode, the polymer showed a carrier mobility of about 5 × 10⁻³ cm² · V⁻¹ · s⁻¹ and an on/off ratio of about 3 × 10⁴.

n‐Channel field‐effect transistor characteristics of P(ThdzTh).     

Majority‐Rules‐Type Helical Poly(quinoxaline‐2,3‐diyl)s as Highly Efficient Chirality‐Amplification Systems for Asymmetric Catalysis

A highly efficient majority‐rules effect of poly(quinoxaline‐2,3‐diyl)s (PQXs) bearing 2‐butoxymethyl chiral side chains at the 6‐ and 7‐positions was established and attributed to large ΔG_h values (0.22–0.41 kJ mol^?1), which are defined as the energy difference between P‐ and M‐helical conformations per chiral unit. A PQX copolymer prepared from a monomer derived from (R)‐2‐octanol (23 % ee) and a monomer bearing a PPh₂ group adopted a single‐handed helical structure (>99 %) and could be used as a highly enantioselective chiral ligand in palladium‐catalyzed asymmetric reactions (products formed with up to 94 % ee), in which the enantioselectivity could be switched by solvent‐dependent inversion of the helical PQX backbone.     

Helical Poly(α,β‐unsaturated ketone) with Bulky Pendant of Binaphthyl from Anionic Polymerization of ((−)‐Menthyl (S)‐6′‐Acrylyl‐2′‐methyloxy‐1,1′‐binaphthalene‐2‐carboxylate

((?)‐Menthyl (S)‐6′‐acrylyl‐2′‐methyloxy‐1,1′‐binaphthalene‐2‐carboxylate ( 3 ) was synthesized and anionically polymerized using n‐BuLi as an initiator in toluene. The monomer 3 was levorotatory and had an [α]_D²⁵ value of ?72.4, but its corresponding polymer poly‐ 3 was dextrorotatory and showed an [α]_D²⁵ value of +162.0. Poly‐ 3 was confirmed to exist in the form of one‐handed helical structure in solution by means of comparing the specific optical rotation and the CD spectra with that of 3 and the model compounds such as (?)‐menthyl (S)‐6′‐propionyl‐2′‐methyloxy‐1,1′‐binaphthalene‐2‐carboxylate 2b and (?)‐menthyl (S)‐6′‐heptanoyl‐2′‐methyloxy‐1,1′‐binaphthalene‐2‐carboxylate 2c . This conclusion was also confirmed by the fact that the g‐value of poly‐ 3 is about 11 times of that of monomer 3 .     

Homochiral Cobalt Phosphonates Containing Δ‐Type Chains with a Tunable Interlayer Distance and a Field‐Induced Phase Transition

Two pairs of enantiomeric Co^II compounds with formulas [Co₂(μ₃‐OH)(cyamp)(C_nH_2n+1COO)] (cyampH₂=(S)‐ or (R)‐[(1‐cyclohexylethyl)amino]methylphosphonic acid; n=1 ( 1 ); n=7 ( 2 )) were synthesized. The structures of S‐ 1 and S‐ 2 were determined by single‐crystal structural analyses. Both crystallize in a monoclinic chiral space group P2₁, and exhibit layered structures in which the Δ‐type chains of corner‐sharing Co₃(μ₃‐OH) triangles are connected by the phosphonate groups. The interlayer spaces are filled with the organic groups of the phosphonate and carboxylate ligands. Therefore, the distances between the layers can be manipulated by the length of the alkyl chain of the carboxylate ligands, from 14.6 Å in 1 to 20.0 Å in 2 . Magnetic studies were carried out for compounds S‐ 1 and S‐ 2 . Both show metamagnetism at low temperature. The critical field decreases with increasing interlayer distance from 8.18 kOe for S‐ 1 to 7.01 kOe for S‐ 2 at 1.8 K. The optical properties were also studied.     

Synthesis of 3‐(ω‐Hydroxyalkoxy)isobenzofuran‐1(3H)‐ones by Trifluoroacetic Acid‐Mediated Lactonization of tert‐Butyl 2‐(1,3‐Dioxol‐2‐yl)‐ or 2‐(1,3‐Dioxan‐2‐yl)benzoates

An efficient two‐step method for the preparation of 3‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐ or 3‐(3‐hydroxypropoxy)isobenzofuran‐1(3H)‐ones 3 has been developed. Thus, the reaction of 1‐(1,3‐dioxol‐2‐yl)‐ or 1‐(1,3‐dioxan‐2‐yl)‐2‐lithiobenzenes, generated in situ by the treatment of 1‐bromo‐2‐(1,3‐dioxol‐2‐yl)‐ or 1‐bromo‐2‐(1,3‐dioxan‐2‐yl)benzenes 1 with BuLi in THF at ?78°, with (Boc)₂O afforded tert‐butyl 2‐(1,3‐dioxol‐2‐yl)‐ or 2‐(1,3‐dioxan‐2‐yl)benzoates 2 , which can subsequently undergo facile lactonization on treatment with CF₃COOH (TFA) in CH₂Cl₂ at 0° to give the desired products in reasonable yields.     

HMBC‐1,1‐ADEQUATE via generalized indirect covariance: a high sensitivity alternative to n,1‐ADEQUATE

1,1‐ADEQUATE and the related long‐range 1,n‐ and n,1‐ADEQUATE variants were developed to provide an unequivocal means of establishing ²J_CH and the equivalent of ⁿJ_CH correlations where n = 3,4. Whereas the 1,1‐ and 1,n‐ADEQUATE experiments have two simultaneous evolution periods that refocus the chemical shift and afford net single quantum evolution for the carbon spins, the n,1‐variant has a single evolution period that leaves the carbon spin to be observed at the double quantum frequency. The n,1‐ADEQUATE experiment begins with an HMBC‐type ⁿJ_CH magnetization transfer, which leads to inherently lower sensitivity than the 1,1‐ and 1,n‐ADEQUATE experiments that begin with a ¹J_CH transfer. These attributes, in tandem, serve to render the n,1‐ADEQUATE experiment less generally applicable and more difficult to interpret than the 1,n‐ADEQUATE experiment, which can in principle afford the same structural information. Unsymmetrical and generalized indirect covariance processing methods can complement and enhance the structural information encoded in combinations of experiments e.g. HSQC‐1,1‐ or ?1,n‐ADEQUATE. Another benefit is that covariance processing methods offer the possibility of mathematically combining a higher sensitivity 2D NMR spectrum with for example 1,1‐ or 1,n‐ADEQUATE to improve access to the information content of lower sensitivity congeners. The covariance spectrum also provides a significant enhancement in the F₁ digital resolution. The combination of HMBC and 1,1‐ADEQUATE spectra is shown here using strychnine as a model compound to derive structural information inherent to an n,1‐ADEQUATE spectrum with higher sensitivity and in a more convenient to interpret single quantum presentation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.