Determinations of Intermediate Neutral Species in Hydrocarbon Discharge Plasma

This work reports laser ionization combined with Time-Of-Flight (TOF) mass spectrometry investigation on intermediate species in the hydrocarbon plasma of atmospheric-pressure fast-flow pulsed dc-discharge. All neutral intermediate species including transient radicals from benzene/Ar discharge have been characterized by a molecular beam sampling combined with TOF mass spectrometry. This shows that with a hydrocarbon gas mixture of 0.3% C₆H₆ in Ar discharge the intermediate species consist of simple radicals (such as C₂, C₅H₅, C₇H₇) and polycyclic organic molecules (C₁₀H₈, C₁₃H₁₀, C₁₄H₁₀). Theoretical studies on total energies and ionization potentials of the intermediate species have been carried out using the hybrid density functional theory. Effect of the ionization potential on mass spectral intensity has been discussed. Based on the observed data, the possible major neutral reaction channels of the plasma chemistry have been discussed. The developed experimental method has implications in volatile organic compounds removing and impurities diagnosis in Tokamak edge-plasma.     

Investigation of coherence transfer between “CH3” and “CH2” groups in ethanol with time-resolved multiplex CARS technique

The coherence transfer between stretching vibration modes of C–H bonds in the ethanol is detected by time-resolved multiplex CARS technique and it occurs via “through-bond transfer” pathway. The time scale and velocity of coherence transfer are estimated at 90 fs and 1670 m/s. Moreover, coherence transfer process requires vibrational modes of acceptor and donor are different.     

Structures of the reduced niobium oxides Nb12O29 and Nb22O54

The crystal structure of Nb₂₂O₅₄ is reported for the first time, and the structure of orthorhombic Nb₁₂O₂₉ is reexamined, resolving previous ambiguities. Single crystal X-ray and electron diffraction were employed. These compounds were found to crystallize in the space groups P2/m (, , , β=102.029(3)^°) and Cmcm (, , ), respectively and share a common structural unit, a 4×3 block of corner sharing NbO₆ octahedra. Despite different constraints imposed by symmetry these blocks are very similar in both compounds. Within a block, it is found that the niobium atoms are not located in the centers of the oxygen octahedra, but rather are displaced inward toward the center of the block forming an apparent antiferroelectric state. Bond valence sums and bond lengths do not show the presence of charge ordering, suggesting that all 4d electrons are delocalized in these compounds at the temperature studied, T=200 K.     

Tetrazole Photoclick Chemistry: Reinvestigating Its Suitability as a Bioorthogonal Reaction and Potential Applications

The bioorthogonality of tetrazole photoclick chemistry has been reassessed. Upon photolysis of a tetrazole, the highly reactive nitrile imine formed undergoes rapid nucleophilic reaction with a variety of nucleophiles present in a biological system, along with the expected cycloaddition with alkenes. The alternative use of the tetrazole photoclick reaction was thus explored: tetrazoles were incorporated into Bodipy and Acedan dyes, providing novel photo‐crosslinkers with one‐ and two‐photon fluorescence Turn‐ON properties that may be developed into protein‐detecting biosensors. Further introduction of these photo‐activatable, fluorogenic moieties into staurosporine resulted in the corresponding probes capable of photoinduced, no‐wash imaging of endogenous kinase activities in live mammalian cells.     

Anticancer Gold(III) Porphyrins Target Mitochondrial Chaperone Hsp60

Identification of the molecular target(s) of anticancer metal complexes is a formidable challenge since most of them are unstable toward ligand exchange reaction(s) or biological reduction under physiological conditions. Gold(III) meso‐tetraphenylporphyrin ( gold‐1 a ) is notable for its high stability in biological milieux and potent in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities. Herein, extensive chemical biology approaches employing photo‐affinity labeling, click chemistry, chemical proteomics, cellular thermal shift, saturation‐transfer difference NMR, protein fluorescence quenching, and protein chaperone assays were used to provide compelling evidence that heat‐shock protein 60 (Hsp60), a mitochondrial chaperone and potential anticancer target, is a direct target of gold‐1 a in vitro and in cells. Structure–activity studies with a panel of non‐porphyrin gold(III) complexes and other metalloporphyrins revealed that Hsp60 inhibition is specifically dependent on both the gold(III) ion and the porphyrin ligand.     

The Cu-catalyzed C–P coupling of phosphonate esters with arylboronic acids

Copper-catalyzed C–P cross coupling of phosphonate esters with arylboronic acids has been developed. The reaction provided an efficient method for aryl phosphonates under mild conditions.     

Metalloligand-induced Synthesis of Two Cu(I)–M (M=Ni,Co) Heterobimetallic Coordination Polymers: Structures,Thermal and Luminescence Properties

Two interesting heterobimetallic coordination polymers (CPs), {[Ni(4-pytpy)₂]₂[Cu₄(N(CN)₂)₇](NO₃)(DMF)(DMSO)(H₂O)₄}_n (1) and {[Co(4-pytpy)(N(CN)₂)]₂[Cu₂(N(CN)₂)₄]}_n (2), have been synthesized based on different metalloligands [M(4-pytpy)₂]²⁺ (M=Ni 1, Co 2) (4-pytpy = 4′-(4-pyridyl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine). CPs 1 and 2 have been well characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both CPs 1 and 2 crystallize in the triclinic crystal system with the P-1 space group but feature different structures. CP 1 exhibits a unique one dimensional double-chain structure, while CP 2 possesses an infinite 2D network structure. It is interesting to note that the metalloligand [Co(4-pytpy)₂]²⁺ in CP 2 was decomposed into [Co(4-pytpy)]²⁺. Thermal analysis indicates that the chain structure of CP 1 begins to collapse after about 360 °C, while CP 2 can be stable up to 300 °C. The solid-state luminescence properties of CPs 1 and 2 have also been investigated.     

Synthesis and catalytic activity to Li/SOCl<Subscript>2</Subscript> battery of asymmetric and symmetric binuclear metal phthalocyanines

In our present work, the asymmetric and symmetric binuclear metal phthalocyanines (M₂(PcTN)₂ and M₂(PcTN)₂S), battery catalysts, were synthesized through microwave reaction and characterized by EA, IR and UV-vis spectroscopy. Their catalytic activity in the Li/SOCl₂ battery was evaluated by adding right amount catalysts into the electrolyte. The results indicated that the capacity of the catalyzed battery increased by 6.74–67.26% and 13.41–84.36%, and the energy increased by 9.29–65.72% and 14.77–88.15% respectively, compared with the battery without phthalocyanines.     

Cyclometalated Palladium(II) N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Anticancer Agents for Potent In Vitro Cytotoxicity and In Vivo Tumor Growth Suppression

Palladium(II) complexes are generally reactive toward substitution/reduction, and their biological applications are seldom explored. A new series of palladium(II) N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes that are stable in the presence of biological thiols are reported. A representative complex, [Pd(C^N^N)(N,N′‐nBu₂NHC)](CF₃SO₃) ( Pd1 d , HC^N^N=6‐phenyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine, N,N′‐nBu₂NHC=N,N′‐di‐n‐butylimidazolylidene), displays potent killing activity toward cancer cell lines (IC₅₀=0.09–0.5 μm ) but is less cytotoxic toward a normal human fibroblast cell line (CCD‐19Lu, IC₅₀=11.8 μm ). In vivo anticancer studies revealed that Pd1 d significantly inhibited tumor growth in a nude mice model. Proteomics data and in vitro biochemical assays reveal that Pd1 d exerts anticancer effects, including inhibition of an epidermal growth factor receptor pathway, induction of mitochondrial dysfunction, and antiangiogenic activity to endothelial cells.     

Facet‐Dependent and Light‐Assisted Efficient Hydrogen Evolution from Ammonia Borane Using Gold–Palladium Core–Shell Nanocatalysts

Au–Pd core–shell nanocrystals with tetrahexahedral (THH), cubic, and octahedral shapes and comparable sizes were synthesized. Similar‐sized Au and Pd cubes and octahedra were also prepared. These nanocrystals were used for the hydrogen‐evolution reaction (HER) from ammonia borane. Light irradiation can enhance the reaction rate for all the catalysts. In particular, Au–Pd THH exposing {730} facets showed the highest turnover frequency for hydrogen evolution under light with 3‐fold rate enhancement benefiting from lattice strain, modified surface electronic state, and a broader range of light absorption. Finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) simulations show a stronger electric field enhancement on Au–Pd core–shell THH than those on other Pd‐containing nanocrystals. Light‐assisted nitro reduction by ammonia borane on Au–Pd THH was also demonstrated. Au–Pd tetrahexahedra supported on activated carbon can act as a superior recyclable plasmonic photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution.