Highly Selective Optical Detection of Fe3+ Ions in Aqueous Solution Using Label‐Free Silicon Nanocrystals

High brightness amine‐terminated silicon nanocrystals (Si NCs) have been utilized in a simple and rapid assay for the highly selective and sensitive detection of Fe³⁺ via quenching of their strong blue luminescence, without the need for analyte‐specific labeling groups. Sensitive detection of Fe³⁺ is successfully demonstrated, with a linear relationship observed between luminescence quenching and Fe³⁺ concentration from 5 × 10^?6 to 900 × 10^?6m and a limit of detection of 1.3 × 10^?6m . The Si NCs show excellent selectivity toward Fe³⁺ ions, with no quenching of the luminescence signal induced by the presence of Fe²⁺ ions, allowing for solution phase discrimination between the ionic species in different charge states.     

Crystal structure of terephthalaldehyde

Terephthalaldehyde forms monoclinic crystals, space group P2 ₁ /a, a = 12.698(6), b = 3.845(2), c = 14.764(3) Å, = 116.53(3)°, Z = 4, V = 645(1) ų, and Dx = 1.381(2) g cm^–3. There are two independent molecules, each located at a center of symmetry and approximately related to each other by pseudo-symmetry. In both molecules the rings are planar within experimental error. In one molecule the CHO groups are twisted out of the plane of the ring by 1.3(1)°, in the other by 0.6(1)°. Weak C–H···O hydrogen bonds occur at both independent aldehyde hydrogen atoms.     

Crystal structures of four complexes produced by reaction of copper(I) cyanide with imidazoles

Four complexes of CuCN with imidazoles have been prepared by adding the ligand to a solution of CuCN in aqueous sodium thiosulfate. The imidazole ligands used were 2-methylimidazole (mim), 1,2-dimethylimidazole (dmim), 5-chloro-1-methylimidazole (clmim), and 2-phenylimidazole (phim). Complex 1, (CuCN)(mim) is monoclinic, C2/c, a = 9.565(3), b = 7.764(5), c = 8.983(8) Å, = 96.76(3)°, Z, = 4, Complex 2, (CuCN)(dmim) is monoclinic, P2₁/c, a = 8.120(2), b = 11.796(4), c = 16.375(9) Å, , = 100.87(4)°, Z = 8. Complex 3, (CuCN) (clmim) is monoclinic, C2/c, a = 24.907(4), b = 6.894(5), c = 18.259(4) Å, = 102.79(2)°, Z = 16. Complex 4, (CuCN)(phim) is orthorhombic, Pca2₁, a = 9.204(4), b = 8.125(2), c = 26.304(6) Å, Z, = 8. Complexes 1, 2, and 4 have one-dimensional chains –Cu–CN–Cu– with an imidazole bonded to each Cu. Complex 3 has a two-dimensional sheet of CuCN, again with an imidazole bonded to each Cu. In 1 the imidazole group is disordered by a two-fold rotation approximately around the N···N direction in the imidazole group. In 3 one of the imidazole groups has a disorder involving exchange of the Cl and CH₃.     

The crystal structure of a novel product from the acid-catalyzed condensation of 1-benzylindole with acetone

The acid-catalyzed condensation of 1-benzylindole with acetone in the presence of N-phenylmaleimide gave a tetrahydrocarbazole, (4,5,10,10b-tetrahydro-5-methyl-2-phenyl-10-(phenylmethyl)pyrrolo[3,4-a]carbazole-1,3[2H, 3aH]-dione (1), as the major product and a novel spiro compound, 1,3,4,4-tetrahydro-1,1,3,3-tetramethyl-4,4-bis(phenylmethyl)-1,3(2H, 2H)-spiro[cyclopent[b]indole] (2), as the minor product. The structure of the spiro compound was determined by an X-ray crystallographic determination. The acid-catalyzed condensation of 1-benzylindole with acetone in the absence of N-phenylmaleimide gave a bisindole, (1,1-bis(phenylmethyl)-3,3-(1-methylethylidene)diindole (3), as the major product and the spiro-compound as the minor product.     

Crystal structures of p-chloro- and p-bromobenzaldehyde

p-Chloro- and p-bromobenzaldehyde form isomorphous monoclinic crystals, space groupP2 ₁/a. For p-Cl at –96°C,a=12.945(3),b=3.833(3),c=26.503(9) Å, =103.68(2)°,Z=8,V=1278(2) ų,Dx=1.461(2) g cm^–3, refinement on 2714 reflections,R=0.047. For p-Br at –96°C,a=12.754(5),b=3.919(3),c=27.317(12) Å, =103.28(3)°,Z=8,V=1329(2) ų,Dx=1.849(3) g cm^–3, refinement on 1519 reflections,R=0.062. The molecules do not differ significantly from planarity. They pack in stacks with Cl...Cl or Br...Br contacts at one end and CH...O contacts that are suggestive of hydrogen bonds at the other. There are no O...Cl or O...Br contacts.     

2,4,6‐Trifluorobenzonitrile

The title compound, C₇H₂F₃N, contains three crystallographically independent molecules in the crystal structure; two of these molecules have symmetry m and the third has symmetry mm. Each independent molecule forms a planar or approximately planar layer with its own kind. There are three different types of interlayer contacts, two of which are similar to each other, while the third is distinctly different. The packing within the layers is similar to that found in 2,5‐ and 3,6‐difluorobenzonitrile, with weak C—H...N interactions holding the molecules in the layers. The remarkable feature of this structure is the presence of more than one type of interlayer interaction.     

A Covalent Binding Mode of a Pyrazole-Based CD38 Inhibitor

Brain concentrations of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺), an important cellular co-factor, tend to decrease with age and in neurodegeneration. As the NADase cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38) significantly contributes to NAD⁺ consumption, we reasoned that CD38 inhibition may be of therapeutic value for CNS disorders. The new pyrazole compound was designed based on a known CD38 inhibitor and showed good inhibitory potency. Several attempts to co-crystallise this pyrazole with CD38 and cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose (cADPR) culminated in a high-resolution X-ray structure, in which the pyrazolyl group in the new compound formed a covalent bond with one of the ribosyl units of cADPR. This reaction proceeded under retention of configuration and resulted in a neutral ribosyl-pyrazole conjugate that is embedded within the active site of the enzyme. An analysis of this structural complex gave rise to design principles that enabled the preparation of more potent CD38 inhibitors with drug-like properties.     

Hierarchical assembly of viral nanotemplates with encoded microparticles via nucleic acid hybridization

We demonstrate hierarchical assembly of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-based nanotemplates with hydrogel-based encoded microparticles via nucleic acid hybridization. TMV nanotemplates possess a highly defined structure and a genetically engineered high density thiol functionality. The encoded microparticles are produced in a high throughput microfluidic device via stop-flow lithography (SFL) and consist of spatially discrete regions containing encoded identity information, an internal control, and capture DNAs. For the hybridization-based assembly, partially disassembled TMVs were programmed with linker DNAs that contain sequences complementary to both the virus 5' end and a selected capture DNA. Fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and confocal microscopy results clearly indicate facile assembly of TMV nanotemplates onto microparticles with high spatial and sequence selectivity. We anticipate that our hybridization-based assembly strategy could be employed to create multifunctional viral-synthetic hybrid materials in a rapid and high-throughput manner. Additionally, we believe that these viral-synthetic hybrid microparticles may find broad applications in high capacity, multiplexed target sensing.     

Diazonium functionalization of surfactant-wrapped chemically converted graphene sheets

Surfactant-wrapped chemically converted graphene sheets obtained from reduction of graphene oxide with hydrazine were functionalized by treatment with aryl diazonium salts. The nanosheets are characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The resulting functionalized nanosheets disperse readily in polar aprotic solvents, allowing alternative avenues for simple incorporation into different polymer matrices.