Chiral Interlocked Corrole Dimers Directly Linked at Inner Carbon Atoms of Confused Pyrrole Rings

A facile synthetic strategy towards conformationally stable chiral chromophores based on dimeric porphyrinoids has been established. A peculiar class of face-to-face intramolecularly interlocked corrole dimers were formed by the oxidative C−C coupling linked at the inner carbon sites upon simple treatment of copper(II) ions. Their intrinsic electronic structures were modulated by the peripheral corrole ring annulations, which lead to distinct optical properties and redox profiles. The stereogenic carbon centers implemented in the confused corrole skeleton provided a rationale for designing novel chiral materials.     

Can a Procedure for the Growth of Single-layer Graphene on Copper be used in Different Chemical Vapor Deposition Reactors?

In the last decade, catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been intensively explored for the growth of single-layer graphene (SLG). Despite the scattering of guidelines and procedures, variables such as the surface texture/chemistry of catalyst metal foils, carbon feedstock, and growth process parameters have been well-scrutinized. Still, questions remain on how best to standardize the growth procedure. The possible correlation of procedures between different CVD setups is an example. Here, two thermal CVD reactors were explored to grow graphene on Cu foil. The design of these setups was entirely distinct, one being a “showerhead” cold-wall type, whereas the other represented the popular “tubular” hot-wall type. Upon standardizing the Cu foil surface, it was possible to develop a procedure for cm²-scale SLG growth that differed only by the carrier gas flow rate used in the two reactors.     

Improved magnetosensor for the detection of hydrogen peroxide and glucose

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In this work, the use of neodymium electrodes as a basis for the immobilization of magnetite nanoparticles has been carried out. The sensitivity and...     

The evolution and future of influenza pandemic preparedness

The influenza virus is a global threat to human health causing unpredictable yet recurring pandemics, the last four emerging over the course of a hundred years. As our knowledge of influenza virus evolution, distribution, and transmission has increased, paths to pandemic preparedness have become apparent. In the 1950s, the World Health Organization (WHO) established a global influenza surveillance network that is now composed of institutions in 122 member states. This and other surveillance networks monitor circulating influenza strains in humans and animal reservoirs and are primed to detect influenza strains with pandemic potential. Both the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO have also developed pandemic risk assessment tools that evaluate specific aspects of emerging influenza strains to develop a systematic process of determining research and funding priorities according to the risk of emergence and potential impact. Here, we review the history of influenza pandemic preparedness and the current state of preparedness, and we propose additional measures for improvement. We also comment on the intersection between the influenza pandemic preparedness network and the current SARS-CoV-2 crisis. We must continually evaluate and revise our risk assessment and pandemic preparedness plans and incorporate new information gathered from research and global crises.Subject terms: Influenza virus, Infectious diseases     

Response surface methodology toward the optimization of high-energy carotenoid extraction from Aristeus antennatus shrimp

High-energy assisted extraction techniques, like ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) and microwave assisted extraction (MAE), are widely applied over the last years for the recovery of bioactive compounds such as carotenoids, antioxidants and phenols from foods, animals and herbal natural sources. Especially for the case of xanthophylls, the main carotenoid group of crustaceans, they can be extracted in a rapid and quantitative way with the use of UAE and MAE.     

Tuning the Basicity of Cyano‐Containing Ionic Liquids to Improve SO2 Capture through Cyano–Sulfur Interactions

A new approach has been developed to improve SO₂ sorption by cyano‐containing ionic liquids (ILs) through tuning the basicity of ILs and cyano–sulfur interaction. Several kinds of cyano‐containing ILs with different basicity were designed, prepared, and used for SO₂ capture. The interaction between these cyano‐containing ILs and SO₂ was investigated by FTIR and NMR methods. Spectroscopic investigations and quantum chemical calculations showed that dramatic effects on SO₂ capacity originate from the basicity of the ILs and enhanced cyano–sulfur interaction. Furthermore, the captured SO₂ was easy to release by heating or bubbling N₂ through the ILs. This efficient and reversible process, achieved by tuning the basicity of ILs, is an excellent alternative to current technologies for SO₂ capture.     

Negatively Charged Metallacarborane Redox Couples with Both Members Stable to Air

The metallacarborane [3,3′‐Co(1,2‐closo‐C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]^? has been synthesized. This species allows the formation of redox couples in which both partners are negatively charged. The E_1/2 potential can be tuned by adjusting the nature and number of substituents on B and C. The octaiodinated species [3,3′‐Co(1,2‐closo‐C₂B₉H₇I₄)₂]^? is the most favorable, as it is isolatable and stable in air. A DFT study on stability and redox potentials of complexes has been performed.     

Selective Catalytic Isomerization of β-Pinene Oxide to Perillyl Alcohol Enhanced by Protic Tetraimidazolium Nitrate

A series of tetraimidazolium salts with different anions was prepared and applied in the isomerization of β-pinene oxide. After examining the activity of different catalysts, a remarkable enhancement of the selectivity of perillyl alcohol (47 %) was obtained over [PEimi][HNO₃]₄ under mild reaction conditions and using DMSO as the solvent. Furthermore, noncovalent interactions between solvent molecules and the catalyst were found by FT-IR spectroscopy and confirmed by computational chemistry. The homogeneous catalyst showed excellent stability and was reused up to six times without significant loss.