Unexpected Adsorption Capacity of Ca-deficient Hydroxyapatite in Oil/water System

Symmetrical diynes were synthesized by ligand‐free copper‐catalyzed homocoupling reaction of 1,1‐dibromo‐1‐alkenes using a DBU/DMSO system at room temperature in good to excellent yields dot.^?1.     

Solvothermal syntheses and crystal structures of two new thiogermanates [M(dap)3]4Ge4S10Cl4 (M?=?Co, Ni) with metal complexes as counterions

Abstract  

Two new transition-metal thiogermanates [M(dap)₃]₄Ge₄S₁₀Cl₄ (M = Co, Ni; dap = 1,2-propanediamine) have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. The two thiogermanates are isostructural and consist of discrete Ge₄S₁₀⁴⁻ adamantane-like ions, free Cl⁻ ions, and [M(dap)₃]²⁺ cations as counterions. The Ge₄S₁₀⁴⁻ anion is built from corner-sharing connection of four GeS₄⁴⁻ tetrahedra. Although some chalcogenidogermanates have been obtained by use of in situ generated transition-metal complexes as structure-directing agents under mild solvothermal conditions, their anions are usually dimeric [Ge₂Q₆]⁴⁻ (Q = S, Se) species. The new thiogermanates are rare examples of adamantane-like (Ge₄S₁₀⁴⁻) thiogermanates combined with transition-metal complexes. Their optical properties have been investigated by UV–Vis spectra.     

A Heterotetranuclear Metal Complex {Ni2Na2} with Azido Bridges

The reaction of Ni(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O with 3‐ethoxy‐2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde (Hemp), methylamine, and NaN₃ in DMF solution, under solvothermal conditions, leads to the formation of the heterotetrametallic cluster [Ni₂Na₂(μ_1,1,1‐N₃)₂(emimp)₄(DMF)₂] ( I ) (emimp = 2‐ethoxy‐6‐formyl‐phenolate anion, DMF = N,N‐dimethyl‐formamide). Compound I displays dominant ferromagnetic interactions through μ_1,1,1‐N₃ bridging mode.     

Fast Doping of Cu into ZnSe NCs by Hydrazine Promoted Cation Exchange in Aqueous Solution at Room Temperature

Controllable doping is an effective way of tuning the properties of semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs). In this work, a simple strategy of fast doping Cu ions into ZnSe NCs under ambient conditions was proposed. The principle of doping is based on hydrazine (N₂H₄) promoted cation exchange reaction. By direct addition of Cu ion stock solution into the preformed ZnSe NCs, Cu doped ZnSe NCs can be obtained. Furthermore, the emission of doped NCs can be tuned by changing the amount of impurity ion addition. The cation exchange reaction is facilitated by three factors: 1) N₂H₄ addition, 2) fast impurity ions, and 3) partial stabilizer removal. The proposed cation exchange reaction in aqueous solution could be an alternate route for NC doping as well as synthesis of ionic NCs.     

Synthesis of purpurin-18 imide derivatives from chlorophyll-a and -b by modifications and functionalizations along their peripheries

The methyl pheophorbide-a and methyl pheophorbide-b were used as starting materials and converted to purpurin-18 ester by ring-opening and rearrangement reaction in their exocyclic ring. N-Substituted purpurin-18 imides were obtained from purpurin-18 ester through amidation reaction of six-membered cyclic anhydride. Further chemical modifications along their peripheries were carried out by a variety of common reactions, including electrophilic substitution, Wittig reaction, allomerization and Vilsmeier reaction, to afford the title compounds with long-wavelength absorption. The structures of all new chlorins were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV–vis and ¹H NMR spectra.     

Guiding Uniform Li Plating/Stripping through Lithium–Aluminum Alloying Medium for Long‐Life Li Metal Batteries

The uncontrolled growth of Li dendrites upon cycling might result in low coulombic efficiency and severe safety hazards. Herein, a lithiophilic binary lithium–aluminum alloy layer, which was generated through an in situ electrochemical process, was utilized to guide the uniform metallic Li nucleation and growth, free from the formation of dendrites. Moreover, the formed LiAl alloy layer can function as a Li reservoir to compensate the irreversible Li loss, enabling long‐term stability. The protected Li electrode shows superior cycling over 1700 h in a Li|Li symmetric cell.     

Chemical and Ribosomal Synthesis of Topologically Controlled Bicyclic and Tricyclic Peptide Scaffolds Primed by Selenoether Formation

Bicyclic and tricyclic peptides have emerged as promising candidates for the development of protein binders and new therapeutics. However, convenient and efficient strategies that can generate topologically controlled bicyclic and tricyclic peptide scaffolds from fully‐unprotected peptides are still much in demand, particularly for those amenable to the design of biosynthetic libraries. In this work, we report a reliable chemical and ribosomal synthesis of topologically controlled bicyclic and tricyclic peptide scaffolds. Our strategy involves the combination of selenoether cyclization followed by disulfide or thioether cyclization, yielding desirable bicyclic and tricyclic peptides. This work thus lays the foundation for developing peptide libraries with controlled topology of multicyclic scaffolds for in vitro display techniques.     

Unprecedented [5.5.5.6]Dioxafenestrane Ring Construction in Fungal Insecticidal Sesquiterpene Biosynthesis

Fenestranes, a specific class of natural products, contain four fused rings that share a central quaternary carbon atom. The fungal natural product penifulvin A ( 1 ) is a potent insecticidal sesquiterpene that features the [5.5.5.6]dioxafenestrane ring. Although the chemical synthesis of 1 has been achieved recently, the enzymes catalysing the cyclization and oxidation of FPP to 1 remain unknown. In this work, we identified a concise pathway that uses only three enzymes to produce 1 . A new sesquiterpene cyclase (PeniA) generates the angular triquinane scaffold silphinene ( 6 ). A cytochrome P450 (PeniB) and a flavin‐dependent monooxygenase (PeniC) catalyse a series of oxidation reactions to transform 6 into 1 , including oxidation of the C15 methyl group to a carboxylate moiety, oxidative coupling of the C15 carboxylate and the C1‐C2 olefin to form a γ‐lactone, and Baeyer–Villiger oxidation to form a δ‐lactone. Our results demonstrate the highly concise and efficient ways in which fungal biosynthetic pathways can generate complex sesquiterpene scaffolds.     

Anchor Residues Guide Form and Function in Grafted Peptides

Loops at protein–protein interfaces are a rich source of peptide leads that have high specificity and low toxicity. Although such peptides typically need to be constrained to overcome thermodynamic and metabolic limitations, design guidelines to obtain a successfully constrained peptides, and thus facilitate the transition from loop to drug, are relatively poorly formulated. In this work, we surveyed the structures of interface loops and found the position of the terminal residues to be a key determinant of conformation. We used this knowledge to improve the process of molecular grafting, a valuable approach for constraining and stabilising peptides by fusing them to a suitable scaffold. We show that an informed choice of where a loop is “anchored” to a scaffold improves its form and function. This knowledge can help guide the choice of loop and its matching scaffold, and thus increase the success rate for designing stable and potent peptide drug leads.