Hollow Versus Hydrogen-Occupied Icosahedral Cages of Coinage–Metal Clusters

It is suggested that the hollow coinage–metal icosahedral cage of the [Ag₄₄(SR)₃₀]^4? tetraanion (1a) may be occupied by two hydrogen atoms, giving rise to a dihydridic cluster [H₂Ag₄₄(SR)₃₀]^4? tetraanion (2b). As a consequence, two series of clusters, with different electron counts, can be formed by chemical means: the 18-electron series [H _x Ag₄₄(SR)₃₀]^(4?x)? via stepwise protonation of 1a and the 20-electron series [H _x Ag₄₄(SR)₃₀]^(6?x)? via stepwise deprotonation of 2b (here x = 0, 1, 2). Both series are closed-shell Jelliumatic clusters and expected to be stable. The corresponding members of these two series (for a given x value) are related by a two-electron reduction. These pairs raise the possibility of the hollow icosahedral metal cages in housing a number of hydrogen atoms, either via stepwise protonations or by absorption of hydrogen molecules.     

Covalent immobilization of Candida antarctica lipase B on nanopolystyrene and its application to microwave-assisted esterification

Nanopolystyrene was used as a solid support for the covalent immobilization of Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) using the photoreactive reagent 1-fluoro-2-nitro-4-azido benzene (FNAB) as a coupling reagent. The obtained derivative was then used as a biocatalyst in a microwave assisted esterification experiment. Factors such as contact time, pH, and enzyme concentration were investigated during immobilization. The hydrolytic activity, thermal, and operational stability of immobilized-CalB were determined. The maximum immobilized yield (218 μg/mg support) obtained at pH 6.8 exhibited optimum hydrolytic activity (4.42 × 10³ mU p-nitrophenol/min). The thermal stability of CalB improved significantly when it was immobilized at pH 10, however, the immobilized yield was very low (93.6 μg/mg support). The immobilized-CalB prepared at pH 6.8 and pH 10 retained 50% of its initial activity after incubation periods of 14 and 16 h, respectively, at 60 ℃. The operational stability was investigated for the microwave assisted esterification of oleic acid with methanol. Immobilized-CalB retained 50% of its initial activity after 15 batch cycles in the microwave-assisted esterification. The esterification time was notably reduced under microwave irradiation. The combined use of a biocatalyst and microwave heating is thus an alternative total green synthesis process.     

Machine Learning Approaches for Metalloproteins

Metalloproteins are a family of proteins characterized by metal ion binding, whereby the presence of these ions confers key catalytic and ligand-binding properties. Due to their ubiquity among biological systems, researchers have made immense efforts to predict the structural and functional roles of metalloproteins. Ultimately, having a comprehensive understanding of metalloproteins will lead to tangible applications, such as designing potent inhibitors in drug discovery. Recently, there has been an acceleration in the number of studies applying machine learning to predict metalloprotein properties, primarily driven by the advent of more sophisticated machine learning algorithms. This review covers how machine learning tools have consolidated and expanded our comprehension of various aspects of metalloproteins (structure, function, stability, ligand-binding interactions, and inhibitors). Future avenues of exploration are also discussed.     

Fabrications of hollow nanocubes of Cu(2)O and Cu via reductive self-assembly of CuO nanocrystals

In this work, a template-free synthetic approach for generating single-crystalline hollow nanostructures has been described. Using the small optical band-gap cuprous oxide Cu(2)O as a model case, we demonstrate that, instead of normally known spherical aggregates, primary nanocrystalline particles can first self-aggregate into porous organized solids with a well-defined polyhedral shape according to the oriented attachment mechanism, during which chemical conversion can also be introduced. In contrast to the spherical aggregates, where the nanocrystallites are randomly joined together, the Cu(2)O nanocrystallites in the present case are well organized, maintaining a definite geometric shape and a global crystal symmetry. Due to the presence of intercrystallite space, hollowing and chemical conversion can also be carried out in order to create central space and change the chemical phase of nanostructured polyhedrons. It has been revealed that Ostwald ripening plays a key role in the solid evacuation process. Using this synthetic strategy, we have successfully prepared single-crystal-like Cu(2)O nanocubes and polycrystalline Cu nanocubes with hollow interiors. For the first time, we demonstrate that nanostructured polyhedrons of functional materials with desired interiors can be synthesized in solution via a combination of oriented attachment and Ostwald ripening processes.     

Motion Control of Micro‐/Nanomotors

As we progress towards employing self‐propelled micro‐/nanomotors in envisioned applications such as cargo delivery, environmental remediation, and therapeutic treatments, precise control of the micro‐/nanomotors direction and their speed is essential. In this Review, major emerging approaches utilized for the motion control of micro‐/nanomotors have been discussed, together with the lastest publications describing these approaches. Future studies could incorporate investigations on micro‐/nanomotors motion control in a real‐world environment in which matrix complexity might disrupt successful manipulation of these small‐scale devices.     

Hydrogen-bonded dimer of N,N′-(5-n-butyl-5-oxodibenzo[b,d]phosphole-3,7-diyl)bis(benzamide) dimethylformamide solvate

The structure of a large wing-span phosphine, in the oxide form, N,N-(5-n-butyl-5-oxodibenzo[b,d]phosphole-3,7-diyl)bis(benzamide), C₃₀H₂₇N₂O₃P, cocrystallized with dimethylformamide (DMF), C₃H₇NO, is reported. The title compound is crystallized in a triclinic system with cell dimensions of a = 10.295(8) b = 12.743(5) c = 13.239(6) Å, = 108.14(3), = 108.16(5), = 101.20(4)°, and V=1484.4(5) ų, and forms a hydrogen-bonded dimer via two hydrogen bond linkages of the P—O ··· H—N type involving one of the two amide groups.     

Analysis of High-Resolution FTIR Spectrum of the nu6 Band of H13COOH

The FTIR spectrum of the nu6 band of H13COOH has been collected at a resolution of 0.004 cm-1 in the frequency range of 1030-1160 cm-1. The nu6 band was analyzed to be an A-B hybrid band and perturbed by the nearby nu8 band through a-, and b-Coriolis coupling terms. Using a Watson's A-reduced Hamiltonian in the Ir representation, with the inclusion of a- and b-Coriolis resonances, a total of 3004 IR transitions of nu6 have been analyzed to provide rovibrational constants for the v6 = 1 state with a standard deviation of 0.00047 cm-1. The nu6 band was found to be centered at 1095.40365 +/- 0.00003 cm-1. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.