A catalyst-free synthesis of asymmetric diaryl ketones from aryltins

A series of diaryl ketones have been synthesized in good yields (40-78%) through the catalyst-free reaction of trimethylarylstannanes with aroyl chlorides in chlorobenzene as solvent. In addition, an attractive feature is that these reactions are completely regioselective making possible the synthesis of diarylketones which are not usually available under the influence of the directing forces of the substituents present in the aromatic ring. Also, the reaction conditions are mild enough to be applied to acid sensitive molecules.     

Quantitative NMR measurements in copolymers of vinylidene chloride and acrylonitrile: The effect of saturation and varying nuclear Overhauser enhancements

Spin-lattice relaxation times and nuclear Overhauser enhancements (NOE) for ¹³C nuclei in copolymers of acrylonitrile and vinylidene chloride were measured at 20.1 and 67.9 MHz. In the ? CCl₂? region of the spectrum T₁ and NOE values of the various resonances are equal within experimental error and are invariant to changes in composition. The T₁ and NOE values of the ? CCl₂? region, however, are not equal to those of the ? CH? or ? CN region. As a result compositions cannot be calculated by direct comparison of the areas in the ? CCl₂? region and either the ? CH? or the ? CN region. Discrepancies can be corrected for the ? CH? resonances by multiplication of the area by an empirical constant. A similar constant for the ? CN region is composition-dependent at 20.1 and 67.9 MHz. A chemical shift anisotropy mechanism is postulated as important for relaxation of the ? CN resonances. The overall influence of variable T₁ and NOE values on quantitative determination of polymer composition is considered.     

Effect of branching and confinement on star-branched polymeric systems

The effect of confinement, number of branches (functionality), and size of the molecules on various properties as a function of temperature of star-branched polymers confined between two walls was studied using Monte Carlo simulations with the parallel tempering technique. The coil-to-globule transition and the liquidlike to solidlike transition, similar to those observed for linear chains, were characterized in all systems by changes in the heat capacity, internal energy, and radius of gyration. The transitions were also characterized by the most probable isomeric structure at a given temperature. The radius of gyration of the star polymers was smaller than the values of linear chains when the number of arms f increased. For star chains with more than f=5 arms the values of the radius of gyration, and therefore the size of the molecules, were similar for every condition of confinement studied, especially at higher temperatures. As confinement was increased, the difference in the radius of gyration of linear chains and star polymers became even larger. The coil-to-globule transition temperatures shifted to higher temperatures as the size of the chains and the number of arms in a molecule were increased. Effects of confinement were higher on the properties of the system at the smallest separations (less than twice the monomer diameter), where the coil-to-globule transition shifted to lower temperatures. The liquidlike to solidlike transition was present at almost the same temperature for different conditions of confinement, chain size, and number of arms. The behavior of the systems for separations between the walls greater than five bead diameters was similar to the behavior in the unconfined case. Hence, no considerable effect of confinement was found above this separation.     

Complexes of tri- and tetra-protonated forms of 1,4,8,12-tetraazacyclopentadecane with chloride,nitrate, iodate,and sulfate ions in aqueous media: I. Formation constants,thermodynamic properties,and bonding mechanisms

Complexation stoichiometries and formation constants of tri- and tetra-protonated forms of 1,4,8,12-tetraazacyclopentadecane with NO ₃ ^– , Cl^–, IO ₃ ^– and SO ₄ ^2– ions are determined by pH potentiometric and¹³C NMR spectrometric measurements. Estimates of H and S are obtained from the values of the temperature dependent formation constants and acid dissociation constants. All four anions form only 1 : 1 complexes with the triprotonated amine species. NO ₃ ^– and Cl^– form 1 : 1 complexes only with the tetraprotonated amine, while IO ₃ ^– and SO ₄ ^2– form both 1 : 1 and 2 : 1 complexes. The complexation behavior is interpreted in terms of solvation and internal hydrogen bonding interactions.     

Nested-channel for on-demand alternation between electrospray ionization regimes

On-demand electrospray ionization from different liquid channels in the same emitter was realized using filamented capillary and gas phase charge supply. The solution sub-channel was formed when back-filling solution to the emitter tip by capillary action along the filament. Gas phase charge carriers were used to trigger electrospray ionization from the solution meniscus at the tip. The meniscus at the tip opening may be fully filled or partially empty to generate electrospray ionization in main-channel regime and sub-channel regime, respectively. For emitters with 4 μm tip opening, the two nested electrospray (nested-ESI) channels accommodated ESI flow rates ranging from 50 pL min⁻¹ to 150 nL min⁻¹. The platform enabled on-demand regime alternations within one sample run, in which the sub-channel regime generated smaller charged droplets. Ionization efficiencies for saccharides, glycopeptide, and proteins were enhanced in the sub-channel regime. Non-specific salt adducts were reduced and identified by regime alternation. Surprisingly, the sub-channel regime produced more uniform responses for a peptide mixture whose relative ionization efficiencies were insensitive to ESI conditions in previous picoelectrospray study. The nested channels also allowed effective washing of emitter tip for multiple sampling and analysis operations.

Nested electrospray ionization alternates on-demand between microscale main-channel and nanscale sub-channels.     

Ultrasensitive small molecule fluorogenic probe for human heparanase

Heparanase (HPA) is a critical enzyme involved in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), and its elevated expression has been linked with diseases such as various types of cancer and inflammation. The detection of heparanase enzymatic activity holds tremendous value in the study of the cellular microenvironment, and search of molecular therapeutics targeting heparanase, however, no structurally defined probes are available for the detection of heparanase activity. Here we present the development of the first ultrasensitive fluorogenic small-molecule probe for heparanase enzymatic activity via tuning the electronic effect of the substrate. The probe exhibits a 756-fold fluorescence turn-on response in the presence of human heparanase, allowing one-step detection of heparanase activity in real-time with a picomolar detection limit. The high sensitivity and robustness of the probe are exemplified in a high-throughput screening assay for heparanase inhibitors.

Heparanase, a critical enzyme involved in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix, activates a disaccharide probe HADP to give a strong fluorescence signal.     

Screen-printed electrochemical hybridization biosensor for the detection of DNA sequences from the Escherichia coli pathogen

An electrochemical biosensor for the specific detection of short DNA sequences from the E. coli pathogen is described. This hybridization device relies on the immobilization of a 25-mer oligonucleotide probe, from the E. coli lacZ gene, onto a screen-printed carbon electrode. Chronopotentiometric detection of the Co(bpy)₃⁺³ indicator is used for monitoring the hybridization event. Numerous variables of the assay protocol, including those of the probe immobilization step, the hybridization event, and the indicator association/detection, are characterized and optimized. Hybridization times of 2- and 30-min are sufficient for detecting 300- and 50 ng/mL, respectively, of the E. coli DNA target. Applicability to analysis of untreated environmental water samples is illustrated. Such single-use electrochemical sensors hold great promise for decentralized environmental and food testing for the E. coli pathogen.