Four New Nortriterpenoids from Phlomis umbrosa

Four new 28‐noroleanane‐derived spirocyclic triterpenoids, compounds 1 – 4 , were isolated from the rhizomes of Phlomis umbrosa. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analyses, in combination with high‐resolution MS experiments.     

A Facile Method of Synthesis of a Calix[4]arene Amide and the Crystal Structure of a Self-assembled Calix[4]arene Amide via van Der Waals Interaction

A new facile method of synthesis of calix[4]arene amide via the aminolysis of the calix[4]arene esters was reported. One ethyl ester of the compound (2) was aminolysized byn-butylamine. The crystal structure of compound (1)shows that one ethyl ester of compound (1) enters into thecavity of another compound (1) forming a long chainhost-guest supramolecule. From the 2D NMR data, the compound(1) does not assemble in THF or CHCl₃ solution. The CH- interaction and crystallization energy might be theimportant driving forces for forming the self-assembledcalix[4]arene.     

Time-dependent density functional theory study on intramolecular charge transfer and solvent effect of dimethylaminobenzophenone

The lower singlet excited states for dimethylaminobenzophenone have been investigated as a function of the twisting motion with inclusion of solvent effects. Theoretical calculations have been performed using time-dependent density functional theory. The B3LYP and MPW1PW91 functionals with a 6-311+G(2d,p) basis set have been used to compute transition energies. The solvent effects have been described within the polarizable continuum model. Ground-state geometries are optimized using density functional theory with both B3LYP and MPW1PW91 functionals combined with 6-31G(d) basis sets. Vertical absorption energy calculations characterize the lower singlet excited states both in vacuum and in different kinds of solvents. A large redshift of the absorption maximum in the polar solvent suggests an intramolecular charge transfer character of the excited state. We have constructed the potential energy curves of two possible twisting motions of the excited states both in vacuum and in the polar solvent of acetonitrile: the twisting of only the dimethylamino group and the twisting of the dimethylaminophenyl group with respect to the benzoyl group. Both twisting processes predict the formation of the twisted intramolecular charge transfer state associated with the crossing of a low barrier. The presence of the polar solvent significantly changes the shape of the energy curves. Calculated emission energies for both the isolated and the solvated systems show a large Stokes shift between the absorption and fluorescence maxima. Two possible twisting motions produce similar fluorescence spectroscopic consequences. Our results including solvent effects explain the weak "dual-fluorescence" feature of dimethylaminobenzophenone, and imply that the two possible twisting motions may occur in the excited-state relaxation dynamics, but the twisting of the dimethylamino group seems to take place easier.     

Understanding effect of wall structure on the hydrothermal stability of mesostructured silica SBA-15

Mesostructured silica SBA-15 materials with different structural parameters, such as pore size, pore volume, and wall thickness, etc., were prepared by varying the postsynthesis hydrothermal treatment temperature and adding inorganic salts. The hydrothermal stabilities of these materials in steam (100% water vapor) were systematically investigated using a variety of techniques including powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen sorption, and (29)Si solid-state NMR. The effect of the pore size, microporosity or mesoporosity, and wall thickness on the stability was discussed. The results show that all of the SBA-15 materials have a good hydrothermal stability under steam of 600 degrees C for at least 24 h. N(2) sorption measurements show that the Brumauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of SBA-15 materials is decreased by about 62% after treatment under steam at 600 degrees C for 24 h. The materials with thicker walls and more micropores show relatively better hydrothermal stability in steam of 600 degrees C. Interestingly, we found that the microporosity of the mesostructured silica SBA-15 is a very important factor for the hydrothermal stability. To the materials with more micropores, the recombination of Si-O-Si bonds during the high-temperature steam treatment may not cause direct destruction to the wall structure. As a result, SBA-15 materials with more micropores show better stability in pure steam of 600 degrees C. Nevertheless, these materials are easily destroyed in steam of 800 degrees C for 6 h. Two methods to effectively improve the hydrothermal stability are introduced here: one is a high-temperature treatment, and another is a carbon-propping thermal treatment. Thermal treatment at 900 degrees C can enhance the polymerization degree of Si-O-Si bonds and effectively improve the hydrothermal stability of these SBA-15 materials in 800 degrees C steam for 12 h. But, this approach will cause very serious shrinkage of the mesopores, resulting in smaller pore diameter and low surface area. A carbon-propping thermal treating method was employed to enhance the polymerization of Si-O-Si bonds and minimize the serious shrinkage of mesopores at the same time. It was demonstrated to be an effective method that can greatly improve the hydrothermal stability of SBA-15 materials in 800 degrees C steam for 12 h. Furthermore, the SBA-15 materials obtained by using the carbon-propping method possess larger pores and higher surface area after the steam treatment at 800 degrees C compared to the materials from the direct thermal treatment method after the steam treatment.     

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL BLUE LIGHT EMITTING ROD-COIL DIBLOCK OLIGOMER

Four new rod-coil diblock molecules, which had well-defined para-phenylene oligomers (PPP, from biphenyl toquinquephenyl) as rigid segments and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO, M_w ca. 750) as flexible segments, were synhesized. Thechemical structure and the number of repeating unit in PEO coil and PPP rod were characterized by ~1H-NMR and MALDI-TOF mass spectromeny. The diblock oligomers showed good solubility in common organic solvents and aggregated in wateras characterized by a blue shift in UV-vis absorption spectra, a red shift in emission spectra, quenching of the fluorescenceand formation of the microfibrilla and fractal-like structures. The formation of different supramolecular structures meant thatthis effort might lead to commercial important highly organized functional materials.     

一氧化氮选择还原锡锆固溶体催化剂的结构特性

采用双股并流共沉淀方法制备了SnO2含量从10％至90％的锡锆体系DeNOx催化剂,用XRD、微区电子衍射、FT-Raman及FT-IR等技术深入研究了锡锆体系氧化物的结构及其随组成的变化规律.结果表明，由于Sn4＋与Zr4＋离子半径接近,SnO2与ZrO2易于形成固溶体,并随组成变化表现出不同的结构特征.纯ZrO2为单斜相,当少量Sn4＋（SnO2 ≤ 20％）进入ZrO2晶格时形成四方相富锆固溶体,Sn4＋起到稳定ZrO2四方相的作用;随着SnO2含量的增大,结构从无定形或微晶态的富锆固溶体(含SnO2 30～50％)经富锆固溶体与金红石结构的富锡固溶体在55％ SnO2含量的共存状态变化到具有金红石结构的富锡固溶体（SnO2 ≥ 60％）.FT-Raman和FT-IR光谱测试证明,Zr进入SnO2晶格使得Sn－O键的结合减弱,Sn离子上的有效正电荷减小,降低了SnO2对丙烯的燃烧能力,从而提高了对NO的还原活性.     

Improvement of cyclosporin A determination in whole blood by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

A chromatographic method was developed for the determination of cyclosporin A in human whole blood using reversed-phase HPLC at room temperature. Most previous reports carried out this liquid chromatographic separation at temperatures above 70 degrees C. The present procedure greatly improves the detection limit by controlling peak broadening effects, as well as the lifetime of the column at room temperature. Under optimal conditions and using ketoconazole as an internal standard, the calibration graph was linear in the range of 16-1000 microg/L with a relative standard deviation of 3.72% at 150 microg/L and 2.45% at 300 microg/L (n = 11) of cyclosporin A. The detection limit was of 5.0 microg/L cyclosporin A. By this procedure, cyclosporin A pharmacokinetic parameters in healthy Chinese subjects were studied. The developed method could be applied to the quantification of cyclosporin A in human blood samples and allows the study of its pharmacokinetics in routine laboratories.     

Flexible all-biomass gas sensor based on doped carbon quantum dots/nonwoven cotton with discriminative function

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) co-doped with N, P and S derived from expired milk was prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. By dipping pure cotton face towel (PCFT) into CQDs ink, a flexible all-biomass CQDs/PCFT sensor was prepared for the first time. Due to the heteroatom doping, extremely small particle size of CQDs and excellent permeability of CQDs/PCFT film, the flexible CQDs/PCFT sensor showed the high sensitivity and bending stability. In the range of 0–60° bending states, the responses of CQDs/PCFT sensor to four target analytes changed by less 5.0%. After 3000 bending of 60°, the maximum change of the response to the target analytes was only 6.4%. Interestingly, due to the abundant functional groups and defects of CQDs, the flexible CQDs/PCFT sensor displayed sensing curves of different shapes for different target analytes. In this way, by establishing a database of sensing curves of target analytes, multiple analytes can be detected discriminatively by relying only on single sensor with the help of image recognition. This work provided a reference for the development of cotton fiber based all biomass flexible gas sensor.

Graphical abstract

     

不同种类羧酸钠对草酸钙结晶过程中晶相的影响

采用X射线衍射法研究了水溶液中不同种类羧酸钠对尿结石主要成份草酸钙结晶的影响，这些羧酸钠分别为含有一、二、三和四个羧基的羟基乙酸钠（NaGly）、酒石酸钠（Na2Tart）、柠檬酸钠（Na3Cit）和EDTA二钠盐（Na2EDTA）.结果表明，随着羧酸钠浓度的增加，草酸钙的晶相均发生规律性的变化：从最稳定的一水草酸钙（COM），到不稳定的二水草酸钙（COD），最后转化为次稳定的三水草酸钙（COT）.不同结构羧酸钠抑制COM生长、促进COD生成的顺序为:Na3Cit >Na2Tart >Na2EDTA >NaGly.该结果将为临床上选择防结石药物提供新的思路.