Convenient and Efficient Synthesis of 1,1‐Bis‐(4‐alkylthiophenyl)‐1‐alkenes via Tandem Friedel–Crafts Acylation and Alkylation of Sulfides and Acyl Chlorides

1,1‐Bis(4‐alkylthiophenyl)‐1‐alkenes were conveniently and efficiently prepared from alkyl phenyl sulfides and acyl chlorides via a tandem Friedel–Crafts acylation and alkylation in the presence of anhydrous aluminum chloride. The scope, limitation, and mechanism of the tandem reaction were also discussed.     

Efficient One-Pot Condensation of β-Naphthol,Aldehydes, and Cyclic 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds Catalyzed by p-TSA Under Solvent-Free and Sonication Conditions

A facile and efficient procedure has been developed by one-pot condensation of β-naphthol, aldehydes, and cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds for the synthesis of 8,9,10,12-tetrahydrobenzo[a]xanthen-11-one or 8,9-dihydrobenzo-[f]cyclopenta[b]chromen-10(11H)-one derivatives catalyzed by p-toluenesulfonic acid under solvent-free and sonication conditions.     

Homogeneous catalysis,heterogeneous recycling: a new family of branched molecules with hydrocarbon or fluorocarbon chains for the Friedländer synthesis of quinoline under solvent-free conditions

A new family of branched catalysts with hydrocarbon or fluorocarbon chains was used to catalyze Friedländer reaction between 2-aminoarylketones and α-methylene ketones under solvent-free conditions in good to excellent yields. The catalysts exhibit temperature-dependent solubility and such a thermomorphic character allows them to be recovered by filtration conveniently at room temperature and reused at least five times. To some extent, the branched catalysts with hydrocarbon chains are superior to those with fluorocarbon chains, as they are cheaper and more biodegradable.     

Direct Blue 71 staining as a destaining‐free alternative loading control method for Western blotting

In Western blotting, a suitable loading control is indispensable for correcting errors in the total amount of loaded protein. Immunodetection of housekeeping proteins and total protein staining have traditionally been used as loading control methods. Direct Blue 71 (DB71) staining—a novel, sensitive, dye‐binding staining method compatible with immunodetection—may offer advantages over these traditional loading control methods. Three common neuroscientific samples (human plasma, human oligodendrocytes, and rat brain) were employed to assess DB71 staining as a loading control method for Western blotting. DB71, CBB, one traditional housekeeping protein, and one protein of interest were comparatively assessed for reliability and repeatability and linear dynamic range over 2.5–40 μg of protein loaded. DB71's effect on the reliability and repeatability and linear dynamic range of immunoreaction were also assessed. Across all three sample types, DB71 was either equivalent or superior to CBB and housekeeping protein‐based methods in terms of reliability and repeatability and linear dynamic range. Across all three sample types, DB71 staining did not impair the reliability and repeatability or linear dynamic range of immunoreaction. Our results demonstrate that the DB71 staining can be used as a destaining‐free alternative loading control method for Western blotting.     

Enhancement inhibition efficiency of PBTCA depending on the inclusion complex with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin

For the first time, hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) has been brought in to include 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTCA) in order to enhance inhibition efficiency of PBTCA, which leads a new approach to study oil–gas field corrosion inhibition in the process of acid treatment. Based on the host–guest inclusion reaction, the inclusion complex of PBTCA with HP-β-CD has been prepared in the laboratory. UV–Vis absorption spectrum was applied to study the inclusion behavior of PBTCA with HP-β-CD. The results revealed that PBTCA with HP-β-CD can form a 1:1 stoichiometry inclusion complex. The 1:1 inclusion complex synthesized by using lyophilization was further characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Besides, inhibition effect of the inclusion complex on the corrosion inhibition of Q235 carbon steel has been investigated in 0.1 M sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) solution using potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the presence of the inclusion complex better achieved the anti-corrosion property in aggressive medium than was the case with alone PBTCA and the highest inhibition efficiency of the inclusion complex over 90 % was obtained, which are suggestive of the active effect of the inclusion complex for improving inhibition efficiency of PBTCA. Meanwhile, the results obtained from SEM further showed that the inclusion complex acts as a more efficient corrosion inhibitor for Q235 carbon steel in H₂SO₄ medium.     

Preparation and photocatalytic antibacterial property of nitrogen doped TiO2 nanoparticles

Nitrogen doped TiO₂ (N-TiO₂) nanoparticles with about 30 nm in size were produced by a sol–gel method and characterized respectively by UV–vis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Their photocatalytic antibacterial properties were evaluated by the antibacterial ratio against Escherichia coli in dark and under simulated sunlight respectively. The XRD pattern showed that the doped nano-TiO₂ was mainly composed of anatase phase. The XPS spectra of the N-TiO₂ sample indicated that TiO₂ was doped by nitrogen atom. The nitrogen doping created a new N 2p state slightly above the valence band top consists of O 2p state, and this pushes up the valence band top and decreased the band gap. Which leaded to the absorption edge was red-shifted to the visible light region of UV–vis spectra of nitrogen doped nano-TiO₂ comparing with pure nano-TiO₂. The antibacterial percentage of N-TiO₂ against E. coli reached to 90 % under simulated sunlight for 2 h, which was much better than that in dark, also than that of pure nano-TiO₂. The photo-catalytic antibacterial activity was activated under visible light. The structure and integrity of cell wall and cell membrane were destructed, and even caused the bacteria death.     

Well‐Dispersed Pt Cubes on Porous Cu Foam: High‐Performance Catalysts for the Electrochemical Oxidation of Glucose in Neutral Media

The investigation of highly efficient catalysts for the electrochemical oxidation of glucose is the most critical challenge to commercialize nonenzymatic glucose sensors, which display a few attractive superiorities including the sufficient stability of their properties and the desired reproducibility of results over enzyme electrodes. Herein we propose a new and very promising catalyst: Pt cubes well‐dispersed on the porous Cu foam, for the the electrochemical oxidation reaction of glucose in neutral media. The catalyst is fabricated in situ on a homemade screen‐printed carbon electrode (SPCE) substrate through initially synthesizing the three‐dimensional (3D) porous Cu foam using a hydrogen evolution assisted electrodeposition strategy, followed by electrochemically reducing the platinic precursor simply and conveniently. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) proofs demonstrate that Pt cubes, with an average size (the distance of opposite faces) of 185.1 nm, highly dispersed on the macro/nanopore integrated Cu foam support can be reproducibly obtained. The results of electrochemical tests indicate that the cubic Pt‐based catalyst exhibits significant enhancement on the catalytic activity towards the electrooxidation of glucose in the presence of chloride ions, providing a specific activity 6.7 times and a mass activity 5.3 times those of commercial Pt/C catalysts at ?0.4 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). In addition, the proposed catalyst shows excellent stability of performance, with only a 2.8 % loss of electrocatalytic activity after 100 repetitive measurements.     

Novel Tripod Amphiphiles for Membrane Protein Analysis

Integral membrane proteins play central roles in controlling the flow of information and molecules across membranes. Our understanding of membrane protein structures and functions, however, is seriously limited, mainly due to difficulties in handling and analysing these proteins in aqueous solution. The use of a detergent or other amphipathic agents is required to overcome the intrinsic incompatibility between the large lipophilic surfaces displayed by the membrane proteins in their native forms and the polar solvent molecules. Here, we introduce new tripod amphiphiles displaying favourable behaviours toward several membrane protein systems, leading to an enhanced protein solubilisation and stabilisation compared to both conventional detergents and previously described tripod amphiphiles.