Isolated β‐Turn Model Systems Investigated by Combined IR/UV Spectroscopy

The functionality of bioactive molecules sensitively depends on their structure. For the investigation of intrinsic structural properties, molecular beam experiments combined with laser spectroscopy have proven to be a suitable tool. Herein we present an analysis of the two isolated tripeptide model systems Ac‐Phe‐Tyr(Me)‐NHMe and Boc‐Phe‐Tyr(Me)‐NHMe. For this purpose, mass‐selective combined IR/UV spectroscopy is applied to both substances in a molecular beam experiment. The comparison of the experimental data with DFT calculations, including different functionals as well as dispersion corrections, allows an assignment of both tripeptide models to β‐turns formed independently from the protection groups and supported by the interaction of the two aromatic chromophores.     

Selective performance of sol-gel synthesised titanium dioxide photocatalysts in aqueous oxidation of various-type organic pollutants

Photocatalysts synthesized by sol-gel method inevitably incorporate carbon together with dopants. The objective of the research consists in the synthesis and testing of photocatalytic activity of carbon-containing titanium dioxide photocatalysts calcinated at various temperatures. The optical and structural properties of the catalysts were also studied. The activity was tested in visible light in aqueous photocatalytic oxidation of three various-type pollutants, methyl-tert-butyl ether, p-toluidine and phenol, where the divergent character of the C-TiO₂ catalysts was distinctively observed: methyl-tert-butyl ether and p-toluidine were oxidized with the efficiency close to or even surpassing that of UV-irradiated P25 (Evonik), whereas phenol was oxidized poorly. The observed photocatalytic activity, where quantum efficiency varied from 0.6 to 2.3 and from 0.1 to 1.2% for p-toluidine and phenol degradation respectively, may be explained by the different electrostatic properties of the catalysts’ surface and the tested substances, i.e. their interaction. This compromises the widespread usage of phenol as a reference substance for comparison of catalytic activities of catalysts.     

Using a nanopore for single molecule detection and single cell transfection

We assert that it is possible to trap and identify proteins, and even (conceivably) manipulate proteins secreted from a single cell (i.e. the secretome) through transfection via electroporation by exploiting the exquisite control over the electrostatic potential available in a nanopore. These capabilities may be leveraged for single cell analysis and transfection with single molecule resolution, ultimately enabling a careful scrutiny of tissue heterogeneity.     

Proline-mediated formation of novel chroman-4-one tetrahydropyrimidines

Novel tricyclic N-benzylated chroman-4-one tetrahydropyrimidine derivatives have been prepared through a multi-component reaction between various 2-substituted chroman-4-one derivatives, N-methylenebenzylamine and a catalytic amount of proline under mild reaction conditions. The tricyclic structure of 1a was determined by NMR spectroscopy and confirmed by X-ray crystallography. An additional product, 2a, was isolated from the reaction mixture and its structure and conformation were determined by a combination of theoretical (Monte Carlo conformational search) and NMR-based (NOE and ³J_HH couplings) conformational analysis. The NMR analysis revealed one preferred geometry for 1a and 2a in CHCl₃ solution.     

Nanopore generation in hybrid polycyanurate/poly(ε-caprolactone) thermostable networks

Novel nanoporous thermosetting films were obtained from thermostable polycyanurate (PCN)-based hybrid networks synthesized by polycyclotrimerization of cyanate ester of bisphenol E in the presence of a modifier reactive toward cyanate groups, i.e. dihydroxy-telechelic poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL). The nanoporous structure was generated in PCN/PCL hybrid networks after extraction of unreacted free PCL sub-chains which were not chemically incorporated into the PCN cross-linked framework. Structure–property relationships for precursory and porous PCN/PCL hybrid networks were investigated using a large array of physico-chemical techniques. The porosity associated with the networks after extraction was more particularly evaluated by SEM and DSC-based thermoporometry: pore sizes around 10–90 nm were determined along with pore volumes as high as about 0.3 cm³ g⁻¹. Density and dielectric measurements strongly suggested the occurrence of closed pore structures. Due to their high thermal stability as investigated by TGA, nanoporous PCN/PCL hybrid cross-linked films could be considered as promising materials for potential applications as thermostable membranes.