Electrochemical response of nitrogen-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with gold and iridium nanoparticles toward ferrocyanide/ferricyanide redox system

Novel composite films consisting of nitrogen-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes (N-MWCNTs) were fabricated by means of chemical vapor deposition technique and decorated with gold (AuNP) and iridium (IrNP) nanoparticles possessing diameters of 12.5 and 2.7 nm, respectively. The electrochemical responses of fabricated composite films, further denoted as N-MWCNTs/MNPs (M: Au and Ir), toward ferrocyanide/ferricyanide, [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4− redox couple was probed by means of cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy techniques. The findings demonstrate that both N-MWCNT/MNP composite films exhibit greater electrochemical response and sensitivity toward [Fe(CN)₆]^3−/4− compared to unmodified N-MWCNTs. The results verify that the N-MWCNT/MNP composite films are extremely promising for application in electrochemical sensing.

     

Reversible Dihydrogen Activation by Reduced Aryl Boranes as Main‐Group Ambiphiles

A new approach to main‐group H₂ activation combining concepts of transition‐metal and frustrated Lewis pair chemistry is reported. Ambiphilic, metal‐like reactivity toward H₂ can be conferred to 9,10‐dihydro‐9,10‐diboraanthracene (DBA) acceptors by the injection of two electrons. The resulting [DBA]^2? ions cleave the H?H bond with the formation of hydridoborates under moderate conditions (T=50–100 °C; p<1 atm). Depending on the boron‐bonded substituents R, the addition is either reversible (R=C≡CtBu) or irreversible (R=H). The reaction rate is strongly influenced by the nature and the coordination behavior of the countercation (Li⁺ slower than K⁺). Quantum‐chemical calculations support the experimental observations and suggest a concerted, homolytic addition of H₂ across both boron atoms. As proven by the successful conversion of Me₃SiCl into Me₃SiH, the system Li₂[DBA]/H₂ appears generally relevant for the hydrogenation of element–halide bonds.     

A Disilene Base Adduct with a Dative Si–Si Single Bond

An experimental and theoretical study of the base‐stabilized disilene 1 is reported, which forms at low temperatures in the disproportionation reaction of Si₂Cl₆ or neo‐Si₅Cl₁₂ with equimolar amounts of NMe₂Et. Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and quantum‐chemical bonding analysis disclose an unprecedented structure in silicon chemistry featuring a dative Si→Si single bond between two silylene moieties, Me₂EtN→SiCl₂→Si(SiCl₃)₂. The central ambiphilic SiCl₂ group is linked by dative bonds to the amine donor and the bis(trichlorosilyl)silylene acceptor, which leads to push–pull stabilization. Based on experimental and theoretical examinations a formation mechanism is presented that involves an autocatalytic reaction of the intermediately formed anion Si(SiCl₃)₃^? with neo‐Si₅Cl₁₂ to yield 1 .     

Profiling the Heme-Binding Proteomes of Bacteria Using Chemical Proteomics

Heme is a cofactor with myriad roles and essential to almost all living organisms. Beyond classical gas transport and catalytic functions, heme is increasingly appreciated as a tightly controlled signalling molecule regulating protein expression. However, heme acquisition, biosynthesis and regulation is poorly understood beyond a few model organisms, and the heme-binding proteome has not been fully characterised in bacteria. Yet as heme homeostasis is critical for bacterial survival, heme-binding proteins are promising drug targets. Herein we report a chemical proteomics method for global profiling of heme-binding proteins in live cells for the first time. Employing a panel of heme-based clickable and photoaffinity probes enabled the profiling of 32–54 % of the known heme-binding proteomes in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This simple-to-implement profiling strategy could be interchangeably applied to different cell types and systems and fuel future research into heme biology.     

Monitoring the Reversibility of GPCR Signaling by Combining Photochromic Ligands with Label-free Impedance Analysis

G protein-coupled cell surface receptors (GPCR) trigger complex intracellular signaling cascades upon agonist binding. Classic pharmacological assays provide information about binding affinities, activation or blockade at different stages of the signaling cascade, but real time dynamics and reversibility of these processes remain often disguised. We show that combining photochromic NPY receptor ligands, which can be toggled in their receptor activation ability by irradiation with light of different wavelengths, with whole cell label-free impedance assays allows observing the cell response to receptor activation and its reversibility over time. The concept demonstrated on NPY receptors may be well applicable to many other GPCRs providing a deeper insight into the time course of intracellular signaling processes.     

Crystalline inclusion compounds of lower rim propyl substituted calix[4]arenes featuring different number and positions of the modifying groups

Three lower rim n-propyl substituted calix[4]arenes (1–3) with varied number and position of the modifying groups have been prepared. Inclusion compounds (five species) involving different kinds of guest solvents have been isolated. Their X-ray crystal structures were determined and comparatively discussed using isostructurality calculations. Two of the inclusion compounds obtained (1a and 1b) are polymorphs containing the same host and guest molecules in equal stoichiometric ratio but different Z′ values caused by a phase transition around 140 K. The inclusion compounds 2a and 2b refer to the interesting case of a mixed solvent complex while 3a allows studying the effect of full lower rim n-propyl substitution.