Lithium–Lanthanide Bimetallic Metal–Organic Frameworks towards Negative Electrode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Novel lithium–lanthanide (Ln: cerium and praseodymium) bimetallic coordination polymers with formulas C₁₀H₂LnLiO₈ (Ln: Ce (CeLipma) and Pr (PrLipma)) and C₁₀H₃CeO₈ (Cepma) were prepared through a simple hydrothermal method. The three compounds were characterized by means of FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, SEM, TEM, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results of structural refinement show that they belong to triclinic symmetry and P space group with cerium (or praseodymium) and lithium cations, forming coordination bonds to oxygen atoms from different pyromellitic acid molecules, and leading to the construction of 3D structures. It is interesting to note that the frameworks exclude any coordination water and lattice water. As an electrode material for lithium-ion batteries, CeLipma exhibits a maximum capacity of 800.5 mAh g⁻¹ and a retention of 91.4 % after 50 cycles at a current density of 100 mA g⁻¹. The favorable electrochemical properties of the lanthanide coordination polymers show potential application prospects in the field of electrode materials.     

One Way Traffic: Base-to-Backbone Hole Transfer in Nucleoside Phosphorodithioate

The directionality of the hole-transfer processes between DNA backbone and base was investigated by using phosphorodithioate [P(S⁻)=S] components. ESR spectroscopy in homogeneous frozen aqueous solutions and pulse radiolysis in aqueous solution at ambient temperature confirmed initial formation of G^.+-P(S⁻)=S. The ionization potential of G-P(S⁻)=S was calculated to be slightly lower than that of guanine in 5′-dGMP. Subsequent thermally activated hole transfer from G^.+ to P(S⁻)=S led to dithiyl radical (P-2S^.) formation on the μs timescale. In parallel, ESR spectroscopy, pulse radiolysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed P-2S^. formation in an abasic phosphorodithioate model compound. ESR investigations at low temperatures and higher G-P(S⁻)=S concentrations showed a bimolecular conversion of P-2S^. to the σ²-σ*¹-bonded dimer anion radical [-P-2S 2S-P-]⁻ [ΔG (150 K, DFT)=−7.2 kcal mol⁻¹]. However, [-P-2S 2S-P-]⁻ formation was not observed by pulse radiolysis [ΔG° (298 K, DFT)=−1.4 kcal mol⁻¹]. Neither P-2S^. nor [-P-2S 2S-P-]⁻ oxidized guanine base; only base-to-backbone hole transfer occurs in phosphorodithioate.     

A Bis-Chelating / Ligand for the Synthesis of Heterobimetallic Platinum(II)/Rhenium(I) Complexes: Tools for the Optimization of a New Class of Platinum(II) Anticancer Agents

The two independent and coordination sites of a newly synthesized bis[2-(hydroxyphenyl)-1,2,4-triazole] platform have been exploited to prepare four monometallic neutral ()Pt^II complexes carrying DMSO, pyridine, triphenylphosphine, or N-heterocyclic carbene as the fourth ligand. Then, the second coordination site was used to introduce an IR-active rhenium tricarbonyl entity, affording the four corresponding heterobimetallic neutral Pt^II/Re^I complexes, as well as a cationic Pt^II/Re^I derivative. X-ray crystallographic studies showed that distortion of the organic platform occurred to accommodate the coordination geometry of both metal centers. No ligand exchange or transchelation occurred upon incubation of the Pt^II complexes in aqueous environment or in the presence of Fe^III, respectively. The antiproliferative activity of the ligand and complexes was first screened on the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Then, the IC₅₀ values of the most active candidates were determined on a wider panel of human cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, and A2780), as well as on a nontumorigenic cell line (MCF-10A). Low micromolar activities were reached for the complexes carrying a DMSO ligand, making them the first examples of highly active, but hydrolytically stable, Pt^II complexes. Finally, the characteristic mid-IR signature of the {Re(CO)₃} fragment in the Pt/Re heterobimetallic complexes was used to quantify their uptake in breast cancer cells.     

Does Perdeuteration Increase the Polarity of Janus Face Cycloalkanes?

Stimulated by a suggestion of the late Professor Jack D. Dunitz, that perdeuterated Janus face cycloalkanes may be more polar than their unlabelled forms, the deuterated isotopologue of all cis-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexafluorocyclohexane ([²H₆]- 1a ) and all cis-1,2,3,4-tetrafluorocyclopentane ([²H₆]- 3a ) were prepared. Computation at the B3LYP−D3 level indicated that [²H₆]- 1a is not more polar than its protio form 1, however perdeuterated cyclopentane [²H₆]- 3a may indeed be more polar than 3 , although the magnitude is predicted to be small. None-the-less retention time analysis on a reverse phase GC/MS column of an add-mix of 3 and [²H₆]- 3a gave some indication that the per-deuterated isotopologue 3a was detected marginally before the unlabelled compound consistent with increased polarity associated with perdeuteration.     

Temperature-Controlled Mechanochemistry Unlocks the Nickel-Catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura-Type Coupling of Aryl Sulfamates at Different Scales

Several mechanochemically heated processes have been published in recent years. However, precise control over the mechanochemical catalysed coupling reactions remained elusive. A recent report from Leitch, Browne and co-workers demonstrated how a programmable jar heater manifold delivers an efficient methodology for the Suzuki–Miyaura-type cross coupling reaction of aryl sulfamates and aryl boronic acid species. This methodology can be readily upscaled 200-fold using twin-screw extrusion methodologies.     

Innovative Electrochemical Strategies for Hydrogen Production: From Electricity Input to Electricity Output

Renewable H₂ production by water electrolysis has attracted much attention due to its numerous advantages. However, the energy consumption of conventional water electrolysis is high and mainly driven by the kinetically inert anodic oxygen evolution reaction. An alternative approach is the coupling of different half-cell reactions and the use of redox mediators. In this review, we, therefore, summarize the latest findings on innovative electrochemical strategies for H₂ production. First, we address redox mediators utilized in water splitting, including soluble and insoluble species, and the corresponding cell concepts. Second, we discuss alternative anodic reactions involving organic and inorganic chemical transformations. Then, electrochemical H₂ production at both the cathode and anode, or even H₂ production together with electricity generation, is presented. Finally, the remaining challenges and prospects for the future development of this research field are highlighted.     

Design and Development of a Non-Enzymatic Electrochemical Biosensor for the Detection of Glutathione

Glutathione (GSH-reduced form) is a tripeptide that plays a vital role as an antioxidant to remove xenobiotics in the human body and changes in GSH levels are a marker for the progression of various diseases. In this context, a highly sensitive non-enzymatic electrochemical biosensor for the detection of GSH has been developed using reduced graphene oxide Manganese oxide (rGMnO) nanocomposite as the nano-interface. Initially, graphene oxide was synthesized by Hummer's method and then thermally reduced in the presence of MnO₂ in a blast furnace to obtain rGMnO nanocomposite. The nanocomposite was characterized to validate its structure and morphological properties via Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Cyclic voltammetry and amperometry studies showed that upon the addition of GSH, the Pt/rGMnO modified working electrode exhibited a linear response in the range of 1–100 μM at an input voltage of −0.62 V. The developed sensor was found to have a sensitivity of 0.3256 μA μM⁻¹ and LOD of 970 nM with a recovery of 92–104 % in real blood serum samples.     

SMART: A data reporting standard for mass spectrometry imaging By Ying Xi,Alexandria L. Sohn,Alena N. Joignant,Stephanie M. Cologna,Boone M. Prentice and David C. Muddiman

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is an important analytical technique that simultaneously reports the spatial location and abundance of detected ions in biological, chemical, clinical, and pharmaceutical studies. As MSI grows in popularity, it has become evident that data reporting varies among different research groups and between techniques. The lack of consistency in data reporting inherently creates additional challenges in comparing intra- and inter-laboratory MSI data. In this tutorial, we propose a unified data reporting system, SMART, based on the common features shared between techniques. While there are limitations to any reporting system, SMART was decided upon after significant discussion to more easily understand and benchmark MSI data. SMART is not intended to be comprehensive but rather capture essential baseline information for a given MSI study; this could be within a study (e.g., effect of spot size on the measured ion signals) or between two studies (e.g., different MSI platform technologies applied to the same tissue type). This tutorial does not attempt to address the confidence with which annotations are made nor does it deny the importance of other parameters that are not included in the current SMART format. Ultimately, the goal of this tutorial is to discuss the necessity of establishing a uniform reporting system to communicate MSI data in publications and presentations in a simple format to readily interpret the parameters and baseline outcomes of the data.     

Steric,Electronic and Conformational Synergistic Effects in the Gold(I)-catalyzed α-C−H Bond Functionalization of Tertiary Amines**

Direct C−H bond functionalization is a useful strategy for the straightforward formation of C−C and C−Heteroatom bonds. In the present work, a unique approach for the challenging electrophilic Au-catalyzed α-C−H bond functionalization of tertiary amines is presented. Electronic, steric and conformational synergistic effects exerted by the use of a malonate unit in the substrate were key to the success of this transformation. This new reactivity was applied to the synthesis of tetrahydro-γ-carboline products which, under oxidative conditions, could be converted into valuable structural motifs found in bioactive alkaloid natural products.