Preparation and application of functionalized nanoparticles of CdS as a fluorescence probe

CdS nanoparticles have been prepared and modified with mercaptoacetic acid. The functionalized nanoparticles are water-soluble and biocompatible. They could be used as a fluorescence probe in the determination of bovine serum albumin (BSA), which was proved to be a simple, rapid and specific method. In comparison with single organic fluorophores, these nanoparticle probes are brighter, more stable against photobleaching, and do not suffer from blinking. Under the optimum conditions, the response is linearly proportional to the concentration of BSA between 0.1 and 3.2 μg ml⁻¹, and the limit of detection is 0.08 μg ml⁻¹.     

A ruthenium-catalyzed reaction of aromatic ketones with arylboronates: a new method for the arylation of aromatic compounds via C-H bond cleavage

The ruthenium-catalyzed reaction of aromatic ketones with arylboronic acid esters (arylboronates) gave the ortho arylation product. For this coupling reaction, a RuH2(CO)(PPh3)3 complex exhibited the highest catalytic activity among the complexes screened. Several aromatic ketones, for example, acetophenones, acetonaphthone, alpha-tetralone, and benzosuberone, can be used in this coupling reaction. A variety of arylboronates containing electron-donating (OMe and NMe2) and -withdrawing (F and CF3) groups were found to react with aromatic ketones to give the corresponding aylation products. The corresponding arylboronic acids could be used in this coupling reaction, but the yields were slightly lower, as compared to those of the reaction using the corresponding arylboronates.     

Bicyclic imidazolium-based ionic liquids: synthesis and characterization

We previously reported the use of imidazole as starting compound for preparing a bicyclic imidazolium ionic liquid, [b-3C-im][NTf₂], with an overall 29% isolated yield in four synthetic steps. This new room temperature ionic liquid was shown to be far more chemically stable than commonly used [bmim][PF₆], [bdmim][PF₆], and [bdmim][NTf₂]. Because of this intriguing chemical stability, it prompted us to develop a more generalized and high yielding synthesis so that molecular diversity of bicyclic ionic liquids may be explored. In this work, we amended the previous synthetic route by employing 4-chlorobutyronitrile or 5-chlorovaleronitrile as starting materials and successfully developed a five-step synthesis of a series of novel bicyclic imidazolium-based ionic liquids in 40-53% overall isolated yields. We investigated intrinsic reactivity of all bicyclic ionic liquids prepared and found that, under strongly basic conditions, among all tested ionic liquids the 5,5-membered [R-3C-im][NTf₂] ionic liquids were most stable to solvent deuterium isotope exchange while the previously reported [bdmim][NTf₂] ionic liquid was 50% deuterium exchanged at its C-2 methyl in 30 min at ambient temperature. Under identical condition, the commonly used [bmim][NTf₂] ionic liquid was deuterium exchanged instantaneously at its C-2 hydrogen. In the absence of bases, only [bmim][PF₆] was deuterium exchanged (50% within 1 h) and all other ionic liquids gave no detectable exchanges even after 25 days at ambient temperature. Moreover, both [bmim][NTf₂] and [bdmim][NTf₂] ionic liquids were readily methylated at C-2 position with methyl iodide under basic condition at room temperature. Under the same condition, [R-3C-im][NTf₂] and [R-4C-im][NTf₂] ionic liquids were completely stable and chemically inert. We envisioned that [R-3C-im][NTf₂] should be well suited as solvents for organic synthesis.     

Preparation of multihollow P(St-MAA) particles by sequence soap-free/soap emulsion polymerization and followed by stepwise alkali/acid posttreatment

The effects of ionic emulsifier, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfate (SDBS), on the formation of the multihollow structures in sub-micron sized polymer particles produced by alkali/acid posttreatment were investigated. The original latex particles with narrow size distribution were synthesized by a new sequence emulsifier-free/emulsifier emulsion copolymerization of styrene (St) and methacrylic acid (MAA). Results indicated that the pore size decreased and the pore number increased with the increase of SDBS amount, and the morphology of the posttreated latex particles was also significantly influenced by the introducing time of SDBS in the preparation of the original latex particles, and a suitable introducing time was 3 h of polymerization.     

A theoretical study of five nitrates: Electronic structure and bond dissociation energies

Three density-functional methods (B3P86, B3PW91, and B3LYP) are employed to investigate the O–NO₂ bond lengths, frontier orbital energies, and O–NO₂ bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of n-propyl nitrate (NPN), isopropyl nitrate (IPN), 2-ethylhexyl nitrate (EHN), triethylene glycol dinitrate (Tri-EGDN), and tetraethylene glycol dinitrate (Tetra-EGDN). It is found that the O–NO₂ bond lengthens (destabilizes) in the order of IPN, NPN, EHN, Tetra-EGDN, and Tri-EGDN. From the data of frontier orbital energies (E_HOMO, E_LUMO), and energy gaps (ΔE), we estimate the relative thermal stability ordering of five nitrates and their corresponding radicals. The predicted BDEs of O–NO₂ bond in NPN, IPN, EHN, Tri-EGDN, and Tetra-EGDN, are 176.6, 174.5, 168.1, 156.1, and 159.3 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. Based on the finding that the present results of BDEs are well coincident with the experimental results of apparent activation energies from the literature, we can draw a conclusion that the experimental thermolysis of five nitrates is only unimolecular homolytical cleavage of the O–NO₂ bonds.     

Identification and quantification of 13 components in Angelica sinensis (Danggui) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with pressurized liquid extraction

Angelica sinensis (Danggui in Chinese), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, is also used as a health food product for women's care in Europe and America. Therefore, the demand for Danggui is enormous throughout the world. Due to the shortage of Angelica sinensis, Angelica acutiloba and Angelica gigas are commonly used as the substitutes of Danggui in the market of southeast Asia. However, the three common Angelica roots showed variation in their genetic and chemical composition. Up to date, it is thought that ferulic acid, ligustilide and other phthalides such as butylidenephthalide are the biologically active components of Danggui. In this paper, the contents of 13 compounds including ferulic acid, Z-ligustilide, E-ligustilide, Z-butylidenephthalide, E-butylidenephthalide, 3-butylphthalide, 3-butylidene-4-hydroxyphthalide, senkyunolide A, 6,7-epoxyligustilide, senkyunolide F, senkyunolide H, senkyunolide I, and 6,7-dihydroxyligustilide were determined or estimated by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled with pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). The results showed that GC-MS coupled with PLE offered a simple, rapid and high sensitive method to analysis of components in Angelica root. And the contents of investigated compounds in Angelica sinensis, Angelica acutiloba and Angelica gigas, which are used as Danggui in China, Japan and Korea, respectively, were highly variant. It is thought that interaction of multiple chemical compounds contributes to the therapeutic effects of Chinese medicines. However, the overall clinical efficacy of these different Danggui has not been determined. Therefore, comparison of chemical components and pharmacological activities of different Angelica root is helpful to elucidate the mechanism of therapeutic effects of Danggui.     

Development and Validation of a LC Method for the Analysis of Phenolic Acids in Turkish Salvia Species

An accurate, simple, reproducible, and sensitive method for determination of rosmarinic, caffeic, chlorogenic, and gallic acids in 12 Salvia species growing naturally in Anatolia, has been developed and validated. The phenolic acids were separated using a μBondapack C₁₈ column by gradient elution with a flow rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹, which was adjusted to deliver firstly o-phosphoric acid 0.085% in water, 0.085% in methanol, and 0.085% in 2-propanol (80:10:10, v/v/v), then decreased gradually (60:20:20, v/v/v) during 20 min with a flow rate of 1.0 mL min⁻¹. The samples were monitored at 220 nm for gallic acid and 330 nm for rosmarinic, caffeic, and chlorogenic acids using photo-diode array detection. The linear range of detection for gallic, chlorogenic, caffeic, and rosmarinic acids were between 0.051–101.4, 0.207–103.6, 0.100–100, and 0.201–100.5 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. The linearity, range, peak purity, selectivity, system performance parameters, precision, accuracy, and robustness had also acceptable values. The developed method was applied to the flower, leaf, stem, and root parts of the Salvia species.

     

Stereoselective syntheses of highly functionalized bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes: a general methodology for the synthesis of potent and selective mGluR2/3 agonists

[Chemical reaction: See text] A Et3Al mediated intramolecular epoxide opening, cyclopropanation reaction is described. The transformation provided highly functionalized bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane systems in high efficiency and with perfect H or F endo selectivity. Application of this reaction to the synthesis of mGluR2/3 agonist 1 (43% overall yield) and a few intermediates suitable for the synthesis of other bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane mGluR2/3 agonists is discussed.     

DNA sequencing and genotyping in miniaturized electrophoresis systems

Advances in microchannel electrophoretic separation systems for DNA analyses have had important impacts on biological and biomedical sciences, as exemplified by the successes of the Human Genome Project (HGP). As we enter a new era in genomic science, further technological innovations promise to provide other far-reaching benefits, many of which will require continual increases in sequencing and genotyping efficiency and throughput, as well as major decreases in the cost per analysis. Since the high-resolution size- and/or conformation-based electrophoretic separation of DNA is the most critical step in many genetic analyses, continual advances in the development of materials and methods for microchannel electrophoretic separations will be needed to meet the massive demand for high-quality, low-cost genomic data. In particular, the development (and commercialization) of miniaturized genotyping platforms is needed to support and enable the future breakthroughs of biomedical science. In this review, we briefly discuss the major sequencing and genotyping techniques in which high-throughput and high-resolution electrophoretic separations of DNA play a significant role. We review recent advances in the development of technology for capillary electrophoresis (CE), including capillary array electrophoresis (CAE) systems. Most of these CE/CAE innovations are equally applicable to implementation on microfabricated electrophoresis chips. Major effort is devoted to discussing various key elements needed for the development of integrated and practical microfluidic sequencing and genotyping platforms, including chip substrate selection, microchannel design and fabrication, microchannel surface modification, sample preparation, analyte detection, DNA sieving matrices, and device integration. Finally, we identify some of the remaining challenges, and some of the possible routes to further advances in high-throughput DNA sequencing and genotyping technologies.     

Supramolecular phthalocyanine dimers based on the secondary dialkylammonium cation/dibenzo-24-crown-8 recognition motif

[formula: see text] New unsymmetrically substituted DB24C8-phthalocyanines, which are able to form complexes with suitable dialkylammonium cations, have been prepared. These complexes most probably have a pseudorotaxane geometry.