Shaken, not stirred: collapsing a peptoid monolayer to produce free-floating, stable nanosheets

Two-dimensional nanomaterials play a critical role in biology (e.g., lipid bilayers) and electronics (e.g., graphene) but are difficult to directly synthesize with a high level of precision. Peptoid nanosheet bilayers are a versatile synthetic platform for constructing multifunctional, precisely ordered two-dimensional nanostructures. Here we show that nanosheet formation occurs through an unusual monolayer intermediate at the air-water interface. Lateral compression of a self-assembled peptoid monolayer beyond a critical collapse pressure results in the irreversible production of nanosheets. An unusual thermodynamic cycle is employed on a preparative scale, where mechanical energy is used to buckle an intermediate monolayer into a more stable nanosheet. Detailed physical studies of the monolayer-compression mechanism revealed a simple preparative technique to produce nanosheets in 95% overall yield by cyclical monolayer compressions in a rotating closed vial. Compression of monolayers into stable, free-floating products may be a general and preparative approach to access 2D nanomaterials.     

Global air quality and climate

Emissions of air pollutants and their precursors determine regional air quality and can alter climate. Climate change can perturb the long-range transport, chemical processing, and local meteorology that influence air pollution. We review the implications of projected changes in methane (CH(4)), ozone precursors (O(3)), and aerosols for climate (expressed in terms of the radiative forcing metric or changes in global surface temperature) and hemispheric-to-continental scale air quality. Reducing the O(3) precursor CH(4) would slow near-term warming by decreasing both CH(4) and tropospheric O(3). Uncertainty remains as to the net climate forcing from anthropogenic nitrogen oxide (NO(x)) emissions, which increase tropospheric O(3) (warming) but also increase aerosols and decrease CH(4) (both cooling). Anthropogenic emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and non-CH(4) volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) warm by increasing both O(3) and CH(4). Radiative impacts from secondary organic aerosols (SOA) are poorly understood. Black carbon emission controls, by reducing the absorption of sunlight in the atmosphere and on snow and ice, have the potential to slow near-term warming, but uncertainties in coincident emissions of reflective (cooling) aerosols and poorly constrained cloud indirect effects confound robust estimates of net climate impacts. Reducing sulfate and nitrate aerosols would improve air quality and lessen interference with the hydrologic cycle, but lead to warming. A holistic and balanced view is thus needed to assess how air pollution controls influence climate; a first step towards this goal involves estimating net climate impacts from individual emission sectors. Modeling and observational analyses suggest a warming climate degrades air quality (increasing surface O(3) and particulate matter) in many populated regions, including during pollution episodes. Prior Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios (SRES) allowed unconstrained growth, whereas the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios assume uniformly an aggressive reduction, of air pollutant emissions. New estimates from the current generation of chemistry-climate models with RCP emissions thus project improved air quality over the next century relative to those using the IPCC SRES scenarios. These two sets of projections likely bracket possible futures. We find that uncertainty in emission-driven changes in air quality is generally greater than uncertainty in climate-driven changes. Confidence in air quality projections is limited by the reliability of anthropogenic emission trajectories and the uncertainties in regional climate responses, feedbacks with the terrestrial biosphere, and oxidation pathways affecting O(3) and SOA.     

A bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-en-6-one approach to prostaglandin intermediates

[reaction:see text] The substituted cyclopentanic structures, 6-benzyloxymethyl-7-hydroxy-2-oxabicyclo [3.3.0]octan-3-one (1), a Corey lactone derivative, and 6-exo-benzyloxymethyl-2-oxabicyclo[3.3. 0]oct-7-en-3-one (2), have been obtained stereoselectively through the bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-3-en-6-one approach via 5-benzyloxymethyl-3-hydroxy-6-heptenoic acid, easily accessible from the inexpensive monoprotected cis-2-butene-1,4-diol.     

Synthesis and structure of some group VII 1,2-diacyl cyclopentadiene complexes and their pyridazine derivatives

A series of 1,2-diacyl cyclopentadienyl tricarbonyl manganese and rhenium complexes, [M(CO)₃{η⁵-1,2-C₅H₃(CO-(R)₂}] (3a–c and 4a–b), were isolated utilizing a straightforward, 3-step route. The synthetic pathway began with a 1,2-diacyl cyclopentadiene (fulvene), followed by the formation of its corresponding thallium salt and transmetallation with the appropriate pentacarbonyl metal bromide. X-ray crystallographic analysis and high-accuracy mass spectrometry confirmed the structures of the both the 4-methoxyphenyl and 4-chlorophenyl diacyl rhenium complexes, [Re(CO)₃{η⁵-1,2-C₅H₃(CO-(4-OCH₃)C₆H₄)₂}] (4a) and [Re(CO)₃{η⁵-1,2-C₅H₃(CO-(4-Cl)C₆H₄)₂}] (4b). Diacyl complexes 3a–c and 4a–b were then ring-closed with hydrazine hydrate to form their corresponding pyridazine complexes, [M(CO)₃{η⁵-1,2-C₅H₃(1,4-(R)₂N₂C₂}] (5a–c and 6a–b), in good yields (60–83%). The pyridazyl ligands were found to be relatively labile, and recrystallization of the target complexes 5a–c and 6a–b afforded only the free pyridazine ligands.     

New one-pot procedure for the synthesis of diprotected amino alcohols from unprotected vinyl aziridines

An unprecedented one-pot reaction that allows the synthesis of diprotected amino alcohols from unprotected vinyl aziridines is reported. The results demonstrate the possibility to use various acyl chlorides in order to obtain differently functionalised fragments. Mechanistic insights are given.     

The racemate cage. Influence of p(1),n(1) salt occurrence on enantiomer separation processes. The case of trans-chrysanthemic acid

The occurrence of p(1),n(1) salt when accompanied by substrate self-association can have profound effects on enantiomer separation processes of non-racemic mixtures, impeding the complete recovery of the major enantiomer through formation of an inescapable racemate cage.     

Deracemization and Transacetalization of Aldehydes with Enantiomers of Betti's Base Derivatives

Improved procedure for the deracemization of α-methyl dihydrocinnamic aldehydes (2-methyl-3-phenylpropanals) with L-(+)-tartaric acid salt of (S)-enantiomer of Betti's base, is presented. The method enabled the transacetalization of N,O-ketal (R)-enantiomer of Betti's base with various aldehydes.     

LC-HR/MS Analysis of Lipophilic Extracts from Calendula arvensis (Vaill.) L. Organs: An Unexplored Source in Cosmeceuticals

As part of a project aimed at promoting the use of Calendula arvensis (Vaill.) L. (field marigold, Asteraceae) phytocomplexes in cosmeceutical formulations, the chemical composition in apolar specialized metabolites is herein elucidated. Furthermore, the screening of the cytotoxicity of the apolar extracts was evaluated in order to underline their safety as functional ingredients for cosmetics. After dissection of Calendula organs (florets, fruits, leaves, bracts, stems, and roots), ultrasound-assisted maceration in n-hexane as an extracting solvent allowed us to obtain oil-like mixtures, whose chemical composition has been highlighted through a UHPLC-ESI-QqTOF-MS/MS approach. Twenty-nine metabolites were tentatively identified; different compounds, among which the well-known poly-unsaturated fatty acids, and oxylipins and phosphatides were detected for the first time in Calendula genus. The screening of the dose-response cytotoxicity of the apolar extracts of C. arvensis highlighted the concentration of 10 μg/mL as the most suitable for the formulation of cosmeceutical preparations. Sera enriched with leaf and fruit apolar extracts turned out to have the best activity, suggesting it can be used as a new source in skin care thanks to their higher content in fatty acids.     

On the assessment of CIGS surface passivation by photoluminescence

An optimized test structure to study rear surface passivation in Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGS) solar cells by means of photoluminescence (PL) is developed and tested. The structure – illustrated in the abstract figure – is examined from the rear side. To enable such rear PL assessment, a semi‐transparent ultra‐thin Mo layer has been developed and integrated in place of the normal rear contact. The main advantages of this approach are (i) a simplified representation of a rear surface passivated CIGS solar cell is possible, (ii) it is possible to assess PL responses originating close to the probed rear surface, and (iii) a stable PL response as a function of air exposure time is obtained. In this work, PL measurements of such structures with and without rear surface passivation layers have been compared, and the measured improvement in PL intensity for the passivated structures is associated with enhanced CIGS rear interface properties.