Copper-mediated controlled/"living" radical polymerization in polar solvents: insights into some relevant mechanistic aspects

The field of transition-metal-mediated controlled/"living" radical polymerization (CLRP) has become the subject of intense discussion regarding the mechanism of this widely-used and versatile process. Most mechanistic analyses (atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) vs. single-electron transfer living radical polymerization (SET-LRP)) have been based on model experiments, which cannot correctly mimic the true reaction conditions. We present, for the first time, a determination of the [Cu(I)Br]/[L] (L=nitrogen-based chelating ligand) ratio and the extent of Cu(I)Br/L disproportionation during CLRP of methyl acrylate (MA) in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) with Cu(0) wire as a transition-metal catalyst source. The results suggest that Cu(0) acts as a supplemental activator and reducing agent of Cu(II)Br(2)/L to Cu(I)Br/L. More importantly, the Cu(I)Br/L species seem to be responsible for the activation of SET-LRP.     

Nanocrystalline RE2O3:Tm3+ (RE: Gd3+, Y3+) Blue Phosphors Synthesized via the Combustion Method

This work reports on the preparation of a luminescent blue-emitting rare earth (RE) Tm-doped oxide phosphor. Nanocrystalline RE2O3:Tm3+ particles were prepared via the combustion method using citric acid, glycine, or urea as fuels. Samples were doped with different percentages of the activator Tm3+. The post-annealing treatment was performed in air for all the samples, at temperatures ranging from 800 to 1100 degrees C, for 4 h. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and scanning electron and transmission microscopies (SEM and TEM) in order to determine the best synthetic procedure. The post-annealed powders showed blue emission with maximum at 452 nm characteristics for Tm3+ transition 1D2 --> 3H4 (under UV excitation at 360 nm). Samples, presented a tri-dimensional porous structure (50-200 nm) formed of spheroid particles with a diameter between 20 and 60 nm. The best luminescent material was obtained when urea was used to prepare nanoparticles of Gd2O3 doped with 0.5% Tm3+, and 1100 degrees C was used as the post-annealing temperature.     

Support vector machines for predictive modeling in heterogeneous catalysis: a comprehensive introduction and overfitting investigation based on two real applications

This works provides an introduction to support vector machines (SVMs) for predictive modeling in heterogeneous catalysis, describing step by step the methodology with a highlighting of the points which make such technique an attractive approach. We first investigate linear SVMs, working in detail through a simple example based on experimental data derived from a study aiming at optimizing olefin epoxidation catalysts applying high-throughput experimentation. This case study has been chosen to underline SVM features in a visual manner because of the few catalytic variables investigated. It is shown how SVMs transform original data into another representation space of higher dimensionality. The concepts of Vapnik-Chervonenkis dimension and structural risk minimization are introduced. The SVM methodology is evaluated with a second catalytic application, that is, light paraffin isomerization. Finally, we discuss why SVMs is a strategic method, as compared to other machine learning techniques, such as neural networks or induction trees, and why emphasis is put on the problem of overfitting.     

In Vitro Photodynamic Activity of 5,15-bis(3-Hydroxyphenyl)porphyrin and Its Halogenated Derivatives Against Cancer Cells

5,15-Diarylporphyrins ( 1-5 ) with hydroxyl groups and halogens as substituents were prepared by condensation between unsubstituted dipyrromethane and halogenated m -hydroxybenzaldehydes. Photophysical properties show that the nonhalogenated porphyrin 1 has higher fluorescence yield but lower singlet oxygen formation quantum yield than the halogenated derivatives due to the heavy atom effect. The in vitro activity of these derivatives was tested against WiDr colorectal adenocarcinoma and A375 melanoma cancer cells. All porphyrins present a much higher phototoxicity than Photofrin^® with IC ₅₀ values lower than the 50 n m level for WiDr cells and 25 n m level for A375 cancer cells. The most photoactive compound is the nonhalogenated porphyrin 1 which also presents the highest uptake. Halogenated derivatives present much lower uptakes than 1 . However, their photoactivity is similar to compound 1 showing that their intrinsic photoactivity (ISP) is very high. Iodinated compound 4 presents the highest ISP. The greater ability of these porphyrins to destroy cancer cells could be related to their photophysical and photochemical properties.     

On the correlation between droplet volume and irradiation conditions in the laser forward transfer of liquids

The analysis of the morphology of droplets printed through laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) of liquid films shows that: (i)?the droplet volume is linearly related with the energy of the laser pulse that originated it, (ii)?the liquid ejection process is activated by an energy density threshold?F ₀, and (iii)?the droplet volume can be correlated with a dimensional parameter of the laser beam through an oversimple model that states that the amount of printed liquid equals the liquid contained in the cylindrical portion of an irradiated film whose base corresponds to the cross-sectional area of the beam with energy density higher than?F ₀. Although these issues seem to describe correctly the LIFT process, some problematic instances arise from them. Thus, the linear relation between droplet volume and laser pulse energy seems to be inconsistent with the existence of the threshold?F ₀. On the other hand, the compatibility between the model and the aforementioned linear relation requires to be explained. Finally, the model is based on the idea that transfer takes place in a way analogous to the LIFT of solid films, but time-resolved imaging studies have demonstrated that liquid ejection follows a dynamics which seems quite unsuited with that idea. In this work previous results are re-analyzed and new experiments are performed in an attempt to clarify these questions. It is then shown that the inconsistencies pointed out are only apparent, and that the validity of the model is limited to irradiation conditions where the beam dimensions are significantly larger than the thickness of the liquid film. Furthermore, an explanation is provided for the dependence of the success and failure of the model on those irradiation conditions in terms of the diverse liquid ejection dynamics taking place.     

Controlled Decoration of [60]Fullerene with Polymannan Analogues and Amino Acid Derivatives through Malondiamide-Based Linkers

In the last few years, nanomaterials based on fullerene have begun to be considered promising tools in the development of efficient adjuvant/delivery systems for vaccination, thanks to their several advantages such as biocompatibility, size, and easy preparation and modification. In this work we reported the chemoenzymatic synthesis of natural polymannan analogues (di- and tri-mannan oligosaccharides characterized by α1,6man and/or α1,2man motifs) endowed with an anomeric propargyl group. These sugar derivatives were submitted to 1,3 Huisgen dipolar cycloaddition with a malondiamide-based chain equipped with two azido terminal groups. The obtained sugar-modified malondiamide derivatives were used to functionalize the surface of Buckminster fullerene (C₆₀) in a highly controlled fashion, and yields (11–41%) higher than those so far reported by employing analogue linkers. The same strategy has been exploited to obtain C₆₀ endowed with natural and unnatural amino acid derivatives. Finally, the first double functionalization of fullerene with both sugar- and amino acid-modified malondiamide chains was successfully performed, paving the way to the possible derivatization of fullerenes with immunogenic sugars and more complex antigenic peptides.     

Synthesis of Functionalized Proline-Derived Azabicycloalkane Amino Acids and Their Applications in Drug Discovery: Recent Advances

After the first synthesis reported in 1994, azabicycloalkane amino acids have raised increasing interest, becoming one of the most important classes of constrained dipeptide mimics. Their incorporation into peptidomimetic structures allowed the obtainment of a wide range of biologically active compounds. Over the years, different research groups have worked at the development of synthetic strategies to gain these rigid dipeptide surrogates, nevertheless, methods affording functionalized and “easy-to-functionalize” derivatives are quite less described. The presence of a derivatizable azabicycloalkanone core could allow the introduction of chemical modifications aimed to improve the pharmaceutical properties of a biologically active compound without the need for redesigning its chemical synthesis. This account has collected and critically surveyed relevant approaches to the synthesis of functionalized azabicycloalkane amino acids, focusing the attention on the period of 2010 to the present. Moreover, recent applications of these compounds in drug discovery will be discussed.     

Pushing Up the Size Limit of Boron-doped peri-Acenes: Modular Synthesis and Characterizations

Heteroatom-doped peri-acenes (PAs) have recently attracted considerable attention considering their fascinating physical properties and chemical stability. However, the precise sole addition of boron atoms along the zigzag edges of PAs remains challenging, primarily due to the limited synthetic approach. Herein, we present a novel one-pot modular synthetic strategy toward unprecedented boron-doped PAs (B-PAs), including B-[4,2]PA ( 1 a-2 ), B-[4,3]PA ( 1 b-2 ) and B-[7,2]PA ( 1 c-3 ) derivatives, through efficient intramolecular electrophilic borylation. Their chemical structures are unequivocally confirmed with a combination of mass spectrometry, NMR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Notably, 1 b-2 exhibits an almost planar geometry, whereas 1 a-2 displays a distinctive bowl-like distortion. Furthermore, the optoelectronic properties of this series of B-PAs are thoroughly investigated by UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy combined with DFT calculation. Compared with their parent all-carbon analogs, the obtained B-PAs exhibit high stability, wide energy gaps, and high photoluminescence quantum yields of up to 84 %. This study reveals the exceptional ability of boron doping to finely tune the physicochemical properties of PAs, showcasing their potential applications in optoelectronics.