Synthesis and Characterization of Chromium Hexacyanoferrate/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Composite and Its Biosensing for L‐Cysteine

This work describes the electrochemical properties of glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) modified with chromium(III) hexacyanoferrate(II) (Crhf) nanoparticles attached multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNTs). The morphological characterization of Crhf/MWNTs nanocomposites was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV‐vis spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT‐IR). The electrocatalytic activity of these nanocomposites was investigated and showed a good electrocatalytic effect for oxidation of L ‐cysteine (L ‐Cys) in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 3.0). Under optimum conditions linear calibration graphs were obtained over the L ‐Cys concentration range 5.0×10^?7 to 6.0×10^?5 M with a correlation coefficient of 0.9998 and a detection limit (signal‐to‐noise ratio was 3) of 1.0×10^?8 M. The proposed method is simple and it also showed excellent sensitivity and stability. The excellent electrocatalytic ability of the modified electrode towards L ‐Cys manifests that the Crhf/MWNTs can provide a new platform for biosensors and other biology.     

Electroluminescent block copolymers containing oxadiazole and thiophene via ATRP

Block copolymers containing thiophene units in one block and oxadiazole (OXD) units in the other were prepared. Atom transfer radical polymerization method was used to obtain the thiophene‐containing mesogen‐jacketed polymers, and the kinetic study indicated that the polymerization was controllable and the polymers could be used to initiate the polymerization of the OXD‐containing monomers. Photoluminescent spectra indicated that the fluorescence quantum yields of the polymers increased with increasing content of OXD. And, more OXD domains, that is, more interfaces between the hole‐transport parts and electron‐transport parts, resulting in the higher probability of exciplex formation. The electroluminescent devices containing the block copolymer with 64 mol % OXD as the emissive layer had a maximum brightness of 127 cd/m² and an extremely low onset voltage of 7.7 V, which indicated that the injection and transport of charge carriers were facilitated and the number of charge carriers was sufficiently high in early time after the voltage was turned on. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Four New Terpenoids from Xylaria sp. 101

One new diterpenoid, xylarenolide ( 1 ), and three new sesquiterpenoids, xylaranol A ( 2 ), xylaranol B ( 3 ), and xylaranic acid ( 4 ), were obtained from the fungal strain Xylaria sp. 101, which was isolated from the fruiting body of Xylaria sp. collected in Gaoligong Mountain, Yunnan Province. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR experiments, and by HR‐Q‐TOF mass spectrometry. Their antimicrobial activities were evaluated.     

Synthesis of water-tolerant indium homoenolate in aqueous media and its application in the synthesis of 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds via palladium-catalyzed coupling with acid chloride

The first water-tolerant, ketone-type indium homoenolate was synthesized via the oxidative addition of In/InCl(3) to enones. The reaction proceeds exclusively in aqueous media. Both indium and indium(III) chloride are necessary for the smooth conversion of the reaction. Similar results were obtained when InCl or InCl(2) was used in place of In/InCl(3). The synthetic utility of the indium homoenolate was demonstrated through the synthesis of 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds via palladium-catalyzed coupling of indium homoenolate with acid chloride.     

Atomic imaging of the monolayer nucleation and unpinning of a compound semiconductor surface during atomic layer deposition

The reaction of trimethyl aluminum on the group III rich reconstructions of InAs(0 0 1) and In(0.53)Ga(0.47)As(0?0?1) is observed with scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy. At high coverage, a self-terminated ordered overlayer is observed that provides the monolayer nucleation density required for subnanometer thick transistor gate oxide scaling and removes the surface Fermi level pinning that is present on the clean InGaAs surface. Density functional theory simulations confirm that an adsorbate-induced reconstruction is the basis of the monolayer nucleation density and passivation.     

Xylocarpanoids A and B, unique C28 skeleton limonoids from Xylocarpus granatum

One novel tetranortriterpenoid derivative, xylocarponoid A, representing the first example of C28 skeleton limonoid, was isolated from the seeds of the Chinese mangrove, Xylocarpus granatum. Its C-1′-epimer, xylocarponoid B, was formed in CDCl₃. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of xylocarponoid A was proposed.     

A unique approach to the concise synthesis of highly optically active spirooxazolines and the discovery of a more potent oxindole-type phytoalexin analogue

Drug-lead synthesis through rapid construction of chiral molecular complexity around the biologically relevant framework using a highly efficient strategy is a key goal of organic synthesis. Molecules bearing a spirooxindole-type framework exhibit important bioactivities. Herein, we present a highly efficient and convenient strategy that allows rapid construction of unique optically active spiro[oxazoline-3,3'-oxindole]s through the organocatalyzed asymmetric synthesis of spirocyclic thiocarbamates via an aldol reaction. Preliminary biological evaluation of several of the spirooxazolines using a model of acute neuroinflammation revealed promising antipyretic activity and provided an opportunity to discover new antipyretic agents.     

Molecular designing of organic conductor based upon the model of polypyrrole

The electronic structure and properties of polypyrrole (p-Pyr) based substituting by the group of pyrazine (Pyz) and their model compounds were studied by the density functional theory (DFT) at the B3LYP level with 6-31G* basis set. The bond length, the topological analyses and nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS) were analyzed and correlated with the electronic properties. The bond length of all compounds is reduced with the increase in the degree of polymerization, and the band gap of these compounds is decreased. The change of NICS shows that the conjugation degree in central section of the polymeric axis is stronger than that in outer section, and the structure of central part was close to quinoid structure in polymers. The theoretical results suggest that the band gap of p-Pyz (polymer of Pyz) (0.37 eV) is much smaller than the band gap of polypyrrole (1.84 eV). The narrow band gap, large HOMO and LUMO bandwidths and small effective masses make p-Pyz have a remarkable elevation of the conductivity, so it may be considered as a very good candidate for conducting material.     

Hydrazine as a Nucleophile and Antioxidant for Fast Aminolysis of RAFT Polymers in Air

The bifunctional role of hydrazine as a potent nucleophile and antioxidant was investigated for the rapid aminolysis of RAFT polymers within minutes in air with effective suppression of the formation of disulfides. Using both dithioesters and trithiocarbonates as model compounds, we showed that hydrazine exhibited a significantly improved aminolysis rate when compared with a commonly used primary alkyl amine. On the basis of the exellent results with CTAs, we further studied the aminolysis of RAFT polymers prepared with either dithioesters or trithiocarbonates. In accord with the aminolysis results on CTAs, hydrazine aminolyzed RAFT polymers in an impressively short time and, more importantly, it significantly suppressed the formation of disulfides as comfirmed with GPC.