Double-strand DNA cleavage by copper complexes of 2,2'-dipyridyl with electropositive pendants

Two highly charged cationic copper(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized structurally and spectroscopically: [Cu(L1)2(Br)](ClO4)5 (1) and [Cu(L2)2(Br)](ClO4)5 (2) (L1= 5,5'-di(1-(triethylammonio)methyl)-2,2'-dipyridyl cation and L2= 5,5'-di(1-(tributylammonio)methyl)-2,2'-dipyridyl cation bidentate ligands). X-Ray structures show that Cu(II) ions in both complexes have a trigonal-bipyramidal CuN4Br-configuration. Two nitrogen atoms of the electropositive pendants and coordinated bromine atom basically array in a straight line. Their close distances of N[dot dot dot]Br atoms are 5.772 and 5.594 A, respectively, which is comparable to that of adjacent phosphodiesters in B-form DNA (ca. 6 A). In the absence of reducing agent, supercoiled plasmid DNA cleavage by the complexes has been performed and their hydrolytic mechanisms have been investigated. The pseudo-Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters (kcat), 4.15 h(-1) for 1, 0.43 h(-1) for 2 and 0.61 h(-1) for [Cu(bipy)(NO3)2], were obtained. This result indicates that 1 exhibits markedly higher nuclease activity than its corresponding analogues. The high ability of DNA cleavage for 1 is attributed to the effective cooperation of the metal moiety and two positive pendants since the array of linear tri-binding sites matches with one of three phosphodiester backbones of nucleic acid.     

On the origin of the unique properties of supported Au nanoparticles

The unique catalytic activity of supported Au nanoparticles has been ascribed to various effects including thickness/shape, the metal oxidation state, and support effects. Previously, we reported the synthesis of ordered Au monolayers and bilayers on TiO(x), with the latter being significantly more active for CO oxidation than the former. In the present study, the electronic and chemical properties of ordered monolayer and bilayer Au films have been characterized by infrared reflection adsorption spectroscopy using CO as a probe and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy. The Au overlayers are found to be electron-rich and to have significantly different electronic properties compared with bulk Au. The common structural features of ordered Au bilayers and Au bilayer nanoparticles on TiO2(110) are described, and the exceptionally high catalytic activity of the Au bilayer structure related to its unique electronic properties.     

以新型模板方法合成中孔SiO_2分子筛(英文)

以廉价、生物可降解的两性表面活性剂十四烷基甜菜碱作为模板剂,以正硅酸乙酯为硅源,在酸性条件下成功地合成了具有螺旋状孔道结构的 SiO_2中孔分子筛 .热重表征结果说明,采用溶剂萃取（乙醇的水溶液为萃取剂）的方法,近乎 100％的模板剂可以脱除回收 .     

Promotion Effects of Nickel Catalysts of Dry Reforming with Methane

The promotion effects of nickel catalyst of dry reforming with methane were extensively investigated by means of XRD, SEM, EDX, N₂‐adsorption and H₂‐adsorption. XRD characterization indicated that good dispersion of nickel oxide and MgO promoter is achieved over γ‐Al₂O₃ support. Addition of MgO promoter effectively retards the formation of NiAl₂O₄ phase. SEM and EDX analysis exhibited that the addition of rare‐earth metal oxide CeO₂ effectively promotes the Ni metal dispersion on the surface of the catalysts despite of undesirable self‐dispersion of CeO₂ promoter. Furthermore, the nickel component is gradually dispersed on the surface of the support following the exposure to reaction gas mixture for a period of time. The addition of MgO inhibited the self‐dispersion and promotion effect of CeO₂ on Ni dispersion on the catalysts. H₂ chemisorption revealed that the addition of the alkaline oxide MgO promoter significantly prohibits the metal dispersion on the catalyst. Inappropriate promoter addition can result in sharp decrease of the metal dispersion, N₂‐adsorption indicated that oxide promoter was mostly concentrated on the outer layer of the alumina support while the nickel metal was generally dispersed in the support pores. Addition of promoters contributed to more reduction in mesopore volume.     

Thermophysical Properties of High-Temperature Reacting Mixtures of Carbon and Water in the Range 400–30,000 K and 0.1–10 atm. Part 1: Equilibrium Composition and Thermodynamic Properties

This paper is devoted to the calculation of the chemical equilibrium composition and thermodynamic properties of reacting mixtures of carbon and water at high temperature. Equilibrium particle concentrations and thermodynamic properties including mass density, molar weight, entropy, enthalpy and specific heat at constant pressure, sonic velocity, and heat capacity ratio are determined by the method of Gibbs free energy minimization, using species data from standard thermodynamic tables. The calculations, which assume local thermodynamic equilibrium, are performed in the temperature range from 400 to 30,000 K for pressures of 0.10, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 10.0 atm. The properties of the reacting mixture are affected by the possible occurrence of solid carbon formation at low temperature, and therefore attention is paid to the influence of the carbon phase transition by comparing the results obtained with and without considering solid carbon formation. The results presented here clarify some basic chemical process and are reliable reference data for use in the simulation of plasmas in reacting carbon and water mixtures together with the need of transport coefficients computation.     

Silver(I) mediated folding of a molecular basket

We have investigated Ag(I) mediated folding of a tridentate compound, containing three pyridine flaps tethered to a semirigid scaffold, into a molecular basket, using both experimental and theoretical methods. The basket formation has been shown to be highly favorable in organic media (Delta G degrees = -7.2 kcal/mol), with the assembly process allowing for another ligand to bind preferentially on the outer side.     

Microheterogeneous structure of 1-octanol in neat and water-saturated state

The conformational and dynamic properties of 1-octanol in neat and in water-saturated states have been investigated by 1H NMR. It has been proved that neat 1-octanol is microheterogeneous in nature comprising regions enriched in either hydrocarbons or hydroxyl groups. A reversed micelle-like cluster model was proposed, where the octanol cluster has an inner polar core of hydrogen-bonded octanol hydroxyls and an outer shell of nonpolar alkyl chains radiating outside. It was also observed that the cluster structure of octanol experiences minor changes with the presence of water. In water-saturated octanol, water molecules associate via hydrogen bonding and reside in the innermost center of the polar region with restricted motion, whereas the octanol cluster structure is modified by loosening the compact structure. Moreover, the preferential solvations of both systems were tested and compared. It not only gives some clues about the microheterogeneity of the alcohol system and the structure of the cluster but also helps in advancing our understanding on the behavior and properties of the amphiphilic molecules system such as phospholipids.     

Polymer nano- and microspheres with bumpy and chain-segregated surfaces

Reported is a novel and simple method for the preparation of polymer spheres bearing hemispherical surface bumps where one type of polymer chains concentrates. The method is used to produce spheres with a diameter between approximately 30 and approximately 500 nm. Spheres with chain-segregated bumpy surfaces may find applications in drug delivery and other areas.     

氧气分子参与的乙烯基单体自由基聚合

尽管被公认在自由基聚合中往往起着缓聚、阻聚或链转移的作用,越来越多的结果表明,在某些情况下,如高温、高压,或当某些催化剂存在时,氧气分子(O2)可以参与甚至加速乙烯基单体的自由基聚合。本文综述了上世纪90年代以来,O2参与的乙烯基单体的热/光诱导自由基聚合、化学引发自由基聚合、氧载体催化自由基聚合以及可逆加成-断裂链转移自由基聚合。以上结果表明,在上述情况下,O2,作为一个普通不饱和单体,可以与苯乙烯、甲基丙烯酸甲酯等乙烯基单体形成交替共聚物(聚过氧化物),而此类聚过氧化物均可裂解为自由基。