Syntheses of the four stereoisomers of Phytophthora mating hormone α2 and a concise synthesis of mating hormone α1

Four stereoisomers of Phytophthora mating hormone α2 were synthesized using both enantiomers of citronellol as starting materials. The absolute configuration of the natural product was determined to be 7S,11R,15R by oospore-inducing assays of the synthetic isomers. A concise synthetic procedure of α1 was also established using a common synthetic intermediate of α2.     

Oriented SrFe12O19 thin films prepared by chemical solution deposition

Thin films of SrFe₁₂O₁₉ (SrM) were prepared from a solution of iron and strontium alkoxides through the chemical solution deposition method on both amorphous (glassy SiO₂), and single crystal substrates (Si(100), Si(111), Ag(111), Al₂O₃(001), MgO(111), MgAl₂O₄(111), SrTiO₃(111)) substrates. The process of crystallization was investigated by means of powder diffraction, atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Magnetization measurements, ferromagnetic and nuclear magnetic resonance were used for evaluation of anisotropy in the films. Whilst amorphous substrates enabled growth of randomly oriented SrM phase, use of single crystal substrates resulted in samples with different degree of oriented growth. The most pronounced oriented growth was observed on SrTiO₃(111). A detailed inspection revealed that growth of SrM phase starts through the breakup of initially continuous film into isolated grains with expressive shape anisotropy and hexagonal habit. A continuous film with epitaxial relations to the substrate was produced by repeating recoating and annealing.     

A V-shaped ligand 1,3-bis(1-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)-2-oxapropane and its Cu(II) complex: synthesis, crystal structure, antioxidation and DNA-binding properties

A six-coordinate copper(II) complex with the ligand 1,3-bis(1-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)-2-oxopropane (Meobb), with composition [Cu(Meobb)(2)](NO(3))(2)·2CH(3)OH, has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, electrical conductivities, IR, UV-Vis spectral measurements. A study of the electro-chemistry of the copper(II) complex was carried out by using cyclic voltammetry. The molecular structures of the ligand Meobb and the Cu(II) complex were determined by X-ray crystal diffraction. The DNA-binding modes of the ligand and the complex were investigated by electronic absorption titration, ethidium bromide-DNA displacement experiments and viscosity measurements. The experimental evidence indicated the compounds interact with calf thymus DNA through intercalation. Additionally, the Cu(II) complex exhibited potential antioxidant properties in in vitro studies.     

Fabrication and interfacial morphologies of methanol–melamine–formaldehyde (MMF) shell microPCMs/epoxy composites

Microcapsules containing phase change materials (microPCMs) have many potential applications because of their thermoregulation or thermosaving abilities. At the same time, it is still essential to understand the interface stability of microPCMs/polymer composites during a thermal transmission. The aim of this work was to fabricate novel microPCMs containing dodecanol by an in situ polymerization using methanol-modified melamine–formaldehyde (MMF) prepolymer as shell material and investigate the interface morphologies of microPCMs/epoxy composites treated by a simulant thermal process with a ten times repeated temperature variation. A series of microPCMs were fabricated by 1,000–3,000 r·min⁻¹ emulsion speed with the PCM contents of 40–70%. The average diameter, melting temperature, and encapsulation efficiency of microPCMs were 1–16 μm, 19.5 °C, and 97.4%, respectively. Tests results indicated that the properties of the microPCMs were greatly affected by core/shell ratios and emulsification stirring rates of preparation conditions. With the increasing of stirring rates, the average diameters of microPCMs were sharply decreased. The encapsulation efficiency (E _e) values of microPCMs increased with the increasing of stirring rates. The contents of PCM in microcapsules (C _t) and the average diameter of microPCMs both affected the interface morphologies of microPCMs/epoxy composites after the repeated thermal treatments. Microcracks and gaps occurred after a thermal treatment in the interface of microPCMs and epoxy matrix obviously. The internal stress generated by the expansion or shrinking of the microPCMs was the main factor leading to the interface morphology changes and damaged of composites.     

Synthesis,structure, DNA-binding properties,and antioxidant activity of copper(II) and cobalt(II) complexes with bis(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-allylbenzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)benzylamine

Bis(N-allylbenzimidazol-2-ylmethyl)benzylamine (babb) and two of its complexes, [Cu(babb)(pic)₂]·H₂O (1) and [Co(babb)₂](pic)₂ (2) (pic = picrate), have been synthesized and characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. Single crystal X-ray diffraction revealed that the two complexes have similar distorted octahedral structures, but the degree of distortion and the coordinated atoms are different. The DNA-binding properties of the free ligand and its two complexes have been investigated by electronic absorption, fluorescence, and viscosity measurements. The results suggest that all three compounds bind to DNA via an intercalative binding mode, and their binding affinity for DNA follows the order 2 > 1 > ligand. Additionally, both complexes exhibited potential antioxidant properties in in vitro studies, and complex 1 was the more effective.     

表面改性对片状锌粉分散稳定性的影响

采用物理化学法,将实验室自制锌粉分别添加钛酸酯偶联剂、硅烷偶联剂和十二烷基苯磺酸钠进行表面改性,利用沉降法测试高度研究改性前后锌粉的分散稳定性。 结果表明,不同种类、不同浓度的表面改性剂对锌粉的分散稳定性有较大的影响;其中,经1.0%钛酸酯偶联剂改性后锌粉的分散稳定性有了明显的改善,与进口粉的分散稳定性接近。     

Pyrazine-2-amidoxime Ni(II) complexes: from ferromagnetic cluster to antiferromagnetic layer

Tetranuclear [Ni(4)(Hpzaox)(2)(pzaox)(2)(py)(4)](ClO(4))(2)·2py (1), [Ni(4)(Hpzaox)(2)(pzaox)(2)(py)(4)](NO(3))(2)·4py (2), and two-dimensional (2D) [Ni(4)(Hpzaox)(2)(pzaox)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](NO(3))(2)·2H(2)O (3) are prepared via the reaction of NiX(2)·6H(2)O and pyrazine-2-amidoxime (H(2)pzaox). All compounds contain [Ni(4)(Hpzaox)(2)(pzaox)(2)](2+) fragments, which assemble to form a tetranuclear or polymeric network. Magnetic studies show that the tetranuclear compounds display usual ferromagnetic coupling via the oxime N-O bridges, and the 2D compound displays unusual antiferromagnetic behavior.     

A near-infrared reversible fluorescent probe for peroxynitrite and imaging of redox cycles in living cells

BzSe-Cy is a small-molecule fluorescent probe containing Se, which can respond reversibly to changes in ONOO(-) or reduced ascorbate and exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity for ONOO(-).     

Directly observed Au-S bond breakage due to swelling of the anchored polyelectrolyte

A weak polyelectrolyte coating, carboxylated poly(oligo(ethylene glycol)methacrylate-co-2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate), was prepared via surface initiated polymerization (SIP) from initiators immobilized to gold surface through the Au-S bonds. When dry thickness increased up to 75 nm, this polyelectrolyte coating was pulled off the Au substrate by simply exposing to phosphate buffer saline (PBS, pH = 7.4, [Na(+)] = 150 mM). This covalent bond breaking (CBB) behavior was monitored in situ using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and CBB was associated with the swelling of the anchored polyelectrolyte chains.     

A simple method to improve the consistency ratio of the pair-wise comparison matrix in ANP

Tests of consistency for the pair-wise comparison matrices have been studied extensively since AHP was introduced by Saaty in 1970s. However, existing methods are either too complicated to be applied in the revising process of the inconsistent comparison matrix or are difficult to preserve most of the original comparison information due to the use of a new pair-wise comparison matrix. Those methods might work for AHP but not for ANP as the comparison matrix of ANP needs to be strictly consistent. To improve the consistency ratio, this paper proposes a simple method, which combines the theorem of matrix multiplication, vectors dot product, and the definition of consistent pair-wise comparison matrix, to identify the inconsistent elements. The correctness of the proposed method is proved mathematically. The experimental studies have also shown that the proposed method is accurate and efficient in decision maker’s revising process to satisfy the consistency requirements of AHP/ANP.