Quantum chemical study of redox-switchable second-order nonlinear optical responses of D-π-A system BNbpy and metal Pt(II) chelate complex

A second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) molecular switching with redox has been investigated in the present paper. The static first hyperpolarizabilities of 5-(BMes(2))-5'-(NPh(2))-2,2'-bipyridine (BNbpy) containing three-coordinate organoboron, Pt(II) chelate complex Pt(BNbpy)Ph(2), and their reduced forms have been calculated by density functional theory (DFT) combined with the analytic derivatives method. There is an enhancement of static first hyperpolarizabilities in the reduced form according to the calculations. That is, the β(vec) value of one-electron-reduced form is ~7 times as large as that of neutral form BNbpy; the β(vec) values of one- and two-electron-reduced forms are ~3 and ~4 times as large as that of neutral form Pt(BNbpy)Ph(2), respectively. In particular, the β(vec) value of two-electron-reduced form (3)Pt(BNbpy)Ph(2)(2-) is 1349 × 10(-30) esu, ~286 times larger than its neutral form. Moreover, the component β(z) value of the metal chelate complex Pt(BNbpy)Ph(2) is 25 × 10(-30) esu, which is ~14 times as large as that of ligand BNbpy; the corresponding F(-)/CN(-) compounds show a decrease in β(x) values compared with the case of the ligand and Pt(II) complex. Analyses of geometries, density of states (DOS), and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) calculations reveal that the one-electron reduction promotes the molecular conjugation in the x-axis and intensifies the interaction between the metal Pt(II) and ligand and then results in an enhancement of the static first hyperpolarizability, whereas the binding of F(-)/CN(-) to the B atom turns off the p(π)-π* conjugation and has no effect on the conjugation of bipyridine, which leads to a decreasing β value in the x-axis.     

Folate-targeted optical and magnetic resonance dualmodality PCL-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PEG micelles for tumor imaging

A biodegradable tumor targeting nano-probe based on poly（ε-caprolactone）-b-poly（ethylene glycol）block copolymer（PCL-b-PEG）micelle functionalized with a magnetic resonance imaging（MRI）contrast agent diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-gadolinium(DTPA-Gd³⁺)on the shell and a near-infrared（NIR）dye in the core for magnetic resonance and optical dual-modality imaging was prepared.The longitudinal relaxivity（r₁）of the PCL-b-PEG-DTPA -Gd³⁺micelle was 13.4（mmol/L）^-1s^-1,three folds of that of DTPA-Gd³⁺,and higher than that of many polymeric contrast agents with similar structures.The in vivo optical imaging of a nude mouse bearing xenografted breast tumor showed that the dual-modality micelle preferentially accumulated in the tumor via the folic acid-mediated active targeting and the passive accumulation by the enhanced permeability and retention（EPR）effect.The results indicated that the dualmodality micelle is a promising nano-probe for cancer detection and diagnosis.     

Tunable disintegration of layer-by-layer assembly multilayer films based on hydrolytical-polybetaine at wide-range time

Many efforts have been performed on the poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, due to its piezoelectric, pyroelectric and ferroelectric potentials. In this regard, how to fabricate the PVDF with high content of β-phase, which is also the direct contribution to PVDF's prominent property, becomes a critical issue. In this study, starting with the α-phase dominated sample, the PVDF with extremely high content of β-crystalline phase was obtained by the incorporation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified by hyperbranched copolymers (HBCs). We proved that, via XRD, DSC as well as the structural characterizations from the polarized optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the success of this strategy was ascribed to the enhanced dispersibility and stability of MWCNTs endowed by the HBCs, which significantly favors the formation of the β-crystalline phase of PVDF.     

Catalytic asymmetric construction of spirocyclopentaneoxindoles by a combined Ru-catalyzed cross-metathesis/double Michael addition sequence

Biologically important and synthetically challenging spirocyclopentaneoxindoles with four contiguous stereocenters including one spiroquaternary stereocenter have been constructed in good yields (72-87%) with excellent diastereoselectivity (16:1→30:1 dr) and enantioselectivity (93→99% ee) by a combined Ru-catalyzed cross-metathesis/organocatalyzed asymmetric double-Michael addition sequence.     

DFT/TDDFT study on the electronic structures and optoelectronic properties of several red-emitting osmium(II) complexes with different P^P ancillary ligands

The ground and excited state geometries of several red-emitting phosphors (N^N)(2)Os(P^P) [where N^N = 5-(1-isoquinolyl)-1,2,4-triazoles, P^P = bis(dimethylphosphino)methylene(dmpm) (1); P^P = cis-1,2-bis-(dimethylphosphino)ethene(dmpe) (2); P^P = 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)benzene(dmpb) (3); P^P = 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)naphthalene(dmpn) (4); P^P = 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)-4-cyano-benzene(dmpcb) (5)] have been investigated by using the density functional theory (DFT) methods. The calculated results indicate that, for the studied complexes, the electron-transporting performance is better than the hole-transporting performance. The alteration of cis-P^P ancillary ligands with different conjugation lengths and substituents has an impact on the optoelectronic properties of these complexes, especially the electron-withdrawing group -CN in 5. The calculated energy gaps are nearly the same for complexes 1 to 4 (3.34 eV), while for 5, the HOMO and LUMO energies are lowered and the energy gap increases (3.42 eV). The absorption of 1 is red shifted, while that of 5 is blue shifted compared with the absorptions of 2, 3, and 4, which have similar absorptions. Complexes 2, 3, and 4 have almost identical emission wavelength 699 nm, while 1 (715 nm) and 5 (735 nm) are red shifted. The calculated electron affinities and reorganization energies indicate that complex 5 is the easiest for electron injection and has the best electron-transporting performance.     

Two new triterpene glycosides with monomethyl malonate groups from the rhizome of Cimifuga foetida L

Two new 9,19-cycloartane triterpene glycosides 1-2, together with four known compounds--26-deoxyactein (3), actein (4), 7,8-didehydro-26-deoxyactein (5) and cimiaceroside B (6)--were isolated from the rhizome of Cimicifuga foetida. The new triterpene glycosides were identified as 23-O-methyl-24-deoxy-2'-O-(3'-methylmalonyl)-cimiaceroside B (1) and 2'-O-(3'-methylmalonyl)actein (2) based on analysis of their spectral data and chemical reactions.     

The molecular diversity of three-component reactions of 4-dimethylamino- or 4-methoxypyridine with acetylenedicarboxylates and arylidene cyanoacetates

The three-component reactions of 4-dimethylamino- or 4-methoxypyridine with acetylenedicarboxylates and arylidene cyanoacetates showed very interesting molecular diversity. The polysubstituted 1,8,9,9a-tetrahydro-4H-1,4-ethanoquinolizines, 2H-pyran-2,3-dicarboxylates, and buta-1,3-diene-1,2,4-tricarboxylates derivatives can be formed in high yields and with good diastereoselectivity depending on the substrates and reaction conditions.     

High sensitivity chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay for detecting staphylococcal enterotoxin A in multi-matrices

In this study, detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) in multi-matrices using a highly sensitive and specific microplate chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) has been established. A pair of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) was selected from 37 anti-SEA mAbs by pairwise analysis, and the experimental conditions of the CLEIA were optimized. This CLEIA exhibited high performance with a wide dynamic range from 6.4 pg mL⁻¹ to 1600 pg mL⁻¹, and the measured low limit of detection (LOD) was 3.2 pg mL⁻¹. No cross-reactivity was observed when this method was applied to test SEB, SEC1, and SED. It has also been successfully applied for analyzing SEA in a variety of environmental, biological, and clinical matrices, such as sewage, tap water, river water, roast beef, peanut butter, cured ham, 10% nonfat dry milk, milk, orange juice, human urine, and serum. Thus, the highly sensitive and SEA-specific CLEIA should make it attractive for quantifying SEA in public health and diagnosis in near future.     

A new approach to highly electrooptically active materials using cross-linkable, hyperbranched chromophore-containing oligomers as a macromolecular dopant

A new, practical approach to a variety of highly electrooptically active polymers for device development is described. It involves the use of a new thermally cross-linkable, hyperbranched oligomer containing nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores as a macromolecular dopant in a common host polymer. A series of NLO polymeric blends were readily formulated and showed large and stable electrooptic (EO) coefficients (up to 65 pm/V). In comparison with previously studied linear NLO polyimides and guest-host polymers doped with molecular chromophores and even linear NLO analogous oligomers, this new approach offers clear advantages for device development in terms of improved poling efficiency, larger EO coefficients, good temporal stability, and versatile material formulation.     

Biodegradation-induced surface change of polymer microspheres and its influence on cell growth

Biodegradable microspheres were fabricated by poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) homopolymer and poly(?-caprolactone-b-ethylene oxide) (PCL-b-PEO) amphiphilic block copolymer. The regulation of microsphere surface morphology was successfully achieved by controlled enzymatic degradation. The morphological changes induced by biodegradation and their influences on the growth of MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells were studied. Results based on the evaluation of cytotoxicity and the morphological observation of MG-63 cells cultivated on microspheres showed better growth of cells on the surface of degraded microspheres than on the surface of those undegraded microspheres no matter they were fabricated by homopolymers or copolymers. The influences of morphological changes of microsphere surface before and after biodegradation on MG-63 cell growth were discussed. The results of this work indicated that the biodegradation-induced morphological changes of microspheres could be well controlled and were favorable for MG-63 cell attachment and proliferation.