Chemistry of O-Benzoquinones and Masked O-Benzoquinones I. Diels-Alder Reactions of O-Benzoquinones with Dimethyl Acetylenedicarboxylate and Phenylacetylene

Diels-Alder reactions of six o-benzoquinones with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate has been examined. The yields of adducts vary with the natures of the o-benzoquinones, 3,4-Di-n-propyl-(1c), 3,6-di-n-propyl (1d). 3. 4-diallyl-(1e) and 3, 6-diallyl-o-benzoquinone (1f) are found to give bicyclic a-diketones exclusively without the formation of 1,4-dioxine derivatives, the yields ranging from 20 to 70%. In the case of 4, 5-dimethoxy-o-benzoquinone, dimethyl 4, 5-dimethoxyphthalate is produced in 42% yield, presumably derived from the decomposition of the corresponding initially formed α-diketone. 3, 6-Di-n-propyl-4, 5-dimethoxy-o-benzoquinone deteriorates without addition to dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate upon heating. The additions of o-benzoquinones 1c , 1d and 1f to phenylacetylene are also studied. The yields of adducts, α-diketones, range from 23% to 82%.     

From D-glucose to biologically potent L-hexose derivatives: synthesis of alpha-L-iduronidase fluorogenic detector and the disaccharide moieties of bleomycin A2 and heparan sulfate

A novel and convenient route for the synthesis of biologically potent and rare L-hexose derivatives from D-glucose is described. Conversion of diacetone-alpha-D-glucose (14) into 1,2:3,5-di-O-isopropylidene-beta-L-idofuranose (19) was efficiently carried out in two steps. Orthogonal isopropylidene rearrangement of compound 19 led to 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-beta-L-idofuranose (27), which underwent regioselective epimerization at the C3 position to give the L-talo- and 3-functionalized L-idofuranosyl derivatives. Hydrolysis of compound 19 under acidic conditions furnished 1,6-anhydro-beta-L-idopyranose (35) in excellent yield, which was successfully transformed into the corresponding L-allo, L-altro, L-gulo, and L-ido derivatives via regioselective benzylation, benzoylation, triflation and nucleophilic substitution as the key steps. Applications of these 1,6-anhydro-beta-L-hexopyranoses as valuable building blocks to the syntheses of 4-methylcoumarin-7-yl-alpha-L-iduronic acid and the disaccharide moieties of bleomycin A(2) as well as heparan sulfate are highlighted.     

Systematic investigation of the hydrothermal syntheses of Pr(III)-PDA (PDA = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate anion) metal-organic frameworks

A series of novel two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) praseodymium coordination polymers, namely, {[Pr3(PDA)4(HPDA)(H2O)8] x 8H2O}n (2), {[Pr2(PDA)3(H2O)3] x H2O}n (3), {[Pr(PDA)(H2O)4] x ClO4}n (4), and { [Pr2(PDA)2(H2O)5SO4] x 2H2O}n (5) (PDA = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic anion), was designed and synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Complexes 1-3 (chainlike polymer, {[Pr(PDA)(HPDA)(H2O)2] x 4H2O}n (1) was also obtained independently by us, although it has been reported recently by Ghosh et al.) were fabricated successfully by simply tuning the Pr/PDA ratio and exhibited various and intriguing topological structures from a 1D chain to a 3D network. While the synthetic strategy of 5 was triggered and further performed only after 1 was structurally characterized. The complexes were characterized by X-ray single-crystal determination, spectroscopic, and variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility analyses. In complex 2 an unusual nanosized square motif as a building block constructed by eight Pr ions was further assembled into a highly ordered 2D grid compound. In complex 3 the decanuclear Pr metal-based structure as a repeat unit interpenetrated to form a novel 3D polymer. Complex 4 was a 3D network polymer fabricated through a hexanuclear Pr ring as a building block, and ClO4- anions as guests were trapped in the cavity. In complex 5 six Pr atoms, two SO4(2-) anions, and carboxylic oxygen bridges constructed an intriguing rectangle structure as a repeat unit in the grid to form a 2D coordination polymer in which the unique bi-bidentate coordination mode of SO4(2-) anion was observed.     

A simple route towards tubular ZnO

Thermal treatment of Zn(NH3)(4)2+ precursor in ethanol solvent led to the formation of the tubular ZnO which exhibited strong ultraviolet photoluminescence around 385 nm at room temperature; TEM images showed the hollow tubules with approximately 450 nm in diameter and approximately 4 microns in length were built up by ZnO polycrystals.     

Synthesis,spectral and magnetic studies of novel μ-oxamido heterotinuclear complexes

Summary Three novel heterotrinuclear complexes have been prepared, [Cu₂(oxdn)₂Zn](ClO₄)₂ (1) and [Cu₂(oxdn)₂-M(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ with M=Mn (2) and Co (3) [oxdn-oxamidobis (propionato)], and characterized by spectral data. The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibilities of (2) and (3) has been studied in the 4–300K range, and the exchange integrals J=–20.90cm^–1 for (2) and J=–62.36cm^–1 for (3) calculated. These results are commensurate with antiferromagnetic interactions between the adjacent metal ions.     

SciFinder-guided rational design of fluorescent carbon dots for ratiometric monitoring intracellular pH fluctuations under heat shock

Intracellular pH plays a significant role in various biological processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, enzyme activity and homeostasis. In this work, a novel design strategy for the preparation of pH responsive carbon dots (CDs-pH) for ratiometric intracellular imaging was reported. By using SciFinder database, fluorescent CDs-pH with the required pK_a value of 6.84 were rationally designed, which is vital important for precise sensing of intracellular pH. As a result, the synthesized CDs-pH demonstrated robust ability to test pH fluctuations within the physiological range of 5.4-7.4. The CDs-pH was further utilized for fluorescent ratiometric imaging of pH in living HeLa cells, effectively avoided the influence of autofluorescence from native cellular species. Moreover, real-time monitoring of intracellular pH fluctuation under heat shock was successfully realized. This SciFinder-guided design strategy is simple and flexible, which has a great potential to be used for the development of other types of CDs for various applications.     

Synthesis of a highly hindered hydrindanone via alpha-carbonyl radical cyclization: enantiospecific formal syntheses of (-)-pinguisenol and (-)-alpha-pinguisene

An enantiospecific synthesis of Schinzer's ketone 3 from (R)-(+)-pulegone via alpha-carbonyl radical cyclization was accomplished. This work also constitutes an enantiospecific formal syntheses of (-)-pinguisenol and (-)-alpha-pinguisene. The intermediate ketone 4 would be useful for the synthesis of other pinguisane-type sesquiterpenes.     

Luminescence 3D-ordered porous materials composed of CdSe and CdTe nanocrystals

The luminescence porous materials of CdTe or CdSe nanocrystals (NCs) were prepared by filling the corresponding NCs into the voids of colloidal crystal by co-deposition of polymer beads and NCs. After removing the beads with tetrahydrofuran (THF), the 3D-ordered porous materials of CdTe (or CdSe) NCs were obtained. The wavelength of maximum photoluminescence of the NCs porous material shows obvious red shift compared with their aqueous dispersion. Under the excitation of high-energy electron the porous materials of CdTe and CdSe NCs will emit photons that can be collected to form a cathode luminescence (CL) image.     

Solar Photocatalytic Degradation of 4‐Chlorophenol in Kaolinite Catalysts

This research applies semiconductor photocatalysts, which are formed by metal ion exchange on the surface of kaolinite catalyst with cations, to the study of photocatalytic degradation of 4‐chlorophenol. The analysis results of catalyst properties shows that, after sintering at 400 °C, kaolinite catalyst has a particle size of between 10–100 nm indicating the nano level of synthesized catalysts. Under the same condition, kaolinite‐Ag/Zn catalyst works better in degradation efficiency than single kaolinite‐Ag and kaolinite‐Zn catalysts. Kaolinite‐Zn catalyst declines in degradation efficacy after 150 minutes and performs poorer than the other three types of kaolinite catalysts. In the experiments of different amounts of catalysts, when the concentration exceeds 0.1 wt%, utilization of light energy and degradation efficiency will be reduced due to shielding effect. When at different pH values, the higher the pH value, the more OH‐will be released and that is beneficial for reaction with substances and the increase of reaction rate. Finally multivariate analysis proves that there is one determining factor that influences the photocatalytic degradation of 4‐chlorophenol in kaolinite catalysts, named as “the factor with intermediates competition degree,” the one affecting the 4‐CP degradation at different weight percentages that is referred to as the “shielding effect factor.”     

（PdCl2—PVP）／Al2O3催化剂中Pd状态的探讨

氯化钯先锚定在聚乙烯吡咯烷酮上后进一步负载到Al_2O_3上所制的催化剂[简称(PdCl_2-PVP)/Al_2O_3]是一种活性、选择性高,稳定性好的烯烃、二烯烃和多烯烃加氢催化剂。本文结合加氢反应,使用XPS、FT-IR、电镜及用CO为探针的FT-IR,对这种催化剂进行了考察。实验说明,在这种催化剂中,钯的价态是在0—2之间。红外光谱在486cm~(-1)处有一微弱的小峰,说明存在Pd—N的配位键。催化剂中钯含量低时(0.2wt％)稳定性好,不吸附CO,活性中心是络合钯原子;当钯含量较高时(0.7wt％),催化剂的初活性虽不低,稳定性却较差,这种催化剂能吸附CO,IR谱图上仅在1919cm~(-1)处有CO桥式吸附态的伸缩振动。表明除络合钯原子外,还有聚集的钯金属存在。FT-IR尚表明,PVP在Al_2O_3上可能并非单纯的物理吸附。电镜结果表明,PVP在Al_2O_3上呈30—70(?)的微球状,(PdCl_2-PVP)/Al)_2O_3上的(PdCl_2-PVP)亦呈微球状,与前者无明显区别,这种催化剂中其活性中心是络合钯原子。