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.     

The spin delocalization substituent parameter σ˙. 7. Meta-substituent effects on the cyclodimerization of trifluorostyrenes. A test for the σ˙JJ approach

Rate constants (k's) of the thermal cyclodimerization of ten meta-substituted trifluorostyrenes (m-Y-TFS's) have been measured in the temperature range 110–160°C. On the basis of these k's and the σ_mb values derived from ¹⁹F NMR data the spin-delocalization substituent constant σ^˙_m values of these ten meta-substituents have been calculated. The averaged σ^˙_m values are: m-Et, 0.09; m-t-Bu, 0.11; m-F, 0.03; m-Cl,?0.05; m-Br, 0.12: m-CF₃, ?0.07; m-OMe, 0.10; m-NO₂, ?0.002; m-CN, 0.11 and m-CO₂Me, 0.08. Both the smallness of these values and the nonexistence of correlation between Hammett-Type polar σ^X and these σ^˙_m values support our belief that the σ_j?J approach is reliable and trustworthy.     

Study on flame-retardant mechanism of polycarbonate containing sulfonate-silsesquioxane-fluoro retardants by TGA and FTIR

The flame retardancy of bisphenol A polycarbonate (PC) containing potassium diphenylsulfone sulfonate (KSS), poly(aminopropyl/phenylsilsesquioxane) (PAPSQ) and poly(vinylidenefluoride) (PVDF) was measured by limited oxygen index (LOI) and examined according to UL94. A high LOI and UL94 V-0 rating for 1.6 mm thickness samples were obtained by a combined use of equivalent KSS, PAPSQ and PVDF at 0.1-0.3 wt% loading, respectively. The improvement in flame retardancy of PC compositions arose from the synergistic interaction of three additives. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the combination decreased the activation energy (E) of PC degradation and elevated the thermal degradation rate of PC to ensure the formation of an insulating carbon layer. FTIR analysis showed that the LOI char of PC containing the three additives took on a highly cross-linking aromatic ester and ether structure.     

Concise synthesis of ether analogues of lysobisphosphatidic acid

We describe a versatile, efficient method for the preparation of ether analogues of (S,S)-lysobisphosphatidic acid (LBPA) and its enantiomer from (S)-solketal. Phosphorylation of a protected sn-2-O-octadecenyl glyceryl ether with 2-cyanoethyl bis-N,N-diisopropylamino phosphine and subsequent deprotection generated the bisether LBPA analogues. By simply changing the sequence of deprotection steps, we obtained the (R,R)- and (S,S)-enantiomers of 2,2'-bisether LBPA. An ELISA assay with anti-LBPA monoclonal antibodies showed that the bisether LBPAs were recognized with the same affinity as the natural 2,2'-bisoleolyl LBPA. [reaction: see text]     

Palladium-catalyzed tandem cyclization/Suzuki coupling of 1,6-enynes: reaction scope and mechanism

A palldium(0)-catalyzed tandem cyclization/Suzuki coupling reaction of various 1,6-enyne substrates was developed. This Pd-catalyzed enyne cyclization reaction represents a new process for the synthesis of stereodefined alpha-arylmethylene-gamma-butyrolactones, lactams, multifunctional tetrahydrofurans, pyrrolidines, and cyclopentanes. The mechanism of the reaction was studied by the employment of different enyne isomers and boronic acids; a pi-allyl palladium intermediate was suggested to explain the formation of the cyclic products. The stereochemistry of this reaction can be well explained by a chairlike transition state.     

单分散磁性纳米颗粒的制备及生物高分子在其上的组装

磁性纳米颗粒因其潜在的生物医学应用价值而成为纳米生物材料领域研究的前沿。本文综述了单分散磁性纳米颗粒的制备方法以及生物高分子在磁性纳米颗粒上的组装的研究进展。     

A DNA-mediated crosslinking strategy to enhance cellular delivery and sensor performance of protein spherical nucleic acids

Intracellular delivery of enzymes is essential for protein-based diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Protein-spherical nucleic acids (ProSNAs) defined by protein core and dense shell of oligonucleotides have been demonstrated as a promising vehicle-free enzyme delivery platform. In this work, we reported a crosslinking strategy to vastly improve both delivery efficiency and intracellular sensor performance of ProSNA. By assembling individual ProSNA with lactate oxidase (LOX) core into a nanoscale particle, termed as crosslinked SNA (X-SNA), the enzyme delivery efficiency increased up to 5–6 times higher. The LOX X-SNA was later demonstrated as a ratiometric probe for quantitative detection of lactate in living cells. More importantly, X-SNA probe showed significantly improved sensor performance with signal-to-noise ratio 4 times as high as ProSNA when detecting intracellular lactate.

By crosslinking protein spherical nucleic acid (SNA) into a supramolecular architecture X-SNA, the intracellular enzyme delivery efficiency was significantly enhanced, showing 3–4 times higher signal-to-noise ratio in detecting intracellular lactate.     

Dexmedetomidine promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through hepatic stellate cell activation

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is an anesthetic that is widely used in the clinic, and it has been reported to exhibit paradoxical effects in the progression of multiple solid tumors. In this study, we sought to explore the mechanism by which DEX regulates hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression underlying liver fibrosis. We determined the effects of DEX on tumor progression in an orthotopic HCC mouse model of fibrotic liver. A coculture system and a subcutaneous xenograft model involving coimplantation of mouse hepatoma cells (H22) and primary activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) were used to study the effects of DEX on HCC progression. We found that in the preclinical mouse model of liver fibrosis, DEX treatment significantly shortened median survival time and promoted tumor growth, intrahepatic metastasis and pulmonary metastasis. The DEX receptor (ADRA2A) was mainly expressed in aHSCs but was barely detected in HCC cells. DEX dramatically reinforced HCC malignant behaviors in the presence of aHSCs in both the coculture system and the coimplantation mouse model, but DEX alone exerted no significant effects on the malignancy of HCC. Mechanistically, DEX induced IL-6 secretion from aHSCs and promoted HCC progression via STAT3 activation. Our findings provide evidence that the clinical application of DEX may cause undesirable side effects in HCC patients with liver fibrosis.Subject terms: Cancer microenvironment, Cell growth     

Influence of extended π-conjugation units on carrier mobilities in conducting polymers

Carrier mobilities in thin films of copolymers with repeat units consisting of oligothiophenes bridged by Si atoms are measured over a range of doping levels, where the numbers of thienylenes in the repeat unit are 7, 8, 10, 12, and 14. The mobilities for these polymer films increased with the increase in doping level and the mobility enhancement followed an increasing order of the π-conjugation length. The magnitude of the mobility increase for the Si polymer comprising 14 thiophene units reached ca. 10⁴, implying that this π-conjugation length is almost sufficient to reproduce transport properties of polythiophenes.     

Syntheses, crystal structures and magnetic properties of a new nitronyl nitroxide NIT2-bithph and its manganese(II) compound [Mn(hfac)2(IMHBithph)]2·(NIT2-bithph)(C6H14)

A new nitronyl nitroxide NIT2-bithph (1) and its manganese(II) compound [Mn(hfac)₂(IMHBithph)]₂·(NIT2-bithph)(C₆H₁₄) (2) (hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate; NIT2-bithph = 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-2-(bithiophenal-2-yl)imidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide; IMHBithph = 1-hydroxy-2-bithiophenal-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-4,5-dihydro- 1H-imidazole) have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction methods. The units of compound 1 were connected as one-dimensional chain by the intermolecular hydrogen bonds which afford an intermolecular antiferromagnetic interaction between nitronyl nitroxide radicals within the chain (J = −1.89 cm⁻¹). Compound 2 resulting from the reaction of Mn(hfac)₂·2H₂O and NIT2-bithph is dinuclear and includes the reduced amidino-oxide form of NIT2-bithph, it is made up of three parts: a [Mn(hfac)₂(IMHBithph)]₂ dimer unit, an uncoordinated NIT2-bithph radical and a noncoordinated solvent molecule of hexane, the molecule of radical is hydrogen bonded to its reduced form. Two reduced IMHBithph ligands bridge the two manganese(II) ions through their amidino-oxide oxygen atoms resulting in a small intramolecular antiferromagnetic interaction between the manganese ions (J = −1.55 cm⁻¹).