Dehydrogenation of Amine?Borane Me2NH⋅BH3 Catalyzed by a Lanthanum?Hydride Complex

The rare‐earth‐metal? hydride complexes [{(1,7‐Me₂TACD)LnH}₄] (Ln=La 1 a , Y 1 b ; (1,7‐Me₂TACD)H₂=1,7‐dimethyl‐1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane, 1,7‐Me₂[12]aneN₄) were synthesized by hydrogenolysis of [{(1,7‐Me₂TACD)Ln(η³‐C₃H₅)}₂] with 1 bar H₂. The tetrameric structures were confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction of compound 1 a . Both complexes catalyze the dehydrogenation of secondary amine? borane Me₂NH ? BH₃ to afford the cyclic dimer (Me₂NBH₂)₂ and (Me₂N)₂BH under mild conditions. Whilst the complete conversion of Me₂NH ? BH₃ was observed within 2 h with lanthanum? hydride 1 a , the yttrium homologue 1 b required 48 h to reach 95 % conversion. Further reactions of compound 1 a with Me₂NH ? BH₃ in various stoichiometric ratios gave a series of intermediate products, [{(1,7‐Me₂TACD)LaH}₄](Me₂NBH₂)₂ ( 2 a ), [(1,7‐Me₂TACDH)La(Me₂NBH₃)₂] ( 3 a ), [(1,7‐Me₂TACD)(Me₂NBH₂)La(Me₂NBH₃)] ( 4 a ), and [(1,7‐Me₂TACD)(Me₂NBH₂)₂La(Me₂NBH₃)] ( 5 a ). Complexes 2 a , 3 a , and 5 a were isolated and characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. These intermediates revealed the activation and coordination modes of “Me₂NH ? BH₃” fragments that were trapped within the coordination sphere of a rare‐earth‐metal center.     

Protein‐Directed Synthesis of Mn‐Doped ZnS Quantum Dots: A Dual‐Channel Biosensor for Two Proteins

Proteins typically have nanoscale dimensions and multiple binding sites with inorganic ions, which facilitates the templated synthesis of nanoparticles to yield nanoparticle–protein hybrids with tailored functionality, water solubility, and tunable frameworks with well‐defined structure. In this work, we report a protein‐templated synthesis of Mn‐doped ZnS quantum dots (QDs) by exploring bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the template. The obtained Mn‐doped ZnS QDs give phosphorescence emission centered at 590 nm, with a decay time of about 1.9 ms. A dual‐channel sensing system for two different proteins was developed through integration of the optical responses (phosphorescence emission and resonant light scattering (RLS)) of Mn‐doped ZnS QDs and recognition of them by surface BSA phosphorescent sensing of trypsin and RLS sensing of lysozyme. Trypsin can digest BSA and remove BSA from the surface of Mn‐doped ZnS QDs, thus quenching the phosphorescence of QDs, whereas lysozyme can assemble with BSA to lead to aggregation of QDs and enhanced RLS intensity. The detection limits for trypsin and lysozyme were 40 and 3 nM , respectively. The selectivity of the respective channel for trypsin and lysozyme was evaluated with a series of other proteins. Unlike other protein sensors based on nanobioconjugates, the proposed dual‐channel sensor employs only one type of QDs but can detect two different proteins. Further, we found the RLS of QDs can also be useful for studying the BSA–lysozyme binding stoichiometry, which has not been reported in the literature. These successful biosensor applications clearly demonstrate that BSA not only serves as a template for growth of Mn‐doped ZnS QDs, but also impacts the QDs for selective recognition of analyte proteins.     

Single‐Molecule Detection Reveals Knot Sliding in TrmD Denaturation

An increasing number of proteins are found to contain a knot in their polypeptide chain. Although some studies have looked into the folding mechanism of knotted proteins, why and how these complex topologies form are still far from being fully answered. Moreover, no experimental information about how the knot moves during the protein‐folding process is available. Herein, by combining single‐molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer (smFRET) experiments with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we performed a detailed study to characterize the knot in the denatured state of TrmD, a knotted tRNA (guanosine‐1) methyltransferase from Escherichia coli, as a model system. We found that the knot still existed in the unfolded state of TrmD, consistent with the results for two other knotted proteins, YibK and YbeA. More interestingly, both smFRET experiments and MD simulations revealed that the knot slid towards the C‐terminal during the unfolding process, which could be explained by the relatively strong interactions between the β‐sheet core at the N terminal of the native knot region. The size of the knot in the unfolded state is not larger than that in the native state. In addition, the knot slid in a “downhill” mode with simultaneous chain collapse in the denatured state.     

Substituent Effects on Oxidation‐Induced Formation of Quinone Methides from Arylboronic Ester Precursors

A series of arylboronic esters containing different aromatic substituents and various benzylic leaving groups (Br or N⁺Me₃Br^?) have been synthesized. The substituent effects on their reactivity with H₂O₂ and formation of quinone methide (QM) have been investigated. NMR spectroscopy and ethyl vinyl ether (EVE) trapping experiments were used to determine the reaction mechanism and QM formation, respectively. QMs were not generated during oxidative cleavage of the boronic esters but by subsequent transformation of the phenol products under physiological conditions. The oxidative deboronation is facilitated by electron‐withdrawing substituents, such as aromatic F, NO₂, or benzylic N⁺Me₃Br^?, whereas electron‐donating substituents or a better leaving group favor QM generation. Compounds containing an aromatic CH₃ or OMe group, or a good leaving group (Br), efficiently generate QMs under physiological conditions. Finally, a quantitative relationship between the structure and activity has been established for the arylboronic esters by using a Hammett plot. The reactivity of the arylboronic acids/esters and the inhibition or facilitation of QM formation can now be predictably adjusted. This adjustment is important as some applications may benefit and others may be limited by QM generation.     

Using “Threading Followed by Shrinking” to Synthesize Highly Stable Dialkylammonium‐Ion‐Based Rotaxanes

Herein, we report a “threading followed by shrinking” approach for the synthesis of rotaxanes by using an “oxygen‐deficient” macrocycle that contained two arylmethyl sulfone units and the dumbbell‐shaped salt bis(3,5‐dimethylbenzyl)ammonium tetrakis(3,5‐trifluoromethylphenyl)borate as the host and guest components, respectively. The extrusion of SO₂ from both of the arylmethyl sulfone units of the macrocyclic component in the corresponding [2]pseudorotaxane resulted in a [2]rotaxane that was sufficiently stable to maintain its molecular integrity in CD₃SOCD₃ at 393 K for at least 5 h.     

Design and Synthesis of Lipidic Organoalkoxysilanes for the Self‐Assembly of Liposomal Nanohybrid Cerasomes with Controlled Drug Release Properties

This paper reports the facile design and synthesis of a series of lipidic organoalkoxysilanes with different numbers of triethoxysilane headgroups and hydrophobic alkyl chains linked by glycerol and pentaerythritol for the construction of cerasomes with regulated surface siloxane density and controlled release behavior. It was found that the number of triethoxysilane headgroups affected the properties of the cerasomes for encapsulation efficiency, drug loading capacity, and release behavior. For both water‐soluble doxorubicin (DOX) and water‐insoluble paclitaxel (PTX), the release rate from the cerasomes decreased as the number of triethoxysilane headgroups increased. The slower release rate from the cerasomes was attributed to the higher density of the siloxane network on the surface of the cerasomes, which blocks the drug release channels. In contrast to the release results with DOX, the introduction of one more hydrophobic alkyl chain into the cerasome‐forming lipid resulted in a slower release rate of PTX from the cerasomes due to the formation of a more compact cerasome bilayer. An MTT viability assay showed that all of these drug‐loaded cerasomes inhibited proliferation of the HepG2 cancer cell line. The fine tuning of the chemical structure of the cerasome‐forming lipids would foster a new strategy to precisely regulate the release rate of drugs from cerasomes.     

激发光谱法定量SDBS与HPAM二元复配体系

采用β-环糊精诱导十二烷基苯磺酸钠(SDBS)/聚丙烯酰胺(HPAM)复配体系,通过产生的激发光谱信号检测该复配体系中SDBS和HPAM的含量。考察了β-环糊精对SDBS与HPAM的诱导作用、SDBS与HPAM之间的干扰影响、溴水氧化HPAM时间、甲酸钠还原溴水时间等因素对二元复配体系定量的影响。结果表明,SDBS的最大诱导吸收波长为225 nm,溴水氧化HPAM的最佳时间为10 min,甲酸钠还原过量溴水的最佳时间为5～10 min。在水溶液体系中β-环糊精兼具显著提高复配体系中SDBS和HPAM的检测精度和定量抗干扰的作用,该方法的定量误差在2.0%以内。     

基于氧化石墨烯识别特定双螺旋DNA

依据三螺旋DNA的形成,以氧化石墨烯为基础建立了一种识别特定序列双螺旋DNA的方法。单链探针DNA能够通过静电引力作用吸附在氧化石墨烯表面,标记在单链DNA末端的荧光探针分子TAMRA由于荧光能量共振转移作用使得其荧光发生淬灭。加入目标双螺旋DNA后,单链探针DNA与目标DNA分子形成三螺旋DNA,探针DNA从氧化石墨烯表面脱附,标记在探针DNA上的荧光分子的荧光恢复。在最佳实验条件下,荧光恢复的强度与探针DNA的浓度在20.0～300.0 nmol/L具有良好的线性关系,检出限为16.9 nmol/L。该方法在DNA药物筛选及基因疾病的诊断方面具有一定的应用前景。