A new three‐dimensional silver(I) coordination framework with a diamondoid topology constructed from 2‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐imidazole‐4,5‐dicarboxylic acid

The title compound, poly[[μ₄‐5‐carboxy‐4‐carboxylato‐2‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐ido]disilver(I)], [Ag₂(C₁₀H₅N₃O₄)]_n, was synthesized by reacting silver nitrate with 2‐(pyridin‐4‐yl)‐1H‐imidazole‐4,5‐dicarboxylic acid (H₃PyIDC) under hydrothermal conditions. The asymmetric unit contains two crystallographically independent Ag^I cations and one unique HPyIDC²⁻ anion. Both Ag^I cations are three‐coordinated in distorted T‐shaped coordination geometries. One Ag^I cation is coordinated by one N and two O atoms from two HPyIDC²⁻ anions, while the other is bonded to one O and two N atoms from two HPyIDC²⁻ anions. It is interesting to note that the HPyIDC²⁻ group acts as a μ₄‐bridging ligand to link the Ag^I cations into a three‐dimensional framework, which can be simplified as a diamondoid topology. The thermal stability and photoluminescent properties of the title compound have also been studied.     

Compressed matrix thin film (CMTF)-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometric analysis

The inhomogeneous re-crystallization process of matrix materials is the major concerns associated with matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) analysis. We describe here the approach termed compressed matrix thin film (CMTF) in order to make a uniform matrix deposition. In this approach, solid matrix particles are compressed under 10 MPa of pressure by a compressor that is regularly used in infrared spectroscopic analysis. Then aqueous samples can be deposited on the surface of the matrix film. Major advantages of the CMTF approach are summarized as follows. (1) Reproducible sample preparation procedure. Size and thickness of matrix thin films can be controlled by using a fixed mold.force and known amount of matrix materials. (2) Significantly decreased shot-to-shot variations and enhanced reproducibility. (3) Tolerance for in situ salt washing. Because matrix materials are hydrophobic, salts can be washed away while proteins or peptides are retained on the surface of matrix thin films through hydrophobic interactions. (4) Improved sensitivity. The hydrophobic coating of MALDI sample plate by matrix thin films prevents the spreading of samples across the plate and confines analytes to a small area, leading to increased local concentration. (5) A new means for tissue analysis. Tissue sections can be directly transferred to the uniform surface of matrix materials for reproducible and quantitative comparison of different molecules in different localization. The proposed CMTF should be an enabling technique for mass spectrometric analysis with improved correlations between signal intensities and sample quantities.     

Solid-Liquid Phase Transfer Catalytic Synthesis XII

The anion derived from diethyl malonate reacts with a series of halides readly under microwave irradiation, and the isolated yield of alkylated products varying from 64% to 86%.     

Copper-Catalyzed Cyanopropylation of Activated Alkenes

A practical copper-catalyzed alkylarylation of activated alkenes with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and beyond has been developed, in which incorporation of 3^o nitrile moiety into an oxindole scaffold proceeded smoothly through cascade radical addition/C(sp²)-H cyclization. The use of readily available AIBN as radical source and inexpensive CuI as catalyst, as well as broad substrate scope and the simplicity of operation and handling, make this protocol a highly attractive approach to oxindoles bearing 3^o nitrile moiety.     

A molecularly imprinted polymer for solid phase extraction of allantoin

We describe a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the solid-phase extraction of the skin protectant allantoin. The MIP was deposited on the surface of monodisperse silica microspheres possessing acroyl groups on the surface (MH-SiO₂). The resulting MIP microspheres (MH-SiO₂@MIP) showed a 3.4-fold higher adsorption capacity and a 1.9-fold better selectivity for allantoin than the respective non-imprinted polymer (MH-SiO₂@NIP). The monolayer adsorption capacities of the MH-SiO₂@MIP and the MH-SiO₂@NIP were calculated with the help of the Langmuir model and found to be 6.8 and 1.9 mg?g^?1, respectively. Adsorption kinetics fit a pseudo-second order rate mechanism, with an initial adsorption rate of 1.44 for the MH-SiO₂@MIP, and of 0.07 mg?g^?1?min^?1 for the MH-SiO₂@NIP. The material can be regenerated, and its adsorption capacity for allantoin remains stable for at least five regeneration cycles. It was successfully used as a sorbent for the selective solid-phase extraction of allantoin from Rhizoma dioscoreae.

Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction of phenolic compounds using solidified floating organic droplets, and their determination by HPLC

We have developed a simple and efficient method for dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction of 4-nitrophenol, 2-naphthol and bisphenol A in real water samples. It is making use of solidified floating organic droplets of 1-dodecanol which has low density and a proper melting point. The type and volume of extraction solvent and dispersive solvent, the effect of salts, pH value and extraction time were optimized and resulted in enrichment factors of 84 for 4-nitrophenol, 123 for 2-naphthol, and 97 for bisphenol A. The limits of detection by HPLC are 1.50, 0.10 and 1.02 ng · mL^?1, respectively. Excellent linearity is observed in the concentration range from 10 to 800 ng · mL^?1, with coefficients of correlation ranging from 0.9988 to 0.9999. The relative standard deviations (for n?=?5) are from 3.2 to 5.3 %, and relative recoveries for the three phenols in tap, river and spring water range from 85.0 to 105.0 %, 98.3 to 110.0 %, and 98.6 to 109.0 %, respectively.

Asymmetric Synthesis XIV: TiCl(Oipr)3-Promoted Asymmetric Coupling Reaction of D-Camphor Ketimine Anion

Optically active 1, 2-Diphenylethylendiamine(9) is obtained by asymmetric oxidative coupling reaction of d-camphor ketimine anion (4). Among various oxidating agents, TiCl(Oipr)₃ is better than l₂, Br₂, CuCl₂, FeCl₃ and BrCH₂CH₂Br.     

Synthesis and Mesogenic Properties of Novel Terthiophene Derivatives

To develop novel oligothiophene‐based liquid crystals involving hydrogen bonding, new terthiophene derivatives containing a stearylamide group, N,N′‐distearyl‐5,5″‐dicyano‐2,2′∶5′,2″‐terthiophene‐4,4″‐dicarboxamide (DNC₁₈DCN 3T) and N,N′‐distearyl‐5,5′‐dipropyl‐2,2′∶5′,2′‐terthiophene‐4,4″‐dicarboxamide (DNC₁₈ DP3T), were designed and synthesized, and their thermal behavior examined. Although DNC₁₈DP3T did not exhibit liquid crystallinity, DNC₁₈DCN3T was found to form smectic A phase.     

MC8 Peptide-Mediated Her-2 Receptor Targeting Based on PEI-β-CyD as Gene Delivery Vector

A novel vector with high gene delivery efficiency and special cell targeting ability was developed using a good strategy that utilized low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI; molecular weight, 600 KDa [PEI600]) cross-linked to β-cyclodextrin (β-CyD) via a facile synthetic route. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2) are highly expressed in a variety of human cancer cells and are potential targets for cancer therapy. MC8 peptides, which have been proven to combine especially with Her-2 on cell membranes were coupled to PEI-β-CyD using N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate as a linker. The ratios of PEI600, β-CyD, and peptide were calculated based on proton integral values obtained from the ¹H-NMR spectra of the resulting products. Electron microscope observations showed that MC8-PEI-β-CyD can efficiently condense plasmid DNA (pDNA) into nanoparticles of about 200 nm, and MTT assays suggested the decreased toxicity of the polymer. Experiments on gene delivery efficiency in vitro showed that MC8-PEI-β-CyD/pDNA polyplexes had significantly greater transgene activities than PEI-β-CyD/pDNA in the Skov3 and A549 cells, which positively expressed Her-2, whereas, no such effect was observed in the MCF-7 cells, which negatively expressed Her-2. Our current research indicated that the synthesized nonviral vector shows improved gene delivery efficiency and targeting specificity in Her-2 positive cells.     

In situ self-assembly synthesis of gold nanoparticle arrays on polystyrene microspheres and their surface plasmon resonance

Gold (Au) nanoparticle arrays with tunable morphology and optical characteristics were synthesized by in-situ self-assembly process that occurred on the surface of aniline-modified polystyrene (PS) microspheres. The method can be used to control the growth of both single and aggregated Au nanoparticle arrays on PS microsphere surface. This method could also be adapted for synthesis of other noble metals hybrid materials, which opens exciting opportunities for their practical applications.