Preparation and electrochemistry of azobenzene self-assembled monolayers on gold--long range tunneling and end-group hydrogen bonding effect

A series of thiol-functionalied azobenzene derivatives (RAzoCnSH: R=H for n=3-6, abbreviated as AzoCnSH; R=CH(3)CONH for n=4, abbreviated as aaAzoC4SH) on gold electrodes were prepared and their self-assembly and electrochemical properties were studied by cyclic voltammetry. They all formed uniform and reproducible self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold and showed well-behaved voltammetric responses in aqueous solution. Both the length of the alkyl chain spacer and the H-bonding of the end acetamino group had effects on the stability and the electrochemical kinetics of the SAMs, and the effect of the H-bonding was dominant. The surface coverage of the SAMs (AzoCnSH) is gradually increased with an increase of the alkyl chain spacer length, whereas the presence of the terminal acetamino group leads to a greater increase of the surface coverage. At a low scan rate, voltammetric responses corresponding to an irreversible two-electron, two-proton reduction/oxidation of the trans-azobenzene redox center were obtained in the range of +300 mV and -800 mV, which exhibited very large peak-to-peak splitting. At a high scan rate of 500 mV/s, two steps of reversible one-electron, one-proton reduction/oxidation corresponding to the cis-isomer in azobenzene-thiol SAMs (n is odd) was clearly observed between +300 and -200 mV. The apparent electron-transfer rate is decreased with increasing distance between the azobenzene redox center and the gold electrode. The existence of the end acetamino group which restricted the conformational change during the redox process also led to a decrease of the standard rate constant, and this restriction effect is more predominant than the distance effect.     

Morphological effect on spectral property of poly(9,9-dihexylfluorene-alt-2,5-dihexyloxybenzene) films

In this study the optical property and film morphology of a conjugated polymer, poly(9,9-dihexylfluorene-alt-2,5-dihexyloxybenzene) (PF6OC6), are investigated. It is found that the intensity of the 0-1 emission relative to the 0-0 emission in the PL spectra and the full width at the half-maximum (fwhm) of PL spectra of the PF6OC6 films decrease firstly and then increase with increasing the annealing temperature. The polymer films also exhibit different morphological features after annealing at different temperatures. The optical and morphological results suggest that the vibronic structure of PF6OC6 is closely related to the film morphology, and its formation is enhanced in the amorphous (or less ordered) films and inhibited in the ordered films.     

Time-resolved enzymatic determination of glucose using a fluorescent europium probe for hydrogen peroxide

An enzymatic assay for glucose based on the use of the fluorescent probe for hydrogen peroxide, europium(III) tetracycline (EuTc), is described. The weakly fluorescent EuTc and enzymatically generated H₂O₂ form a strongly fluorescent complex (EuTc–H₂O₂) whose fluorescence decay profile is significantly different. Since the decay time of EuTc–H₂O₂ is in the microseconds time domain, fluorescence can be detected in the time-resolved mode, thus enabling substantial reduction of background fluorescence. The scheme represents the first H₂O₂-based time-resolved fluorescence assay for glucose not requiring the presence of a peroxidase. The time-resolved assay (with a delay time of 60 s and using endpoint detection) enables glucose to be determined at levels as low as 2.2 mol L^–1, with a dynamic range of 2.2–100 mol L^–1. The method also was adapted to a kinetic assay in order to cover higher glucose levels (mmol L^–1 range). The latter was validated by analyzing spiked serum samples and gave a good linear relationship for glucose levels from 2.5 to 55.5 mmol L^–1. Noteworthy features of the assay include easy accessibility of the probe, large Stokes shift, a line-like fluorescence peaking at 616 nm, stability towards oxygen, a working pH of approximately 7, and its suitability for both kinetic and endpoint determination.     

Probe metal binding mode of imine covalent organic frameworks: cycloiridation for (photo)catalytic hydrogen evolution from formate

Metalation of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) is a critical strategy to functionalize COFs for advanced applications yet largely relies on the pre-installed specific metal docking sites in the network, such as porphyrin, salen, 2,2′-bipyridine, etc. We show in this study that the imine linkage of simple imine-based COFs, one of the most popular COFs, readily chelate transition metal (Ir in this work) via cyclometalation, which has not been explored before. The iridacycle decorated COF exhibited more than 10-fold efficiency enhancement in (photo)catalytic hydrogen evolution from aqueous formate solution than its molecular counterpart under mild conditions. This work will inspire more functional cyclometallated COFs to be explored beyond catalysis considering the large imine COF library and the rich metallacycle chemistry.

This study describes cyclometallation as a new metal binding mode for imine-based COFs. The iridacycle decorated COF could be used for catalytic hydrogen evolution from aqueous formate solution with high stability and high efficacy.     

Polymer-coated hollow-fiber microextraction of estrogens in water samples with analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A novel sorbent, dihydroxylated polymethylmethacrylate (DHPMM), coated on hollow-fiber membrane, is used for the polymer-coated hollow-fiber microextraction of trace amounts of natural and synthetic estrogens, such as diethylstilbestrol, estrone, 17beta-estradiol and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol, in aqueous samples. In this procedure, estrogens were extracted using the functionalized polar DHPMM polymer with derivatization using N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis. The detection limits for estrogens in aqueous sample were between 0.03 and 0.8 ng l(-1) and the calibration curves were linear over the concentration range 0.05-10 microgl(-1) and had correlation coefficients of >0.994. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) were <15% (n = 3). This simple, accurate, sensitive and selective analytical method is applicable to the determination of trace amounts of estrogens in reservoir and potable water samples.     

Synthesis of 7,9-dideoxybaccatin IV analogs from sinenxan A

Sinenxan A, a taxoid isolated from callus tissue cultures of Taxus yunnanensis was converted into 13-oxo-7,9-dideoxy-2-debenzoyl-2-acetyl-baccatin IV and 7,9-dideoxy-2-debenzoyl-4-deacetyl-baccatin IV, a key framework of 1,7,9-trideoxypaclitaxel. Several special steps in this transformation are worthy of note: (1) deoxygenation by treatment with hypophosphorous acid at C-14 position; (2) a highly regioselective O-deacetylation of taxanes at C-5 position; and (3) stereoselective reduction of the 13-carbonyl group by transannular assistance from the C-4-hydroxyl.     

Reduction of 4-nitrophenol catalyzed by nitroreductase

The reduction of 4-nitrophenol catalyzed by nitroreductase in the presence of NADH was investigated in this paper.4-Amino- phenol and 4-bydroxylamino-phenol were found in the reductive products.The relationship between reaction time and the reductive ratio were studied.The similar reducing ratios of 4-nitrophenol were obtained under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.The results indicated that an oxygen-insensitive reaction was proceeded in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol and nitroreductase was an oxygen- insensitive enzyme.The reductive products of 4-nitrophenol were determined by HPLC and MS.     

Efficient photochemical oxetane formation from 1-methyl-2,4,5-triphenylimidazole and benzophenones

In contrast to simple imidazoles, 1-methy1–2,4,5-triphenylimidazole ($\text{1}$) produced stable oxetane photoadducts $\text{3b}$ - $\text{e}$ with good efficiency upon irradiation in the presence of benzophenone derivatives $\text{2b}$ - $\text{e}$ in acetonitrile solution. Irradiation in the solid-phase was also studied. The oxetanes $\text{3b}$ - $\text{e}$ readily underwent cycloreversion by acid catalysis or by heating.     

Unusual magnetic properties of one-dimensional molecule-based magnets associated with a structural phase transition

Three ion-pair complexes, [RbzPy](+)[Ni(mnt)(2)](-) (mnt(2)(-) = maleonitriledithiolate; [RbzPy](+) = 4-R-benzylpyridinium; R = Br (1), Cl (2), and NO(2) (3)), with unusual magnetic properties have been synthesized and characterized. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 have been solved. The two complexes belong to the P2(1)/c space group with Z = 4 and C(20)H(11)BrN(5)NiS(4), a = 12.0744(17) A, b = 26.369(4) A, c = 7.440(3) A, and beta = 102.63(3) degrees for 1 and C(20)H(11)ClN(5)NiS(4), a = 12.105(2) A, b = 26.218(4) A, c = 7.374(2) A, and beta = 102.55(2) degrees for 2, respectively. The [Ni(mnt)(2)](-) anions in 1-3 form uniformly spaced one-dimensional (1-D) magnetic chains of s = 1/2 at room temperature. The temperature dependences of the susceptibility for 1-3 show that they undergo phase transitions. All three complexes are paramagnetic in their high-temperature (abbreviation HT) phase and diamagnetic in the low-temperature (abbreviation LT) phase because of strong dimerization along the stacking direction. The results of thermal analysis (DSC) further confirm that the phase transition for 1 and 2 is first-order but maybe second-order for 3. The phenomena observed in this study are similar to those of the 1-D radical systems.