DNAzyme based electrochemical sensors for trace uranium

We have developed a uranyl-specific DNAzyme that was immobilized on the surface of a gold electrode to give a highly sensitive and selective biosensor for uranyl ion. The typical DNAzyme system consisted of the RNA (rA) as the substrate (ADNA), and the other strand is the enzyme (TDNA) with a ferrocene (Fc). The presence of uranyl ion induces the cleavage of the DNA substrate strand at the rA position to form two fragments. The Fc unit thereby is released from the surface of the electrode, and this results in a decreased peak current. This electrochemical biosensor has a dynamic range from 2 nM to 14 nM of uranyl ion, with a detection limit at 1 nM. It exhibits high sensitivity and excellent selectivity over other metal ions, and thus represents a promising technique for simple, fast, on-site, and real-time electrochemical sensing of UO₂(II) ion. It also serves as a guide in choosing different methods for designing electrochemical sensors for other metal ions.

Atom-Economic Route to Densely Functionalized Thiophenes via Base-Catalyzed Rearrangement of 5-Propargyl-2H-thiopyran-4(3H)-ones

An atom-economic route to densely functionalized thiophenes has been developed via base-catalyzed rearrangement of 5-propargyl-2H-thiopyran-4(3H)-ones involving tandem retro-thio Michael addition, propargyl isomerization, and intramolecular thio-addition to allenes.     

Synthesis of 3-Trifluoromethyl-Substituted Benzo[f]chromene Derivatives in a One-Pot Reaction

In the presence of 1,8-diazabicycolo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) and concentrated H₂SO₄, 2-naphthol reacted smoothly with α,β-unsaturated trifluoromethyl ketones in CH₂Cl₂ at room temperature, affording the 3-trifluoromethyl-substituted benzo[f]chromene derivatives in good to excellent yields in a one-pot reaction.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the following free supplemental resource: Full experimental and spectral details].     

Silica Sulfuric Acid (SSA)/Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) as a Recyclable System for the Synthesis of Quinoxalines and Pyrazines

An efficient and facile method has been developed for the condensation of 1,2-diamines with α-hydroxyketones in polyethylene glycol (PEG) to quinoxalines and pyrazines with good yields in the presence of silica sulfuric acid (SSA). The important features of the methodology are simple operations, environmentally friendliness, and no requirement for metal catalysts. Additionally, the catalyst system (SSA/PEG) could be recovered easily and reused.     

Water-Mediated Selective Synthesis of Pyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazolin-5(4H)-ones and [1,2,4]Triazolo[1,5-a]quinazolin-5(4H)-one via Copper-Catalyzed Cascade Reactions

A convenient and sustainable synthesis of pyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazolin-5(4H)-ones and [1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]quinazolin-5(4H)-one through copper-catalyzed cascade reactions of 2-bromobenzoates with 1H-pyrazol-5-amines or 1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-amine under ligand-free conditions in water is presented. It is notable that aqueous medium turned out to be crucial for the chemoselective formation of the title compounds. Compared with literature protocols, this new method showed advantages such as simple and sustainable procedure, commercially available starting materials, and convenient reuse of the reaction medium together with the copper catalyst.     

A Luminescent Cage‐Like Complex Constructed by Bidentate Pyridine‐Containing Ligand and Silver Nitrate

The cage‐like complex, Ag₄L₄(NO₃)₄ ( 1 ) [L = 1, 4‐bis(pyridine‐2‐ylmethoxy)benzene] was synthesized by the reaction of the flexible bidentate ligand and silver nitrate. It was characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, TG, and single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. Complex 1 is reported as the first cage‐like cluster constructed by four nitrate anions bridging two [2+2] macrocycles. A blue luminescent emission and luminescent enhancement effect are observed in complex 1 .     

Spectroscopic Investigation on Sonocatalytic Damage of BSA Molecules by FeIII Complexes with Binary Organic Acid Ligands Under Ultrasonic Irradiation

The interaction between bovine serum albumin (BSA) and Fe^III complexes with three binary organic acid (biorga) ligands, [Fe^III(oxa)(H₂O)₄]⁺ (oxa = oxalic acid), [Fe^III(pra)(H₂O)₄]⁺ (pra = propanedioic acid) and [Fe^III(sua)(H₂O)₄]⁺ (sua = succinic acid), as well as the sonocatalytic damage of BSA in the presence of these three Fe^III–biorga complexes under ultrasonic irradiation, were studied by UV–vis and fluorescence spectra. The experimental results show that the fluorescence quenching process of BSA caused by three Fe^III–biorga complexes are all static quenching and the corresponding quenching rate constants (K _q), equilibrium constants (K _A) and the binding site numbers (n) were calculated. The results reveal that, under ultrasonic irradiation, the BSA molecules were obviously damaged by these Fe^III–biorga complexes. In addition, the effects of several factors on the damage of BSA molecules were examined. The experimental results demonstrate that the damage degree of BSA increased with an increase of ultrasonic irradiation time, Fe^III–biorga complex concentration, and ionic strength. In comparison, [Fe^III(pra)(H₂O)₄]⁺ exhibited higher sonocatalytic activity than [Fe^III(oxa)(H₂O)₄]⁺ and [Fe^III(sua)(H₂O)₄]⁺. Finally, the extent of generation of $ \cdot {\text{O}}_{2}^{ - } $ · O 2 ? and ·OH during sonocatalytic processes was estimated. Perhaps, the results will be significant for promoting sonodynamic treatment (SDT) of tumors at the molecular level.     

Phosphate Removal from Aqueous Solution by an Effective Clay Composite Material

Adsorption is an effective treatment process for removing phosphorus and thus controlling eutrophication. In this study, a clay composite material called Al–dolomite–montmorillonite (Al–DM) was prepared and characterized. Al–DM performed well with respect to phosphate removal, with its performance depending on the Al–DM loading, contact time, initial phosphorus concentration and initial solution pH. Adsorption mechanisms were investigated by conducting batch tests on phosphate adsorption using the Al–DM. The adsorption process fitted both the pseudo-second-order kinetics model and the intra-particle diffusion model. The Langmuir, Freundlich and BET models all adequately described the adsorption isotherm data. Thermodynamic studies showed that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous in nature. Al–DM is an effective adsorbent for phosphate removal mainly due to its hierarchical porous structures as shown by characterization with SEM and EDS. Chemical changes occurring before and after adsorption in a water environment indicated that Al–DM had little negative effect on water quality.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structures,and Magnetic Properties of Two Copper(II) Radical Heterospin Complexes

Two heterospin complexes [Cu(NIT3Py)(cda)H₂O] · H₂O ( 1 ) and [Cu(NIT2Py)(cda)H₂O] · H₂O · CH₃OH ( 2 ) with Cu^II ions and pyridyl‐substituted nitronyl nitroxide radicals (NITxPy = 2‐(x′‐pyridyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐imidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide, x = 3, 2; H₂cda = 4‐hydroxy‐pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid) were synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. The single crystal structures show that the two complexes are both two‐spin complexes, in which the different radicals make the two complexes have different hydrogen bonding interactions to form 2D and 1D supramolecular network for complexes 1 and 2 , respectively. The magnetic measurements indicate that complexes 1 and 2 both exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions between Cu^II and radicals.