One step synthesis of indirubins by reductive coupling of isatins with KBH4

One step synthesis of the natural product indirubin by reductive coupling of isatin with KBH₄ is described and a possible mechanism for the reaction is proposed. Eleven indirubin derivatives were obtained easily from the corresponding substituted isatin.     

The colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent detection of cyanide and sulfide in live cells,application for logic gate and bioimging

We described the design and synthesis of a colorimetric and ratiometric fluorescent probe based on a conjugated π-electron system that displayed differential fluorescence responses towards cyanide and sulfide and demonstrated its utility in intracellular ion imaging and logic gate.     

A highly selective HBT-based “turn-on” fluorescent probe for hydrazine detection and its application

As one of the important industrial chemicals, hydrazine (N₂H₄) can be inhaled through the skin, leading to many serious health issues. In this paper, we constructed a novel turn-on fluorescent probe HBTM for N₂H₄ detection based on ESIPT and ICT mechanism by incorporating the methyl dicyanvinyl group to 2-(2′-hydroxylphenyl) benzothiazole (HBT) fluorophore. The probe showed the following advantages: high sensitivity with detection limit of 2.9 × 10^?7 M, high selectivity over other related interfering species, wide linear range of 0–140 μM and pH value adaptation. Moreover, the probe could detect N₂H₄ on paper strips and image N₂H₄ in living cells.     

Development of a light-up fluorescent probe for HRAS G-quadruplex DNA

The development of small-molecule G-quadruplex DNA probes has attracted significant attention in recent years. However, G-quadruplexes can display a wide variety of topologies, which process different structures and functions. Therefore, selective discrimination one G-quadruplex structure over another is promising. Herein, we reported the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of a long-chain fatty amine functionalized triphenylamine-quinolinium conjugate 1b. Significant enhancement of the fluorescence intensity (over 180 fold) was observed when 1b bound with HRAS G-quadruplex DNA, while much weaker enhancements were presented in the presence of other G-quadruplexes (45–90-fold) and single/double-stranded DNAs (less than 20-fold), indicating 1b had an excellent selectivity to HRAS. The details of the interactions were investigated by UV–Vis, FID and CD analysis. The results show 1b could interact and stabilize HRAS structure mainly by π-π stacking binding mode. The introduced amine chain of the structure core was found to be better in the terms of inducing selectivity toward G-quadruplex structure. In addition, the application of 1b as a fluorescent agent for living cell imaging was also demonstrated.     

E-Stilbene derivatives synthesized by stereoselective reductive coupling of benzylic gem-dibromide promoted by Cu/polyamine

Stereoselective reductive coupling reaction of benzylic gem-dibromide promoted by Cu/polyamine produces E-stilbene derivatives with high yield under mild conditions. It provides a short pathway to synthesize symmetrical and asymmetrical E-stilbene derivatives using cheap reagents and alkenyl-free starting material together with easy workup.     

Convenient one-pot synthesis of thiobarbituro-quinoline derivatives via catalyst-free multicomponent reactions in water

A one-pot, three-component condensation reaction of 8-quinolinol, 2-thiobarbituric acid and isatins or aldehydes in water to give novel barbituroquinoline derivatives for the first time, is described. The reaction is free of catalysts and toxic solvents, operating under mild conditions and allows for ease of product isolation, making it more environmentally friendly and suitable for large-scale operations.     

A zinc(II) benzenetricarboxylate metal organic framework with unusual adsorption properties,and its application to the preconcentration of pesticides

The authors describe a zinc(II) benzenetricarboxylate (Zn-BTC) based metal-organic framework (MOF) with chrysanthemum-like structure, and its application to the adsorption of pesticides from real water samples. The Zn-BTC MOF was characterized by XRD, TGA, SEM, nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. The MOF was used in dispersive solid-phase extraction of six aromatic pesticides from various wastewater samples prior to their quantification by HPLC. Extraction times, extraction temperature, amount of adsorbent, and oscillation rate were optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the method has relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 6.1–10.1%, and good linearity (correlation coefficients higher than 0.9974). The LODs and LOQs for seven pesticides are found to be 0.20–1.60 μg·L^?1 and 0.66–5.28 μg·L^?1, respectively. The RSDs of within batch extraction are 1.6–9.5% and 3.9–12%.

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Graphical abstract Schematic of a zinc-benzenetricarboxylate (Zn-BTC) based metal-organic framework (MOF) for use as an adsorbent of dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE) of pesticides prior to their determination by HPLC.

     

A capillary coated with a metal-organic framework for the capillary electrochromatographic determination of cephalosporins

The authors have developed a rapid and reliable method for the capillary electrochromatographic determination of cephalosporin antibiotics in environmental waters. An open-tubular capillary column was modified with the complex [Cu(mal)(bpy)], a copper(II) complex with malic acid and 4,4′-bipyridyl, by an amide coupling method to act as the stationary phase. The simultaneous determination of the cephalosporins formulations, namely cefapirin (CP), ceftiofur (EFT) and cefixime (CFM) in environmental water samples was accomplished in buffer of pH 5.0 by applying a voltage of 8 kV and with DAD detection. Detection limits typically are 0.1 μg?mL^?1.The method was applied to the analysis of cephalosporins in spiked water samples from Kunming Lake to give recoveries betwen 88 and 106%.

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Graphical abstract A metal-organic framework (MOF) was synthesized from copper(II), malic acid and 4,4′-bipyridyl and used as stationary phase of capillary electrochromatography (CEC) by covalent immobilization on the capillary inner walls. Compared to an uncoated fused-silica capillary, improved separation of cephalosporin antibiotics can be accomplished.

     

Single layer graphitic carbon nitride-modified graphene composite as a fiber coating for solid-phase microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The authors describe a three-dimensional single layer graphitic carbon nitride-modified graphene composite (g-C₃N₄@G) deposited on a stainless steel wire by a sol-gel technique. The coated fiber was applied to direct immersion solid-phase microextraction of trace levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from cosmetics samples prior to their determination by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Due to π stacking interaction and hydrophobic interaction between the g-C₃N₄@G coating and the analytes (naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene), the fiber displays an excellent adsorption capability for the analytes. Under optimized conditions, the method has a wide linear range, low LODs (from 1.0 to 2.0 ng L⁻¹), good repeatability and high recoveries. It was successfully applied to the determination of PAHs in cosmetics. The g-C₃N₄@G fiber also exhibited good durability.

Schematic of a three-dimensional single layer graphitic carbon nitride-modified graphene composite (g-C₃N₄@G) that was coated onto a stainless steel wire for the direct-immersion solid phase microextraction of trace levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons prior to gas chromatography-mass spectrometric detection.

     

Construction of metal–organic frameworks from 3-(6-oxo-6,9-dihydro-1H-purin-1-yl)propionate

A series of metal–organic frameworks built from a propionate-functionalized purine-containing ligand 3-(6-oxo-6,9-dihydro-1H-purin-1-yl)propanoic acid (H₂L), {[La(HL)₃(H₂O)₂]·2H₂O}_n (1), {[Ce(HL)₃(H₂O)₂]·4H₂O}_n (2), [Co(HL)₂(H₂O)₂]_n (3), {[Cd(L)(H₂O)]·0.5H₂O}_n (4) and {[Pb(HL)(C₂O₄)_0.5(H₂O)]·2H₂O}_n (5), was synthesized and characterized. Isostructural 1 and 2 have polymeric chain structures further linked into 3-D porous supramolecular frameworks with 1-D open channels through complicated interchain hydrogen bonding interactions. At 77 K and 1 bar, the dehydrated porous materials 1 and 2 show adsorption behaviors with maximum nitrogen uptakes of 14 and 23 mL g^?1, respectively. Complexes 3–5 are 2-D coordination polymers but have different topological structures. Metallohelicate 3 has (4,4) nets composed of left- and right-handed metal–organic helices sharing the common metal centers, but metallohelicate 4 possesses (4·8²) topology and 5 has 6³-topological structure. In 3 and 5, the polymeric layers are further assembled through regular interlayer hydrogen bonding interactions to form 3-D supramolecular frameworks. Additionally, the thermostabilities of 1–5 as well as the magnetism of 3 were also investigated.