One-pot synthesis of multisubstituted quaterphenyls and cyclopropanes

An efficient one-step synthetic route toward multifunctionalized quaterphenyls 3 or cyclopropanes 4 is developed from substituted chalcones 1 and sulfones 2 in good yields via a regioselective [3C+3C] or [1C+2C] annulation. The reaction features mild conditions, multisubstitution, and functional groups tolerance and is transition metal catalyst-free. The protocol provides a novel alternative to the conventional methodologies for the synthesis of quaterphenyls or cyclopropanes.     

Supramolecular organogelators based on Janus type AT nucleosides

J-AT nucleoside-based organogelators 1a and 1b were designed and synthesized. They were endowed with unparalleled superiority to natural nucleobase analogues 2–6 to gelate aromatic solvents due to their excellent self-assembly properties. The J-AT nucleoside-based organogelators showed a specific self-complementary base pair recognition characteristic. The gel stabilities of 1a and 1b were drastically influenced by adenine analogue 2, hardly affected by thymine analogue 3, uracil analogue 4, cytosine analogue 5, and mildly interrupted by guanine analogue 6.     

Prins Cyclization of Styrenes or Acetophenone Catalyzed by DBSA in Water

Dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) was proved to be an efficient catalyst for Prins cyclization of styrenes and formaldehyde or acetaldehyde in water. A tandem dehydration/Prins cyclization reaction using a tertiary alcohol and formaldehyde as substrates proceeded very well by using DBSA as catalyst. Acetophenone, which is less reactive compared with styrene, can also react with formaldehyde when catalyzed by DBSA in water to afford 1,3-dioxan-5-ylphenylmethanone in good yield.     

Trigoxyphins O–T,six new heterodimers from Trigonostemon xyphophylloides

Phytochemical study of the twigs of Trigonostemon xyphophylloides led to the isolation of six new heterodimers, trigoxyphins O (1) and R–T (4–6) comprising of two different degraded diterpenoids, and trigoxyphins P (2) and Q (3) comprising a degraded diterpenoid and a phenylpropanoid, together with a known homodimer, neoboutomannin (7). The structures and relative configurations were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR experiments. Compounds 1–6 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against four human tumour cell lines by MTT assay.     

Synthesis of poly(l-lactic acid) with improved thermal stability by sulfonic acid-catalyzed melt/solid polycondensation

Melt/solid polycondensation (MP/SSP) is deemed as an alternative synthetic route besides ring-opening polymerization (ROP) in synthesizing poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA). However, it is found that PLLA synthesized by MP/SSP has much poorer thermal stability than that by ROP due to more residual Sn(II) metallic catalyst in the former, but sulfonic acids does not show any detrimental effect on the thermal stability of PLLA. To synthesizing PLLA with good thermal stability by MP/SSP, a variety of commercially available sulfonic acids were screened as catalysts in MP/SSP of PLLA. Among these nonmetallic catalysts, it was found that 1,3-propanedisulfonic acid (PSA) and 1,5-naphthalene disulfonic acid (NSA) exhibited satisfactory catalytic reactivity and PLLAs with excellent thermal stability, high molecular weight, little coloration and good optical purity were successfully synthesized by MP/SSP. The decomposition temperature was increased by 80–100 °C in comparison to SnCl₂-catalyzed PLLA, and the thermal stability is comparable to commercial PLLA produced by ROP.     

Identification of two polyamides (PA11 and PA1012) using pyrolysis-GC/MS and MALDI-TOF MS

The main goal of this work is to identify two polyamides (PA11 and PA1012) by mass spectrometry including pyrolysis-GC/MS and MALDI-TOF MS. PA11 and PA1012 have similar properties and cannot be distinguished by many other methods. Using pyrolysis-GC/MS, the pyrograms of PA11 and PA1012 at 600 °C were compared. Specific pyrolyzates for PA11 and PA1012 were obtained, 2-azacyclotridecanone for PA11 and 1,10-diaminodecane, 1,10-dicyanodecane for PA1012, respectively, which was the basis to distinguish them. Meanwhile, MALDI-TOF MS can give specific repeat unit for these two polyamides, dehydrated 11-aminoundecanoic acid (M = 183) for PA11, acetylate of dodecanedioic acid and diaminodecane (M = 366) for PA1012, which can be another means of identifying them.     

A microfluidic chip‐based fluorescent biosensor for the sensitive and specific detection of label‐free single‐base mismatch via magnetic beads‐based “sandwich” hybridization strategy

A novel microfluidic chip‐based fluorescent DNA biosensor, which utilized the electrophoretic driving mode and magnetic beads‐based “sandwich” hybridization strategy, was developed for the sensitive and ultra‐specific detection of single‐base mismatch DNA in this study. In comparison with previous biosensors, the proposed DNA biosensor has much more robust resistibility to the complex matrix of real saliva and serum samples, shorter analysis time, and much higher discrimination ability for the detection of single‐base mismatch. These features, as well as its easiness of fabrication, operation convenience, stability, better reusability, and low cost, make it a promising alternative to the SNPs genotyping/detection in clinical diagnosis. By using the biosensor, we have successfully determined oral cancer‐related DNA in saliva and serum samples without sample labeling and any preseparation or dilution with a detection limit of 5.6 × 10^?11 M, a RSD (n = 5) < 5% and a discrimination factor of 3.58–4.54 for one‐base mismatch.     

Study on the Interaction Between Bovine Serum Albumin and Potassium Perfluoro Octane Sulfonate

The interactions between potassium perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. The association constants between PFOS and BSA were obtained by fluorescence enhancing and fluorescence quenching respectively. Furthermore, fluorescence quenching was studied at different temperatures, and the binding constant was also determined by the method of fluorescence quenching. According to the thermodynamic parameters, the main binding force could be judged. The experimental results revealed that BSA and PFOS had strong interactions. The mechanism of quenching belonged to dynamic quenching and the main sort of binding force was hydrophobic force. IR-spectra proved the interaction changed the conformation of BSA.     

Fractal Aperture Distribution of Activated Carbon Fiber and Adsorption Behavior to Low‐Density Benzene Steam

Based on the J(x) fractal distribution function of aperture given by Jaroniec, this article suggests another function K(x), a variant of J(x) but offering new insight. We then use these two functions to characterize three kinds of activated carbon fiber (ACF) of different specific areas. This article also provides the fractal distribution of the aperture and the isotherm of nonpolarity benzene steam on the ACF specimens and the relationship between them.