One‐Pot,Four‐Component Synthesis of Fully Substituted 1,3,4‐Oxadiazole Derivatives from (Isocyanoimino)triphenylphosphorane,a Primary Amine,an Aromatic Carboxylic Acid,and Chloroacetone

The 1 : 1 imine intermediate 7 generated by the addition of a primary amine 2 to chloroacetone ( 1 ) is trapped by (isocyanoimino)triphenylphosphorane ( 4 ) in the presence of an aromatic carboxylic acid 3 and leads to the formation of the corresponding iminophosphorane intermediate 9 (Scheme 2). The 1,3,4‐oxadiazole derivatives 5 are then formed via an intramolecular aza‐Wittig reaction of the iminophosphorane intermediate 9 . The reactions were completed under neutral conditions at room temperature. The fully substituted 1,3,4‐oxadiazole derivatives 5 were produced in high yields (Table).     

Synthesis of sterically congested 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives from aromatic carboxylic acids, acenaphthoquinone, and (N-isocyanimino)triphenylphosphorane

Abstract  

Reactions of (N-isocyanimino)triphenylphosphorane with acenaphthoquinone in the presence of aromatic carboxylic acids proceed smoothly at room temperature and under neutral conditions to afford sterically congested 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives in high yields. The reaction proceeds smoothly and cleanly under mild conditions and no side reactions are observed.     

Giant Enhancement of Second Harmonic Generation Accompanied by the Structural Transformation of 7‐Fold to 8‐Fold Interpenetrated Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs)

Interpenetration in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is an intriguing phenomenon with significant impacts on their properties, and functional applications. Herein, we show that a 7‐fold interpenetrated MOF ( 1 ) is transformed into an 8‐fold interpenetrated MOF by the loss of DMF in a single‐crystal‐to‐single‐crystal manner. This is accompanied by a giant enhancement of the second harmonic generation (SHG ca. 125 times) and two‐photon photoluminescence (ca. 14 times). The strengthened π–π interaction between the individual diamondoid networks and intensified oscillator strength of the molecules aid the augment of dipole moments and boost the nonlinear optical conversion efficiency. Large positive and negative thermal expansions of 1 occur at 30–150 °C before the loss of DMF. These results offer an avenue to manipulate the NLO properties of MOFs using interpenetration and provide access to tunable single‐crystal NLO devices.     

Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy study of interfacial binding of thrombin to antithrombin DNA aptamers

We have applied surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, in combination with one-step direct binding, competition, and sandwiched assay schemes, to study thrombin binding to its DNA aptamers, with the aim to further the understanding of their interfacial binding characteristics. Using a 15-mer aptamer that binds thrombin primarily at the fibrinogen-recognition exosite as a model, we have demonstrated that introducing a DNA spacer in the aptamer enhances thrombin-binding capacity and stability, as similarly reported for hydrocarbon linkers. The bindings are aptamer surface coverage and salt concentration dependent. When free aptamers or DNA sequences complementary to the immobilized aptamer are applied after the formation of thrombin/aptamer complexes, bound thrombin is displaced to a certain extent, depending on the stability of the complexes formed under different conditions. When the 29-mer aptamer (specific to thrombin's heparin-binding exosite) is immobilized on the surface, its affinity to thrombin appears to be lower than the immobilized 15-mer aptamer, although the 29-mer aptamer is known to have a higher affinity in the solution phase. These findings underline the importance of aptamers' ability to fold into intermolecular structures and their accessibility for target capture. Using a sandwiched assay scheme followed by an additional signaling step involving biotin-streptavidin chemistry, we have observed the simultaneous binding of the 15- and 29-mer aptamers to thrombin protein at different exosites and have found that one aptamer depletes thrombin's affinity to the other when they bind together. We believe that these findings are invaluable for developing DNA aptamer-based biochips and biosensors.     

Tuning the electron affinity and secondary electron emission of diamond (100) surfaces by Diels-Alder reaction

The tuning of electron affinity and secondary electron emission on diamond (100) surfaces due to cycloaddition with 1,3-butadiene is investigated by photoemission experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A significant reduction in electron affinity up to 0.7 eV and enhancement of secondary electron emission were observed after 1,3-butadiene adsorption. The lowering of vacuum level via 1,3-butadiene adsorption is supported by DFT calculations. The C-H bonds in the covalently bonded organics on diamond contribute to the enhanced secondary electron emission and reduced electron affinity in a mechanism similar to that of C-H bonds on hydrogenated diamond surfaces. This combination of strong secondary emission and low electron affinity by the organic functionalization of diamond has potential applications in diamond-based molecular electronic devices.     

Spatial Effect of C?H Dipoles on the Electron Affinity of Diamond (100)‐2×1 Adsorbed with Organic Molecules

Cycloaddition of allyl organics on the dimer rows of a clean C(100)‐2×1 diamond surface can be used for the controlled functionalization of such a surface. Sticking probability measurements confirm that appreciable uptake of acetylene and butadiene occur on the clean diamond surface at room temperature. The change in electron affinity of the surface as a function of the coverage of the organic molecules is investigated with periodic DFT calculations. The presence of C? H dipoles on these adsorbates modify the surface charge density and gives rise to an induced dipolar layer that modifies the electrostatic potential outside the surface. There is a significant reduction of up to 2.5 eV in electron affinity following the chemisorption of ethylene. Therefore, the adsorbed molecules play the same role as surface hydrogen in inducing the NEA condition on the clean diamond. The change in electron affinity does not scale linearly with the coverage of the organic molecules, because the spatial profile of the C? H dipoles as well as the orientation of the molecules on the surface have a predominant effect on the surface charge density.     

Electrochemical studies of few-layered graphene as an anode material for Li ion batteries

Few-layered graphene (FLG) with specific surface area of only ~8.2 m² g^?1 was synthesized from graphene oxide (GO) using microwave-assisted exfoliation. GO was prepared using modified Hummers method. Few-layered nature of the exfoliated material was confirmed by electron microscopy, X-ray and electron diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. Coin cells were fabricated using FLG as an anode and lithium metal as a counter electrode. The cells were tested using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic cycling techniques. FLG showed reversible capacity values of ~400 and ~250 mAh g^?1 at current rates of 0.1 and 1 C, respectively. Columbic efficiency was more than 98 % while cycle to cycle capacity fading was less than 2 %. Maximum discharge or charging capacity was below 0.3 V, a preferable characteristic for achieving ideal anodic behavior.