Coloring properties of novel 1,4-distyrylbenzene and 4,4′-distyrylbiphenyl fluorescent brighteners and their arrangement in cotton and polyester fiber

Some novel 1,4-distyrylbenzene (DSB) and 4,4′-distyrylbiphenyl (DSBP) fluorescent brighteners (FBs) were used to dye polyester and cotton fabrics. The CIE whiteness, color hue and reflectance spectrum of dyed fabrics were compared. DSBP derivatives could dye the cotton and polyester fabrics with a higher whiteness level and had a lower fluorescent quenching concentration than DSB derivatives. The color hue for the fabric dyed with DSB FBs was yellow-green, whereas that dyed with DSBP was blue–violet. The molecular arrangement in the fiber had a significant influence on their optical properties, resulting in different coloring properties. The increase in molecule planarity and rigidity generated by the interaction between the polymer and FB molecules caused a remarkable bathochromic shift in emission and excitation spectra. The H-aggregate of the DSB molecule in the fiber was easily generated, and the degree of aggregation increased with the molecular polarity. However, the aggregation of DSBP molecules in the polyester and cotton fiber was not found. The surface region of the cotton fiber was filled with FB molecules, whereas FB molecules in the polyester fiber aggregated easily, and incident light could pass through the surface region.     

Synthesis,characterization and properties of novel cellulose derivatives containing phosphorus: cellulose diphenyl phosphate and its mixed esters

Using ionic liquid 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride as reaction medium, a series of novel cellulose esters containing phosphorus including cellulose diphenyl phosphate (C-Dp) and cellulose acetate (CA)–diphenyl phosphate mixed esters was synthesized homogeneously. The degree of substitution was well controlled by altering reaction conditions, such as the molar ratio of the acylating reagents/anhydroglucose unit and reaction time. The structure and thermal properties of cellulose esters were characterized by FTIR, NMR, wide-angle X-ray powder diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. All the products possessed excellent solubility in some common organic solvents, and transparent films of cellulose esters were obtained by solution casting. In contrast to C-Dp, CA–diphenyl phosphate mixed esters showed clear glass transitions. More interestingly, these cellulose mixed esters exhibited thermoplastic behavior and could be processed by traditional melt processing methods.     

Rheological behaviors and molecular motions of semi-diluted Xanthan solutions under shear: Experimental studies

Semi-diluted Xanthan solution has been widely used in various fields, especially in enhancing oil recovery. The oscillatory shear and flow shear behaviors of Xanthan are important to oil flooding. The oscillatory shear relates to molecular motions, while flow shear reflects flowing characterization. In oscillatory shear mode, the storage modulus, loss modulus and tanδ has been measured. Calculating relaxation spectra through storage modulus, we found that the peak of segments’ relaxation heads to smaller relaxation time side. Also, the quantity of relaxation units increases as concentration increases. However, the relaxation time spectra are less affected by salinity. In flow shear mode, the relationship between shear rate and viscosity has been investigated. As concentration or salinity increases, the pseudoplastic of Xanthan solutions becomes more obvious. Furthermore, primary normal stress differences of Xanthan semi-diluted solutions lightly increase at first then sharply decrease as shear rate increases. This abnormal phenomenon may refer to wall slip.     

Morphological changes in the cellulose and lignin components of biomass occur at different stages during steam pretreatment

Morphological changes to the different components of lignocellulosic biomass were observed as they occurred during steam pretreatment by placing a pressure reaction cell in a neutron beam and collecting time-resolved neutron scattering data. Changes to cellulose morphology occurred mainly in the heating phase, whereas changes in lignin morphology occurred mainly in the holding and cooling phases. During the heating stage, water is irreversibly expelled from cellulose microfibrils as the elementary fibrils coalesce. During the holding phase lignin aggregates begin to appear and they increase in size most noticeably during the cooling phase. This experiment demonstrates the unique information that in situ small angle neutron scattering studies of pretreatment can provide. This approach could be useful in optimizing the heating, holding and cooling stages of pretreatments to allow the exact size and nature of lignin aggregates to be controlled in order to enhance enzyme accessibility to cellulose and therefore the efficiency of biomass conversion.     

硝酸镧对长柄扁桃试管苗生根的影响

通过极差分析研究了不同浓度的硝酸镧和生长素组合对长柄扁桃试管苗生根的影响。结果表明:对长柄扁桃生根影响的主次因素为硝酸镧(La(NO3)3)>吲哚丁酸(IBA)>吲哚乙酸(IAA),最优组合为La(NO3)320 mg·L-1+IBA 0.2 mg·L-1+IAA 0.2 mg·L-1。在此条件下培养42 d后,长柄扁桃试管苗根的诱导频率达到89%,平均根长达到9.2 cm,每株根的平均个数为9.7个。对长柄扁桃的根组织活力进行测定,结果表明添加镧的处理组根系还原力是对照(不加镧)组的1.57倍。经过移栽驯化2个月后,长柄扁桃组培苗的移栽成活率达到94%,株高是对照的1.53倍。     

Manganese‐Catalyzed Dehydrogenative [4+2] Annulation of NH Imines and Alkynes by CH/NH Activation

Described herein is a manganese‐catalyzed dehydrogenative [4+2] annulation of N? H imines and alkynes, a reaction providing highly atom‐economical access to diverse isoquinolines. This transformation represents the first example of manganese‐catalyzed C? H activation of imines; the stoichiometric variant of the cyclomanganation was reported in 1971. The redox neutral reaction produces H₂ as the major byproduct and eliminates the need for any oxidants, external ligands, or additives, thus standing out from known isoquinoline synthesis by transition‐metal‐catalyzed C? H activation. Mechanistic studies revealed the five‐membered manganacycle and manganese hydride species as key reaction intermediates in the catalytic cycle.     

An Unusual Dehydratase Acting on Glycerate and a Ketoreducatse Stereoselectively Reducing α‐Ketone in Polyketide Starter Unit Biosynthesis

Polyketide synthases (PKSs) usually employ a ketoreductase (KR) to catalyze the reduction of a β‐keto group, followed by a dehydratase (DH) that drives the dehydration to form a double bond between the α‐ and β‐carbon atoms. Herein, a DH*‐KR* involved in FR901464 biosynthesis was characterized: DH* acts on glyceryl‐S‐acyl carrier protein (ACP) to yield ACP‐linked pyruvate; subsequently KR* reduces α‐ketone that yields L ‐lactyl‐S‐ACP as starter unit for polyketide biosynthesis. Genetic and biochemical evidence was found to support a similar pathway that is involved in the biosynthesis of lankacidins. These results not only identified new PKS domains acting on different substrates, but also provided additional options for engineering the PKS starter pathway or biocatalysis.     

Efficient Solar Cells Sensitized by Porphyrins with an Extended Conjugation Framework and a Carbazole Donor: From Molecular Design to Cosensitization

Porphyrin dyes containing the carbazole electron donor have been designed and optimized by wrapping the porphyrin framework, introducing an additional ethynylene bridge to extend the wavelength range of light absorption, and further suppression of the dye aggregation by introducing additional alkoxy chains. Application of a cosensitization approach results in improved current density (J_sc) and open‐circuit voltage (V_oc) values, thus achieving the highest cell efficiency of 10.45 %. This work provides an effective combined strategy of molecular design and cosensitization for developing efficient dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In addition, carbazole has been demonstrated to be a promising donor for porphyrin sensitizers.     

Synthesis of Polyketide Stereoarrays Enabled by a Traceless Oxonia‐Cope Rearrangement

Polyketide antibiotics bearing skipped polyols represent a synthetic challenge. A SiCl₄‐promoted oxonia‐Cope rearrangement of syn,syn‐2‐vinyl‐1,3‐diols was developed to forge an array of 1,5‐pentenediols, thus providing versatile motifs for the preparation of 1,2,3,5‐stereoarrays in a highly stereoselective manner. Further exploration with Sn(OTf)₂ realized the rearrangement of a cross‐aldehyde which tactically warrants the utility of the current approach to access complex polyketides. The origin of high stereoselectivity is attributed to a chairlike anti‐conformation of the oxonium ion intermediate.     

Identification and Accurate Size Characterization of Nanoparticles in Complex Media

We have developed a new method for the identification and accurate size characterization of nanoparticles (NPs) in complex media based on capillary electrokinetic (CE) separation coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). Through mass scanning and Gaussian fitting of electropherogram peaks, we can obtain multidimensional information on chemical compositions, size distributions, and ionic species of multiple NPs in a single run. The results are more accurate than those obtained by using conventional methods. This method provides a powerful tool for investigating polydisperse NP systems and rapid screening of NP‐containing products.