Advanced Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2.7</Subscript>/Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>7</Subscript> composite film with enhanced visible-light-driven activity for the degradation of organic dyes

Bi₂O_2.7/Bi₂Ti₂O₇ composite photocatalyst films are synthesized by sol–gel dip-coating. The ratio of adding Bi and Ti precursors can be controlled during the preparation process. The phase structure is confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectrum shows that the composite catalysts present light absorption in the visible region. The obtained Bi₂O_2.7/Bi₂Ti₂O₇ composite films possess superior photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B, owing to the visible light response of Bi₂O_2.7 and the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes between the two components. As a result, the Bi₂O_2.7/Bi₂Ti₂O₇ (Bi/Ti = 1:1) displays the highest photocatalytic activity under visible light or UV light irradiation for the degradation of different organic dyes, including methyl blue, methyl orange and acid orange 7.     

Highly Enantioselective Tandem Michael Addition of Tryptamine‐Derived Oxindoles to Alkynones: Concise Synthesis of Strychnos Alkaloids

A highly enantioselective tandem Michael addition of tryptamine‐derived oxindoles to alkynones was developed by taking advantage of a chiral N,N′‐dioxide Sc(OTf)₃ catalyst. The reaction enables the facile preparation of enantioenriched spiro[pyrrolidine‐3,3′‐oxindole] compounds, which provides a novel strategy for the synthesis of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids. As a demonstration, the asymmetric synthesis of strychnos alkaloids [(?)‐tubifoline, (?)‐tubifolidine, (?)‐dehydrotubifoline] was achieved in 10–11 steps.     

Valency‐Controlled Framework Nucleic Acid Signal Amplifiers

Weak ligand–receptor recognition events are often amplified by recruiting multiple regulatory biomolecules to the action site in biological systems. However, signal amplification in in vitro biomimetic systems generally lack the spatiotemporal regulation in vivo. Herein we report a framework nucleic acid (FNA)‐programmed strategy to develop valence‐controlled signal amplifiers with high modularity for ultrasensitive biosensing. We demonstrated that the FNA‐programmed signal amplifiers could recruit nucleic acids, proteins, and inorganic nanoparticles in a stoichiometric manner. The valence‐controlled signal amplifier enhanced the quantification ability of electrochemical biosensors, and enabled ultrasensitive detection of tumor‐relevant circulating free DNA (cfDNA) with sensitivity enhancement of 3–5 orders of magnitude and improved dynamic range.     

Decarboxylative cross-couplings of 2-aminopyrimidine-5-carboxylic acids

Decarboxylative CC cross-couplings of 2-aminopyrimidine-5-carboxylic acids under a Pd/Ag-based catalytic system opens a new platform for the introduction of diverse C5 substituents. The reaction methods proceeded efficiently with a wide range of the acids and the coupling partners of aryl iodides, alkenes, bromoalkynes, and azoles. Considering ready availability of 2-aminopyrimidine-5-carboxylic acid from the oxidative dehydrosulfurative CN cross-coupling of the 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-1H-2-thiones, this reaction method unambiguously pave a shortcut to densely substituted 2-aminopyrimidine derivatives with unprecedented diversity.     

Pestalustaines A and B,unprecedented sesquiterpene and coumarin derivatives from endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis adusta

Pestalustaines A (1) and B (2), one unique sesquiterpene possessing an unusual 5/6/7-fused tricyclic ring system and one unprecedented coumarin derivative bearing 6/6/5/5-fused tetracyclic ring system, were isolated from the plant-derived Pestalotiopsis adusta. Their structures with absolute configurations were established by extensive NMR analysis, X-ray crystallography, and CD spectra associated with TD-DFT calculation. Hypothetical biosynthetic pathways for compounds 1 and 2 are proposed. Compounds 1 and 2 showed weak to moderate cytotoxic activities against three human tumor cell lines HeLa, HCT116, and A549, whose IC₅₀ values were ranged from 21.01 to 55.43?μM.     

Three-dimensional Pd/Pt bimetallic nanodendrites on a highly porous copper foam fiber for headspace solid-phase microextraction of BTEX prior to their quantification by GC-FID

The preparation of bimetallic Pd/Pt nanofoam for use in fiber based solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is described. First, a highly porous copper foam was prepared on the surface of an unbreakable copper wire by an electrochemical method. Then, the substrate was covered with metallic Pd and Pt using galvanic replacement of the Cu nanofoam substrate by applying a mixture of Pd(II) and Pt(IV) ions. The procedure provided an efficient route to modify Pd/Pt nanofoams with large specific surface and low loading with expensive noble metals. The fiber was applied to headspace SPME of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) (as the model compounds) in various spiked water and wastewater samples. It was followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). A Plackett-Burman design was performed for screening the experimental factors prior to Box-Behnken design. Compared with the commercial PDMS SPME fiber (100 μm), it had higher extraction efficiency for BTEX. Under the optimum conditions, the method has low limits of detection (0.16–0.35 μg L^?1), a wide linear range (1–200 μg L^?1), relative standard deviations between 5.8 and 10.5%, and good recoveries (>85% from spiked samples).

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Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of a three-dimensional Pd/Pt bimetallic nanodendrites supported on a highly porous copper foam fiber for use in headspace solid phase microextraction of BTEX. They were then quantified by gas chromatography–flame ionization detector.

     

A stir foam composed of graphene oxide,poly(ethylene glycol) and natural latex for the extraction of preservatives and antioxidant

A stir foam composed of graphene oxide, poly(ethylene glycol) and natural latex (GO-PEG-NL) was prepared for use in micro-solid phase extraction sorbent of preservative agents and antioxidants from cosmetic products. The extracted analytes were quantified by GC-MS. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration plots are linear in the concentration ranges between 5.0 μg·L^?1 to 1.0 mg·L^?1 for benzoic acid, of 10.0 μg·L^?1 to 1.0 mg·L^?1 for 2-methyl-3-isothiazolinone (MI), and between 1.0 μg·L^?1 and 1.0 mg·L^?1 for both 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA) and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-hydroxytoluene (BHT). The LODs are 1.0 μg·L^?1 for benzoic acid, 5.0 μg·L^?1 for MI and 0.5 μg·L^?1 for both BHA and BHT. The stir-foam can be easily prepared, is inexpensive and well reproducible (RSDs <3%, for n?=?6). It can be re-used for up to 12 times after which extraction efficiency has dropped to 90%. The method was successfully applied to the determination of preservatives and antioxidants in cosmetic samples. Recoveries from spiked samples ranged between 94.5?±?2.1% and 99.8?±?1.8%.

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Graphical abstract A stir foam was prepared from graphene oxide, poly(ethylene glycol) and natural latex (GO-PEG-NL) and is shown to be a most viable sorbent for the microextraction of trace amounts of preservative agents and antioxidants from cosmetic products.

     

“Climate change” and the “butterfly effect” in an eighteenth century monograph

Long before the phrases “climate change” and “butterfly effect” were incorporated into the mainstream literature, these phrases appeared in an appropriate context almost verbatim in the first Chapter of a book entitled “The Emigrant” published in the mid-nineteenth century (in 1846) by Sir Francis Bond Head (1793–1875). Head was Upper Canada’s sixth Lieutenant Governor under King George IV and Queen Victoria. Head claimed that forest wildfires were “changing the climate” of North America as manifested in a warming effect “on the thermometer”. In that author’s account, these fires were provoked by First Nations to create fly-free zones meant to attract game that they could then hunt more readily. Head used language such as “swarms of little flies, strange as it may sound, are, and for many years have been, most materially altering the climate…” which is remarkably reminiscent of E. N. Lorenz’s (1917–2008) “butterfly effect” of the theory of chaotic dynamical systems. The historical context and the rationales that may have led Head to use this contemporary environmental language in a proper context are briefly discussed.     

Isolated Platinum Atoms Stabilized by Amorphous Tungstenic Acid: Metal–Support Interaction for Synergistic Oxygen Activation

Oxygen activation plays a crucial role in many important chemical reactions such as oxidation of organic compounds and oxygen reduction. For developing highly active materials for oxygen activation, herein, we report an atomically dispersed Pt on WO₃ nanoplates stabilized by in situ formed amorphous H₂WO₄ out‐layer and the mechanism for activating molecular oxygen. Experimental and theoretical studies demonstrate that the isolated Pt atoms coordinated with oxygen atoms from [WO₆] and water of H₂WO₄, consequently leading to optimized surface electronic configuration and strong metal–support interaction (SMSI). In exemplified reactions of butanone oxidation sensing and oxygen reduction, the atomic Pt/WO₃ hybrid exhibits superior activity than those of Pt nanoclusters/WO₃ and bare WO₃ as well as enhanced long‐term durability. This work will provide insight into the origin of activity and stability for atomically dispersed materials, thus promoting the development of highly efficient and durable single atom‐based catalysts.     

交流示波极谱法中i_f～E曲线的研究 Ⅳ.示波极谱氧化还原滴定法

在i_f～E曲线的测量方法中,由于氧化和还原剂都具有电化学活性,因此,这两种试剂的量就可以通过不同电极电位处的法拉第电流峰敏锐地反映出来。当利用i_f～E曲线指示氧化还原滴定终点时,终点的示波图形,不仅反映氧化和还原剂电流峰的出现和消失,而且反