Quantitative Non-Covalent Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes

We report a convenient method for quantitative non-covalent functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) with phthalocyanine (Pc) compounds, in which a surface coverage of 49% was achieved. The effect of several process parameters on the functionalization process was elucidated. Firstly, as-produced SWNT gave the largest extent of functionalization compared with purified SWNT and as-produced multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT). Secondly, the extent of functionalization was sensitive to the specific molecular structures of the Pc compounds. Finally, in terms of solvent selection, dimethylformamide (DMF) was found to give the largest extent of functionalization, which is then followed by chloroform (CHCl₃) and 1,2-dichlorobenzene (ODCB). The method reported in this paper provides new insights on the interactions between Pc molecules and carbon nanotubes and paves the way for rational control of the degree of functionalization, which is an important step from the perspective of carbon nanotube applications. Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material for this article is avilable at and is accessible for authorised users.     

High speed liquid chromatography with small bore columns

Using a specially designed column system, we have systematically investigated the effect of mobile phase velocity on column efficiency. The performance of small bore columns operated at different linear velocities of mobile phase was examined for three different types of injection system. Using the value of H^∞/u or n^∞/t${}_{\text{r}}^{\text{º}}$ as a criterion of a high speed separation, we calculated values of n/t${}_{\text{r}}^{\text{º}}$ for different solutes according to the equation \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {{\rm n}\mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\rm n} {{\rm t}_{\rm r}^ \circ }}}\right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\rm t}_{\rm r}^ \circ }} = {{{\rm n}^\infty } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{{\rm n}^\infty } {{\rm t}_{\rm r}^ \circ }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {{\rm t}_{\rm r}^ \circ }}\left({\frac{{1 + {\rm k'}}}{{{\rm k' + }\beta }}} \right)^2 $\end{document}; the results obtained are in agreement with the experimentally determined values. These systematic investigations culminated in the separation of seven compounds in less than 10 s; the respective chromatogram is shown.     

Mechanisms of methane activation and transformation on molybdenum oxide based catalysts

We present a comprehensive survey of different C-H activation pathways over various kinds of active sites of terminal oxygens [=O] and bridge oxygens [-O-] by using Mo3O9 model systems. This allows us to provide some insights into fundamental issues concerning C-H activation by metal oxo species involved in many heterogeneous, homogeneous, and enzymatic processes. We show that H abstraction is the most feasible reaction pathway for the activation of a C-H bond on molybdenum oxides; and that [=O] is more active than [-O-]. Our calculations also suggest that (2+2) can be an alternative if M=O bond possesses a high polarity, while (5+2) can provide another effective pathway if two M=O bonds are in close proximity. Implications for the related heterogeneous, homogeneous, and enzymatic processes are discussed.     

Novel oxovanadium phosphate tubule incorporating 2,2-bipyridine ligands: hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structure of [(V(IV)O)(3)(mu(5)-PO(4))(2)(2,2'-bpy)(mu-OH(2))].1/3H(2)O

The novel tubular framework of [(V(IV)O)(3)(mu(4)-PO(4))(2)(2,2'-bpy)(mu-OH(2))].1/3H(2)O, which was synthesized from hydrothermal reaction, possesses some attractive structural features: (i) O=V(IV)O(4)(OH(2)) octahedra and PO(4) tetrahedra linked together by corner-sharing and face-sharing into a cylinder-shaped channel including 6 water molecules per cell unit, and (ii) (VO)(2,2'-bpy) groups regularly arranged around the tube, so that the 2,2-bpy ligands constitute an organic shell around an aqueous polar channel.     

A step-economic and one-pot access to chiral Cα-tetrasubstituted α-amino acid derivatives via a bicyclic imidazole-catalyzed direct enantioselective C-acylation

C^α-Tetrasubstituted α-amino acids are ubiquitous and unique structural units in bioactive natural products and pharmaceutical compounds. The asymmetric synthesis of these molecules has attracted a lot of attention, but a more efficient method is still greatly desired. Here we describe the first sequential four-step acylation reaction for the efficient synthesis of chiral C^α-tetrasubstituted α-amino acid derivatives from simple N-acylated amino acids via an auto-tandem catalysis using a single nucleophilic catalyst. The synthetic efficiency is improved via a direct enantioselective C-acylation; the methodology affords the corresponding C^α-tetrasubstituted α-amino acid derivatives with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). This step-economic, one-pot, and auto-tandem strategy provides facile access to important chiral building blocks, such as peptides, serines, and oxazolines, which are often used in medicinal and synthetic chemistry.

The first four-step sequential reaction for the synthesis of C^α-tetrasubstituted chiral α-amino acid derivatives via auto-tandem catalysis has been developed.     

Metabolomics reveals hippocampal metabolic fluctuations of postoperative fatigue syndrome and anti‐fatigue effect of Carthamus tinctorius L. extract in rat model

Postoperative fatigue syndrome (POFS) is a common clinical complication following almost every major abdominal surgery. There is not a full explanation of the etiology of POFS, especially its central mechanism. Carthamus tinctorius L. is a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) which could exert ananti‐fatigue effect on POFS. However, its mechanism is still lacking. Here, ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐Q‐TOFMS) based metabonomic approach was used to characterize hippocampal metabolic fluctuations of POFS in a rat model induced by partial hepatectomy, and to evaluate the anti‐fatigue effect of C. tinctorius L. extract (CTLE). With partial least‐squares discriminant analysis for classification and selection of biomarkers, 15 hippocampal metabolites related to POFS were identified, primarily involving alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation, purine metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, phospholipid metabolism and fatty acid metabolism. With these altered metabolic pathways as possible drug targets, we systematically analyzed the protective effect of CTLE, which showed that CTLE could provide an anti‐fatigue effect on POFS through partially regulating the perturbed metabolic pathways. This study indicated that UHPLC‐Q‐TOFMS‐based metabolomics provided a powerful tool to reveal hippocampal metabolic fluctuations of POFS and study the mechanism of TCM. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Temperature and metal composition dependence of lateral photovoltaic effect in Al-Alq3/SiO2/Si structures

A series of Al=-（Alq3）l-x granular films is prepared on Si wafer with native oxide layer using co-evaporation technique. Large lateral photovoltaic effect （LPE） is observed, with an optimal LPV sensitivity of 75 mV/mm in x=0.35 sample. The dependence of LPE on temperature and A1 composition is investigated, and the possible mechanism is discussed.     

Seed‐Mediated Synthesis of Gold Tetrahedra in High Purity and with Tunable,Well‐Controlled Sizes

We report a facile synthesis of Au tetrahedra in high purity and with tunable, well‐controlled sizes via seed‐mediated growth. The success of this synthesis relies on the use of single‐crystal, spherical Au nanocrystals as the seeds and manipulation of the reaction kinetics to induce an unsymmetrical growth pattern for the seeds. In particular, the dropwise addition of a precursor solution with a syringe pump, assisted by cetyltrimethylammonium chloride and bromide at appropriate concentrations, was found to be critical to the formation of Au tetrahedra in high purity. Their sizes could be readily tuned in the range of 30–60 nm by simply varying the amount of precursor added to the reaction solution. The current strategy not only enables the synthesis of Au tetrahedra with tunable and controlled sizes but also provides a facile and versatile approach to reducing the symmetry of nanocrystals made of a face‐centered cubic lattice.