Synthesis of monodisperse, highly cross-linked, fluorescent PMMA particles by dispersion polymerization

We describe a facile method to synthesize sterically stabilized monodisperse fluorescent poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) colloids in the polar solvent mixture water/methanol with either a core-shell or a homogeneously cross-linked structure by dispersion polymerization. The particles were sterically stabilized by the polymer poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The morphology of the particles was controlled by varying the moment at which the gradual addition of cross-linker and dye was started. The absence of these extra agents at a time when the particle nuclei formed reduced the negative effects on this important process to a minimum and produced a core-shell structure, whereas an essentially homogeneously cross-linked fluorescent polymer colloid structure could be obtained by reducing the starting time of the addition of dye and cross-linker to zero. Three different dyes were chemically incorporated into the polymer network. Such dyes are important for the use of the particles in confocal scanning laser microscopy studies aimed at characterizing concentrated dispersions quantitatively in real space. A series of PMMA particles with different sizes were obtained through the variation of the weight ratio of solvents and the content of cross-linker. Furthermore, the swelling properties of the cross-linked PMMA particles in a good solvent (tetrahydrofuran) were investigated. The particles were stable in polar solvents (water and formamide) but could also successfully be transferred to apolar solvents such as decahydronaphthalene (decalin). The PVP stabilizer also allowed the particles to be permanently bonded in flexible strings by the application of an external electric field.     

Agglomeration of magnetic nanoparticles

The formation of agglomerates by salt-induced double layer compression of magnetic nanoparticles in the absence and presence of an external magnetic field was investigated experimentally as well as computationally in this study. The structures of the agglomerates were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy and proved to be highly porous and composed of large spaces among the branches of a convoluted network. In the absence of an external magnetic field, the branches of such a network were observed to be oriented in no particular direction. In contrast, when the agglomeration process was allowed to occur in the presence of an external magnetic field, these branches appeared to be oriented predominantly in one direction. A modified Discrete Element Method was applied to simulate the agglomeration process of magnetic nanoparticles both in the absence and presence of an external magnetic field. The simulations show that agglomeration occurred by the formation of random clusters of nanoparticles which then joined to form a network. In the presence of anisotropic magnetic forces, these clusters were rotated to align along the direction of the magnetic field and the final network formed consisted largely of elongated branches of magnetic nanoparticles.     

Synthetic, X-ray structural and protonation studies of CpCr(CO)2SPy and CpCr(CO)2SPym (SPy = C5H4NS, SPym = C4H3N2S)

The facile reaction of [CpCr(CO)₃]₂ (Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅) (1) with one mole equivalent of 2,2′-dithiodipyridine ((C₅H₄NS)₂(SPy)₂) at ambient temperature led to the isolation of dark brown crystalline solids of CpCr(CO)₂(η²-SPy) (2) in ca. 72% yield. 2 undergoes quantitative conversion to CpCrCl₂(η¹-SPyH) (3) with HCl. The reaction 1 with one mole equivalent of 2-mercaptopyrimidine (C₄H₃N₂SHHSPym) at ambient temperature led to the isolation of reddish-brown crystalline solids of CpCr(CO)₂(η²-SPym) (4) and green solids of CpCr(CO)₃H (5) in yields of ca. 42% and 46%, respectively. Reaction of 4 with HCl and subsequent workup in acetonitrile resulted in the cleavage of the thiolate ligand, giving the 15-electron chromium(III) species CpCrCl₂(CH₃CN) (6) and free 2-mercaptopyrimidine. The complexes 2-4 have been determined by single X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Harnessing Endogenous Formate for Antibacterial Prodrug Activation by in cellulo Ruthenium‐Mediated Transfer Hydrogenation Reaction

The abundance and evolving pathogenic behavior of bacterial microorganisms give rise to antibiotic tolerance and resistance which pose a danger to global public health. New therapeutic strategies are needed to keep pace with this growing threat. We propose a novel approach for targeting bacteria by harnessing formate, a cell metabolite found only in particular bacterial species, to activate an antibacterial prodrug and selectively inhibit their growth. This strategy is premised on transfer hydrogenation reaction on a biorthogonal substrate utilizing native formate as the hydride source as a means of uncaging an antibacterial prodrug. Using coordination‐directed 3‐component assembly to prepare a library of 768 unique Ru–Arene Schiff‐base complexes, we identified several candidates that efficiently reduced sulfonyl azide functional group in the presence of formate. This strategy paves the way for a new approach of targeted antibacterial therapy by exploiting unique bacterial metabolites.     

Organometallic ruthenium-based antitumor compounds with novel modes of action

Both metal complexes and organic molecules are widely used for the treatment of various diseases including cancer - in addition to surgery and radiotherapy. Recent years have witnessed a surge of interest in the application of organometallic compounds to treat cancer and other diseases. Indeed, the unique properties of organometallic compounds, intermediate between those of classical inorganic and organic materials provide new opportunities in medicinal chemistry. In this review, based on the award lecture at ICBOMC’10, we describe a class of ruthenium(II)-arene complexes that are weakly cytotoxic in vitro, but show selective antimetastatic activity in vivo. These compounds, [Ru(η⁶-p-arene)Cl₂(pta)] termed RAPTA, interact strongly with proteins, with the ability to discriminate binding to different proteins, but show a relatively low propensity to bind DNA, which is considered to be the main target of many metal-based drugs. The basic RAPTA structure is quite stable in physiological environments, and studies have shown that aquation of the chloride bonds occurs, it may not be an essential step for anticancer drug activity - direct substitution with biomolecular targets is also possible. Based on the favorable physicochemical properties of RAPTA compounds, combined with their highly promising pharmacological properties, the structure represents an ideal scaffold for rational drug design. Thus far, strategies to overcome drug resistance, by interference with critical enzymes responsible for drug deactivation, and tumor targeting, by tethering to human serum albumin via hydrolyzable linkers, have been demonstrated. However, many more approaches can be envisaged. In any case, the net result are a type of hybrid compounds, that occupy a niche somewhere between classical cisplatin-type anticancer agents that are widely applied to many tumor types and targeted therapies based on organic structures used to inhibit specific enzymes. As such, should these compounds prove themselves in the clinic it is not inconceivable that they could be rapidly refined to form personalized chemotherapies.     

Carborane Dyads for Photoinduced Electron Transfer: Photophysical Studies on Carbazole and Phenyl‐o‐carborane Molecular Assemblies

o‐Carborane‐based donor–acceptor dyads comprising an o‐carboranyl phenyl unit combined with N‐carbazole ( 1 ) or 4‐phenyl‐N‐carbazole ( 2 ) were prepared, and their dyad characters were confirmed by steady‐state photochemistry and photodynamic experiments as well as electrochemical studies. The absorption and electrochemical properties of the dyads were essentially the sum of those of the carbazole and o‐carboranyl phenyl units; this indicates negligible interaction between the carbazole and o‐carborane units in the ground state. However, the emission spectra of 1 and 2 indicated that carbazole fluorescence was effectively quenched and a new charge‐transfer (CT) emission was observed in solvents, varying from hexane to acetonitrile, which exhibited large Stoke shifts. The CT emission properties of o‐carborane‐based dyads were further analyzed by using Lippert–Mataga plots to show that unit charge separation occurred to form a charge‐separated species in the excited state, namely, 1?2 . This excited‐state species was confirmed by nanosecond transient absorption spectra and spectroelectrochemical measurements; the photoexcitation of carbazole generated the CT state in which a radical cation and anion were formed at the carbazole and o‐carborane units, respectively, within a few nanoseconds. DFT calculations corroborated the presence of this CT species and showed localized populations of the highest singly occupied molecular orbital on 2 in the reduced anionic state. As a result, molecular assemblies formed by linking the carbazole group with the o‐carborane cage through a phenylene or multi‐phenylene spacer revealed that the photoinduced electron‐transfer process occurred intramolecularly.     

Disorder Engineering in Monolayer Nanosheets Enabling Photothermic Catalysis for Full Solar Spectrum (250–2500 nm) Harvesting

A persistent challenge in classical photocatalyst systems with extended light absorption is the unavoidable trade‐off between maximizing light harvesting and sustaining high photoredox capability. Alternatively, cooperative energy conversion through photothermic activation and photocatalytic redox is a promising yet unmet scientific proposition that critically demands a spectrum‐tailored catalyst system. Here, we construct a solar thermal‐promoted photocatalyst, an ultrathin “biphasic” ordered–disordered D‐HNb₃O₈ junction, which performs two disparate spectral selective functions of photoexcitation by ordered structure and thermal activated conversion via disordered lattice for combinatorial photothermal mediated catalysis. This in situ synthetically immobilized lattice distortion, constrained to a single‐entity monolayer structure not only circumvents interfacial incompatibility but also triggers near‐field temperature rise at the catalyst–reactant complexes’ proximity to promote photoreaction. Ultimately, a generic full solar conversion improvement for H₂ fuel production, organic transformation and water purification is realized.     

Electrospun Hierarchical CaCo2O4 Nanofibers with Excellent Lithium Storage Properties

Hierarchical CaCo₂O₄ nanofibers (denoted as CCO‐NFs) with a unique hierarchical structure have been prepared by a facile electrospinning method and subsequent calcination in air. The as‐prepared CCO‐NFs are composed of well‐defined ultrathin nanoplates that arrange themselves in an oriented manner to form one‐dimensional (1D) hierarchical structures. The controllable formation process and possible formation mechanism are also discussed. Moreover, as a demonstration of the functional properties of such hierarchical architecture, the 1D hierarchical CCO‐NFs were investigated as materials for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) anode; they not only delivers a high reversible capacity of 650 mAh g^?1 at a current of 100 mA g^?1 and with 99.6 % capacity retention over 60 cycles, but they also show excellent rate capability with respect to counterpart nanoplates‐in‐nanofibers and nanoplates. The high specific surface areas as well as the unique feature of hierarchical structures are probably responsible for the enhanced electrochemical performance. Considering their facile preparation and good lithium storage properties, 1D hierarchical CCO‐NFs will hold promise in practical LIBs.     

The bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl group as an effective N-protecting group and site-selective control element in rhodium(II)-catalyzed reaction of diazoamides

The intramolecular rhodium(II)-carbenoid-mediated C-H insertion reaction of structurally varied N-bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl,N-substituted diazoamides is studied. It has been found that in tertiary diazoamides the N-bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl (N-BTMSM) group is effective for conformational control about the amide N-C(O) bond; C-H insertion occurs at the other N-substituent. In C(alpha)-branched diazoamides, the N-BTMSM is found also to exert its influence on the conformational preference about the N-C(alpha) bond, which affects the regioselectivity of the C-H insertion in these systems. In unbranched diazoamides, inherent electronic effects of the N-substituent affect the regio- and chemoselectivity of the reaction; however, in branched diazoamides, electronic effects of the N-substituent and the alpha-substituent at the carbenoid carbon are subtle, but important in the deciding the eventual outcome of the reaction.     

Biogenic Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles with High Antimicrobial and Catalytic Activities using Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa)

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely sought after for a variety of biomedical and environmental applications due to their antimicrobial and catalytic properties. We present here a green and simple synthesis of AgNPs utilizing traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. The screening of 20 aqueous herb extracts shows that Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa) had the most promising potential in producing AgNPs of 30±6 nm, with narrow size distribution and high crystallinity. The antimicrobial activities of these AgNPs conducted on E. coli cells were found to be superior in comparison to poly(vinylpyrrolidone)-capped AgNPs synthesized using common chemical method. Additionally, the AgNPs obtained possess excellent catalytic performance in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. We compared the phytochemical and FTIR spectral analyses of the herb extract before and after synthesis, in order to elucidate the phytochemicals responsible for the reduction of Ag⁺ ions and the capping of the AgNPs produced.