Rigid nanoscopic containers for highly dispersed, stable metal and bimetal nanoparticles with both size and site control

We demonstrate a novel strategy for the preparation of mesoporous silica-supported, highly dispersed, stable metal and bimetal nanoparticles with both size and site control. The supporting mesoporous silica, functionalized by polyaminoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers, is prepared by repeated Michael addition with methyl acrylates (MA) and amidation reaction with ethylenediamine (EDA), by using aminopropyl-functionalized mesoporous silica as the starting material. The encapsulation of metal nanoparticles within the dendrimer-propagated mesoporous silica is achieved by the chemical reduction of metal-salt-impregnated dendrimer-mesoporous silica by using aqueous hydrazine. The site control of the metal or bimetal nanoparticles is accomplished by the localization of inter- or intradendrimeric nanoparticles within the mesoporous silica tunnels. The size of the encapsulated nanoparticles is controlled by their confinement to the nanocavity of the dendrimer and the mesopore. For Cu and Pd, particles locate at the lining of mesoporous tunnels, and have diameters of less than 2.0 nm. For Pd/Pt, particles locate at the middle of mesoporous tunnels and have diameters in the range of 2.0-4.2 nm. The Pd and Pd/Pt nanoparticles are very stable in air, whereas the Cu nanoparticles are stable only in an inert atmosphere.     

Enhancement of signal-to-noise level by synchronized dual wavelength modulation for light emitting diode fluorimetry in a liquid-core-waveguide microfluidic capillary electrophoresis system

The signal-to-noise level of light emitting diode (LED) fluorimetry using a liquid-core-waveguide (LCW)-based microfluidic capillary electrophoresis system was significantly enhanced using a synchronized dual wavelength modulation (SDWM) approach. A blue LED was used as excitation source and a red LED as reference source for background-noise compensation in a microfluidic capillary electrophoresis (CE) system. A Teflon AF-coated silica capillary served as both the separation channel and LCW for light transfer, and blue and red LEDs were used as excitation and reference sources, respectively, both radially illuminating the detection point of the separation channel. The two LEDs were synchronously modulated at the same frequency, but with 180°-phase shift, alternatingly driven by a same constant current source. The LCW transferred the fluorescence emission, as well as the excitation and reference lights that strayed through the optical system to a photomultiplier tube; a lock-in amplifier demodulated the combined signal, significantly reducing its noise level. To test the system, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled amino acids were separated by capillary electrophoresis and detected by SDWM and single wavelength modulation, respectively. Five-fold improvement in S/N ratio was achieved by dual wavelength modulation, compared with single wavelength modulation; and over 100-fold improvement in S/N ratio was achieved compared with a similar LCW-CE system reported previously using non-modulated LED excitation. A detection limit (S/N = 3) of 10 nM FITC-labeled arginine was obtained in this work. The effects of modulation frequency on S/N level and on the rejection of noise caused by LED-driver current and detector were also studied.     

Semiempirical Molecular Orbital Studies of the Acylation Step in the Lipase‐Catalyzed Ester Hydrolysis

In this study, we present the results from the semiempirical molecular orbital calculations for the acylation step in the lipase‐catalyzed ester hydrolysis. The results reveal that the lowest energy path for the formation of the tetrahedral intermediate is for the serine residue of the catalytic triad to attack the substrate, followed by coupling heavy atom movement and proton transfer. The calculations of four active site models show that the cooperation of the aspartate group and the oxyanion hole is capable of lowering the activation energy by about 16 kcalmol^?1. Our results further suggest that the lipase‐catalyzed ester hydrolysis adopts the single proton transfer mechanism.     

Liquid–paper interactions during liquid drop impact and recoil on paper surfaces

The spreading and recoiling of water drops on several flat and macroscopically smooth model surfaces and on sized paper surfaces were studied over a range of drop impaction velocities using a high-speed CCD camera. The water drop spreading and recoiling results on several model hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces were found to be in agreement with observations reported in the literature. The maximum drop spreading diameter for those model surfaces at impact was found to be dependent upon the initial drop kinetic energy and the degree of hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of the surface. The extent of the maximum drop recoiling was found to be much weaker for hydrophilic substrates than for hydrophobic substrates. Sized papers, however, showed an interesting switch of behaviour in the process of water drop impaction. They behave like a hydrophobic substrate when a water drop impacts on it, but like a hydrophilic substrate when water drop recoils. Although the contact angle between water and hydrophilic or hydrophobic non-porous surfaces changes from advancing to receding as reported in literature, the change of contact angle during water impact on paper surface is unique in that the level of sizing was found to have a smaller than expected influence on the degree of recoil. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to probe fibres on a sized filter paper surface under water. The AFM data showed that water interacted strongly with the fibre even though the paper was heavily sized. Implications of this phenomenon were discussed in the context of inkjet print quality and of the surface conditions of sized papers. Results of this study are very useful in the understanding of inkjet ink droplet impaction on paper surfaces which sets the initial condition for ink penetration into paper after impaction.     

Synthesis of N—（4—Salicylideneiminoaryl）monoaza Crown Ethers and Dioxygen Affinities of Their Cobalt（Ⅱ）Complexes

The Schiff base‐containing pendant monoaza crown ether HL¹, HL², HL³ and HL⁴ have been synthesized by condensation of salicylaldehyde with N‐(4‐aminoaryl) monoaza crown ethers, which were prepared conveniently from 4‐nitro‐N, N‐di(hydroxyethyl) aniline or 4‐nitrobenzyl chloride via cyclization or condensation and reduction. The structures of HL¹—HL⁴ were verified by ¹H NMR, IR spectra, MS and elemental analysis. Moreover, the oxygenation constants (KO2) and thermodynamic parameters (δH⁰ and δS⁰) of their cobalt(II) complexes were determined in the range of ?5 °C to 25 °C, and the effect of crown ring bonded to a Schiff base on the dioxygen affinities of cobalt(II) complexes was also observed as compared to the uncrowned analogue (CoL).     

Alternating DNA and pi-conjugated sequences. Thermophilic foldable polymers

Foldable polymers with alternating single-strand deoxyribonucleic acid and planar conjugated organic perylene tetracarboxylic diimide units were found to self-organize into loosely folded nanostructures. Upon heating, the loosely folded structures become more ordered as evidenced by pi-stacking in the perylene segments. The folding and unfolding processes driven by the molecular interactions of adjacent perylenes were monitored in both aqueous and organic solutions. Heat-promoted folding, or inverse temperature behavior, which originates from positive enthalpy changes, was only observed in water. Therefore, we attributed this inverse temperature dependence to hydrophobic effects rather than pi-pi molecular orbital overlap between the perylene planes. These findings shed light on the design of new thermophiles in protein engineering as well as the construction of macromolecular-based nanodevices with actuator and sensory properties.     

Photochemical naphthylation at(α-carbon atom of carbonyl and its equivalences

The photostimulated reaction of halonaphthalene with a series of carbanions derived from,propionic acid derivatives in liquid ammonia led to the naphthylation at a-carbon of the carbanions inan isolated yield ranging from 25％ to 86％.In all cases,the dehalonaphthalenes were found to,be by-products and the reaction was inhibited by p-dinitrobenzere.An electron transfer from thecarbanion to the halonaphthalene followed by ejection of halogen led to naphtbyl radical,as predictedby comparing the LUMOs of the carbanions and the halonaphthalenes,was involved in the process.Absence of the alkylnaphthalene and 1,2-dinaphthylalkane in the products indicates the smoothelectron transfer between(Naph-Nu)~+ and Naph-X.C-vs.O-naphthylation is fully addressed interms of MNDO calculations and acid-base principle.     

环状芴基张力半导体拉曼光谱理论与实验研究

环状芴基张力半导体由于其特殊的分子结构，发射状排布的p轨道和纳米级空腔等诸多特点，引起了科学家广泛的关注.相对于直链型芴基半导体，环状芴基张力半导体展现出独特的光电性质.然而，迄今为止其振动性质没有被报道.对四元环芴的晶体与直链四聚芴粉末样品进行拉曼光谱表征和归一化处理，并结合理论计算.结果表明，与直链寡聚芴相比，环芴类似于碳纳米管的G峰发生了偏移，并且低频区域拉曼频移峰的峰强增加.其原因是由于张力的引入，改变了芴基主链的骨架和电子结构，加强芴骨架上π电子离域，同时使环芴中每个芴单元都参与到振动中.该研究结果为芴基张力半导体材料拉曼光谱的研究提供了一定的工作基础.     

原位合成分子筛膜毛细管色谱柱的研制

吸附型多孔层毛细管柱既耐高温又对气体及烃类异构体有选择性，同时又具有毛细管色谱快速、高效等优点，是解决难分离组分的重要柱型．常用作气一固吸附色谱固定相的有强极性的硅、中极性的氧化铝、非极性的碳质及特殊吸附作用的分子筛．其中分子筛以其独特的吸附作用，在永久性气体和烃类碳数族组成分析中有重要地位．Pruecell和Soulages[1，2]等制备了涂渍型5A和13X型分子筛的毛细管柱，对低碳烃类化合物显示了良好的分离能力，分析柱温较填充柱降低约100℃．邹乃忠等[3～5]也先后制备了分子筛层的毛细管柱用来作直馏汽油的分析．由于通…