Molecular Encapsulation of Trimeric Chromium Carboxylate Clusters in Metal–Organic Frameworks and Propylene Sorption

Oxo-bridged trimeric chromium acetate clusters [Cr₃O(OOCCH₃)₆(H₂O)₃]NO₃ have been encapsulated for the first time in the mesoporous cages of the chromium terephthalate MIL-101(Cr). The isolated clusters in MIL-101(Cr) have increased affinity towards propylene compared to propane, due to generation of a new kind of pocket-based propylene-binding site, as supported by DFT calculations.     

Stoichiometry-Controlled Synthesis of Nanoparticulate Mixed-Metal Oxyhydroxide Oxygen Evolving Catalysts by Electrochemistry in Aqueous Nanodroplets

Mixed-metal oxyhydroxides—especially those of Ni and Fe—are one of the most active classes of materials known for catalyzing the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Here, nanoparticulate mixed metal oxyhydroxides (of Ni, Fe, and Co) were prepared on an electrode surface by electrochemical reaction of a precursor solution encapsulated in aqueous nanodroplets (AnDs), with each of the droplets containing 10 s of attoliters of fluid. Electrode reactions and synthesis can be monitored in situ by electrochemistry as single AnD stochastically lands and interacts with the working electrode. Resultant metal oxyhydroxide nanoparticles can be size and composition controlled precisely by modulating the precursor solution stored in the AnD. Nanoparticulate metal oxyhydroxides were implemented as catalysts for the OER and exhibited superior catalysis compared to their thin-film counterparts, demonstrating a hundred-thousand-fold enhancement in atom efficiency at comparable turnover rates.     

Strychnine-8-ammonio-2-naphthalenesulfonate-water (1/1/3.5): The first structure of a strychnine or brucine compound with a zwitterionic species

The crystal structure of the 1:1 adduct hydrate of strychnine with 1,7-Cleve's acid (8-amino-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid), namely strychnine-8-ammonio-2-naphthalenesulfonate-water (1/1/3.5) has been determined and provides a unique example of a neutral association involving strychnine and an achiral zwitterionic acid species, previously unobserved in the structures of either strychnine or brucine addition compounds. Crystals are orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁, with Z=4 in a cell with dimensions a=10.4484(8), b=30.850(3), c=9.4998(11) ?. Hydrogen bonding involving all available proton-donor and acceptor sites on all species gives rise to a three-dimensional framework polymer structure. The crystallographic literature for strychnine and brucine and their compounds is also reviewed.     

Hemoglobin as a Diagnosing Molecule for Biological Effects of Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma

The studies with proteins are necessary to understand the biological effects of atmospheric pressure plasma (APP). Among proteins, those with transient metal ions play key roles in many biological events and they are very sensitive to environmental redox states. Iron-containing hemoglobin (Hb) is investigated in this study, after APP treatments under two environmental gas conditions of pure N₂ and N₂?+?O₂ mixture. Monitoring the intensity change for absorption spectra could lead to a quantitative assessment of the effect of discharge plasma on Hb. Redox states of Hb are classified into five states including O₂-bound Hb (oxy-Hb), deoxy-Hb, met-Hb, NO-bound Hb (NO-Hb), and hemichrome. Chemically generated reactive species and some scavengers are applied to understand the chemical reactions. Our experimental results confirm the complex chemical reactions of APP and suggest the possible use of Hb as a model protein for the visualization of APP biological effects.     

Synthesis of water soluble metalloporphyrin-cored amphiphilic star block copolymer photocatalysts for an environmental application

Two series of water-soluble metalloporphyrin-cored amphiphilic star block copolymers were synthesized by controlled radical polymerizations such as atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT), which gave eight amphiphilic block copolymer arm chains consisting of poly(n-butyl acrylate-b-poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacylate) (PnBA-b-PEGMEMA, M_n,GPC = 78,000, M_w/M_n = 1.2, 70 wt% of PPEGMEMA) and poly(styrene-b-2-dimethylamino ethyl acrylate) (PS-b-PDMAEA, M_n,GPC = 83,000, M_w/M_n = 1.2, 67 wt% of PDMAEA), yielding porphyrin(Pd)-(PnBA-b-PPEGMEMA)₈ and porphyrin(Pd)-(PS-b-PDMAEA)₈, respectively. Obtained metalloporphyrin polymer photocatalysts were homogeneously solubilized in water to apply to the removal of chlorophenols in water, and was distinguished from conventional water-insoluble small molecular metalloporphyrin photocatalysts. Notably, we found that the water-soluble star block copolymers with hydrophobic–hydrophilic core–shell structures more effectively decomposed the chlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), in water under visible light irradiation (k = 1.39 h^?1, t_1/2 = 0.5 h) in comparison to the corresponding water-soluble star homopolymer, because the hydrophobic core near the metalloporphyrin effectively captured and decomposed the hydrophobic chlorophenols in water.