Selective conversion of cellobiose and cellulose into gluconic acid in water in the presence of oxygen, catalyzed by polyoxometalate-supported gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles loaded onto Keggin-type insoluble polyoxometalates (Cs(x)H(3-x)PW(12)O(40)) showed superior catalytic performances for the direct conversion of cellobiose into gluconic acid in water in the presence of O(2). The selectivity of Au/Cs(x)H(3-x)PW(12)O(40) for gluconic acid was significantly higher than those of Au catalysts loaded onto typical metal oxides (e.g., SiO(2), Al(2)O(3), and TiO(2)), carbon nanotubes, and zeolites (H-ZSM-5 and HY). The acidity of polyoxometalates and the mean-size of the Au nanoparticles were the key factors in the catalytic conversion of cellobiose into gluconic acid. The stronger acidity of polyoxometalates not only favored the conversion of cellobiose but also resulted in higher selectivity of gluconic acid by facilitating desorption and inhibiting its further degradation. On the other hand, the smaller Au nanoparticles accelerated the oxidation of glucose (an intermediate) into gluconic acid, thereby leading to increases both in the conversion of cellobiose and in the selectivity of gluconic acid. The Au/Cs(x)H(3-x)PW(12)O(40) system also catalyzed the conversion of cellulose into gluconic acid with good efficiency, but it could not be used repeatedly owing to the leaching of a H(+)-rich hydrophilic moiety over long-term hydrothermal reactions. We have demonstrated that the combination of H(3)PW(12)O(40) and Au/Cs(3.0)PW(12)O(40) afforded excellent yields of gluconic acid (about 85%, 418 K, 11 h), and the deactivation of the recovered H(3)PW(12)O(40)-Au/Cs(3.0)PW(12)O(40) catalyst was not serious during repeated use.     

固体氧化物燃料电池La0.7Sr0.3Cr1-xMnxO3-δ阳极性能研究

采用溶胶凝胶法制备了La0.7Sr0.3Cr1-xMnxO3-δ(x=0.3,0.4,0.5,0.6)系列阳极粉体。在1000℃下焙烧后,XRD结果显示粉体物相为单一的钙钛矿相。制备以La0.7Sr0.3Cr1-xMnxO3-δ为阳极,Ce0.8Sm0.2O1.9(SDC)为电解质,Pr0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3-δ-SDC复合阴极的电解质支撑型固体氧化物燃料单电池。由扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察表明单电池电解质致密,阳极孔径分布均匀,厚度约为20μm,多孔阴极厚度为10μm。采用直流四电极法测试以La0.7Sr0.3Cr0.5Mn0.5O3-δ为阳极用湿氢气作燃料时在800℃下获得最大输出功率为232.84 mW.cm-2,短路电流为0.92 A.cm-2。     

Modulation of the lifespan of C. elegans by the controlled release of nitric oxide

The frontier of nitric oxide biology has gradually shifted from mechanism elucidation to biomanipulation, e.g. cell-proliferation promotion, cell-apoptosis induction, and lifespan modulation. This warrants biocompatible nitric oxide (NO) donating materials, whose NO release is not only controlled by a bioorthogonal trigger, but also self-calibrated allowing real-time monitoring and hence an onset/offset of the NO release. Additionally, the dose of NO release should be facilely adjusted in a large dynamic range; flux and the dose are critical to the biological outcome of NO treatment. Via self-assembly of a PEGylated small-molecule NO donor, we developed novel NO-donating nanoparticles (PEG-NORM), which meet all the aforementioned criteria. We showcased that a low flux of NO induced cell proliferation, while a high flux induced cell oxidative stress and, ultimately, death. Notably, PEG-NORM was capable of efficiently modulating the lifespan of C. elegans. The average lifespan of C. elegans could be fine-tuned to be as short as 15.87 ± 0.29 days with a high dose of NO, or as long as 21.13 ± 0.41 days with a low dose of NO, compared to an average life-span of 18.87 ± 0.46 days. Thus, PEG-NORM has broad potential in cell manipulation and life-span modulation and could drive the advancement of NO biology and medicine.

Schematic illustration of modulating the longevity of the C. elegans by PEG-NORM nanoparticles.     

Surface-enhanced raman spectra of some anti-tubercle bacillus drugs

Surface-enhance Raman (SER) spectra of pyrazinamide (PZA), isoniazid (INAZ), and isonicotiamide (INCT) in silver sols have been studied over a range of solution concentration and pH. A linear calibration curve has been obtained for each of the sample molecules, and the lower limits of detection are estimated to be 5 ng for PZA and INAZ, and 10 ng for INCA. The variation of SER intensity with the sample solution pH is explained in terms of the charge of the sample species and the stability of the sols. The normal Raman and infrared spectra for the pure drug samples have also been collected, from which some vibration assignments for the molecules are given. The absorption behaviors of the molecules on the silver particle surfaces are also suggested.     

Ruthenium(II)-catalyzed para-selective CH difluoroalkylation of aromatic aldehydes and ketones using transient directing groups

A Ru(II)-catalyzed para-difluoroalkylation of aromatic aldehydes and ketones with a transient directing group has been developed. It utilizes less expensive ruthenium catalysts and allows facile access to challenging difluoroalkylated aldehydes. The mechanism studies suggest that the distinct coordination mode of ruthenium complex with imine moieties is responsible for para-selectivity.     

Improving the Catalytic Stability of Ni/TiO2 for Ethanol Guerbet Condensation: Influence of Second Metal Component

Kinetics and Catalysis - Ethanol Guerbet condensation (EGC) is a green process for preparing n-butanol and the development of highly effective solid catalysts is still the bottleneck of this...     

Crystal structure of an unsymmetrical Schiff base, immobilization of its cobalt and manganese complexes on a silica support, and catalytic studies

An unsymmetrical tetradentate Schiff base (H₂L) was synthesized by the reaction of 3-methoxysalicylaldehyde, o-phenylenediamine, and salicylaldehyde in EtOH. H₂L was characterized by single-crystallographic X-ray analysis. Its Co(II) and Mn(III) complexes ([CoL] and [MnLCl]) were prepared and immobilized on 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane functionalized silica gel. The immobilized materials were found to be efficient catalysts for epoxidation of styrene in the presence of tert-BuOOH in acetonitrile at 40 °C. The catalysts can be reused several times without significant loss of performance.     

A Triazatruxene‐Based Glycocluster as a Fluorescent Sensor for Concanavalin A

A new triazatruxene‐based fluorescent glycocluster has been designed, synthesized, and fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Furthermore, its specific and selective binding properties with concanavalin A (Con A) have been investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and turbidity assay. The obtained results showed that the multivalent mannose‐modified triazatruxene exhibited specific binding with Con A, but no binding to peanut agglutinin (PNA) lectin or bovine serum albumin (BSA), corresponding to a two‐orders‐of‐magnitude higher affinity than that of monovalent mannose ligands. Most interestingly, a fluorescence enhancement of the triazatruxene‐based glycocluster was observed upon binding with Con A because of hydrophobic interactions involving sites close to the triazatruxene moiety. Furthermore, the inhibitory ability of the triazatruxene‐based glycocluster against ORN178‐ induced haemagglutination has been investigated by haemagglutination inhibition assay. The results indicated selective binding with ORN178.