Synthesis of monodisperse pancake-like Bi<Subscript>2</Subscript>WO<Subscript>6</Subscript> with prominent photocatalytic performances

Uniform Bi₂WO₆ pancakes were prepared via a solvothermal route in a solvent mixture of glycerol (Gly) and water (V/V = 1). A variety of techniques including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron micrographs, X-ray powder diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, FT-IR spectra, and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra, were employed to characterize the structure and properties of the as-obtained Bi₂WO₆. It was found that Bi₂WO₆ pancakes showed prominent photocatalytic performance for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light (λ ≥ 420 nm) irradiation, which can be attributed to its good crystallization, large surface area, unique morphology and structural features.     

Copper-promoted Chan-Lam coupling between enaminones and aryl boronic acids

A novel copper-promoted N-arylation of enaminones with aromatic boronic acids has been developed, which provides an efficient way to synthesize N-aryl enaminones with a broad substrate scope and excellent functional group compatibility. The N-aryl enaminones could be converted into a series of highly valuable building blocks and bioactive compounds. Notably, in comparison with traditional methods, this alternative approach provides accesses to N-aryl enaminones bearing multiple aromatic rings.     

Synthesis,structure, electrochemical properties,and antioxidant activities of copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes with N,N-bis(N-ethyl-2-ylmethylbenzimidazol)allylamine ligand

N,N-bis(N-methyl-2-ylmethylbenzimidazole)aniline (EtAIDB) and its transition metal complexes, [Cu(EtAIDB)Br₂]·EtOH {dibromo[N,N-bis(N-methyl-2-ylmethylbenzimidazole)aniline] copper(II) ethanol} (1) and [Zn(EtAIDB)Br₂] {dibromo[N,N-bis(N-methyl-2-ylmethylbenzimidazole)aniline] zinc(II)} (2), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductivity, UV–visible, and IR spectroscopy. The X-ray crystallographic studies of 1 and 2 have shown two different arrangements: 1 is distorted square-based pyramidal, while 2 can be treated as distorted tetrahedral. The cyclic voltammogram of 1 represents quasi-reversible Cu²⁺/Cu⁺ pairs. In vitro antioxidant tests showed that 1 had significant antioxidant activity against superoxide and hydroxy radicals.     

Aromatic Aminocatalysis

Aromatic aminocatalysis refers to transformations that employ aromatic amines, such as anilines or aminopyridines, as catalysts. Owing to the conjugation of the amine moiety with the aromatic ring, aromatic amines demonstrate distinctive features in aminocatalysis compared with their aliphatic counterparts. For example, aromatic aminocatalysis typically proceeds with slower turnover, but is more active and conformationally rigid as a result of the stabilized aromatic imine or iminium species. In fact, the advent of aromatic aminocatalysis can be traced back to before the renaissance of organocatalysis in the early 2000s. So far, aromatic aminocatalysis has been widely applied in bioconjugation reactions through transamination; in asymmetric organocatalysis through imine/enamine tautomerization; and in cooperative catalysis with transition metals through C?H/C?C activation and functionalization. This Focus Review summarizes the advent of and major advances in the use of aromatic aminocatalysis in bioconjugation reactions and organic synthesis.     

The redox of hydroxyl-assisted metallic filament induced resistive switching memory based on a biomaterial-constructed sustainable and environment-friendly device

Using biomaterial-constructed resistive switching memory devices has attracted great attention for the potential application in advanced electronic components because of their variety of advantages, such as low cost, sustainability, environment-friendly, and so on. In this work, after a series of treatments, an edible mushroom as an intermediate insulating material was assembled into an Ag/biofilm/metal structure, in which the metals such as Al, Cu, Ag, and Ti were chosen as the bottom electrode to explore in-depth physical mechanisms. The transmission mechanism of resistive switching memory behavior in an Ag/biofilm/metal device was studied in detail. It was found that the redox of hydroxyl-assisted Ag filaments could be easily formed on an inactive metal bottom electrode through the mushroom film by redox reaction under applied voltage. This work provides an ingenious potential application in wearable, flexible, sustainable, and environment-friendly biologically resistive random-access memories.     

Confined Ultrathin Pd‐Ce Nanowires with Outstanding Moisture and SO2 Tolerance in Methane Combustion

An efficient strategy (enhanced metal oxide interaction and core–shell confinement to inhibit the sintering of noble metal) is presented confined ultrathin Pd‐CeO_x nanowire (2.4 nm) catalysts for methane combustion, which enable CH₄ total oxidation at a low temperature of 350 °C, much lower than that of a commercial Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyst (425 °C). Importantly, unexpected stability was observed even under harsh conditions (800 °C, water vapor, and SO₂), owing to the confinement and shielding effect of the porous silica shell together with the promotion of CeO₂. Pd‐CeO_x solid solution nanowires (Pd‐Ce NW) as cores and porous silica as shells (Pd‐CeNW@SiO₂) were rationally prepared by a facile and direct self‐assembly strategy for the first time. This strategy is expected to inspire more active and stable catalysts for use under severe conditions (vehicle emissions control, reforming, and water–gas shift reaction).     

A Bio‐inspired Cu4O4 Cubane: Effective Molecular Catalysts for Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation in Aqueous Solution

Inspired by the cubic Mn₄CaO₅ cluster of natural oxygen‐evolving complex in Photosystem II, tetrametallic molecular water oxidation catalysts, especially M₄O₄ cubane‐like clusters (M=transition metals), have aroused great interest in developing highly active and robust catalysts for water oxidation. Among these M₄O₄ clusters, however, copper‐based molecular catalysts are poorly understood. Now, bio‐inspired Cu₄O₄ cubanes are presented as effective molecular catalysts for electrocatalytic water oxidation in aqueous solution (pH 12). The exceptional catalytic activity is manifested with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 267 s^?1 for [(L_Gly‐Cu)₄] at 1.70 V and 105 s^?1 for [(L_Glu‐Cu)₄] at 1.56 V. Electrochemical and spectroscopic study revealed a successive two‐electron transfer process in the Cu₄O₄ cubanes to form high‐valent Cu^III and Cu^IIIO^. intermediates during the catalysis.     

Floxuridine Homomeric Oligonucleotides “Hitchhike” with Albumin In Situ for Cancer Chemotherapy

Automated attachment of chemotherapeutic drugs to oligonucleotides through phosphoramidite chemistry and DNA synthesis has emerged as a powerful technology in constructing structure‐defined and payload‐tunable oligonucleotide–drug conjugates. In practice, however, in vivo delivery of these oligonucleotides remains a challenge. Inspired by the systemic transport of hydrophobic payloads by serum albumin in nature, we report the development of a lipid‐conjugated floxuridine homomeric oligonucleotide (LFU20) that “hitchhikes” with endogenous serum albumin for cancer chemotherapy. Upon intravenous injection, LFU20 immediately inserts into the hydrophobic cave of albumin to form an LFU20/albumin complex, which accumulates in the tumor by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and internalizes into the lysosomes of cancer cells. After degradation, cytotoxic floxuridine monophosphate is released to inhibit cell proliferation.     

A Rapidly Self‐Healing Host–Guest Supramolecular Hydrogel with High Mechanical Strength and Excellent Biocompatibility

It is still a challenge to achieve both excellent mechanical strength and biocompatibility in hydrogels. In this study, we exploited two interactions to form a novel biocompatible, slicing‐resistant, and self‐healing hydrogel. The first was molecular host–guest recognition between a host (isocyanatoethyl acrylate modified β‐cyclodextrin) and a guest (2‐(2‐(2‐(2‐(adamantyl‐1‐oxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethanol acrylate) to form “three‐arm” host–guest supramolecules (HGSMs), and the second was covalent bonding between HGSMs (achieved by UV‐initiated polymerization) to form strong cross‐links in the hydrogel. The host–guest interaction enabled the hydrogel to rapidly self‐heal. When it was cut, fresh surfaces were formed with dangling host and guest molecules (due to the breaking of host–guest recognition), which rapidly recognized each other again to heal the hydrogel by recombination of the cut surfaces. The smart hydrogels hold promise for use as biomaterials for soft‐tissue repair.