Tuning the Photo-electrochemical Performance of RuII-Sensitized Two-Dimensional MoS2

Covalently tethering photosensitizers to catalytically active 1T-MoS₂ surfaces holds great promise for the solar-driven hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, we report the preparation of two new Ru^II-complex-functionalized MoS₂ hybrids [Ru^II(bpy)₂(phen)]-MoS₂ and [Ru^II(bpy)₂(py)Cl]-MoS₂. The influence of covalent functionalization of chemically exfoliated 1T-MoS₂ with coordinating ligands and Ru^II complexes on the HER activity and photo-electrochemical performance of this dye-sensitized system was studied systematically. We find that the photo-electrochemical performance of this Ru^II-complex-sensitized MoS₂ system is highly dependent on the surface extent of photosensitizers and the catalytic activity of functionalized MoS₂. The latter was strongly affected by the number and the kind of functional groups. Our results underline the tunability of the photovoltage generation in this dye-sensitized MoS₂ system by manipulation of the surface functionalities, which provides a practical guidance for smart design of future dye-sensitized MoS₂ hydrogen production devices towards improved the photofuel conversion efficiency.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF AN ACRYLAMIDE MODIFIED ETHYL ACRYLATE LATEX BY CARBON-13 NMR SPECTROSCOPY

The structure of a 70/30 ethyl acrylate-acrylamide latex made in a semi-continuous process with surfactant has been investigated. The molar composition and relative concentration of the polymers in the serum phase, on the surface and in the particle were characterized by coupling a filtration procedure, serum replacement, with carbon-13 NMR spectroscopy. The development of polymer in the different phases could be monitored by taking samples at timed intervals during the polymerization. Post-treatment of the latex with sodium hydroxide selectively hydrolyzed the copolymerized ethyl acrylate in the serum and on the surface. By measurement of spin lattice relaxation times it was possible to estimate surface concentration of oligomeric polymer     

Preparation and Characterisation of a Bis-μ-Hydroxo-NiIII2 Complex

Hydroxide-bridged high-valent oxidants have been implicated as the active oxidants in methane monooxygenases and other oxidases that employ bimetallic clusters in their active site. To understand the properties of such species, bis-μ-hydroxo-Ni^II₂ complex ( 1 ) supported by a new dicarboxamidate ligand (N,N′-bis(2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-2,2-dimethylmalonamide) was prepared. Complex 1 contained a diamond core made up of two Ni^II ions and two bridging hydroxide ligands. Titration of the 1 e⁻ oxidant (NH₄)₂[Ce^IV(NO₃)₆] with 1 at −45 °C showed the formation of the high-valent species 2 and 3 , containing Ni^IINi^III and Ni^III₂ diamond cores, respectively, maintaining the bis-μ-hydroxide core. Both complexes were characterised using electron paramagnetic resonance, X-ray absorption, and electronic absorption spectroscopies. Density functional theory computations supported the spectroscopic assignments. Oxidation reactivity studies showed that bis-μ-hydroxide-Ni^III₂ 3 was capable of oxidizing substrates at −45 °C at rates greater than that of the most reactive bis-μ-oxo-Ni^III complexes reported to date.     

Association and Dissociation of Grignard Reagents RMgCl and Their Turbo Variant RMgCl⋅LiCl

Grignard reagents RMgCl and their so‐called turbo variant, the highly reactive RMgCl?LiCl, are of exceptional synthetic utility. Nevertheless, it is still not fully understood which species these compounds form in solution and, in particular, in which way LiCl exerts its reactivity‐enhancing effect. A combination of electrospray‐ionization mass spectrometry, electrical conductivity measurements, NMR spectroscopy (including diffusion‐ordered spectroscopy), and quantum chemical calculations is used to analyze solutions of RMgCl (R=Me, Et, Bu, Hex, Oct, Dec, iPr, tBu, Ph) in tetrahydrofuran and other ethereal solvents in the absence and presence of stoichiometric amounts of LiCl. In tetrahydrofuran, RMgCl forms mononuclear species, which are converted into trinuclear anions as a result of the concentration increase experienced during the electrospray process. These trinuclear anions are theoretically predicted to adopt open cubic geometries, which remarkably resemble structural motifs previously found in the solid state. The molecular constituents of RMgCl and RMgCl?LiCl are interrelated via Schlenk equilibria and fast intermolecular exchange processes. A small portion of the Grignard reagent also forms anionic ate complexes in solution. The abundance of these more electron‐rich and hence supposedly more nucleophilic ate complexes strongly increases upon the addition of LiCl, thus rationalizing its beneficial effect on the reactivity of Grignard reagents.     

Neutral Hexacoordinate Phosphorus(V) Compounds Containing Tridentate Dianionic Ligands Obtained from Salicylideneamines, 2,2′-Azodiphenol and a Thio(Diphenol)

Abstract

Neutral hexacoordinate phosphorus(V) compounds of a number of univalent bidentate ligands are known.^l,2 The silylated forms of tridentate, dianionic Schiff base ligands: N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)salicylideneamine H₂L^I, N-(4-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)-salicylideneamine H₂L^II, N-(2-hydroxy-4-nitrophenyl)salicylidene-amine H₂L^III, and 2,2′-azodiphenol H₂L^IV gave, with halogeno- and (trifluoromethyl)halogenophosphoranes, neutral hexa-coordinate derivatives with bis-chelate structures. The ligands form bicyclic five- and six-membered chelate rings in a meridional conformation, with two P-O bonds and one N→P donor bond. Hexacoordinate structures were evidenced by high-field ³¹P NMR chemical shifts (-136 to -148 ppm), characteristic J _PF coupling patterns and was further substantiated by crystal structures of Cl₃L^II (A) and F₃PL^II (B).     

Stem cell survival is severely compromised by the thymidineanalog EdU (5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine), an alternative to BrdU for proliferation assays and stem cell tracing

Stem cell therapy has opened up the possibility of treating numerous degenerating diseases. However, we are still merely at the stage of identifying appropriate sources of stem cells and exploring their full differentiation potential. Thus, tracking the stem cells upon in vivo engraftment and during in vitro co-culture is very important and is an area of research embracing many pitfalls. 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU), a rather new thymidine analog incorporated into DNA, has recently been suggested to be a novel highly valid alternative to other dyes for labeling of stem cells and subsequent tracing of their proliferation and differentiation ability. However, our results herein do not at any stage support this recommendation, since EdU severely reduces the viability of stem cells. Accordingly, we found that transplanted EdU-labeled stem cells hardly survive upon in vivo transplantation into regenerating muscle, whereas stem cells labeled in parallel with another dye survived very well and also participated in myofiber formation. Similar data were obtained upon in vitro myogenic culture, and further analysis showed that EdU reduced cell numbers by up to 88 % and increased the cell volume of remaining cells by as much as 91 %. Even at low EdU concentrations, cell survival and phenotype were substantially compromised, and the myogenic differentiation potential was inhibited. Since we examined both primary derived cells and cell lines from several species with the same result, this appears to be a common trait of EdU. We therefore suggest that EdU labeling should be avoided (or used with precaution) for stem cell tracing purposes.

An Investigation of 1:1 Adducts of Gallium Trihalides with Triarylphosphines by Solid‐State 69/71Ga and 31P NMR Spectroscopy

Several 1:1 adducts of gallium trihalides with triarylphosphines, X₃Ga(PR₃) (X=Cl, Br, and I; PR₃=triarylphosphine ligand), were investigated by using solid‐state ^69/71Ga and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy at different magnetic‐field strengths. The ^69/71Ga nuclear quadrupolar coupling parameters, as well as the gallium and phosphorus magnetic shielding tensors, were determined. The magnitude of the ⁷¹Ga quadrupolar coupling constants (C_Q(⁷¹Ga)) range from approximately 0.9 to 11.0 MHz . The spans of the gallium magnetic shielding tensors for these complexes, δ₁₁?δ₃₃, range from approximately 30 to 380 ppm; those determined for phosphorus range from 10 to 40 ppm. For any given phosphine ligand, the gallium nuclei are most shielded for X=I and least shielded for X=Cl, a trend previously observed for In^III–phosphine complexes. This experimental trend, attributed to spin‐orbit effects of the halogen ligands, is reproduced by DFT calculations. The signs of C_Q(^69/71Ga) for some of the adducts were determined from the analysis of the ³¹P NMR spectra acquired with magic angle spinning (MAS). The ¹J(^69/71Ga,³¹P) and ΔJ(^69/71Ga, ³¹P) values, as well as their signs, were also determined; values of ¹J(⁷¹Ga,³¹P) range from approximately 380 to 1590 Hz. Values of ¹J(^69/71Ga,³¹P) and ΔJ(^69/71Ga,³¹P) calculated by using DFT have comparable magnitudes and generally reproduce experimental trends. Both the Fermi‐contact and spin‐dipolar Fermi‐contact mechanisms make important contributions to the ¹J(^69/71Ga,³¹P) tensors. The ³¹P NMR spectra of several adducts in solution, obtained as a function of temperature, are contrasted with those obtained in the solid state. Finally, to complement the analysis of NMR spectra for these adducts, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction data for Br₃Ga[P(p‐Anis)₃] and I₃Ga[P(p‐Anis)₃] were obtained.     

A Dilute and Shoot Strategy for Determining Alternaria Toxins in Tomato-Based Samples and in Different Flours Using LC-IDMS Separation

Alternaria toxins are emerging mycotoxins whose regulation and standardization are in progress by the European Commission and the European Committee for Standardization. This paper describes a dilute and shoot approach to determine five Alternaria toxins in selected food samples using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The strategy involves sample extraction with acidified aqueous methanol, followed by a solvent change accomplished via sample evaporation and reconstitution. The quantification is based on isotope dilution, applying all corresponding isotopically labeled internal standards to compensate possible matrix effects of the analysis. The main advantages of the present method over other existing methods includes simple and effective sample preparation, as well as detection with high sensitivity. The five-fold sample dilution can decrease matrix effects, which were evaluated with both external and internal standard methods. The results demonstrated a limit of quantification lower than 1.0 µg/kg for all five analytes for the first time. The newly presented method showed acceptable accuracy (52.7–111%) when analyzing naturally contaminated and spiked standard samples at the described levels. The method was validated for tomato-based and flour samples (wheat, rye, and maize). The absolute recovery ranged from 66.7% to 91.6% (RSD < 10%). The developed method could be an alternative approach for those laboratories that exclude sample cleanup and pre-concentration of state-of-the-art instruments with enhanced sensitivity.     

Copper‐Catalyzed α‐Amination of Phosphonates and Phosphine Oxides: A Direct Approach to α‐Amino Phosphonic Acids and Derivatives

A direct approach to important α‐amino phosphonic acids and its derivatives has been developed by using copper‐catalyzed electrophilic amination of α‐phosphonate zincates with O‐acyl hydroxylamines. This amination provides the first example of C? N bond formation which directly introduces acyclic and cyclic amines to the α‐position of phosphonates in one step. The reaction is readily promoted at room temperature with as little as 0.5 mol % of catalyst, and demonstrates high efficiency on a broad substrate scope.