New layered rare-earth hydroxides with anion-exchange properties

We report the synthesis of a new series of layered hydroxides based on rare-earth elements with a composition of RE(OH)2.5Cl(0.5).0.8 H2O (RE: Eu, Tb, etc.) through the homogeneous precipitation of RECl3.x H2O with hexamethylenetetramine (HMT). Rietveld analysis combined with direct methods revealed an orthorhombic layered structure comprising a positively charged layer of [RE(OH)2.5-(H2O)0.8]0.5+ and interlayer Cl- ions. The Cl- ions were readily exchangeable for various anions (NO3-, SO4(2-), dodecylsulfonate, etc.) at ambient temperature. Photoluminescence studies showed that the compounds display typical RE3+ emission. With rare-earth-based host layers and tunable interlayer guests, the new compounds may be of interest for optoelectronic, magnetic, catalytic, and biomedical materials.     

Chemical constituents isolated from stems of Schisandra chinensis and their antifeedant activity against Tribolium castaneum

Abstract

One new sesquiterpene (α-iso-cubebenol acetate, 8), together with 9 known compounds (1-7, 9, 10) were isolated from the stems of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. by repeated silica gel column chromatography. Based on the results of MS, NMR spectra and comparing with literature data, the six dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans were identified as schizandrin A to C (1-3), schizandrin (4), schisantherin A (5) and gomisin J (6), the two sesquiterpenes were identified as α-iso-cubebenol (7) and α-iso-cubebenol acetate (8), while the two triterpenic acids were identified as ganwuweizic acid (9) and kadsuric acid (10). The antifeedant activity of the 10 compounds against Tribolium castaneum adults was tested. Gomisin J (6) exhibited activity at 1500?ppm concentration with 40.3% antifeeding index percentages. As for the dibenzocyclooctene lignans (compounds 1–3, 6), the number of methylenedioxies and the position of hydroxyl groups were the main factors to affect their antifeedant activities.     

Counter‐Intuitive Gas‐Phase Reactivities of [V2]+ and [V2O]+ towards CO2 Reduction: Insight from Electronic Structure Calculations

[V₂O]⁺ remains “invisible” in the thermal gas‐phase reaction of bare [V₂]⁺ with CO₂ giving rise to [V₂O₂]⁺; this is because the [V₂O]⁺ intermediate is being consumed more than 230 times faster than it is generated. However, the fleeting existence of [V₂O]⁺ and its involvement in the [V₂]⁺ → [V₂O₂]⁺ chemistry are demonstrated by a cross‐over labeling experiment with a 1:1 mixture of C¹⁶O₂/C¹⁸O₂, generating the product ions [V₂¹⁶O₂]⁺, [V₂¹⁶O¹⁸O]⁺, and [V₂¹⁸O₂]⁺ in a 1:2:1 ratio. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations help to understand the remarkable and unexpected reactivity differences of [V₂]⁺ versus [V₂O]⁺ towards CO₂.     

Host–Guest Complexation of Amphiphilic Molecules at the Air–Water Interface Prevents Oxidation by Hydroxyl Radicals and Singlet Oxygen

The oxidation of antioxidants by oxidizers imposes great challenges to both living organisms and the food industry. Here we show that the host–guest complexation of the carefully designed, positively charged, amphiphilic guanidinocalix[5]arene pentadodecyl ether (GC5A‐12C) and negatively charged oleic acid (OA), a well‐known cell membrane antioxidant, prevents the oxidation of the complex monolayers at the air–water interface from two potent oxidizers hydroxyl radicals (OH) and singlet delta oxygen (SDO). OH is generated from the gas phase and attacks from the top of the monolayer, while SDO is generated inside the monolayer and attacks amphiphiles from a lateral direction. Field‐induced droplet ionization mass spectrometry results have demonstrated that the host–guest complexation achieves steric shielding and prevents both types of oxidation as a result of the tight and “sleeved in” physical arrangement, rather than the chemical reactivity, of the complexes.     

Photoactivated Fluorescence Enhancement in F,N‐Doped Carbon Dots with Piezochromic Behavior

Photoactivation in CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) on UV/Vis light exposure improves photoluminescence (PL) and photostability. However, it was not observed in fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CDs). Now, photoactivated fluorescence enhancement in fluorine and nitrogen co‐doped carbon dots (F,N‐doped CDs) is presented. At 1.0 atm, the fluorescence intensity of F,N‐doped CDs increases with UV light irradiation (5 s–30 min), accompanied with a blue‐shift of the fluorescence emission from 586 nm to 550 nm. F,N‐doped CDs exhibit photoactivated fluorescence enhancement when exposed to UV under high pressure (0.1 GPa). F,N‐doped CDs show reversible piezochromic behavior while applying increasing pressure (1.0 atm to 9.98 GPa), showing a pressure‐triggered aggregation‐induced emission in the range 1.0 atm–0.65 GPa. The photoactivated CDs with piezochromic fluorescence enhancement broadens the versatility of CDs from ambient to high‐pressure conditions and enhances their anti‐photobleaching.     

基于金纳米粒子及石墨烯量子点的四环素分子印迹电化学传感器研究

该文以四环素为模板分子,4-氨基苯硫酚(4-ATP)为功能单体,采用循环伏安法在金纳米粒子和石墨烯量子点复合材料修饰的玻碳电极表面电聚合分子印迹膜,制备四环素(TC)分子印迹传感器(MIPs/GQDs-AuNPs/GCE),并通过循环伏安法(CV)、电化学交流阻抗法(EIS)和线性扫描伏安法(LSV)等研究了其电化学响应性能。结果表明,该传感器对四环素具有良好的电流响应。在最佳实验条件下,TC氧化峰电流值与其浓度在2.0×10^-8～3.0×10^-5 mol/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,相关系数为0.999 4,检出限为1.5×10^-9 mol/L,加标回收率为97.9%～106%。该传感器稳定性好、响应灵敏、选择性高,具有良好的应用前景。     

二维薄层色谱-表面增强拉曼散射联用技术用于饮料及水果中糖精钠的快速分析

采用高稳定、高灵敏的纳米金/多孔二氧化硅复合材料作为SERS基底,构建了一种二维薄层色谱-表面增强拉曼散射(TLC-SERS)联用方法,该技术结合了薄层色谱(TLC)的快速分离功能和SERS定性定量分析的优点,提高了分离能力。采用对巯基苯胺作为探针分子研究了基底的均匀性和批-批重复性。Mapping扫描实验表明,24个测量点峰强度的相对标准偏差(RSD)为5.9%,说明该基底具有良好的点-点重复性。9个批次基底信号值的RSD为7.5%。将该基底用于糖精钠的检测,线性范围为0.1～200 mg/L,检出限为0.06 mg/L。用于实际样品测定,检测出饮料中糖精钠为141 mg/L,水果中为18 mg/L,10 min内能完成分析测试。该方法灵敏度高,特异性强,前处理方式简单,实现了饮料及水果中糖精钠的快速检测。     

A weak cation exchanger by encapsulating silica with maleic anhydride–modified polyvinyl alcohol

A novel weak cation exchanger is described by encapsulating silica with a (or multiple) layer(s) of maleic anhydride–modified polyvinyl alcohol coating(s). The preparation method is facile and fast, which is simply performed by dipping silica particles into maleic anhydride–modified polyvinyl alcohol solution as‐synthesized, then filtering and curing thermally, and finally generating a thin coating onto silica particles. Multiple layers of maleic anhydride–modified polyvinyl alcohol coatings can be generated by repeating above steps, offering an easy way to manipulate the capacity. The obtained weak cation exchanger demonstrated high separation efficiency and good selectivity toward common inorganic cations, for example, high plate count of 81 000 per meter was obtained for NH₄⁺. Simultaneous separation of alkali and alkaline earth metals could be achieved within 14 min under isocratic conditions.     

Enzymatic Extraction of Bioactive and Self‐Assembling Wool Keratin for Biomedical Applications

Keratin is widely recognized as a high‐quality renewable protein resource for biomedical applications. Despite their extensive existence, keratin resources such as feathers, wool, and hair exhibit high stability and mechanical properties because of their high disulfide bond content. Consequently, keratin extraction is challenging and its application is greatly hindered. In this work, a biological extraction strategy is proposed for the preparation of bioactive keratin and the fabrication of self‐assembled keratin hydrogels (KHs). Based on moderate and controlled hydrolysis by keratinase, keratin with a high molecular weight of approximately 45 and 28 kDa that retain its intrinsic bioactivities is obtained. The keratin products show excellent ability to promote cell growth and migration and are conferred with significant antioxidant ability because of their intrinsically high cysteine content. In addition, without the presence of any cross‐linking agent, the extracted keratin can self‐assemble into injectable hydrogels. The KHs exhibit a porous network structure and 3D culture ability, showing potential in promoting wound healing. This enzyme‐driven keratin extraction strategy opens up a new approach for the preparation of keratin that can self‐assemble into injectable hydrogels for biomedical engineering.     

Syntheses and structures of two novel fluorescent metal–organic frameworks generated from a tridentate donor–acceptor motif ligand

The tridentate organic ligand 4,4′,4′′‐(4,4,8,8,12,12‐hexamethyl‐8,12‐dihydro‐4H‐benzo[9,1]quinolizino[3,4,5,6,7‐defg]acridine‐2,6,10‐triyl)tribenzoic acid ( H₃L ) has been synthesized (as the methanol 1.25‐solvate, C₄₈H₃₉NO₆·1.25CH₃OH). As a donor–acceptor motif molecule, H₃L possess strong intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) fluorescence. Through hydrogen bonds, H₃L molecules construct a two‐dimensional (2D) network, which pack together into three‐dimensional (3D) networks with an ABC stacking pattern in the crystalline state. Based on H₃L and M(NO₃)₂ salts (M = Cd and Zn) under solvothermal conditions, two metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), namely, catena‐poly[[triaquacadmium(II)]‐μ‐10‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,4′‐(4,4,8,8,12,12‐hexamethyl‐8,12‐dihydro‐4H‐benzo[9,1]quinolizino[3,4,5,6,7‐defg]acridine‐2,6‐diyl)dibenzoato], [Cd(C₄₈H₃₇NO₆)(H₂O)₃]_n, I , and poly[[μ₃‐4,4′,4′′‐(4,4,8,8,12,12‐hexamethyl‐8,12‐dihydro‐4H‐benzo[9,1]quinolizino[3,4,5,6,7‐defg]acridine‐2,6,10‐triyl)tribenzoato](μ₃‐hydroxido)zinc(II)], [Zn₂(C₄₈H₃₆NO₆)(OH)]_n, II , were synthesized. Single‐crystal analysis revealed that both MOFs adopt a 3D structure. In I , partly deprotonated HL ^2? behaves as a bidentate ligand to link a Cd^II ion to form a one‐dimensional chain. In the solid state of I , the existence of weak interactions, such as O—H…O hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions, plays an essential role in aligning 2D nets and 3D networks with AB packing patterns for I . The deprotonated ligand L ^3? in II is utilized as a tridentate building block to bind Zn^II ions to construct 3D networks, where unusual Zn₄O₁₄ clusters act as connection nodes. As a donor–acceptor molecule, H₃L exhibits fluorescence with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 70% in the solid state. In comparison, the PL of both MOFs is red‐shifted with even higher PLQYs of 79 and 85% for I and II , respectively.