Crystalline and spectroscopic characterization of poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride) chains grafted onto poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid]

The present study is aimed to investigate the degree of crystallinity of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) P(3HB) grafted with poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate hydrochloride) (PAEMA) chains using WAXS, micro Raman, and FTIR spectroscopy. The samples were obtained by radiation induced graft polymerization of the monomer in the substrate using different solvents for comparison. The results of crystallinity are consistent with those obtained of lower crystallinity in grafting copolymer relative to the substrate P(3HB). The low crystallinity is directly related to the increase of the degree of grafting, meaning that although the P(3HB) amorphous region is grafted, the crystalline zone is also affected in some extent by the grafting process and the environment of the new molecule. Three different methods were surveyed to determine the variation of crystallinity degree with the grafting degree. It is shown that all methods provide linear relationships between these variables, but WAXS method was found more acceptable than the others (FTIR and Raman). A detailed characterization of the vibrational bands characteristic of amorphous and helical crystalline structure of the grafting copolymers are also highlighted.     

Cationic Cobalt(III)‐Catalyzed Aryl and Alkenyl CH Amidation: A Mild Protocol for the Modification of Purine Derivatives

A cationic cobalt(III)‐catalyzed direct C?H amidation of unactivated (hetero)arenes and alkenes by using 1,4,2‐dioxazol‐5‐ones as the amidating reagent has been developed. This transformation proceeds efficiently under external oxidant‐free conditions with a broad substrate scope. Moreover, 6‐arylpurine compounds, which often exhibit high potency in antimycobacterial, cytostatic, and anti‐HCV activities, can be smoothly amidated, thus offering a mild protocol for their late stage functionalization.     

Mass spectrometric profiling of flavonoid glycoconjugates possessing isomeric aglycones

In fields such as food and nutrition science or plant physiology, interest in untargeted profiling of flavonoids continues to expand. The group of flavonoids encompasses several thousands of chemically distinguishable compounds, among which are a number of isobaric compounds with the same elemental composition. Thus, the mass spectrometric identification of these compounds is challenging, especially when reference standards are not available to support their identification. Many different types of isomers of flavonoid glycoconjugates are known, i.e. compounds that differ in their glycosylation position, glycan sequence or type of interglycosidic linkage. This work focuses on the mass spectrometric identification of flavonoid glycoconjugate isomers possessing the same glycan mass and differing only in their aglycone core. A non‐targeted HPLC‐ESI‐MS/MS profiling method using a triple quadrupole MS is presented herein, which utilizes in‐source fragmentation and a pseudo‐MS³ approach for the selective analysis of flavonoid glycoconjugates with isomeric/isobaric aglycones. A selective MRM‐based identification of the in‐source formed isobaric aglycone fragments was established. Additionally, utilizing the precursor scanning capability of the employed triple quadrupole instrument, the developed method enabled the determination of the molecular weight of the studied intact flavonoid glycoconjugate. The versatility of the method was proven with various types of flavonoid aglycones, i.e. anthocyanins, flavonols, flavones, flavanones and isoflavones, along with their representative glycoconjugates. The developed method was also successfully applied to a commercially available sour cherry sample, in which 16 different glycoconjugates of pelargonidin, genistein, cyanidin, kaempferol and quercetin could be tentatively identified, including a number of compounds containing isomeric/isobaric aglycones. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydroxoiridium/Chiral Diene Complexes as Effective Catalysts for Asymmetric Annulation of α‐Oxo‐ and Iminocarboxamides with 1,3‐Dienes

The asymmetric [3+2] annulation of α‐oxo‐ and α‐iminocarboxamides with 1,3‐dienes catalyzed by hydroxoiridium/chiral diene complexes was realized, giving high yields of the corresponding γ‐lactams with high enantioselectivity.     

Cooperative Bond Activation and Catalytic Reduction of Carbon Dioxide at a Group 13 Metal Center

A single‐component ambiphilic system capable of the cooperative activation of protic, hydridic and apolar H? X bonds across a Group 13 metal/activated β‐diketiminato (Nacnac) ligand framework is reported. The hydride complex derived from the activation of H₂ is shown to be a competent catalyst for the highly selective reduction of CO₂ to a methanol derivative. To our knowledge, this process represents the first example of a reduction process of this type catalyzed by a molecular gallium complex.     

In-tube magnetic solid phase microextraction of some fluoroquinolones based on the use of sodium dodecyl sulfate coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles packed tube

In-tube magnetic solid phase microextraction (in-tube MSPME) of fluoroquinolones from water and urine samples based on the use of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) coated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles packed tube has been reported. After the preparation of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) by a batch synthesis, these NPs were introduced into a stainless steel tube by a syringe and then a strong magnet was placed around the tube, so that the Fe₃O₄ NPs were remained in the tube and the tube was used in the in-tube SPME-HPLC/UV for the analysis of fluoroquinolones in water and urine samples. Plackett–Burman design was employed for screening the variables significantly affecting the extraction efficiency. Then, the significant factors were more investigated by Box–Behnken design. Calibration curves were linear (R² > 0.990) in the range of 0.1–1000 μg L⁻¹ for ciprofloxacin (CIP) and 0.5–500 μg L⁻¹ for enrofloxacin (ENR) and ofloxacin (OFL), respectively. LODs for all studied fluoroquinolones ranged from 0.01 to 0.05 μg L⁻¹. The main advantages of this method were rapid and easy automation and analysis, short extraction time, high sensitivity, possibility of fully sorbent collection after analysis, wide linear range and no need to organic solvents in extraction.     

N‐Arylation of Heterocycles Promoted by Cyclen Derivatives

An efficient copper‐catalyzed N‐arylation reactions of imidazole, indole, and triazole with aryl or heteroaryl halides using cyclen derivatives as efficient organic base and ligand at moderate temperature have been investigated. The cross‐couplings proceed smoothly with good to excellent yields.     

表面形貌控制增强铁基载氧体与褐煤化学链燃烧反应活性

为探究载氧体形貌控制获取适用于化学链燃烧的高活性表面结构载氧体的可行性,以Fe2O3作为模型载氧体,从理论上对比研究Fe2O3的高弥勒指数晶面(104)和Fe2O3自然裸露的最主要晶面之一(001)的表面电子特性,结果表明,Fe2O3(104)的电子结构更有利于表面与煤模型分子的相互作用.基于理论分析结果,从实验上控制制备了单晶载氧体Fe2O3(104)/Al2O3,研究了该载氧体与褐煤的化学链燃烧反应特性.Fe2O3(104)/Al2O3比传统浸渍法制备的载氧体Fe2O3/Al2O3具有更高的反应活性,与理论计算结果一致.元素分析表明,Fe2O3(104)/Al2O3与褐煤反应的积碳量远少于Fe2O3/Al2O3与褐煤反应的积碳量.对比新鲜载氧体及再生后载氧体的结构发现,Fe2O3(104)/Al2O3在反应过程中不断进行氧化还原反应而发生结构弛豫后,仍然能通过氧化再生.这表明形貌控制制备可为化学链燃烧技术开发新型高效载氧体提供新思路.     

Computational Insights into the Charge Relaying Properties of β‐Turn Peptides in Protein Charge Transfers

Density functional theory calculations suggest that β‐turn peptide segments can act as a novel dual‐relay elements to facilitate long‐range charge hopping transport in proteins, with the N terminus relaying electron hopping transfer and the C terminus relaying hole hopping migration. The electron‐ or hole‐binding ability of such a β‐turn is subject to the conformations of oligopeptides and lengths of its linking strands. On the one hand, strand extension at the C‐terminal end of a β‐turn considerably enhances the electron‐binding of the β‐turn N terminus, due to its unique electropositivity in the macro‐dipole, but does not enhance hole‐forming of the β‐turn C terminus because of competition from other sites within the β‐strand. On the other hand, strand extension at the N terminal end of the β‐turn greatly enhances hole‐binding of the β‐turn C terminus, due to its distinct electronegativity in the macro‐dipole, but does not considerably enhance electron‐binding ability of the N terminus because of the shared responsibility of other sites in the β‐strand. Thus, in the β‐hairpin structures, electron‐ or hole‐binding abilities of both termini of the β‐turn motif degenerate compared with those of the two hook structures, due to the decreased macro‐dipole polarity caused by the extending the two terminal strands. In general, the high polarity of a macro‐dipole always plays a principal role in determining charge‐relay properties through modifying the components and energies of the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals of the β‐turn motif, whereas local dipoles with low polarity only play a cooperative assisting role. Further exploration is needed to identify other factors that influence relay properties in these protein motifs.