Decay of metastable states in Nd II

The difficulty associated with an accurate determination of transition rates for forbidden lines in lowly ionized heavy elements is illustrated in the case of Nd II. We have investigated the radiative decay of the low-lying metastable levels in Nd⁺ including the two levels K_11/2 and I_13/2. In these two particular cases, using different theoretical approaches, we find that the decay is dominated by the M1 channels but that the E2 contributions are of the same order of magnitude. These levels have also been studied experimentally by lifetime measurements with the heavy ion storage ring CRYRING of Stockholm University. The difficulties encountered when performing such experiments are underlined and discussed.     

Revelation of ESIPT mechanism for the novel fluorescent system HNIBT in toluene and methanol solvents: A TDDFT study

In this work, we devote to explore excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) behavior for a novel fluorescent molecule naphthalimide‐based 2‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐benzothiazole (HNIBT) [New J. Chem. 2019, 43, 9152.] in toluene and methanol (MeOH) solvents. Exploring weak interactions, stable HNIBT‐enol, and HNIBT‐MeOH‐enol complex can be found in S₀ state via TDDFT/B3LYP/6‐311+G(d,p) level. Given photoexcitation, intramolecular hydrogen bond O1? H2···N3 of HNIBT‐enol and HNIBT‐MeOH‐enol is dramatically enhanced, which offers impetus for facilitates ESIPT reaction. After repeated comparisons, we verify the unavailability of intermolecular hydrogen bonding effects between HNIBT‐enol and MeOH molecules. In view of excitation, HOMO (π) → LUMO (π*) transition and the changes of electronical densities indeed impulse ESIPT tendency. Via constructing potential energy curves (PECs), for both HNIBT‐enol and HNIBT‐MeOH‐enol complex, the ESIPT could only occur along with intramolecular hydrogen bond O1? H2···N3. Through comparison, the potential barrier falls from 4.124 kcal/mol (HNIBT‐enol) to 2.132 kcal/mol (HNIBT‐MeOH‐enol). Therefore, we confirm that the ESIPT of the HNIBT system happens more easily in the MeOH solvent compared with the toluene solvent.     

A Molecular Analogue of the C−H Activation Intermediate of the Silica-Supported Ga(III) Single-Site Propane Dehydrogenation Catalyst: Structure and XANES Signature

Propane dehydrogenation is an important field of research due to an increasing world-wide demand of propene while classical production routes through naphtha cracking are in decline. In that context, silica-supported Ga(III) sites, synthesized from surface organometallic chemistry principles, show high selectivity and stability in the propane dehydrogenation reaction. This performance is in significant contrast to the reported fast deactivation and lower selectivity of most Ga₂O₃ and CrO₃ based materials. The Ga-catalyzed propane dehydrogenation reaction is proposed to proceed through the formation of Ga alkyl intermediates for which it would be desirable to have detailed structural and spectroscopic information. Here, we prepare a consistent series of Ga(III) molecular complexes with varying numbers of alkyl and siloxide ligands; they are characterized by single crystal X-Ray diffraction and X-Ray Absorption Near Edge Structure analysis, which is known to be highly sensitive to the Ga coordination environment. We report in particular the structure and the spectroscopic signatures of [Ga(ⁱPr)(OSi(O^tBu)₃)₂(HOSi(O^tBu)₃)], a molecular mimic of the key proposed reaction intermediates in the Ga-catalyzed PDH reaction.     

Scaling Up DNA Origami Lattice Assembly

The surface-assisted hierarchical assembly of DNA origami nanostructures is a promising route to fabricate regular nanoscale lattices. In this work, the scalability of this approach is explored and the formation of a homogeneous polycrystalline DNA origami lattice at the mica-electrolyte interface over a total surface area of 18.75 cm² is demonstrated. The topological analysis of more than 50 individual AFM images recorded at random locations over the sample surface showed only minuscule and random variations in the quality and order of the assembled lattice. The analysis of more than 450 fluorescence microscopy images of a quantum dot-decorated DNA origami lattice further revealed a very homogeneous surface coverage over cm² areas with only minor boundary effects at the substrate edges. At total DNA costs of € 0.12 per cm², this large-scale nanopatterning technique holds great promise for the fabrication of functional surfaces.     

Mechanochemically Triggered Topology Changes in Expanded Porphyrins

A hitherto unexplored class of molecules for molecular force probe applications are expanded porphyrins. This work proves that mechanical force is an effective stimulus to trigger the interconversion between Hückel and Möbius topologies in [28]hexaphyrin, making these expanded porphyrins suitable to act as conformational mechanophores operating at mild (sub-1 nN ) force conditions. A straightforward approach based on distance matrices is proposed for the selection of pulling scenarios that promote either the planar Hückel topology or the three lowest lying Möbius topologies. This approach is supported by quantum mechanochemical calculations. Force distribution analyses reveal that [28]hexaphyrin selectively allocates the external mechanical energy to molecular regions that trigger Hückel–Möbius interconversions, explaining why certain pulling scenarios favor the Hückel two-sided topology and others favor Möbius single-sided topologies. The meso-substitution pattern on [28]hexaphyrin determines whether the energy difference between the different topologies can be overcome by mechanical activation.     

Azobioisosteres of Curcumin with Pronounced Activity against Amyloid Aggregation,Intracellular Oxidative Stress,and Neuroinflammation

Many (poly-)phenolic natural products, for example, curcumin and taxifolin, have been studied for their activity against specific hallmarks of neurodegeneration, such as amyloid-β 42 (Aβ42) aggregation and neuroinflammation. Due to their drawbacks, arising from poor pharmacokinetics, rapid metabolism, and even instability in aqueous medium, the biological activity of azobenzene compounds carrying a pharmacophoric catechol group, which have been designed as bioisoteres of curcumin has been examined. Molecular simulations reveal the ability of these compounds to form a hydrophobic cluster with Aβ42, which adopts different folds, affecting the propensity to populate fibril-like conformations. Furthermore, the curcumin bioisosteres exceeded the parent compound in activity against Aβ42 aggregation inhibition, glutamate-induced intracellular oxidative stress in HT22 cells, and neuroinflammation in microglial BV-2 cells. The most active compound prevented apoptosis of HT22 cells at a concentration of 2.5 μm (83 % cell survival), whereas curcumin only showed very low protection at 10 μm (21 % cell survival).     

Inherent Ethyl Acetate Selectivity in a Trianglimine Molecular Solid

Ethyl acetate is an important chemical raw material and solvent. It is also a key volatile organic compound in the brewing industry and a marker for lung cancer. Materials that are highly selective toward ethyl acetate are needed for its separation and detection. Here, we report a trianglimine macrocycle ( TAMC ) that selectively adsorbs ethyl acetate by forming a solvate. Crystal structure prediction showed this to be the lowest energy solvate structure available. This solvate leaves a metastable, “templated” cavity after solvent removal. Adsorption and breakthrough experiments confirmed that TAMC has adequate adsorption kinetics to separate ethyl acetate from azeotropic mixtures with ethanol, which is a challenging and energy-intensive industrial separation.     

新型嘧啶单环类非经典叶酸拮抗剂的合成及抗肿瘤活性研究

以课题组前期设计合成的非经典叶酸拮抗剂6-(4'-甲基苯乙基)-N5-氯乙酰基-2,4-二氨基哌啶并[3,2-d]嘧啶(wm-8.2)为先导化合物,将wm-8.2中的哌啶并嘧啶双环结构简化为嘧啶单环结构,以提高分子柔韧性并简化分子结构,根据6-位空间占位设计6-H和6-甲基两个系列,考察了不同桥链长度和不同芳香杂环侧链对抗肿瘤活性的影响.同时对具有叶酸抑制剂分子结构特征的关键中间体进行活性对比测定,研究了N(5)位氯乙酰基对活性的影响.两个系列目标化合物和关键中间体共36个化合物的结构均经1H NMR,13C NMR和MS确证.生物活性测定表明,6位为甲基的化合物中,具有三碳桥链及对甲基苯环侧链的6-甲基-2,4-二氨基-5-(N-(4-甲基苯基)丙基-N-(2-氯乙酰基))氨基嘧啶(6b-3)具有最好的HL-60、A549和HCT116细胞增殖抑制活性,IC50分别为0.25,0.83和0.63μmol?L^-1.化合物6b-3在N(5)位氯乙酰基取代之前的关键中间体6-甲基-2,4-二氨基-5-(N-(4-甲基苯基)丙基)氨基嘧啶(5b-3)具有最优的二氢叶酸还原酶抑制活性.总结了化合物的构效关系,并用计算机模拟进行了阐释.     

How Aromatic Fluorination Exchanges the Interaction Role of Pyridine with Carbonyl Compounds: The Formaldehyde Adduct

The rotational spectrum of the weakly bound complex pentafluoropyridine⋅⋅⋅formaldehyde has been investigated using Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. From the analysis of the rotational parameters of the parent species and of the ¹³C and ¹⁵N isotopologues, the structural arrangement of the adduct has been unambiguously established. The full ring fluorination of pyridine has a dramatic effect on its binding properties: It alters the electron density distribution at the π-cloud of pyridine creating a π-hole and changing its electron donor-acceptor capabilities. In the complex, formaldehyde lies above the aromatic ring with one of the oxygen lone pairs, as conventionally envisaged, pointing toward its centre. This lone pair⋅⋅⋅π-hole interaction, reinforced by a weak C−H⋅⋅⋅N interaction, indicates an exchange of the electron-acceptor roles of both molecules when compared to the pyridine⋅⋅⋅formaldehyde adduct. Tunnelling doublets due to the internal rotation of formaldehyde have also been observed and analysed leading to a discussion on the competition between lone pair⋅⋅⋅π-hole and π⋅⋅⋅π stacking interactions.     

液晶分子印迹整体柱的制备及其分子识别热力学

液晶分子印迹聚合物(MIPs)因刚性液晶单体的加入而在超低交联度水平下也能印迹和识别模板分子,有效解决了传统MIPs因高交联度造成的位点包埋、结合容量低、传质慢等问题。尽管液晶MIPs具有如此独特的优势,但却面临着由于交联度的大幅度降低而导致印迹效果下降的问题。为了研究液晶MIPs的结合特性,制备具有良好印迹效果的低交联液晶MIPs,该文通过二次接枝聚合,制备了一系列不同交联度的液晶分子印迹整体柱,用高效液相色谱法研究了聚合参数与印迹整体柱亲和性的关系。实验中选用三羟甲基丙烷三甲基丙烯酸酯(TRIM)为交联剂,以甲苯和十二醇为致孔剂合成整体柱骨架,并在此基础上以(S)-萘普生为模板,加入液晶单体4-氰基苯基单环己基乙烯(CPCE)进行二次聚合接枝。实验中系统考察了流动相中乙腈比例及缓冲液pH值对色谱保留的影响,结果发现液晶单体的加入使得MIPs对萘普生保留控制机制由原来的氢键作用变为了疏水作用;通过动态吸附实验得到的突破曲线经前沿分析及对吸附等温线Langmuir、Freundlich和Scatchard分析拟合,发现交联度为15%时液晶MIPs印迹因子最大(3.78)、非均一性最强,且特异性吸附量高于非特异性吸附量。液晶MIPs的计量置换模型(SDM-R)分析表明,液晶印迹整体柱对模板分子的总亲和力(ln A=0.645)明显高于其类似物;而从空间匹配程度看,与液晶印迹整体柱空间匹配程度最高的是酮洛芬而非模板分子,但液晶印迹整体柱对酮洛芬的总亲和力(ln A=0.242)不及模板分子的一半,表明在本低交联液晶印迹系统中,空间效应不是决定印迹系统识别能力的主要因素。进一步的分离热力学研究发现,低交联液晶印迹柱的|ΔΔH|<T|ΔΔS|,而交联度为70%的非液晶MIPs柱的|ΔΔH|>T|ΔΔS|,表明液晶MIPs的分离过程是一个熵控制过程,而常规无液晶MIPs的分离过程是一个焓控制过程。上述结果表明,液晶单体的加入改变了MIPs的识别机制,适当的低交联度可显著提高液晶MIPs的识别性能,因此液晶MIPs这些特质有望使其成为新一代的MIPs。