Prebiotic Nucleoside Synthesis: The Selectivity of Simplicity

Ever since the discovery of nucleic acids 150 years ago,^[1] major achievements have been made in understanding and decrypting the fascinating scientific questions of the genetic code.^[2] However, the most fundamental question about the origin and the evolution of the genetic code remains a mystery. How did nature manage to build up such intriguingly complex molecules able to encode structure and function from simple building blocks? What conditions were required? How could the precursors survive the unhostile environment of early Earth? Over the past decades, promising synthetic concepts were proposed providing clarity in the field of prebiotic nucleic acid research. In this Minireview, we show the current status and various approaches to answer these fascinating questions.     

Synthesis of (−)-Dihydroraputindole D by Enantioselective Benzoylation of a 1,3-Diol Intermediate

The enantioselective synthesis of (−)-dihydroraputindole D is reported. The key step is the desymmetrizing benzoylation of a prochiral 1,3-diol employing Trost′s ProPhenol catalyst system, which has been applied for the first time to a cyclic molecule carrying geminal hydroxymethyl groups. The cyclopenta[f]indoline system was assembled by Au(I)-catalyzed cyclization of an alkynylated indoline precursor. (−)-Dihydroraputindole D was obtained in 17 steps and 8% overall yield starting from dihydroxyacetone. In combination with quantum chemical calculations of the ECD spectra, our synthesis allowed us to determine the absolute configuration (5S,7R) of the natural product (+)-raputindole D from the Rutaceous plant Raputia simulans.     

镉汞四元硒化物K8Cd2.79Hg9.21Se16和Rb4Hg3.04Cd2.96Se8的溶剂热合成及表征

利用溶剂热法合成了2种含镉汞的二维(2D)四元硒化物K8Cd2.79Hg9.21Se16(1)和Rb4Hg3.04Cd2.96Se8 (2)。单晶X射线衍射分析表明,化合物1为正交晶系,空间群为Pbcn,a=1.082 71(17) nm,b=0.678 73(10) nm,c=1.415 0(2) nm,Z=1;化合物2为正交晶系,空间群为Ibam,a=0.640 72(10) nm,b=1.160 25(16) nm,c=1.452 0(2) nm,Z=2。化合物1中含有八元环Cd2Hg2Se4和六元环CdHg2Se3阴离子层(Cd2.79Hg9.21Se16)n8n-;化合物2中含有八元环Cd2(Cd/Hg)2Se4及四元环CdHgSe2和(Cd/Hg)2Se2阴离子层(Hg3.04Cd2.96Se8)n4n-。对这2种化合物进行了扫描电镜和能谱分析、粉末X射线衍射、差示扫描量热分析、固体-可见漫反射光谱和荧光性质等表征。     

机械化学法制备金属-有机骨架及其复合物研究进展

金属-有机骨架(MOFs)是由金属离子/簇和多齿状有机配体通过配位键桥联而形成的多孔晶态材料。MOFs材料具有孔隙率高、比表面积大、尺寸可调、结构易修饰、功能多样化等特点,使其在气体吸附、分离和催化等方面都具有潜在应用价值。到目前为止,在MOFs合成的几种常见方法中,机械化学法(即在无溶剂或极少量溶剂的情况下研磨固体反应物进行的反应)作为一种清洁、绿色、高效的合成手段逐渐引起人们的关注。本综述总结了近年来机械化学合成MOFs及其复合物的典型进展,目的是为机械化学法合成MOFs及其复合材料提供一个通用而易于理解的概述。目前的研究进展表明,机械化学法是一种实用且环境友好的合成方法,为低成本、宏量生产MOFs及其复合物提供了可能。     

Expedient Synthesis of Ketones via N‐Heterocyclic Carbene/Nickel‐Catalyzed Redox‐Economical Coupling of Alcohols and Alkynes†

An N‐heterocyclic carbene/nickel‐catalyzed direct coupling of alcohols and internal alkynes to form α‐branched ketones has been developed. This methodology provides a new approach to afford branched ketones, which are difficult to access through the hydroacylation of simple internal alkenes with aldehydes. This redox‐neutral and redox‐economical coupling is free from any oxidative or reductive additives as well as stoichiometric byproducts. These reactions convert both benzylic and aliphatic alcohols and alkynes, two basic feedstock chemicals, into various α‐branched ketones in a single chemical step.     

High-refractive index acrylate polymers for applications in nanoimprint lithography

The development of polymeric optical materials with a higher refractive index,transparency in the visible spectrum region and easier processability is increasingly desirable for advanced optical applications such as microlenses,image sensors,and organic light-emitting diodes.Most acrylates have a low refractive index(around 1.50)which does not meet the high perfo rmance requirements of advanced optical materials.In this research,three novel acrylates were synthesized via a facile one-step approach and used to fabricate optical transparent polymers.All of the polymers reveal good optical properties including high transparency(≥90%)in the visible spectrum region and high refractive index values(1.6363)at 550 nm.Moreover,nanostructures of these acrylate polymers with various feature sizes including nanogratings and photonic crystals were successfully fabricated using nanoimprint lithography.These results indicate that these acrylates can be used in a wide range of optical and optoelectronic devices where nanopatterned films with high refractive index and transparency are required.     

新型α-蒎烯基苯磺酰胺类化合物的合成及其抗真菌活性

以天然产物α蒎烯为原料,经多步反应合成了9个新型α-蒎烯基苯磺酰胺类化合物（7a~7i）,其结构经¹H NMR、 ¹³C NMR、 FT-IR和MS(ESI)表征。采用离体法测试了化合物的抗真菌活性。结果表明：在50 μg·mL^-1浓度下,目标化合物对黄瓜枯萎病菌、花生褐斑病菌、苹果轮纹病菌、小麦赤霉病菌以及番茄早疫病菌等5种植物病原菌有一定的抑制活性,其中化合物α-蒎烯基p-氯苯基磺酰胺(7d, R=p-Cl)和α-蒎烯基o-硝基苯基磺酰胺(7h, R=o-NO₂)对苹果轮纹病菌的抑制率分别为83.9%和79.6%（B级活性水平）,优于阳性对照百菌清（75.0%）;化合物α-蒎烯基m-甲基苯基磺酰胺(7b, R=m-Me)对番茄早疫病菌的抑制率为82.2%（B级活性水平）,优于阳性对照百菌清（73.9%）。-     

ZIF-67 derived carbon wrapped discontinuous CoxP nanotube as anode material in high-performance Li-ion battery

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) are prospective anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high theoretical capacities and low redox voltages. Herein, we report a template directing method to develop a tube-sheath hybrid composing of cobalt phosphide particles encapsulated in metal organic frameworks (MOFs) derived N-doped carbon sheaths (Co_xP@NC). The utilization of directing template leads to a homogenous distribution of the subsequently formed cobalt phosphide particles, restrains the aggregation of cobalt phosphides, and thus results in the superb rate capability and cyclability. Contributable to the integrated merits of the interior downsized cobalt phosphide particles and the outer ZIF-67 derived porous carbon sheath, the volume expansion during cycling is effectively suppressed. The Co_xP@NC hybrid shows superb electrochemical performance as anode material for LIB, with good reversible capacity of 928 mAh·g^?1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g^?1, and high stability of 526 mAh·g^?1 after 600 cycles at 1.0 A g^?1. This work provides a route for rational design of MOF derived carbon-based anode material for LIB, which could also be applied as a promising platform in diverse field.     

A Factorial Design Approach for Hydrothermal Synthesis of Phase‐Pure AgInO2: A Parametric Optimization Study

Owing to a wide range of industrial applications and fundamental importance, delafossite compounds have gathered tremendous interest in research community. In this study, the formation of hexagonal nanoplates of AgInO₂ mainly dominated by (00l) facets with no metallic Ag impurity, reported using a facile hydrothermal route at 180 °C using KOH as mineralizer by adopting a factorial design approach. Rietveld analysis of the powder XRD pattern and SAED confirms the rhombohedral system of AgInO₂. FE‐SEM image shows a uniform hexagonal plate‐like morphology with an average width of about 300 nm and thickness of 70 nm. XPS and EDX analysis confirm potassium ion free AgInO₂. A specific surface area of about 48.5 m² g^?1 is arrived from N₂ adsorption studies. Temperature‐dependent AC impedance measurements revealed an activation energy of 0.24 eV/f.u. Further, TG‐DTA studies found that the compound is stable in air up to 595 °C.     

Effective Utilization of NIR Wavelengths for Photo‐Controlled Polymerization: Penetration Through Thick Barriers and Parallel Solar Syntheses

This contribution details an efficient and controlled photopolymerization regulated by far‐red (λ=680 nm) and NIR (λ=780 and 850 nm) light in the presence of aluminium phthalocyanine and aluminium naphthalocyanine. Initiating radicals are generated by photosensitization of peroxides affording an effective strategy that provides controlled polymerization of a variety of monomers with excellent living characteristics. Critically, long wavelength irradiation provides penetration through thick barriers, affording unprecedented rates of controlled polymerization that can open new and exciting applications. Furthermore, a more optimized approach to performing solar syntheses is presented. By combining the narrow Q‐bands of these photocatalysts with others possessing complementary absorptions, layered, independent polymerizations and organic transformations may be performed in parallel under a single broadband emission source, such as sunlight.