Bimetallic palladium-platinum dendrimer-encapsulated catalysts

We report the synthesis, characterization, and catalytic activity of bimetallic palladium-platinum dendrimer-encapsulated catalysts (DECs). These materials are prepared by co-complexation of different ratios of palladium and platinum salts to the interior tertiary amines of fourth-generation, hydroxyl-terminated poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers. Chemical reduction of these composites yields stable, fairly monodisperse, water-soluble bimetallic DECs having sizes on the order of 1.9 +/- 0.4 nm. Evidence that these nanoparticles are bimetallic comes from single-particle X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and catalysis experiments. The latter indicate that the hydrogenation rate of allyl alcohol is enhanced in the presence of the bimetallic nanoparticles compared to DECs containing only platinum or only palladium nanoparticles. EDS results indicate that the percentage composition of the bimetallics is reflected by the percentage of metal salts initially complexed with the dendrimer.     

Immobilization of DNA onto poly(dimethylsiloxane) surfaces and application to a microelectrochemical enzyme-amplified DNA hybridization assay

This paper describes immobilization of DNA onto the interior walls of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microsystems and its application to an enzyme-amplified electrochemical DNA assay. DNA immobilization was carried out by silanization of the PDMS surface with 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane to yield a thiol-terminated surface. 5'-acrylamide-modified DNA reacts with the pendant thiol groups to yield DNA-modified PDMS. Surface-immobilized DNA oligos serve as capture probes for target DNA. Biotin-labeled target DNA hybridizes to the PDMS-immobilized capture DNA, and subsequent introduction of alkaline phosphatase (AP) conjugated to streptavidin results in attachment of the enzyme to hybridized DNA. Electrochemical detection of DNA hybridization benefits from enzyme amplification. Specifically, AP converts electroinactive p-aminophenyl phosphate to electroactive p-aminophenol, which is detected using an indium tin oxide interdigitated array (IDA) electrode. The IDA electrode eliminates the need for a reference electrode and provides a steady-state current that is related to the concentration of hybridized DNA. At present, the limit of detection of the DNA target is 1 nM in a volume of 20 nL, which corresponds to 20 attomoles of DNA.     

Catalysis in supercritical CO2 using dendrimer-encapsulated palladium nanoparticles

Dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles are shown to be versatile catalysts for both the hydrogenation of styrene and Heck heterocoupling of iodobenzene and methacrylate in supercritical CO2 (scCO2).     

Evaluation of an immunobiosensor for the on-site testing of veterinary drug residues at an abattoir. Screening for sulfamethazine in pigs

A study was conducted to determine the feasibility of performing "on-site" screening for sulfamethazine (SMT), at an abattoir, using a rapid immunobiosensor method. This involved transfer of the biosensor technology and an assay developed in the laboratory, to the cold, humid conditions of a modern pig-processing factory. A pre-determined threshold limit of 0.4 microgram ml-1 SMT in bile was used to identify the likelihood that corresponding tissue samples contained SMT concentrations in excess of the European maximum permissible residue limit of 0.1 mg kg-1. Bile samples containing SMT concentrations above the threshold limit were deemed positive and the corresponding kidney and muscle samples were sent to the laboratory for HPLC analysis. The robustness of the biosensor instrumentation in the harsh operating conditions was monitored throughout the project. The performance of the assay, on-site, was assessed by the regular inclusion of QA samples and by the submission of control 'SMT-positive' pigs to the abattoir. Sampling procedures, identification and traceability were also under scrutiny. During the project, 337 (9.35%) of the total kill were tested for SMT residues, representing 75% of all producers submitting pigs for slaughter. Twelve animals, including the ten controls, gave positive bile results. HPLC analysis confirmed SMT residues in all 12 kidneys (11 in excess of the permissible level). Ten muscle samples also contained violative SMT levels. Throughout the project, the biosensor performed reliably, with no adverse reaction of any mechanical or electrical components. The SMT assay also performed reliably. This is the first report of a biosensor being used for 'on-site' drug screening.     

(E)‐3‐(Benzo[b]thiophen‐2‐yl)‐2‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)acrylonitrile and (Z)‐3‐(benzo[b]thiophen‐2‐yl)‐2‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)acrylonitrile

The title compounds, C₂₀H₁₇NO₃S, (I), and C₁₉H₁₅NO₂S, (II), were prepared by the reaction of benzo[b]thiophene‐2‐carbaldehyde with (3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)acetonitrile and (3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)acetonitrile, respectively, in the presence of methanolic potassium hydroxide. In (I), the C=C bond linking the benzo[b]thiophene and the 3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl units has E geometry, with dihedral angles between the plane of the bridging unit and the planes of the two adjacent ring systems of 5.2 (3) and 13.1 (2)°, respectively. However, in (II), the C=C bond has Z geometry, with dihedral angles between the plane of the bridging unit and the planes of the adjacent benzo[b]thiophene and 3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl units of 4.84 (17) and 76.09 (7)°, respectively. There are no significant intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions in the packing of (I) and (II). The packing is essentially stabilized via van der Waals forces.     

Synthesis, characterization, and surface immobilization of platinum and palladium nanoparticles encapsulated within amine-terminated poly(amidoamine) dendrimers

Platinum and palladium dendrimer-encapsulated nanoparticles (DENs) were prepared within commercially available, fourth-generation, amine-terminated, poly(amidoamine) dendrimers (G4-NH2). The synthesis is carried out by selectively encapsulating metal complexes within the dendrimer and then reducing the resulting composite. Intradendrimer complexation requires control over the solution pH to prevent attachment of the metal complexes to primary amine groups on the dendrimer periphery. That is, the surface primary amines of the dendrimer must be selectively protonated in the presence of the interior tertiary amines. The metal-ion encapsulation and reduction processes were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy. Forty-atom Pt and Pd DENs were examined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, which showed that the mean particle sizes were 1.4 and 1.5 nm, respectively, and that both were nearly monodisperse (standard deviation = 0.3 nm). The free amine groups on the dendrimer surface were used to link Pd DENs to monolithic Au surfaces via an intermediate self-assembled monolayer adhesion layer.     

Experimental and Computational Study of the Thermal Decomposition of 3‐Methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol in m‐Xylene Solution

An experimental study of the thermal decomposition of a β‐hydroxy alkene, 3‐methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol, in m‐xylene solution, has been carried out at five different temperatures in the range of 513.15–563.15 K. The temperature dependence of the rate constants for the decomposition of this compound in the corresponding Arrhenius equation is given by ln k (s^?1) = (25.65 ± 1.52) ? (17,944 ± 814) (kJ·mol^?1)·T^?1. A computational study has been carried out at the M05–2X/6–31+G(d,p) level of theory to calculate the rate constants and the activation parameters by the classical transition state theory. There is a good agreement between the experimental and calculated rate constants and activation Gibbs energies. The bonding characteristics of reactant, transition state, and products have been investigated by the natural bond orbital analysis, which provides the natural atomic charges and the Wiberg bond indices. Based on the results obtained, the mechanism proposed is a one‐step process proceeding through a six‐membered cyclic transition state, being a concerted and slightly asynchronous process. The results have been compared with those obtained previously by us (Struct Chem 2013, 24, 1811–1816) for the thermal decomposition of 3‐buten‐1‐ol, in m‐xylene solution. We can conclude that in the compound studied in this work, 3‐methyl‐3‐buten‐1‐ol, the effect of substitution at position 3 by a weakly activating CH₃ group is the stabilization of the transition state formed in the reaction and therefore a small increase in the rate of thermal decomposition.