Achieving Enhanced Photochromic Properties of Diarylethene through Host-Guest Interaction in Aqueous Solution

Diarylethene (DTE) has been widely used in fluorescence probes, molecular logic gates, optical data-storage devices owing to the excellent photochromic property, while constructing high-performance photochromic DTE in aqueous media remains a big challenge. Herein we present several host-guest systems formed between cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n], n=7, 8, 10) and two water-soluble DTE derivatives 1 and 2 . It was found that host-guest interactions not only affect the photophysical properties of photochromic guests, but also make great differences on the photoreaction process. Different host-guest binding behaviors also lead to different effects on the photochromic properties of guests. In the presence of CB[n], both 1 and 2 showed enhanced emission and higher fluorescence quenching ratio at photostationary state. Besides, CB[10] ⋅1 exhibited faster response rate in cyclization reaction and better photofatigue resistance than free 1 in aqueous solution, while the supramolecular assembly of (CB[8])_n ⋅ ( 2 )_n showed slower response rate in both directions of the reversible photoreaction. Besides, the photofatigue resistance of 2 can be greatly improved through binding with CB[7]. Our results suggest that host-guest interactions could be an efficient way to improve photochromic properties of DTE in aqueous solution.     

Studies of proteasome inhibition and apoptosis induction in triple‐negative breast cancer cells by novel amino acid–polypyridine–copper complex

An innovative ternary copper(II) complex, [Cu(Cl‐PIP)(Tyr)Cl]_n, has been synthesized and characterized using infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. X‐ray crystallography indicates that the Cu atom is five‐coordinated in a square‐pyramidal configuration. The unit forms a one‐dimensional chain along the crystallographic c‐axis. The complex was screened for cytotoxicity against a panel of eight human cancer cell lines, namely MDA‐MB‐231, CAL‐51, K562, HeLa, SGC‐7901, A549, MCF‐7 and SMMC‐7721. The best anticancer activity was obtained with triple‐negative breast cancer CAL‐51 and MDA‐MB‐231 cell lines, with IC₅₀ values in the range 0.035–0.10 μM, and this was better than using carboplatin. The complex inhibits proteasomal chymotrypsin‐like activity, and docking studies reveal its interaction with 20S proteasome. In addition, the complex causes accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, induces apoptosis and inhibits cell proliferation, indicating its great potential as a novel therapy for triple‐negative breast cancer.     

Multipolar Porphyrin-Triazatruxene Arrays for Two-Photon Fluorescence Cell Imaging

Two-photon excited fluorescent (TPEF) materials are highly desirable for bioimaging applications owing to their unique characteristics of deep-tissue penetration and high spatiotemporal resolution. Herein, by connecting one, two, or three electron-deficient zinc porphyrin units to an electron-rich triazatruxene core via ethynyl π-bridges, conjugated multipolar molecules TAT-(ZnP) _n (n=1–3) were developed as TPEF materials for cell imaging. The three new dyes present high fluorescence quantum yields (0.40–0.47) and rationally improved two-photon absorption (TPA) properties. In particular, the peak TPA cross section of TAT-ZnP (436 GM) is significantly larger than that of the ZnP reference (59 GM). The δ_TPA values of TAT-(ZnP)₂ and TAT-(ZnP)₃ further increase to 1031 and up to 1496 GM, respectively, indicating the effect of incorporated ZnP units on the TPA properties. The substantial improvement of the TPEF properties is attributed to the formation of π-conjugated quadrapole/octupole molecules and the extension of D -π-A-D systems, which has been rationalized by density function theory (DFT) calculations. Moreover, all of the three new dyes display good biocompatibility and preferential targeting ability toward cytomembrane, thus can be superior candidates for TPEF imaging of living cells. Overall, this work demonstrated a promising strategy for the development of porphyrin-based TPEF materials by the construction and extension of D -π-A-D multipolar array.     

The electronic structures and charge transfer properties of tetra(naphthalene‐dione)porphyrins and tetra(naphthalene‐dithione)porphyrins as dye‐sensitized solar cell skeleton

The p‐π conjugation of tetra(naphthalene‐dione)porphyrins and tetra(naphthalene‐dithione)porphyrins is clarified on the basis of density functional theory studies. When carbonyl/thionyl is introduced, π bonds on the molecular skeleton become strong–weak alternated, and the conjugation transforms from “benzene‐type” to “butadiene‐type.” The unidirectional photon‐induced current associated with the p‐π conjugation enables the light‐harvesting efficiency of this kind of molecular skeleton reaches 90% in the range of 300–800 nm. Therefore, these compounds are ideal alternative for panchromatic dye‐sensitized solar cells. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Micro-CT参数对骨质疏松性椎体压缩性骨折术后复发的预测价值

本研究探讨Micro-CT参数对骨质疏松性椎体压缩性骨折(OVCF)患者术后复发的预测价值。选取OVCF患者127例,根据术后6个月骨折复发情况分为复发组(n=41)与未复发组(n=86)。患者均接受Micro-CT检查,对比两组Micro-CT参数,即骨体积分数(BV/TV)、骨小梁厚度(Tb.Th)、骨小梁间隙(Tb.Sp)、结构模型指数(SMI),以及骨密度(BMD)、骨矿含量(BMC),分析各参数与BMD、BMC及术后复发相关性,并评价各参数对术后复发的预测价值。结果显示,复发组骨体积分数(BV/TV)、骨小梁厚度(Tb.Th)低于未复发组,骨小梁间隙(Tb.Sp)、结构模型指数(SMI)高于未复发组(P<0.05);BV/TV、Tb.Th与骨密度(BMD)、骨矿含量(BMC)呈正相关,Tb.Sp、SMI与BMD、BMC呈负相关(P<0.05);将年龄、BMD、BMC等其他因素控制后,BV/TV、Tb.Sp、Tb.Th、SMI与OVCF术后骨折复发显著相关(P<0.05);BV/TV、Tb.Sp、Tb.Th、SMI联合预测OVCF术后骨折复发的曲线下面积(AUC)最大,为0.888(P<0.05)。提示Micro-CT参数在OVCF患者中呈异常表达,采用Micro-CT检查可为临床预测OVCF术后骨折复发提供科学指导。     

限域NiCo合金纳米颗粒高效催化生物质衍生物水相加氢脱氧

将储量丰富的生物质及其衍生物转化为具有高附加值的燃料和化学品被认为是一种有前景的绿色途径,可以极大地减少人们对传统化石资源的依赖.作为木质纤维素热解的直接产物和生物油升级的模型化合物,香草醛可以通过加氢脱氧(HDO)过程选择性地转化为2-甲氧基-4-甲基苯酚(MMP).MMP是一种有价值的化学品,常用于香料和药物等重要中间体的合成.在过去十年里,大量的金属催化剂被用来催化香草醛HDO转化为MMP.其中,贵金属(Pt,Pd,Ru和Au)虽然活性高,但是其储量低、价格昂贵,不利于工业化应用;而非贵金属(Fe,Co,Ni和Cu)的催化活性普遍较低,需要苛刻的反应条件来提高转化效率和选择性.此外,这类HDO反应大都在有机溶剂中进行,容易造成环境污染.因此,开发高效、稳定的非贵金属催化剂用于水相HDO反应是一个巨大的挑战.一般来说,合金纳米颗粒(NPs)具有强烈的协同效应,能产生良好的配位结构和电子环境,从而显著提升催化活性和选择性.基于此,本文首次采用了一种简单可控的合成方法来制备三聚氰胺海绵负载的氮掺杂碳纳米管(N-CNTs)限域的Ni-Co合金NPs(NiCo@N-CNTs/CMF)催化剂.该催化剂具有优异的HDO性能,在2 MPa H2,120oC反应6 h条件下,能在水相中将生物质衍生的香草醛高效转化为MMP,转化率和选择性均达到100％.相比于单金属的Ni@N-CNTs/CMF和Co@N-CNTs/CMF催化剂,香草醛转化率和MMP选择性都有大幅度的提高.而且,在温和的反应条件下,该催化剂对香草醛衍生物和其他芳香醛类化合物同样表现出优异的HDO性能,拥有100％的转化率以及较高的MMP选择性(91.5％～100％).XPS结果表明,Ni-Co形成合金后发生了电子结构的偏移,即Co原子可以从邻近的Ni原子处得到电子,提高Co电子云密度,从而促进对香草醛中C=O键的吸附.DFT计算结果表明,相比于单金属的Ni和Co,Ni-Co合金化后能显著提高对C=O键的选择性吸附和活化.同时,H2解离后形成的活性H*物种在Ni-Co合金NPs表面更容易脱附并参与催化反应.因此,Ni-Co@N-CNTs/CMF催化剂优异的HDO性能主要是由于Ni-Co合金NPs的协同作用大大促进了其对C=O键的选择性吸附和活化,以及活化氢物种的脱附.本文为设计和制备高效的非贵金属催化剂应用于水相的HDO反应提供了一个新策略.     

锂金属负极人造保护膜的研究进展

金属锂因其具有极高的理论容量(3860 mAh·g^?1)、最低的电极电位(?3.04 V vs.标准氢电极)和低的密度(0.534 g·cm^?3),被认为是最具潜力的负极材料。但循环过程中不可控的枝晶生长及不稳定的固体电解质相界面膜所引起的安全隐患和电池库伦效率低等问题严重阻碍了锂金属负极的发展。通过在电极表面构建人造保护膜可以有效调控锂离子沉积行为,因此人造保护膜的构建是一种简单高效抑制锂枝晶生长的策略。本综述将从聚合物保护膜、无机保护膜、有机-无机复合保护膜和合金保护膜总结了人造保护膜的构建方法、抑制锂枝晶生长机理,为促进高比能锂金属电池的商业化应用提供借鉴参考作用。     

The First Five‐Membered‐Heterocycle‐Fused Subphthalocyanine Analogues: Chiral Tri(benzo[b]thiopheno)subporphyrazines

Two tri(benzo[b]thiopheno)subporphyrazine regioisomers with C₃ and C₁ molecular symmetry have been isolated from the cyclotrimerization of benzo[b]thiophene‐2,3‐dicarbonitrile as the first five‐membered‐heterocycle‐fused subphthalocyanine analogues. Optical resolution of both regioisomers was achieved by using a chiral HPLC technique, affording the first chiral subphthalocyanine analogues.