Latest ArticlesHeteroatom-doped porous carbon materials are very attractive for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) owing to their high specific surface areas, open pore structures, and abundant active sites. However, heteroatom-doped porous carbon with very high surface area and large pore volume are highly desirable but still remain a big challenge. Herein, we reported a sulfur-doped mesoporous carbon (CMK-5-S) with nanotubes array structure, ultrahigh specific surface area (1390 m2/g), large pore volume (1.8 cm3/g), bimodal pore size distribution (2.9 and 4.6 nm), and high sulfur content (2.5 at%). The CMK-5-S used as an anode material for LIBs displays high specific capacity, excellent rate capability and highly cycling stability. The initial reversible specific capacity at 0.1 A/g is as high as 1580 mAh/g and simultaneously up to 701 mAh/g at 1 A/g even after 500 cycles. Further analysis reveals that the excellent electrochemical storage performances is attributed to its unique structures as well as the expanded lattice by sulfur-doping.
Suspension cells play a crucial role in many biological processes. However, compared to adherent cells, it is particularly challenging to introduce exogenous genes into suspension cells to regulate their biological functions with non-viral gene vectors, mainly due to the low cellular uptake and endosomal escape of polyplexes. Herein, to improve the interactions of polyplexes with cellular membranes, we design and synthesize highly branched poly(β-amino ester) (HPAE) via an "A2 + B4 + C2" Michael addition strategy. Results show that branching significantly increases DNA condensation of HPAE, cellular uptake and endosomal escape of HPAE/DNA polyplexes. In mast cells (MCs), HPAE exhibits up to 80-fold higher gene transfection efficiency compared to the corresponding linear poly(β-amino ester) (LPAE) and the leading commercial gene transfection reagents PEI25k, jetPEI, and Lipofectamine 3000, without causing obvious cytotoxicity. Our study establishes a reliable non-viral platform for efficient gene transfection of suspension cells.
A chronic liver disease usually results in iron accumulation, and an excess of iron will further aggravate liver injury, forming a vicious circle. Likewise, it also plays a significant role in other organs when it comes to iron metabolism. A long time passes between the time it takes to break through to MRI-based iron diagnosis and its ability to distinguish the types of iron accumulation accurately and quickly. This work highlighted a new type of iron accumulation treatment solution integrated with diagnosis and treatment. A chelating method for ICG and Leci that can assist PAI and MRI to achieve better diagnostic and therapeutic effects. This work revealed biomaterial engineering techniques are being adapted to address clinical medical problems through cutting-edge research.
Due to the increasing demand for the sustainability of modern organic chemistry, the development of green and powerful methods for C-C and C-B bond formation is highly desired. Among them, the transition-metal-free coupling reactions of gem–diborylalkanes emerge as one valuable tool for organic chemists in the last decade. The review covers selected representative examples. A comparison of these reactions with transition-metal-catalyzed reactions is provided. The recent example of α-boryl radical formation from gem–diborylalkanes is also briefly discussed.
(+)/(−)-Yanhusuosines A (1) and B (2), two pairs of trace benzylisoquinoline-protoberberine atropo-enantiomeric homodimers featuring an unprecedented 6/7/6/6/6/6 hexacyclic skeleton, were isolated from the tubers of Corydalis yanhusuo. The structures of (+)/(−)-1 and (+)/(−)-2 were elucidated using spectroscopic and quantum-chemical calculation approaches. (+)/(−)-Yanhusuosines A (1) and B (2) represent a new class of alkaloid dimers biogenetically constructed by a molecule of benzylisoquinoline with a unit of protoberberine via an intermolecular [4 + 3] cycloaddition. Their plausible biosynthetic pathways are discussed, and compound 2 exerted moderate inhibitory activity of NO formation in LPS induced RAW264.7 macrophages.
An enantioselective organo-catalyzed reaction of furanones with α, β-unsaturated ketones has been established herein, which provides an efficient access to chiral bicyclic γ-butyrolactones in good yields, enantioselectivities and diastereoselectivities. Further transformations of product are demonstrated. A diamine mediated catalytic cycle is proposed.
A highly efficient coupling of glycosyl stannanes and sulfonium salts enabled by synergistic Pd/Cu catalysis is disclosed, facilitating the construction of C-aryl/alkenyl glycals under mild conditions in high yields. The protocol tolerates a wide scope of functional groups including ketone, cyano, ester, amide, nitro, halide. The one-pot formal CH glycosylation starting from arene is demonstrated with a reaction sequence of dibenzothiophenylation/Stille coupling. Besides, a gram-scale reaction is performed successfully, showing the high applicability of this protocol.
Copper is one of the most efficient catalysts widely investigated in electrochemical CO2 reduction, however, the further development of copper-based catalysts is constrained by severe stability problems. In this work, we developed a method for the synthesis of highly ordered CuAu intermetallic nanoalloys (o-CuAu) under mild conditions (< 250 ℃), which can convert carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide with high selectivity and can operate stably for 160 h without current decay. The improved stability is believed to be due to the increased mixing enthalpy and stronger atomic interactions between Cu and Au atoms in the intermetallic nanoalloy. In addition, XPS results, Tafel slope and in situ IR spectroscopy demonstrate that high valence gold atoms on o-CuAu surface promote the reduction of CO2. In contrast, the disordered CuAu nanoalloy (d-CuAu) underwent atomic rearrangement to form a Cu-rich structure on the surface, leading to reduced stability. These findings may provide insight into the rational design of stable CO2RR electrocatalysts through proper structural engineering.
[1n]metacyclophanes are a class of important building blocks for supramolecular assembly of artificial capsules. Herein we present the preparation and properties of a novel polyfluorinated macrocycle meta-WreathArene, a C2-symmetrical [14]metacyclophane. Adopting a cone conformation in acetone solution, the macrocycle can form dimer capsules through hydrogen bonds induced by chloride anions. Each dimer capsule consists of two meta-WreathArene and two chloride anions, and has been unambiguously characterized both in solution and in solid state.