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ZnFe2O4 (ZFO) spinel magnetic nanoparticles with a small particle size (11.2 nm) and large specific surface area (54.1 m2/g) are synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal method without the calcination process. ZFO-modified electrodes are first utilized for the simultaneous electrochemical trace detection of Hg-(II), Pb-(II), and Cu-(II), which show an outstanding linear response for Hg-(II), Pb-(II), and Cu-(II), and the limit of detection (LOD) is 1.61, 7.38, and 12.03 nM, respectively. Meanwhile, ZFO-modified electrodes exhibit excellent repeatability [relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.785%], reproducibility (RSD of 0.896%), stability (RSD of 3.240%), and anti-interference analysis, which is successfully applied to the real water environment. Moreover, the ZFO-modified electrode also exhibits a high sensitivity of 1160 μA mM–1 cm–2 and LOD of 0.8 μM for glucose. These results indicate that ZFO nanoparticles as a promising modified electrode material will be potentially applied in the field of electrochemical sensors for heavy metal ions and nonenzymatic glucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rocking-chair lithium-ion capacitors (RLICs), composed of a battery-type cathode and capacitive-type anode, alleviates the issue of increased internal resistance caused by electrolyte consumption during the cycling process of the lithium-ion capacitors (LICs). However, the poor conductivity of cathode materials and the mismatch between the cathode and anode are the key issues that hinder its commercial application. In this work, a modification simplification strategy is proposed to tailor the conductivity of the cathode and matching characteristic with the anode. The in situ grown lithium manganate (LMO) is featured with a three-dimensional conductive network constructed by reduced graphene oxide (rGO). The optimized LMO/rGO composite cathode demonstrates an excellent rate performance, lithium-ion diffusion rate, and cycling performance. After assembling an RLICs with activated carbon (AC), the RLICs exhibits an energy density of as high as 239.11 Wh/kg at a power density of 400 W/kg. Even at a power density of 200 kW/kg, its energy density can maintain at 39.9 Wh/kg. These excellent electrochemical performances are mainly attributed to the compounding of LMO with rGO, which not only improves the conductivity of the cathode but also realizes a better matching with the capacitive-type anode. This modification strategy provides a reference for the further development of energy storage devices suitable for actual production conditions and application scenarios.

A methyl group on an arene, despite its small size, can have a profound influence on biologically active molecules. Typical methods to form a methylarene involve strong nucleophiles or strong and often toxic electrophiles. We report a strategy for a new, highly efficient, copper and iodide co-catalyzed methylation of aryl- and heteroarylboronic esters with the mild, nontoxic reagent trimethylphosphate, which has not been used previously in coupling reactions. We show that it reacts in all cases tested in yields that are higher than those of analogous copper-catalyzed reactions of MeOTs or MeI. The combination of C-H borylation and this methylation with trimethylphosphate provides a new approach to the functionalization of inert C-H bonds and is illustrated by late-stage methylation of four medicinally active compounds. In addition, reaction on a 200 mmol scale demonstrates reliability of this method. Mechanistic studies show that the reaction occurs by a slow release of methyl iodide by reaction of PO(OMe) 3 with iodide catalyst, rather than the typical direct oxidative addition to a metal center. The low concentration of the reactive electrophile enables selective reaction with an arylcopper intermediate, rather than nucleophilic groups on the arylboronate, and binding of tert-butoxide to the boronate inhibits reaction of the electrophile with the tert-butoxide activator to form methyl ether.

8-Oxoguanine (8-oxoG), a mutagenic DNA lesion generated under oxidative stress, differs from its precursor guanine by only two substitutions (O 8 and H 7 ). Human 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (OGG1) can locate and remove 8-oxoG through extrusion and excision. To date, it remains unclear how OGG1 efficiently distinguishes 8-oxoG from a large excess of undamaged DNA bases. We recently showed that formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg), a bacterial functional analog of OGG1, can selectively facilitate eversion of oxoG by stabilizing several intermediate states, and it is intriguing whether OGG1 also employs a similar mechanism in lesion recognition. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations to explore the mechanism by which OGG1 discriminates between 8-oxoG and guanine along the base-eversion pathway. The MD results suggest an important role for kinking of the DNA by the glycosylase, which positions DNA phosphates in a way that assists lesion recognition during base eversion. The computational predictions were validated through experimental enzyme assays on phosphorothioate substrate analogs. Our simulations suggest that OGG1 distinguishes between 8-oxoG and G using their chemical dissimilarities not only at the active site but also at earlier stages during base eversion, and this mechanism is at least partially conserved in Fpg despite a lack of structural homology. The similarity also suggests that lesion recognition through multiple gating steps may be a common theme in DNA repair. Our results provide new insight into how enzymes can exploit kinetics and DNA conformational changes to probe the chemical modifications present in DNA lesions.

Carbonylation reactions constitute important methodologies for the synthesis of all kinds of carboxylic acid derivatives. The development of novel and efficient catalysts for these transformations is of interest for both academic and industrial research. Here, the first palladium-based catalyst system for the aminocarbonylation of 1,3-dienes is described. This atom-efficient transformation proceeds under additive-free conditions and provides straightforward access to a variety of β,γ-unsaturated amides in good to excellent yields, often with high selectivities.

An electrophilic ring-opening reaction of 2-alkoxy-3,4-dihydropyran with a thiophenol or thiol is developed for the first time. The generated product contains not only a 1,3-dicarbonyl moiety but also a fragment of bis(alkylthio)methane. A possible mechanism is also proposed on the basis of postulating a ring-opening monotransthioacetalization product, which was prepared by using LiBr as catalyst as an intermediate.