Pyramidal molecular hosts related to cyclotriveratrylene (CTV) form self-assembled cages including organic cages, hydrogen-bonded cages, and metallocages. The latter include M₃L₂, M₄L₄, M₆L₈, and M₁₂L₈ assemblies, including topologically complicated structures. Metallocages may show ligand exchange and/or homochiral sorting of the C₃-symmetric CTV-analog ligands. Cages also occur within coordination networks.

By combining Ce(NH₄)₂(NO₃)₆ with PrCl₃, an unprecedentedly active catalyst for DNA hydrolysis is obtained. This combination is 10 times more active than Ce(IV), which has been hitherto the best catalyst, although Pr(III) is inactive for DNA hydrolysis. In the cooperative catalysis, the Pr(III)-bound hydroxide attacks the phosphate, which is enormously activated by the Ce(IV). Other bimetallic cooperations are also reviewed with emphasis on the acid–base properties of metal ions and their hydration water. Furthermore, catalytically active Ce(IV) complexes of well-characterized structures are prepared by in situ oxidation of Ce(III) complexes.

A straightforward and mild one-pot method used for the synthesis of 3-(phenylsulfonyl)-2,3-dihydro-4(1H)-quinolinones via a Cu-catalyzed aza-Michael addition/base-mediated cyclization reaction is described. Addition of a range of readily available 2-aminobenzoates to phenyl vinyl sulfone was catalyzed by 5 mol % of a Cu complex at ambient temperature, followed by cyclization with KOt-Bu at 0 °C to afford new versatile 3-sulfonyl-substituted-2,3-dihydro-4(1H)-quinolinones in good yield (53–99%).

Ce-incorporated SBA-15 was prepared and used as support for Co₃O₄ in CO oxidation reaction, showing that Ce incorporation can improve the activity and the optimum Ce content is at a Ce/Si molar ratio of 0.02. Detailed studies indicated that Ce incorporation activates the surface chemical properties of SBA-15 and influences the physicochemical properties of Co₃O₄. Thus, the CO oxidation reaction can be conducted on two different active sites, thereby improving the activity.

The cathodic current observed on a silver electrode in aqueous bicarbonate electrolyte saturated with CO₂ was enhanced by modification with aminoalkylsilane. The reduction selectivity was controlled according to the structure of the aminoalkylsilane. Silanes containing primary amino groups enhanced CO generation over the silver electrode, while preferential H₂ generation was observed with the modification of the secondary amino group.

A novel chitosan–MOF composite was first synthesized and used in the adsorptive removal of heavy metal ions. The effects of time, temperature, and pH were investigated. The results show that after 8 h of adsorption, the maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) was 93.6 mg g⁻¹ at pH 2 and a temperature of 40 °C. The adsorption capacity of Cu(II) was 50.6 mg g⁻¹ at pH 5 and 60 °C, while that of Ni(II) reached about 60 mg g⁻¹ at pH 5 and 20 °C. The adsorptive mechanism was a pseudo-second-order model (R² > 0.979). The chitosan–MOF composite performs well in the removal of heavy metal ions.

The main purpose of this work is to study the removal of nitrate from water using electrodialysis (ED). The influence of the flow rates, electrolyte concentration, and coexisting anions on ED efficiency was studied. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied in the development of statistical analysis, modeling, and interpretation of the resultant treatment data of nitrate removal by ED. From the analysis of variance, the flow rate and the electrolyte concentrations were found to be the most significant effect on nitrate removal.

A method for determining the optimum condition of ultraviolet (UV) light exposure for high-throughput nanoimprinting was investigated by photo differential scanning calorimetry, atomic force microscopy, and fluorescence microscopy. The consumption of the acrylate moiety caused by radical photopolymerization of a UV-curable resin had a relationship with the square root of light intensity multiplied by the exposure period. Insufficiently cured resin gave round-shaped imprinted patterns and caused adhesion of the resin component to a mold surface owing to pull-out defects on demolding. We demonstrated that fluorescence microscopy was helpful for the optimum exposure condition in high-throughput UV nanoimprinting.

Gold–silver core–shell nanorods were deposited on a glass plate, and the plate was immersed in hydrogen peroxide solution to oxidize the silver shells. When catalase and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were deposited on the plates, they decomposed the hydrogen peroxide at the surface and suppressed the oxidation of the silver shells. The surface densities of catalase and HRP were 3.1 µg cm⁻² and 5 ng cm⁻², respectively, comparable to detection limits of conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Our protocol has the potential for application in a sensitive and quantitative immunoassay.

The highly enantioselective synthesis of a dibenzofuran-based C₂-symmetric chiral diol has been accomplished by the double enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to dibenzo[b,d]furan-4,6-dicarbaldehyde using a chiral 1,4-amino alcohol as a ligand. Among a series of chiral secondary diamines derived from the C₂-symmetric chiral diol, the chiral diamine with two pyrenyl groups can effectively separate enantiomeric ¹H NMR signals of various racemic acids.

Isoquinoline was photochemically benzylated at its 1 position with benzyltrifluoroborate reagents in the presence of methyl chloroformate. When a benzyl group substituted by an electron-donating group was employed, the benzylation thermally proceeded. The present reaction allowed straightforward synthesis of the skeleton for the benzylisoquinoline alkaloid.

¹³³Cs magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS NMR) spectroscopy revealed two Cs sites in Cs-adsorbed aluminium-altered phlogopite (Cs Al-Phl), but only one site for Cs-adsorbed magnesium-altered phlogopite (Cs Mg-Phl). Cesium ions in hydroxy-interlayered vermiculite-like layered silicate reside at sites in both mica zones and in interlayer wedge zones of Al-Phl. It is likely that chemical exchange of Cs⁺ ions occurs between these two zones.

We prepared a new Ru₂(III, IV) complex containing a pyrophosphate as the dinucleating component, by the reaction between the mononuclear complex [Ru(Me₃tacn)Cl₃] and Na₄P₂O₇·10H₂O in aqueous solution. Cyclic voltammetric measurement for the complex [{Ru(Me₃tacn)}₂(µ-O)(µ-P₂O₇)]PF₆ (1) in aqueous solution revealed the formation of two species with higher oxidation states, such as [O=Ru(IV)Ru(IV)=O] and [O=Ru(IV)Ru(V)=O]⁺. Furthermore, this complex showed activity for water oxidation reaction with Ce(NH₄)₂(NO₃)₆ as the chemical oxidant in acidic aqueous solution.

The reaction path of the evolution of triplet oxygen molecule from [Mn4(III)–OOH] at the S₄ state of the catalytic cycle of the oxygen evolving complex has been explored theoretically. The activation energy is only 2.7 kcal mol⁻¹. The produced S₀ state has the oxidation state of Mn₄(III, IV, IV, II) with reduction from Mn4(III) to Mn4(II). Our proposed path is consistent with the experimental observation.

In this article, a self-healing technique based on bio-inspired metallo-supramolecular interactions for fabricating geometrically complex, multicomponent hydrogels is presented. By combining the self-healing and photoirradiation processes, temperature-responsive hydrogels with spatially heterogeneous properties were fabricated without the use of glues or sutures.

Multistimuli-responsive polymer films incorporating cationic spiropyran are demonstrated based on a Nafion membrane. The films exhibit color changes between yellow and red under photoirradiation, temperature changes, and application of pressure. These characteristic behaviors are based on the stabilization of the zwitterionic merocyanine cation in the polar environment of Nafion.

Using multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) calculations with single and double excitation levels, Davidson correction, and a spin–orbit (SO) effective core potential, we have developed a series of four low-lying electronic potential energy curves (PECs) for the pairs formed between a cesium atom (Cs) and a rare gas (Rg = He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe). The results obtained at the MRCI level were compared with those generated at the SOCI level, which were recently reported by Blank et al. The shapes of the PECs were essentially the same when the same basis set was used. Based on this agreement, more precise PECs for Cs–Rg pairs were calculated using a larger basis set for Rg.

The balance between good solubility and high crystallinity is an advantageous characteristic of 2,6-bis(4-pentylphenylethynyl)anthracene (1). Organic field-effect transistors featuring either a vacuum-deposited film or a simple drop-cast film of 1 both showed high hole mobilities of 0.94 and 0.63 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively.

Bioimaging probes, which can emit near-infrared (NIR) light and are excitable with NIR light, are promising for deep tissue imaging in vivo. Lanthanide-doped phosphors, such as Y₂O₃:Tm,Yb; Y₂O₃:Ho,Yb; and Y₂O₃:Er,Yb, are candidates for the probes. We enhanced the NIR emission of the three kinds of lanthanide-doped phosphor by using Li-ion doping. The probes were applied to cellular imaging.

In this study, we investigated the γ-ray shielding ability and iodide selectivity of layered double hydroxide (LDH) with chloride anions. LDH consisting of Ni and Al (NiAl(x)LDH, x = Al contents) with carbonate and iodide anions theoretically shielded about 50 and 90% of γ-rays from the ¹²⁹I nuclide, respectively. This selectivity could be explained by comparing the cross-section area of iodide with that of the anion-exchange site of NiAl(x)LDH.

Using morin firstly as a complexing agent, a new polarographic adsorptive catalytic method for trace vanadium determination was proposed based on the catalytic cycle consisting of electrochemical reduction of vanadium(V) ion in vanadium–morin complex and synchronous chemical oxidation of the reduced product by bromate. Detection limit of this method was 2.0 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹, which was two orders of magnitude lower than those obtained by reduction wave method.

Mixtures of Ni-salphen and bis(Ni-salphen) complexes containing a 2-methylenepropane-1,3-diyl chain exhibited supercooling and subsequent cold crystallization, a key phenomenon applicable to heat storage. However, the individual components, as prepared, did not display these properties.

Through the use of the Langmuir method, a delicate and variable color-controlled perovskite thin film was successfully constructed on a subphase containing halogen salts.

Herein, the structure of an o-xylene C₆₀ monoadduct (OXCMA) having high electron mobility in solution-processed devices was studied by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The crystal of OXCMA showed a well-aligned three-dimensional network of the C₆₀ moiety without inclusion of solvent molecules. Density functional theory (DFT) methods and hopping modeling were employed to calculate the charge carrier mobility of OXCMA with good agreement with the experimental mobility.

Thermal stabilities of the hairpin structure of (CCG)₄ trinucleotide repeats were examined in a bulk aqueous solution and inside amine-functionalized silica mesopores (pore diameters: 3.5 and 5.7 nm). The results confirmed that the denaturation temperatures of (CCG)₄ hairpin within TMAP-MPSs were about 10 °C lower than those in bulk water. On the basis of enthalpy–entropy compensation, enthalpy change upon denaturation (ΔH) inside the pore was estimated to be 0.8 kcal mol⁻¹ lower than that for the bulk system.

A fluorous hydrazinecarbothioate organocatalyst was prepared. Together with orthoformate, the catalyst showed a good activity for acid-free acetalization of aldehydes and alcohols. The fluorous catalyst could be easily recovered from the reaction mixture by fluorous solid-phase extraction (F-SPE) with excellent purity.

Palladium-catalyzed intermolecular alkoxy-alkoxycarbonylation of vinylphenols under normal pressure of CO and O₂ in alcohol was developed to afford the corresponding 3-alkoxy-3-arylpropanoates in good to high yields. Not only primary alcohols but also secondary alcohols were applicable to the present reaction. The presence of a tin salt was crucial to realize reproducibly high yields.

Hydrogenation of chlorosilane was achieved in acetonitrile using NaBH₄, a safe and easy-to-handle reagent. This reaction converted Si–Cl portion(s) in organosilanes into Si–H portion(s) without hydrogenation of cyano, chloro, and aldehyde groups on an alkyl substituent of the Si reagents. In addition, the Si–Cl/Si–H exchange reaction was applicable to dichlorodisilane without Si–Si bond cleavage.

The electrocatalytic hydrogenation of o-xylene in a proton-exchange membrane (PEM) reactor with various cathode catalysts was carried out as a study of a model reaction for hydrogen storage. o-Xylene introduced in a PEM reactor underwent electrocatalytic hydrogenation to provide cis-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane as the main stereoisomer with moderate to good current efficiencies. The reaction proceeded in accordance with the Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism.

In order to improve the catalytic stability and recoverability of the TiO₂ photocatalyst, a TiO₂/poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) membrane was prepared by electrospinning, immersion, and calcination. The TiO₂/PTFE membrane was characterized by SEM, FTIR, XPS, and XRD. The effect of different concentrations of methylene blue (MB) and calcination temperature and the holding time of the TiO₂/PTFE membrane were discussed to optimize the parameters. The result indicated that the TiO₂ anatase crystal was successfully supported on the surface of the PTFE fiber after calcination, and the TiO₂/PTFE membrane possessed high photocatalytic activity and could be recycled by simple filtration.

A facile and cost-effective modification of screen-printed carbon electrode employing a graphene oxide–poly(acrylic acid) film allows both good electrochemical reactivity and electrode surface functionalization with antibody. The analytical performances of the modified electrode for detection of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) were satisfied with a linear concentration range of 1.0–100 ng mL⁻¹, sensitivity of 1.2318 µA cm⁻² mL ng⁻¹, and a limit of detection of 0.54 ng mL⁻¹. The proposed electrode is promising in sensitive and selective clinical analysis to detect IgG at physiological concentration.

Herein, we applied a novel superconcentrated aqueous electrolyte in calcium-ion batteries for the first time to improve electrochemical performance by decreasing the hydration number and radius of calcium ions. Their charge/discharge capacities with the superconcentrated electrolyte were ca. 13% higher than that with the dilute electrolyte. The cycling performance improved quite remarkably in the superconcentrated electrolyte, because of the suppression of structural collapse of copper hexacyanoferrate used as the electrode. The results have been confirmed through X-ray diffraction results.

We report the synthesis of dodecanethiolate-protected platinum clusters by atomicity control using a dendrimer reactor followed by ligand-exchange extractions. Spectroscopic investigations suggested that a large cluster (Pt₆₀) partially contains a metallic nature. In contrast, the small one (Pt₁₂) exhibited a fully molecular-like nature with a significant structural rearrangement.

This paper calculated the structure parameters, energy parameters, thermodynamic parameters, and ultraviolet absorption spectrum of 2,2′,5,5′-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB-52) in 12 polar solvents and gas phase. Bond length and angle of PCB-52 molecules in different solvents were calculated. Quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) model was built to predict the wavelength of the strongest ultraviolet absorption spectrum peak of PCB homologues.

In this study, we report a thiolate-protected Au nanocluster, Au₂₅(phenylethanethiol)₁₈ [Au₂₅(PET)₁₈], which serves as an efficient catalyst by a three-component coupling reaction (A³ reaction) of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes to give the corresponding propargylamines in good to excellent yields.

Through anodization in a NH₄BF₄-containing glycerol solution, TiO₂ nanotube arrays were obtained and showed characteristics of both boron-doping and double-layer walled structure. Boron doping inhibited the growth of anatase crystals during the annealing process and enhanced the UV–visible light absorption efficiency of the TiO₂ nanotube array. For boron-doped inside, the TiO₂ nanotube arrays demonstrated improved photocatalytic activities under both UV and visible light irradiation. This work demonstrates the feasibility of electrochemical preparation of a boron-doped TiO₂ nanotube array with double-layer walled structure and its potential application for photocatalysis.

Highly efficient blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials consisting of 9,9-diphenylacridan and benzonitrile units were developed. We found that placing 9,9-diphenylacridan in the ortho-position of benzonitrile enhanced the TADF process compared with results from meta- and para-substituted derivatives. We observed blue TADF emission with a high photoluminescence quantum yield (80%) and a high reverse intersystem crossing rate constant (1.2 × 10⁶ s⁻¹) for 2,6-bis(9,9-diphenylacridan-10(9H)-yl)benzonitrile (o-A2CN). An organic light-emitting diode fabricated using o-A2CN as an emitter showed good blue emission (CIE_x, CIE_y = 0.16, 0.16) with high external electroluminescence quantum efficiency (15.9%).

Urchin-like ZnO particles were synthesized by using nanosilver seeds as catalysts. Particles of small size and uniform morphology were obtained. Nanosilver particles were analyzed by HRTEM. The urchin-like ZnO particles were characterized by XRD, SEM, and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Improvements in the photocatalytic properties of modified urchin-like ZnO particles were observed and investigated through the degradation of methylene blue (MB) aqueous solution. An optimum degradation efficiency of 91% was obtained under illumination of UV light for 60 min.