Merging Gradient-Based Methods to Improve Benchtop NMR Spectroscopy: A New Tool for Flow Reaction Optimization.

Emerging low cost, compact NMR spectrometers that can be connected in-line to a flow reactor are suited to study reaction mixtures. The main limitation of such spectrometers arises from their lower magnetic field inducing a reduced sensitivity and a weaker spectral resolution. For enhancing the spectral resolution, the merging of Pure-Shift methods recognized for line narrowing with solvent elimination schemes was implemented in the context of mixtures containing protonated solvents. One more step was achieved to further enhance the resolution power on compact systems, thanks to multiple elimination schemes prior to Pure-Shift pulse sequence elements. For the first time, we were able to remove up to 6 protonated solvent signals simultaneously by dividing their intensity by 500 to 1700 with a concomitant spectral resolution enhancement for signals of interest from 9 to 12 as compared to the standard 1D 1 H. Then, the potential of this new approach was shown on the flow synthesis of a complex benzoxanthenone structure.

Fusarium oxysporum mediates systems metabolic reprogramming of chickpea roots as revealed by a combination of proteomics and metabolomics.

Molecular changes elicited by plants in response to fungal attack and how this affects plant-pathogen interaction, including susceptibility or resistance, remain elusive. We studied the dynamics in root metabolism during compatible and incompatible interactions between chickpea and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri (Foc), using quantitative label-free proteomics and NMR-based metabolomics. Results demonstrated differential expression of proteins and metabolites upon Foc inoculations in the resistant plants compared with the susceptible ones. Additionally, expression analysis of candidate genes supported the proteomic and metabolic variations in the chickpea roots upon Foc inoculation. In particular, we found that the resistant plants revealed significant increase in the carbon and nitrogen metabolism; generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lignification and phytoalexins. The levels of some of the pathogenesis-related proteins were significantly higher upon Foc inoculation in the resistant plant. Interestingly, results also exhibited the crucial role of altered Yang cycle, which contributed in different methylation reactions and unfolded protein response in the chickpea roots against Foc. Overall, the observed modulations in the metabolic flux as outcome of several orchestrated molecular events are determinant of plant's role in chickpea-Foc interactions.

9-fluorenemethanol: an internal electron donor to fine tune olefin polymerization activity.

A new MgCl2 based molecular adduct has been synthesized with 9-fluorenemethanol (9FM) as a novel internal electron donor (IED), along with ethanol (EtOH) (MgCl2·n9FM·xEtOH). The above molecular adduct has been subjected to a variety of structural, spectroscopic and morphological characterization techniques. The results of the solid state (13)C CPMAS NMR technique suggests the coordination of 9FM to MgCl2. Observation of a low angle diffraction peak at 2θ = 5.7° (d = 15.5 Å) underscores the coordination of 9FM along the z-axis, and ethanol in the molecular adduct. Active Ziegler-Natta catalysts were prepared by two different synthesis methods; the conventional method to obtain a high surface area active catalyst, and other one with 9FM as an integral part of the active catalyst in order to study the influence of 9FM as an IED over the active sites. The active catalysts were also characterized thoroughly with different analytical tools. The XRD results show (003) facets of δ-MgCl2 (α-MgCl2) for the conventional (non-conventional) titanated catalyst. Results of the ethylene polymerization activity study reveals that the conventionally prepared highly porous active catalyst shows 1.7-2.5 times higher activity than the non-conventional prepared catalyst; however, the latter shows a low molecular weight distribution and confirms the role of the Lewis base as an IED.

Phosphoric acid loaded azo (-N═N-) based covalent organic framework for proton conduction.

Two new chemically stable functional crystalline covalent organic frameworkds (COFs) (Tp-Azo and Tp-Stb) were synthesized using the Schiff base reaction between triformylphloroglucinol (Tp) and 4,4'-azodianiline (Azo) or 4,4'-diaminostilbene (Stb), respectively. Both COFs show the expected keto-enamine form, and high stability toward boiling water, strong acidic, and basic media. H3PO4 doping in Tp-Azo leads to immobilization of the acid within the porous framework, which facilitates proton conduction in both the hydrous (σ = 9.9 × 10(-4) S cm(-1)) and anhydrous state (σ = 6.7 × 10(-5) S cm(-1)). This report constitutes the first emergence of COFs as proton conducting materials.

Conformational modulation of peptide secondary structures using ß-aminobenzenesulfonic acid.

This communication describes the influence of ß-aminobenzenesulfonic acid ((S)Ant) on the conformational preferences of hetero foldamers. The designed (Aib-(S)Ant-Aib)n and (Aib-(S)Ant-Pro)n oligomers display a well-defined folded conformation featuring intramolecular mixed hydrogen bonding (7/11) and intra-residual (6/5) H-bonding interactions, respectively.

Chemically stable multilayered covalent organic nanosheets from covalent organic frameworks via mechanical delamination.

A series of five thermally and chemically stable functionalized covalent organic frameworks (COFs), namely, TpPa-NO2, TpPa-F4, TpBD-(NO2)2, TpBD-Me2, and TpBD-(OMe)2 were synthesized by employing the solvothermal aldehyde-amine Schiff base condensation reaction. In order to complete the series, previously reported TpPa-1, TpPa-2, and TpBD have also been synthesized, and altogether, eight COFs were fully characterized through powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform IR (FT-IR) spectroscopy, (13)C solid-state NMR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. These COFs are crystalline, permanently porous, and stable in boiling water, acid (9 N HCl), and base (3 N NaOH). The synthesized COFs (all eight) were successfully delaminated using a simple, safe, and environmentally friendly mechanical grinding route to transform into covalent organic nanosheets (CONs) and were well characterized via transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Further PXRD and FT-IR analyses confirm that these CONs retain their structural integrity throughout the delamination process and also remain stable in aqueous, acidic, and basic media like the parent COFs. These exfoliated CONs have graphene-like layered morphology (delaminated layers), unlike the COFs from which they were synthesized.