Theoretical insight into the mechanism of photoreduction of CO2 to CO by graphitic carbon nitride.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is a promising photocatalyst for the reduction of CO2 into fuels. However, the reduction mechanism of CO2 using g-C3N4 is not clear in the literature. In the present study, the fixation of CO2 and the formation of carbamate on the nitrogen atom at the edge of g-C3N4 were investigated using first-principles density functional theory. The calculated results shows that two adjacent bare nitrogen atoms at the edge of g-C3N4 could be the activation sites for the proton and CO2 molecule respectively, which are crucial to the formation of carbamate. The calculated energy barrier of carbamate formation is 0.95 eV for a preferential pathway. From studies on these micro processes, we propose a mechanism with proton assistance for the g-C3N4-catalyzed photoreduction of CO2 to CO.

Differential Recognition of Anions with Selectivity towards F(-) by a Calix[6]arene-Thiourea Conjugate Investigated by Spectroscopy, Microscopy, and Computational Modeling by DFT.

Anion recognition studies were performed with triazole-appended thiourea conjugates of calix[6]arene (i.e., compound (6) L) by absorption and (1) H NMR spectroscopy by using nineteen different anions. The composition of the species of recognition was derived from ESI mass spectrometry. The absorption spectra of compound (6) L showed a new band at λ=455 nm in the presence of F(-) due to a charge transfer from the anion to the thiourea moiety and the absorbance increases almost linearly in the concentration range 5 to 200 µm. This is associated with a strong visual color change of the solution. Other anions, such as H2 PO4 (-) and HSO4 (-) , exhibit a redshift of the λ=345 nm band and the spectral changes are associated with the formation of an isosbestic point at λ=343 nm. (1) H NMR studies further confirm the binding of F(-) efficiently to the thiourea group among the halides by shifting the thiourea proton signals downfield followed by their disappearance after the addition of more than one equivalent of F(-) . The other anions also showed interactions with compound (6) L, however, their binding strength follows the order F(-) >CO3 (2-) >H2 PO4 (-) ≈CH3 COO(-) >HSO4 (-) . The NMR spectral changes clearly revealed the anion-binding region of the arms in case of all these anions. The anion binding to compound (6) L indeed stabilizes a flattened-cone conformation as deduced based on the calix-aromatic proton signals and was further confirmed by VT (1) H NMR experiments. The stabilization of the flattened-cone conformation was further augmented by the interaction of the butyl moiety of the nBu4 N(+) counterion. The structural features of the anion-bound species were demonstrated by DFT computations and the resultant structures carried the features that were predicted based on the (1) H NMR spectroscopic measurements. In addition, SEM images showed a marigold flower-type morphology for compound (6) L and this has been transformed into a chain-like structure of connected spherical particles in the presence of F(-) . The anion-induced microstructural features are reflective of the binding strength, size, and shape of the anions. The binding strengths of the anions by compound (6) L were further compared with that of compound (4) L, a calix[4]arene analogue of compound (6) L, in order to address the role of the number of arms built on the calixarene platform based on absorption spectroscopy, (1) H NMR spectroscopy, and DFT computations and it was found that compound (6) L is a better receptor for F(-) , which extends its interactions from all the three arms.

Al atom on MoO3(010) surface: adsorption and penetration using density functional theory.

Interfacial issues, such as the interfacial structure and the interdiffusion of atoms at the interface, are fundamental to the understanding of the ignition and reaction mechanisms of nanothermites. This study employs first-principle density functional theory to model Al/MoO3 by placing an Al adatom onto a unit cell of a MoO3(010) slab, and to probe the initiation of interfacial interactions of Al/MoO3 nanothermite by tracking the adsorption and subsurface-penetration of the Al adatom. The calculations show that the Al adatom can spontaneously go through the topmost atomic plane (TAP) of MoO3(010) and reach the 4-fold hollow adsorption-site located below the TAP, with this subsurface adsorption configuration being the most preferred one among all plausible adsorption configurations. Two other plausible configurations place the Al adatom at two bridge sites located above the TAP of MoO3(010) but the Al adatom can easily penetrate below this TAP to a relatively more stable adsorption configuration, with a small energy barrier of merely 0.2 eV. The evidence of subsurface penetration of Al implies that Al/MoO3 likely has an interface with intermixing of Al, Mo and O atoms. These results provide new insights on the interfacial interactions of Al/MoO3 and the ignition/combustion mechanisms of Al/MoO3 nanothermites.

Optimizing the Electron-Withdrawing Character on Benzenesulfonyl Moiety Attached to a Glyco-Conjugate to Impart Sensitive and Selective Sensing of Cyanide in HEPES Buffer and on Cellulose Paper and Silica Gel Strips.

Dansyl-derivatized, triazole-linked, glucopyranosyl conjugates, (5F)LOH, (2F)LOH, (1F)LOH, and (0F)LOH were synthesized and characterized. While the (5F)LOH acts as a molecular probe for CN(-), (2F)LOH, (1F)LOH, and (0F)LOH acts as control molecules. The reactivity of CN(-) toward (5F)LOH has been elicited through the changes observed in NMR, ESI MS, emission, and absorption spectroscopy. The conjugate (5F)LOH releases a fluorescent product upon reaction by CN(-) in aqueous acetonitrile medium by exhibiting an ∼125-fold fluorescence enhancement even in the presence of other anions. Fluorescence switch-on behavior has been clearly demonstrated on the basis of the nucleophilic substitution reaction of CN(-) on (5F)LOH. A minimum detection limit of (2.3 ± 0.3) × 10(-7) M (6 ± 1 ppb) was shown by (5F)LOH for CN(-) in solution. All the other anions studied showed no change in the fluorescence emission. The utility of (5F)LOH has been demonstrated by showing its reactivity toward CN(-) on a thin layer of silica gel as well as on Whatman No. 1 cellulose filter paper strips. The role of glucose moiety and the penta-fluorobenzenesulfonyl reactive center present in (5F)LOH in the selectivity of CN(-) over other anions has been demonstrated by fluorescence, absorption and thermodynamics study. Similar studies carried out with the control molecules showed no selectivity for CN(-). The mechanistic aspects of the reactivity of CN(-) toward (5F)LOH were supported by DFT computational study.

Water-Soluble 8-Hydroxyquinoline Conjugate of Amino-Glucose As Receptor for La(3+) in HEPES Buffer, on Whatman Cellulose Paper and in Living Cells.

A water-soluble glucopyranosyl conjugate, L, has been synthesized and characterized by different analytical and spectral techniques. The L has been demonstrated to have switch-on fluorescence enhancement of ∼75 fold in the presence of La(3+) among the nine lanthanide ions studied in the HEPES buffer at pH 7.4. A minimum detection limit of 140 nM (16 ± 2 ppb) was shown by L for La(3+) in the buffer at physiological pH. The utility of L has been demonstrated by showing its sensitivity toward La(3+) on Whatman filter paper strips. The reversible and reusable action of L has been demonstrated by monitoring the fluorescence changes as a function of the addition of La(3+) followed by F(-) and HPO4(2-) ions. The complexation of L by La(3+) was shown by absorption spectra wherein isosbestic behavior was observed. The Job's plot suggests a 2:1 complex between L and La(3+), and the same was supported by ESI-MS. The control molecular study revealed the necessity of hydroxy quinoline and the amine group for La(3+) ion binding and the glyco-moiety to bring water solubility and biocompatibility. The structural features of the [2L+La(3+)] complex were established by DFT computational calculations. The chemo-ensemble, [2L+La(3+)], is shown responsible for providing intracellular fluorescence imaging in HepG2 cells.

Binding and ratiometric dual ion recognition of Zn(2+) and Cu(2+) by 1,3,5-tris-amidoquinoline conjugate of calix[6]arene by spectroscopy and its supramolecular features by microscopy.

Lower rim amide linked 8-amino quinoline and 8-amino naphthalene moiety 1,3,5-triderivatives of calix[6]arene L1 and L2 have been synthesized and characterized. While the L1 acts as a receptor molecule, the L2 acts as a control molecule. The complexation between L1 and Cu(2+) or Zn(2+) was delineated by the absorption and electrospray ionization (ESI) MS spectra. The binding ability of these molecules toward biologically important metal ions was studied by fluorescence and absorption spectroscopy. The derivative L1 detects Zn(2+) by bringing ratiometric change in the fluorescence signals at 390 and 490 nm, but in the case of Cu(2+), it is only the fluorescence quenching of 390 nm band that is observed, while no new band is observed at 390 nm. The stoichiometry of both the complexes is 1:1 and was confirmed in both the cases by measuring the ESI mass spectra. The isotopic peak pattern observed in the ESI MS confirmed the presence of Zn(2+) or Cu(2+) present in the corresponding complex formed with L1. Among these two ions, the Cu(2+) exhibits higher sensitivity. The density-functional theory (DFT) studies revealed the conformational changes in the arms and also revealed the coordination features in the case of the metal complexes. The arm conformational changes upon Zn(2+) binding were supported by nuclear Overhauser effect spectrometry (NOESY) studies. The stronger binding of Cu(2+) over that of Zn(2+) observed from the absorption study was further supported by the complexational energies computed from the computational data. While the L1 exhibited spherical particles, upon complexation with Cu(2+), it exhibits chain like morphological features in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) but only small aggregates in the case of Zn(2+). Thus, even the microscopy data can differentiate the complex formed between L1 and Cu(2+) from that formed with Zn(2+).

A Fluorescent 1,3-Diaminonaphthalimide Conjugate of Calix[4]arene for Sensitive and Selective Detection of Trinitrophenol: Spectroscopy, Microscopy, and Computational Studies, and Its Applicability using Cellulose Strips.

A new fluorescent 1,3-diaminonaphthalimide conjugate of calix[4]arene receptor (R) was synthesized and characterized. The receptor displays good selectivity towards trinitrophenol (TNP) over other explosive aromatic- and aliphatic-nitro compounds by exhibiting changes in its fluorescence emission. Receptor-coated cellulose paper strips are equally effective in terms of their selective detection of TNP over other aromatic- and aliphatic-nitro compounds. When used in solution or on cellulose paper strips, R can detect up to submicromolar concentration of TNP by exhibiting changes in its fluorescence emission and in its supramolecular structure upon interaction. Interestingly, the microscopy features of R, TNP, and {R+TNP} are quite distinct, indicating the interactions present between R and TNP, as studied by using AFM and TEM. Computationally modeled complexes of receptor with TNP and TNT show enormous difference in their interaction energies in the favor of TNP by showing the host-guest interaction of cation⋅⋅⋅anion type in the presence of TNP but not TNT. This is because the receptor adopts an "arms-open"-type structure in the case of the TNP complex, whereas it adopts an "arms-closed"-type structure in the presence of TNT. Both the experimental and the computational studies reveal that the receptor selectively binds to TNP over TNT. Thus, R-coated Whatman No.1 filter paper strips provide easy, rapid, and economical detection of trace amounts of TNP both by visual and spectral measurement.

Implicit and explicit solvent models for modeling a bifunctional arene ruthenium hydrogen-storage catalyst: a classical and ab initio molecular simulation study.

Classical and ab initio, density functional theory- and semiempirical-based molecular simulation, including molecular dynamics, have been carried out to compare and contrast the effect of explicit and implicit solvation representation of tetrahydrofuran (THF) solvent on the structural, energetic, and dynamical properties of a novel bifunctional arene ruthenium catalyst embedded therein. Particular scrutiny was afforded to hydrogen-bonding and energetic interactions with the THF liquid. It was found that the presence of explicit THF solvent molecules is required to capture an accurate picture of the catalyst's structural properties, particularly in view of the importance of hydrogen bonding with the surrounding THF molecules. This has implications for accurate modeling of the reactivity of the catalyst.

Towards the design of novel boron- and nitrogen-substituted ammonia-borane and bifunctional arene ruthenium catalysts for hydrogen storage.

Electronic-structure density functional theory calculations have been performed to construct the potential energy surface for H2 release from ammonia-borane, with a novel bifunctional cationic ruthenium catalyst based on the sterically bulky ß-diketiminato ligand (Schreiber et al., ACS Catal. 2012, 2, 2505). The focus is on identifying both a suitable substitution pattern for ammonia-borane optimized for chemical hydrogen storage and allowing for low-energy dehydrogenation. The interaction of ammonia-borane, and related substituted ammonia-boranes, with a bifunctional η(6)-arene ruthenium catalyst and associated variants is investigated for dehydrogenation. Interestingly, in a number of cases, hydride-proton transfer from the substituted ammonia-borane to the catalyst undergoes a barrier-less process in the gas phase, with rapid formation of hydrogenated catalyst in the gas phase. Amongst the catalysts considered, N,N-difluoro ammonia-borane and N-phenyl ammonia-borane systems resulted in negative activation energy barriers. However, these types of ammonia-boranes are inherently thermodynamically unstable and undergo barrierless decay in the gas phase. Apart from N,N-difluoro ammonia-borane, the interaction between different types of catalyst and ammonia borane was modeled in the solvent phase, revealing free-energy barriers slightly higher than those in the gas phase. Amongst the various potential candidate Ru-complexes screened, few are found to differ in terms of efficiency for the dehydrogenation (rate-limiting) step. To model dehydrogenation more accurately, a selection of explicit protic solvent molecules was considered, with the goal of lowering energy barriers for H-H recombination. It was found that primary (1°), 2°, and 3° alcohols are the most suitable to enhance reaction rate.

Peptide-based carbohydrate receptors.

A broad spectrum of physiological processes is mediated by highly specific noncovalent interactions of carbohydrates and proteins. In a recent communication we identified several cyclic hexapeptides in a dynamic combinatorial library that interact selectively with carbohydrates with high binding constants in water. Herein, we report a detailed investigation of the noncovalent interaction of two cyclic hexapeptides (Cys-His-Cys (which we call HisHis) and Cys-Tyr-Cys (which we call TyrTyr)) with a selection of monosaccharides and disaccharides in aqueous solution. The parallel and antiparallel isomers of HisHis or TyrTyr were synthesized separately, and their interaction with monosaccharides and disaccharides in aqueous solution was studied by isothermal titration calorimetry, NMR spectroscopic titrations, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. From these measurements, we identified particularly stable complexes (Ka> 1000 M(-1)) of the parallel isomer of HisHis with N-acetylneuraminic acid and with methyl-a-d-galactopyranoside as well as of both isomers of TyrTyr with trehalose. To gain further insight into the structure of the peptide­carbohydrate complexes, structure prediction was performed using quantum chemical methods. The calculations confirm the selectivity observed in the experiments and indicate the formation of multiple intermolecular hydrogen bonds in the most stable complexes.

Vortex-based soft magnetic composite with ultrastable permeability up to gigahertz frequencies.

Soft magnetic materials with stable permeability up to hundreds of megahertz (MHz) are urgently needed for integrated transformers and inductors, which are crucial in the more-than-Moore era. However, traditional frequency-stable soft magnetic ferrites suffer from low saturation magnetization and temperature instability, making them unsuitable for integrated circuits. Herein, we fabricate a frequency-stable soft magnetic composite featuring a magnetic vortex structure via cold-sintering, where ultrafine FeSiAl particles are magnetically isolated and covalently bonded by Al2SiO5/SiO2/Fe2(MoO4)3 multilayered heterostructure. This construction results in an ultrastable permeability of 13 up to 1 gigahertz (GHz), relatively large saturation magnetization of 105 Am2/kg and low coercivity of 48 A/m, which we ascribe to the elimination of domain walls associated with almost uniform single-vortex structures, as observed by Lorentz transmission electron microscopy and reconstructed by micromagnetic simulation. Moreover, the ultimate compressive strength has been simultaneously increased up to 337.1 MPa attributed to the epitaxially grown interfaces between particles. This study deepens our understanding on the characteristics of magnetic vortices and provides alternative concept for designing integrated magnetic devices.

Cs3Bi2Br9 nanoparticles decorated C3N4 nanotubes composite photocatalyst for highly selective oxidation of benzylic alcohol.

Solar-light driven oxidation of benzylic alcohols over photocatalysts endows significant prospects in value-added organics evolution owing to its facile, inexpensive and sustainable process. However, the unsatisfactory performance of actual photocatalysts due to the inefficient charge separation, low photoredox potential and sluggish surface reaction impedes the practical application of this process. Herein, we developed an innovative Z-Scheme Cs3BiBr9 nanoparticles@porous C3N4 tubes (CBB-NP@P-tube-CN) heterojunction photocatalyst for highly selective benzyl alcohol oxidation. Such composite combining increased photo-oxidation potential, Z-Scheme charge migration route as well as the structural advantages of porous tubular C3N4 ensures the accelerated mass and ions diffusion kinetics, the fast photoinduced carriers dissociation and sufficient photoredox potentials. The CBB-NP@P-tube-CN photocatalyst demonstrates an exceptional performance for selective photo-oxidation of benzylic alcohol into benzaldehyde with 19, 14 and 3 times higher benzylic alcohols conversion rate than those of C3N4 nanotubes, Cs3Bi2Br9 and Cs3Bi2Br9@bulk C3N4 photocatalysts, respectively. This work offers a sustainable photocatalytic system based on lead-free halide perovskite toward large scale solar-light driven value-added chemicals production.

Impact of gadolinium doping into the frustrated antiferromagnetic lithium manganese oxide spinel.

Cubic spinel LiMn2O4 (LMO) are promising electrode materials for advanced technological devices owing to their rich electrochemical properties. Here, a series of Gd3+-doped LiMn2O4 were synthesized using a simple one-step sol-gel synthesis, and a systematized study on the effect of increasing Gd3+ concentration on magnetic properties is conferred. The Raman and density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the synthesized materials were correlated with the magnetic properties; we observed a high coercivity value for the doped LMO compared to pristine LMO, which scales down from 0.57T to 0.14T with an increase in Gd concentration. The samples exhibited paramagnetic (at 300K) to antiferromagnetic (at 5K) transition and variation in the magnetic moment due to the replacement of Mn+2 or Mn+3 ion by Gd+3 ion from the octahedral 16d lattice site. The observed phase transitions in the hysteresis curve below the Neel temperature (TN) at 5K are found to be due to the superexchange mechanism.

Atomic-scale observation of calcium occupation in spinel cobalt ferrite towards the regulation of intrinsic magnetic properties.

Spinel ferrites have drawn intensive attention because of their adjustable magnetic properties by ion doping, among which calcium (Ca) is an essential dopant that is widely employed in massive production. However, its exact lattice occupation and relationship with intrinsic magnetic properties remain unclear. Here, we successfully prepared Ca-doped cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles by electrospinning. Ca2+ is observed to occupy both the tetrahedral Fe site and the octahedral Co site using spherical aberration correction transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and prefers to occupy the octahedral site at a high doping level. Such dual occupation behavior affects the tetrahedral and octahedral sublattices differently, resulting in nonmonotonic saturation magnetization variation, reduced magnetocrystalline anisotropy and negative magnetization in the zero field cooling (ZFC) process. By controlling the Ca doping amount, increased saturation magnetization and reduced coercivity can be obtained simultaneously. Our findings establish the relationship between the atomic-scale structural change and the macroscopic magnetic properties of spinel ferrites, promoting the development of new ferrite materials.

Photothermal Effect- and Interfacial Chemical Bond-Modulated NiOx/Ta3N5 Heterojunction for Efficient CO2 Photoreduction.

Photothermal catalysis, which combines light promotion and thermal activation, is a promising approach for converting CO2 into fuels. However, the development of photothermal catalysts with effective light-to-heat conversion, strong charge transfer ability, and suitable active sites remains a challenge. Herein, the photothermal effect- and interfacial N-Ni/Ta-O bond-modulated heterostructure composed of oxygen vacancy-rich NiOx and Ta3N5 was rationally fabricated for efficient photothermal catalytic CO2 reduction. Beyond the charge separation capability conferred by the NiOx/Ta3N5 heterojunction, we observed that the N-Ni and Ta-O bonds linking NiOx and Ta3N5 form a spatial charge transfer channel, which enhances the interfacial electron transfer. Additionally, the presence of surface oxygen vacancies in NiOx induced nonradiative relaxation, resulting in a pronounced photothermal effect that locally heated the catalyst and accelerated the reaction kinetically. Leveraging these favorable factors, the NiOx/Ta3N5 hybrids exhibit remarkably elevated activity (≈32.3 µmol·g-1·h-1) in the conversion of CO2 to CH4 with near-unity selectivity, surpassing the performance of bare Ta3N5 by over 14 times. This study unveils the synergistic effect of photothermal and interfacial chemical bonds in the photothermal-photocatalytic heterojunction system, offering a novel approach to enhance the reaction kinetics of various catalysts.

Tunable CO2-to-syngas conversion via strong electronic coupling in S-scheme ZnGa2O4/g-C3N4 photocatalysts.

The conversion of CO2 into syngas, a mixture of CO and H2, via photocatalytic reduction, is a promising approach towards achieving a sustainable carbon economy. However, the evolution of highly adjustable syngas, particularly without the use of sacrifice reagents or additional cocatalysts, remains a significant challenge. In this study, a step-scheme (S-scheme) 0D ZnGa2O4 nanodots (∼7 nm) rooted g-C3N4 nanosheets (denoted as ZnGa2O4/C3N4) heterojunction photocatalyst was synthesized vis a facial in-situ growth strategy for efficient CO2-to-syngas conversion. Both experimental and theoretical studies have demonstrated that the polymeric nature of g-C3N4 and highly distributed ZnGa2O4 nanodots synergistically contribute to a strong interaction between metal oxide and C3N4 support. Furthermore, the desirable S-scheme heterojunction in ZnGa2O4/C3N4 efficiently promotes charge separation, enabling strong photoredox ability. As a result, the S-scheme ZnGa2O4/C3N4 exhibited remarkable activity and selectivity in photochemical conversion of CO2 into syngas, with a syngas production rate of up to 103.3 µ mol g-1 h-1, even in the absence of sacrificial agents and cocatalyst. Impressively, the CO/H2 ratio of syngas can be tunable within a wide range from 1:4 to 2:1. This work exemplifies the effectiveness of a meticulously designed S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst for CO2-to-syngas conversion with adjustable composition, thus paving the way for new possibilities in sustainable energy conversion and utilization.

Nanodiamonds in sugar rings: an experimental and theoretical investigation of cyclodextrin-nanodiamond inclusion complexes.

We report on the noncovalent interactions of nanodiamond carboxylic acids derived from adamantane, diamantane, and triamantane with ß- and γ-cyclodextrins. The water solubility of the nanodiamonds was increased by attaching an aromatic dicarboxylic acid via peptide coupling. Isothermal titration calorimetry experiments were performed to determine the thermodynamic parameters (K(a), ΔH, ΔG and ΔS) for the host-guest inclusion. The stoichiometry of the complexes is invariably 1:1. It was found that K(a), ΔG and ΔH of inclusion increase for larger nanodiamonds. ΔS is generally positive, in particular for the largest nanodiamonds. ß-Cyclodextrin binds all nanodiamonds, γ-cyclodextrin clearly prefers the most bulky nanodiamonds. The interaction of 9-triamantane carboxylic acid shows one of the strongest complexation constants towards γ-cyclodextrin ever reported, K(a) = 5.0 × 10(5) M(-1). In order to gain some insight into the possible structural basis of these inclusion complexes we performed density functional calculations at the B97-D3/def2-TZVPP level of theory.

Some novel molecular frameworks involving representative elements.

Several new molecular frameworks with interesting structures, based on clusters of main group elements have been studied at different levels of theory with various basis sets. Conceptual density functional theory based reactivity descriptors and nucleus independent chemical shift provide important insights into their bonding, reactivity, stability and aromaticity.

Facet-Dependent Bactericidal Activity of Ag3PO4 Nanostructures against Gram-Positive/Negative Bacteria.

Ag3PO4 nanostructures (APNs) containing silver (Ag metal; of the noble metal families) have the potential to exhibit enzyme-mimetic activity. A nanostructure shape, including its surface facets, can improve the bioactivity of enzyme mimicry, yet the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Herein, we report facet-dependent peroxidase and oxidase-like activity of APNs with both antibacterial and biofilm degrading properties through the generation of reactive oxygen species. Cubic APNs had superior antibacterial effects than rhombic dodecahedral shapes when inhibiting Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogen proliferation and biofilm degradation. A similar performance was observed for rhombic dodecahedral shapes, being greater than tetrahedral-shaped APNs. The extent of enzyme-mimetic activity is attributed to the facets {100} present in cubic APNs that led the peroxide radicals to inhibit the proliferation of bacteria and degrade biofilm. These facets were compared to rhombic dodecahedral APNs {110} and tetrahedral APNs {111}, respectively, to reveal a facet-dependent enhanced antibacterial activity, providing a plausible mechanism for shape-dependent APNs material enzyme-mimetic effects on bacteria. Thus, our research findings can provide a direction to optimize bactericidal materials using APNs in clinically relevant applications.

Experimental and computational studies on the Cinchona anchored calixarene catalysed asymmetric Michael addition reaction.

Lower-rim Cinchona anchored calix[4]arene cationic catalysts were developed for asymmetric Michael addition of acetylacetone to ß-nitrostyrenes. The desired Michael adducts were formed with high yields and enantioselectivities. Density functional theory investigations throw light on the catalyst-substrate interaction and the reaction mechanism.