ChemPlusChem最新文献

Research and applications relevant to human health are enabled by detergent chemistry. A multifaceted overview of this field is yet missing. To close this gap, this topical collection provides an overview of recent advances in detergent chemistry covering progress in synthesis, supramolecular characterization, and application. Our collection shows that detergent chemists operate usually interdisciplinary. Connecting molecular structures of detergents with properties relevant to applications is at the center of scientific exploitation. Detergent chemists deliver solutions to research and industry that aim at securing well-being, hygiene, and new pharmaceuticals.

Gold(III) complexes have gained prominence as photofunctional materials due to their tunable photophysical properties and potential in advanced optoelectronic applications. While traditionally gold(III) complexes have been known to exhibit phosphorescence emission, recent advancements have revealed that gold(III) complexes can also display thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), enabling near-unity internal quantum efficiencies and full exciton utilization. However, gold(III) biscyclometalated complexes incorporating trifluoromethyl groups and displaying TADF-type emission have been lacking. We report biscyclometalated gold(III) C^N^C complexes incorporating electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl (CF₃) groups with TADF-type emission. Both aryl and alkynyl ligands were employed to investigate the balance between structural stability and donor–acceptor spatial separation. Detailed photophysical studies reveal TADF-type emission behavior in these complexes with quantum yields as high as 70% in solution with high radiative rates in the order of 10⁶ s⁻¹. These complexes exhibit promising photophysical properties suitable for high-efficiency organic light-emitting diode applications, providing valuable design strategies for next-generation TADF emitters based on gold(III) scaffolds.

The removal of nanoplastics (NPs) from aquatic environments remains a significant challenge due to their persistence and potential ecological risks. Flocculation, together with coagulation and sedimentation, is widely used as a phase-separation technique in industrial water treatment. In this study, alginate (ALG)-enhanced sedimentation of polystyrene (PS) NPs under varying CaCl₂ concentrations was investigated via turbidimetric analysis. The destabilization mechanism was assessed through floc morphology, zeta potential measurements, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectra, and scanning electron microscope/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis. The rheological properties of ALG solutions in the presence of CaCl₂ were expressed as complex viscosity. To better simulate environmentally relevant conditions, we employed a novel PS-NP dispersion without commercial stabilizers. The results show that ALG effectively destabilizes the system at moderate and high coagulant ionic strengths, with an optimal dosage of 10 ppm ALG. Calcium ions can interact with ALG chains through the formation of intermolecular complexes. At the highest CaCl₂ concentration, changes in the system's rheological properties altered floc morphology and delayed sedimentation. This study highlights the potential of natural bioflocculants such as ALG for removing PS-NPs from calcium-rich waters and reducing reliance on synthetic coagulants.

The precise and noninvasive detection of thiosulfate, an essential antidote for cyanide poisoning, is critical for both clinical toxicology and environmental monitoring. In this work, the development of an electroactive copper–cyanurate (Cu–CYA) coordination polymer, engineered as a highly sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for thiosulfate detection in biological fluids, is reported. The sensor material is synthesized via a straightforward coordination-driven self-assembly process, yielding a porous framework with abundant active sites, excellent redox properties, and superior electron transfer capability. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization confirms the structural integrity and favorable interfacial kinetics of the Cu–CYA/graphite pencil electrode (GPE) sensor. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry analyses reveal a robust and linear response to thiosulfate concentrations ranging from 100 to 500 nM, with a remarkable sensitivity of 2.94 µA cm⁻² nM⁻¹ and an exceptionally low limit of detection of 0.32 nM. The sensor exhibits high selectivity against potential interferents and maintains 93.3% of its initial response after 30 days, underscoring its long-term functional reliability. Notably, real sample analysis using human saliva demonstrates a mean recovery of 97.5%, validating the sensor's practical applicability in complex biological matrices. This study establishes Cu–CYA as a powerful electrochemical sensing platform for thiosulfate monitoring, offering new prospects for portable diagnostics in healthcare and environmental safety.

The generation and synthetic applications of polar organometallic reagents have traditionally relied on organic solvents. Recently, mechanochemistry has emerged as a conceptually new approach in the field, using mechanical forces for the activation of bulk zero-valent metals and enabling a solvent-free or solvent-minimized synthesis of polar organometallics. This transformative approach brings several advantages over traditional methods, such as eliminating the need for strictly anhydrous conditions and inert atmospheres, removing solvent compatibility issues, and improving the reactivity profiles of polar organometallic reagents, thereby addressing long-standing challenges in the field. This concept article brings into focus the key developments in the mechanochemical generation of polar organometallics (derivatives of zinc, magnesium, calcium, barium, and lithium), highlighting the main advantages of this approach and emphasizing the current challenges.

Pervasive use of dyes in industries leads to contamination of water, which results in potential hazards to humans and the environment. In contrast to photodegradation method, adsorption-based dye removal is considered an efficient and cost-effective way with no secondary environmental hazardous by-product. In the present study, environmentally benign method was used for preparation of reduced graphene oxide (rGO), an efficient adsorbent. A low-cost and facile method starting from biochar of Sterculia foetida was used for obtaining rGO nanosheet. Morphological, vibrational and structural transformation suggest possible transformation of biochar to rGO. Adsorption capacity studies of rGO using methylene blue (MB) reveal that rGO is a promising adsorbent. 0.2 mg mL⁻¹ of rGO marks 94.04% dye removal of 2.5 ppm MB solution. It follows pseudo-second-order kinetics depicting both physisorption and chemisorption. Further studies were also performed to investigate the electrochemical behavior of rGO for supercapacitor applications. The double-layer capacitance obtained for rGO (2.08 × 10⁻⁴ mF cm⁻²) is ∼1.5 times higher as compared to that of bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE: 1.37 × 10⁻⁴ mF cm⁻²). The higher adsorption of ions is the main reason for the enhanced double-layer capacitance of rGO.

The precise determination of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA), an essential biomarker for neuroendocrine tumors and neurological diseases, is of paramount importance. Herein, we develop a sensitive electrochemical sensor based on an oxidized graphite felt (OGF) electrode, functionalized with oxygen-containing groups via facile thermal oxidation. The synergistic integration of these moieties with the inherent 3D porous structure facilitates hydrogen-bonding interactions, enabling efficient capture of a crucial oxidative intermediate of 5-HIAA: its cationic free radical. This unique molecular recognition mechanism generates a distinctive six-peak voltammetric signature in cyclic voltammetry, providing deeper insights into the complex oxidation pathway of 5-HIAA. Utilizing adsorptive stripping square wave voltammetry, the OGF sensor achieves a wide linear range of 0.35–26.5 μmol/L and a low limit of detection of 0.094 μmol/L (S/N = 3). The enhanced analytical performance is directly linked to the superior intermediate-trapping capability of OGF, highlighting its potential for reliable biosensing applications.

In contrast to its European counterpart, Islamic papermaking is still little researched, especially in scientific and conservation contexts. This study presents the first in-depth material analysis of a unique collection of Islamic-African amulets and talismans from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, held at the Slovene Ethnographic Museum. This research employed a multi-analytical approach that included pH measurements, analysis of fibrous materials, iodine test for the presence of starch, hyperspectral imaging (HSI), FTIR-ATR, Raman spectroscopy, laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), as well as cultural interpretations. Twelve selected manuscripts were examined to characterize paper, inks, dyes, and calligraphic features. The results showed the use of iron gall inks, plant-based dyes, and mixed paper fibers (straw and softwood pulp), suggesting a mixture of local and imported materials from the colonial period. The calligraphic and decorative styles reflect a synthesis of orthodox Qur’an and local West African Sufi traditions, often incorporating protective texts, magic squares, and regional variants of Kufic script. The findings shed light on technological aspects of Islamic manuscript production in West Africa and support the informed conservation, display, and interpretation of these culturally and spiritually significant objects. This research sets a precedent for comparative heritage studies and enhances the understanding of Islamic material culture in African contexts.

Light-responsive molecules that can release drugs upon light absorption have attracted significant interest in chemistry and biology. BODIPY-based photoremovable protecting groups, or photocages, have recently emerged as especially promising tools in this respect. However, the exact photorelease mechanism is still not fully understood. We study the photochemical decomposition of meso-Methyl-BODIPY-conjugated epinephrine using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance and chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP) techniques. After irradiation, epinephrine was detected only in trace amounts, whereas its oxidation product, adrenochrome, was the predominant product. Surprisingly, the CIDNP study has shown that the electron transfer (ET) in this reaction does not proceed from epinephrine to the BODIPY moiety, but rather occurs between two BODIPY cores. To validate this hypothesis, we applied the CIDNP method to detect photoinduced ET between two model BODIPY molecules in solution. In addition, the radical cation of BODIPY has been detected for the first time by CIDNP under photolysis in the presence of the electron acceptor–chloranil. The hyperfine interaction (HFI) constants of the BODIPY radical cation were estimated from the CIDNP spectrum, and they are in agreement with the HFI constant predicted by density functional theory calculations. Due to high enhancement coefficients, the CIDNP technique allows for to detection of polarized BODIPY products at very low concentrations.

We report the theoretical modeling of the reductive hydrogenation of [6,6]-closed, [6,6]-open, and near-equatorial [5,6]-open C₇₀(CF₂)-I–III as well as the regioselective synthesis of three novel C₇₀(CF₂)H₂ isomers I–III, their spectral characterization using mass spectrometry, UV/Vis, FTIR, Raman, and NMR spectroscopy. We have shown that regardless of the configuration of CF₂ moiety and its position at the fullerene cage, the bridgehead carbon atoms are activated in the anionic state and undergone protonation in the presence of water. The regioselectivity of the formation of C₇₀(CF₂)H₂ isomers, as well as unexpected features of suppression of the C₇₀ hydrogenation in the presence of C₇₀(CF₂), and the high reactivity of near-equatorial [5,6]-open C₇₀(CF₂) to polyhydrogenation are discussed from kinetic and thermodynamic aspects.