Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society最新文献

The cover image depicts a post-combustion CO2 capture process using a MOF-74 type framework functionalized with diamine groups to enhance the interaction with incoming CO2 molecules. Modified with hydrophobic components, these frameworks are excellent for CO2 capture while maintaining structural integrity even under humid conditions. More details are available in the article by Jintu Francis Kurisingal, Jong Hyeak Choe, Hyojin Kim, Jeongwon Youn, Gayoung Cheon, Chang Seop Hong

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and nitroreductases (NTR) are key biological reductants, with H₂S acting as a key signaling molecule and NTR reducing nitro groups to amines in cellular metabolism. Visualizing these reducing components, often overexpressed in cancer cells or bacterial environments, is crucial for metabolic understanding. Existing fluorescent probes detect these individually, but simultaneous detection methods are unexplored. We designed probe 1, which shows high fluorescence only when both NTR and H₂S are overexpressed. The probe transformed into benzothiazole-fused coumarin by NTR, exhibiting fluorescence, and shows a stronger signal in the presence of both NTR and H₂S, making it a potential tool for detecting their simultaneous overexpression.

In the last few decades, fullerene-based acceptors have been extensively utilized in organic solar cells (OSCs). However, OSCs based on fullerenes suffer from low photocurrent and photovoltage due to their poor light absorption capacity and limited tunability of energy levels, which impedes efficiency improvements. Recently, non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) have enabled rapid progress in OSCs, owing to their favorable properties such as strong light absorption, facile energy level tuning, and improved charge transport characteristics. These features have led to rapid efficiency enhancements. This review discusses the latest research trends related to NFAs, covering several factors that can be applied in the development of NFAs. Finally, we suggest prospects and challenges for high-performance NFA-based OSCs on the path to commercialization.

TiO₂ photocatalysts were synthesized by simple sol gel method and annealed at 300, 500, and 600°C. Photocatalytic performance of as-prepared TiO₂ and annealed TiO₂ samples was evaluated for the decomposition of acetaldehyde under UV light irradiation. TiO₂ annealed at 500°C (T500) showed the highest acetaldehyde removal performance, which was attributed to combined effects of its crystallinity, defect density, surface area, narrow band gap with the dual phase of TiO₂, and lifetimes of charge carriers. In humid conditions, overall acetaldehyde removal performance of T500 slightly decreased, but the extent of total oxidation of acetaldehyde into CO₂ increased in high humidity as compared to dry conditions. Moreover, fixation of T500 on mica sheet using binders resulted in promising photocatalytic performance, making it a potential candidate for air purification applications. Fourier-transform infra-red (FT-IR) analysis confirmed the stable existence of binder structure under dry air and UV treatment, which is crucial for real applications.

This review describes the application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in characterizing transition metal complexes. By utilizing NMR spectroscopy on both diamagnetic and paramagnetic transition metal complexes, extensive insights into their geometric, electronic, and magnetic properties are obtained. Enhancing our comprehension of NMR spectra broadens the analytical techniques available for studying transition metal complexes in organometallic and bioinorganic chemistry. More details are available in the article by Jeongcheol Shin, Mi Hee Lim, Jiyeon Han.

Glutamine-addicted cancer metabolism is recently recognized as novel cancer target especially for KRAS and KEAP1 co-occurring mutations. To identify more drug-like GLS inhibitors, we report the amides in the wing macrocycles for GLS inhibition with unique SAR analysis. Although the amidotriazoles (amides in the wing) are in general less potent than those of acylaminothiadiazole analogs (reverse amides in the wing), macrocycle 4, 5, and 7 are selected as a potent macrocyclic GLS inhibitor in both biochemical and cell viability assays. Selected molecules result in partial reduction in intracellular glutamate levels in LR (LDK378-resistant) cells which is consistent to their cells viability result. Finally, selected compounds reduce the growth of A549 and H460 cells which have co-occurring mutations including KRAS and KEAP1. The putative binding mode of macrocycle 4 is also suggested using a molecular docking model.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) exhibit excellent plasmonic properties, including bright color and generation of localized electric field, hot carriers, and heat. These properties are widely applied in biology, sensing, spectroscopy, catalysis, and medicine. More attractive is that these properties are tremendously enhanced when AuNPs are assembled and form nanogaps between the particles. Therefore, assembling AuNPs in a controlled fashion is a key step for the study and applications of plasmonic properties. In this Account, I will introduce my group's collective efforts that have been made for a decade to develop the best assembly method. I will describe the assembly procedure in detail and demonstrate the various nanoassemblies produced by the method. The controlled assembly allows us to systematically examine the relationship between the plasmonic properties and structural parameters of the nanogaps. Among many properties, I focus on plasmon coupling. To conclude, I will discuss the prospects of nanoassembly plasmonics.

We report on the preparation of a polyethyleneimine-incorporated hydroxyapatite (PEI-HAP) and its enhanced colloidal stability. Three PEI-HAPs having different amine contents are synthesized by hydrothermal treatment (200 °C) of the HAP prepared at room temperature (rt-HAP). The crystallinity of PEI-HAP is improved compared to rt-HAP due to the heat treatment. In addition, the size of PEI-HAP (50.4 nm) increased compared to rt-HAP (32.1 nm) after heat treatment. However, the presence (or concentration) of PEI has little effect on the crystallinity and size of the samples. Ninhydrin test indicates the presence of amine group in PEI-HAPs. XPS experiments verified that maximum amine content amounts to 2.81%. As the amount of amine increases, the zeta potential is changed from −22.6 to +31.7 mV due to the adsorption of PEI on HAP surface. Consequently, the sample having high positive valuable zeta potential of +31.7 mV exhibits colloidal stability of more than 6 h.

While lithium metal anodes (LMAs) offer the highest energy density, positioning them as a promising material for graphite, they suffer from uneven electroplating morphology and the formation of Li dendrites. Given the pivotal role of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI), which is formed by electrolyte decomposition, in mitigating dendritic growth, extensive research has been conducted on liquid electrolytes in Li metal batteries (LMBs). This mini-review presents the historical advancements in LMB electrolytes, focusing on modulating the Li⁺ microenvironment and LMA interface chemistry to inhibit Li dendrite formation. We traced the evolution of LMB electrolytes from traditional formulations to advanced designs. In particular, the reinforcement of the SEI and the compact morphology of the deposited Li are deeply discussed at each advancement in liquid electrolytes. We subsequently identify common characteristics among these advanced electrolytes and conclude by discussing future directions and strategies for rational design.

This review focuses on the redox reactivities of MLCT and LMCT excited states of earth-abundant metal complexes, such as iron, manganese, cobalt, and chromium, together with the lifetime and redox potentials of the MLCT and LMCT excited states. More details are available in the article by Wonwoo Nam, Yong-Min Lee, Shunichi Fukuzumi.