Journal of Chemical Sciences最新文献

Protein–protein interactions (PPIs) play a compelling role in biological systems. Additionally, they are promising therapeutic targets for various diseases. However, the design of small molecule inhibitors for PPIs is challenging due to the dynamic and featureless nature of the PPI interfaces, which often lack well-defined binding pockets. To address this challenge, the PPIscout approach employs mixed solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to identify binding hotspots at PPI interfaces. This technique utilizes mixed amino acid–water MD simulations with capped amino acids as probe molecules. This method has been applied to three target proteins: MDM2, Bcl-XL and PDZ6. The mixed solvent simulations revealed that the probe molecules predominantly accumulated at the PPI interfaces, highlighting potential hotspots. These findings are corroborated with results from FTMap, a computational solvent mapping tool. Results demonstrate that mixed amino acid–water MD simulations effectively identify PPI hotspots and favorable interactions that are crucial for drug design. Moreover, the method also unveils potential allosteric sites that could be targeted for the development of peptides or small molecule drugs.

Graphical abstract

PPIscout employs mixed-solvent molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, using amino acid probes, to identify binding hotspots and potential allosteric sites on dynamic protein-protein interaction (PPI) interfaces. This computational method reveals crucial interaction sites, aiding in the design of peptide and small molecule inhibitors.

Microwave-assisted efficient synthesis of nanosized manganese oxide (Mn₂O₃) is reported using glycerol and manganese acetate. Glycerol in this reported methodology acts as an efficient solvent for this nanomaterial synthesis under microwave radiation. This reported method enables the synthesis of nanosized Mn₂O₃ without further use of additives, stabilizers, and bases other than glycerol and manganese precursor. Glycerol is a renewable biomaterial derived nonvolatile and nontoxic, safe solvent. It has a high boiling point and dielectric constant, which makes it an ideal solvent for microwave synthesis. The synthesized nanosized Mn₂O₃ was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman spectroscopy. We examined the catalytic properties of as-synthesized Mn₂O₃ for cinnamyl alcohol oxidation to cinnamaldehyde. In this oxidation activity experiment, nanosized Mn₂O₃ exhibits good conversion and selectivity towards the desired product. We also made an attempt to understand the probable mechanism of nanomaterial formation and found some conclusive evidence to support it. This research methodology is facile, energy efficient, and involves minimum chemicals for synthesis. It makes this reported methodology not only economically attractive but also environmentally friendly, which aligns well with green chemistry principles.

Graphical abstract

The graphical abstract illustrates the synthesis of Mn₂O₃ using glycerol and manganese acetate. The process involves microwave heating, centrifugation, ethanol–DW washing, drying, and calcination. Each step—from reagent mixing to final product isolation—is visually mapped, highlighting the equipment and conditions used to obtain Mn O for catalytic applications.

First-principle-based quantum chemical methods are employed to characterise the transition metals chalcogen–chalcogen bonds of the types M(HCh)₂²⁺ and M(ChCH₃)₂²⁺ (Ch = S, Se) in the gas phase. Use of such model systems allow us to calculate the binding energy values considering a very large basis set along with density functional theory (DFT) based methods and compare these values with corresponding values at MP2, CCSD, and CCSD(T) methods. In this work, DFT and post-Hartree–Fock wave function methods including MP2, CCSD, and CCSD(T) are used to calculate the binding energy using the 6-311++G(2d,2p) basis set. Error analysis performed for BLYP, SVWN, TPSS, M05, MPW1PW91, B3LYP, B3LYP-D, B3LYP-D3, M06-HF, MO8-HX, MN-15, LC-ωHPBE, ωB97XD, MP2, and CCSD methods using the CCSD(T) results as the reference. M06-HF, MN-15, LC-ωHPBE, MO8-HX, MN-15, and MPW1PW91 outperformed other DFT functionals. MP2, in case of small molecules like M(HCh)₂²⁺ and M(ChCH₃)₂², reflects poor performance because of its inability to capture significant electron correlation effects inherent to transition–metal complexes compared to CCSD and CCSD(T) methods. The results offer valuable insights into metal–ligand interactions, guiding future studies in catalyst optimization and electronic structure modelling.

Graphical abstract

This study employs DFT and post-Hartree–Fock wave functional methods (MP2, CCSD, CCSD(T)) to characterize M(HCh)₂²⁺ and M(ChCH₃)₂²⁺ (M = Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, and Zn²⁺; Ch = S, & Se) complexes in the gas phase. Error analysis identifies M06-HF, MN-15, LC-ωHPBE, and MO8-HX as the best-performing functionals. The findings provide valuable insights into metal-ligand interactions that may help in catalyst design and electronic structure modelling for transition-metal systems.

Biomass-based aerogel materials are attracting considerable attention in the catalytic industry because of their properties of high porosity, Light weight, and large surface area formed by the interconnected 3D networks. However, the functionalities of most aerogel catalysts are unsatisfactory because of their complicated fabrication process, low catalytic activities, especially low selectivity. Herein, the functionalized alginate-based aerogels were prepared by introducing tetrasodium iminodisuccinate on sodium alginate to increase the number of carboxyl groups on polymer mainchains, aiming to provide more positions for crosslinking Cu²⁺. Furthermore, MOF-5 grew in situ at the Cu-crosslinked positions to synthesize SI-MOF aerogels. Compared with the Cu-SA aerogel, the crosslinking amount of Cu²⁺ in SI-MOF was increased by 8.21% and the compressive strength was improved by 233%. In the phenol hydroxylation catalyzed by SI-MOF, the conversion of phenol reached 70.29% and the selectivity of catechol was notably improved by 91.77% with a ratio of catechol to hydroquinone being 11:1. The fabricated aerogel catalyst provides a new strategy for the catalytic industry.

Graphical abstract

In this work, sodium alginate (SA) was amidated by introducing tetrasodium iminodisuccinate (IDS) and cross-linked with copper ions to form SI aerogel, and then SI-MOF aerogel was prepared by in-situ growth of metal organic framework (MOF), which was used to catalyze phenol hydroxylation to obtain about 92% high pyrocatechol selectivity.

A pyrene-functionalized cationic based on 6-O-methacryloyl-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-D-galactopyranose (MAIpGP) and 2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) polymer (Py-PMAIpGP-b-PDMAEMA+) was synthesized, characterized and DNA interaction was investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy, ethidium bromide (EB) competitive fluorescence and agarose gel methods. By comparing the UV spectrum of PMAIpGP-b-PDMAEMA and Py-PMAIpGP-b-PDMAEMA+. The addition of the pyrene ring to the polymer was first understood by comparing the UV spectra of the polymer and the cationic polymer. Later, the shifts of aromatic hydrogens in the pyrene ring in the 1H-NMR spectrum supported the information obtained in the UV spectrum and proved the structure. DNA binding studies by UV titration showed that the pyrene ring is intercalated between base pairs while the main skeleton interacts electrostatically with DNA. Competitive experiments with EB confirmed that the cationic polymer intercalates between DNA base pairs via the pyrene ring. Agarose gel electrophoresis studies determined the concentration at which the cationic polymer could neutralize the negative charge of DNA.

Graphical abstract

The PMAIpGP-b-PDMAEMA polymer was functionalized with methylpyrene to impart cationic character, aiming to enhance its DNA affinity and solubility in water. The results demonstrated that the cationic polymer binds DNA via both electrostatic and intercalative interactions, displaces EB through pyrene intercalation, and modulates plasmid DNA migration in gel electrophoresis, indicating its potential as a non-viral gene delivery candidate.

Amides and α-ketoamides are ubiquitous in drugs and fine chemicals. A recent study by Li and co-workers¹ reported a modular electrolysis-paired tandem strategy that produces both families of compounds in a single electrochemical setup by combining cathodic CO₂-to-CO conversion with palladium-catalyzed aminocarbonylation and anodic iodine-mediated ketoamidation. The system achieves “two birds with one stone” synthesis. This commentary highlights the significance of this study from an electrochemist’s perspective.

Graphical Abstract

This highlights the recent work by Qing Li and co-workers (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 33, e202503440) on the modular synchronous electrosynthesis of amides and α-ketoamides from a broader perspective.

This study investigated diketopyrrolopyrrole-spacer-based dye sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) applications, specifically the effects of electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups on donor moieties. Using the computational methods, we evaluated the photophysical properties and efficiency metrics like light harvesting efficiency, electron injection efficiency, regeneration efficiency, and overall solar energy conversion efficiency, and compared them with the existing experimental results. Further, we have predicted better and more efficient dyes with small changes, like adding electron-donating groups on the para position of the donor moieties with density functional theory. The three donor groups: carbazole (CB), diphenylamine (DA), and indole (IN)- and their derivatives with electron-donating and electron-withdrawing substituents were examined.

Graphical abstract

Electron-donating groups on donor groups enhances the efficiency whereas electron-withdrawing groups reduces the efficiency.