Uranyl nitrate hexahydrate performs as an efficient photocatalyst in the direct C−H to C−C bond conversion under blue light irradiation via hydrogen atom transfer (HAT). This uranyl salt enables the remarkable smooth functionalization of unactivated (cyclo)alkanes, ethers, acetals, and amides via radical addition onto electrophilic olefins. Dedicated electrochemical measurements on compounds and intermediates involved in the process were carried out to support the mechanistic proposal.

The synthesis of Ag nanoparticles from Ag has been investigated, with pectin acting both as reductant and coating.∼100% Ag to Ag(0) one-pot conversion was obtained, yielding p-AgNP, i.e. an aqueous solution of pectin-coated spherical Ag nanoparticles (d=8.0±2.6nm), with a<1ppm concentration of free Ag cation. Despite the low free Ag concentration and low Ag release with time, the nature of the coating allows p-AgNP to exert excellent antibacterial and antibiofilm actions, comparable to those of ionic silver, tested on E. coli (Gram-) and S. epidermidis (Gram+) both on planctonic cells and on pre- and post-biofilm formation conditions. Moreover, p-AgNP were tested on fibroblasts: not only p-AgNP were found to be cytocompatible but also revealed capable of promoting fibroblasts proliferation and to be effective for wound healing on model cultures. The antibacterial activity and the wound healing ability of silver nanoparticles are two apparently irreconcilable properties, as the former usually requires a high sustained Ag release while the latter requires low Ag concentration. p-AgNP represents an excellent compromise between opposite requirements, candidating as an efficient medication for repairing wounds and/or to treat vulnerable surgical site tissues, including the pre-treatment of implants as an effective prophylaxis in implant surgery.

Arylacetic acids were used as sources of benzyl radicals under tetrabutylammonium decatungstate photocatalyzed conditions for the benzylation of electron-poor olefins. The reaction proceeds smoothly in a mixed aqueous medium (MeCN/H2O 2/1) in the presence of NaHCO3, NaClO4, and an electron transfer agent (biphenyl). The reaction tolerates a wide variety of functional groups on the aromatic ring (whether electron donating or electron withdrawing) and can be extended to heteroaromatic analogues. The olefins have the double role of radical trap and electron acceptor. The present approach can also be extended to arylpropionic acids (including the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen and flurbiprofen), as well as mandelic acid derivatives.

Excited tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT), known to activate a variety of compounds via hydrogen atom transfer (HAT), has now been applied as a photoredox catalyst for the effective oxidative cleavage of benzyl silanes and radical benzylation of reducible olefins occurring in isolated yields from poor to excellent.

A chemically modified gold electrode has been conveniently prepared by binding multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) to which thiol functions have been tethered. The electrode has been characterized by atomic force microscopy and oxidative desorption experiments and gives excellent results for trace determination of As(III) and Bi(III) in natural and high-salinity waters, overcoming the limitation typical of solid electrodes. A mechanism for As(III) preconcentration at the electrode is proposed and supported by results obtained by two similar chemically modified electrodes (CMEs), the first one prepared with single-walled carbon nanotubes and the second one with a monolayer of (biphenyl)dimethanethiol. The performance obtained with the MWCNTs-CME largely overcomes that obtained by using other devices.