Metal-organic framework (MOF) NH2 -Uio-66(Zr) exhibits photocatalytic activity for CO2 reduction in the presence of triethanolamine as sacrificial agent under visible-light irradiation. Photoinduced electron transfer from the excited 2-aminoterephthalate (ATA) to Zr oxo clusters in NH2 -Uio-66(Zr) was for the first time revealed by photoluminescence studies. Generation of Zr(III) and its involvement in photocatalytic CO2 reduction was confirmed by ESR analysis. Moreover, NH2 -Uio-66(Zr) with mixed ATA and 2,5-diaminoterephthalate (DTA) ligands was prepared and shown to exhibit higher performance for photocatalytic CO2 reduction due to its enhanced light adsorption and increased adsorption of CO2 . This study provides a better understanding of photocatalytic CO2 reduction over MOF-based photocatalysts and also demonstrates the great potential of using MOFs as highly stable, molecularly tunable, and recyclable photocatalysts in CO2 reduction.

Compared with traditional one‐photon fluorescence imaging, two‐photon fluorescence imaging techniques have shown advantages such as increased penetration depth, lower tissue autofluorescence, and reduced photo­damage, and therefore are particularly useful for imaging tissues and animals. In this work, the design and synthesis of two novel DPP‐based compounds with large two‐photon absorption (2PA) cross‐sections (σ ≥ 8100 GM) and aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) properties are reported. The new compounds are red/NIR emissive and show large Stokes shifts (Δλ ≥ 3571 cm−1). 1,2‐Distearoyl‐sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphoethanol amine‐N‐[maleimide(polyethylene glycol)‐2000 (DSPE‐PEG‐Mal) is used as the encapsulation matrix to encapsulate DPP‐2, followed by surface functionalization with cell penetrating peptide (CPP) to yield DPP‐2‐CPP nanoparticles with high brightness, good water dispersibility, and excellent biocompatibility. DPP‐2 nanoparticles have been used for cell imaging and two‐photon imaging with clear visualization of blood vasculature inside mouse ear skin with a depth up to 80 μm.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as attractive electrode materials for applications in energy storage and conversion, owing to their high porosity and surface area. In this communication, we report a hierarchically structured Co-MOF supported on nickel foam (Co-MOF/NF) serving as a high-performance electrode material for supercapacitors. The as-obtained Co-MOF/NF exhibits an ultrahigh areal specific capacitance of 13.6 F cm-2 at 2 mA cm-2 in 2 M KOH, exceeding those of the previously reported MOF-based materials. It also shows an excellent rate performance of 79.4% at a current density of 20 mA cm-2. An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device employing Co-MOF/NF as the positive electrode and activated carbon (AC) as the negative electrode achieves a high energy density of 1.7 mW h cm-2 at a power density of 4.0 mW cm-2 with a capacitance retention of 69.7% after 2000 cycles.

The catalytic promiscuity of the novel benzophenone C-glycosyltransferase, MiCGT, which is involved in the biosynthesis of mangiferin from Mangifera indica, was explored. MiCGT exhibited a robust capability to regio- and stereospecific C-glycosylation of 35 structurally diverse druglike scaffolds and simple phenolics with UDP-glucose, and also formed O- and N-glycosides. Moreover, MiCGT was able to generate C-xylosides with UDP-xylose. The OGT-reversibility of MiCGT was also exploited to generate C-glucosides with simple sugar donor. Three aryl-C-glycosides exhibited potent SGLT2 inhibitory activities with IC50  values of 2.6×, 7.6×, and 7.6×10(-7)  M, respectively. These findings demonstrate for the first time the significant potential of an enzymatic approach to diversification through C-glycosidation of bioactive natural and unnatural products in drug discovery.

Two new near-infrared chemodosimeters for cyanide anion based on 5,10-dihexyl-5,10-dihydrophenazine were designed and synthesized. With dicyano-vinyl groups as the recognition site and electron-withdrawing groups on both sides, probe 1 exhibited an intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) absorption band at 545 nm and emission band at 730 nm, respectively, and thus showed an ICT block process and realized an "on-off" response after bilateral reaction with cyanide anions in CH₃CN. Probe 2 utilized an unreactive formyl group instead of one of the two reactive dicyano-vinyl groups as the electron-withdrawing component. Due to the unilateral recognition process the ICT of probe 2 was redirected and lead to a remarkably colorimetric and ratiometric near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent response for cyanine. Both probes provided high sensitivity and selectivity with apparent response signals which can be observed by naked eyes, even in the copresence of various other interference anions. Optical spectroscopic techniques, NMR titration measurements, and density functional theory calculations were conducted to rationalize the sensing mechanisms of these two probes.

Background: Plant flavonoid prenyltransferases (FPTs) transfer prenyl moiety to flavonoid cores and have previously been identified only in Leguminosae. Results: The newly identified moraceous FPTs, MaIDT, and CtIDT, are distantly related to leguminous FPTs and feature catalytic regioselectivity and promiscuity. Conclusion: MaIDT and CtIDT evolved independently from leguminous FPTs. Significance: These findings are valuable for identifying additional evolutionarily different non-Leguminosae FPTs.

Effects on the structure and properties of sweet potato starch under single frequency ultrasound of 25, 80 kHz and dual-frequency ultrasound of 25 and 80 kHz were investigated at the same treating conditions else. Dents and pores were found by SEM at the surface of starch with both ultrasounds. Starch-iodine complex analysis showed above ultrasounds destroyed amylopectin and starch chains. FT-IR indicated that with ultrasonic treatments, the functional groups of starch were not destroyed, but its crystal structure was damaged. As a result, its crystalline index decreased. Brabender curves showed that the peak viscosity of starch with dual-frequency ultrasound was 14.09% lower than that of the native starch. In addition, the solubility and transmittance of starch increased by ultrasound, and the solubility went up as ultrasonication time was increased. It reached the maximum when the starch was treated for 60 min by dual-frequency ultrasound, which increased by 2.69% compared to that of native starch. The starch being treated by dual-frequency ultrasound for 30 min showed maximum transmittance, increasing it by 5.1% compared to the native starch; however, continuously increasing ultrasonic treatment resulted in a decrease of transmittance. Therefore, compared to single frequency ultrasound, dual-frequency ultrasonic treatment caused more obvious changes to the structure and properties.

In this study, the effect of manganese sulfate (MnSO 4 ) on desulfurization capacity was investigated through carrying out consecutive desulfurization−regeneration cycles of MnO 2 -blended activated coke (Mn/AC). It was observed that MnSO 4 was produced on the surface of Mn/AC during the desulfurization process, and the amount of MnSO 4 accumulated on Mn/AC first increased significantly and then became relatively stable. In addition, the desulfurization results of MnSO 4 -impregnated Mn/AC indicate that Mn 2+ from MnSO 4 could form new liquid-phase catalysis, which existed with the solid-phase catalysis (blended MnO 2 ) simultaneously in the desulfurization system. However, an excessive amount of MnSO 4 over the surface of activated coke can block the access of SO 2 to the pore network, hampering the activity of the solid-phase catalyst and, consequently, resulting in a decrease of desulfurization capacity.