Fiona McKenzie, Executive Editor – Page 3 – Chemical Communications Blog

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Ionic Liquids web theme issue – welcoming submissions

03 Oct 2011

ChemComm is delighted to announce a high-profile web themed issue on Ionic Liquids.

Guest editors: Robin D. Rogers (University of Alabama), Doug MacFarlane (Monash University) and Suojiang Zhang (Institute of Process Engineering)

Picture courtesy of Photodisc

This issue will consist of a series of Communications and Feature Articles from prominent scientists working on all aspects of ionic liquid chemistry. The scope will range from new fundamental knowledge about ionic liquids to novel applications of ionic liquids which take advantage of their unique attributes. Follow on studies or those of routine interest will not be considered.

The level of quality of this issue will be extremely high, and all manuscripts will undergo strict peer review. You are therefore encouraged to report work that you consider to be very important and conceptually significant in accord with the ChemComm mandate. Please note that inclusion in the issue is subject to the discretion of the guest editors.

Publication of the peer-reviewed articles will occur without delay to ensure the timely dissemination of the work. The articles will then be assembled on the ChemComm website as a web-based thematic issue.

Submit your work before 29^th February 2012. Please add “ionic liquids” in the comments to the editor section.

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Modelling reveals interconnect between SERS enhancement mechanisms

03 Oct 2011

Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) uses noble metal substrates to enhance the inherently weak Raman signal from analytes. In some cases, the enhancement stems from two different mechanisms: a physical enhancement that comes from excitation of the metal surface plasmons and a chemical enhancement arising from charge transfer between the metal surface and an adsorbed molecule.

Up until now, theoretical SERS models have tended to treat these mechanisms separately. However, Duan and colleagues point out that this simplification is not always valid since plasmonic properties can be significantly affected by adsorbed molecules. Using state-of-the-art density functional models, they have revealed the connection between the two mechanisms, allowing more accurate modelling of SERS spectra.

To learn more about how Duan’s team have implemented this model, download the ChemComm article.

Also of interest:

Evidence of a surface plasmon-mediated mechanism in the generation of the SERS background, C. Farcau and S. Astilean, Chem. Commun., 2011, 47, 3861.
Scanned chemical enhancement of surface-enhanced Raman scattering using a charge-transfer complex, J. R. Lombardi et al., Chem. Commun., 2011, 47, 2426.

Visit the ChemComm Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy web theme issue for more articles.

Posted on behalf of Iain A. Larmour, ChemComm web writer.

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New electrochemiluminescence possibilities

29 Sep 2011

Electrogenerated chemiluminiscence (ECL) is a promising detection technique but its application to certain targets, such as small ions, is compromised due to the necessity to use high concentrations of reagents which can contaminate the sample.

Eric Bakker and co-workers have devised a system which separates the sample compartment, where the analyte is introduced alongside the ruthenium-based ECL reagent, from the compartment which contains the co-reactant necessary for the chemiluminescence to be generated. The technique relies on a liquid membrane to selectively transport the ECL ruthenium compound from the sample towards the detector.

This electro-separation technique opens the door to even more targets capable of being detected using ECL.

To learn more about how Bakker and his team have implemented this strategy, download the ChemComm article.

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Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors

29 Sep 2011

New drugs need to be found that are capable of targeting carbonic anhydrases – a class of enzyme that catalyses the hydration of carbon dixoide to bicarbonate and H⁺. By inhibiting or activating these enzymes, a number of pathological disorders can be treated such as glaucoma, osteoporosis and cancer. Unfortunately, many of the drugs developed so far are not selective for the different isoforms of the enzyme.

Representation of the binding mode of an inhibitor compound in the active site cavity of the enzyme

Researchers from Italy have embarked upon investigating the inhibition of mammalian isoforms of carbonic anhydrase using N-substituted benzenesulfonamides. By employing X-ray crystallographic studies, they discovered a completely new binding mode with the enzyme. The team say that by substituting the moieties on the phenyl ring, unexplored regions of the enzyme active site could be targeted, allowing new lead compounds to be identified.

Read the ChemComm article to learn more about their findings.

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Revolutionising gene studies

29 Sep 2011

A simple method for detecting a natural nucleobase in DNA could revolutionise epigenetic studies, say Japanese scientists.

5-Hydroxymethylcytosine is abundant in neuron cells and embryonic stem cells and plays a critical role in epigenetic regulation. Scientists are eager for a way to detect it, to help them understand how gene function is initialised.

The team discovered that peroxotungstate can detect 5-hydroxymethylcytosine by oxidising it to a thymine derivative, which can be visualised using gel electrophoresis.

Download the ChemComm article today to find out more.

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Bendy Crystals

26 Sep 2011

Scientists are trying to create molecular systems that mimic machinery components. The idea is for these molecular machines to exhibit mechanical movement once an external stimulus is applied.

With this in mind, Japanese researchers have grown crystals that bend upon shining UV light on them. The crystals are of a salicylideneaniline compound which changes its structure depending on the wavelength of light.

The molecular transformation from the enol to the trans-keto form causes the crystals to bend on the macroscopic scale, which is also accompanied by a colour change from pale yellow to reddish-orange. When the UV light is blocked, the crystals resume their initial straight form and colour. This reversible bending can be repeated for over 200 cycles.

To find out more, download Koshima’s ChemComm article.

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2nd Unilever–RSC International Symposium on Functional Materials Science

15 Sep 2011

Register now for attendance at the 2^nd Unilever–RSC International Symposium on Functional Materials Science. The symposium takes place over 3 days at 3 different locations in China. Attendance at any of the meetings is free.

Monday 24 October 2011: Symposium at Tsinghua University, Beijing

Wednesday 26 October: Symposium at Wuhan University, Wuhan

Friday 28 October: Symposium at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai

Presentations will be delivered by the following international speakers:

Prof. Kelly Velonia – University of Crete, Greece

Prof. Raffaele Mezzenga – ETH, Switzerland

Prof. Steve Howdle – Nottingham University, UK

Prof. Tom Davis – University of New South Wales, Australia

The symposium will appeal to academic and industrial scientists with an interest in functional materials science. Student participation is also strongly encouraged and each symposium will offer students the opportunity to present their work during a poster session.

Poster abstract submission deadline is Friday 14^th October.

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Colourful toxin detection

15 Sep 2011

Scientists in Canada have developed a simple chemical detector that could be used to detect airborne neurotoxic organophosphorus chemical warfare agents.

Exposure to organophosphorus agents blocks the action of cholinesterase enzymes, which causes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to accumulate in the brain. This rapid reaction causes bronchoconstriction (constriction in the airways in the lungs, owing to a tightening of surrounding smooth muscle), seizures, and finally death. Some agents, such as sarin and soman, are odourless and colourless, which makes them difficult to detect. Current detection methods require specialist equipment and trained personnel, so are of limited use in the field.

The photoresponsive dithienylethene changes colour in the presence of an organophosphorus agent

Neil Branda at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, and colleagues, have designed a chemical detector made of a dithienylethene compound that binds with organophosphorus agents in the same way that the agents bind to enzymes in the body. When the detector is bound to an agent, its structure alters, causing it to change from colourless to blue when exposed to UV light. This simple colour change provides a clear signal. Visible light resets the system by triggering the reverse reaction.

Read the full story in Chemistry World and download the ChemComm article to find out more about Branda’s research.

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IUCr 2011 poster prize winner

15 Sep 2011

We are very pleased to announce Dr Kevin Riley, from the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, as the winner of the ChemComm sponsored poster prize from the IUCr2011 satellite meeting on Categorizing Halogen Bonding and Other Noncovalent Interactions Involving Halogen Atoms. His poster was titled “Halogen Bonds in Thyroid Receptor Protein–Ligand Interactions”. Dr Riley will receive one year’s free online subscription to ChemComm.

Dr Riley receives his certificate. From left to right: Pierangelo Metrangolo (program committee chairman), Christer Aakeroy (speaker), Kevin E. Riley, Giuseppe Resnati (program committee chairman).

CrystEngComm also sponsored a poster prize at the meeting which was awarded to Arijit Mukherjee from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Congratulations to both winners!

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Detecting caffeine

06 Sep 2011

A team of researchers from Switzerland have used a commercially available fluorophore for detecting caffeine in water.

Previous methods for caffeine detection have been based on hydrogen-bonding receptors but these suffer from the need to use organic solvents. Whilst water-based detection has been achieved, the sensitivity and selectivity for caffeine was low.

Inspired by the known affinity of caffeine for polyaromatic compounds, Kay Severin and colleagues discovered that HPTS, a polysulfonated pyrene dye, can be used to selectively probe caffeine in liquid and solid samples. The team used the probe to quantify caffeine levels in soft drinks, coffee and painkillers, proving it can be used as a simpler alternative to HPLC.

Download the ChemComm article to find out more.

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Chemical Communications Blog

Author Archive

Ionic Liquids web theme issue – welcoming submissions

Modelling reveals interconnect between SERS enhancement mechanisms

New electrochemiluminescence possibilities

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors

Revolutionising gene studies

Bendy Crystals

2nd Unilever–RSC International Symposium on Functional Materials Science

Colourful toxin detection

IUCr 2011 poster prize winner

Detecting caffeine

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