The conjugated molecules based on pyrene and dithienopyrrole derivatives including 4-(2-ethylhexyl)-2-(pyren-1-yl)-4H-dithieno[3,2-b:2’,3’-d]pyrrole (EP4HP) and 4-(2-ethylhexyl)-2,6-di(pyren-1-yl)-4H-dithieno[3,2-b:2’,3’-d]pyrrole (EDP4HP) have been successfully synthesized via C-H direct arylation reaction. The structures of these conjugated molecules were determined via nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The optical properties of conjugated molecules were evaluated via ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) and fluorescence spectroscopies. The conjugated molecules exhibited the efficient fluorescence quenching toward herbicide mesotrione as nitroaromatic pesticides that could be promising candidates as the chemosensor for tracing of nitroaromatic pesticides.

Abstract Pitaya peel is a by-product of the fruit processing, rich in phytochemicals and has great potential for application in food industry. In this study, blanching was applied to the pitaya peel treatment for inactivation of the polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) which caused the antioxidant loss in the material during the processing and preservation. The effects of blanching temperature and time on the PPO and POD activities as well as the stability of betacyanins and phenolics of pitaya peel were investigated. At the blanching temperature of 98 ± 2 oC, the inactivation rate constants and half-life values of PPO and POD were 6.6 × 10-3.s-1 and 105 s and 16.6 × 10-3.s-1 and 42 s, respectively. During the blanching, betacyanins and phenolics were partially destroyed, their degradation rate constants and half-life values were 9.3 × 10-4.s-1 and 744 s and 3 × 10-4.s-1 and 2310 s, respectively. During the storage of dried pitaya peel powder (PPP), the degradation rate constants of betacyanins and phenolics of the blanched PPP were 1.4 and 1.8 times, respectively lower than those of the unblanched PPP. In addition, reduction in DPPH radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power of the blanched PPP was significantly lower than that of the unblanched PPP.

Abstract The synthesis of poly(L-glutamic acid) (PG) was investigated. Reduction of poly(benzyl-L-glutamate) by the palladium/charcoal catalyst proved to be an effective method for obtaining polyglutamic acid pure and particularly exhibiting in the α-helix secondary structure. The structure of this synthetic polypeptide was assessed by infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry and wide-angle powder X-ray diffraction methods. The α-helical PG was, for the first time, combined with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The obtained PG was demonstrated to be a promising matrix to disperse MWCNTs, forming MWCNT/PG biocomposites.

Abstract The UV light-mediated metal-free polymerizations of 4-vinylpyridine (4VP) have been successfully performed by using 10-(pyren-1-yl)-10H-phenothiazine (PPTh) and pyrene as photocatalysts. The preparation of narrow polydispersity poly (4-vinyl pyridine) (P4VP) with high conversions was enabled in both protic as well as unprotic reaction media at ambient temperature. Additionally, copolymerizations of 4VP with acrylate and methacrylate monomers were also demonstrated, affording metal-free copolymer products.