Modular Synthetic Approach to Carboranyl‒Biomolecules Conjugates

The development of novel, tumor-selective and boron-rich compounds as potential agents for use in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) represents a very important field in cancer treatment by radiation therapy. Here, we report the design and synthesis of two promising compounds that combine meta-carborane, a water-soluble monosaccharide and a linking unit, namely glycine or ethylenediamine, for facile coupling with various tumor-selective biomolecules bearing a free amino or carboxylic acid group. In this work, coupling experiments with two selected biomolecules, a coumarin derivative and folic acid, were included. The task of every component in this approach was carefully chosen: the carborane moiety supplies ten boron atoms, which is a tenfold increase in boron content compared to the l-boronophenylalanine (l-BPA) presently used in BNCT; the sugar moiety compensates for the hydrophobic character of the carborane; the linking unit, depending on the chosen biomolecule, acts as the connection between the tumor-selective component and the boron-rich moiety; and the respective tumor-selective biomolecule provides the necessary selectivity. This approach makes it possible to develop a modular and feasible strategy for the synthesis of readily obtainable boron-rich agents with optimized properties for potential applications in BNCT.     

Hexagonal boron nitride quantum dots: Properties,preparation and applications

As a new type of quantum dots (QDs), hexagonal boron nitride quantum dots (BNQDs) exhibit promising potential in the applications of disease diagnosis, fluorescence imaging, biosensing, metal ion detection, and so on, because of their remarkable chemical stability, excellent biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, and outstanding photoluminescence properties. However, the large-scale fabrication of homogeneous BNQDs still remains challenging. In this article, the properties and common fabrication methods of BNQDs are summarized based on the recent research progress. Then, the corresponding yields, morphologies, and fabrication mechanisms of these as-obtained BNQDs are discussed in detail. Moreover, the applications of these as-obtained BNQDs in different fields are also discussed. This article is expected to inspire new methods and improvements to achieve large-scale fabrication of homogeneous BNQDs, which will enable their practical applications in future.     

All Non-Carbon B3NO2 Exotic Heterocycles: Synthesis,Dynamics, and Catalysis

The B₃NO₂ six-membered heterocycle (1,3-dioxa-5-aza-2,4,6-triborinane=DATB), comprising three different non-carbon period 2 elements, has been recently demonstrated to be a powerful catalyst for dehydrative condensation of carboxylic acids and amines. The tedious synthesis of DATB, however, has significantly diminished its utility as a catalyst, and thus the inherent chemical properties of the ring system have remained virtually unexplored. Here, a general and facile synthetic strategy that harnesses a pyrimidine-containing scaffold for the reliable installation of boron atoms is disclosed, giving rise to a series of Pym-DATBs from inexpensive materials in a modular fashion. The identification of a soluble Pym-DATB derivative allowed for the investigation of the dynamic nature of the B₃NO₂ ring system, revealing differential ring-closing and -opening behaviors depending on the medium. Readily accessible Pym-DATBs proved their utility as efficient catalysts for dehydrative amidation with broad substrate scope and functional-group tolerance, offering a general and practical catalytic alternative to reagent-driven amidation.     

Effect of borohydride as reducing agent on the structures and electrochemical properties of Pt/C catalyst

In this paper, we found that boron deposited on the surface of support when sodium borohydride used as reducing agent during the preparation of Pt/C catalyst. The deposition of boron markedly reduces particle size of Pt, raises electrochemical active surface (EAS) area of catalyst and electrochemical activity for hydrogen evolution or oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) compared with which prepared using other reducing agents (hydrogen and formaldehyde).     

电子辐照诱发固态相变导致的氮化硼纳米结构生长

报道了N+离子轰击产生的氮化硼(BN)纳米结构,及在电子辐照时结构演化的高分辨透射电子显微镜的原位测定结果.应当强调的是,这种类富勒烯和发夹结构的演化,实际上是电子辐照诱发固态相变的发展,观察中发现的一些BN颗粒、卷曲物,可以被认为是类富勒烯等纳米结构形成的前体或早期阶段.提出了一种类富勒烯等结构的电子辐照动力学模型,并进行了讨论. 关键词： 氮化硼 电子辐照 透射电子显微镜 氮化硼纳米形成物     

Synthesis and Structure of Novel Organocycloborates

A series of α,ω‐boryl(bromo)alkanes of the general formula R₂B? (CH₂)_n? Br (n=3, 4, 5, 6) was obtained in high yield following a standard hydroboration protocol. Upon treatment with Mg turnings and formation of the respective Grignard species, all alkanes with n=4 to 6 underwent an unprecedented boron‐centered cyclisation reaction with formation of boratacyclopentanes, ‐hexanes, and ‐heptanes, respectively. All new compounds were isolated in high yields as colourless, crystalline materials and characterised in solution by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. Four representative examples were chosen for X‐ray diffraction studies, thus providing the first structurally characterised ring systems of that size at a tetraalkyl borate centre.     

Isosteres of peptides: boron analogs as dipolar forms of α‐amino acids – a theoretical study

Modification of peptides to produce peptidomimetics is of great interest, with the aim of designing potent, selective, and metabolically stable analogs having certain conformational properties. Organoboranes have been reported in the literature with a wide range of therapeutic applications. One of the therapeutically important class of molecules is amine‐carboxyboranes derived from amino acids by replacement of the Cα atom of an amino acid/peptide by boron. The conformational preferences of these peptides, with respect to backbone ω, ?, and ψ torsion angles, have been investigated by theoretical calculations. The amide bond in these molecules has the same geometry in the ground and transition states as the natural peptides. However, the boron isosteres of glycine and alanine peptides are less structured than their natural derivatives, but are distinguished by structures with a positive value for the ? angle, which is normally disfavored for natural peptides. This property could be used to build peptides with a geometry not usually seen in natural peptides. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

石墨-六角氮化硼微晶混合物与水高压反应产物分析

 利用球磨法制备石墨-六角氮化硼微晶混合物，并在6.1 GPa、800~1 500 ℃条件下与水进行高压反应，以便研究用水作触媒合成B-C-N三元化合物的可能性。通过对反应产物的XRD、XPS谱分析发现：高压下随着温度的升高，反应产物中出现再结晶石墨，其晶化程度逐渐提高；但没有出现再结晶六角氮化硼，也未出现立方氮化硼。在球磨不充分条件下，石墨-六角氮化硼混合物的XRD谱没有完全弥散，它们与水高压反应时，能观察到石墨与立方氮化硼分别结晶的现象，但都没有形成B-C-N晶化结构。     

硼中子俘获治疗的蒙特卡罗方法模拟

用通用蒙特卡罗程序MCNP模拟了粒子在人脑中的输运过程. 吸收剂量率主要来自以下四个反应:¹⁰B(n,α)⁷Li,¹⁴N(n,p)¹⁴C,¹H(n,γ)²D,快中子弹性散射反应.对肿瘤区的贡献主要来自硼中子吸收反应.结果表明,超热中子比热中子适合于深肿瘤的治疗,而热中子对浅肿瘤的治疗有优越性,比如皮肤癌.同确定论方法的结果相比,蒙特卡罗方法不失为一种模拟中子俘获治疗的好工具.