Liquid crystalline gels offer promising means in generating smart materials due to programmable mechanics and reversible shape changes in response to external stimuli. We demonstrate a simple and convenient method of constructing catalyst-embedded lyotropic liquid crystalline (LLC) gels and achieve chemomechanical oscillator by converting chemical waves in Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction. We observe the directed chemical oscillations on LLC sticks accompanied by small-scale oscillatory swellings-shrinkages that are synchronized with the chemical waves of an LLC stick. To amplify the mechanical oscillations, we further fabricate small LLC fibers and achieve macroscopically oscillatory bending-unbending transition of the LLC fiber driven by a BZ reaction.As a moderately toxic organophosphorus pesticide, profenofos (PFF) is widely used in agricultural practice, resulting in the accumulation of a high amount of PFF in agricultural products and the environment. This will inevitably damage our health. Therefore, it is important to establish a convenient and sensitive method for the detection of PFF. This paper reports a photoresponsive surface-imprinted polymer based on poly(styrene-co-methyl acrylic acid) (PS-co-PMAA@PSMIPs) for the detection of PFF by using carboxyl-capped polystyrene microspheres (PS-co-PMAA), PFF, 4-((4-(methacryloyloxy)phenyl)diazenyl) benzoic acid, and triethanolamine trimethacrylate as the substrate, template, functional monomer, and cross-linker, respectively. PS-co-PMAA@PSMIP shows good photoresponsive properties in DMSO/H2O (31, v/v). Its photoisomerization rate constant exhibits a good linear relationship with PFF concentration in the range of 0~15 μmol/L. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/odq.html PS-co-PMAA@PSMIP was applied for the determination of PFF in spiked tomato and mangosteen with good recoveries ranging in 94.4-102.4%.pH-dependent host-guest complexation of a monoamine neurotransmitter, Serotonin, with cucurbit[7]uril has been thoroughly investigated. The binding phenomena were explored using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy at different pH values. At lower pH, i.e., protonated Serotonin, the binding affinity with cucurbit[7]uril was significantly higher compared to higher pH. Furthermore, detailed NMR titration experiments depicted the solution structure of the host-guest complex through the complexation induced chemical shift values. A competitive binding assay with cesium ions at pD 2.8 was subsequently performed for the further manifestation of the binding. Finally, the molecular docking studies provided well-documented proof of the 11 inclusion complex and the geometry of the complex. We believe that understanding from such studies can be important for pH-controlled delivery of serotonin for biological applications.CO2 reforming of methane (CRM) can effectively convert two greenhouse gases (CO2 and CH4) into syngas (CO + H2). This process can achieve the efficient resource utilization of CO2 and CH4 and reduce greenhouse gases. Therefore, CRM has been considered as a significantly promising route to solve environmental problems caused by greenhouse effect. Ni-based catalysts have been widely investigated in CRM reactions due to their various advantages, such as high catalytic activity, low price, and abundant reserves. However, Ni-based catalysts usually suffer from rapid deactivation because of thermal sintering of metallic Ni active sites and surface coke deposition, which restricted the industrialization of Ni-based catalysts toward the CRM process. In order to address these challenges, scientists all around the world have devoted great efforts to investigating various influencing factors, such as the option of appropriate supports and promoters and the construction of strong metal-support interaction. Therefore, we carefully summarized recent development in the design and preparation of Ni-based catalysts with advanced catalytic activity and enhanced anti-coke performance toward CRM reactions in this review. Specifically, recent progresses of Ni-based catalysts with different supports, additives, preparation methods, and so on, have been summarized in detail. Furthermore, recent development of reaction mechanism studies over Ni-based catalysts was also covered by this review. Finally, it is prospected that the Ni-based catalyst supported by an ordered mesoporous framework and the combined reforming of methane will become the future development trend.Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) is a powerful investigative tool to analyze the reactions of metallodrugs with proteins and peptides and characterize the resulting adducts. Here, we have applied this type of approach to four experimental anticancer gold(III) compounds for which extensive biological and mechanistic data had previously been gathered, namely, Auoxo6, Au2phen, AuL12, and Aubipyc. These gold(III) compounds were reacted with two representative proteins, i.e., human serum albumin (HSA) and human carbonic anhydrase I (hCA I), and with the C-terminal dodecapeptide of thioredoxin reductase. ESI MS analysis allowed us to elucidate the nature of the resulting metal-protein adducts from which the main features of the occurring metallodrug-protein reactions can be inferred. In selected cases, MS data were integrated and supported by independent 1HNMR and UV-Vis absorption measurements to gain an overall description of the occurring processes. From data analysis, it emerges that most of t the nature of the resulting protein adducts. The mechanistic implications of these findings are analyzed and thoroughly discussed. Overall, the present results set the stage to better understand the real target biomolecules of these gold compounds and elucidate at the atomic level their interaction modes with proteins and peptides.Polycyclic scaffolds are omnipresent in natural products and drugs, and the synthetic strategies and methods toward construction of these scaffolds are of particular importance. Compared to simple cyclic ring systems, polycyclic scaffolds have higher structure complexity and diversity, making them suitable for charting broader chemical space, yet bringing challenges for the syntheses. In this review, we surveyed progress in the past decade on synthetic methods for polycyclic natural product scaffolds, in which the key steps are one-pot reactions involving intermolecular or intramolecular alkyne annulation. Synthetic strategies of selected polycyclic carbocycles and heterocycles with at least three fused, bridged, or spiro rings are discussed with emphasis on the synthetic efficiency and product diversity. Recent examples containing newly developed synthetic concepts or toolkits such as collective and divergent total synthesis, gold catalysis, C-H functionalization, and dearomative cyclization are highlighted.