Late-Stage Functionalization Using a Popular Titrating Agent: Aryl-Chlorides and -Fluorides Activation by the Diphenylacetic Acid Dianion.

Aryl-chlorides and -fluorides are common building blocks, but their use in synthesis is limited by the high stability of their Ar-X bonds. The generation of aryl radicals via activation of strong Ar-X bonds is possible through the irradiation of tailor-made organic anions, which become reductants stronger than lithium metal. We report that the combination of visible light with the cheap diphenylacetic acid dianion is an even better tool, showing excellent activity across a variety of complex substrates and providing opportunities for late-stage drug modification.

Selective Oxidation of Alcohols to Carbonyls Under Decatungstate-Mediated Photoelectrochemical Conditions.

The oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl derivatives has been realized under photoelectrochemical conditions in the presence of tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT) as the homogeneous photocatalyst. The protocol can be applied to both primary and secondary, benzylic and aliphatic alcohols. The desired products are obtained selectively, skipping the need for purposely added chemical oxidants.

Molecularly Imprinted Polypyrrole-Modified Screen-Printed Electrode for Dopamine Determination.

This paper introduces a quantitative method for dopamine determination. The method is based on a molecularly imprinted polypyrrole (e-MIP)-modified screen-printed electrode, with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) as the chosen measurement technique. The dopamine molecules are efficiently entrapped in the polymeric film, creating recognition cavities.

An Optical Device Based on a Chemical Chip and Surface Plasmon Platform for 2-Furaldehyde Detection in Insulating Oil.

2-Furaldehyde (2-FAL) is one of the main by-products of the degradation of hemicellulose, which is the solid material of the oil-paper insulating system of oil-filled transformers. For this reason, it has been suggested as a marker of the degradation of the insulating system; sensing devices for 2-FAL analysis in a wide concentration range are of high interest in these systems. An optical sensor system is proposed; this consists of a chemical chip, able to capture 2-FAL from the insulating oil, coupled with a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) probe, both realized on multimode plastic optical fibers (POFs).

Photodegradation of cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ-THC in cannabis plant material.

Δ-THC, the psychotropic cannabinoid in Cannabis sativa L., for many years has been the focus of all the pharmacological attention as the main promising principle of the plant. Recently, however, cannabidiol (CBD) has brought a sudden change in the scenario, exponentially increasing the interest in pharmacology as the main non-psychotropic cannabinoid with potential therapeutic, cosmetical and clinical applications.