Fabrication of bulk superhydrophobic wood by grafting porous poly(divinylbenzene) to wood structure using isocyanatoethyl methacrylate.

Superhydrophobic treatment of wood can effectively reduce the interaction between wood and moisture, avoiding deformation, cracking, mould, and other defects caused by water absorption, which can extend the service life of wood and broaden the application field. Currently, the poor abrasion resistance of superhydrophobic wood is a crucial problem limiting its widespread application, and the preparation of superhydrophobic wood with robustness, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance remains a huge challenge. In this work, robust bulk superhydrophobic wood with excellent abrasion resistance and chemical durability was fabricated by synthesizing porous poly(divinylbenzene) in wood cell cavities using graft copolymerization and solvothermal methods.

Semipinacol Rearrangement of Iododifluorohomoallyl Alcohols and Its Application in the Allylic C-H Esterification Reactions.

We herein present a study on the Ag(I)-mediated semipinacol rearrangement of iododifluorohomoallyl alcohols, the resulting allylic difluoromethyl ketones underwent oxidative allylic C-H esterification under palladium catalysis in the absence of external ligand. This process yielded a range of difluoromethyl ketones derived from allyl esters in a single operation. The reaction features broad scope of -nitrobenzoic acids and homoallylic iododifluoroalcohols affording the targeted molecules in synthetically useful yields.

Visible-Light-Induced Copper-Catalyzed Intermolecular Three-Component Difluoroalkyl Thiocyanidation of Alkenes.

In this report, we develop a new strategy for visible-light-induced, copper-catalyzed three-component difluoroalkyl thiocyanidation of alkenes to construct a series of important difluorothiocyanate compounds. The new approach can also be applied to perfluorothiocyanate compounds, even target molecules containing drug/natural product skeletons. Mechanistic studies provide that the copper complex plays a dual role, as both the photoredox catalyst for electron transfer and the cross-coupling catalyst for C-SCN bond formation.

Biocatalytic asymmetric reduction of fluoroalkyl ketones to access enantiopure fluoroalkyl secondary alcohols.

An efficient biocatalytic reduction of difluoroalkyl ketones for accessing chiral fluoroalkyl secondary alcohols is reported using commercial NADPH-dependent ketoreductase K234 with 2-propanol as a co-substrate for NADPH regeneration. This bioreduction reaction could be applied to a broad range of prochiral fluoroketones including aryl difluoroketones, aliphatic difluoroketones, and trifluoroacetophenones with excellent conversion and favorable enantioselectivity at high substrate concentrations (100 g L). These results indicate the potential of K234 for the industrial production of valuable chiral fluorohydrins.

Combining quantitative trait locus mapping with multiomics profiling reveals genetic control of corn leaf aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis) resistance in maize.

The corn leaf aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis) is a major maize pest that frequently causes substantial yield losses. Exploring the genetic basis of resistance to aphids is important for improving maize yield and quality. Here, we used a maize recombinant inbred line population derived from two parents with different susceptibility to aphids, B73 (susceptible) and Abe2 (resistant), and performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping using aphid resistance scores as an indicator.

Linkage mapping combined with GWAS revealed the genetic structural relationship and candidate genes of maize flowering time-related traits.

Background: Flowering time is an important agronomic trait of crops and significantly affects plant adaptation and seed production. Flowering time varies greatly among maize (Zea mays) inbred lines, but the genetic basis of this variation is not well understood. Here, we report the comprehensive genetic architecture of six flowering time-related traits using a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population obtained from a cross between two maize genotypes, B73 and Abe2, and combined with genome-wide association studies to identify candidate genes that affect flowering time.

Insulin quantification towards early diagnosis of prediabetes/diabetes.

Insulin is an essential and versatile hormone taking part in the control of blood glucose levels and protein anabolism. Abnormal levels of circulating insulin in the body can be problematic. Insulin resistance means the body fails to react with high or normal level insulin, causing our body to produce more insulin through feedback, and is the main cause of many chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.