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  1. Abstract

    Boron trifluoride (BF3) is a highly corrosive gas widely used in industry. Confining BF3in porous materials ensures safe and convenient handling and prevents its degradation. Hence, it is highly desired to develop porous materials with high adsorption capacity, high stability, and resistance to BF3corrosion. Herein, we designed and synthesized a Lewis basic single‐crystalline hydrogen‐bond crosslinked organic framework (HCOF‐50) for BF3storage and its application in catalysis. Specifically, we introduced self‐complementaryortho‐alkoxy‐benzamide hydrogen‐bonding moieties to direct the formation of highly organized hydrogen‐bonded networks, which were subsequently photo‐crosslinked to generate HCOFs. The HCOF‐50 features Lewis basic thioether linkages and electron‐rich pore surfaces for BF3uptake. As a result, HCOF‐50 shows a record‐high 14.2 mmol/g BF3uptake capacity. The BF3uptake in HCOF‐50 is reversible, leading to the slow release of BF3. We leveraged this property to reduce the undesirable chain transfer and termination in the cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers. Polymers with higher molecular weights and lower polydispersity were generated compared to those synthesized using BF3 ⋅ Et2O. The elucidation of the structure–property relationship, as provided by the single‐crystal X‐ray structures, combined with the high BF3uptake capacity and controlled sorption, highlights the molecular understanding of framework‐guest interactions in addressing contemporary challenges.

     
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  2. Abstract

    Boron trifluoride (BF3) is a highly corrosive gas widely used in industry. Confining BF3in porous materials ensures safe and convenient handling and prevents its degradation. Hence, it is highly desired to develop porous materials with high adsorption capacity, high stability, and resistance to BF3corrosion. Herein, we designed and synthesized a Lewis basic single‐crystalline hydrogen‐bond crosslinked organic framework (HCOF‐50) for BF3storage and its application in catalysis. Specifically, we introduced self‐complementaryortho‐alkoxy‐benzamide hydrogen‐bonding moieties to direct the formation of highly organized hydrogen‐bonded networks, which were subsequently photo‐crosslinked to generate HCOFs. The HCOF‐50 features Lewis basic thioether linkages and electron‐rich pore surfaces for BF3uptake. As a result, HCOF‐50 shows a record‐high 14.2 mmol/g BF3uptake capacity. The BF3uptake in HCOF‐50 is reversible, leading to the slow release of BF3. We leveraged this property to reduce the undesirable chain transfer and termination in the cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers. Polymers with higher molecular weights and lower polydispersity were generated compared to those synthesized using BF3 ⋅ Et2O. The elucidation of the structure–property relationship, as provided by the single‐crystal X‐ray structures, combined with the high BF3uptake capacity and controlled sorption, highlights the molecular understanding of framework‐guest interactions in addressing contemporary challenges.

     
    more » « less
  3. Spatially distributed excitation and inhibition collectively shape a visual neuron’s receptive field (RF) properties. In the direction-selective circuit of the mammalian retina, the role of strong null-direction inhibition of On-Off direction-selective ganglion cells (On-Off DSGCs) on their direction selectivity is well-studied. However, how excitatory inputs influence the On-Off DSGC’s visual response is underexplored. Here, we report that On-Off DSGCs have a spatially displaced glutamatergic receptive field along their horizontal preferred-null motion axes. This displaced receptive field contributes to DSGC null-direction spiking during interrupted motion trajectories. Theoretical analyses indicate that population responses during interrupted motion may help populations of On-Off DSGCs signal the spatial location of moving objects in complex, naturalistic visual environments. Our study highlights that the direction-selective circuit exploits separate sets of mechanisms under different stimulus conditions, and these mechanisms may help encode multiple visual features. 
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  4. Abstract

    The development of large pore single‐crystalline covalently linked organic frameworks is critical in revealing the detailed structure‐property relationship with substrates. One emergent approach is to photo‐crosslink hydrogen‐bonded molecular crystals. Introducing complementary hydrogen‐bonded carboxylic acid building blocks is promising to construct large pore networks, but these molecules often form interpenetrated networks or non‐porous solids. Herein, we introduced heteromeric carboxylic acid dimers to construct a non‐interpenetrated molecular crystal. Crosslinking this crystal precursor with dithiols afforded a large pore single‐crystalline hydrogen‐bonded crosslinked organic framework HCOF‐101. X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed HCOF‐101 as an interlayer connected hexagonal network, which possesses flexible linkages and large porous channels to host a hydrazone photoswitch. Multicycle Z/E‐isomerization of the hydrazone took place reversibly within HCOF‐101, showcasing the potential use of HCOF‐101 for optical information storage.

     
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  5. Abstract

    The development of large pore single‐crystalline covalently linked organic frameworks is critical in revealing the detailed structure‐property relationship with substrates. One emergent approach is to photo‐crosslink hydrogen‐bonded molecular crystals. Introducing complementary hydrogen‐bonded carboxylic acid building blocks is promising to construct large pore networks, but these molecules often form interpenetrated networks or non‐porous solids. Herein, we introduced heteromeric carboxylic acid dimers to construct a non‐interpenetrated molecular crystal. Crosslinking this crystal precursor with dithiols afforded a large pore single‐crystalline hydrogen‐bonded crosslinked organic framework HCOF‐101. X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed HCOF‐101 as an interlayer connected hexagonal network, which possesses flexible linkages and large porous channels to host a hydrazone photoswitch. Multicycle Z/E‐isomerization of the hydrazone took place reversibly within HCOF‐101, showcasing the potential use of HCOF‐101 for optical information storage.

     
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  6. Purpose

    The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of in vivo13C‐>1H hyperpolarization transfer, which has significant potential advantages for detecting the distribution and metabolism of hyperpolarized13C probes in a clinical MRI scanner.

    Methods

    A standalone pulsed13C RF transmit channel was developed for operation in conjunction with the standard1H channel of a clinical 3T MRI scanner. Pulse sequences for13C power calibration and polarization transfer were programmed on the external hardware and integrated with a customized water‐suppressed1H MRS acquisition running in parallel on the scanner. The newly developed RF system was tested in both phantom and in vivo polarization transfer experiments in1JCH‐coupled systems: phantom experiments in thermally polarized and hyperpolarized [2‐13C]glycerol, and1H detection of [2‐13C]lactate generated from hyperpolarized [2‐13C]pyruvate in rat liver in vivo.

    Results

    Operation of the custom pulsed13C RF channel resulted in effective13C‐>1H hyperpolarization transfer, as confirmed by the characteristic antiphase appearance of1H‐detected,1JCH‐coupled doublets. In conjunction with a pulse sequence providing 190‐fold water suppression in vivo,1H detection of hyperpolarized [2‐13C]lactate generated in vivo was achieved in a rat liver slice.

    Conclusion

    The results show clear feasibility for effective13C‐>1H hyperpolarization transfer in a clinical MRI scanner with customized heteronuclear RF system.

     
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