ABSTRACT CO 2 hydrogenation to methanol is a promising way to realize carbon neutrality. As the most widely investigated catalysts, Cu–Zn–Al prepared by coprecipitation method exhibited excellent performance. In this work, a series of Cu–Zn–Al catalysts were prepared by using Na 2 CO 3 , NaOH, and their mixture as precipitants. The effects of precipitants on the physicochemical properties and catalytic performance were systematically investigated. The results show that the catalyst prepared with the mixture of Na 2 CO 3 and NaOH as precipitants yields a moderately‐ordered Cu–Zn–Al layered double‐hydroxide (LDH) precursor with moderate grain size. After calcination and reduction, the catalyst exhibits a “fence‐fixed” structure: Cu‐rich domains spatially interspersed and separated by Zn/Al‐containing oxide regions. This structure constructs abundant heterogeneous interfaces and forms a strong Cu–ZnO electronic interaction, which is favorable for CO 2 and H 2 adsorption but unfavorable for the adsorption of H 2 O in the product. Consequently, the sample exhibited the highest CO 2 conversion and methanol selectivity. The catalytic performance remains stable after testing at relatively high temperature. The above results provide a theoretical basis and practical reference for the development of efficient and stable Cu–Zn–Al catalysts for CO 2 hydrogenation to methanol.
ABSTRACT Light‐controlled therapies provide a powerful strategy to enhance cancer selectivity through on‐demand drug release. This approach frequently relies on organic photoremovable protecting groups (photocages) that combine stability in living systems with controlled uncaging under visible or near‐infrared (NIR) light. Here, we report novel, redshifted o ‐nitrophenethyl ( o ‐NPE) photocages based on an electron‐rich julolidine scaffold that enable the traceless release of amine‐bearing payloads upon visible‐light or two‐photon NIR activation. Electron donor‐enhanced o ‐NPE photoremovable protecting groups with redshifted absorption were conjugated to doxorubicin and a combretastatin A‐4 (CA‐A4) analogue, yielding stable prodrugs under biomimetic dark conditions. Upon UV/visible irradiation or two‐photon NIR excitation, these prodrugs undergo light‐triggered uncaging via an aci ‐nitro/ β ‐elimination pathway. The resulting photoactivated prodrugs exhibit robust light‐dependent cytotoxicity with negligible dark activity, achieving selective activation in cancer cell lines. These findings position redshifted julolidine‐based o ‐NPE cages as versatile platforms for visible/NIR‐addressable amine prodrugs and establish design principles that advance organic photocaging strategies toward in vivo application and clinical translation.
Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are functional anionic clays that belong to the family of two-dimensional (2D) materials. LDHs consist of positively charged brucite host layers separated by guest-exchangeable interlayer anions, which overall offer unique chemistry like flexible metal composition, ion-exchange capability, and structural reconstruction through memory effect property. These features provide exceptional opportunities for modulating the surface chemistry of LDHs through bottom-up synthetic strategies. By controlling chemical environment conditions and employing appropriate modulating agents, it is feasible to engineer morphology, introduce local structural imperfections such as oxygen and metal vacancies (Schottky defects), generate unsaturated coordination sites, and incorporate heteroatoms to enhance functionality. This review aims to examine recent advances in the chemical modulation and morphological control of LDHs. We summarize the principal bottom-up synthetic approaches and discuss how chemical doping, host–guest interactions, and defect engineering can be employed to tailor the structure and properties of LDHs. In particular, we emphasize the relationship between chemical modulation, morphology, and functional performance in environmental and energy-related applications. Specifically, we highlight recent progress in pollutant adsorption, degradation of organic contaminants, and hydrogen production, providing insights into the design of next-generation LDH-based materials for sustainable environmental and energy technologies.
Drug resistance and undruggable targets persist as major therapeutic hurdles. Marine natural products (MNPs), which have evolved under extreme conditions, offer structurally diverse scaffolds that engage targets via unconventional mechanisms. This review systematically groups MNPs by their precise molecular targets and modes of action, moving beyond cytotoxicity tabulation. We cover agents that disrupt gene expression-spliceosome inhibitors (FR901464, thailanstatin A), translation initiation blockers (pateamine A, hippuristanol), and elongation arrest compounds (plitidepsin, psymberin), as well as those inducing genomic damage through topoisomerase poisoning or DNA alkylation. Beyond oncology, we critically assess MNPs modulating proteostasis (marizomib, carmaphycins), targeting undruggable protein–protein interfaces (siladenoserinol A, marinopyrrole A), reshaping epigenetics (largazole, psammaplin A), and triggering non-apoptotic death pathways (ferroptosis, cuproptosis, pyroptosis). We discuss structure–function correlations and translational bottlenecks for representative clinical-stage candidates, and discuss how cryo-EM, AI-driven prediction, and synthetic biology are converting these exotic scaffolds into viable leads. By linking mechanistic depth with translational roadmaps, this review aims to inspire both academic and industrial researchers to harness marine molecular diversity for next-generation precision medicines.
As a photocatalyst, silver phosphate (Ag3PO4) features high quantum yield and strong photocatalytic ability, demonstrating great potential in water splitting and the treatment of water pollutants. However, its own photo-corrosion and low solubility in water limit its application. To address these issues, the combination of Ag3PO4 with other semiconductor materials to form composite photocatalysts can enhance its catalytic activity and structural stability, facilitating the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in wastewater. In this work, Ag3PO4/g-C3N4/C composite photocatalytic materials were successfully prepared using biochar (C), g-C3N4, AgNO3, and Na2HPO4·12H2O as raw materials through a co-precipitation method. The Ag3PO4/g-C3N4/C (mass ratio 4:1:0.1) composite photocatalyst exhibited excellent degradation performance for MB and RhB and maintained good stability. During the degradation of MB and RhB, the main active species were h+ (holes), •O2− and •OH. The MB removal efficiency reached 97% in 40 mL of 10 mg/L MB aqueous solution within 60 min of visible light irradiation, and the removal efficiency of RhB reached 96% in 40 mL of 10 mg/L RhB aqueous solution within 80 min of visible light irradiation. After three cycles of reuse, the removal efficiencies of MB and RhB photocatalyzed by Ag3PO4/g-C3N4/C (4:1:0.1) still reached 79% and 74%, respectively. The Ag3PO4/g-C3N4/C composite photocatalyst can be applied to the degradation of organic pigment in the environment dye wastewater, contributing to environmental remediation and the green development of the ecological environment.
