作者:David B. Robinson、Judith L. Rognlien、Christina A. Bauer、Blake A. Simmons
DOI:10.1039/b700514h
日期:——
Diatoms are known to grow elaborate nano- and microstructured silica shells by depositing material from precursor-containing vesicles at mild temperature and pH. Oligo(1-methylazetane) and related moieties, in some cases attached to proteins, are believed to facilitate this process. To complement prior studies of more complex amines, we aim to understand why such a unique structure has evolved through a systematic study of a set of simple model compounds. The degree to which a series of diamines in solution enhances condensation of phosphate-buffered silicic acid at neutral pH increases with increasing alkylation, a factor more important than amine pKa. This suggests why diatoms often use methylated oligomers. Bis(quaternary ammonium) salts result in even greater reactivity enhancement, constituting a new class of compounds that promote condensation under mild conditions. Methods are presented for incorporation of these new moieties into artificial peptides or other template-forming molecules, which should allow for more effective production of tailored silica nanostructures.
硅藻被认为能够通过在温和的温度和pH条件下,从含前体的囊泡中沉积物质,生长出复杂的纳米和微结构硅壳。在某些情况下,连接到蛋白质上的寡(1-甲基啡啶)及相关部分被认为有助于这一过程。为了补充对更复杂的胺的先前研究,我们旨在通过系统地研究一组简单的模型化合物,理解为什么会进化出这样独特的结构。一系列二胺在溶液中对磷酸盐缓冲硅酸的缩合增强程度,随着烷基化的增加而增加,这一因素比胺的pKa更为重要。这表明为什么硅藻通常使用甲基化的寡聚物。双(季铵)盐更能显著增强反应性,构成了一类新的化合物,能够在温和条件下促进缩合。本文呈现了将这些新部分纳入人工肽或其他模板形成分子的办法,这应能更有效地生产定制的硅纳米结构。