A theoretical overview of the core-to-core (3d-4f) resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra of actinide dioxides AnO2 (An = Th, U, Np, Pu, Am, Cu, Bk, Cf) is provided. The 3d-4f RIXS maps were calculated using crystal-field multiplet theory and turned out to be significantly different at the An M5 vs M4 edges, because of selection rules and final state effects. The results of the calculations allowed for a general analysis of so-called high-energy-resolution fluorescence-detected X-ray absorption (HERFD-XAS) spectra. The cuts of the calculated RIXS maps along the incident energy axis at the constant emitted energy, corresponding to the maximum of the RIXS intensity, represented the HERFD spectra and provided their comparison with calculated conventional X-ray absorption (XAS) spectra with a reduced core-hole lifetime broadening at the An M5 and M4 edges. Although the An M5 HERFD profiles were found to depart from the X-ray absorption cross-section, in terms of appearing additional transitions, the results of calculations for the An M4 edges demonstrate overall better agreement between the HERFD and XAS spectra for most dioxides, keeping in mind a restricted HERFD resolution, because of the core-hole lifetime broadening in the final state. The results confirm the utility of HERFD for the An chemical state determination and indicate the importance of calculating the entire RIXS process in order to interpret the HERFD data correctly.Assigning disulfide linkage is a crucial task for protein identification. The current bottom-up proteomics workflow has limitations in characterizing peptide digests containing multiple disulfide bonds due to the difficulty of controlling partial reduction via conventional chemical reduction methods. Previously, our lab reported the development of an acetone/2-propanol (IPA) photoinitiating system for rapid (on second time scale) and tunable disulfide bond reduction. Herein, we incorporated this reaction system onto a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system for bottom-up protein analysis applications. The photochemical reduction reaction was implemented in a flow microreactor which allowed for up to 15 s 254 nm UV irradiation. The microreactor was installed post LC separation and right before electrospray ionization, while a T-junction was used to introduce the photoinitiating solution to the LC eluent before entering the microreactor. The degree of disulfide reduction was tunable from partial reduction to complete reduction for peptides containing one or multiple disulfide bonds. Significantly improved sequence coverage was obtained from complete disulfide reduction, while assignment of the disulfide connectivity was facilitated from partial disulfide reduction when coupled with tandem mass spectrometry via collision-induced dissociation. As a proof-of-concept test, trypsin digests of lysozyme (four disulfide bonds) and bovine serum albumin (BSA, 17 disulfide bonds) were analyzed by the LC-MS system coupled with online reduction. Sequence coverage was improved from 35% to 100% and 13% to 87% for lysozyme and BSA, respectively. All four disulfide bonds of lysozyme were determined. For BSA, nine disulfide bonds were characterized and eight adjacent disulfide bonds were narrowed down.The iron-catalyzed hydrogen transfer strategy has been applied to the redox condensation of o-hydroxynitrobenzene with alcohol, leading to the formation of benzoxazole derivatives. A wide range of 2-substituted benzoxazoles were synthesized in good to excellent yields without the addition of an external redox agent. A series of control experiments provided a plausible mechanism. Furthermore, the reaction system was successfully extended to the synthesis of benzothiazoles and benzimidazoles.Self-assembly of poly(styrene)-block-poly(isoprene)-block-poly(lactide)-block-poly(styrene) (PS-PI-PLA-PS’ or SILS’) tetrablock terpolymers, where the volume fractions of the first three blocks are nearly equivalent, was studied both experimentally and using the self-consistent field theory (SCFT). SCFT indicates that addition of the terminal PS’ chain to a low-molecular-mass, hexagonally packed cylinders forming, SIL precursor can produce a disordered state due to preferential mixing of the polystyrene end-blocks with the PI and PLA midblocks in the SILS’ tetrablock, alleviating the unfavorable contact between the highly incompatible PI and PLA segments. In contrast, SCFT predicts that higher-molar-mass triblock precursors will maintain an ordered morphology upon addition of the terminal PS’ block due to stronger overall segregation strengths. These predictions were tested using three sets of SILS’ polymers that were synthesized based on three precursor SIL triblock polymers differing in total molar mass (14, 30, and 47 kg mol-1) and varying the length of the terminal PS’ chain. In the lowest-molar-mass set of tetrablock polymers, the shift from order to disorder was observed in the materials at ambient temperature as the molar mass of the terminal PS’ block was increased, consistent with SCFT calculations. Disorder with longer S’ chain lengths was not found in the two higher-molar-mass polymer sets; the medium-molar-mass set showed both microphase separation and long-range order based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), while the largest of these block polymers microphase separated but showed limited long-range order. The combination of the experimental and theoretical results presented in this work provides insights into the self-assembly of ABCA’-type polymers and highlights potential complications that arise from frustration in accessing well-ordered materials.A metal-free and base-free procedure for the phosphorylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with phosphine oxides under the irradiation of visible light at room temperature in green solvent was reported, featuring mild and sustainable conditions, convenient operation, as well as good functional group compatibility.Dimerization of 3-substituted 2-oxindoles has been developed under a mild electrochemical condition, avoiding toxic chemical oxidants and metal by-products. This methodology forms a C(sp3)-C(sp3) bond at the pseudobenzylic position of two partners of 2-oxindoles with a broad substrate scope. 6-OHDA manufacturer These dimeric structural motifs are important building blocks for the total synthesis of pyrroloindoline alkaloids. Furthermore, this work demonstrates in-depth mechanistic insights employing electrochemistry, which suggests a stepwise one proton transfer (PT) and two electron transfer (ET) processes. Most significantly, reaction rate acceleration has been demonstrated by exploiting the base-assisted proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) pathway. Hence, this work brings a new dimension in the field of electro-organic synthesis with the help of nature’s favorite kinetic route, i.e., PCET, to lower the kinetic barrier.