Synthesis and properties of 6-alkynyl-5-aryluracils

• Ruben Manuel Figueira de Abreu,
• Till Brockmann,
• Alexander Villinger,
• Peter Ehlers and
• Peter Langer

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 898–911, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.80

• of different functional groups was tested. The influence of different functional groups on the physical properties was studied by ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) and fluorescence spectroscopy, providing new insights into the potential applications of uracil-based structures. Keywords: catalysis; cross

• coupling constants J. Infrared spectra (IR) were measured as attenuated total reflection (ATR) experiments using a Nicolet 380 FT-IR spectrometer. The signals were characterized by their wavenumbers and corresponding absorption as very strong (vs), strong (s), medium (m), weak (w) or very weak (vw). UV–vis

• spectra were recorded on a Cary 60 UV–vis spectrophotometer and emission spectra were recorded on an Agilent Cary Eclipse fluorescence spectrophotometer. Basic and high-resolution mass spectra (MS/HRMS) were measured on instruments coupled to a preceding gas chromatograph (GC) or liquid chromatograph (LC

Activity assays of NnlA homologs suggest the natural product N-nitroglycine is degraded by diverse bacteria

• Kara A. Strickland,
• Brenda Martinez Rodriguez,
• Ashley A. Holland,
• Shelby Wagner,
• Michelle Luna-Alva,
• David E. Graham and
• Jonathan D. Caranto

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 830–840, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.75

• these homologs exist mostly as dimers in solution. Next, the heme incorporation of the isolated homologs was measured. UV–vis absorption spectra showed that each NnlA homolog exhibited characteristic Soret absorption features consistent with heme binding to the protein (Figure 3). In addition, the A412

• purchased from Fisher Scientific or VWR. Stock dithionite concentrations were determined by UV–vis absorbance at 318 nm (ε318 = 8000 M−1cm−1). Water used for all solutions was of 18.2 MΩ·cm resistivity from a Barnstead Nanopure (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Solvents for LC–MS experiments were of at least HPLC

• buffer is 100 mM tricine 100 mM NaCl buffer at pH 7.5. Dashed grey lines represent elution volumes of molecular mass standards. Theoretical molecular weights are as follows Vs NnlA: 21,869 Da; Mr NnlA: 20638 Da; Pd NnlA: 18,473 Da; Ms NnlA : 18,239 Da; and Ps NnlA: 19,042 Da. UV–vis absorption spectra of

Synthesis and characterization of water-soluble C₆₀–peptide conjugates

• Yue Ma,
• Lorenzo Persi and
• Yoko Yamakoshi

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 777–786, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.71

• , PDI): 5a: 4.8 (0.757), 5b: 3974 (0.906), 5c (crude): 1382 (0.115) in Milli-Q® water and 5b: 11.8 (1.000) in pH 9.0 TRIS buffer. Milli-Q® water was pH 7.0. UV–vis spectra of C60–peptide conjugates 5a and 5b (20 μM in Milli-Q® water for 5a and in pH 9.0 TRIS buffer for 5b). 1H NMR spectrum of C60

Synthesis of new representatives of A₃B-type carboranylporphyrins based on meso-tetra(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin transformations

• Victoria M. Alpatova,
• Evgeny G. Rys,
• Elena G. Kononova and
• Valentina A. Ol'shevskaya

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 767–776, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.70

• carborane A3B-porphyrin were also synthesized based on the amino-substituted A3B-porphyrin. The structures of the prepared carboranylporphyrins were determined by UV–vis, IR, 1H, 19F, 11B NMR spectroscopic data and MALDI mass spectrometry. Keywords: bioconjugation; carboranes; fluorine; porphyrin; SNAr

• easily converted into hydrophilic charged entities by the protonation of the unsubstituted amino functionalities in their structure providing improved bioconjugation. Spectroscopic data All porphyrin conjugates were structurally characterized by IR, UV–vis, NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The IR

• functionality was supported by the design of conjugates containing maleimide and biotin substituents. The structures of prepared carboranylporphyrins were determined by UV–vis, IR, 1H 19F, 11B NMR spectroscopic data and MALDI mass spectrometry. Synthesis of porphyrins 2 and 3. Synthesis of carborane

Enhanced reactivity of Li⁺@C₆₀ toward thermal [2 + 2] cycloaddition by encapsulated Li⁺ Lewis acid

• Hiroshi Ueno,
• Yu Yamazaki,
• Hiroshi Okada,
• Fuminori Misaizu,
• Ken Kokubo and
• Hidehiro Sakurai

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 653–660, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.58

• mode high-resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectra showed the formation of the monoadducts at m/z 875.10431 (5a) and 861.08866 (5b), which were assigned to each molecular ion ([M]+ calcd for C70H12OLi (5a): 875.10427 and C69H10OLi (5b): 861.08862, respectively). The UV–vis

• , external standard), and carbon of the solvent for 13C (53.84 ppm, CD2Cl2). High-resolution matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (HR-MALDI) mass spectra were obtained on a Bruker solariX 12T mass spectrometer with dithranol as a matrix. UV–vis absorption spectra were measured on a JASCO V-670 and a

• values of Li+@C60 are also listed as a reference. Supporting Information Supporting Information File 50: HPLC profiles, NMR, HRMS, UV–vis absorption spectra, and computational details. Acknowledgements We thank to Dr. N. Ikuma for a fruitful discussion. Generous support from the FRIS CoRE, Tohoku

A myo-inositol dehydrogenase involved in aminocyclitol biosynthesis of hygromycin A

• Michael O. Akintubosun and
• Melanie A. Higgins

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 589–596, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.51

• substrate, 10 mM NAD+ cofactor, 1 μM Hyg17 enzyme, 100 mM CAPS, 50 mM NaCl, pH 10.5 buffer. The production of NADH was monitored by measuring the absorbance at 340 nm using the SpectraMax M2 UV–vis spectrophotometer over 20 min at 25 °C. The optimal pH was determined by performing reactions with varying

Switchable molecular tweezers: design and applications

• Pablo Msellem,
• Maksym Dekthiarenko,
• Nihal Hadj Seyd and
• Guillaume Vives

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 504–539, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.45

• arms with planar Pt complexes are parallel and the distance between them allows for the intercalation of another terpy-Pt complex. The guest intercalation coupled with the induction of short-range Pt–Pt interactions was followed by UV–vis absorption and emission spectroscopies with characteristic MMLCT

• terpyridine-bearing platinum–salphen known for their luminescence properties [41]. The closing process of the tweezers 12 was studied by NMR or UV–vis titrations with Zn2+ and other cations such as Pb2+, Fe2+, Cu2+, Eu3+, and Yb3+ indicating in all cases a 1:1 association model. The system can then be

Enhanced host–guest interaction between [10]cycloparaphenylene ([10]CPP) and [5]CPP by cationic charges

• Eiichi Kayahara,
• Yoshiyuki Mizuhata and
• Shigeru Yamago

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 436–444, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.38

• [10]CPP and [5]CPP2+ decreased and increased, respectively, upon complex formation and clearly indicate the partial electron transfer from [10]CPP to [5]CPP2+ in the complex. The involvement of a CT in the complex was further supported by the UV–vis–NIR absorption spectra. The complex showed several

• −/1,2-dichloroethane upon scanning in (a) positive and (b) negative directions. UV–vis–NIR spectra of [10]CPP⊃[5]CPP2+[B(C6F5)4−]2 (black), [10]CPP (blue), and [5]CPP2+[B(C6F5)4−]2 (red) in CH2Cl2. Top and side view of [10]CPP⊃[5]CPP2+ complexes a) 1, b) 2, and c) 3 obtained by DFT calculation at the

Green and sustainable approaches for the Friedel–Crafts reaction between aldehydes and indoles

• Periklis X. Kolagkis,
• Eirini M. Galathri and
• Christoforos G. Kokotos

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 379–426, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.36

Mechanisms for radical reactions initiating from N-hydroxyphthalimide esters

• Carlos R. Azpilcueta-Nicolas and
• Jean-Philip Lumb

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 346–378, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.35

• (B2cat2) [63] (Scheme 15A). UV–vis absorption measurements showed that a mixture of a model NHPI ester with B2cat2 in dimethylacetamide (DMA) formed a new charge-transfer band in the visible region (>390 nm), which was attributed to the formation of EDA complex 74 (Scheme 15B). Under blue light

• decarboxylative transformations of NHPI esters using a phenothiazine-based organophotoredox catalyst PTH1. This type of catalyst is believed to facilitate SET to NHPI esters through the formation of EDA complexes. Interestingly, upon addition of RAE 58 to a solution of PTH1, a noticeable red shift in the UV–vis

Facile approach to N,O,S-heteropentacycles via condensation of sterically crowded 3H-phenoxazin-3-one with ortho-substituted anilines

• Eugeny Ivakhnenko,
• Vasily Malay,
• Pavel Knyazev,
• Nikita Merezhko,
• Nadezhda Makarova,
• Oleg Demidov,
• Gennady Borodkin,
• Andrey Starikov and
• Vladimir Minkin

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 336–345, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.34

• short-term heating of the melted reactants at 220–250 °C is described, and the compounds were characterized by means of single-crystal X-ray crystallography, NMR, UV–vis, and IR spectroscopy, as well as cyclic voltammetry. The reaction with o-amino-, o-hydroxy-, and o-mercapto-substituted arylamines

• 15N NMR spectroscopy (NMR spectra of compounds 4a–h, 5a–c, 6a,b, and 10c are given in Figures S13–S43, Supporting Information File 1), mass spectrometry (Figures S44–S56, Supporting Information File 1), IR and UV–vis spectroscopy, as well as elemental analysis. The NMR spectra were recorded on the

• recorded on a Varian Excalibur 3100 FTIR instrument using the attenuated total internal reflection technique (ZnSe crystal). UV–vis spectra were recorded at c = 2⋅10−5 M in toluene solutions with a Varian Cary 100 spectrophotometer. Photoluminescent spectra were recorded at c = 2⋅10−5 M (compounds 5a–c and

Discovery of unguisin J, a new cyclic peptide from Aspergillus heteromorphus CBS 117.55, and phylogeny-based bioinformatic analysis of UngA NRPS domains

• Sharmila Neupane,
• Marcelo Rodrigues de Amorim and
• Elizabeth Skellam

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 321–330, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.32

• compounds was performed on a Shimadzu LC-20AD liquid chromatography (CBM-20A Communication Bus Module, CTO-20A column oven, DGU-20A Degassing Unit and SIL-20A AutoSampler) coupled to a Shimadzu SPD-20A UV–vis Detector system using a RP-18 column (Shimadzu, Premier 250 × 10 mm i.d., 5 µm, flow rate of 3.0 mL

Synthesis of π-conjugated polycyclic compounds by late-stage extrusion of chalcogen fragments

• Aissam Okba,
• Pablo Simón Marqués,
• Kyohei Matsuo,
• Naoki Aratani,
• Hiroko Yamada,
• Gwénaël Rapenne and
• Claire Kammerer

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 287–305, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.30

• using a high-pressure mercury lamp equipped with a sharp cut filter (λ > 380 nm), which resulted in a smooth conversion into the PBI product 6a within 20 min. Interestingly, the sulfoxide derivative exhibited enhanced kinetics, as confirmed by UV–vis spectroscopy and NMR experiments. The latter was also

• dinaphthooxanorcaradiene bisimide valence isomer obtained upon electron injection and not its neutral form, as shown by UV–vis absorption and DFT studies. The mechanism of the final release of oxygen still remains unclear. This example shows that a careful molecular design allows endowing chalcogen heteropines with

Unveiling the regioselectivity of rhodium(I)-catalyzed [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition reactions for open-cage C₇₀ production

• Cristina Castanyer,
• Anna Pla-Quintana,
• Anna Roglans,
• Albert Artigas and
• Miquel Solà

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 272–279, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.28

• we analyzed by UV–vis spectroscopy. This peak was assigned as a bis(fulleroid) compound by comparing the spectra with the UV–vis absorption pattern exhibited by previously characterized C70 bis(fulleroids) reported by Murata et al. [43][48]. In addition, a minor peak at a retention time of 20 minutes

• was also observed in the HPLC chromatogram, whose UV–vis has a pattern that is similar to a previously reported α-adduct [49]. We reasoned that this minor compound was the cyclohexadiene-fused C70 intermediate, analogous to cyclohexadiene-fused C60 I (see Scheme 1), which had not completely evolved

• run starting with malonate-tethered diyne 1b. In this case, the reaction was finished after 4 hours and bis(fulleroid) 2b was obtained with a 34% yield (Scheme 2). The corresponding compound 2b was analyzed by HPLC, giving only one peak. UV–vis experiments revealed the formation of a bis(fulleroid

Visible-light-induced radical cascade cyclization: a catalyst-free synthetic approach to trifluoromethylated heterocycles

• Chuan Yang,
• Wei Shi,
• Jian Tian,
• Lin Guo,
• Yating Zhao and
• Wujiong Xia

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 118–124, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.12

• EDA charge transfer complex because there was no obvious EDA charge transfer band in the UV–vis spectra (Figure 2). Their indole substrate was more electron-rich in structure. The quantum yield was measured to investigate whether there was a radical chain process or not. The procedure was following a

• derivatives. UV–vis spectra of substrates; [1a] 0.33 M, [2a] 0.11 M. Selected works for the construction of dihydropyrido[1,2-a]indolones and current methodology. Substrate scope of the cascade reaction. Radical trapping experiment. Plausible reaction mechanism. Optimization of reaction conditions.a

Optimizing reaction conditions for the light-driven hydrogen evolution in a loop photoreactor

• Pengcheng Li,
• Daniel Kowalczyk,
• Johannes Liessem,
• Mohamed M. Elnagar,
• Dariusz Mitoraj,
• Radim Beranek and
• Dirk Ziegenbalg

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 74–91, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.9

• substrate and allowed to dry at room temperature. To improve the conductivity and achieve higher resolution SEM imaging, a 20 nm thick layer of Au was sputtered onto the sample surface. For EDS mapping, the samples were not sputtered with Au to avoid interference during the determination of Pt. UV–vis

• reactor system. The cuvette was first put in a self-designed cuvette holder covered with cuvette holder cover (see CAD drawing of 1 cm light path cuvette holder and cuvette holder cover design as an example in Supporting Information File 1, Figures S5 and S6) with collimators (COL-UV/VIS, Avantes). All

Multi-redox indenofluorene chromophores incorporating dithiafulvene donor and ene/enediyne acceptor units

• Christina Schøttler,
• Kasper Lund-Rasmussen,
• Line Broløs,
• Philip Vinterberg,
• Ema Bazikova,
• Viktor B. R. Pedersen and
• Mogens Brøndsted Nielsen

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 59–73, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.8

• expanded by pyrrolo annelation. The optical and redox properties of these compounds, in some cases carbon-rich, were studied by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Synthetically, the work explores IF diones or fluorenone as central building blocks by subjecting the carbonyl groups to a

• could potentially after deprotonation be reacted with electrophiles as previously established [29] for the parent structure [30] without tert-butyl substituents. UV–vis absorption spectroscopy UV–vis absorption spectra of the known compound 4 [14] and new compounds 9–12 and 15 are depicted in Figure 3

• Information File 1). UV–vis absorption spectra of the known compound 30 [20] and new compounds 13, 16, and 17 are shown in Figure 4, and the data are presented in Table 1. Compared to compound 30, the longest-wavelength absorption maximum of compound 16 is slightly blueshifted while the absorption maximum of

Using the phospha-Michael reaction for making phosphonium phenolate zwitterions

• Matthias R. Steiner,
• Max Schmallegger,
• Larissa Donner,
• Johann A. Hlina,
• Christoph Marschner,
• Judith Baumgartner and
• Christian Slugovc

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2024, 20, 41–51, doi:10.3762/bjoc.20.6

• molecules were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The bonding situation in the solid state together with NMR data suggests an important contribution of an ylidic resonance structure in these molecules. The phosphonium phenolates are characterized by UV–vis absorptions peaking around 360 nm

• between P1 and C15 is slightly longer (1.824(2) Å in 2a; 1.828(3) in 2f) when compared to the P–CH2 distance of a tetra-n-butylphosphonium cation [45]. UV–vis spectroscopy All phosphonium phenolate compounds exhibit a bright yellow color in solution (see inset in Figure 3). Investigating the absorption

• study was performed by monitoring the appearance of the zwitterion absorption by means of UV–vis spectroscopy in chloroform or in methanol as the solvent. The concentration of the respective Michael acceptor was varied ([Michael acceptor] = 2.5 mmol/L to 10 mmol/L) and was at least ten-fold higher than

Beyond n-dopants for organic semiconductors: use of bibenzo[d]imidazoles in UV-promoted dehalogenation reactions of organic halides

• Kan Tang,
• Megan R. Brown,
• Chad Risko,
• Melissa K. Gish,
• Garry Rumbles,
• Phuc H. Pham,
• Oana R. Luca,
• Stephen Barlow and
• Seth R. Marder

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1912–1922, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.142

• estimated from the change of substrate concentration over the first 30 min reaction time. Top: UV–vis absorption spectra for the two dimeric reductants in THF emphasizing (a) the different positions of the relatively strong absorption peaks and (b) the presence of a low-energy shoulder in the spectrum of (N

Biphenylene-containing polycyclic conjugated compounds

• Cagatay Dengiz

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1895–1911, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.141

• % yields, respectively. When comparing compounds 25a and 25b, UV–vis and fluorescence studies (λmax = 500 nm, λem = 502 nm, Φem = 0.45 for 25a; λmax = 513 nm, λem = 517 nm, Φem = 0.26 for 25b; λmax = 442 nm, λem = 444 nm, Φem = 0.97 for 9,10-bis((triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl)anthracene – blue-colored) provide

• the failure in the formation of the desired target products. Upon comparing the UV–vis absorbance graphs of compounds 28 and 29, POA 29 (λmax = 500 nm), which was obtained through the aromatization of compound 28, exhibited a significant bathochromic shift. These observations further support the

• ranging between 45% and 60%. The last step of the sequential reactions is the aromatization step and the target POAs 34a–c were obtained in yields between 80–84%. UV–vis investigations conducted on compounds 34a–c revealed absorption bands that align well with acene structures. While 34a and 34b displayed

Aromatic systems with two and three pyridine-2,6-dicarbazolyl-3,5-dicarbonitrile fragments as electron-transporting organic semiconductors exhibiting long-lived emissions

• Karolis Leitonas,
• Brigita Vigante,
• Dmytro Volyniuk,
• Audrius Bucinskas,
• Pavels Dimitrijevs,
• Sindija Lapcinska,
• Pavel Arsenyan and
• Juozas Vidas Grazulevicius

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1867–1880, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.139

• respect to the incident photon energy (hν) and the hν axis. This approach allowed for a precise determination of the IPPE, facilitating a deeper understanding of the electron behavior and electronic properties of the studied materials. UV–vis absorbance, photoluminescence (PL), and phosphorescence

• spectroscopy were used to study the optical properties of the compounds under investigation. For UV–vis absorbance spectra, solutions or films of the compounds were analyzed using an Avantes AvaSpec-2048XL spectrometer, which allowed us to assess the compounds’ absorption characteristics across the ultraviolet

Thienothiophene-based organic light-emitting diode: synthesis, photophysical properties and application

• Recep Isci and
• Turan Ozturk

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1849–1857, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.137

• lithiation of 7 and following reaction with dimesitylboron fluoride in 85% yield (Scheme 1). Photophysical properties The UV–vis absorption and fluorescence spectra of DMB-TT-TPA (8) were recorded in THF (Figure 1 and Table 1) [38]. It showed maximum absorption and emission wavelengths of 411 and 520 nm

• investigate the absorption properties and theoretical band gap (Table 3). The optical band gap value (Eoptic) was calculated to be 2.06 eV, considering the λonset (605 nm) of the UV–vis curve. The calculated absorption maximum was centered at 470 nm (Figure S4 in Supporting Information File 1), which was

• found to be in a good agreement with the experimentally determined UV–vis spectrum. Conclusion A small fluorophore molecule, DMB-TT-TPA (8), containing dimesitylboron as an acceptor and triphenylamine as a donor linked through a thieno[3,2-b]thiophene core having a 4-MeOPh group, was designed as a D–π–A

Substituent-controlled construction of A₄B₂-hexaphyrins and A₃B-porphyrins: a mechanistic evaluation

• Seda Cinar,
• Dilek Isik Tasgin and
• Canan Unaleroglu

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1832–1840, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.135

• ), coupling constant, number of atoms. UV–vis absorption spectra were recorded on a Mapada Instruments UV3100PC spectrophotometer. Mass spectra were recorded on an Agilent 1200/6210 high-resolution mass time-of-flight (TOF) LC–MS spectrometer. Reactions were followed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC

Selectivity control towards CO versus H₂ for photo-driven CO₂ reduction with a novel Co(II) catalyst

• Lisa-Lou Gracia,
• Philip Henkel,
• Olaf Fuhr and
• Claudia Bizzarri

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1766–1775, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.129

• detect, if the two polymorphs show different catalytic activity, as in the following investigations the amorphic powder was used. Spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization The Co(II) complex 1 was characterized by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), as it was the

• UV–vis absorption of a typical photocatalytic solution under irradiation were monitored over a period of four hours (Figure S12 in Supporting Information File 1) and the spectra show the development of a new broad band at 590 nm, reaching its maximum intensity after 2.5 h. This could be due to the

• drawing of crystal polymorph 1a (left) and 1b (right), shown at the 50% probability level. Hydrogen atoms and co-crystallized solvent molecules are omitted for clarity. UV–vis absorbance of complex 1 in DMA. Inset: zoom-in of the 500–800 nm range to visualize the low-intensity bands associated with metal

Effects of the aldehyde-derived ring substituent on the properties of two new bioinspired trimethoxybenzoylhydrazones: methyl vs nitro groups

• Dayanne Martins,
• Roberta Lamosa,
• Talis Uelisson da Silva,
• Carolina B. P. Ligiero,
• Sérgio de Paula Machado,
• Daphne S. Cukierman and
• Nicolás A. Rey

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2023, 19, 1713–1727, doi:10.3762/bjoc.19.125

• stability in aqueous medium. Thus, the electronic absorption spectra of hdz-CH3 and hdz-NO2 were recorded in a 10% DMSO/buffer solution (pH 7.4) immediately after preparation and at regular time intervals. The UV–vis spectrum of hdz-CH3 between 250 and 450 nm (Figure 6A) shows two multicomponent absorptions

• registering the UV–vis spectra of a series of hdz-NO2 10% DMSO/buffer (acetate, phosphate or Tris-HCl) solutions with different pH values, ranging from 3.8 to 8.2 (Figure 7A). By plotting the absorbance at λmax as a function of pH and then fitting the curve with a sigmoidal function (Figure 7A, inset), an