Liquid�Cliquid extraction studies with 4,4��-biphenylene-spaced bis-��-diketones

4,4??-biphenylene spaced lipophilic bis-??-diketone ligands of the type 4,4??-bis(RC(O)CH₂C(O))C₁₂H₈ (R = Pr, Ph, hexyl, octyl, nonyl) have been prepared and used for the liquid?Cliquid extraction of d-block metal ions. These ligands are expected to interact with divalent metal ions to form charge-neutral trinuclear metallocycles of type [M₃(L ³ )₃(solvent)] as has been demonstrated with the previously reported derivative of H₂ L ³ (R =  ^t Bu), the X-ray structure of which is reported. Liquid?Cliquid extraction studies were performed in a two-phase water/chloroform system employing a radiotracer technique for cobalt(II) and zinc(II). These experiments involved the systematic variation of ligand, metal and 4-ethylpyridine concentrations to probe the stoichiometries of the species extracted. Synergistic extraction was observed when 4-ethylpyridine was present with the ligand in the organic phase. Competitive extraction studies demonstrated the ligands are highly selective for copper(II) over cobalt(II), nickel(II), zinc(II) and cadmium(II).     

Colorimetric ��naked-eye�� sensor for anions based on conformational flexible tripodal receptor

A new tripodal receptor for anion sensing based on amide-pyridinium as recognition site and nitro-benzene as signaling unit was designed and successfully synthesized. This receptor showed high selectivity and strong binding affinity toward AcO^? over the investigated anions, especially over H₂PO₄ ^?. Addition of AcO^? induced clear color change of solution from colorless to yellow, realizing the ??naked-eye?? detection. UV?CVis and ¹H NMR experiments indicated the selectivity might origin from the synergistic effects arising from hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions and conformational change.     

A density functional theory study of the ��mythic�� Lindlar hydrogenation catalyst

A Lindlar catalyst is a popular heterogeneous catalyst that consists of 5?wt.% palladium supported on porous calcium carbonate and treated with various forms of lead and quinoline. The additives strategically deactivate palladium sites. The catalyst is widely used for the partial hydrogenation of acetylenic compounds in organic syntheses. Alkyne reduction is stereoselective, occurring via syn addition to give the cis-alkene. Even if it has been employed for about 60?years, there is a lack of molecular level understanding of the Lindlar catalyst. We have applied density functional theory simulations to understand the structure and the nature of the interplay between the multiple chemical modifiers in the Lindlar catalyst. Indeed, the poisons influence different parameters controlling selectivity to the alkene: Pb modifies the thermodynamic factor and hinders the formation of hydrides, while quinoline isolates Pd sites thus minimizing oligomerization.     

Purity assessment for 17��-estradiol

Purity assessment for high-purity organic substances is regarded as one of the core competences of national metrology institutes. For this reason, Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance??Metrology in Chemistry (CCQM) regularly organized intercomparison studies to compare and demonstrate the degree of equivalence of national measurement capabilities for purity determination. This paper reports the method development work for the participation in a recent CCQM key comparison on purity assessment for estradiol. An indirect consecutive estimation approach was adopted to determine the purity of the estradiol sample, i.e., through the identification and quantification of all possible impurities present in the sample. In the course of assessment, a variety of analytical techniques were applied. The most challenging part was to identify and estimate the amount of unknown organic-related substance present in the testing material. For the moisture determination, a gas chromatography with thermal conductivity detection (GC?CTCD) method was employed to supplement the results obtained using coulometric Karl Fischer titration technique. Inorganic impurities and volatile organic compounds residual were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP?CMS) and gas chromatography?Cmass spectrometry (GC?CMS) techniques, respectively, and their contributions were found to be comparatively insignificant.     

Preparation and characterization of the inclusion complex of Ofloxacin with ��-CD and HP-��-CD

The formation of the inclusion complexes of Ofloxacin with cyclodextrins (CDs) including ??-cyclodextrin (??-CD), and hydroxypropyl-??-cyclodextrin (HP-??-CD) were studied by Fluorescence, UV?CVis absorption spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) in solution. Experimental conditions including the concentration of various CDs and media acidity were investigated in detail at room temperature. The results suggested that in different pH solutions, CDs have different inclusive capacity to different forms Ofloxacin. ??-CD was most suitable for inclusion of neutral form and HP-??-CD was suitable for acidic form. The binding constant (K) of the inclusion complex was determined by fluorescence measurement, and the complexation ratio was determined as 1:1 in the concentration range used in this study. A mechanism was proposed to explain the inclusion process based on the experimental NMR data.     

Comparison between 2-hydroxypropyl-��-cyclodextrin and 2-hydroxypropyl-��-cyclodextrin for inclusion complex formation with danazol

Complexation in solution between danazol and two different cyclodextrins [2-hydroxypropyl-??-cyclodextrin (HP-??-CD) and 2-hydroxypropyl-??-cyclodextrin (HP-??-CD)] was studied using phase solubility analysis, and one- and two-dimensional ¹H-NMR. The increase of danazol solubility in the aqueous cyclodextrin solutions showed a linear relationship (A_L profile). The apparent stability constant, K _1:1, of each complex was calculated and found to be 51.7 × 10³ and 7.3 × 10³ M^?1 for danazol?CHP-??-CD and danazol?CHP-??-CD, respectively. ¹H-NMR spectroscopic analysis of varying ratios of danazol and the different cyclodextrins in a mixture of EtOD?CD₂O confirmed the 1:1 stoichiometry. Cross-peaks, from 2D ROESY ¹H-NMR spectra, between protons of danazol and H3?? and H5??of cyclodextrins, which stay inside the cyclodextrin cavity, proved the formation of an inclusion complex between danazol and the cyclodextrins. For HP-??-CD, the inclusion complex is formed by entrance of the isooxazole and the A rings of danazol in the cyclodextrin cavity. For HP-??-CD, two different inclusion structures may exist simultaneously in solution: one with the isooxazole and A ring in the cavity and the other with the C and D ring inside the cavity. DLS showed that self-aggregation of the CD??s was absent in the danazol HP-??-CD system up to a CD concentration of 10% and in the danazol HP-??-CD system up to a CD concentration of 5%.     

��Jumping�� crystals: structures and properties of CuII complexes with N-methylimidazolyl- and N-methyltriazolyl-substituted nitronyl nitroxides

To find the factors favorable for the appearance of chemomechanical activity of heterospin crystals, a series of new heterospin complexes were synthesized and characterized. It includes [Cu(tfac)₂L^Im ₂]·2CH₂Cl₂, [Cu(tfac)₂L^Im ₂]·2EtOH, [[Cu(pfu)₂]₂L^Im ₃]·1/2CH₂Cl₂, [Cu(pfh)₂L^Im ₂]·1/2CH₂Cl₂, [Cu(piv)₂L^Im ₂]·2MeOH, [Co(piv)₂L^Im ₂], [ $ Cu(hfac)_2 L^{CD_3 } _2 $ ], [Cu(hfac)₂L^Tr]₂·CH₂Cl₂, and [Cu(hfac)₂L^Tr ₂] (L^Im, $ L^{CD_3 } $ , and L^Tr are N-methylimidazolyl-, N-trideuteriomethylimidazolyl-, and N-methyltriazolyl-substituted nitronyl nitroxides, respectively; tfac, hfac, pfu, pfh, and piv are the charged coordinated diamagnetic ligands 1,1,5,5-tetrafluoropentane-2,4-dionate, 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoropentane-2,4-dionate, 1,1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,11-octadecafluoroundecane-5,7-dionate, 1,1,1,5,5,6,6,6-octafluorohexane-2,4-dionate, and 2,2-dimethylpropionate, respectively). The crystal and molecular structures of all compounds were determined. The results of the X-ray diffraction study of the complex [Ni(hfac)₂L^Im ₂] synthesized earlier are reported. In the solid state of the complexes [Cu(pfh)₂L^Im ₂] and [Co(piv)₂L^Im ₂], the paramagnetic ligands are cis-coordinated to the central atom in a monodentate fashion via the donor N atom of the imidazole ring. In the dinuclear complexes [[Cu(pfu)₂]₂L^Im ₃] and [Cu(hfac)₂L^Tr]₂, the paramagnetic ligands are also in cis positions but act as bridges through coordination of the donor N atoms of the azole ring and the O atom of the nitronyl nitroxide moiety to different Cu²⁺ ions. In the solid complexes $ Cu(hfac)_2 L^{CD_3 } _2 $ , [Cu(hfac)₂L^Tr ₂], [Cu(tfac)₂L^Im ₂]·2CH₂Cl₂, [Cu(tfac)₂L^Im ₂]·2EtOH, and [Cu(piv)₂L^Im ₂]·2MeOH, the nitronyl nitroxide radicals in the mononuclear heterospin molecules are in trans positions. The packing motif in the crystal structures of the complexes $ Cu(hfac)_2 L^{CD_3 } _2 $ , [Cu(tfac)₂L^Im ₂]·2CH₂Cl₂, and [Cu(tfac)₂L^Im ₂]·2EtOH is the same as that in the previously studied complexes [M(hfac)₂L^Im ₂] exhibiting chemomechanical activity. Among the complexes under consideration, only crystals of $ Cu(hfac)_2 L^{CD_3 } _2 $ can exhibit chemomechanical activity, that is to make jumps upon heating or irradiation. The results of the present study suggest that the packing of the solid-state structure plays a key role in the generation of mechanical activity of the crystals.     

pH buffer assessment and Pitzer��s equations

Traceable measurement of the quantity pH in media outside the limits of the recent IUPAC recommendation requires an alternative to the Bates?CGuggenheim convention. The Pitzer??s approach to ion interactions is widely appraised and offers a suitable approach to the estimation of single-ion activity coefficients. For this purpose, the underlying electrolyte data need to be consistent and the uncertainty in existing Pitzer??s data needs to be assessed. Such an assessment is attempted in this study for pH in potassium acetate buffer medium. The re-evaluation of Pitzer??s data from potassium nitrate data revealed inconsistencies and wide uncertainty margins. The uncertainty contribution from binary Pitzer??s parameters to an assessment of pH in seawater resulted in an uncertainty in pH of about 0.03 (95% confidence interval). This contribution has to be taken into account in the overall uncertainty budget. Lack of appropriate data for other pH buffer systems (e.g., phosphate buffers) is noted.     

Microelectrodes for voltammetry��a personal historical perspective

Since the 1950s, the field of electrochemistry has undergone rejuvenation numerous times, attributed to such developments as the three-electrode potentiostat, the integrated circuit operational amplifier, surface modified electrodes, computer-based instrumentation, (ultra)microelectrodes, scanning microelectrode techniques, nanostructured materials, and powerful computational packages (such as COMSOL Multiphysics) that facilitate solution of complex diffusion problems. My own career has spanned nearly all of these renaissances in electrochemistry, but for this discourse, I select the development of microelectrodes as an example of how serendipity can alter the direction of one??s research career. This is not a complete historical account of the development of microelectrodes but rather a personal perspective focusing on my own group??s contributions to this area.     

A theoretical evidence for cooperativity effects in fluorine-centered halogen bonds: linear (FCN)2–7 and (FNC)2–7 clusters

A theoretical investigation was performed to study cooperative effects in fluorine-centered halogen bond interactions. We investigated geometry, strength, and origin of the interactions in linear (FCN)_2–7 and (FNC)_2–7 clusters by means of MP2 and CCSD(T) methods. Our results strongly suggest that cooperative effects induced by fluorine-centered halogen bonds are significant in both linear FCN and FNC clusters. CCSD(T)/6-311++G** calculations reveal that for (FCN)_2–7 clusters, the average halogen-bonding energy per monomer increases from ?0.76 kcal/mol in dimer to ?0.92 kcal/mol in heptamer. The results of electron density analysis suggest that the capacity of the linear FCN and FNC clusters to concentrate electrons at the F···N and F···C BCPs enhance considerably with cluster size. The results also indicate that the magnitude of cooperative effects is more important for FCN than for FNC clusters. According to energy decomposition analysis, attractive electrostatic and dispersion components make the major contribution to the F···N and F···C halogen bond interactions. An acceptable correlation is found between different energy terms and total interaction energies, revealing the main role of these interactions for stability of linear (FCN) _n and (FNC) _n clusters.     

The gas phase hydrogen‐bonded dimers of HOCl: A high‐level quantum chemical study

The O···H? O and Cl···H? O hydrogen bonding interactions were analyzed for HOCl dimers by using B3LYP, MP2, CCSD, and MP4(SDTQ) methods in conjunction with the various basis sets. Five isomers were found for the HOCl dimer. The ZPE and BSSE corrected binding energies were computed at the different levels of theory. At the optimized geometries obtained at CCSD/AUG‐cc‐pVDZ level, energies were re‐evaluated at MP4(SDTQ)/AUG‐cc‐pVTZ and CCSD(T)/cc‐pVTZ levels of theory. We found an average of ?20.9 and ?9.6 kJ/mol for the strength of the O···H and Cl···H hydrogen bonding interactions, respectively. Excitation and vertical ionization energies as well as rotational constants were computed at different levels of theory. The quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) and natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis were used to elucidate the nature of the interactions of HOCl dimers. The interaction energies were decomposed by Morokuma methodology. We have computed Δ_fH°(HOCl) and Δ_fH°(HOCl⁺) using the atomization reactions. The Δ_fH°₂₉₈(HOCl) values are ?17.85 and ?18.05 kcal/mol by using CBS‐Q and CBS‐QB3 extrapolation models, respectively, in good agreement with the results given in JANAF tables. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010     

Structure and potential energy surface of K+·CX2

The potential energy surface of K⁺·CO₂ and K⁺·CS₂ complexes are determined at high levels of ab initio theory (CCSD), B3LYP, and MP2 using different basis sets. These calculations predict the existence of three minima for K⁺·CO₂ complex; linear, quadrilateral and Y-shape, and two minima for K⁺·CS₂ complex; bent and Y-shape. In addition, the binding energies, and other thermodynamic quantities are calculated at different levels of theories. Our calculations show that the difference in the global minima geometries of both complexes is mainly due to the sign of the quadrupole moment of CO₂ and CS₂ molecules.     

Comparison of aromatic NH···π, OH···π, and CH···π interactions of alanine using MP2, CCSD, and DFT methods

A comparison of the performance of various density functional methods including long‐range corrected and dispersion corrected methods [MPW1PW91, B3LYP, B3PW91, B97‐D, B1B95, MPWB1K, M06‐2X, SVWN5, ωB97XD, long‐range correction (LC)‐ωPBE, and CAM‐B3LYP using 6‐31+G(d,p) basis set] in the study of CH···π, OH···π, and NH···π interactions were done using weak complexes of neutral (A) and cationic (A⁺) forms of alanine with benzene by taking the Møller–Plesset (MP2)/6‐31+G(d,p) results as the reference. Further, the binding energies of the neutral alanine–benzene complexes were assessed at coupled cluster (CCSD)/6‐31G(d,p) method. Analysis of the molecular geometries and interaction energies at density functional theory (DFT), MP2, CCSD methods and CCSD(T) single point level reveal that MP2 is the best overall performer for noncovalent interactions giving accuracy close to CCSD method. MPWB1K fared better in interaction energy calculations than other DFT methods. In the case of M06‐2X, SVWN5, and the dispersion corrected B97‐D, the interaction energies are significantly overrated for neutral systems compared to other methods. However, for cationic systems, B97‐D yields structures and interaction energies similar to MP2 and MPWB1K methods. Among the long‐range corrected methods, LC‐ωPBE and CAM‐B3LYP methods show close agreement with MP2 values while ωB97XD energies are notably higher than MP2 values. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2010     

A theoretical study of 1:1 and 1:2 complexes of acetylene with nitrosyl hydride

Ab initio calculations at MP2 computational level using aug-cc-pVTZ basis set were used to analyze the interactions between 1:1 and 1:2 complexes of acetylene and nitrosyl hydride. The structures obtained have been analyzed with the atoms in molecules and the density functional theory–symmetry adapted perturbation theory methodologies. Four minima were located on the potential energy surface of the 1:1 complex. Twenty-four different structures have been obtained for the 1:2 complexes. Five types of interactions are observed, CH···O, CH···N, NH···π hydrogen bonds and orthogonal interactions between the π clouds of triple bond, or the lone pair of oxygen with the electron-deficient region of the nitrogen atom. Stabilization energies of the 1:1 and 1:2 clusters including basis set superposition error and ZPE are in the range 3–8 and 6–17 kJ mol⁻¹ at MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ computational level, respectively. Blue shift of NH bond upon complex formation in the ranges between 18–30 and 20–96 cm⁻¹ is predicted for 1:1 and 1:2 clusters, respectively. The total nonadditive energy in the 1:2 cluster, calculated as the sum of the supermolecular nonadditive MP2 energy and the three-body dispersion energy, presents values between −1.48 and 1.20 kJ mol⁻¹.     

HNO(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis> = 1–4) clusters: a theoretical study

The geometrical structure, binding energy, and vibrational spectra of small clusters of nitrosyl hydride (HNO) and water molecules, HNO(H₂O) _n , where (n = 1–4), have been investigated at the MP2 level of theory, using 6-311++G(2d,2p) basis set. We located three dimers, six trimers, nine tetramers, and three pentamers at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) computational level. Particular attention is given to existence and magnitude of NH···O blue-shifting hydrogen bonds. Blue shifts of the NH stretching frequency upon complex formation in the ranges between 28 and 151 cm⁻¹ is predicted. Cooperative effect in terms of stabilization energy along with the many-body interaction energies analysis was performed for the studied clusters. The Atoms in Molecules (AIM) theory was also applied to explain the nature of the complexes.     

Analysis of a failure of the CC2 coupled-cluster method for bond lengths of SnO and PbO

CC2 model is found to overestimate bond lengths of SnO and PbO by about 0.25 Å, while both second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory and coupled-cluster singles and doubles give reasonable results. Previously, analysis shows that the [[U, T ₁], T ₁] term in the doubles equation of CC2 is the origin of failure for CC2 and some truncated CC models have been suggested to achieve reasonable result for ozone, where CC2 is unable to obtain a stable structure. However, these remedies are unable to afford reasonable bond lengths of SnO and PbO. Based on a term-wise analysis, our results indicate that the [U, T ₁] term results in failure of CC2. CC2 model by removing this term will provide results that agree well with those of MP2. Furthermore, the [[U, T ₂], T ₁] term absent in the CC2 while present in doubles equation of CCSD can balance this [U, T ₁] term and CC2 model augmented with this term is able to afford reasonable results for PbO, SnO and ozone.     

A Comparison of the Interacting Quantum Atoms (IQA) Analysis of the Two-Particle Density-Matrices of MP4SDQ and CCSD

Within the quantum topological energy partitioning method called Interacting Quantum Atoms (IQA) we transition from Møller-Plesset (MP4SDQ) to CCSD in calculating intra- and interatomic electron correlation energies for a set of hydrides, diatomics, a few simple molecules and non-covalently bonded complexes, using the uncontracted basis set 6-31++G(2d,2p). CCSD-IQA allows a more rigorous analysis of atomic electron correlation than that offered by Møller-Plesset, which returns IQA contributions that are identical to Hartree–Fock counterparts except for two-electron terms. The CCSD-IQA analysis returns bond and other interatomic correlation energies that are typically much larger in magnitude than the MP4SDQ values. Crisp patterns of energy transferability are detected in water clusters, both for intra-atomic and interatomic correlation energies. CCSD determines that the intra-atomic correlation energy of an oxygen drops by 15 kJ · mol^–1 for donating a hydrogen and by 25 kJ · mol^–1 for accepting a hydrogen.     

Theoretical study in gas phase of linear and nonlinear optical properties of the ortho-, meta- and para-nitrophenol isomers

The linear (α), and nonlinear (β, γ) optical NLO properties of ortho-, meta- and para-nitrophenol (ONP, MNP and PNP) isomers have been calculated in gas phase by using ab initio (HF, MP2 and MP4) and density functional theory (DFT) (B3LYP, CAM-B3LYP) methods, with the 6-31+G(d,p) and 6-311+G(3d,3p) standard and the Sadlej specialized basis sets. These properties were evaluated both at static and at dynamic regime within the finite field FF numerical techniques and the time-dependent-Hartree–Fock approach at 1,910 nm, respectively. Additional calculations were performed for the β static hyperpolarizability of these isomers in presence of p-dioxane solvent with the Onsager Model and the SCRF-PCM approach, using B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) and MP2/6-31+G(d,p) levels of theory. Additionally, CCSD/6-31+G(d,p) calculations were performed for the α, β and γ properties of PNP isomer. The B3LYP and MP2 α _ave results of the nitrophenol isomers are comparable to the experimental α _ave reports; while the tendency for the β _v calculated values (β _v PNP > β _v MNP > β _v ONP), that can be explained in terms of the O _x atomic charge of the –NO₂ group, does not follow exactly the experimental ones. The B3LYP γ _ave results are in correspondence to the experimental measurements, the correlation of which is r ² = 0.99. The use of FF methodology in conjunction with the B3LYP and MP2 methods and the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set show to be appropriate approaches to predict qualitative optical properties of Push–Pull like organic molecules, provided are considered the solvent effects or frequency dependence. However, to have a clear picture of the NLO properties of an isolated molecule, higher order correlation effects combined with specialized basis sets, frequency and solvent effects should be employed. We have demonstrated that MP4/Sadlej level of theory is able to reproduce NLO properties that can be considered equivalent to those from more sophisticated approaches, such as CCSD together with extended basis sets.