Easy access to diastereomerically pure platinacycles

The synthesis of the first examples of diastereomerically pure platinacycles having simultaneously a chiral carbon and a sigma[Pt-C(sp(2), ferrocene)] bond is described.     

On Fractional PI λ Controllers: Some Tuning Rules for Robustness to Plant Uncertainties

The objective of this work is to find out optimum settings for a fractional PI ^λ controller in order to fulfill three different robustness specifications of design for the compensated system, taking advantage of the fractional order, λ. Since this fractional controller has one parameter more than the conventional PI controller, one more specification can be fulfilled, improving the performance of the system and making it more robust to plant uncertainties, such as gain and time constant changes. For the tuning of the controller an iterative optimization method has been used, based on a nonlinear function minimization. Two real examples of application are presented and simulation results are shown to illustrate the effectiveness of this kind of unconventional controllers.     

Three-dimensional open-frameworks based on Ln(III) ions and open-/closed-shell PTM ligands: synthesis, structure, luminescence, and magnetic properties

A series of isostructural open-framework coordination polymers formulated as [Ln(dmf)(3)(ptmtc)] (Ln = Sm (1), Eu (2), Gd (3), Tb (4), Dy (5); PTMTC = polychlorotriphenylmethyl tricarboxylate) and [Ln(dmf)(2)H(2)O(αH-ptmtc)] (Ln = Sm (1'), Eu (2'), Gd (3'), Tb (4'), Dy (5')) have been obtained by treating Ln(III) ions with PTMTC ligands with a radical (PTMTC(3-)) or a closed-shell character (αH-PTMTC(3-)). X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that these coordination polymers possess 3D architectures that combine large channels and fairly rare lattice complex T connectivity. In addition, these compounds show selective framework dynamic sorption properties. For both classes of ligands, the ability to act as an antenna in Ln sensitization processes has been investigated. No luminescence was observed for compounds 1-5, and 3' because of the PTMTC(3-) ligand and/or Gd(III) ion characteristics. Conversely, photoluminescence measurements show that 1', 2', 4', and 5' emit dark orange, red, green, and dark cyan metal-centered luminescence. The magnetic properties of all of these compounds have been investigated. The nature of the {Ln-radical} exchange interaction in these compounds has been assessed by comparing the behavior of the radical-based coordination polymers 1-5 with those of the compounds with the diamagnetic ligand set. While antiferromagnetic {Sm-radical} interactions are found in 1, ferromagnetic {Ln-radical} interactions propagate in the 3D architectures of 3, 4, and 5 (Ln = Gd, Tb, and Dy, respectively). This procedure also provided access to information on the {Ln-Ln} exchange existing in these magnetic systems.     

Synthesis and stabilization of subnanometric gold oxide nanoparticles on multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their catalytic activity

Small gold nanoclusters in a very narrow size distribution (1.1 ± 0.5 nm) have been stabilized onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). Theoretical studies supported by XPS and (16)O(2)/(18)O(2) isotopic exchange experiments have shown that, on small gold nanoparticles (0.9-1.5 nm), dissociation of molecular O(2) and formation of a surface oxide-like layer is energetically favorable and occurs at room temperature, while O(2) recombination and desorption involves a larger activation barrier. CO titration experiments and theoretical studies demonstrate that the reactivity of the oxidized particles toward CO does not only depend on particle size but also on oxygen coverage. The oxidation-reduction process described is reversible, and the oxidized nanoparticles are active in the epoxidation of styrene with air.     

Fast determination of the functional peptide soymetide in different soybean derived foods by capillary-high performance liquid chromatography

The determination of bioactive peptides derived from food sources is gaining special attention in last years, due to their ability to promote health and their potential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. In this work, a new analytical methodology has been developed enabling for the first time the determination of soymetide, a new immunostimulating peptide derived from soybean, in different soybean derived foodstuffs. Capillary-HPLC was employed for peptide separation after accelerated tryptic digestion of soybean proteins. Two different capillary-HPLC columns were tested and chromatographic separation was optimized in each case. The use of a 300 μm fused-core technology C18 column enabled a suitable separation of soymetide from the other peptides in less than 18 min. Different analytical characteristics of the method were evaluated: selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection and quantitation, and stability. The developed method was applied to the determination of soymetide content in different soybean dairy-like products for human consumption (powdered milks and infant formulas).     

Hydrothermal Tm3+-Lu2O3 nanorods with highly efficient 2 μm emission

Cubic Ia3Tm-Lu(2)O(3) porous nanorods of ～45 μm length and 90 nm diameter have been prepared with precise compositions through a soft hydrothermal route (i.e., autogenic pressure, neutral pH, and 185 °C for 24 h) by using chloride reagents. For these nanorods, room temperature excitation and photoluminescence spectra of Tm(3+) multiplets related to the eye-safe (3)F(4)→(3)H(6) laser transition at ～1.85-2.05 μm are similar to those of bulk crystals. Room-temperature luminescence decays of (3)H(4) and (3)F(4) exhibit nonexponential dynamics analytically reproduced by the sum of two exponential regimes, which are ascribed to the different rates of nonradiative relaxations in defects at the surface and in the body of the nanocrystals, respectively. Measured fluorescence lifetimes τ ～ 200-260 μs and τ ～ 2.3-2.9 ms for (3)H(4) and (3)F(4), respectively, in 0.2% mol Tm-Lu(2)O(3) nanorods, are considerably larger than in previous nanocrystalline Tm-doped sesquioxides, and they are close to values of bulk sesquioxide crystals with equivalent Tm(3+) content.     

Unprecedented luminescent heteropolynuclear aggregates with gold thiolates as building blocks

The reaction of [AuCl(P-N)], in which P-N represents a heterofunctional phosphine ligand, with pentafluorothiophenol, HSC(6)F(5), gives the thiolate gold derivatives [Au(SC(6)F(5))(P-N)] (P-N = PPh(2)py (1), PPh(2)CH(2)CH(2)py (2), or PPhpy(2) (3)). Complex [Au(SC(6)F(5))(PPh(2)py)] (1) reacts with [Au(OTf)(PPh(2)py)] in a 1:1 or 1:2 molar ratio to afford the di- or trinuclear species [Au(2)(μ-SC(6)F(5))(PPh(2)py)(2)]OTf (4) and [Au(3)(μ(3)-SC(6)F(5))(PPh(2)py)(3)](OTf)(2) (5), with the thiolate acting as a doubly or triply bridging ligand. The reactivity of the mononuclear compounds [Au(SC(6)F(5))(P-N)] toward silver or copper salts in different ratios has been investigated. Thus, the treatment of [Au(SC(6)F(5))(P-N)] with Ag(OTf) or [Cu(NCMe)(4)]PF(6) in a 1:1 molar ratio gives complexes of stoichiometry [AuAg(OTf)(μ-SC(6)F(5))(P-N)] (P-N = PPh(2)py (6), PPh(2)CH(2)CH(2)py (7), or PPhpy(2) (8)) or [AuCu(μ-SC(6)F(5))(P-N)(NCMe)]PF(6) (P-N = PPh(2)py (9), PPh(2)CH(2)CH(2)py (10), or PPhpy(2) (11)). These complexes crystallize as dimers and display different coordination modes of the silver or copper center, depending on the present functionalized phosphine ligand. The treatment of [Au(SC(6)F(5))(PPh(2)py)] with silver and copper compounds in other molar ratios has been carried out. In a 2:1 ratio, the complexes [Au(2)M(μ-SC(6)F(5))(2)(μ-PPh(2)py)(2)]X (M = Ag, X = OTf (12); M = Cu, X = PF(6) (13)) are obtained. The same reaction in a 4:3 molar ratio affords the species [Au(4)M(2)(μ-SC(6)F(5))(3)(μ-PPh(2)py)(4)]X(3) (M = Ag, X = OTf (14); M = Cu, X = PF(6) (15)). The crystal structures of some of these complexes reveal different interactions among the metallic d(10) centers. The complexes display dual emission. The band at higher energy has been attributed to intraligand (IL) transitions, and the one at lower energy has been assigned to a ligand to metal (LM) charge transfer process. The latter emission is modulated by the heterometal (silver or copper).     

Solution SERS of an insoluble synthetic organic pigment-quinacridone quinone-employing calixarenes as dispersive cavitands

A possibility of getting SERS spectra of insoluble aromatic compounds in colloidal silver solutions is described. The method tested for the organic pigment quinacridone quinone consists of dispersing it in calix[n]arenes. The potentials of such cavitands, both as dispersing and as silver functionalization agents, is reported as a function of the substitution in their lower rim and their cavity size.     

Synthesis and characterization of complexes of PdII with 2-aminopyridine

Summary The synthesis and identification of the compoundstrans-bis(2-aminopyridine)dichloropalladium(II) and tetrakis(2-aminopyridine)palladium(II) chloride are described. The infrared spectra are discussed, particularly the metal-halogen and metal-ligand vibrations. Thermal decomposition was studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetry (TG).