Investigation of Solvatomorphism and Its Photophysical Implications for Archetypal Trinuclear Au3(1-Methylimidazolate)3

A new solvatomorph of [Au₃(1-Methylimidazolate)₃] (Au₃(MeIm)₃)—the simplest congener of imidazolate-based Au(I) cyclic trinuclear complexes (CTCs)—has been identified and structurally characterized. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed a dichloromethane solvate exhibiting remarkably short intermolecular Au⋯Au distances (3.2190(7) Å). This goes along with a dimer formation in the solid state, which is not observed in a previously reported solvent-free crystal structure. Hirshfeld analysis, in combination with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, indicates that the dimerization is generally driven by attractive aurophilic interactions, which are commonly associated with the luminescence properties of CTCs. Since Au₃(MeIm)₃ has previously been reported to be emissive in the solid-state, we conducted a thorough photophysical study combined with phase analysis by means of powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), to correctly attribute the photophysically active phase of the bulk material. Interestingly, all investigated powder samples accessed via different preparation methods can be assigned to the pristine solvent-free crystal structure, showing no aurophilic interactions. Finally, the observed strong thermochromism of the solid-state material was investigated by means of variable-temperature PXRD, ruling out a significant phase transition being responsible for the drastic change of the emission properties (hypsochromic shift from 710 nm to 510 nm) when lowering the temperature down to 77 K.     

Friction oscillator excited by moving base and colliding with a rigid or deformable obstacle

The dynamics of non-smooth oscillators has not yet sufficiently been investigated, when damping is simultaneously due to friction and impact. Because of the theoretical and practical interest of this type of systems, an effort is made in this paper to lighten the behaviour of a single-degree-of-freedom oscillator colliding with an obstacle and excited by a moving base, which transfers energy to the system via friction. The different nature of discontinuities arising in the combined problem of friction and impact has been recognized and discussed. Closed-form solutions are presented for both transient and steady-state response, assuming Coulomb's friction law and a rigid stop-limiting motion. Furthermore, a deformable (hysteretic) obstacle has been considered, and its influence on the response has been investigated.     

Experimental evidence of non-standard bifurcations in non-smooth oscillator dynamics

Analytical and experimental investigations are performed in order to characterize the dynamic behaviour of a non-smooth rotational oscillator, which exhibits multiple discontinuity boundaries in the phase space. The physical system consists of a rotating body subjected to an elastic restoring force and in contact with one or two rough discs rotating with constant driving velocities. The presence of multiple discontinuity boundaries caused by frictional contacts leads to non-standard bifurcations that are studied by means of a simple mechanical model.A test set-up has then been built to investigate the correctness of modelling of the friction force and the validity of the proposed model for technical applications: the experimental measurements qualitatively and quantitatively capture the basic scenarios anticipated by the model while a strong robustness of the phenomena pointed out by the theoretical analyses has been revealed in the experiments.     

Solvent-free synthesis of functionalized pyridine derivatives using Wells-Dawson heteropolyacid as catalyst

Wells-Dawson heteropolyacids (H₆P₂W₁₈O₆₂·24H₂O) were used as catalysts in the Hantzsch-like multicomponent condensation reaction with 3-formylchromones as aldehyde component, a β-ketoester and ammonium acetate, under solvent-free conditions at 80 °C. Although the desired products were obtained, functionalized pyridines were the main reaction product and became the alternative route to dihydropyridine ring formation. Based on the proposed mechanisms for the formation of each of the obtained products, the multicomponent reaction was modified to afford only the functionalized pyridines (60-99%). Our procedure represents a clean alternative for the synthesis of several highly functionalized pyridines.     

Thiolato gold(I) complexes containing water-soluble phosphane ligands: a characterization of their chemical and biological properties

A series of thiolate gold(I) derivatives bearing water soluble phosphanes--namely sodium triphenylphosphane monosulfonate (TPPMS), sodium triphenylphosphane trisulfonate (TPPTS), 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) and 3,7-diacetyl-1,3,7-triaza-5-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (DAPTA)--is reported and the compounds studied for their luminescence properties in the solid state. Two of these derivatives, [Au(SMe(2)pyrim)(PTA)] and [Au(SBenzoxazole)(DAPTA)], are also structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Strong antiproliferative effects are observed for most of the compounds in the human ovarian carcinoma cell lines (A2780/S) and its cisplatin-resistant variant (A2780/R), which depend on both the type of thiolate and phosphane ligands. ICP-MS studies were also performed to evaluate the influence of the gold uptake on the cytotoxic potency of the compounds.     

Structure, solution chemistry, antiproliferative actions and protein binding properties of non-conventional platinum(II) compounds with sulfur and phosphorus donors

Twelve Pt(II) complexes with cis-PtP(2)S(2) pharmacophores (where P(2) refers to two monodentate or one bidentate phosphane ligand and S(2) is a dithiolato ligand) were prepared, characterized and evaluated as potential antiproliferative agents. The various compounds were first studied from the structural point of view; afterward, their solubility properties as well as their solution behaviour were analyzed in detail. Antiproliferative properties were specifically evaluated against A2780 human ovarian carcinoma cells, either resistant or sensitive to cisplatin. For comparison purposes similar studies were carried out on four parent cis-dichloro bisphosphane Pt(II)complexes. On the whole, the cis-PtP(2)S(2) compounds displayed significant antiproliferative properties while the cis-PtP(2)Cl(2) (cis-dichloro bisphosphane Pt(II)) compounds revealed quite poor biological performances. To gain further insight into the molecular mechanisms of these bisphosphane Pt(II) compounds, the reactions of selected complexes against the model protein cytochrome c were investigated by ESI-MS and their adduct formation explored. A relevant reactivity with cyt c was obtained only for cis-PtP(2)Cl(2) compounds, whereas cis-PtP(2)S(2) compounds turned out to be nearly unreactive. The obtained results are interpreted and discussed in the frame of the current knowledge of anticancer platinum compounds and their structure-activity-relationships. The observation of appreciable antiproliferative effects for the relatively inert cis-PtP(2)S(2) compounds strongly suggests that these compounds will undergo specific activation within the cellular environment.     

Development and validation of a rapid method for microcystins in fish and comparing LC-MS/MS results with ELISA

Microcystins (MCs) are the most common cyanotoxins found worldwide in freshwater, brackish, and marine environments. The rapid and accurate analysis of MCs and nodularin (Nod-R) in fish tissue is important for determining occurrence, following trends, and monitoring exposure for risk assessment and other purposes. The aim of this study was to develop a streamlined and reliable sample preparation method for eight MCs (MC-RR, MC-YR, MC-LR, MC-WR, MC-LA, MC-LY, MC-LW, and MC-LF) and Nod-R in fish, and conduct a validation of the new method using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for analysis and compare the results with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Different sample preparation methods were compared, and a simple extraction protocol with acidified acetonitrile/water (3:1) followed by hexane partitioning cleanup was found to be most effective. Thorough validation of the final method was conducted, and 90–115% recoveries were achieved for all analytes except for MC-RR, which gave 130% average recovery (isotopically labeled internal standards were unavailable to correct for possible biases). The use of electrospray ionization in the negative mode gave few interferences and minimal matrix effects in the LC-MS/MS analysis overall. Precision was typically 10–20% RSD among multiple days in experiments, detection limits were <10 ng/g in the fish tissue (catfish, basa, and swai filets), and no false-positives or false-negatives occurred in blind analyses of many spiked samples. The ELISA was unable to distinguish between MCs but was found to correctly assess the presence or absence of MCs and Nod-R in the blind-fortified fish tissues. The capability of these approaches to measure covalently bound MCs was not assessed.     

Trace analysis of pesticides in paddy field water by direct injection using liquid chromatography-quadrupole-linear ion trap-mass spectrometry

A multiresidue method was developed for the quantification and confirmation of 70 pesticides in paddy field water. After its filtration, water was injected directly in a liquid chromatograph coupled to a hybrid triple quadrupole-linear ion trap-mass spectrometer (QqLIT). The list of target analytes included organophosphates, phenylureas, sulfonylureas, carbamates, conazoles, imidazolinones and others compounds widely used in different countries where rice is cropped. Detection and quantification limits achieved were in the range from 0.4 to 80 ng L(-1) and from 2 to 150 ng L(-1), respectively. Correlation coefficients for the calibration curves in the range 0.1-50 μg L(-1) were higher than 0.99 except for diazinon (0.1-25 μg L(-1)). Only 9 pesticides presented more than 20% of signal suppression/enhancement, no matrix effect was observed in the studied conditions for the rest of the target pesticides. The method developed was used to investigate the occurrence of pesticides in 59 water samples collected in paddy fields located in Spain and Uruguay. The study shows the presence of bensulfuron methyl, tricyclazole, carbendazim, imidacloprid, tebuconazole and quinclorac in a concentration range from 0.08 to 7.20 μg L(-1).