Electrochemical monitoring of indigo preparation using Maya’s ancient procedures

The preparation of indigo from Indigofera suffruticosa following the procedures attributed to ancient Mayas was electrochemically monitored using the voltammetry-of-microparticles approach. The mechanism formation of indigotin and indirubin from its precursors, indican and isatan, is discussed. Comparison of voltammetric profiles for differently prepared and commercial indigos and genuine Maya Blue samples suggests that the preparation procedure of indigo changed during the Late Classical Maya period. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

单晶电极表面研究中的超高真空技术

阐述了超高真空和电化学联合技术的性能,这种技术是获取电极-溶液界面微观信息的一种手段.给出了有关样品制备和表面分析技术在实验中的方方面面,并选取了一些单晶电极表面研究的最近成果--电化学池中重构的Au(100)-hex和Pt(100)-hex单晶电极的相转变以及Pt在Ru(0001)和Ru(1010)表面,RuO2(100)在Ru(0001)上外延生长的结构研究.     

Reactivity and reaction pathways of electrochemically generated 17-electron tricarbonyl steroid chromium cations

Electrochemical oxidation of α- and β-diastereomers of a range of steroid hormone receptor marker chromium tricarbonyl complexes, (steroid)Cr(CO)₃, have been examined at platinum electrodes in dichloromethane. Data confirm the general nature of previously published conclusions on the oxidation of (arene)Cr(CO)₃ complexes (arene = benzene or steroid). That is, with 0.1 M Bu₄NPF₆ as the electrolyte, and in the absence of nucleophiles, a reversible oneelectron process, (steroid)Cr(CO)₃ ? [(steroid)Cr(CO)₃]⁺ + e^?, is observed, followed by an irreversible one-electron process at considerably more positive potentials. The reversible half-wave potentials (approximately E°-values) calculated for the [(steroid)Cr(CO)₃]⁺/(steroid)Cr(CO)₃ redox couple are shown to be dependent on whether the α- or β-diastereomer is oxidized. Similarly the rate of nucleophilic attack on the 17-electron cation [(steroid)Cr(CO)₃]⁺ by nucleophiles such as ClO, PPh₃ and bis(diphenylphosphine)methane confirms a previous observation that the stereochemistry of this class of compound is important with respect to redox, kinetic and hormone receptor properties. The nature of the electrochemical data obtained on the (arene)Cr(CO)₃ complexes in the presence of nucleophiles suggests that reactions associated with the nucleophilic attack on the 17-electron cations are complex and that a range of reaction pathways occur simultaneously. Electrochemical studies on the oxidation of (benzene)Cr(CO)₂PPh₃ and (oestradiol)Cr(CO)₂PPh₃ confirm some aspects of the proposed mechanisms, although it is clear that a great deal still has to be learned concerning mechanistic aspects of nucleophilic attack on these 17-electron complexes.     

“化学在抗击新冠肺炎疫情中扮演的重要角色”专题教学

Considering COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control, education materials were excavated and refined, such as chemical disinfectants, typical drugs used in clinical treatment or trial and materials for preparation of medical protective equipment. We have carried out thematic teaching on "The important role of chemistry in the fight against COVID-19 epidemic", and integrated ideological and political education into the thematic teaching. Through thematic teaching, we can make students feel the charm of chemistry subject, stimulate students' interest in learning chemistry, fully mobilize students' learning enthusiasm and initiative, strengthen students' confidence and courage to overcome difficulties, cultivate the students' professional disciplines literacy and scientific literacy, activate students' love for the motherland, the people and the Communist Party of China.     

Electrochemical ELISA for the screening of DDT related compounds: analysis in waste waters

An electrochemical enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (p,p′-DTT), 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene (p,p′-DDE), 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis-(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (p,p′-DDD) and o,p-DDT was developed. Optimization of the ELISA competition conditions, led to similar response for the p,p′-isomers. The activity of the label enzyme (horseradish peroxidase) was measured electrochemically using 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine as substrate. The use of purified antiserum for p,p′-DDT resulted in a sensitive assay with a detection limit of 40 pg ml⁻¹ and R.S.D. ranging from 1 to 3% intra-day and 3 to 6% inter-day. No matrix effect for waste water samples of different origin has been evidenced. The ELISA was used to detect DDTs in 20 samples after extraction in diethylether. This method appears suitable for routine screening of DDTs without sample pre-treatment other than dilution in PBS or after organic solvent extraction if high sensitivity is required.     

Synthesis, structure, catalytic transfer hydrogenation and biological activity of cyclometallated ruthenium(III)2-(arylazo)phenolate complexes

A series of mononuclear organoruthenium complexes of the type [RuX(PPh₃)₂(L)] (X = Cl or Br; L = 2-(arylazo)phenolate ligand) have been synthesized from the reaction of five 2-(arylazo)phenol ligands with ruthenium(III) precursors, viz. [RuCl₃(PPh₃)₃] and [RuBr₃(PPh₃)₂(CH₃OH)] in benzene under reflux. In all these reactions, the 2-(arylazo)phenolate ligand replaces one triphenylphosphine molecule, two chlorides or bromides and one methanol from the precursors leading to five-membered cyclometallated species. The 2-(arylazo)phenol ligands behave as dianionic tridentate C, N, O donors and coordinated to ruthenium by dissociation of the phenolic proton and the phenyl proton at the ortho position of the phenyl ring. The compositions of the complexes have been established by elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurement, FT-IR, UV-Vis and EPR spectral data. These complexes are paramagnetic and shows intense d-d and charge transfer transitions in chloroform. The solution EPR spectrum of the complex 7 in dichloromethane at 77 K shows rhombic distortion around the ruthenium ion. The structural conformation of the complex 1 has been carried out by X-ray crystallography. The redox behavior of the complexes has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and the potentials are observed with respect to the electronic nature of substituents (R) in the 2-(arylazo) phenolate ligands. These complexes catalyze transfer hydrogenation of benzophenone to benzhydrol with up to 99.5% in the presence of i-prOH/KOH. Further, these complexes have shown great promise in inhibiting the growth of both Gram +ve and Gram −ve bacteria, viz. Staphylococcus aureus NCIM 2079 and Escherichia coli NCIM 2065 and fungus Candida albicans NCIM 3102.     

Synthesis and properties of conjugated bimetallic ruthenium complexes with σ,σ-bridging azobenzene chains

A versatile synthetic route to conjugated bimetallic ruthenium complexes with σ,σ-bridging azobenzene chains was developed, and new ruthenium complexes with various ligands were synthesized and characterized. These bimetallic complexes showed a remarkable absorption in the visible region (λ_max: 452-483 nm), and undergo trans-to-cis isomerization under UV light irradiation for short time. Electrochemical study showed that the metal centers in bimetallic complexes containing the CHCHC₆H₄NNC₆H₄CHCH bridge interact with each other.     

Electrochemical behaviour of some polyoxo clusters

We describe the redox behaviour in non-aqueous solvents of some cyclopentadienyl(oxo)titanium derivatives. The derivative [Ti₄{η⁵-C₅H₄(SiMe₃)}₄(μ-O)₆] shows an electrochemically and chemically reversible le reduction process, followed by a multi-electron, chemically complicated reduction at a fairly cathodic potential. On the basis of the overall electrochemical features and the comparison with the redox behaviour of the quasi-planar compound [[Ti{η⁵-C₅H₄(SiMe₃)}Cl(μ-O)]₄] we propose an EECCEE mechanism for the first derivative, where the second electron-transfer induces a cascade of chemical reactions giving rise to irreversible cluster breakdown. The electrochemically induced fragmentation can be viewed as a retrosynthetic pathway. The heterometallic derivative [{Ti(η⁵-C₅H₄Me)₂(μ₂-MoO₄)₂}₂] shows two consecutive reduction processes; the first is chemically reversible, and the second quasi-reversible. The molybdate bridges apparently increase the stability of the electrogenerated anions. However none of these poly-oxo clusters can be considered as good models of electron ‘sinks’.     

Cu(I) and Ag(I) complexes of chalcogenide derivatives of the organometallic ligand dppf and the dppa analogue

New Cu(I) and Ag(I) complexes were prepared by reaction of [M(NCCH₃)₄][X] (M = Cu or Ag; X = BF₄ or PF₆) with the bidentate chalcogenide ligands Ph₂P(E)NHP(E)Ph₂ (E = S, S₂dppa; E = Se, Se₂dppa), and dpspf (1,1′-bis(diphenylselenophosphoryl)ferrocene). Copper and silver behaved differently. While three molecules of either S₂dppa and Se₂dppa bind to a distorted tetrahedral Cu₄ cluster, with deprotonation of the ligand, 1:2 complexes of the neutral ligands are formed with Ag(I), with a tetrahedral coordination of the metal. The [Cu₄{Ph₂P(Se)NP(Se)Ph₂}₃]⁺ clusters assemble as dimers, held together by weak Se?Se distances interactions. Another dimer was observed for the [Ag(dpspf)]⁺ cation, with two short Ag?Se distances. DFT and MP2 calculations indicated the presence of attracting interactions, reflected in positive Mayer indices (MI). The electrochemistry study of this species showed that both oxidation and reduction took place at silver.