Electronic Consequences of Ligand Substitution at Heterometal Centers in Polyoxovanadium Clusters: Controlling the Redox Properties through Heterometal Coordination Number

The rational control of the electrochemical properties of polyoxovanadate-alkoxide clusters is dependent on understanding the influence of various synthetic modifications on the overall redox processes of these systems. In this work, the electronic consequences of ligand substitution at the heteroion in a heterometal-functionalized cluster was examined. The redox properties of [V₅O₆(OCH₃)₁₂FeCl] ( 1-[V₅FeCl] ) and [V₅O₆(OCH₃)₁₂Fe]X ( 2-[V₅Fe]X ; X=ClO₄, OTf) were compared in order to assess the effects of changing the coordination environment around the iron center on the electrochemical properties of the cluster. Coordination of a chloride anion to iron leads to an anodic shift in redox events. Theoretical modelling of the electronic structure of these heterometal-functionalized clusters reveals that differences in the redox profiles of 1-[V₅FeCl] and 2-[V₅Fe]X arise from changes in the number of ligands surrounding the iron center (e.g., 6-coordinate vs. 5-coordinate). Specifically, binding of the chloride to the sixth coordination site appears to change the orbital interaction between the iron and the delocalized electronic structure of the mixed-valent polyoxovanadate core. Tuning the heterometal coordination environment can therefore be used to modulate the redox properties of the whole cluster.     

Linear model for estimating the entropy of formation of aqueous anions

Recently, two of us published a series of articles in which the entropies of formation, TΔ_f S ^o, of different classes of aqueous species were estimated. A set of equations were presented wherein only simple parameters were derived from the ionic stoichiometry. In the current paper new equations of comparable precision are presented using a smaller set of simple parameters.     

Turnover of hydrogen isotopes in lake sturgeon blood: implications for tracking movements of wild populations

Naturally occurring deuterium (²H) in biota can be used to trace movement, migration and geographic origin of a range of organisms. However, to evaluate movements of animals using δ²H measurements of tissues, it is necessary to establish the turnover time of ²H in the tissues and the extent of isotopic discrimination from different environmental ²H sources to those tissues. We investigated the turnover of ²H in lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) blood by manipulating both environmental water δ²H and diet δ²H over a four-month period. The half-life of deuterium in lake sturgeon blood was 37.9 days after an increase in the environmental water δ²H of +714?‰. However, no clear turnover in blood ²H occurred over the same period in a separate trial following a change of ?63.8?‰ or +94.2?‰ in diet. These findings suggest that environmental water ²H exchanges much faster with blood than diets and that blood δ²H values can be used to trace movements of sturgeon and other fish moving among isotopically distinct waters.     

Efficient microwave syntheses of the compounds Os3(CO)11L, L = NCMe, py, PPh3

The results of simple microwave-assisted ligand substitution reactions of Os₃(CO)₁₂ are reported. In a remarkably short period of time, the labile complex Os₃(CO)₁₁(NCMe) is prepared in high yield without the need for a decarbonylation reagent such as trimethylamine oxide. Microwave irradiation of Os₃(CO)₁₂ in a relatively small amount of acetonitrile is shown to be a useful first step in two-step, one-pot syntheses of the cluster complexes Os₃(CO)₁₁(py) and Os₃(CO)₁₁(PPh₃).     

Amperometric sensing of norepinephrine at picomolar concentrations using screen printed,high surface area mesoporous carbon

Norepinephrine (NE) is detected amperometrically using the enzyme Phenylethanolamine N-methyl transferase and cofactor S-(5′-Adenosyl)-l-methionine chloride dihydrochloride with disposable screen printed mesoporous carbon electrodes. The role of internal surface area and pore size of the mesoporous carbon is systematically examined using soft-templated, mesoporous silica–carbon powders with highly microporous walls obtained from etching of the silica to produce powders with surface areas ranging from 671–2339 m² g⁻¹. As the surface area increases, the sensitivity of the biosensor at very low NE concentrations (0–500 pg mL⁻¹) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) increases just as the current signal increases with respect to the NE concentration of 81–1581 μA mL ng⁻¹ cm⁻² for the mesoporous carbons. The best performing electrode provides similar sensitivity in whole rabbit blood in comparison to PBS despite no membrane layer to filter the non-desired reactants; the small (<5 nm) pore size and large internal surface area acts to minimize non-specific events that decrease sensitivity.     

Functionalized Tricyclic Cytosine Analogues Provide Nucleoside Fluorophores with Improved Photophysical Properties and a Range of Solvent Sensitivities

Tricyclic cytosines (tC and tC^O frameworks) have emerged as a unique class of fluorescent nucleobase analogues that minimally perturb the structure of B‐form DNA and that are not quenched in duplex nucleic acids. Systematic derivatization of these frameworks is a likely approach to improve on and diversify photophysical properties, but has not so far been examined. Synthetic methods were refined to improve on tolerance for electron‐donating and electron‐withdrawing groups, resulting in a series of eight new, fluorescent cytidine analogues. Photophysical studies show that substitution of the framework results in a pattern of effects largely consistent across tC and tC^O and provides nucleoside fluorophores that are brighter than either parent. Moreover, a range of solvent sensitivities is observed, offering promise that this family of probes can be extended to new applications that require reporting on the local environment.     

Forensic analysis of a single particle of partially burnt gunpowder by solid phase micro-extraction–gas chromatography-nitrogen phosphorus detector

Solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) was adopted to extract organic gun shot residues (OGSRs) from a single particle of partially burnt gunpowder. The partially burnt particle samples were collected from gun shot residue (GSR) deposited near the target areas. OGSRs, such as diphenylamine (DPA), methyl centralite (MC), ethyl centralite (EC), from only one single particle of partially burnt gunpowder were successfully extracted by SPME and analyzed by a gas chromatography coupled to a nitrogen phosphorus detector (GC-NPD). The results confirmed that the new extraction procedure is capable of extracting trace amount of MC and EC as signature molecules for the identification of GSR. The method represents a solvent-free extraction as a complementary analytical procedure for the forensic analysis of GSR-related evidences. The new extraction scheme with the capability of analyzing single particle of partially burnt gunpowder can also be applied to the identification of explosive residues, such as in post-blast investigations of improvised explosive devices.     

Analysis of marine biogenic sulfur compounds using Raman spectroscopy: dimethyl sulfide and methane sulfonic acid

Biogenic sulfur compounds, such as dimethyl sulfide (DMS), dimethyl sulfoniopropionate (DMSP), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and methane sulfonic acid (MSA), are important components of the global sulfur cycle and, as contributors to the formation of non‐anthropogenic aerosols, impact global climate. In general, these chemicals are found in the marine environment in extremely low concentrations (nM ), but under certain circumstances, e.g. intracellular accumulations and inclusions in glacial ice, they can be found with concentration orders of higher magnitude (µM or greater). Current analytical methods, which are designed to measure concentrations in the nM range, do so by sacrificing detailed knowledge of the chemical environment and spatial distribution of these compounds. An alternative approach to the quantitative measurement of biogenic sulfur compounds directly (i.e. without pre‐processing) has been investigated in de‐ionized water and artificial seawater. The detection limits for the measurement of DMSO and MSA using Raman spectroscopy with both visible and UV excitation have been measured. For DMSO, a sensitivity of < 10 mM has been determined. For MSA, concentrations as low as 3 mM can be detected. It has been determined that, for aqueous solutions, the use of water as an internal standard for quantitative measurement appears to be adequate for measurement with high linearity over several decades of concentration. For DMSO and MSA, the measured sensitivities for quantitative Raman detection are adequate to address important issues in the biogeochemistry of these compounds. Moreover, for MSA it was determined that, based on measured band positions, previous studies of MSA in glacial ice have incorrectly attributed the species to solid salt rather than the, more likely, free ion in concentrated aqueous solution. In addition to sensitivity measurements, resonance/pre‐resonance enhancement of the Raman spectrum of DMSO and MSA, respectively, has been found with 248 nm excitation. Finally, the previously unreported Raman spectrum of Mg(MSA)₂ has been measured. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Microwave Promoted Oxidative Addition Reactions of Os3(CO)12: Efficient Syntheses of Triosmium Clusters of the Type Os3(μ-X)2(CO)10 and Os3(μ-H)(μ-OR)(CO)10

Microwave heating allows for the high-yield, one-step synthesis of the known triosmium complexes Os₃(μ-Br)₂(CO)₁₀ (1), Os₃(μ-I)₂(CO)₁₀ (2), and Os₃(μ-H)(μ-OR)(CO)₁₀ with R = methyl (3), ethyl (4), isopropyl (5), n-butyl (6), and phenyl (7). In addition, the new clusters Os₃(μ-H)(μ-OR)(CO)₁₀ with R = n-propyl (8), sec-butyl (9), isobutyl (10), and tert-butyl (11) are synthesized in a microwave reactor. The preparation of these complexes is easily accomplished without the need to first prepare an activated derivative of Os₃(CO)₁₂, and without the need to exclude air from the reaction vessel. The syntheses of complexes 1 and 2 are carried out in less than 15 min by heating stoichiometric mixtures of Os₃(CO)₁₂ and the appropriate halogen in cyclohexane. Clusters 3–6 and 8–10 are prepared by the microwave irradiation of Os₃(CO)₁₂ in neat alcohols, while clusters 7 and 11 are prepared from mixtures of Os₃(CO)₁₂, alcohol and 1,2-dichlorobenzene. Structural characterization of clusters 2, 4, and 5 was carried out by X-ray crystallographic analysis. High resolution X-ray crystal structures of two other oxidative addition products, Os₃(CO)₁₂I₂ (12) and Os₃(μ-H)(μ-O₂CC₆H₅)(CO)₁₀ (13), are also presented.