Random replicators with high-order interactions

We use tools of the equilibrium statistical mechanics of disordered systems to study analytically the statistical properties of an ecosystem composed of N species interacting via random mutual interactions, as well as via deterministic self-interactions of order p>/=2. We show that the main effect of increasing the order of the interactions among the species is to make the system less competitive, in the sense that the fraction of extinct species is greatly reduced. In addition, we find that for p>2 there is a threshold value which gives a lower bound to the concentration of the surviving species, preventing then the existence of rare species and, consequently, increasing the robustness of the ecosystem to external perturbations.     

Synthesis,characterization and antitumor activity of palladium(II) complexes of imidazolidine-2-thione

Complexes of the type cis-[PdX₂(imzt)(PPh₃)] {imzt = imidazolidine-2-thione; PPh₃ = triphenylphosphine; X = Cl (1), Br (2), I (3), SCN (4)} have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductance, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopies. The complex 1·MeOH was obtained from the reaction of [PdCl₂(CH₃CN)₂], imidazolidine-2-thione and triphenylphosphine in CHCl₃/CH₃OH. Complexes 2·MeOH, 3 and 4 were prepared by metathesis of the chlorido ligands in 1 with bromide, iodide and thiocyanate, respectively. Elemental analyses showed good agreement with the expected mononuclear compositions, while the molar conductivities of the complexes in DMF were consistent with their nonelectrolytic nature. NMR spectra confirmed coordination of the imidazolidine-2-thione and triphenylphosphine ligands. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction determination of 1·CH₃OH showed that the coordination geometry around Pd^II is nearly square planar, with the chlorido ligands in a cis configuration. All four complexes have been tested in vitro by XTT assay for their cytotoxicity against human glioblastoma cell line (U87MG). The binding of 1 with guanosine was studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, revealing that the coordination takes place via N7.     

Rhenium chelate complexes with maltolate or kojate

Novel rhenium complexes containing the maltolate (mal) or kojate (koj) anions as chelating ligands have been synthesized: [ReOCl(mal)₂] (1), [ReOCl₂(mal)(PPh₃)] (2), [ReOBr₂(mal)(PPh₃)] (3), [ReOCl₂(koj)(PPh₃)] (4) and [ReOBr₂(koj)(PPh₃)] (5). The products have been characterized by FTIR, ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopies and elemental analysis. The crystal and molecular structures of all complexes were determined. Complex 1 crystallizes monoclinic, space group C2/c, Z = 8. It contains two O,O′-bidentate maltolate ligands and one chloro ligand at the (ReO)³⁺ unit, so that a distorted octahedral geometry is adopted by the six-coordinated rhenium(V) center. The chloro ligand occupies a cis position to the oxo ligand. Complexes 2 and 3 are isostructural and crystallize orthorhombic, space group Pbca and Z = 8. The isostructural complexes 4 and 5 crystallize monoclinic, space group P2₁/n and Z = 4. In complexes 2–5, the (ReO)³⁺ unit is coordinated by a monoanionic O,O-bidentate unit of the maltolate (2 and 3) or kojate (4 and 5) ligand, one triphenylphosphine and two halogeno ligands (Cl in 2 and 4; Br in 3 and 5), with the rhenium(V) center in a distorted octahedral environment. The halide ligands are in cis positions to each other.     

Synthese und Struktur von Ammin- und Amidokomplexen des Iridiums

Synthesis and Structure of Ammine and Amido Complexes of Iridium The reaction of (NH₄)₂[IrCl₆] with NH₄Cl at 300 °C in a sealed glass ampoule yields the iridium(III) ammine complex (NH₄)₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅], which crystallizes isotypically with K₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with Z = 4, and a = 1350.0(2); b = 1028.5(3); c = 689.6(2) pm. The reaction of (NH₄)₂[IrCl₆] with NH₃ at 300 °C, however, gives the already known [Ir(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂ beside a small amount of [Ir(NH₃)₄Cl₂]Cl₂. In pure form [Ir(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂ is obtained by ammonolysis of (NH₄)₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] at 300 °C with NH₃. [Ir(NH₃)₄Cl₂]Cl₂ crystallizes triclinic (P1, Z = 1, a = 660,2(3); b = 680,4(3); c = 711,1(2) pm; α = 103,85(2)°, β = 114,54(3)°, γ = 112,75(2)°). The structure contains Cl^– anions and [Ir(NH₃)₄Cl₂]²⁺ cations with a trans position of the Cl atoms. Upon reaction of [Ir(NH₃)₅Cl]Cl₂ with Cl₂ one ammine ligand is eliminated yielding [Ir(NH₃)₄Cl₂]Cl, which is transformed to orthorhombic [Ir(NH₃)₄(OH₂)Cl]Cl₂ (Pnma, Z = 4, a = 1335,1(3); b = 1047,9(2); c = 673,4(2) pm) by crystallization from water. In the octahedral complex [Ir(NH₃)₄(OH₂)Cl]²⁺ the four ammine ligands have an equatorial position, whereas the Cl atom and the aqua ligand are arranged axial. Oxidation of (NH₄)₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] with Cl₂ at 330 °C affords the tetragonal Ir^IV complex (NH₄)[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] (P4nc, Z = 2, a = 702.68(5); c = 912.89(9) pm). Its structure was determined using the powder diagram. Oxidation of (NH₄)₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] with Br₂ in water, on the other hand, gives (NH₄)₂[IrBr₆] crystallizing in the K₂[PtCl₆] type. Oxidation of (PPh₄)₂[Ir(NH₃)Cl₅] with PhI(OAc)₂ in CH₂Cl₂ affords the Ir^V amido complex (PPh₄)[Ir(NH₂)Cl₅].     

Driving forces in substitution reactions of octahedral complexes: The influence of the competitive effect

The reaction of cis-[RuCl₂(P–P)(N–N)] type complexes (P–P = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane or (1,1′-diphenylphosphino)ferrocene; N–N = 2,2′-bipyridine or 1,10-phenantroline) with monodentate ligands (L), such as 4-methylpyridine, 4-phenylpyridine and benzonitrile forms [RuCl(L)(P–P)(N–N)]⁺ species. Upon characterization of the isolated compounds by elemental analysis, ³¹P{¹H} NMR and X-ray crystallography it was found out that the type of the L ligand determines its position in relation to the phosphorus atom. While pyridine derivatives like 4-methylpyridine and 4-phenylpyridine coordinate trans to the phosphorus atom, the benzonitrile ligand (bzCN), a good π acceptor, coordinates trans to the nitrogen atom. A ³¹P{¹H} NMR experiment following the reaction of the precursor cis-[RuCl₂(dppb)(phen)] with the benzonitrile ligand shows that the final position of the entering ligand in the complex is better defined as a consequence of the competitive effect between the phosphorus atom and the cyano-group from the benzonitrile moiety and not by the trans effect. In this case, the benzonitrile group is stabilized trans to one of the nitrogen atoms of the N–N ligand. A differential pulse voltammetry experiment confirms this statement. In both experiments the [RuCl(bzCN)(dppb)(phen)]PF₆ species with the bzCN ligand positioned trans to a phosphorus atom of the dppb ligand was detected as an intermediate complex.     

Structural, vibrational and optical studies on an amorphous Se90P10 alloy produced by mechanical alloying

We investigated some physicochemical properties of an amorphous Se(90)P(10) alloy produced by mechanical alloying through x-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, optical absorption spectroscopy and EXAFS techniques. The total structure factor obtained from x-ray diffraction and the EXAFS χ(k) oscillations on the Se K edge were used in reverse Monte Carlo simulations to obtain structural information such as average coordination numbers and interatomic distances and the distribution of structural units present in the alloy. In addition, we also determined the vibrational modes and the optical band gap energy of the alloy.     

Vanadium complexes with thiosemicarbazones: Synthesis,characterization, crystal structures and anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis activity

The development of more efficient anti-tuberculosis drugs is of interest. Three oxovanadium(IV) and three cis-dioxovanadium(V) complexes with thiosemicarbazone derivatives bearing moieties with different lipophilicity have been prepared and had their inhibitory activity against Mycobacteriumtuberculosis H₃₇Rv ATCC 27294 evaluated. The analytical methods used by the complexes’ characterization included IR, EPR, ¹H, ¹³C and ⁵¹V NMR spectroscopies, elemental analysis, cyclic voltammetry, magnetic susceptibility measurement and single crystal X-ray diffractometry. [VO(acac)(aptsc)], [VO(acac)(apmtsc)] and [VO(acac)(apptsc)] (acac = acetylacetonate; Haptsc = 2-acetylpyridinethiosemicarbazone; Hapmtsc = 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-methyl-thiosemicarbazone and Happtsc = 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-phenyl-thiosemicarbazone) are paramagnetic and their EPR spectra are consistent with the monoanionic N,N,S-tridentate coordination of the thiosemicarbazone ligands, resulting in octahedral structures of rhombic symmetry and with the oxidation state +IV for the vanadium atom. As result of oxidation of the vanadium(IV) complexes above, the diamagnetic cis-dioxovanadium(V) complexes [VO₂(aptsc)], [VO₂(apmtsc)] and [VO₂(apptsc)] are formed. Their ¹H, ¹³C and ⁵¹V NMR spectra were acquired and support a distorted square pyramidal geometry for them, in accord with the solid state X-ray structures determined for [VO₂(aptsc)] and [VO₂(apmtsc)]. In general, the vanadium compounds show comparable or larger anti-M. tuberculosis activities than the free thiosemicarbazone ligands, with MIC values within 62.5–1.56 (μg/mL).     

Maturation of auditory temporal integration and inhibition assessed with event-related potentials (ERPs)

Background

We examined development of auditory temporal integration and inhibition by assessing electrophysiological responses to tone pairs separated by interstimulus intervals (ISIs) of 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 ms in 28 children aged 7 to 9 years, and 15 adults.

Results

In adults a distinct neural response was elicited to tones presented at ISIs of 25 ms or longer, whereas in children this was only seen in response to tones presented at ISIs above 100 ms. In adults, late N1 amplitude was larger for the second tone of the tone pair when separated by ISIs as short as 100 ms, consistent with the perceptual integration of successive stimuli within the temporal window of integration. In contrast, children showed enhanced negativity only when tone pairs were separated by ISIs of 200 ms. In children, the amplitude of the P1 component was attenuated at ISIs below 200 ms, consistent with a refractory process.

Conclusions

These results indicate that adults integrate sequential auditory information into smaller temporal segments than children. These results suggest that there are marked maturational changes from childhood to adulthood in the perceptual processes underpinning the grouping of incoming auditory sensory information, and that electrophysiological measures provide a sensitive, non-invasive method allowing further examination of these changes.     

Darstellung und Kristallstrukturen von Dicyanamido(triphenylphosphan)gold(I) und Nitrosodicyanmethanido(triphenylphosphan)gold(I)

Preparation and Crystal Structures of Dicyanamido(triphenylphosphane)gold(I) and Nitrosodicyanomethanido(triphenylphosphane)gold(I) The coordination compounds [(Ph₃P)Au{N(CN)₂}] ( 1 ) and [(Ph₃P)Au{ONC(CN)₂}] ( 2 ) are obtained by the reaction of [Au(PPh₃)]NO₃ with Na[N(CN)₂] or K[ONC(CN)₂] in CH₂Cl₂. The compounds are characterized by IR spectroscopy and by crystal structure determination. 1 crystallizes triclinic in the space group P 1 with a = 930.16(4), b = 1011.89(13), c = 1118.35(16) pm, α = 115.327(10), β = 90.899(8), γ = 103.394(8)°, Z = 2. 2 crystallizes monoclinic in the space group P2₁/n with a = 832.59(10), b = 1139.30(16), c = 2078.9(4) pm, β = 99.84(2)°, Z = 4. The crystal structures of both compounds are built up by pairs of antiparallel oriented molecules with linear coordinated gold atoms and weak intermolecular Au–N‐interactions.