Evidence of a Photo‐Radical Pathway Responsible of the Rearrangement of a Manganese(III)‐Schiff Base Complex in Solution

A new Mn^III‐Schiff base complex, [MnL(OH₂)](ClO₄) ( 1 ) (H₂L = N, N′‐bis‐(3‐Br‐5‐Cl‐salicylidene)‐1, 2‐diimino‐2‐methylethane), an inorganic model of the catalytic center (OEC, Oxygen Evolving Complex) in photosystem II (PSII), has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and EPR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, magnetic susceptibility measurement and the study of its redox properties by cyclic and normal pulse voltammetry. This complex mimics reactivity (showing a relevant photolytic activity), and also some structural characteristics (parallel‐mode Mn^III EPR signal from partially assembled OEC cluster) of the natural OEC. The complex 1 was found to rearrange in solution into a crystallographically solved square‐pyramidal complex, [MnLL′] ( 2 ) (HL′ = 6‐bromo‐4‐chloro‐2‐cyanophenol), through a process, which probably liberates radical species (detected by EPR), and provokes a C—N bond cleavage in the ligand. A photo‐radical mechanism is discussed to explain this rearrangement.     

Memory and a priori best strategy in complex adaptive systems

We employ an agent‐based model to show that memory and the absence of an a priori best strategy are sufficient for self‐segregation and clustering to emerge in a complex adaptive system with discrete agents that do not compete over a limited resource nor contend in a winner‐take‐all scenario. An agent starts from a corner of a two‐dimensional lattice and aims to reach a randomly selected site in the opposite side within the shortest possible time. The agent is isolated during the course of its journey and does not interact with other agents. Time‐bound obstacles appear at random lattice locations and the agent must decide whether to challenge or evade any obstacle blocking its path. The agent is capable of adapting a strategy in dealing with an obstacle. We analyze the dependence of strategy‐retention time with strategy for both memory‐based and memory‐less agents. We derive the equality spectrum to establish the environmental conditions that favor the existence of an a priori best strategy. We found that memory‐less agents do not polarize into two opposite strategy‐retention time distributions nor cluster toward a center distribution. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 9: 41–46, 2004     

Electrochemical Synthesis of MII Complexes with a Schiff Base containing an Amido Group. Crystal Structure of a Cobalt(II) Complex with a Reorganised Ligand

M(HL)(H₂O)_n complexes have been obtained by the electrochemical reaction of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd anodes with the potentially pentadentate and trianionic asymmetrical Schiff base 3‐aza‐N‐{2‐[1‐aza‐2‐(5‐nitro‐2‐hydroxylphenyl)‐vinyl]phenyl}‐4‐(5‐nitro‐2‐hydroxyphenyl)but‐3‐enamide (H₃L), containing a hard amido donor atom. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopies, magnetic measurements and molar conductivities. Co(HL)(H₂O) ( 2 ) has been found to rearrange in DMF solution into a crystallographically solved octahedral complex, CoL¹(H₂O)₂ ( 7 ) [where H₂L¹ is the symmetrical Schiff base ligand N,N′‐(1,2‐phenylene)‐bis(5‐nitro‐3‐hydroxysalicylidenimine)]. A hydrolysis mechanism is discussed to explain this rearrangement.     

The Structure of the Elusive Simplest Dipeptide Gly-Gly

Among the hundreds of peptide compounds for which conformations have been determined by using different spectroscopic techniques, the structure of the simplest dipeptide glycylglycine (Gly-Gly) is conspicuously absent. Herein, for the first time, solid samples of Gly-Gly have been vaporized by laser ablation and three different structures have been revealed in a supersonic expansion by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. The intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions that stabilize the observed forms have been established based on the ¹⁴N nuclear quadrupole hyperfine structure. We have illustrated how conformer interconversion distorts the equilibrium conformational distribution, giving rise to missing conformers in the conformational landscape.     

N,N′‐Bis(2‐tosyl­amino­benzyl­idene)‐1,2‐ethanedi­amine

The structure of the title compound, C₃₀H₃₀N₄O₄S₂, is highly conditioned in the solid state by two strong N—H?N interactions. The values of the distances between the aminic N atoms [5.865 (3) Å] and the iminic N atoms [2.930 (4) Å], in conjunction with the long distance between the S atoms of the two tosyl groups [7.673 (1) Å], suggest that when the molecule acts as a ligand it will provide a single cavity for N₄ coordination to the metal centre.     

M?ssbauer analysis of high-energy mechanical-milled sand fraction of a magnetic soil developing on basalt

A sample of the coarse sand fraction from the soil material of the A-horizon (0?C0.2 m from the soil surface) of a dusky red magnetic Oxisol was submitted to high-energy mechanical milling for different times. This assay aimed mainly at (a) monitoring the individualization of strongly aggregated mineral particles, and (b) measuring the effect of the milling pressure on the mineralogy changes of the material. These data are also intended to experimentally subside any physical model describing the mechanical behavior of the superficial soil layer that is subjected to intensive machine management, in agriculture fields. Powder X-ray data reveal that some mineralogical phases, notably gibbsite, disappear soon after the first few hours milling. The 298 K-transmission Mössbauer spectrum for the non-milled sand sample shows a qualitatively typical pattern for the sand fraction of basalt derived soils, with magnetically ordered sextets, assignable mainly to hematite and maghemite, and an intense central (super)paramagnetic Fe^3?+? doublet. For the milled samples, spectra revealed progressive spectral reduction of the magnetic hyperfine structure, with concomitant increase of relative subspectral areas due to (super)paramagnetic phases, as the milling time increased. This result is consistent with the reduction of measured saturation magnetization, from 4.96(8) J T^???1 kg^???1, for the non-milled sample, to 3.26(7) J T^???1 kg^???1, for the sample milled for 8 hours.     

Self-healing properties of asymmetric Bessel beams

Recent studies have shown that an asymmetric Bessel beam, similar to a conventional non-diverging Bessel beam; recovers their original intensity profile after encountering an obstruction. Here, we investigate the ability of an asymmetric Bessel beam to recover their original intensity profile when it is perturbed by an obstruction, and additionally drastically perturbed by a pattern of light generated by an annular obstruction. We believe that their intriguing properties have not been fully studied. A better understanding of their properties can help to make use of them appropriately in a variety of potential applications. Our investigations reveal that the dynamics of the reconstruction is affected by the asymmetry degree of the beam.     

SERS spectroscopy and SERS imaging of Shewanella oneidensis using silver nanoparticles and nanowires

Facile and reproducible SERS signals from Shewanella oneidensis were obtained utilizing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and silver nanowires (AgNWs). Additionally, SERS images identify the distribution of SERS hot-spots. One important observation is the synergistically enhanced SERS signal when AgNPs and AgNWs are used in conjunction, due to constructively enhanced electromagnetic field.     

Interaction of Mn(acac)3 with Asymmetrical Schiff Base Ligands containing an Amido Group

Interaction of asymmetrical Schiff base ligands H₃Lⁿ [where H₃Lⁿ are substituted 3–aza–4–(2–hydroxyphenyl)–N– (2–hydroxyphenyl)but–3–enamide] with Mn(acac)₃ (acac = acetylacetonate) has been investigated. Two different type of manganese(III) complexes have been obtained depending on the nature of the substituents on the ligand. We have found that ligands containing donor substituents drives to the formation of two different kinds of complexes from the same reaction: Mn(Lⁿ)(H₂O)_x ( 1a–5a ) and [Mn(HLⁿ)(acac)](H₂O)_y ( 1b–5b ) (where Lⁿ and HLⁿ signify the ligand in its trianionic and dianionic form, respectively). However, when the substituents are electron withdrawing or poor donor only compounds of the type [Mn(HLⁿ)(acac)](H₂O)_y ( 6–10 ) are obtained. All these compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, FAB mass spectrometry, magnetic measurements and molar conductivities. The electrochemical behaviour of these complexes has also been studied.