Iron(II) and cobalt(II) complexes bearing N-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)-quinolin-8-amine derivatives: Synthesis and application to ethylene oligomerization

A series of tridentate NˆNˆN iron(II) and cobalt(II) complexes containing N-((pyridin-2-yl)methylene)-quinolin-8-amine derivatives were synthesized and characterized by elemental and spectroscopic analyses. The molecular structure of 1a was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analyses. On treatment with modified methylaluminoxane, these metal complexes exhibited good catalytic activities up to 2.8 × 10⁶ g mol⁻¹(Fe) h⁻¹ for ethylene oligomerization, and butenes were the major products with nice selectivity for 1-C₄. The steric and electronic effects on catalytic activities of metal complexes were carefully investigated as well as the influence of various reaction parameters. In the catalytic system, Fe(II) complexes performed better catalytic activities than their Co(II) analogues. With ligands having bulky substituents, the better catalytic activity was observed in catalytic system of Fe(II) complex, however, the lower catalytic activity was obtained in catalytic system of Co(II) complexes.     

Flow-injection catalytic spectrophotometic determination of molybdenum(VI) in plants using bromate oxidative coupling of p-hydrazinobensenesulfonic acid with N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine

A novel flow-injection spectrophotometry has been developed for the determination of molybdenum(VI) at nanograms per milliliter levels. The method is based on the catalytic effect of molybdenum(VI) on the bromate oxidative coupling of p-hydrazinobenzenesulfonic acid with N-(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine to form an azo dye (λ_max = 530 nm). Chromotropic acid (4,5-dihydroxy-2,7-naphthalenedisulfonic acid) acted as an effective activator for the molybdenum(VI)-catalyzed reaction and increased the sensitivity of the method. The reaction was monitored by measuring the change in absorbance of the dye produced. The proposed method allowed the determination of molybdenum(VI) in the range 1.0-20 ng mL⁻¹ with sample throughput of 15 h⁻¹. The limit of detection was 0.5 ng mL⁻¹ and a relative standard deviation for 10 ng mL⁻¹ molybdenum(VI) (n = 10) was 2.5%. The interfering ions were eliminated by using the combination of a masking agent and on-line minicolumn packed with cation exchanger. The present method was successfully applied to the determination of molybdenum(VI) in plant foodstuffs.     

A sensitive and highly stable electrochemical impedance immunosensor based on the formation of silica gel-ionic liquid biocompatible film on the glassy carbon electrode for the determination of aflatoxin B1 in bee pollen

The paper describes a sensitive and highly stable label-free electrochemical impedance immunosensor for the determination of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁), which is based on the formation of silica gel-ionic liquid biocompatible film on the glassy carbon electrode. The electrochemical performances of the sensor were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy using a Fe(CN)₆^3−/4− phosphate buffer solution as base solution for test. As new ionic liquid, 1-amyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, offers a very biocompatible microenvironment for AFB₁ antibody, the sensor exhibits good repeatability (RSD = 1.2%), sensitive electrochemical impedance response to AFB₁ in the range of 0.1-10 ng ml⁻¹ and lowers the detection limit of AFB₁ (0.01 ng ml⁻¹)_. The electron-transfer resistance change of the sensor after and before incubation with AFB₁ of 2.0 ng ml⁻¹ can retain 95% over a 180-day storage period at 4 °C. The results present a remarkable improvement of sensitivity (2-fold) and long-term stability (190-fold) when compared to classical silica gel sensor. Moreover, proposed sensor has a high selectivity to AFB₁ alone with no significant response to AFB₂, AFG₁, AFG₂ and AFM₁ as single substrates, it has been successfully applied to the determination of trace AFB₁ in bee pollen samples with a spiked recovery in the range of 96.0-102.5%.     

Electrochemiluminescence assay for the detection of acridinium esters

An electrochemiluminescence (ECL)-based method for rapid and sensitive detection of acridinium ester in neutral solution was described. Strong ECL emission was observed when a positive voltage over 2.0 V (versus Ag/AgCl) was applied to the working electrode (Pt) immersed in the acridinium ester solution of 2.0 mol l⁻¹ KNO₃ (pH 7.0). The possible ECL mechanism was discussed. It was proposed that the ECL emission came out of N-methylacridone, the oxidization product of acridinium ester by the nascent oxygen generated on the surface of working electrode in the course of oxidization of water. Other influenced factors including the electrochemical parameters, the ECL reaction medium and pH value, were investigated in detail. Under the optimal conditions, ECL intensity has a linear relationship with the concentration of acridinium ester in the range of 0.24-96 ng ml⁻¹ (r=0.9999). The relative standard deviation for 24 ng ml⁻¹ acridinium ester was 4.6% (n=11). The limit of detection was 0.16 ng ml⁻¹.     

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography-chemiluminescent detection of biogenic amines using N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-ethylisoluminol as derivatization reagent and trivalent copper chelate as chemiluminescence enhancer

A facile, sensitive and universal method was established for analysis of biogenic amines using micellar electrokinetic chromatography coupled with chemiluminescent (CL) detection. It was found that diperiodatocuprate (III) (K₅[Cu(HIO₆)₂], DPC), a transition metal chelate at unstable high oxidation state, could effectively enhance the reaction between luminol-type compound and hydrogen peroxide, to produce very strong CL signal. In addition, triethylamine was found to be able to effectively improve the yield of the derivatization reaction between biogenic amines and a luminol-type derivatization reagent, N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-ethylisoluminol (ABEI). Based on these facts, three biogenic amines were pre-column derivatized with ABEI, and post-column detected using high sensitive luminol-hydrogen peroxide-DPC CL system. Since the background was quite low, and the signal was quite strong, a considerable improved sensitivity was obtained. The presented method had been successfully applied to simultaneously analyze glycine, proline and phenylalanine with the detection limits (S/N = 3) of 0.030 μmol L⁻¹, 0.23 μmol L⁻¹ and 0.21 μmol L⁻¹, respectively. To evaluate its potential application value, glycine in saliva and urine samples was detected using this method, and satisfied results were obtained. This approach can be further extended to detection of many other compounds such as peptides and drugs by using luminol-type derivatization reagent.     

N-(Pyridin-2-yl)picolinamide tetranickel clusters: Synthesis,structure and ethylene oligomerization

A series of N-(pyridin-2-yl)picolinamide derivatives was synthesized and characterized. Tetranickel complexes were obtained by stoichiometric reaction of NiBr₂ and corresponding ligands, and characterized by elemental and spectroscopic analysis. Moreover, the coordination pattern of complex 3a was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In the structure, two ligands linked two nickel atoms to form a unit, and two units were bridged via μ₃-OMe and μ₂-Br to form a tetranickel cluster. These Ni(II) complexes were investigated in ethylene oligomerization and found to exhibit remarkable catalytic activities upon activation with MAO. Reaction conditions as well as ligand environment significantly affected the catalytic performance of the nickel complexes; the highest activity could be achieved to be 2.7 × 10⁶ g mol⁻¹ Ni h⁻¹.     

Synthesis,characterization, and properties of novel bis(aryl)carbazole-containing N-coumarin derivatives

A series of novel N-coumarin derivatives containing oligothiophene-substituted N-coumarins as the core and bis(aryl)carbazoles as the substituent were synthesized and characterized. Their optical, electrochemical, and thermal properties were investigated. The electroluminescence (EL) properties of the selected materials were also studied. Solution-processed OLEDs with green and yellow light emission, turn-on voltages of 2.7–2.9 V, and maximum luminance efficiencies of up to 3.94 cd A⁻¹ at 17.6 mA cm⁻² (maximum power efficiency of 1.62 lm W⁻¹) were prepared.     

1,n′-Disubstituted ferrocenoyl amino acids and dipeptides: Conformational analysis by CD spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and DFT calculations

An experimental and computational study on the conformational preference of 1,n′-disubstituted ferrocenoyl amino acids and dipeptides is presented. Only l-amino acids were used for the synthesis of Fe[C₅H₄-CO-Met-Met-OMe]₂ (4), but according to the X-ray structure a 4:1 mixture of l,d,M,d,l and l,d,M,l,l isomers is obtained (l describes amino acid chirality and M the helical chirality of the ferrocene core). This result is in agreement with IR and CD solution phase data and can be explained with a racemization by 1 M NaOH during the synthesis. In order to determine the relative stabilities of the different conformations, DFT calculations on model compounds Fe[C₅H₄-CO-Gly-NH₂]₂ (5) and Fe[C₅H₄-CO-Ala-OMe]₂ (6) were performed using the B3LYP/LanL2DZ method with ECPs on the heavy atoms. Conformers 5A-5C with different hydrogen bond patterns have significantly different stabilities with a stabilization by about 30 kJ mol⁻¹ per hydrogen bond. The “Herrick conformation” 5A with two hydrogen bonds is the most stable in the gas phase, in accordance with the solution and solid phase data. In contrast, only small energetic differences (less than 10 kJ mol⁻¹) were calculated for conformers l,P,l-6A, l,P,d-6A and d,P,d-6A, which differ only in amino acid chirality.     

Theoretical study of the thermochemistry and the kinetics of the SFxCl (x = 0-5) series

A systematic thermodynamic and kinetic study of the entire SF_xCl (x = 0-5) series has been carried out. High-level quantum chemical composite methods have been employed to derive enthalpy of formation values from calculated atomization and isodesmic energies. The resulting values for the SCl, SFCl, SF₂Cl(C₁), SF₃Cl(C_s), SF₄Cl(C_s) and SF₅Cl molecules are 28.0, −36.0, −64.2, −134.3, −158.2 and −237.1 kcal mol⁻¹. A comparison with previous experimental and theoretical values is presented. Statistical adiabatic channel model/classical trajectory, SACM/CT, calculations of selected complex-forming and recombination reactions of F and Cl atoms with radicals of the series have been performed between 200 and 500 K. The reported rate coefficients span over the normal range of about 6 × 10⁻¹² and 5 × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ expected for this type of barrierless reactions.     

Electrocatalytic oxidation behavior of guanosine at graphene, chitosan and Fe3O4 nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode and its determination

A graphene, chitosan and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (nano-Fe₃O₄) modified glassy carbon electrode (graphene-chitosan/nano-Fe₃O₄/GCE) was fabricated. The modified electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscope and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The electrochemical oxidation behavior of guanosine was investigated in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The experimental results indicated that the modified electrode exhibited an electrocatalytic and adsorptive activities towards the oxidation of guanosine. The transfer electron number (n), transfer proton number (m) and electrochemically effective surface area (A) were calculated. Under the optimized conditions, the oxidation peak current was proportional to guanosine concentration in the range of 2.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 3.5 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹ with the correlation coefficient of 0.9939 and the detection limit of 7.5 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). Moreover, the modified electrode showed good ability to discriminate the electrochemical oxidation response of guanosine, guanine and adenosine. The proposed method was further applied to determine guanosine in spiked urine samples and traditional Chinese medicines with satisfactory results.     

Design of single chain magnets through cyanide-bearing six-coordinate complexes

The design and preparation of stable cyanide-bearing six-coordinate complexes of formula [M^III(L)(CN)_x]^{(x + l − m)−} (M = trivalent transition metal ion and L = polydentate blocking ligand) are summarized here. Their use as ligands towards either fully hydrated metal ions or coordinatively unsaturated preformed species, to afford a wide variety of low-dimensional metal assemblies whose nuclearity, dimensionality and magnetic properties can be tuned, is also reviewed. Special emphasis is put on the appropriate choice of the end-cap ligand L whose denticity determines the number of coordinated cyanide groups in the mononuclear precursors. Among the different new spin topologies obtained through this rational synthetic strategy, ferromagnetically coupled 4,2-ribbon like bimetallic chains which exhibit slow magnetic relaxation and hysteresis effects (chain as magnets) are one of the most appealing and constitute the heart of the present contribution.     

Quantification of biogenic amines by microchip electrophoresis with chemiluminescence detection

A highly sensitive microchip electrophoresis (MCE) method with chemiluminescence (CL) detection was developed for the determination of biogenic amines including agmatine (Agm), epinephrine (E), dopamine (DA), tyramine, and histamine in human urine samples. To achieve a high assay sensitivity, the targeted analytes were pre-column labeled by a CL tagging reagent, N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-ethylisoluminol (ABEI). ABEI-tagged biogenic amines after MCE separation reacted with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of horseradish peroxidase (HRP), producing CL emission. Since no CL reagent was added to the running buffer, the background of the CL detection was extremely low, resulting in a significant improvement in detection sensitivity. Detection limits (S/N = 3) were in the range from 5.9 × 10⁻⁸ to 7.7 × 10⁻⁸ M for the biogenic amines tested, which were at least 10 times lower than those of the MCE–CL methods previously reported. Separation of a urine sample on a 7 cm glass/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchip channel was completed within 3 min. Analysis of human urine samples found that the levels of Agm, E and DA were in the ranges of 2.61 × 10⁻⁷ to 4.30 × 10⁻⁷ M, 0.81 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.12 × 10⁻⁷ M, and 8.76 × 10⁻⁷ to 11.21 × 10⁻⁷ M (n = 4), respectively.     

On-chip integrated hydrolysis, fluorescent labeling, and electrophoretic separation utilized for acetylcholinesterase assay

A sensitive on-chip acetylcholinesterase (AChE) assay that serves as a basis for the development of a fully integrated on-chip AChE-inhibitor detection assay is presented. The sequential steps required for the on-chip analysis process were integrated into a microchip. Transport and mixing of the reagents occurred by a combination of electroosmosis and electrophoresis using computer-controlled electrokinetic transport. AChE-catalyzed hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine to thiocholine was determined by on-chip reaction of thiocholine with eosinmaleimide, and the resulting thioether was electrophoretically separated and detected by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Enzyme-substrate mixing and reaction by confluent flow of reagents was compared with electrophoretically mediated microanalysis (EMMA), based on injection of an enzyme plug, and the utilization of differences in electrophoretic mobility as a driving force for efficient mixing and reaction. Both methods yielded similar results, however the EMMA-plug technique is preferable. The EMMA-plug technique was optimized for length and pushing time of enzyme plug, length of dyes mixture plug, acetylthiocholine concentration, and detector location. Detection of O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothiolate (VX) and paraoxon, two AChE inhibitors, was demonstrated by off-chip mixing of the inhibitor and AChE, followed by the on-chip AChE assay. Limit of detection of VX for 5.5 min incubation and of paraoxon for 8 min incubation was 4 × 10⁻¹⁰ and 4 × 10⁻⁷ M, respectively. Utilization of the AChE microchip assay for inhibition kinetics was demonstrated also by evaluation of the inhibitor-enzyme bimolecular reaction constant (k_i). The evaluated k_i values for VX and paraoxon for AChE from the electric eel were 3.5 × 10⁷ and 1.7 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ min⁻¹, respectively, conforming well to reported values obtained by bulk methods.     

Experimental and theoretical study of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)morpholine betaine

N-(2-hydroxyethyl)morpholine betaine (HEMB) has been characterized by a single crystal X-ray analysis, FTIR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c with a=10.273(2), b=9.360(2), c=9.447(2) Å and β=104.72(3)Å. Two molecules of HEMB form a centrosymmetric dimer (X2) connected by a pair of hydrogen bonds between the CH₂CH₂OH and COO⁻ groups, with the O?O distance of 2.672(2) Å. The morpholine ring adopts a chair conformation with the CH₂CH₂OH group in the axial and the CH₂COO⁻ group in the equatorial position. The structures of the dimer, B2, and two monomers, B1a and B1b, have been optimized by the B3LYP approach using the 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The computed structure of B2, agrees well with the experimental X2. From two stable monomeric conformers the more favored is B1a, with the intramolecular hydrogen bond with the O-H?O distance of 2.566 Å. The effects of hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions on the conformation of the molecules investigated have been discussed. The FTIR spectrum shows a broad absorption in the 3300-2600 cm⁻¹ region, typical of moderate O-H?O hydrogen bonds.     

Synthesis of a novel bistriazene reagent 4,4′-bis[3-(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)triazenyl]biphenyl and its highly sensitive color reaction with mercury(II)

We report the synthesis of a novel bistriazene, 4,4′-bis(3-(4-phenylthiazol-2-yl)triazenyl)biphenyl (BPTTBP), and its highly sensitive color reaction with Hg²⁺. The new reagent was synthesized in good yield by coupling 2-amino-4-phenylthiazole with 4,4′-biphenyldiamine bisdiazonium salt. Using a blend of surfactants N-cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and polyethylene glycol n-octanoic phenyl ether (OP) as a micelle sensitizer, the red colored reagent assembles with Hg²⁺ in pH 9.8 borate buffer according to a 1:1 stoichiometry, forming a blue oligomeric/polymeric chelating complex with a high apparent stability constant (1.1 × 10⁸ M⁻¹). Whereas the maximum absorption of reagent occurs at 510 nm with an extinct coefficient of 1.35 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹, the complex absorbs at 611 nm, with an apparent extinct coefficient of 1.04 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹. Beer's law is obeyed in the range of 0-15 μg/25 mL Hg²⁺, and Sandell's sensitivity is 1.92 × 10⁻³ μg/cm². In the presence of thiourea and Na₄P₂O₇ as masking agents, the method was found free from interferences of foreign ions commonly occurring with mercury. The optimized protocol has been successfully applied to spectrophotometric determination of mercury in waste water samples. The features of the new reagent associated with its special structure were discussed, and an unprecedented “domino effect” was proposed to account for its unique chelating stoichiometry with Hg²⁺.     

Probing trace Pb(2+) using electrodeposited N,N'-(o-phenylene)-bis-benzenesulfonamide polymer as a novel selective ion capturing film

A novel film modified electrode for the determination of trace lead was developed in this work. The modified electrode was prepared by the electropolymerization of N,N′-(o-phenylene)-bis-benzenesulfonamide (PBSA) as the ion capturing reagent to create the functional film. The modified electrode shows a high selectivity towards Pb²⁺ over interfering cations, e.g. Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cr²⁺, and the calibration curve was linear in the concentration range of 2.0 × 10⁻⁹ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ M with correlation coefficient of 0.999. For 20 min accumulation, detection limit of 1.0 × 10⁻⁹ M was obtained at the signal to noise ratio of 3. Analytical availability of the modified electrode was demonstrated by the application for samples from pond water.     

A lead(II)-selective PVC membrane based on a Schiff base complex of N,N'-bis(salicylidene)-2,6-pyridinediamine

PVC membrane electrodes for lead ion based on N,N’-bis(salicylidene)-2,6-pyridinediamine as membrane carrier were prepared. Among their membranes, a membrane electrode (m-3) containing o-NPOE as a plasticizer and 50 mol% additive displays an excellent Nernstian response (29.4 mV/decade) and the limit of detection of −log a (M) = 6.04 to Pb²⁺ in Pb(NO₃)₂ solutions at room temperature. It has a rapid response time within 10 s over the entire concentration range. The proposed electrode revealed good selectivity and response for Pb²⁺ over a wide variety of other metal ions in a pH 5.0 buffer solutions, and good reproducibility of base line in subsequent measurements.     

N,N′-Bis(aryl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide complexes of ruthenium: Synthesis,structure and redox properties

Reaction of five N,N′-bis(aryl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamides (H₂L-R, where H₂ denotes the two acidic protons and R (R = OCH₃, CH₃, H, Cl and NO₂) the para substituent in the aryl fragment) with [Ru(trpy)Cl₃](trpy = 2,2′,2″-terpyridine) in refluxing ethanol in the presence of a base (NEt₃) affords a group of complexes of the type [Ru^II(trpy)(L-R)], each of which contains an amide ligand coordinated to the metal center as a dianionic tridentate N,N,N-donor along with a terpyridine ligand. Structure of the [Ru^II(trpy)(L-Cl)] complex has been determined by X-ray crystallography. All the Ru(II) complexes are diamagnetic, and show characteristic ¹H NMR signals and intense MLCT transitions in the visible region. Cyclic voltammetry on the [Ru^II(trpy)(L-R)] complexes shows a Ru(II)–Ru(III) oxidation within 0.16–0.33 V versus SCE. An oxidation of the coordinated amide ligand is also observed within 0.94–1.33 V versus SCE and a reduction of coordinated terpyridine ligand within −1.10 to −1.15 V versus SCE. Constant potential coulometric oxidation of the [Ru^II(trpy)(L-R)] complexes produces the corresponding [Ru^III(trpy)(L-R)]⁺ complexes, which have been isolated as the perchlorate salts. Structure of the [Ru^III(trpy)(L-CH₃)]ClO₄ complex has been determined by X-ray crystallography. All the Ru(III) complexes are one-electron paramagnetic, and show anisotropic ESR spectra at 77 K and intense LMCT transitions in the visible region. A weak ligand-field band has also been shown by all the [Ru^III(trpy)(L-R)]ClO₄ complexes near 1600 nm.     

Synthesis and characterization of N-(2-pyridyl)benzamide-based nickel complexes and their activity for ethylene oligomerization

A series of N-(2-pyridyl)benzamides (1)-(11) and their nickel complexes, [N-(2-pyridyl)benzamide]dinickel(II) di-μ-bromide dibromide (12)-(16) and (aryl)[N-(2-pyridyl)benzamido](triphenylphosphine)nickel(II) (17)-(24), were synthesized and characterized. The single-crystal X-ray analysis revealed that 12 and 14 are binuclear nickel complexes bridged by bromine atoms and each nickel atom adopts a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. The key feature of the complexes 17, 19 and 23 is each has a six-membered nickel chelate ring including a deprotonated secondary nitrogen atom and an O-donor atom. The nickel complexes show moderate to high catalytic activity for ethylene oligomerization with methylaluminoxane (MAO) as cocatalyst. The activity of 12-16/MAO systems is up to 3.3 × 10⁴ g mol⁻¹ h⁻¹ whereas for 17-24/MAO systems it is up to 4.94 × 10⁵ g mol⁻¹ atm⁻¹ h⁻¹. The influence of Al/Ni molar ratio, reaction temperature, reaction period and PPh₃/Ni molar ratio on catalytic activity was investigated.     

Synthesis and crystal chemistry of the NaMSO4F family (M = Mg, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn)

Our work in metal fluorosulphate chemistry, which was triggered by the discovery of the tavorite-phase of LiFeSO₄F, has unveiled many novel Li- and Na-based phases with desirable electrochemical and/or transport properties. Further exploring this rich crystal chemistry, we have synthesized the Na-based magnesium, copper and zinc fluorosulphates, which crystallise in the maxwellite (tavorite-like framework) structure just as their Fe and Co counterparts, which were previously reported. These phases show ionic conductivities in the range of ∼10⁻⁷ S cm⁻¹ or ∼10⁻¹¹ S cm⁻¹ depending upon their synthesis process and no reversible electrochemical activity versus Na.