Spatially-directed oxidation of gold nanoparticles by Au(III)-CTAB complexes

Gold nanoparticles are readily oxidized by Au(III) in the presence of cetyl-trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Oxidation occurs preferentially at surface sites with higher curvature. Conversely, oxidation with cyanide ions in the absence of CTAB leads to uniform oxidation over the whole surface. Examples of the spatially directed oxidation are provided using large, irregular spheres, nanocubes, and nanorods. We conclude that the mechanism of oxidation depends on whether the oxidant is attached to CTAB micelles. It is postulated that the CTAB micelles approach the nanoparticles preferentially at the tips, leading to spatially directed oxidation.     

A new route to obtain shape-controlled gold nanoparticles from Au(III)-beta-diketonates

Ligands with a beta-diketone skeleton have been employed for the first time as reductant to produce ligand stabilized gold nanoparticles of different shapes from aqueous HAuCl(4) solution. Evolution of stable gold nanoparticles follows first order (k approximately equal to 10(-2) min(-1)) kinetics with respect to Au(0) concentration. Growth of particles of different shapes (spherical or triangular or hexagonal) goes hand in hand under the influence of different beta-diketones, which have excellent capping and reducing properties. Chlorine insertion was observed to take place in the beta-diketone skeleton.     

Generation of gold thread from Au(III) and triethylamine

Gold threads were spontaneously generated at room temperature from a combined solution of aqueous HAuCl4 and triethylamine. Initially, some reduced gold nanoparticles were self-organized into one-dimensional (1D) nanowires, which then developed into three-dimensional (3D) microscale threads of gold. After aging, the self-organized gold thread grew spontaneously, accompanied by the generation of new buds to start new branches. TEM images show that the gold thread is composed of elastic materials; in which, colloidal gold nanoparticles reduced by triethylamine serve as the bricks, whereas elastic substances formed during the reaction serve as the mortar, which holds together the gold particles. The results of IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy demonstrate that the elastic materials consist mainly of alkane-like substances. Examination of the 1H NMR spectrum of triethylamine under the conditions of the reaction shows evidence of the occurrence of oxidative N dealkylation. The observed isotope effect demonstrates the existence of O-D cleavage resulting from the degradation of carbinolamine, which is the reported oxidation route of amines. Triethylamine acts here not only acts as a stabilizer and a reducing agent, but also as a precursor to build the alkane-like material upon which the gold thread is formed.     

Unusual multi-step sequential Au(III)/Au(II) processes of gold(III) quinoxalinoporphyrins in acidic non-aqueous media

The electrochemistry of gold(III) mono- and bis-quinoxalinoporphyrins was examined in CH(2)Cl(2) or PhCN containing 0.1 M tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) before and after the addition of trifluoroacetic acid to solution. The investigated porphyrins are represented as Au(PQ)PF(6) and Au(QPQ)PF(6), where P is the dianion of the 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrin and Q is a quinoxaline group fused to a β,β'-pyrrolic position of the porphyrin macrocycle; in Au(QPQ)PF(6) there is a linear arrangement where the quinoxalines are fused to pyrrolic positions that are opposite each other. The porphyrin without the fused quinoxaline groups, Au(P)PF(6), was also investigated under the same solution conditions. In the absence of acid, all three gold(III) porphyrins undergo a single reversible Au(III)/Au(II) process leading to the formation of a Au(II) porphyrin which can be further reduced at more negative potentials to give stepwise the Au(II) porphyrin π-anion radical and dianion, respectively. However, in the presence of acid, the initial Au(III)/Au(II) processes of Au(PQ)PF(6) and Au(QPQ)PF(6) are followed by an internal electron transfer and protonation to regenerate new Au(III) porphyrins assigned as Au(III)(PQH)(+) and Au(III)(QPQH)(+). Both protonated gold(III) quinoxalinoporphyrins then undergo a second Au(III)/Au(II) process at more negative potentials. The electrogenerated monoprotonated monoquinoxalinoporphyrin, Au(II)(PQH), is then further reduced to its π-anion radical and dianion forms, but this is not the case for the monoprotonated bis-quinoxalinoporphyrin, Au(II)(QPQH), which accepts a second proton and is rapidly converted to Au(III)(HQPQH)(+) before undergoing a third Au(III)/Au(II) process to produce Au(II)(HQPQH) as a final product. Thus, Au(P)PF(6) undergoes one metal-centered reduction while Au(PQ)PF(6) and Au(QPQ)PF(6) exhibit two and three Au(III)/Au(II) processes, respectively. These unusual multistep sequential Au(III)/Au(II) processes were monitored by thin-layer spectroelectrochemistry and a reduction/oxidation mechanism for Au(PQ)PF(6) and Au(QPQ)PF(6) in acidic media is proposed.     

Selenolate gold complexes with aurophilic Au(I)-Au(I) and Au(I)-Au(III) interactions

The gold(I) selenolate compound [Au(2)(SePh)(2)(mu-dppf)] (dppf = 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene) has been prepared by reaction of [Au(2)Cl(2)(mu-dppf)] with PhSeSiMe(3) in a molar ratio 1:2. This complex reacts with gold(I) or gold(III) derivatives to give polynuclear gold(I)-gold(I) or gold(I)-gold(III) complexes of the type [Au(4)(mu-SePh)(2)(PPh(3))(2)(mu-dppf)](OTf)(2), [Au(3)(C(6)F(5))(3)(mu-SePh)(2)(mu-dppf)], or [Au(4)(C(6)F(5))(6)(mu-SePh)(2)(mu-dppf)], with bridging selenolate ligands. The reaction of [Au(2)(SePh)(2)(mu-dppf)] with 1 equiv of AgOTf leads to the formation of the insoluble Ag(SePh) and the compound [Au(2)(mu-SePh)(mu-dppf)]OTf. The complexes [Au(4)(C(6)F(5))(6)(mu-SePh)(2)(mu-dppf)] and [Au(2)(mu-SePh)(mu-dppf)]OTf (two different solvates) have been characterized by X-ray diffraction studies and show the presence of weak gold(I)-gold(III) interactions in the former and intra- and intermolecular gold(I)-gold(I) inter-actions in the later.     

Recovery of Au(III) ions by Au(III)-imprinted hydrogel

A new Au(III)-imprinted hydrogel (Au(III)-Imp) was prepared by the photopolymerisation of 4-acryloylmorpholine (AcM), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (cross-linking monomer, PEG-DA) in the presence of gold ions. In addition, non-imprinted hydrogel (N-Imp) was similarly prepared without Au(III) ions The Au(III)-Imp hydrogel was characterised by several techniques. To achieve the optimal conditions, effect of pH, time, and initial metal ion concentrations were investigated using a batch system. The pre-concentration factor for Au(III) ions was found to be at least 100. The analytical parameters of the method were determined and the method was also successfully applied to computer circuit board scrap samples. The reusability of the Au(III)-Imp hydrogel was also determined.     

Morphology of gold nanoparticles synthesized by filamentous cyanobacteria from gold(I)-thiosulfate and gold(III)--chloride complexes

Plectonema boryanum UTEX 485, a filamentous cyanobacterium, has been reacted with aqueous Au(S(2)O(3))(2)(3)(-) and AuCl(4)(-) solutions ( approximately 400-550 mg/L Au) at 25-100 degrees C for up to 1 month and at 200 degrees C for 1 day. The interaction of cyanobacteria with aqueous Au(S(2)O(3))(2)(3)(-) promoted the precipitation of cubic (100) gold nanoparticles (<10-25 nm) at membrane vesicles and admixed with gold sulfide within cells and encrusted on the cyanobacteria, whereas reaction with AuCl(4)(-) resulted in the precipitation of octahedral (111) gold platelets ( approximately 1-10 microm) in solutions and nanoparticles of gold (<10 nm) within bacterial cells. Functional groups imaged by negative ion TOF-SIMS on (111) faces of the octahedral platelets were predominantly Cl and CN, with smaller amounts of C(2)H and CNO.     

Au2trien: a dinuclear gold(III) complex with unprecedented structura features

The X-ray structure of a dinuclear gold(III) complex, Au2trien, shows the presence of two square planar gold(III) centers bridged by a nitrogen donor, in a very unusual fashion.     

Spectrophotometric determination of Fe(III) by using casein-functionalized gold nanoparticles

The preparation and application of casein-capped gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as a specific probe for ferric ions Fe(III) is reported. The functionalized AuNPs exhibit narrow size distribution and form stable dispersions in water of different ionic strengths and basicity. The presence of diverse functional groups from the side chain of peptides warrants colloidal stability of AuNPs and also assists recognition of Fe(III) in versatile conditions. Fe(III) ion reportedly causes the aggregation of AuNPs and a red-shift in absorbance toward longer wavelength (660 nm). A spectrophotometric method is appropriate for selective detection of Fe(III) and the spectral shift is also accompanied by a color change from red to blue. The aggregation of AuNPs is not suppressed after the addition of NaOH or at moderate ionic strength. The resulting spectrophotometric method works for Fe(III) in the concentration range of 0.1 to 0.9 μM and has a detection limit of 450 nM. The AuNP probe can also detect Fe(III) ion content in real samples at the same detection limit, which is much lower than the maximum contaminant level allowed for Fe(III) in drinking water (5.37 μM) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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Graphical abstract Casein peptide functionalized gold nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, and their application to the visual detection of Fe(III).

     

Synthesis of small gold nanoparticles: Au(I) disproportionation catalyzed by a persulfurated coronene dendrimer

Gold nanoparticles with average diameter of 1.0 nm and narrow size distribution can be easily obtained by disproportionation of Au(+) ions, in the presence of a persulfurated coronene dendrimer that favors encounters between Au(+) ions and protects the resulting small nanoparticles from further aggregation.     

Luminescent nanobeads: attachment of surface reactive Eu(III) complexes to gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles were used as a scaffold to assemble multiple tailor-made europium(III) complexes yielding water-soluble gold nanoparticles that display red, Eu(III), luminescence.     

三价金配合物抗肿瘤活性研究*

三价金配合物具有潜在的抗肿瘤活性,是目前金属药物领域的研究热点。本文按配位原子的不同总结了稳定三价金配合物的结构特征,按其生物活性的构效关系、生物靶点和作用机制综述了三价金配合物抗肿瘤活性研究的最新成果：配体的结构特点以及离去基团对三价金配合物的体外细胞毒性影响较大;介绍了用于检测三价金配合物与可能的生物靶分子之间的相互作用的多种物理和生物学方法,重点关注了相互作用的模式,如嵌入/静电吸引/共价结合等,并解释了三价金配合物抗肿瘤活性的原因。最后提出了一些研究新思路,以期有助于设计得到靶标明确的具有良好药理活性的抗肿瘤药物。     

Gas-phase experiments on Au(III) photochemistry

Irradiation of AuCl(4)(-) and AuCl(2)(OH)(2)(-) in the gas-phase using ultraviolet light (220-415 nm) leads to their dissociation. Observed fragment ions for AuCl(4)(-) are AuCl(3)(-) and AuCl(2)(-) and for AuCl(2)(OH)(2)(-) are AuCl(2)(-) and AuClOH(-). All fragment channels correspond to photoreduction of the gold atom to either Au(II) or Au(I) depending on the number of neutral ligands lost. Fragment branching ratios of AuCl(4)(-) are observed to be highly energy dependent and can be explained by comparison of the experimental data to calculated threshold energies obtained using density functional theory. The main observed spectral features are attributed to ligand-to-metal charge transfer transitions. These results are discussed in the context of the molecular-level mechanisms of Au(III) photochemistry.     

Ability of a Au(III)-N unit to bond two aurophilically interacting gold(I) centers

The monohapto neutral 2-(diphenylphosphino)aniline (PNH(2)) complexes [Au(C(6)F(5))(2)X(PNH(2))] (X = C(6)F(5) (1), Cl (2)) have been obtained from [Au(C(6)F(5))(3)(tht)] or [Au(C(6)F(5))(2)(micro-Cl)](2) and PNH(2), and the cationic [Au(C(6)F(5))(2)(PNH(2))]ClO(4) (3) has been similarly prepared from [Au(C(6)F(5))(2)(OEt(2))(2)]ClO(4) and PNH(2) or from 2 and AgClO(4). The neutral amido complex [Au(C(6)F(5))(2)(PNH)] (4) can be obtained by deprotonation of 3 with PPN(acac) (acac = acetylacetonate) or by treatment of the chloro complex 2 with Tl(acac). It reacts with [Ag(OClO(3))(PPh(3))] or [Au(OClO(3))(PPh(3))] to give the dinuclear species [Au(C(6)F(5))(2)[PNH(MPPh(3))]]ClO(4) (M = Ag (5), Au (6)). The latter can also be obtained by reaction of equimolar amounts of 3 and [Au(acac)(PPh(3))]; when the molar ratio of the same reagents is 1:2, the trinuclear cationic complex [Au(C(6)F(5))(2)[PN(AuPPh(3))(2)]]ClO(4) (7) is obtained. The crystal structures of complexes 2-4 and 7 have been established by X-ray crystallography; the last-mentioned displays an unusual Au(I)-Au(III) interaction.     

Computational Studies of Au(I) and Au(III) Anticancer MetalLodrugs: A Survey

Owing to the growing hardware capabilities and the enhancing efficacy of computational methodologies, computational chemistry approaches have constantly become more important in the development of novel anticancer metallodrugs. Besides traditional Pt-based drugs, inorganic and organometallic complexes of other transition metals are showing increasing potential in the treatment of cancer. Among them, Au(I)- and Au(III)-based compounds are promising candidates due to the strong affinity of Au(I) cations to cysteine and selenocysteine side chains of the protein residues and to Au(III) complexes being more labile and prone to the reduction to either Au(I) or Au(0) in the physiological milieu. A correct prediction of metal complexes’ properties and of their bonding interactions with potential ligands requires QM computations, usually at the ab initio or DFT level. However, MM, MD, and docking approaches can also give useful information on their binding site on large biomolecular targets, such as proteins or DNA, provided a careful parametrization of the metal force field is employed. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent computational studies of Au(I) and Au(III) antitumor compounds and of their interactions with biomolecular targets, such as sulfur- and selenium-containing enzymes, like glutathione reductases, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, cysteine protease, thioredoxin reductase and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1.     

二正辛基亚砜萃取钯(II)和金(III)的动力学研究

应用连续自动测定的恒界面池装置, 研究了二正辛基亚砜(DOSO)在盐酸介质中萃取钯(II)和金(III)的动力学行为。得以了各自的萃取速率方程和表观活化能。测定了DOSO的两相分配和界面吸附性能。结果表明, DOSO萃取钯(II)为界面配本取代反应控制类型, 而萃取金(III)则为扩散或混合控制类型。     

Dissolved organic matter-mediated reduction of ionic Au(III) to elemental Au nanoparticles and their growth to visible granules

The biogeochemical transformation of gold (Au), i.e. its dissolution and re-precipitation, is critical in supergene transport of Au and formation of Au granules. Besides biogenic reduction, the formation Au granules can also be driven by chemical processes. Previous studies have showed the formation of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) from ionic Au(III) can be mediated by dissolved organic matter under sunlight. In this letter, we further demonstrated that these AuNPs can further slowly (in years) grow into visible Au granules. Different sized nano-flower and fractal dendrite-like branched gold structures (from tens of nanometres to over 100 μm) were observed in the Au granule sample. This growth of AuNPs into visible Au granules may play a critical role in the supergene mineralization and enrichment of secondary Au and drive the biogeochemical cycle of Au.