Anion radicals of [60]fullerenes. An EPR study

Photochemically induced electron transfer in homogeneous systems (using triethylamine donor) and heterogeneous systems (using photoexcited TiO₂ suspension) was applied in in situ reduction of [60]fullerene. The anion radicals generated were characterized by means of EPR and VIS/near-IR spectroscopy. Narrow EPR lines were found. Radical A with g_A=2.0000 and peak-to-peak width, pp_A=0.09mT was observed as the primary product; followed by its consecutive product B with g_B=2.0006, pp_B=0.04mT, and in some cases product C with g_C=2.0009 and pp_c<0.1 mT. Radical A was assigned to [60]fullerene mono-anion, also characterized by a near-IR band at 1077 nm. B is presumably di-anion or a dimeric form of mono-anion. Identical results were also obtained using cathodic in situ reduction. Applying these generation techniques to [60]fullerene derivatives produced narrow EPR lines analogous to those described for pristine [60]fullerene. This was the case not only in organic solvents, but also in aqueous solutions. The results obtained present a contrast with the original ex situ EPR investigations describing [60]fullerene mono-anion with wide lines. According to the results presented here, the narrow and wide EPR lines do not represent contradictory phenomena, but are an integral part of the relatively complicated manifestations of various fullerene states and both will have to be seriously considered in the future.     

New EPR signals of endohedral metallofullerenes

The EPR spectra of endohedral metallofullerenes (EMF), La-EMF and Y-EMF, which were free of admixtures of C₆₀ and of other empty fullerenes, were examined. Endohedral metallofullerenes were prepared by extraction of fullerene-containing soots with DMF. New signals withg factors close to those of fullerene radical anions were observed in the EPR spectra of solutions of EMF in DMF and DMSO. At −20 °C, these signals are observed as a doublet (ΔH _pp ≈0.04 mT) and singlet (ΔH _pp ≈0.01 mT) in solutions of La-EMF and Y-EMF, respectively. These EPR signals belong to solvated La@C₈₂ and Y@C₈₂ molecules and are characterized by small hyperfine interaction constantsa _M due to a substantial decrease in the spin density of the unpaired electron at the metal atom. Published inIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1765–1769, October, 2000.     

Phase transitions of K<Subscript>2</Subscript>TaF<Subscript>7</Subscript> within 680–800°C

Three thermal effects on heating/cooling of K₂TaF₇ in the temperature interval of 680–800°C were investigated by the DSC method. The values determined for the enthalpy change of the individual processes are: Δ_transIIH_m(K₂TaF₇; 703°C) = 1.7(2) kJ mol⁻¹, Δ_transIH_m(K₂TaF₇; 746°C) = 19(1) kJ mol⁻¹ and Δ_transIIIH_m(K₂TaF₇; 771°C) = 13(1) kJ mol⁻¹. The first thermal effect was attributed to a solid-solid phase transition; the second to the incongruent melting of K₂TaF₇ and the third to mixing of two liquids. These findings are supported by in situ neutron powder diffraction experiments performed in the temperature interval of 654–794°C.      

Determination of intermolecular copper–copper distances from the EPR half-field transitions and their comparison with distances from X-ray structures: applications to copper(II) complexes with biologically important ligands

An EPR method involving measurement of half-field transitions was applied to determine the intermolecular Cu–Cu distances in copper(II)-carboxylate complexes with biologically important ligands. The experimental powder EPR spectra are composed of allowed (ΔM _S  = ±1) transitions centered at ~3,200 Gauss and of weak intensity, nominally forbidden, half-field (ΔM _S  = ±2) peaks observable at ~1,600 Gauss. Values of the average interspin distance for each complex were determined from the ratios of integrated allowed and forbidden peak areas using each of several methods. The calculated interspin distances were correlated with the copper–copper distances experimentally obtained by X-ray crystallography. The distances determined from the EPR spectra agree well with the X-ray determined values when the crystallographic value for one member of a series is used to calibrate the series. Less satisfactory agreement is found when methods based on Cu-spin-label systems are used.     

Comparative studies on conventional and microwave-assisted synthesis of a series of 2,4-di and 2,3,4-trisubstituted benzimidazo[1,2-a] pyrimidines and their antimicrobial activities

Comparative studies were performed on a series of 2,4-di and 2,3,4-trisubstituted benzimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidines, which were synthesized with conventional and microwave heating methods. In microwave irradiation method, approximately, 95–97.5% of the reaction time was increased and 1–45% yield increase was obtained. All compounds were able to inhibit the growth of the screened microorganisms in vitro with MIC values between 3.9–250 μg mL⁻¹. The highest activity was expressed by compound IIId (2,4-diphenyl-benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a] pyrimidine), which has the MIC value of 3.9 μg mL⁻¹ and 31.2 μg mL^-1 for Penicillium natatum ATCC 24791 and E. faecalis ATCC 29212, respectively.      

Synthesis,characterization, catalytic and antimicrobial studies of ruthenium(III) complexes

Ru(III) complexes of the type [RuXB(L)2] have been prepared by the reaction of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones/thiones (HL¹–HL⁴) with the precursors of the type [RuX₃B₃] where X=Cl or Br; B=PPh₃ or AsPh₃ and L is the deprotonated ligand. The synthesized complexes were characterized by physico-chemical methods, electrochemical and magnetic moment data. The catalytic efficiency of the complexes were examined in the oxidation of alcohols and antimicrobial studies were also carried out.      

Synthesis and magnetic properties of octahedral ferrite Ni χ Co1−χ Fe2O4 nanocrystals

A series of Ni doped cobalt ferrite compounds with the formula Ni _χ Co_1−χ Fe₂O₄ where x=0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0 were prepared using a hydrothermal method and subsequently sintered/annealed at 600 °C for 3 h. The influence of the Ni content on the lattice parameter, a, stretching vibration and the magnetization of specimens were subsequently studied. XRD and FTIR were used to investigate structure and composition variations. All samples were found to have a cubic spinel structure. SEM was used to study morphological variations. The results indicate that the average particle sizes are between 30–35 nm with a narrow size distribution along with nanocrystals forming of regular octahedrons. A decrease in the peak to peak line width and increase in resonance field with increasing Ni content were observed from ESR measurements. Based on ESR results, a core-shell type of formation was proposed where the core is made up of undoped CoFe₂O₄ and the shell is Ni²⁺ doped CoFe₂O₄.      

Ion-exchange studies on poly-o-anisidine Sn(IV) phosphate nano composite and its application as Cd(II) ion-selective membrane electrode

An organic-inorganic composite, poly-o-anisidine Sn(IV) phosphate, was chemically synthesized by mixing ortho-anisidine into gels of Sn(IV) phosphate with different mixing volume ratios. Studies on the effect of eluant concentration, elution behavior and separation of metal ions were carried out to understand the ion-exchange capabilities. Due to Cd(II) selective nature of composite, revealed by distribution studies, Cd(II) ion selective membrane electrode was fabricated. The analytical utility of the electrode was established by employing it as an indicator electrode in electrometric titrations having fast response time, 3–5s, and long life span of six months. Some physical parameters like self-diffusion coefficient (D₀), activation energy (E_a) and entropy of activation (ΔS₀) have been evaluated under conditions favoring a particle diffusion-controlled mechanism by studying ion-exchange kinetics.      

Conformational isomerism of 1-butene secondary ozonide as studied by means of matrix isolation infrared absorption spectroscopy

Theoretical calculations of structures, stability and vibrational spectra of 1-butene secondary ozonide (SOZ) conformers were performed using DFT method B3LYP with a 6-311++G(3df, 3pd) basis set. The calculations predict six staggered structures of 1-butene SOZ. The FTIR spectra of 1-butene SOZ isolated in Ar, N₂ and Xe matrices were recorded. It was found that nitrogen is the best suited for the matrix isolation of 1-butene SOZ. The bandwidth of the spectral bands of the ozonide isolated in nitrogen was as narrow as 2 cm⁻¹. For the first time the existence of five conformers of 1-butene SOZ were confirmed experimentally by means of matrix isolation infrared absorption spectroscopy. The equatorial gauche (∠OCCC=−66.1°) conformer was proved theoretically and experimentally to be the most stable. It was found that due to high potential barriers of the conformational transitions annealing of the matrix is useless for the assignment of spectral bands to various conformers of 1-butene SOZ. Using the hot nozzle technique the van’t Hoff experimental plots were made for three additional conformers of 1-butene SOZ and experimental ΔH values for these additional conformers were established. The crystallization problems of 1-butene SOZ are discussed which accounts for the rich conformational diversity of the ozonide as well as high conformational barriers for axial-equatorial transitions.      

Copper(II) complexes of the antihypertensive drug nadolol

The complexation of the non-selective β-blocker nadolol, HL, 1 with copper(II) leads to formation of mono-and dinuclear complexes depending mainly on the metal-to-ligand molar ratio. The mononuclear violet complex CuL₂·2Solv, 2, was obtained in a soluble form at metal-to-ligand molar ratio Cu(II): HL ≤ 1: 10 in methanolic or slightly alkaline aqueous solutions. The dinuclear green complex Cu₂L₂Cl₂·H₂O, 3 was synthesized at Cu(II): HL ≥ 1: 2 molar ratio in methanolic solutions. The complexes were studied using spectral (UV-Vis, FT-IR, EPR), magnetochemical, thermogravimetric methods and elemental analysis. In the complexes nadolol acts as a monoanionic bidentate ligand coordinated to copper(II) through the NH-and the deprotonated OH-groups of its aminoalcohol fragment.      

Overmodulation of projections as signal‐to‐noise enhancement method in EPR imaging

A study concerning the image quality in electron paramagnetic resonance imaging in two‐dimensional spatial experiments is presented. The aim of the measurements was to improve the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of the projections and the reconstructed image by applying modulation amplitude higher than the radical electron paramagnetic resonance linewidth. Data were gathered by applying four constant modulation amplitudes, where one was below 1/3 (A_mod = 0.04 mT) of the radical linewidth (ΔB_pp = 0.14 mT). Three other modulation amplitude values were used in this experiment, leading to undermodulated (A_mod < 1/3 ΔB_pp), partially overmodulated (A_mod ~ 1/3 ΔB_pp) and fully overmodulated (A_mod > > 1/3 ΔB_pp) projections. The advantages of an applied overmodulation condition were demonstrated in the study performed on a phantom containing four shapes of 1.25 mM water solution of 2, 2, 6, 6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxyl. It was shown that even when the overmodulated reference spectrum was used in the deconvolution procedure, as well as the projection itself, the phantom shapes reconstructed as images directly correspond to those obtained in undermodulation conditions. It was shown that the best SNR of the reconstructed images is expected for the modulation amplitude close to 1/3 of the projection linewidth, which is defined as the distance from the first maximum to the last minimum of the gradient‐broadened spectrum. For higher modulation amplitude, the SNR of the reconstructed image is decreased, even if the SNR of the measured projection is increased. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nanosized centers for mercury(II) ions adsorption on a surface of modified silica

The present work investigates the adsorptive interactions of Hg(II) ions in aqueous medium with hydroxylated silica, aminopropylsilica and silica chemically modified by β-cyclodextrin. Batch adsorption studies were carried out with various agitation times and mercury(II) concentrations. The maximum adsorption was observed within 15–30 min of agitation. The kinetics of the interactions, tested with the model of Lagergren for pseudo-first and pseudo-second order equations, showed better agreement with first order kinetics (k₁ = 3.4 ± 0.2 to 5.9 ± 0.3 min⁻¹). The adsorption data gave good fits with Langmuir isotherms. The results have shown that β-cyclodextrin-containing adsorbent has the largest adsorption specificity to Hg(II): K _L = 4125 ± 205 mmol⁻¹. “β-cyclodextrin-NO3-” inclusion complexes with ratio 1: 1 and super molecules with composition C₄₂H₇₀O₃₅ ⊎ 3 Hg(NO₃)₂ are formed on the surface of β-cyclodextrin-containing silica.      

Complexation of [2.2]paracyclophane with β- and γ-cyclodextrins studied by HPLC and NMR

The NMR spectra of [2.2]paracyclophane with β- or γ-cyclodextrin in DMF-d₇ at room temperature do not show significant complexation, while HPLC of the complexes in mixed H₂O:alcohol solvents demonstrate complexation with different stoichiometries. At 243 K in DMF solution the H3 and H5 NMR signals of γ-cyclodextrin (but not β) exhibit complexation-induced chemical shifts denoting complex formation. According to HPLC, at room temperature the [2.2]paracyclophane complex with β-cyclodextrin in 20% H₂O:EtOH exhibits 1:2 stoichiometry with K ₁ = 1×10² ± 2, K ₂ = 9.0×10⁴ ± 2×10³ (K = 9×10⁶) while that with γ-cyclodextrin in 50% H₂O:MeOH exhibits 1:1 stoichiometry with K ₁ = 4×10³ ± 150 M⁻¹. Thermodynamic parameters for both complexes have been estimated from the retention time temperature dependence. For the β-cyclodextrin complexation at 25°C ΔG ⁰ _CD is −39.7 kJ mol⁻¹ while ΔH ⁰ _CD and ΔS ⁰ _CD are −88.2 kJ mol⁻¹ and −0.16 kJ mol⁻¹ K⁻¹. For γ-cyclodextrin, the corresponding values are ΔG ⁰ _CD = −20.5 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔH ⁰ _CD = −33.5 kJ mol⁻¹ and ΔS ⁰ _CD = −0.04 kJ mol⁻¹ K⁻¹.      

Comparison of solid-phase and single-drop microextractions for headspace analysis of herbal essential oils

The analytical microextraction methods of gas chromatography coupled with flame ionisation detector (GC-FID) for determination of selected essential oils in herbs were proposed. Two microextraction methods for the isolation of essential oils from plants such as Lavandula spica L., Melissa officinalis L., Mentha piperita L. and Salvia officinalis L. were used. The methods of solid-phase and single-drop microextractions, were optimised and compared. The obtained LOD values for all studied essential oils were found to be within 2.5–20.5 μg for SDME and 57.0–139.8 μg for SPME method per 100 g of dried sample leaves. The appropriate LOQ values were then 8.4–68.4 μg for SDME and 189.8–466.1 μg for SPME of target analytes per 100 g of dried sample leaves.      

Spectrophotometric study of time stability and acid-base characteristics of chelerythrine and dihydrochelerythrine

Time stability, acid-base and UV-VIS spectral properties of dihydrochelerythrine (DHCHE) were studied spectrophotometrically in water:methanol and water:ethanol media. DHCHE is stable in strongly acid milieu (pH < 3) and at the higher amounts (60% v/v) alcohol. Acid-base characteristics and UV-VIS spectral properties of chelerythrine (CHE) were studied in aqueous solutions in the presence of different concentrations of HCl, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, H₃PO₄ and their mixtures. Remarkable shifts of formation parts of absorbance-pH (A-pH) curves to the alkaline medium were observed depending on the type and concentration of inert electrolyte (most remarkable for HNO₃ and HCl). The corresponding equilibrium constants pK_R+ of the transition reaction between charged iminium Q⁺ and uncharged QOH (pseudo-base, 6-hydroxy-dihydro derivative) forms of chelerythine were calculated using a numerical interpretation of A-pH curves by a SQUAD-G computer program which ranged from 8.51–9.31. The highest changes of ΔpK _R+ (0.75 and 0.53) were observed for H₃PO₄ and H₂SO₄, respectively. The priority effect of ionic species and ionic strength was confirmed in the presence of additions of NaCl and KCl. The strength of interaction of CHE with biomacromolecular compounds (i.e., peptides, proteins, nucleic acids etc.) may be affected because of the observed influence of both cation and anion of the inert electrolyte on acid-base behavior.      

Synthesis and biological activity of novel heavy metal complexes of 5-amino-1, 10-phenanthroline and 1,10-phenanthroline

Novel heavy metal complexes: Sr(5-NH₂-phen)₄(NO₃)(OH)(H₂O)₂ (1) (synthesized via a static self-assembly process) and Sn(phen)(NO₃)(OH)(H₂O) (2), Sn(5-NH₂-phen)(OH)(Cl)(H₂O) (3), Pb(5-NH₂-phen)(NO₃)₂(H₂O) (4) (obtained via metal competitive reactions under mild conditions) were reported. The coordination compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR-spectroscopy and FAB-mass spectrometry. Their cytotoxicity was measured by MTS-test towards human tumour (MDA-MB-231, HT-29, HeLa, HepG2) and non-tumour diploid (Lep-3) cell lines. The most pronounced cytotoxic effect on all cancer lines showed 1 and 4 at their high concentrations as well as 1 at its lower ones (≤ 4×10⁻² mg). Therefore, strontium complex of 5-amino-o-phenanthroline (1) exhibited the widest antitumour spectrum activity, having no toxicity to non-tumour cells at quantities ≤ 4×10⁻² mg. The computed EC₅₀ values of 1–4 against MDA-MB-231, HT-29, HeLa, HepG2 varied from 1.40×10⁻³ to 6.31×10⁻⁶ M. Towards Lep-3 substances 2–4 showed IC₅₀ 7.52×10⁻⁴ − 0.44 M. Substance 1 possess EC₅₀=1.26×10⁻⁷ M to the non-tumour cells.      

Sonochemical synthesis and chracterization of Mn3O4 nanoparticles

We report on the synthesis of Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) using a novel sonochemical method without requiring any pH adjustment. Synthesized material was identified as tetragonal hausmannite crystal structure model of Mn₃O₄ from XRD analysis. Crystallite size was estimated from x-ray line profile fitting to be 17±5 nm. FTIR analysis revealed stretching vibrations of metal ions in tetrahedral and octahedral coordination confirming the crystal structure. TEM analysis revealed a dominantly cubic morphology of NPs with an average size of ∼20 nm. Magnetic evaluation revealed a blocking temperature, T _B of 40 K above which the material behaves paramagnetic. Asymmetric coercive field is attributed to the interaction between ferromagnetic Mn₃O₄ and antiferromagnetic Mn oxide at the surface of nanoparticles.      

Controlled synthesis,characterization and thermal properties of Mg<Subscript>2</Subscript>B<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>5</Subscript>

Optimum conditions for synthesizing monoclinic and triclinic Mg₂B₂O₅ compounds by high-temperature solid-state reactions were investigated. Mixtures composed of boric acid and magnesium oxide at MgO:B₂O₃ mole ratios of 1:0.25, 1:0.5 and 1:1.5 were heated for 1 hour at temperatures between 600–1050°C and the formed phases were identified by XRD analysis. Monoclinic Mg₂B₂O₅ was formed by heating at 850°C for 4 hours together with minimum amounts of triclinic Mg₂B₂O₅, while triclinic Mg₂B₂O₅ was formed as a single phase at 1050°C for the same reaction time. The products obtained at optimum conditions were subjected to a series of tests to determine their chemical compositions, particle size distributions, surface area values, IR spectra and TG/DTA patterns.      

A preliminary study on the effect of mineralization parameters on determination of metals in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Viscum album</Emphasis> species

An increasing interest in determination of various macro- and microelements in medicinal plants has been observed. The majority of studies are carried out using one mineralization method without any optimization. The present study demonstrates that changes in mineralization parameters can significantly affect the recovery of the elements determined. In the study, the dried plant material was mineralized in 12 ways and iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni) and manganese (Mn) levels were determined. The samples were mineralized in the dry or open microwave mode as well as 10 closed microwave modes. The influence of acid amounts, irradiation power and time, addition of hydrogen peroxide and perfluoric acid was examined. All parameters were shown to be critical — good efficiency was observed with larger amounts of acid. The determined content varied significantly in the same sample and were in the ranges (ug g⁻¹): 46–136 (Fe), 1.4–11.8 (Cu), 4.0–11.3 (Ni), 15.4–53.8 (Zn) and 9.5–67.6 (Mn). Increased irradiation resulted in the loss of copper and zinc and better recovery of nickel. The results demonstrate that such determinations should include the mineralization optimization step.      

Cytostatic and cytotoxic properties of monensic acid and its biometal(II) complexes against human tumor / non-tumor cell lines

The anticancer activity of monensic acid (MonH) and its biometal(II) complexes [M(Mon)₂(H₂O)₂](M = Mg, Ca, Mn, Co, Ni, Zn) was evaluated against cultured human permanent cell lines established from glioblastoma multiforme (8MGBA) and cancers of the lung (A549), breast (MCF-7), uterine cervix (HeLa) and liver (HepG2). The viability and proliferation of the non-tumor human embryonic cell line Lep3 was also tested. The investigations were carried out using a thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide test, neutral red uptake cytotoxicity assay, crystal violet staining, colony forming method and double staining with acridin orange and propidium iodide. The results obtained reveal that the compounds applied at concentrations of 0.5–25 μg mL⁻¹ for 24–72 h decrease the viability and proliferation of the treated cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The metal(II) complexes studied (especially those of Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II)) have been found to express stronger cytotoxic and cytostatic activities than the non-coordinated monensic acid. The non-tumor human cell line showed strong chemosensitivity towards compounds tested comparable to that of cultured human tumor cell lines.