Highly efficient redox isomerisation of allylic alcohols catalysed by pyrazole-based ruthenium(IV) complexes in water: mechanisms of bifunctional catalysis in water

The catalytic activity of ruthenium(IV) ([Ru(η(3):η(3)-C(10)H(16))Cl(2)L]; C(10)H(16) = 2,7-dimethylocta-2,6-diene-1,8-diyl, L = pyrazole, 3-methylpyrazole, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, 3-methyl-5-phenylpyrazole, 2-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)phenol or indazole) and ruthenium(II) complexes ([Ru(η(6)-arene)Cl(2)(3,5-dimethylpyrazole)]; arene = C(6)H(6), p-cymene or C(6)Me(6)) in the redox isomerisation of allylic alcohols into carbonyl compounds in water is reported. The former show much higher catalytic activity than ruthenium(II) complexes. In particular, a variety of allylic alcohols have been quantitatively isomerised by using [Ru(η(3):η(3)-C(10)H(16))Cl(2)(pyrazole)] as a catalyst; the reactions proceeded faster in water than in THF, and in the absence of base. The isomerisations of monosubstituted alcohols take place rapidly (10-60?min, turn-over frequency = 750-3000?h(-1)) and, in some cases, at 35?°C in 60?min. The nature of the aqueous species formed in water by this complex has been analysed by ESI-MS. To analyse how an aqueous medium can influence the mechanism of the bifunctional catalytic process, DFT calculations (B3LYP) including one or two explicit water molecules and using the polarisable continuum model have been carried out and provide a valuable insight into the role of water on the activity of the bifunctional catalyst. Several mechanisms have been considered and imply the formation of aqua complexes and their deprotonated species generated from [Ru(η(3):η(3)-C(10)H(16))Cl(2)(pyrazole)]. Different competitive pathways based on outer-sphere mechanisms, which imply hydrogen-transfer processes, have been analysed. The overall isomerisation implies two hydrogen-transfer steps from the substrate to the catalyst and subsequent transfer back to the substrate. In addition to the conventional Noyori outer-sphere mechanism, which involves the pyrazolide ligand, a new mechanism with a hydroxopyrazole complex as the active species can be at work in water. The possibility of formation of an enol, which isomerises easily to the keto form in water, also contributes to the efficiency in water.     

Ultraviolet spectroscopy of pyrene in a supersonic jet and in liquid helium droplets

In a series of experiments devoted to the study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for astrophysical applications, the S(2)<--S(0) transition of jet-cooled pyrene (C(16)H(10)) at 321 nm has been studied by an absorption technique for the first time. The spectra observed by cavity ring-down spectroscopy closely resemble the excitation spectra obtained earlier by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and show the same band clusters arising from the vibronic interaction of S(2) with S(1). We have also investigated pyrene when it was incorporated into 380 mK cold helium droplets. These spectra which were recorded employing LIF and molecular beam depletion spectroscopy are broadened and redshifted by 0.94 nm but retain the essential features of the gas phase spectra.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-isomer fragmentation pathways: case study for pyrene and fluoranthene molecules and clusters

We report on measurements of the ionization and fragmentation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) targets in Xe(20+)?+ C(16)H(10) and Xe(20+)?+ [C(16)H(10)](k) collisions and compare results for the two C(16)H(10) isomers: pyrene and fluoranthene. For both types of targets, i.e., for single PAH molecules isolated in vacuum or for isomerically pure clusters of one of the molecules, the resulting fragment spectra are surprisingly similar. However, we do observe weak but significant isomer effects. Although these are manifested in very different ways for the monomer and cluster targets, they both have at their roots small differences (<2.5 eV) between the total binding energies of neutral, and singly and multiply charged pyrene and fluoranthene monomers. The results will be discussed in view of the density functional theory calculations of ionization and dissociation energies for fluoranthene and pyrene. A simple classical over-the-barrier model is used to estimate cross sections for single- and multiple-electron transfer between PAHs and ions. Calculated single and multiple ionization energies, and the corresponding model PAH ionization cross sections, are given.     

Photochemistry of coronene with water at 10 K: first tentative identification by infrared spectroscopy of oxygen containing coronene products

UV photochemistry of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon model, coronene (C(24)H(12)), has been investigated when it is in interaction with water in argon cryogenic matrices, adsorbed on amorphous water ice films, and embedded in solid water. Photoprocessing, carried out at 10 K and λ > 235 nm by means of a high-pressure Hg arc lamp, results in the oxidation and reduction of coronene. These species have been tentatively identified as being the 1,10-dihydroxycoronene and the 1,10-coroquinone by FTIR spectroscopy with the support of isotopic experiments and DFT calculations. These photochemical products most likely form, after hydrogen bonding between C(24)H(12) and H(2)O, through ionization of the PAH and subsequent reactivity with water upon irradiation. Cations, thus generated, react subsequently with water yielding the production of oxygen containing coronene compounds. Such species are of particular interest as they may form in interstellar and early Solar System ices, and are also of astrobiological significance as they could play an important role in processes taking place in most of the living organisms.     

Studies of mixed surfactant solutions of cationic dimeric (gemini) surfactant with nonionic surfactant C12E6 in aqueous medium

The interaction between the alkanediyl-alpha,omega-type cationic gemini surfactant, [(C(16)H(33)N(+)(CH(3))(2)(CH(2))(4)N(+)(CH(3))(2)C(16)H(33))2Br(-)], 16-4-16 and the conventional nonionic surfactant [CH(3)(CH(2))(10)CH(2)(OCH(2)CH(2))(6)OH], C(12)E(6) in aqueous medium has been investigated. The critical micelle concentrations of different mixtures have been measured by surface tension using a du Nouy tensiometer in aqueous solution at different temperatures (303, 308, and 313 K). Maximum surface excess (Gamma(max)) and minimum area per molecule (A(min)) were evaluated from a surface tension vs log(10)C (C is concentration) plot. The cmc value of the mixture was used to compute beta(m), the interaction parameter. The beta(sigma), the interaction parameter at the monolayer air-water interface, was also calculated. We observed synergism in 16-4-16/C(12)E(6) system at all concentration ratios. The micelle aggregation number (N(agg)) has been measured using a steady state fluorescence quenching method at a total surfactant concentration approximately 2 mM at 25 degrees C. The micropolarity and the binding constant (K(sv)) of mixed systems were determined from the ratio of intensity of peaks (I(1)/I(3)) of the pyrene fluorescence emission spectrum. The micellar interiors were found to be reasonably polar. We also found, using Maeda's concept, that the chain-chain interactions are very important in this system.     

Theoretical investigation into the structural, thermochemical, and electronic properties of the decathio[10]circulene

For the first time, a theoretical study has been performed on the prototypical decathio[10]circulene (C(20)S(10)) species, which is an analogue of the novel octathio[8]circulene "Sulflower" molecule (C(16)S(8)). Examinations of the singlet and triplet states of C(20)S(10) were made at the B3LYP/6-311G(d) level. Local minima of C(2) and C(s) symmetry were found for the lowest singlet and triplet states, respectively. The stability of C(20)S(10) was assessed by calculating the ΔH°(f) of C(16)S(8) and C(20)S(10) and the ΔH(o) for their decomposition into C(2)S units. Frontier molecular orbital plots show that structural adjacent steric factors along with the twist and strain orientations of C(20)S(10) do not disturb the aromatic π-delocalizing effects. In fact, C(20)S(10) maintains the same p(z) HOMO character as C(16)S(8). These similarities are further verified by density-of-states characterization. Calculated infrared spectra of C(16)S(8) and C(20)S(10) show broad similarities. Molecular electrostatic potential results reveal that eight of the peripheral sulfur atoms are the most electronegative atoms in the molecule, while the interior ten-membered ring exhibits virtually no electronegativity.     

Water-enhanced low-temperature CO oxidation and isotope effects on atomic oxygen-covered Au(111)

Water-oxygen interactions and CO oxidation by water on the oxygen-precovered Au(111) surface were studied by using molecular beam scattering techniques, temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Water thermally desorbs from the clean Au(111) surface with a peak temperature of approximately 155 K; however, on a surface with preadsorbed atomic oxygen, a second water desorption peak appears at approximately 175 K. DFT calculations suggest that hydroxyl formation and recombination are responsible for this higher temperature desorption feature. TPD spectra support this interpretation by showing oxygen scrambling between water and adsorbed oxygen adatoms upon heating the surface. In further support of these experimental findings, DFT calculations indicate rapid diffusion of surface hydroxyl groups at temperatures as low as 75 K. Regarding the oxidation of carbon monoxide, if a C (16)O beam impinges on a Au(111) surface covered with both atomic oxygen ( (16)O) and isotopically labeled water (H 2 (18)O), both C (16)O (16)O and C (16)O (18)O are produced, even at surface temperatures as low as 77 K. Similar experiments performed by impinging a C (16)O beam on a Au(111) surface covered with isotopic oxygen ( (18)O) and deuterated water (D 2 (16)O) also produce both C (16)O (16)O and C (16)O (18)O but less than that produced by using (16)O and H 2 (18)O. These results unambiguously show the direct involvement and promoting role of water in CO oxidation on oxygen-covered Au(111) at low temperatures. On the basis of our experimental results and DFT calculations, we propose that water dissociates to form hydroxyls (OH and OD), and these hydroxyls react with CO to produce CO 2. Differences in water-oxygen interactions and oxygen scrambling were observed between (18)O/H 2 (16)O and (18)O/D 2 (16)O, the latter producing less scrambling. Similar differences were also observed in water reactivity toward CO oxidation, in which less CO 2 was produced with (16)O/D 2 (16)O than with (16)O/H 2 (16)O. These differences are likely due to primary kinetic isotope effects due to the differences in O-H and O-D bond energies.     

Bis(pyrene)metal complexes of vanadium,niobium and titanium: isolable homoleptic pyrene complexes of transition metals

Reduction of VCl₃(THF)₃ (THF is tetrahydrofuran) and NbCl₄(THF)₂ by alkali metal pyrene radical anion salts in THF affords the paramagnetic sandwich complexes bis[(1,2,3,3a,10a,10b‐η)‐pyrene]vanadium(0), [V(C₁₆H₁₀)₂], and bis[(1,2,3,3a,10a,10b‐η)‐pyrene]niobium(0), [Nb(C₁₆H₁₀)₂]. Treatment of tris(naphthalene)titanate(2−) with pyrene provides the isoelectronic titanium species, isolated as an (18‐crown‐6)potassium salt, namely catena‐poly[[(18‐crown‐6)potassium]‐μ‐[(1,2‐η:1,2,3,3a,10a,10b‐η)‐pyrene]‐titanate(−I)‐μ‐[(1,2,3,3a,10a,10b‐η:6,7‐η)‐pyrene]], {[K(C₁₂H₂₄O₆)][Ti(C₁₆H₁₀)₂]}_n. The first two compounds have very similar packing, with neighboring molecules arranged orthogonally to one another, such that aromatic donor–acceptor interactions are likely responsible for the specific arrangement. The asymmetric unit contains a half‐occupancy metal center η⁶‐coordinated to one pyrene ligand, with the full M(pyrene)₂ molecule generated by a crystallographic inversion center. In the titanium compound, the cations and anions are in alternating contact throughout the crystal structure, in one‐dimensional chains along the [101] direction. As in the other two compounds, the asymmetric unit contains a half‐occupancy Ti atom η⁶‐coordinated to one pyrene ligand. Additionally, the asymmetric unit contains one half of an (18‐crown‐6)potassium cation, located on a crystallographic inversion center coincident with the K atom. The full formula units are generated by those inversion centers. In all three structures, the pyrene ligands are eclipsed and sandwich the metals in one of two inversion‐related sites. These species are of interest as the first isolable homoleptic pyrene transition metal complexes to be described in the scientific literature.     

Isomeric forms of heavier main group hydrides: experimental and theoretical studies of the [Sn(Ar)H]2 (Ar = terphenyl) system

A series of symmetric divalent Sn(II) hydrides of the general form [(4-X-Ar')Sn(mu-H)]2 (4-X-Ar' = C6H2-4-X-2,6-(C6H3-2,6-iPr2)2; X = H, MeO, tBu, and SiMe3; 2, 6, 10, and 14), along with the more hindered asymmetric tin hydride (3,5-iPr2-Ar*)SnSn(H)2(3,5-iPr2-Ar*) (16) (3,5-iPr2-Ar* = 3,5-iPr2-C6H-2,6-(C6H2-2,4,6-iPr3)2), have been isolated and characterized. They were prepared either by direct reduction of the corresponding aryltin(II) chloride precursors, ArSnCl, with LiBH4 or iBu2AlH (DIBAL), or via a transmetallation reaction between an aryltin(II) amide, ArSnNMe2, and BH3.THF. Compounds 2, 6, 10, and 14 were obtained as orange solids and have centrosymmetric dimeric structures in the solid state with long Sn...Sn separations of 3.05 to 3.13 A. The more hindered tin(II) hydride 16 crystallized as a deep-blue solid with an unusual, formally mixed-valent structure wherein a long Sn-Sn bond is present [Sn-Sn = 2.9157(10) A] and two hydrogen atoms are bound to one of the tin atoms. The Sn-H hydrogen atoms in 16 could not be located by X-ray crystallography, but complementary M?ssbauer studies established the presence of divalent and tetravalent tin centers in 16. Spectroscopic studies (IR, UV-vis, and NMR) show that, in solution, compounds 2, 6, 10, and 14 are predominantly dimeric with Sn-H-Sn bridges. In contrast, the more hindered hydrides 16 and previously reported (Ar*SnH)2 (17) (Ar* = C6H3-2,6-(C6H2-2,4,6-iPr3)2) adopt primarily the unsymmetric structure ArSnSn(H)2Ar in solution. Detailed theoretical calculations have been performed which include calculated UV-vis and IR spectra of various possible isomers of the reported hydrides and relevant model species. These showed that increased steric hindrance favors the asymmetric form ArSnSn(H)2Ar relative to the centrosymmetric isomer [ArSn(mu-H)]2 as a result of the widening of the interligand angles at tin, which lowers steric repulsion between the terphenyl ligands.     

Binding of Pyrene to Different Molecular Weight Fractions of Dissolved Organic Matter: Effects of Chemical Composition and Steric Conformation

The binding constant(K_DOM) of pyrene onto different molecular weight(M_w) fractions of a dissolved organic matter(DOM) extract from an estuarine sediment was measured via a fluorescence quenching method, and the possible binding mechanisms were discussed. The influence of water chemical parameters on pyrene binding was studied to elucidate the effects of DOM steric conformation. DOM fraction with larger M_w(>14000) showed a greater K_DOM(2.02×10⁵) than that with smaller M_w did, and the K_DOMs were 1.16×10⁵ and 1.13×10⁵ for the fractions with M_w of 1000-14000 and <1000, respectively. The K_DOMs of different M_w DOM fractions were correlated positively with the atomic ratio of C/H and absorbance at 280 nm; while a negative correlation existed between K_DOM and (O+C)/N (atomic ratio), and K_DOM and O-containing groups. These correlations indicate the positive influence of aromatic structure and the negative effect of polarity on DOM binding capacity. Infrared spectroscopy revealed that specific interactions existed between pyrene and the DOM fraction with larger M_W besides hydrophobic partition, i.e., NH-π interaction in DOM moiety(1000-14000) and π-π electron donor acceptor(EDA) forces in DOM moiety (>14000). K_DOM varied in a complex pattern with increasing cation concentration and pH, which could be explained by the change in DOM steric conformation. Formed aggregates favored the lipophilic partition of pyrene. However, the accessibility to some interior binding sites became low when the aggregate was too large, leading to a reduced K_DOM.     

Polyethylene glycol-polyamidoamine dendritic micelle as solubility enhancer and the effect of the length of polyethylene glycol arms on the solubility of pyrene in water

Unimolecular dendritic micelles designed as solubility enhancers were obtained by coupling polyethylene glycol (PEG) to Starburst polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers. Micelles-750, -2000, and -5000 have a generation 3.0 dendrimer core (32 primary amine end groups) and PEG arms with molecular weights of 750, 2000, and 5000, respectively. The conjugate of dendrimer core and PEG was characterized by MALDI-TOF MS and 1H NMR. 1H NMR was also used to estimate the average number of PEG arms on each dendrimer molecule. A typical hydrophobic compound, pyrene, was sonicated in an excess amount together with micelles at 50 degrees C for 6 h to produce its saturated water solution. The change of the solubility of pyrene was monitored at 334 nm, its maximum adsorption wavelength, by UV-VIS spectra. Concentrated micelles tended to dissolve more pyrene. However, there is no obvious linear relationship between micelle type and the amount of pyrene entrapped within micelles. Micelle-2000 could solubilize more pyrene than micelle-750. It is hypothesized that micelle-5000 did not solubilize more pyrene than micelle-2000 because of the PEG shell disruption by adjacent interpenetration of individual micelles when PEG arm length increased.     

Synthesis of 2- and 2,7-functionalized pyrene derivatives: an application of selective C-H borylation

An efficient synthetic route to 2- and 2,7-substituted pyrenes is described. The regiospecific direct C-H borylation of pyrene with an iridium-based catalyst, prepared in situ by the reaction of [{Ir(μ-OMe)cod}(2)] (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) with 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine, gives 2,7-bis(Bpin)pyrene (1) and 2-(Bpin)pyrene (2, pin = OCMe(2)CMe(2)O). From 1, by simple derivatization strategies, we synthesized 2,7-bis(R)-pyrenes with R = BF(3)K (3), Br (4), OH (5), B(OH)(2) (6), and OTf (7). Using these nominally nucleophilic and electrophilic derivatives as coupling partners in Suzuki-Miyaura, Sonogashira, and Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling reactions, we obtained 2,7-bis(R)-pyrenes with R = (4-CO(2)C(8)H(17))C(6)H(4) (8), Ph (9), C≡CPh (10), C≡C[{4-B(Mes)(2)}C(6)H(4)] (11), C≡CTMS (12), C≡C[(4-NMe(2))C(6)H(4)] (14), C≡CH (15), N(Ph)[(4-OMe)C(6)H(4)] (16), and R = OTf, R' = C≡CTMS (13). Lithiation of 4, followed by reaction with CO(2), yielded pyrene-2,7-dicarboxylic acid (17), whilst borylation of 2-tBu-pyrene gave 2-tBu-7-Bpin-pyrene (18) selectively. By similar routes (including Negishi cross-coupling reactions), monosubstituted 2-R-pyrenes with R = BF(3)K (19), Br (20), OH (21), B(OH)(2) (22), [4-B(Mes)(2)]C(6)H(4) (23), B(Mes)(2) (24), OTf (25), C≡CPh (26), C≡CTMS (27), (4-CO(2)Me)C(6)H(4) (28), C≡CH (29), C(3)H(6)CO(2)Me (30), OC(3)H(6)CO(2)Me (31), C(3)H(6)CO(2)H (32), OC(3)H(6)CO(2)H (33), and O(CH(2))(12)Br (34) were obtained from 2. These derivatives are of synthetic and photophysical interest because they contain donor, acceptor, and conjugated substituents. The crystal structures of compounds 4, 5, 7, 12, 18, 19, 21, 23, 26, and 28-31 have also been obtained from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, revealing a diversity of packing modes, which are described in the Supporting Information. A detailed discussion of the structures of 1 and 2, their polymorphs, solvates, and co-crystals is reported separately.     

Inorganic-organic hybrid vesicles with counterion- and pH-controlled fluorescent properties

Two inorganic-organic hybrid clusters with one or two covalently linked pyrene fluorescent probes, [(n-C(4)H(9))(4)N](2)[V(6)O(13){(OCH(2))(3)C(NH(CO)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)C(16)H(9))}{(OCH(2))(3)C-(NH(2))}] ((TBA(+))(2)1) and [(n-C(4)H(9))(4)N](2)[V(6)O(13){(OCH(2))(3)C(NH(CO)CH(2)CH(2)CH(2)C(16)H(9))}(2)] ((TBA(+))(2)2), respectively, are synthesized from Lindqvist type polyoxometalates (POMs). The incorporation of pyrene into POMs results in amphiphilic hybrid molecules and simultaneously offers a great opportunity to study the interaction between hybrid clusters and their counterions. 2D-NOESY NMR and fluorescence techniques have been used to study the role of counterions such as tetrabutyl ammonium (TBA) in the vesicle formation of the hybrid clusters. The TBA(+) ions not only screen the electrostatic repulsions between the POM head groups but also are involved in the hydrophobic region of the vesicular structure where they interrupt the formation of pyrene excimers that greatly perturbs the luminescence signal from the vesicle solution. By replacing the TBA(+) counterions with protons, the new vesicles demonstrate interesting pH-dependent fluorescence properties.     

Growth of polyaromatic molecules via ion-molecule reactions: an experimental and theoretical mechanistic study

The reactivity of naphthyl cations with benzene is investigated in a joint experimental and theoretical approach. Experiments are performed by using guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometers equipped with electron impact or atmospheric pressure chemical ion sources to generate C(10)H(7)(+) with different amounts of internal excitation. Under single collision conditions, C-C coupling reactions leading to hydrocarbon growth are observed. The most abundant ionic products are C(16)H(13)(+), C(16)H(n)(+) (with n=10-12), and C(15)H(10)(+). From pressure-dependent measurements, absolute cross sections of 1.0±0.3 and 2±0.6 A?(2) (at a collision energy of about 0.2 eV in the center of mass frame) are derived for channels leading to the formation of C(16)H(12)(+) and C(15)H(10)(+) ions, respectively. From cross section values a phenomenological total rate constant k=(5.8±1.9)×10(-11) cm(3) s(-1) at an average collision energy of about 0.27 eV can be estimated for the process C(10)H(7)(+)+C(6)H(6)→all products. The energy behavior of the reactive cross sections, as well as further experiments performed using partial isotopic labeling of reagents, support the idea that the reaction proceeds via a long lived association product, presumably the covalently bound protonated phenylnaphthalene, from which lighter species are generated by elimination of neutral fragments (H, H(2), CH(3)). A major signal relevant to the fragmentation of the initial adduct C(16)H(13)(+) belongs to C(15)H(10)(+). Since it is not obvious how CH(3) loss from C(16)H(13)(+) can take place to form the C(15)H(10)(+) radical cation, a theoretical investigation focuses on possible unimolecular transformations apt to produce it. Naphthylium can act as an electrophile and add to the π system of benzene, leading to a barrierless formation of the ionic adduct with an exothermicity of about 53 kcal mol(-1). From this structure, an intramolecular electrophilic addition followed by H shifts and ring opening steps leads to an overall exothermic loss (-7.1 kcal mol(-1) with respect to reagents) of the methyl radical from that part of the system which comes from benzene. Methyl loss can take place also from the "naphthyl" part, though via an endoergic route. Experimental and theoretical results show that an ionic route is viable for the growth of polycyclic aromatic species by association of smaller building blocks (naphthyl and phenyl rings) and this may be of particular relevance for understanding the formation of large molecules in ionized gases.     

Synthetic, spectroscopic, computational and structural studies of some 13-vertex ruthenacarboranes

Reduction of 1,2-closo-C2B10H12 followed by treatment with [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2(p-cymene = C6H4MeiPr-1,4) affords the 13-vertex ruthenacarborane 4-(p-cymene)-4,1,6-closo-RuC2B10H12, characterised both spectroscopically and, in two crystalline forms, crystallographically. Although asymmetric in the solid state, having a docosahedral cage architecture with cage C atoms at vertices 1 and 6, this species clearly has Cs symmetry on the NMR timescale at room temperature. However, the fluctional process in operation can be arrested at low temperature, and an activation energy of 43.1 kJ mol(-1) is estimated. A computational study of the related species 4-(eta-C6H6)-4,1,6-closo-RuC2B10H12 reveals that the fluctionality is due to a double diamond-square-diamond process, first suggested by Hawthorne et al for the analogous CpCo species. These calculations yield an activation energy of 40.4 kJ mol(-1), in excellent agreement with that derived from experiment. Reduction of 1,2-Ph(2)-1,2-closo-C2B10H10 followed by treatment with [RuCl2(eta-C6H6)]2 or [RuCl2(p-cymene)]2 yields the analogous species 1,6-Ph2-4-(eta-C6H6)-4,1,6-closo-RuC2B10H10 and 1,6-Ph2-4-(p-cymene)-4,1,6-closo-RuC2B10H10, respectively. These C,C-diphenyl compounds were again studied spectroscopically and crystallographically, the p-cymene species again showing two crystalline modifications. In contrast to their CpCo and Cp*Co analogues all three ruthenacarboranes do not undergo isomerisation in refluxing toluene.     

Metallacarboranes as building blocks for polyanionic polyarmed aryl-ether materials

Polyanionic species have been obtained in high yield by a new route in the ring-opening reaction of cyclic oxonium [3,3'-Co(8-C4H8O2-1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)] (2) by using carboxylic acids, Grignard reagents, and thiocarboranes as nucleophiles. The crystal structures of Na3(H2O)(C2H5OH)[1',3',5'-{3,3'-Co(8-O(CH2CH2O)2-1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)}3-C6H3] and Na(H2O)[3,3'-Co(8-O(CH2CH2O)2C(O)CH3-1,2-C2B9H10)(1',2'-C2B9H11)] show that the chain contributes three or two oxygen atoms for coordination to Na(+), and interestingly, the [3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H11)2](-) moiety provides extra B-H coordination sites. These B-H...Na interactions in the solid state have also been confirmed by dynamic NMR studies in solution. These new polyanionic compounds that contain multiple carborane or metallacarborane clusters at their periphery may prove useful as new classes of boron neutron capture therapy compounds with enhanced water solubility and as a core to make a new class of dendrimers.     

Synthesis and micellar properties of surface-active ionic liquids: 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chlorides

A series of surface-active ionic liquids, RMeImCl, has been synthesized by the reaction of purified 1-methylimidazole and 1-chloroalkanes, RCl, R=C(10),C(12),C(14), and C(16), respectively. Adsorption and aggregation of these surfactants in water have been studied by surface tension measurement. Additionally, solution conductivity, electromotive force, fluorescence quenching of micelle-solubilized pyrene, and static light scattering have been employed to investigate micelle formation. The following changes resulted from an increase in the length of R: an increase of micelle aggregation number; a decrease of: minimum area/surfactant molecule at solution/air interface; critical micelle concentration, and degree of counter-ion dissociation. Theoretically-calculated aggregation numbers and those based on quenching of pyrene are in good agreement. Gibbs free energies of adsorption at solution/air interface, DeltaG(ads)(0), and micelle formation in water, DeltaG(mic)(0), were calculated, and compared to those of three surfactant series, alkylpyridinium chlorides, RPyCl, alkylbenzyldimethylammonium chlorides, RBzMe(2)Cl, and benzyl(3-acylaminoethyl)dimethylammonium chlorides, R(')AEtBzMe(2)Cl, respectively. Contributions to the above-mentioned Gibbs free energies from surfactant methylene groups (in the hydrophobic tail) and the head-group were calculated. For RMeImCl, the former energy is similar to that of other cationic surfactants. The corresponding free energy contribution of the head-group to DeltaG(mic)(0) showed the following order: RPyCl approximately RBzMe(2)Cl>RMeImCl>R(')AEtBzMe(2)Cl. The head-groups of the first two surfactant series are more hydrophobic than the imidazolium ring of RMeImCl, this should favor their aggregation. Micellization of RMeImCl, however, is driven by a relatively strong hydrogen-bonding between the chloride ion and the hydrogens in the imidazolium ring, in particular the relatively acidic H2. This interaction more than compensates for the relative hydrophilic character of the diazolium ring. As indicated by the corresponding DeltaG(mic)(0), micellization of R(')AEtBzMe(2)Cl is more favorable than that of RMeImCl because the CONH group of the former surfactant series forms hydrogen bonds to both the counter-ion and the neighboring molecules in the micelle.     

Residue ionization in LpxC directly observed by 67Zn NMR spectroscopy

The pH dependence of the solid-state (67)Zn NMR lineshapes has been measured for both the wild type (WT) and the H265A mutant of Aquifex aeolicus LpxC, each in the absence of substrate (resting state). The (67)Zn NMR spectrum of WT LpxC at pH 6 (prepared at 0 degrees C) contains two overlapping quadrupole lineshapes with C q values of 10 and 12.9 MHz, while the spectrum measured for the sample prepared at a pH near 9 (at 0 degrees C) is dominated by the appearance of a third species with a C q of 14.3 MHz. These findings are consistent with the two p K a values previously observed by the bell-shaped dependence of the LpxC-catalyzed reaction. On the basis of comparison of the experimental results with predictions from quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) modeling, we suggest that p K a1 (low pH) represents the ionization of Glu78 and p K a2 (high pH) reflects the ionization of another active site residue located near the zinc ion, such as His265. These results are also consistent with water being bound to the Zn (2+) ion throughout this pH range. The (67)Zn NMR spectra of the H265A mutant appear to be pH independent, with a C q of 9.55 MHz being sufficient to describe both low- and high-pH data. The QM/MM models of the H265A mutant suggest that over this pH range water is bound to the zinc ion while Glu78 is protonated.     

Thermochemistry and infrared spectroscopy of neutral and cationic iron-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon complexes of astrophysical interest: fundamental density functional theory studies

This paper reports extensive calculations on the structural, thermodynamic, and mid-infrared spectroscopic properties of neutral and cationic model iron-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) complexes of astrophysical interest for three PAHs of increasing size, namely, naphthalene (C10H8), pyrene (C16H10), and coronene (C24H12). Geometry optimizations and frequency calculations were performed using hybrid Hartree-Fock/density functional theory (DFT) methods. The use of DFT methods is mandatory in terms of computational cost and efficiency to describe the electronic and vibrational structures of such large organometallic unsaturated species that present several low-energy isomers of different structures and electronic and spin states. The calculated structures for the low-energy isomers of the model Fe-PAH and Fe-PAH+ complexes are presented and discussed. Iron-PAH binding energies are extracted, and the consequences of the coordination of iron on the infrared spectra of neutral and cationic PAHs are shown with systematic effects on band intensities and positions being demonstrated. The first results are discussed in terms of astrophysical implications. This work is the first step of an ongoing effort in our group to understand the photophysics and spectroscopy of iron-PAH complexes in the conditions of the interstellar medium using a synergy between observations, laboratory experiments, and theory.     

Micelle structures in aqueous solutions of glucose-based surfactants having an isoprenoid-type hydrophobic chain

Surfactant self-diffusion coefficients have been measured on a binary system of 1-O-beta-3,7-dimethyloctyl-D-maltopyranoside (beta-Mal(2)(Ger))/water and a mixed surfactant system of beta-Mal(2)(Ger)/1-O-beta-3,7-dimethyloctyl-D-glucopyranoside (beta-Glc(Ger))/water at 25 degrees C. For comparison, measurements have also been made on 1-O-beta-decyl-D-maltopyranoside (beta-Mal(2)C(10))/water and beta-Mal(2)C(10)/1-O-beta-decyl-D-glucopyranoside (beta-GlcC(10))/water. The hydrodynamic radius of beta-Mal(2)(Ger) micelles obtained from the micellar diffusion coefficient is around 3 nm and nearly equal to that of beta-GlcC(10) micelles within experimental error. In the mixed surfactant systems, the hydrodynamic radii for both systems increase with increasing X(G) (the mole fraction of beta-Glc(Ger) or beta-GlcC(10) in the total mixed solute) above X(G) congruent with 0.4 when the total surfactant concentration is kept constant at 2 wt%. The R(H) of beta-Glc(Ger)/Mal(2)(Ger) micelles increases more rapidly than beta-GlcC(10)/beta-Mal(2)C(10) micelles, and then phase separation occurs at X(G) congruent with 0.65. On the other hand, the R(H) of beta-GlcC(10)/beta-Mal(2)C(10) micelles continues to increase until the phase separation occurs at X(G) congruent with 0.92. Measurements have also been performed as a function of total surfactant concentration at constant X(G) (=0.6). The CMC of the beta-Glc(Ger)/Mal(2)(Ger) system is larger than that of the beta-GlcC(10)/beta-Mal(2)C(10) system as expected from the results of the pure surfactant systems published previously. The R(H) increases with increasing total surfactant concentration for both systems. At higher concentrations, the R(H) of beta-Glc(Ger)/Mal(2)(Ger) micelles increases more rapidly than beta-GlcC(10)/beta-Mal(2)C(10) micelles. These results can be explained by the fact that the geranyl and decyl chains have the same volume but different chain lengths.