Modulation of the F1FO‐ATPase function by butyltin compounds

Among butyltin compounds, tributyltin (TBT), widely exploited in the past in antifouling paints for its biocidal properties, is long known as one of the most harmful sea contaminants. Among the ascertained and universal toxicity mechanisms, TBT targeting F₁F_O‐ATPase and thus impairing cell bioenergetics, is here reviewed. While TBT effects on F₁F_O‐ATPase have been investigated for decades, the possible impact of the derivatives dibutyltin (DBT) and monobutyltin (MBT), produced by abiotic and/or biotic dealkylation of TBT and usually considered far less toxic, have been poorly explored up until now. Butyltin effects on F₁F_O‐ATPase and their underlying action mechanism seem to be tightly structure dependent. Butyltins are membrane‐active toxicants. Owing to its more pronounced lipophilicity TBT targets the transmembrane F_O sector, blocks ionic translocation and causes a dose‐dependent loss of sensitivity to F_O inhibitors such as oligomycin and N,N′‐dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. DBT strongly inhibits F₁F_O‐ATPase activity by competing with the Mg⁺² cofactor in the F₁ catalytic site but is ineffective on the enzyme sensitivity to F_O inhibitors. MBT is apparently ineffective. The possible contribution of DBT to the overall butyltin toxicity on membrane systems may not be neglectable since usually TBT coexists with its derivatives in organotin‐exposed animal tissues. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Dibutyltin-3-hydroxyflavone bromide: A fluorescent inhibitor of F1F0-ATPase

Dibutyltin-3-hydroxyflavone bromide [Bu₂SnBr-(of)] is a fluorescent inhibitor (excitation max, 395 nm; emission max., 450 nm) of mitochondrial F₁F₀–ATPase which does not inhibit F₁–ATPase. Bu₂SnBr(of) binding to mitochondria and submitochondrial particles results in a 10-fold fluorescence enhancement which correlates with the amount of F₁F₀–ATPase in the inner membrane. Enhancement is not affected by respiratory-chain substrates, ATP, uncoupling agents, ionophores or respiratory-chain inhibitors. It is reversed by tributyltin chloride (Bu₃SnCl), indicating competition for a common triorganotin-binding site on the F₀ segment of F₁F₀–ATPase. Enhancement is not reversed by dialkyltins, monoalkyltins, tributyl-lead acetate, efrapeptin or oligomycin. Bu₂SnBr(of) is thus a new class of fluorescent probe of the F₀ segment of F₁F₀–ATPase which titrates F₀.     

H2‐Fueled ATP Synthesis on an Electrode: Mimicking Cellular Respiration

ATP, the molecule used by living organisms to supply energy to many different metabolic processes, is synthesized mostly by the ATPase synthase using a proton or sodium gradient generated across a lipid membrane. We present evidence that a modified electrode surface integrating a NiFeSe hydrogenase and a F₁F₀‐ATPase in a lipid membrane can couple the electrochemical oxidation of H₂ to the synthesis of ATP. This electrode‐assisted conversion of H₂ gas into ATP could serve to generate this biochemical fuel locally when required in biomedical devices or enzymatic synthesis of valuable products.     

Highly Stereoselective β‐Mannopyranosylation via the 1‐α‐Glycosyloxy‐isochromenylium‐4‐gold(I) Intermediates

While the gold(I)‐catalyzed glycosylation reaction with 4,6‐O‐benzylidene tethered mannosyl ortho‐alkynylbenzoates as donors falls squarely into the category of the Crich‐type β‐selective mannosylation when Ph₃PAuOTf is used as the catalyst, in that the mannosyl α‐triflates are invoked, replacement of the ^?OTf in the gold(I) complex with less nucleophilic counter anions (i.e., ^?NTf₂, ^?SbF₆, ^?BF₄, and ^?BAr₄^F) leads to complete loss of β‐selectivity with the mannosyl ortho‐alkynylbenzoate β‐donors. Nevertheless, with the α‐donors, the mannosylation reactions under the catalysis of Ph₃PAuBAr₄^F (BAr₄^F=tetrakis[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate) are especially highly β‐selective and accommodate a broad scope of substrates; these include glycosylation with mannosyl donors installed with a bulky TBS group at O3, donors bearing 4,6‐di‐O‐benzoyl groups, and acceptors known as sterically unmatched or hindered. For the ortho‐alkynylbenzoate β‐donors, an anomerization and glycosylation sequence can also ensure the highly β‐selective mannosylation. The 1‐α‐mannosyloxy‐isochromenylium‐4‐gold(I) complex ( Cα ), readily generated upon activation of the α‐mannosyl ortho‐alkynylbenzoate ( 1 α ) with Ph₃PAuBAr₄^F at ?35 °C, was well characterized by NMR spectroscopy; the occurrence of this species accounts for the high β‐selectivity in the present mannosylation.     

Properties and Structure of Spinel Li‐Mn‐O‐F Compounds for Cathode Materials of Secondary Lithium‐ion Battery

The spinel Li‐Mn‐O‐F compound cathode materials were synthesized by solid‐state reaction from calculated amounts LiOH‐H₂O, MnO₂(EMD) and LiF. The results of the electrochemical test demonstrated that these materials exhibited excellent electrochemical properties. It's initial capacity is ‐ 115 mAh.g¹ and reversible efficiency is about 100%. After 60 cycles, its capacity is still around 110 mAh.g¹ with nearly 100% reversible efficiency. The spinel Li‐Mn‐O‐F compound possibly has two structure models: interstitial model [Li]‐[Mn³⁺_xMn⁴⁺_2‐x]O₄F_δ, in which the fluorine is located on the interstice of crystal lattice, and substituted model [Li]‐[Mn³⁺_xMn⁴⁺_2‐x]O_4‐δF_δ, which the fluorine atom substituted the oxygen atom. The electrochemical result supports the interstitial model [Li][Mn³⁺_xMn⁴⁺_2‐x]O₄F_δ.     

The structures of 1,4‐diaryl‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazoles related to J147, a drug for treating Alzheimer's disease

J147 [N‐(2,4‐dimethylphenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoro‐N′‐(3‐methoxybenzylidene)acetohydrazide] has recently been reported as a promising new drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The X‐ray structures of seven new 1,4‐diaryl‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazoles, namely 1‐(3,4‐dimethylphenyl)‐4‐phenyl‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole (C₁₇H₁₄F₃N₃, 1 ), 1‐(3,4‐dimethylphenyl)‐4‐(3‐methoxyphenyl)‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole (C₁₈H₁₆F₃N₃O, 2 ), 1‐(3,4‐dimethylphenyl)‐4‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole (C₁₈H₁₆F₃N₃O, 3 ), 1‐(2,4‐dimethylphenyl)‐4‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole (C₁₈H₁₆F₃N₃O, 4 ), 1‐[2,4‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]‐4‐(3‐methoxyphenyl)‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole (C₁₈H₁₀F₉N₃O, 5 ), 1‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐4‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazole (C₁₉H₁₈F₃N₃O₄, 6 ) and 3‐[4‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐5‐(trifluoromethyl)‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐1‐yl]phenol (C₁₇H₁₄F₃N₃O₃, 7 ), have been determined and compared to that of J147 . B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) calculations have been performed to determine the potential surface and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) of J147 , and to examine the correlation between hydrazone J147 and the 1,2,3‐triazoles, both bearing a CF₃ substituent. Using MEPs, it was found that the minimum‐energy conformation of 4 , which is nearly identical to its X‐ray structure, is closely related to one of the J147 seven minima.     

Sensitive determination of glucose in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium by high‐performance liquid chromatography with 1‐phenyl‐3‐methyl‐5‐pyrazolone derivatization: application to gluconeogenesis studies

A new pre‐column derivative high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for determination of d ‐glucose with 3‐O‐methyl‐d ‐glucose (3‐OMG) as the internal standard was developed and validated in order to study the gluconeogenesis in HepG2 cells. Samples were derivatized with 1‐phenyl‐3‐methy‐5‐pyrazolone at 70°C for 50 min. Glucose and 3‐OMG were extracted by liquid–liquid extraction and separated on a YMC‐Triart C₁₈ column, with a gradient mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and 20 mm ammonium acetate solution containing 0.09% tri‐ethylamine at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The eluate were detected using a UV detector at 250 nm. The assay was linear over the range 0.39–25 μm (R² = 0.9997, n = 5) and the lower limit of quantitation was 0.39 μm (0.070 mg/mL). Intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy were <15% and within ±3%, respectively. After validation, the HPLC method was applied to investigate the gluconeogenesis in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium (DMEM) cultured HepG2 cells. Glucose concentration was determined to be about 1–2.5 μm in this gluconeogenesis assay. In conclusion, this method has been shown to determine small amounts of glucose in DMEM successfully, with lower limit of quantitation and better sensitivity when compared with common commercial glucose assay kits. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrode Kinetics and Ternary Complex Formation of Cd2+‐Antibiotics‐Vitamin‐B5 System. A Polarographic Study

Cd²⁺ complexes with antibiotics viz. neomycin, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, tetracycline, penicillin‐V and penicillin‐G as primary ligands and vitamin‐B₅ as secondary ligand have been reported at pH = 7.30 ± 0.01 and μ = 1.0 M KNO₃ at 298 K by polarographic technique.¹ Cd²⁺ formed 1:1:1, 1:1:2, and 1:2:1 complexes with a stability constants trend of neomycin < chlortetracycline < oxytetracycline < tetracycline < penicillin‐V < penicillin‐G can be explained on the basis of the nature of ligands, bonding, and steric hindrance of these drugs. The nature of electrode processes were reversible and diffusion controlled. The values of stability constants showed that these drugs can be used to reduce the toxicity of Cd.     

Synthesis and NMR characterization of 6‐Phenyl‐6‐deoxy‐2,3‐di‐O‐methylcellulose

Cellulose ( 1 ) was converted for the first time to 6‐phenyl‐6‐deoxy‐2,3‐di‐O‐methylcellulose ( 6 ) in 33% overall yield. Intermediates in the five‐step conversion of 1 to­ 6 were: 6‐O‐tritylcellulose ( 2 ), 6‐O‐trityl‐2,3‐di‐O‐methylcellulose ( 3 ), 2,3‐di‐O‐methylcellulose ( 4 ); and 6‐bromo‐6‐deoxy‐2,3‐di‐O‐methylcellulose ( 5 ). Elemental and quantitative carbon‐13 analyses were concurrently used to verify and confirm the degrees of substitution in each new polymer. Gel permeation chromotography (GPC) data were generated to monitor the changes in molecular weight (DP_w) as the synthesis progressed, and the compound average decrease in cellulose DP_w was ～ 27%. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the decomposition of all polymers. The degradation temperatures ( °C) and percent char at 500 °C of cellulose derivatives 2 to 6 were 308.6 and 6.3%, 227.6 °C and 9.7%, 273.9 °C and 30.2%, 200.4 °C and 25.6%, and 207.2 °C and 27.0%, respectively. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of­6‐O‐tritylcellulose by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) occurred at 126.7 °C and the modulus (E′, Pa) dropped 8.9 fold in the transition from ?150 °C to + 180 °C (6.6 × 10⁹ to 7.4 × 10⁸ Pa). Modulus at 20 °C was 3.26 × 10⁹ Pa. Complete proton and carbon‐13 chemical shift assignments of the repeating unit of the title polymer were made by a combination of the HMQC and COSY NMR methods. Ultimate non‐destructive proof of carbon–carbon bond formation at C6 of the anhydroglucose moiety was established by generating correlations between resonances of CH₂6 (anhydroglucose) and C1′, H2′, and H6′ of the attached aryl ring using the heteronuclear multiple‐bond correlation (HMBC) method. In this study, we achieved three major objectives: (a) new methodologies for the chemical modification of cellulose were developed; (b) new cellulose derivatives were designed, prepared and characterized; (c) unequivocal structural proof for carbon–carbon bond formation with cellulose was derived non‐destructively by use of one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR methods. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Solid‐state NMR study of dopant effects on the chemical properties of Mg‐, In‐, and Al‐doped SnP2O7

The effects of doped low‐valence cations on the properties of the SnP₂O₇ proton conductor at ambient temperature are investigated from changes in solid‐state NMR spectra and nuclear magnetic relaxation times. Although the T₁H values increased with decreasing acidity as a result of cation exchange, the ¹H chemical shifts moved to lower field in Al‐ and In‐doped materials compared with undoped ones. Furthermore, the shifts changed to higher field in Mg‐doped materials, suggesting the existence of different protonic species in those materials. The bulk phosphate chemical shifts in the ³¹P dipolar‐decoupling MAS NMR spectra were very similar, regardless of the nature and amount of the doping species. On the other hand, by ¹H/³¹P cross‐polarization MAS NMR, P₂O₇ signals interacting with an interstitial proton [Q¹(proton)] were observed in all the undoped and doped SnP₂O₇, while acidic P–OH‐type phosphate signals [Q¹(acid)] were additionally observed in the Mg‐doped conductor. The different affinity of the proton with the dopants and phosphates caused lower conductivity and larger activation energy in the Mg‐doped materials, compared with those in the In‐ and Al‐doped materials. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,crystal structures and anti‐inflammatory activity of four 3,5‐bis(arylidene)‐N‐benzenesulfonyl‐4‐piperidone derivatives

3,5‐Bis(arylidene)‐4‐piperidone (BAP) derivatives display good antitumour and anti‐inflammatory activities because of their double α,β‐unsaturated ketone structural characteristics. If N‐benzenesulfonyl substituents are introduced into BAPs, the configuration of the BAPs would change significantly and their anti‐inflammatory activities should improve. Four N‐benzenesulfonyl BAPs, namely (3E,5E)‐1‐(4‐methylbenzenesulfonyl)‐3,5‐bis[4‐(trifluoromethyl)benzylidene]piperidin‐4‐one dichloromethane monosolvate, C₂₈H₂₁F₆NO₃S·CH₂Cl₂, ( 4 ), (3E,5E)‐1‐(4‐fluorobenzenesulfonyl)‐3,5‐bis[4‐(trifluoromethyl)benzylidene]piperidin‐4‐one, C₂₇H₁₈F₇NO₃S, ( 5 ), (3E,5E)‐1‐(4‐nitrobenzenesulfonyl)‐3,5‐bis[4‐(trifluoromethyl)benzylidene]piperidin‐4‐one, C₂₇H₁₈F₆N₂O₅S, ( 6 ), and (3E,5E)‐1‐(4‐cyanobenzenesulfonyl)‐3,5‐bis[4‐(trifluoromethyl)benzylidene]piperidin‐4‐one dichloromethane monosolvate, C₂₈H₁₈F₆N₂O₃S·CH₂Cl₂, ( 7 ), were prepared by Claisen–Schmidt condensation and N‐sulfonylation. They were characterized by NMR, FT–IR and HRMS (high resolution mass spectrometry). Single‐crystal structure analysis reveals that the two 4‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl rings on both sides of the piperidone ring in ( 4 )–( 7 ) adopt an E stereochemistry of the olefinic double bonds. Molecules of both ( 4 ) and ( 6 ) are connected by hydrogen bonds into one‐dimensional chains. In ( 5 ) and ( 7 ), pairs of adjacent molecules embrace through intermolecular hydrogen bonds to form a bimolecular combination, which are further extended into a two‐dimensional sheet. The anti‐inflammatory activity data reveal that ( 4 )–( 7 ) significantly inhibit LPS‐induced interleukin (IL‐6) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF‐α) secretion. Most importantly, ( 6 ) and ( 7 ), with strong electron‐withdrawing substituents, display more potential inhibitory effects than ( 4 ) and ( 5 ).     

Oxidative and Photochemical Stability of Ionomers for Fuel‐Cell Membranes

To predict hydroxyl‐radical‐initiated degradation of new proton‐conducting polymer membranes based on sulfonated polyetherketones (PEK) and polysulfones (PSU), three nonfluorinated aromatics are chosen as model compounds for EPR experiments, aiming at the identification of products of HO^.‐radical reactions with these monomers. Photolysis of H₂O₂ was chosen as the source of HO^. radicals. To distinguish HO^.‐radical attack from direct photolysis of the monomers, experiments were carried out in the presence and absence of H₂O₂. A detailed investigation of the pH dependence was performed for 4,4′‐sulfonylbis[phenol] ( SBP ), bisphenol A (= 4,4′‐isopropylidenebis[phenol]; BPA ), and [1,1′‐biphenyl]‐4,4′‐diol ( BPD ). At pH ≥ pK_A of HO^. and H₂O₂, reactions between the model compounds and O₂^.? or ¹O₂ are the most probable ways to the phenoxy and ‘semiquinone’ radicals observed in this pH range in our EPR spectra. A large number of new radicals give evidence of multiple hydroxylation of the aromatic rings. Investigations at low pH are particularly relevant for understanding degradation in polymer‐electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). However, the chemistry depends strongly on pH, a fact that is highly significant in view of possible pH inhomogeneities in fuel cells at high currents. It is shown that also direct photolysis of the monomers leads to ‘semiquinone’‐type radicals. For SBP and BPA , this involves cleavage of a C? C bond.     

Kinetics of Acid‐Catalyzed Dissociation of Nickel (II) N‐Alkyl‐Substituted Diamino Diamide Complexes

The dissociation kinetics of the nickel (II) complexes of 4‐methyl‐4,7‐diazadecanediamide (4‐Me‐L‐2,2,2), 4,7‐dimethyl‐4,7‐diazadecanediamide (4,7‐N, N′‐Me2‐L‐2,2,2), 4‐ethyl‐4,7‐diazadecanediamide (4‐Et‐ L‐2,2,2), and 4‐methyl‐4,8‐diazaundecanediamide (4‐Me‐L‐2,3,2) have been studied at 25.0 °C and μ = 4.0 M (NaClO₄ + HClO₄) by the stopped‐flow method. These reactions are specific‐acid catalyzed; however, the rate constants of these reactions do not depend on the concentrations of acetic, chloro acetic, and dichloroacetic acids. At pH values be low 1.0, both the proton‐assisted and the direct protonation path ways make contributions to the rates. The ratios of the rate constant of dissociation by the direct protonation path way to the rate constant by the proton‐assisted path way for the complexes in aqueous solution were measured and discussed.     

Three different fluoro‐ or chloro‐substituted 1′‐deoxy‐1′‐phenyl‐β‐D‐ribofuranoses

Crystal structures are reported for three fluoro‐ or chloro‐substituted 1′‐deoxy‐1′‐phenyl‐β‐D‐ribofuranoses, namely 1′‐deoxy‐1′‐(2,4,5‐trifluorophenyl)‐β‐D‐ribofuranose, C₁₁H₁₁F₃O₄, (I), 1′‐deoxy‐1′‐(2,4,6‐trifluorophenyl)‐β‐D‐ribofuranose, C₁₁H₁₁F₃O₄, (II), and 1′‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐1′‐deoxy‐β‐D‐ribofuranose, C₁₁H₁₃ClO₄, (III). The five‐membered furanose ring of the three compounds has a conformation between a C2′‐endo,C3′‐exo twist and a C2′‐endo envelope. The ribofuranose groups of (I) and (III) are connected by intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds to six symmetry‐related molecules to form double layers, while the ribofuranose group of (II) is connected by O—H...O hydrogen bonds to four symmetry‐related molecules to form single layers. The O...O contact distance of the O—H...O hydrogen bonds ranges from 2.7172 (15) to 2.8895 (19) Å. Neighbouring double layers of (I) are connected by a very weak intermolecular C—F...π contact. The layers of (II) are connected by one C—H...O and two C—H...F contacts, while the double layers of (III) are connected by a C—H...Cl contact. The conformations of the molecules are compared with those of seven related molecules. The orientation of the benzene ring is coplanar with the H—C1′ bond or bisecting the H—C1′—C2′ angle, or intermediate between these positions. The orientation of the benzene ring is independent of the substitution pattern of the ring and depends mainly on crystal‐packing effects.     

7‐Iodo‐5‐aza‐7‐deazaguanine ribonucleoside: crystal structure,physical properties,base‐pair stability and functionalization

The positional change of nitrogen‐7 of the RNA constituent guanosine to the bridgehead position‐5 leads to the base‐modified nucleoside 5‐aza‐7‐deazaguanosine. Contrary to guanosine, this molecule cannot form Hoogsteen base pairs and the Watson–Crick proton donor site N3—H becomes a proton‐acceptor site. This causes changes in nucleobase recognition in nucleic acids and has been used to construct stable `all‐purine' DNA and DNA with silver‐mediated base pairs. The present work reports the single‐crystal X‐ray structure of 7‐iodo‐5‐aza‐7‐deazaguanosine, C<sub>10</sub>H<sub>12</sub>IN<sub>5</sub>O<sub>5</sub> ( 1 ). The iodinated nucleoside shows an anti conformation at the glycosylic bond and an N conformation (O4′‐endo) for the ribose moiety, with an antiperiplanar orientation of the 5′‐hydroxy group. Crystal packing is controlled by interactions between nucleobase and sugar moieties. The 7‐iodo substituent forms a contact to oxygen‐2′ of the ribose moiety. Self‐pairing of the nucleobases does not take place. A Hirshfeld surface analysis of 1 highlights the contacts of the nucleobase and sugar moiety (O—H…O and N—H…O). The concept of pK‐value differences to evaluate base‐pair stability was applied to purine–purine base pairing and stable base pairs were predicted for the construction of `all‐purine' RNA. Furthermore, the 7‐iodo substituent of 1 was functionalized with benzofuran to detect motional constraints by fluorescence spectroscopy.     

NMR analysis of mono‐ and difructosyllactosucrose synthesized by 1F‐fructosyltransferase purified from roots of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.)

Two novel oligosaccharides, mono‐ and difructosyllactosucrose {[O‐β‐D ‐fructofuranosyl‐(2 → 1)]_n‐β‐D ‐fructofuranosyl‐O‐[β‐D ‐galactopyranosyl‐(1 → 4)]‐α‐D ‐glucopyranoside, n = 1 and 2} were synthesized using 1^F‐fructosyltransferase purified form roots of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.). Their ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra were assigned using several NMR techniques. The spectral analysis was started from two anomeric methines of aldose units, galactose and glucose, since they showed separate characteristic signals in their ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. After assignments of all the ¹H and ¹³C signals of two units of aldose, they were discriminated as galactose and glucose using proton–proton coupling constants. The HMBC spectrum revealed the galactose residue attached to C‐4 of glucose, fructose residue attached to the C‐1 of glucose, and further fructosyl fructose linkage extended from the glucosyl fructose residues. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel azocompound, 2‐(4‐phenylazoaniline)‐4‐phenylphenol: Spectroscopic and quantum‐chemical approach

A novel azocompound with two nonequivalents azo groups, 2‐(4‐phenylazoaniline)‐4‐phenylphenol, was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and computational analysis. An intramolecular hydrogen bonding (HB), ? O₁? H₁ ··· N₁? , involving the ? N₁?N₂? group and the proton in a neighbor hydroxyl moiety, was identified. It was found responsible for a characteristic π‐conjugated H₁? O₁? C₁₈?C₁₃? N₂?N₁? six‐membered cyclic fragment. It is worth noting that this azo group is involved in an azo‐hydrazo equilibrium, being the azo form the most stable one. This resonance‐assisted HB was characterized using the OH‐related infrared bands and the corresponding signals in ¹H NMR. In addition, conformational studies and geometrical and electronic parameter calculations were performed using the density functional theory, at B3LYP/6‐311++G** level. Bond and ring critical points were identified using the atoms in molecules theory, which allowed confirming the intramolecular HB. The second azo‐group cannot be involved in HB, but it also presents two stereoisomerics forms corresponding to cis (Z) and trans (E) configurations, with the later being the one with the lowest energy. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Electrode Kinetics and Complex Formation of [Zn‐Antibiotics‐Cephalothin] System vis a vis Kinetics of Electrode Reactions

Charge transfer reactions between a dropping mercury electrode and a [Mn‐antibiotics‐cephalothin] system were studied at pH = 7.30 ± 0.01, μ = 1.0 MNaClO₄ at 298 K. The antibiotics were doxycycline, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, tetracycline, minocycline, amoxicillin and chloramphenicol used as primary ligands and cephalothin as secondary ligand formed 1:1:1, 1:1:2 and 1:2:1 complexes with Zn². Electrode kinetics was discussed on the basis of kinetic parameters viz. transfer coefficient (α), degree of irreversibility (λ), diffusion coefficient (D) and rate constant (k). The values of α varied from 0.40 to 0.57 (0.50) confirm that ‘transition state’ behaves between reactant and product response to applied potential and it lies always between d.m.e. and solution interface. A small variation in potential affects the rate and rate constant greatly.     

Er3O2F5: Ein Erbiumoxidfluorid mit Vernier‐Struktur

Er₃O₂F₅: An Erbium Oxide Fluoride with Vernier‐Type Structure Attempts to synthesize multinary erbium‐trifluoride derivatives (e. g. Er₃F[Si₃O₁₀], Er₄F₂[Si₂O₇][SiO₄], CsEr₂F₇, and RbEr₃F₁₀) from mixtures of ErOF‐contaminated erbium trifluoride (ErF₃) itself and appropriate other components (such as Er₂O₃ and SiO₂ or CsF and RbF, respectively) frequently resulted in the formation of pale pink, transparent, lath‐shaped single crystals of Er₃O₂F₅ (orthorhombic, Pnma; a = 562.48(5), b = 1710.16(14), c = 537.43(4) pm; Z = 4) as by‐product, typically after seven days at 800 °C and regardless of the applied reaction‐container material (evacuated torch‐sealed silica or silica‐jacketed arc‐welded tantalum capsules). Its crystal structure, often described as a vernier‐type arrangement consisting of two interpenetrating and almost misfitting lattices (ErOF and ErF₃), contains two crystallographically different Er³⁺ cations in the eight‐ and seven‐plus‐one‐fold anionic coordination of bicapped trigonal prisms. Whereas (Er1)³⁺ carries four O^2? and F^? anions each, (Er2)³⁺ resides in the neighbourhood of only two O^2?, but five plus one F^? anions. As the main structural feature, however, one can consider O^2?‐centred (Er³⁺)₄ tetrahedra which share common edges to form linear double strands of the composition . Running parallel to the [100] direction and assembling like a hexagonal closest rod‐packing, their electroneutralization and three‐dimensional interconnection is achieved by three crystallographically independent F^? anions (d(F^??Er³⁺) = 221 ? 251 plus 281 pm) in three‐ and two‐plus‐two‐fold coordination of the Er³⁺ cations, respectively.     

ToF‐SIMS and computation analysis: Fragmentation mechanisms of polystyrene,polystyrene‐d5, and polypentafluorostyrene

We studied the time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry fragmentation mechanisms of polystyrenes—phenyl‐fluorinated polystyrene (5FPS), phenyl‐deuterated polystyrene (5DPS), and hydrogenated polystyrene (PS). From the positive ion spectra of 5FPS, we identified some characteristic molecular ion structures with isomeric geometries such as benzylic, benzocyclobutene, benzocyclopentene, cyclopentane, and tropylium systems. These structures were evaluated by the B3LYP‐D/jun‐cc‐pVDZ computation method. The intensities of the C₇H₂F₅⁺ (m/z = 181), CyPent‐C₉H₃F₄⁺ (m/z = 187), CyPent‐C₉H₄F₅⁺ (m/z = 207), and CyPent‐C₉H₂F₅⁺ (m/z = 205) ions were enhanced by resonance stabilization. The positive fluorinated ions from 5FPS tended to rearrange and produce fewer fluorine‐containing molecular ions through the loss of F (m/z = 19), CF (m/z = 31), and CF₂ (m/z = 50) ion fragments. Consequently, the fluorine‐containing polycyclic aromatic ions had much lower intensities than their hydrocarbon counterparts. We propose the fragmentation mechanisms for the formation of C₅H₅⁺, C₆H₅⁺, and C₇H₇⁺ ion fragments, substantiated with detailed analyses of the negative ion spectra. These ions were created through elimination of a pentafluoro‐phenyl anion (C₆F₅⁻) and H⁺, followed by a 1‐electron‐transfer process and then cyclization of the newly generated polyene with carbon‐carbon bond formation. The pendant groups with elements of different electronegativities exerted strong influences on the intensities and fragmentation processes of their corresponding ions.