共查询到20条相似文献,搜索用时 62 毫秒
1.
Xinyu Jiang Mohammad Aqa Mohammadi Yuan Qin Zongshen Zhang 《Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)》2021,26(22)
Psammosilene tunicoides is a unique perennial medicinal plant species native to the Southwestern regions of China. Its wild population is rare and endangered due to over-excessive collection and extended growth (4–5 years). This research shows that H+-ATPase activity was a key factor for oxalate-inducing programmed cell death (PCD) of P. tunicoides suspension cells. Oxalic acid (OA) is an effective abiotic elicitor that enhances a plant cell’s resistance to environmental stress. However, the role of OA in this process remains to be mechanistically unveiled. The present study evaluated the role of OA-induced cell death using an inverted fluorescence microscope after staining with Evans blue, FDA, PI, and Rd123. OA-stimulated changes in K+ and Ca2+ trans-membrane flows using a patch-clamp method, together with OA modulation of H+-ATPase activity, were further examined. OA treatment increased cell death rate in a dosage-and duration-dependent manner. OA significantly decreased the mitochondria activity and damaged its electron transport chain. The OA treatment also decreased intracellular pH, while the FC increased the pH value. Simultaneously, NH4Cl caused intracellular acidification. The OA treatment independently resulted in 90% and the FC led to 25% cell death rates. Consistently, the combined treatments caused a 31% cell death rate. Furthermore, treatment with EGTA caused a similar change in intracellular pH value to the La3+ and OA application. Combined results suggest that OA-caused cell death could be attributed to intracellular acidification and the involvement of OA in the influx of extracellular Ca2+, thereby leading to membrane depolarization. Here we explore the resistance mechanism of P. tunicoides cells against various stresses endowed by OA treatment. 相似文献
2.
Oxidative stress leads to protein degeneration or mitochondrial dysfunction, causing neuronal cell death. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter that nerve cells use to send signals. However, the excess accumulation of glutamate can cause excitotoxicity in the central nervous system. In this study, we deciphered the molecular mechanism of catechin-mediated neuroprotective effect on glutamate-induced oxidative stress in mouse hippocampal neuronal HT22 cells. Cellular antioxidant activity was determined using the 1,1-diphenyl-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) assay and 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) staining. Furthermore, the levels of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) as well as nuclear condensation and protein expression related to neuronal damage were assessed. All five catechins (epigallocatechin gallate, gallocatechin gallate (GCG), gallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epicatechin) showed strong antioxidant effects. Among them, GCG exhibited the highest neuroprotective effect against glutamate excitotoxicity and was used for further mechanistic studies. The glutamate-induced increase in intracellular Ca2+ was reduced after GCG treatment. Moreover, GCG reduced nuclear condensation and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) involved in cell death. The neuroprotective effect of GCG against glutamate-induced oxidative stress in HT22 cells was attributed to the reduction in intracellular free radicals and Ca2+ influx and also the inhibition of phosphorylation of ERK and JNK. Furthermore, the antioxidant effect of GCG was found to be likely due to the inhibition of phosphorylation of ERK and JNK that led to the effective suppression of neurocytotoxicity caused by glutamate in HT22 cells. 相似文献
3.
Caroline Delehedde Marcel Culcasi Emilie Ricquebourg Mathieu Cassien Didier Siri Bruno Blaive Sylvia Pietri Sophie Thtiot-Laurent 《Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)》2022,27(14)
In order to discover new 31P NMR markers for probing subtle pH changes (<0.2 pH unit) in biological environments, fifteen new conformationally constrained or sterically hindered α-aminophosphonates derived from diethyl(2-methylpyrrolidin-2-yl)phosphonate were synthesized and tested for their pH reporting and cytotoxic properties in vitro. All compounds showed near-neutral pKas (ranging 6.28–6.97), chemical shifts not overlapping those of phosphorus metabolites, and spectroscopic sensitivities (i.e., chemical shifts variation Δδab between the acidic and basic forms) ranging from 9.2–10.7 ppm, being fourfold larger than conventional endogenous markers such as inorganic phosphate. X-ray crystallographic studies combined with predictive empirical relationships and ab initio calculations addressed the inductive and stereochemical effects of substituents linked to the protonated amine function. Satisfactory correlations were established between pKas and both the 2D structure and pyramidalization at phosphorus, showing that steric crowding around the phosphorus is crucial for modulating Δδab. Finally, the hit 31P NMR pH probe 1b bearing an unsubstituted 1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinane ring, which is moderately lipophilic, nontoxic on A549 and NHLF cells, and showing pKa = 6.45 with Δδab = 10.64 ppm, allowed the first clear-cut evidence of trans-sarcolemmal pH gradients in normoxic Dictyostelium discoideum cells with an accuracy of <0.05 pH units. 相似文献
4.
Pavel Videv Kirilka Mladenova Tonya D. Andreeva Jong Hun Park Veselina Moskova-Doumanova Svetla D. Petrova Jordan A. Doumanov 《Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)》2022,27(13)
Human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells express the transmembrane Ca2+-dependent Cl− channel bestrophin-1 (hBest1) of the plasma membrane. Mutations in the hBest1 protein are associated with the development of distinct pathological conditions known as bestrophinopathies. The interactions between hBest1 and plasma membrane lipids (cholesterol (Chol), 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and sphingomyelin (SM)) determine its lateral organization and surface dynamics, i.e., their miscibility or phase separation. Using the surface pressure/mean molecular area (π/A) isotherms, hysteresis and compressibility moduli (Cs−1) of hBest1/POPC/Chol and hBest1/SM/Chol composite Langmuir monolayers, we established that the films are in an LE (liquid-expanded) or LE-LC (liquid-condensed) state, the components are well-mixed and the Ca2+ ions have a condensing effect on the surface molecular organization. Cholesterol causes a decrease in the elasticity of both films and a decrease in the ΔGmixπ values (reduction of phase separation) of hBest1/POPC/Chol films. For the hBest1/SM/Chol monolayers, the negative values of ΔGmixπ are retained and equalized with the values of ΔGmixπ in the hBest1/POPC/Chol films. Shifts in phase separation/miscibility by cholesterol can lead to changes in the structure and localization of hBest1 in the lipid rafts and its channel functions. 相似文献
5.
The mechanism by which proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) occurs is of fundamental importance and has great consequences for applications, e.g. in catalysis. However, determination and tuning of the PCET mechanism is often non-trivial. Here, we apply mechanistic zone diagrams to illustrate the competition between concerted and stepwise PCET-mechanisms in the oxidation of 4-methoxyphenol by Ru(bpy)33+-derivatives in the presence of substituted pyridine bases. These diagrams show the dominating mechanism as a function of driving force for electron and proton transfer (ΔG0ET and ΔG0PT) respectively [Tyburski et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2021, 143, 560]. Within this framework, we demonstrate strategies for mechanistic tuning, namely balancing of ΔG0ET and ΔG0PT, steric hindrance of the proton-transfer coordinate, and isotope substitution. Sterically hindered pyridine bases gave larger reorganization energy for concerted PCET, resulting in a shift towards a step-wise electron first-mechanism in the zone diagrams. For cases when sufficiently strong oxidants are used, substitution of protons for deuterons leads to a switch from concerted electron–proton transfer (CEPT) to an electron transfer limited (ETPTlim) mechanism. We thereby, for the first time, provide direct experimental evidence, that the vibronic coupling strength affects the switching point between CEPT and ETPTlim, i.e. at what driving force one or the other mechanism starts dominating. Implications for solar fuel catalysis are discussed.The mechanism by which proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) occurs is of fundamental importance and has great consequences for applications, e.g. in catalysis. 相似文献
6.
Carlos Rocha Oliveira Hudson Polonini Maria Cristina Marcucci Rodolfo P. Vieira 《Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)》2022,27(3)
Endometriosis presents high prevalence and its physiopathology involves hyperactivation of endometrial and vaginal cells, especially by bacteria. The disease has no cure and therapies aiming to inhibit its development are highly desirable. Therefore, this study investigated whether MiodesinTM (10 µg/mL = IC80; 200 µg/mL = IC50), a natural compound constituted by Uncaria tomentosa, Endopleura uchi, and astaxanthin, could exert anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects against Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation in endometrial and Candida albicans vaginal cell lines. VK2 E6/E7 (vaginal) and KLE (epithelial) cell lines were stimulated with Candida albicans (1 × 107 to 5 × 107/mL) and LPS (1 μg/mL), respectively. MiodesinTM inhibited mRNA expression for Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), ciclo-oxigenase 1 (COX-1), and phospholipase A2 (PLA2), beyond the C–C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), CCL3, and CCL5 in VK2 E6/E7 cells (p < 0.05). In addition, the inhibitory effects of both doses of MiodesinTM (10 µg/mL and 200 µg/mL) resulted in reduced secretion of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) (24 h, 48 h, and 72 h) and CCL2, CCL3, and CLL5 (p < 0.05) by VK2 E6/E7 cells. In the same way, COX-1 MiodesinTM inhibited LPS-induced hyperactivation of KLE cells, as demonstrated by reduced secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α (24 h, 48 h, and 72 h) and CCL2, CCL3, and CLL5 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, MiodesinTM also inhibited mRNA expression and secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which are key regulators of invasion of endometrial cells. Thus, the study concludes that MiodesinTM presents beneficial effects in the context of endometriosis, positively affecting the inflammatory and proliferative response. 相似文献
7.
Najeeb Ur Rehman Mohd Nazam Ansari Abdul Samad Wasim Ahmad 《Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)》2022,27(4)
Fenchone is a bicyclic monoterpene found in a variety of aromatic plants, including Foeniculum vulgare and Peumus boldus, and is used in the management of airways disorders. This study aimed to explore the bronchodilator effect of fenchone using guinea pig tracheal muscles as an ex vivo model and in silico studies. A concentration-mediated tracheal relaxant effect of fenchone was evaluated using isolated guinea pig trachea mounted in an organ bath provided with physiological conditions. Sustained contractions were achieved using low K+ (25 mM), high K+ (80 mM), and carbamylcholine (CCh; 1 µM), and fenchone inhibitory concentration–response curves (CRCs) were obtained against these contractions. Fenchone selectively inhibited with higher potency contractions evoked by low K+ compared to high K+ with resultant EC50 values of 0.62 mg/mL (0.58–0.72; n = 5) and 6.44 mg/mL (5.86–7.32; n = 5), respectively. Verapamil (VRP) inhibited both low and high K+ contractions at similar concentrations. Pre-incubation of the tracheal tissues with K+ channel blockers such as glibenclamide (Gb), 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), and tetraethylammonium (TEA) significantly shifted the inhibitory CRCs of fenchone to the right towards higher doses. Fenchone also inhibited CCh-mediated contractions at comparable potency to its effect against high K+ [6.28 mg/mL (5.88–6.42, n = 4); CCh] and [6.44 mg/mL (5.86–7.32; n = 5); high K+]. A similar pattern was obtained with papaverine (PPV), a phosphodiesterase (PDE), and Ca2+ inhibitor which inhibited both CCh and high K+ at similar concentrations [10.46 µM (9.82–11.22, n = 4); CCh] and [10.28 µM (9.18–11.36; n = 5); high K+]. However, verapamil, a standard Ca2+ channel blocker, showed selectively higher potency against high K+ compared to CCh-mediated contractions with respective EC50 values of 0.84 mg/mL (0.82–0.96; n = 5) 14.46 mg/mL (12.24–16.38, n = 4). The PDE-inhibitory action of fenchone was further confirmed when its pre-incubation at 3 and 5 mg/mL potentiated and shifted the isoprenaline inhibitory CRCs towards the left, similar to papaverine, whereas the Ca2+ inhibitory-like action of fenchone pretreated tracheal tissues were authenticated by the rightward shift of Ca2+ CRCs with suppression of maximum response, similar to verapamil, a standard Ca2+ channel blocker. Fenchone showed a spasmolytic effect in isolated trachea mediated predominantly by K+ channel activation followed by dual inhibition of PDE and Ca2+ channels. Further in silico molecular docking studies provided the insight for binding of fenchone with Ca2+ channel (−5.3 kcal/mol) and K+ channel (−5.7), which also endorsed the idea of dual inhibition. 相似文献
8.
Prof.Dr. Mohammed Enamullah Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman Mohammad Khairul Islam Dr. Dennis Woschko Prof.Dr. Christoph Janiak Prof.Dr. Gennaro Pescitelli 《ChemistryOpen》2022,11(7)
A family of bis[(R or S)‐N‐1‐(Ar)ethylsalicylaldiminato‐κ2N,O]‐Δ/Λ‐zinc(II) {Ar=C6H5 (ZnRL1 or ZnSL1), p‐CH3OC6H4 (ZnRL2 or ZnSL2) and p‐ClC6H4 (ZnRL3 or ZnSL3)} compounds was synthesized and investigated by multiple methods. They feature Λ/Δ‐chirality‐at‐metal induction along the pseudo‐C 2 axis of the molecules. The chirality induction is quantitative in the solid state, explored by X‐ray crystallography and powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), where R or S‐ligated complexes diastereoselectively yield Λ or Δ‐configuration at the metal. On the other hand, Λ and Δ‐diastereomers co‐exist in solution. The Λ⇆Δ equilibrium is solvent‐ and temperature‐dependent. Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra confirm the existence of a diastereomeric excess of Λ‐ZnRL1−3 or Δ‐ZnSL1−3 in solution. DSC analysis reveals thermally induced irreversible phase transformation from a crystalline solid to an isotropic liquid phase. ECD spectra were reproduced by DFT geometry optimizations and time‐dependent DFT (TD‐DFT) calculations, providing ultimate proof of the dominant chirality atmetal in solution. 相似文献
9.
Mohammad Ansarifard Gholamhossein Rounaghi 《Journal of inclusion phenomena and macrocyclic chemistry》2005,52(1-2):39-44
The complexation reactions between Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+ cations with the macrocyclic ligand, 18-Crown-6 (l8C6) in water–methanol (MeOH) binary systems as well as the complexation reactions between Ca2+ and Sr2+ cations with 18C6 in water–ethanol (EtOH) binary mixtures have been studied at different temperatures using conductometric method. The conductance data show that the stoichiometry of all the complexes is 1:1. It was found that the stability of 18C6 complexes with Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+ and Ba2+ cations is sensitive to solvent composition and in all cases, a non-linear behaviour was observed for the variation of log K
f of the complexes versus the composition of the mixed solvents. In some cases, the stability order is changed with changing the composition of the mixed solvents. The selectivity order of 18C6 for the metal cations in pure methanol is: Ba2+ > Sr2+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+. The values of thermodynamic parameters (Δ H
c
° and Δ S
c
°) for formation of 18C6–Mg2+, 18C6–Ca2+, 18C6–Sr2+ and 18C6–Ba2+complexes were obtained from temperature dependence of the stability constants. The obtained results show that the values of (Δ H
c
° and Δ S
c
°) for formation of these complexes are quite sensitive to the nature and composition of the mixed solvent, but they do not vary monotonically with the solvent composition.This revised version was published online in July 2005 with a corrected issue number. 相似文献
10.
11.
Rongzhen Jiang Yincheng Teng Yajuan Huang Jinghong Gu Li Ma Ming Li Yuedi Zhou 《Experimental & molecular medicine》2014,46(9):e115
In women with preeclampsia (PE), endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction can lead to altered secretion of paracrine factors that induce peripheral vasoconstriction and proteinuria. This study examined the hypothesis that PE sera may directly or indirectly, through human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs), stimulate phospholipase C-γ1-1,4,5-trisphosphate (PLC-γ1-IP3) signaling, thereby increasing protein kinase C-α (PKC-α) activity, collagen I expression and intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells (HUASMCs). HUASMCs and HUVECs were cocultured with normal or PE sera before PLC-γ1 silencing. Increased PLC-γ1 and IP3 receptor (IP3R) phosphorylation was observed in cocultured HUASMCs stimulated with PE sera (P<0.05). In addition, PE serum significantly increased HUASMC viability and reduced their apoptosis (P<0.05); these effects were abrogated with PLC-γ1 silencing. Compared with normal sera, PE sera increased [Ca2+]i in cocultured HUASMCs (P<0.05), which was inhibited by PLC-γ1 and IP3R silencing. Finally, PE sera-induced PKC-α activity and collagen I expression was inhibited by PLC-γ1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) (P<0.05). These results suggest that vasoactive substances in the PE serum may induce deposition in the extracellular matrix through the activation of PLC-γ1, which may in turn result in thickening and hardening of the placental vascular wall, placental blood supply shortage, fetal hypoxia–ischemia and intrauterine growth retardation or intrauterine fetal death. PE sera increased [Ca2+]i and induced PKC-α activation and collagen I expression in cocultured HUASMCs via the PLC-γ1 pathway. 相似文献
12.
Porphyrin–Schiff Base Conjugates Bearing Basic Amino Groups as Antimicrobial Phototherapeutic Agents
María E. Prez Javier E. Durantini Eugenia Reynoso María G. Alvarez María E. Milanesio Edgardo N. Durantini 《Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)》2021,26(19)
New porphyrin–Schiff base conjugates bearing one (6) and two (7) basic amino groups were synthesized by condensation between tetrapyrrolic macrocycle-containing amine functions and 4-(3-(N,N-dimethylamino)propoxy)benzaldehyde. This approach allowed us to easily obtain porphyrins substituted by positive charge precursor groups in aqueous media. These compounds showed the typical Soret and four Q absorption bands with red fluorescence emission (ΦF ~ 0.12) in N,N-dimethylformamide. Porphyrins 6 and 7 photosensitized the generation of O2(1Δg) (ΦΔ ~ 0.44) and the photo-oxidation of L-tryptophan. The decomposition of this amino acid was mainly mediated by a type II photoprocess. Moreover, the addition of KI strongly quenched the photodynamic action through a reaction with O2(1Δg) to produce iodine. The photodynamic inactivation capacity induced by porphyrins 6 and 7 was evaluated in Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Furthermore, the photoinactivation of these microorganisms was improved using potentiation with iodide anions. These porphyrins containing basic aliphatic amino groups can be protonated in biological systems, which provides an amphiphilic character to the tetrapyrrolic macrocycle. This effect allows one to increase the interaction with the cell wall, thus improving photocytotoxic activity against microorganisms. 相似文献
13.
Chen Chen Meng-hui Wang Lin-Yan Feng Lian-Qing Zhao Jin-Chang Guo Hua-Jin Zhai Zhong-hua Cui Sudip Pan Gabriel Merino 《Chemical science》2022,13(27):8045
The occurrence of planar hexacoordination is very rare in main group elements. We report here a class of clusters containing a planar hexacoordinate silicon (phSi) atom with the formula SiSb3M3+ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba), which have D3h (1A1′) symmetry in their global minimum structure. The unique ability of heavier alkaline-earth atoms to use their vacant d atomic orbitals in bonding effectively stabilizes the peripheral ring and is responsible for covalent interaction with the Si center. Although the interaction between Si and Sb is significantly stronger than the Si–M one, sizable stabilization energies (−27.4 to −35.4 kcal mol−1) also originated from the combined electrostatic and covalent attraction between Si and M centers. The lighter homologues, SiE3M3+ (E = N, P, As; M = Ca, Sr, Ba) clusters, also possess similar D3h symmetric structures as the global minima. However, the repulsive electrostatic interaction between Si and M dominates over covalent attraction making the Si–M contacts repulsive in nature. Most interestingly, the planarity of the phSi core and the attractive nature of all the six contacts of phSi are maintained in N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and benzene (Bz) bound SiSb3M3(NHC)6+ and SiSb3M3(Bz)6+ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) complexes. Therefore, bare and ligand-protected SiSb3M3+ clusters are suitable candidates for gas-phase detection and large-scale synthesis, respectively.The global minimum of SiSb3M3+ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) is a D3h symmetric structure containing an elusive planar hexacoordinate silicon (phSi) atom. Most importantly, the phSi core remains intact in ligand protected environment as well.Exploring the bonding capacity of main-group elements (such as carbon or silicon) beyond the traditional tetrahedral concept has been a fascinating subject in chemistry for five decades. The 1970 pioneering work of Hoffmann and coworkers1 initiated the field of planar tetracoordinate carbons (ptCs), or more generally, planar hypercoordinate carbons. The past 50 years have witnessed the design and characterization of an array of ptC and planar pentacoordinate carbon (ppC) species.2–14 However, it turned out to be rather challenging to go beyond ptC and ppC systems. The celebrated CB62− cluster and relevant species15,16 were merely model systems because C avoids planar hypercoordination in such systems.17,18 In 2012, the first genuine global minimum D3h CO3Li3+ cluster was reported to have six interactions with carbon in planar form, although electrostatic repulsion between positively charged phC and Li centers and the absence of any significant orbital interaction between them make this hexacoordinate assignment questionable.19 It was only very recently that a series of planar hexacoordinate carbon (phC) species, CE3M3+ (E = S–Te; M = Li–Cs), were designed computationally by the groups of Tiznado and Merino (Fig. 1; left panel),20 in which there exist pure electrostatic interactions between the negative Cδ− center and positive Mδ+ ligands. These phC clusters were achieved following the so-called “proper polarization of ligand” strategy.Open in a separate windowFig. 1The pictorial depiction of previously reported phC CE3M3+ (E = S–Te; M = Li–Cs) clusters and the present SiE3M3+ (E = S–Te and N–Sb; M = Li–Cs and Ca–Ba) clusters. Herein the solid and dashed lines represent covalent and ionic bonding, respectively. The opposite double arrows illustrate electrostatic repulsion.The concept of planar hypercoordinate carbons has been naturally extended to their next heavier congener, silicon-based systems. Although the steric repulsion between ligands decreases due to the larger size, the strength of π- and σ-bonding between the central atom and peripheral ligands dramatically decreases, which is crucial for stability. Planar tetracoordinate silicon (ptSi) was first experimentally observed in a pentaatomic C2v SiAl4− cluster by Wang and coworkers in 2000.21 Very recently, this topic got a huge boost by the room-temperature, large-scale syntheses of complexes containing a ptSi unit.22 A recent computational study also predicted the global minimum of SiMg4Y− (Y = In, Tl) and SiMg3In2 to have unprecendented planar pentacoordinate Si (ppSi) units.23 Planar hexacoordinate Si (phSi) systems seem to be even more difficult to stabilize. Previously, a C2v symmetric Cu6H6Si cluster was predicted as the true minimum,24 albeit its potential energy surface was not fully explored. A kinetically viable phSi SiAl3Mg3H2+ cluster cation was also predicted.25 However, these phSi systems24,25 are only local minima and not likely to be observed experimentally. In 2018, the group of Chen identified the Ca4Si22− building block containing a ppSi center and constructed an infinite CaSi monolayer, which is essentially a two-dimensional lattice of the Ca4Si2 motif.26 Thus, it is still an open question to achieve a phSi atom to date.Herein we have tried to find the correct combination towards a phSi system as the most stable isomer. Gratifyingly, we found a series of clusters, SiE3M3+ (E = N, P, As, Sb; M = Ca, Sr, Ba), having planar D3h symmetry with Si at the center of the six membered ring, as true global minimum forms. Si–E bonds are very strong in all the clusters, and alkaline-earth metals interact with the Si center by employing their d orbitals. However, electrostatic repulsion originated from the positively charged Si and M centers for E = N, P, and As dominates over attractive covalent interaction, making individual Si–M contacts repulsive in nature. This makes the assignment of SiE3M3+ (E = N, P, As; M = Ca, Sr, Ba) as genuine phSi somewhat skeptical. SiSb3M3+ (M = Ca, Sr, Ba) clusters are the sole candidates which possess genuine phSi centers as both electrostatic and covalent interactions in Si–M bonds are attractive. The d orbitals of M ligands play a crucial role in stabilizing the ligand framework and forming covalent bonds with phSi. Such planar hypercoordinate atoms are, in general, susceptible to external perturbations. However, the present title clusters maintain the planarity and the attractive nature of the bonds even after multiple ligand binding at M centers in SiSb3M3(NHC)6+ and SiSb3M3(Bz)6+. This would open the door for large-scale synthesis of phSi as well.Two major computational efforts were made before reaching our title phSi clusters. The first one is to examine SiE3M3+ (E = S–Po; M = Li–Cs) clusters, which adopt D3h or C3v structures as true minima (see Table S1 in ESI†), being isoelectronic to the previous phC CE3M3+ (E = S–Po; M = Li–Cs) clusters. In the SiE3M3+ (E = S–Po; M = Li–Cs) clusters, the Si center always carries a positive charge ranging from 0.01 to +1.03|e|, in contrast to the corresponding phC species (see Fig. 1). Thus, electrostatic interactions between the Siδ+ and Mδ+ centers would be repulsive (Fig. 1). Given that the possibility of covalent interaction with an alkali metal is minimal, it would be a matter of debate whether they could be called true coordination. A second effort is to tune the electronegativity difference between Si and M centers so that the covalent contribution in Si–M bonding becomes substantial. Along this line, we consider the combinations of SiE3M3+ (E = N, P, As, Sb; M = Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba). The results in Fig. S1† show that for E = Be and Mg, the phSi geometry has a large out-of-plane imaginary frequency mode, which indicates a size mismatch between the Si center and peripheral E3M3 (E = N–Bi; M = Be, Mg) ring. On the other hand, the use of larger M = Ca, Sr, Ba atoms effectively expands the size of the cavity and eventually leads to perfect planar geometry with Si atoms at the center as minima. In the case of SiBi3M3+, the planar isomer possesses a small imaginary frequency for M = Ca. Although planar SiBi3Sr3+ and SiBi3Ba3+ are true minima, they are 2.2 and 2.5 kcal mol−1 higher in energy than the lowest energy isomer, respectively (Fig. S2†). Fig. 2 displays some selected low-lying isomers of SiE3M3+ (E = N, P, As, Sb; M = Ca, Sr, Ba) clusters (see Fig. S3–S6† for additional isomers). The global minimum structure is a D3h symmetric phSi with an 1A1′ electronic state for all the twelve cases. The second lowest energy isomer, a ppSi, is located more than 49 kcal mol−1 above phSi for E = N. This relative energy between the most stable and nearest energy isomer gradually decreases upon moving from N to Sb. In the case of SiSb3M3+ clusters, the second-lowest energy isomer is 4.6–6.1 kcal mol−1 higher in energy than phSi. The nearest triplet state isomer is very high in energy (by 36–53 kcal mol−1, Fig. S3–S6†) with respect to the global minimum.Open in a separate windowFig. 2The structures of low-lying isomers of SiE3M3+ (E = N, P, As, Sb; M = Ca, Sr, Ba) clusters. Relative energies (in kcal mol−1) are shown at the single-point CCSD(T)/def2-TZVP//PBE0/def2-TZVP level, followed by a zero-energy correction at PBE0. The values from left to right refer to Ca, Sr, and Ba in sequence. The group symmetries and electronic states are also given.Born–Oppenheimer molecular dynamics (BOMD) simulations at room temperature (298 K), taking SiE3Ca3+ clusters as case studies, were also performed. The results are displayed in Fig. S7.† All trajectories show no isomerization or other structural alterations during the simulation time, as indicated by the small root mean square deviation (RMSD) values. The BOMD data suggest that the global minimum also has reasonable kinetic stability against isomerization and decomposition.The bond distances, natural atomic charges, and bond indices for SiE3Ca3+ clusters are given in † for M = Sr, Ba). The Si–E bond distances are shorter than the typical Si–E single bond distance computed using the self-consistent covalent radii proposed by Pyykkö.27 In contrast, the Si–M bond distance is almost equal to the single bond distance. This gives the first hint of the presence of covalent bonding therein. However, the Wiberg bond indices (WBIs) for the Si–M links are surprisingly low (0.02–0.04). We then checked the Mayer bond order (MBO), which can be seen as a generalization of WBIs and is more acceptable since the approach of WBI calculations assumes orthonormal conditions of basis functions while the MBO considers an overlap matrix. The MBO values for the Si–M links are now sizable (0.13–0.18). These values are reasonable considering the large difference in electronegativity between Si and M, and, therefore, only a very polar bond is expected between them. In fact, the calculations of WBIs after orthogonalization of basis functions by the Löwdin method gives significantly large bond orders (0.48–0.55), which is known to overestimate the bond orders somewhat. The above results indicate that the presence of covalent bonding cannot be ruled out only by looking at WBI values.Bond distances (r, in Å), different bond orders (WBIs) {MBOs} [WBI in orthogonalized basis], and natural atomic charges (q, in |e|) of SiE3Ca3+ (E = N, P, As, Sb) clusters at the PBE0/def2-TZVP level
Open in a separate windowOur following argument regarding the presence of covalent Si–M bonding is based on energy decomposition analysis (EDA) in combination with natural orbital for chemical valence (NOCV) theory. We first performed EDA by taking Ca and SiE3Ca2 in different charge and electronic states as interacting fragments to get the optimum fragmentation scheme that suits the best to describe the bonding situation (see Tables S6–S9†). The size of orbital interaction (ΔEorb) is used as a probe.28 For all cases, Ca+ (D, 4s1) and SiE3Ca2 (D) in their doublet spin states turn out to be the best schemes, which give the lowest ΔEorb value. Energy term Interaction Ca+ (D, 4s1) + SiN3Ca2 (D) Ca+ (D, 4s1) + SiP3Ca2 (D) Ca+ (D, 4s1) + SiAs3Ca2 (D) Ca+ (D, 4s1) + SiSb3Ca2 (D) ΔEint −192.9 −153.0 −144.9 −129.9 ΔEPauli 139.8 115.2 115.7 110.9 ΔEelstata −162.0 (48.7%) −116.4 (43.4%) −113.0 (43.4%) −100.9 (41.9%) ΔEorba −170.7 (51.3%) −151.8 (56.6%) −147.6 (56.6%) −140.0 (58.1%) ΔEorb(1)b SiE3Ca2–Ca+(s) electron-sharing σ-bond −89.2 (52.3%) −79.4 (52.3%) −74.3 (50.3%) −66.9 (47.8%) ΔEorb(2)b SiE3Ca2 → Ca+(d) π‖-donation −32.9 (19.3%) −32.0 (21.1%) −31.8 (21.5%) −30.8 (22.0%) ΔEorb(3)b SiE3Ca2 → Ca+(d) σ-donation −13.1 (7.7%) −11.9 (7.8%) −12.0 (8.1%) −11.9 (8.5%) ΔEorb(4)b SiE3Ca2 → Ca+(d) π⊥-donation −12.3 (7.2%) −12.2 (8.0%) −12.5 (8.5%) −12.5 (8.9%) ΔEorb(5)b SiE3Ca2 → Ca+(d) δ-donation −8.1 (4.7%) −9.9 (6.5%) −10.9 (7.4%) −11.8 (8.4%) ΔEorb(rest)b −15.1 (8.8%) −6.4 (4.2%) −6.1 (4.1%) −6.1 (4.4%)
r Si–E | r Si–Ca | r E–Ca | q Si | q E | q Ca | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
E = N | 1.669 | 2.555 | 2.246 | 1.57 | −1.93 | 1.74 |
(1.14) {1.23} [1.84] | (0.02) {0.13} [0.51] | (0.22) {0.67} [0.84] | ||||
E = P | 2.180 | 2.935 | 2.640 | 0.25 | −1.42 | 1.67 |
(1.34) {1.11} [1.52] | (0.03) {0.14} [0.54] | (0.27) {0.74} [1.05] | ||||
E = As | 2.301 | 3.004 | 2.721 | 0.07 | −1.34 | 1.65 |
(1.33) {1.10} [1.45] | (0.03) {0.15} [0.55] | (0.29) {0.71} [1.12] | ||||
E = Sb | 2.538 | 3.155 | 2.896 | −0.39 | −1.16 | 1.62 |
(1.29) {1.01} [1.33] | (0.04) {0.18} [0.48] | (0.30) {0.78} [1.14] |