Isomerization dynamics of photochromic spiropyran molecular switches in phospholipid bilayers

Transient absorption spectroscopy was used to investigate the dynamics of the photochromic indolinobenzospiropyran reaction in toluene solution and in phosphatidylcholine bilayers (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC), and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC)). After excitation with UV light, colorless (R/S)-2-(3',3'-dimethyl-6-nitro-3'H-spiro[chromene-2,2'-indol]-1'-yl)ethanol derivatives are converted to colored merocyanine products in high yield; Phi = 0.45 in DMPC liposomes. We find that the reaction occurs in the bilayer aliphatic region in the gel (P(beta)(')) and liquid (L(alpha)) phases. The Arrhenius activation energy for the isomerization in DMPC bilayers was approximately 3.5 times larger in the liquid phase (L(alpha), E(a) = 26.0 +/- 1.0 kJ mol(-1)) than that in the gel phase (P(beta)('), E(a) = 7.3 +/- 1.6 kJ mol(-1)). Analysis of the isomerization rate constant temperature dependence allows an estimation of the bilayer viscosity and free volume properties in the L(alpha) phase.     

Study on the subgel-phase formation using an asymmetric phospholipid bilayer membrane by high-pressure fluorometry

The myristoylpalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (MPPC) bilayer membrane shows a complicated temperature-pressure phase diagram. The large portion of the lamellar gel (L(β)'), ripple gel (P(β)'), and pressure-induced gel (L(β)I) phases exist as metastable phases due to the extremely stable subgel (L(c)) phase. The stable L(c) phase enables us to examine the properties of the L(c) phase. The phases of the MPPC bilayers under atmospheric and high pressures were studied by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and fluorescence spectroscopy using a polarity-sensitive fluorescent probe Prodan. The SANS measurements clearly demonstrated the existence of the metastable L(β)I phase with the smallest lamellar repeat distance. From a second-derivative analysis of the fluorescence data, the line shape for the L(c) phase under high pressure was characterized by a broad peak with a minimum of ca. 460 nm. The line shapes and the minimum intensity wavelength (λ″(min)) values changed with pressure, indicating that the L(c) phase has highly pressure-sensible structure. The λ″(min) values of the L(c) phase spectra were split into ca. 430 and 500 nm in the L(β)I phase region, which corresponds to the formation of a interdigitated subgel L(c) (L(c)I) phase. Moreover, the phase transitions related to the L(c) phase were reversible transitions under high pressure. Taking into account the fluorescence behavior of Prodan for the L(c) phase, we concluded that the structure of the L(c) phase is highly probably a staggered structure, which can transform into the L(c)I phase easily.     

Phospholipid bilayer free volume analysis employing the thermal ring-closing reaction of merocyanine molecular switches

The free volume properties of phospholipid bilayers have been determined using a new assay that applies the photochromic and solvatochromic properties of merocyanines. The orientation and embedding depth of the merocyanines in the bilayer are controlled using substitution on the merocyanine indole moiety. The free volume changes at the aqueous interface (region 1), the phospholipid headgroup (region 2), and the aliphatic interior (region 3) of the bilayer are compared by analyzing the rate constants for the merocyanine ring-closing reaction. Free volume variations during the P(beta)(')(gel) <--> L(alpha)(liquid) phase transition are observed in region 1, in accordance with large structural rearrangements between the gel and the liquid phases in this region. The largest free volume is found in region 3, and the smallest is found in region 2. This distribution of free volume in the bilayer agrees with computational studies of these systems. Comparison of the free volume in region 2 of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) lipids shows that this method is sensitive to small structural differences between lipids. In region 2, the free volume is found to be approximately 2 times larger in DPPC bilayers, which could be related to different merocyanine interactions with the two phosphatidylcholines. Free volume properties determined on picosecond and second time scales are compared based on an analysis of merocyanine formation and decoloration reactions.     

Effects of protonation of alkyldimethylamine oxides on the dissolution temperature in aqueous media

The effects of protonation (ionization) of hexadecyldimethylamine oxides on the dissolution temperature in aqueous media were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. Only one endothermic peak was reproducibly observed at all the degrees of ionization alpha examined that were assigned to the transition from the solid (the gel phase) to the solution containing micelles. The dissolution temperature versus alpha curves showed a maximum at alpha=0.5, strongly suggesting the formation of a stable complex of 1-to-1 composition of the nonionic and cationic species through the proposed hydrogen bond. From the shape of the dissolution curve as well as the composition analysis of the solid phase, the solid solution was found to be formed over all alpha values. Effects of alkylchain length on the dissolution temperature for a homologous series of octadecyl- (C18DAO), hexadecyl- (C16DAO), and tetradecyldimethylamine oxide (C14DAO) were also examined for alpha=0.5 and alpha=1. Both the transition temperature and the associated thermodynamic quantities DeltaH and DeltaS increased systematically with the chain length, but for alpha=0.5 smaller increases in DeltaH and DeltaS values with the chain length were observed [DeltaH/CH2 (kJ mol(-1))=7.2+/-0.2 and 2.2+/-0.5 for alpha=1 and alpha=0.5, respectively, and DeltaS/CH2 (J mol(-1) K(-1))=21.9+/-1.8 for alpha=1 and 4.6+/-1.9 for alpha=0.5]. By annealing procedures, the metastable nature of the gel phase was demonstrated for the C16DAO (alpha=1) solid.     

Thermotropic and barotropic phase transitions of dialkyldimethylammonium bromide bilayer membranes: effect of chain length

The bilayer phase transitions of dialkyldimethylammonium bromides (2C(n)Br; n = 12, 14, 16) were observed by differential scanning calorimetry and high-pressure light-transmittance measurements. Under atmospheric pressure, the 2C(12)Br bilayer membrane underwent the stable transition from the lamellar crystal (L(c)) phase to the liquid crystalline (L(α)) phase. The 2C(14)Br bilayer underwent the main transition from the metastable lamellar gel (L(β)) phase to the metastable L(α) phase in addition to the stable L(c)/L(α) transition. For the 2C(16)Br bilayer, moreover, three kinds of phase transitions were observed: the metastable main transition, the metastable transition from the metastable lamellar crystal (L(c(2))) phase to the metastable L(α) phase, and the stable lamellar crystal (L(c(1)))/L(α) transition. The temperatures of all the phase transitions elevated almost linearly with increasing pressure. The temperature (T)-pressure (p) phase diagrams of the 2C(12)Br and 2C(14)Br bilayers were simple, but that of the 2C(16)Br bilayer was complex; that is, the T-p curves for the metastable main transition and the L(c(2))/L(α) transition intersect at ca. 25 MPa, which means the inversion of the relative phase stability between the metastable phases of L(β) and L(c(2)) above and below the pressure. Moreover, the T-p curve of the L(c(2))/L(α) transition was separated into two curves under high pressure, and as a result, the pressure-induced L(c(2P)) phase appeared in between. Thermodynamic quantities for phase transitions of the 2C(n)Br bilayers increased with an increase in alkyl-chain length. The chain-length dependence of the phase-transition temperature for all kinds of transitions observed suggests that the stable L(c(1))/L(α) transition incorporates the metastable L(c(2))/L(α) transition in the bilayers of 2C(n)Br with shorter alkyl chains, and the main-transition of the 2C(12)Br bilayer would occur at a temperature below 0 °C.     

Kinetics of lamellar-to-cubic and intercubic phase transitions of pure and cytochrome c containing monoolein dispersions monitored by time-resolved small-angle X-ray diffraction

We investigated the effect of incorporation of a small aqueous peripheral membrane protein (cyt c) into the three-dimensional periodic nanochannel structures formed by the lipid monoolein (MO) on its rich phase behavior as a function of temperature, pressure, and protein concentration using synchrotron X-ray small-angle diffraction. By simultaneous use of the pressure-jump relaxation technique and time-resolved synchrotron X-ray diffraction, we also studied the kinetics of various lipid mesophase transformations of the system for understanding the mechanistic pathways of their formation influenced by the protein-lipid interactions. Cyt c incorporated into the bicontinuous cubic phase Ia3d of MO has a significant effect on the lipid structure and the pressure stability of the system already at low protein concentrations. Concentrations higher than 0.2 wt % of cyt c led to an increase in interfacial curvature due to interaction of the protein with the lipid headgroups. This promotes the formation of a new, probably partially micellar cubic phase of crystallographic space group P4(3)32. Upon pressurization, the P4(3)32 phase undergoes a phase transition to a cubic Pn3m phase with smaller partial specific volume. Increase in protein concentration increases the pressure stability of the P4(3)32 phase. The formation of this phase from the cubic phase Pn3m is a slow process taking many seconds and having a time lag in the beginning. It seems to occur as a two-state process without ordered intermediate states. At temperatures above 60 degrees C, the P4(3)32 phase is unable to accommodate the unfolded protein and transforms to a bicontinuous cubic Ia3d phase. Time-resolved small-angle X-ray scattering studies show that the L(alpha) --> Ia3d transition in pure MO dispersions under limited hydration conditions occurs within a time interval of 1 s at 35 degrees C preceded by a lag phase of 1.5 s. The Ia3d cubic phase initially forms with a much larger lattice constant due to hydration and experiences an initially lower curvature that relaxes within about 1 s. Interestingly, no other cubic phases are involved as intermediates in the transition, i.e., the gyroid cubic phase is able to form directly from the L(alpha) phase. The mechanism behind the L(alpha) --> Ia3d transition in pure MO dispersions has been discussed within the framework of recent stalk models for membrane fusion. In the presence of cyt c, the L(alpha) --> Ia3d transition is much slower. The rather long relaxation times of the order of seconds are probably due to a kinetic trapping of the system and limitation by the transport and redistribution of water and lipid in the evolving new lipid phases. We also studied the transition from the pure lamellar L(alpha) phase to the Ia3d-P4(3)32 two phase region and observed a rather complex transition behavior with transient lamellar and cubic intermediate states.     

Variable-temperature x-ray structural investigation of [Fe[HC(3,5-Me2pz)3]2](BF4)2 (pz= pyrazolyl ring): observation of a thermally induced spin state change from all high spin to an equal high spin-low spin mixture, concomitant with the onset of nonmerohedral twinning

The complex [Fe[HC(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3)](2)](BF(4))(2) (pz = pyrazolyl ring) undergoes a phase transition that occurs concomitantly with a thermally induced spin conversion between the high-spin (HS, S = 2) and low-spin (LS, S = 0) states. Above 204 K the compound is completely HS with the structure in the C2/c space group with Z = 4. A crystal structure determination of this phase was performed at 220 K yielding the cell constants a = 20.338(2) A, b = 10.332(1) A, c = 19.644(2) A, beta = 111.097(2) degrees, and V = 3851.5(6) A(3). There is one unique iron(II) site at this temperature. Below 206 K the compound converts to a 50:50 mixture of HS and LS. The radical change in the coordination sphere for half of the iron(II) sites, most notably a shortening of the Fe-N bond distances by ca. 0.2 A, that accompanies this magnetic transition causes a phase transition. The crystal system changes from C-centered monoclinic to primitive triclinic with Z = 2 with two half-molecules on independent inversion centers. A crystal structure determination was performed at 173 K in space group P1 with a = 10.287(2) A, b = 11.355(3) A, c = 18.949(4) A, alpha = 90.852(4) degrees, beta = 105.245(4) degrees, gamma = 116.304(4) degrees, and V = 1892.3(8) A(3). All specimens investigated below the phase transition temperature were determined to be nonmerohedral twins. Temperature cycling between these two forms does not appear to degrade crystal quality. Previous magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate a second, irreversible increase in the magnetic moment the first time the crystals are cooled below 85 K. A crystal structure determination at 220 K of a specimen precooled to 78 K was not significantly different from those not cooled below 220 K.     

无柔性间隔基侧链型液晶高分子复合定形相变材料的制备与性能研究

设计合成了一系列具有不同烷氧基尾链长度的单体4′-烷氧基-4-联苯酚甲基丙烯酸酯Mbi Cm(m=1,2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18),通过自由基聚合方法合成了相应的具有不同烷氧基尾链长度的无柔性间隔基侧链型液晶高分子PMbi Cm,将所得的侧链型液晶高分子和相变材料石蜡按一定质量比混合,通过"加热-冷却法"成功制备了定形相变材料.通过凝胶测试发现当尾链长度为m=12,14,16,18时,高分子对固体石蜡具有良好的凝胶定形效果,且随着烷氧基尾链的增长,聚合物和石蜡的相容性增加,最低凝胶浓度降低,得到定形相变材料的凝胶解缔温度也相应下降.通过示差扫描量热法(DSC)、热重分析法(TG)、流变(Rheology)等测试考察了定形相变材料的相变储能性能、热稳定性和流变性能,实验结果表明该定形相变材料具有相变焓值高、热稳定性好、凝胶强度高等优点.通过红外光谱(FTIR)、偏光显微镜(POM)和扫描电镜(SEM)等测试发现PMbi Cm通过非共价键作用力自聚集形成三维凝胶网络结构,对石蜡起固定支撑作用.     

Melting and mechanical properties of polymer grafted lipid bilayer membranes

The influence of polymer grafting on the phase behavior and elastic properties of two tail lipid bilayers have been investigated using dissipative particle dynamics simulations. For the range of polymer lengths studied, the L(c) to L(α) transition temperature is not significantly affected for grafting fractions, G(f) between 0.16 and 0.25. A decrease in the transition temperature is observed at a relatively high grafting fraction, G(f) = 0.36. At low temperatures, a small increase in the area per head group, a(h), at high G(f) leads to an increase in the chain tilt, inducing order in the bilayer and the solvent. The onset of the phase transition occurs with the nucleation of small patches of thinned membrane which grow and form continuous domains as the temperature increases. This region is the co-existence region between the L(β)(thick) and the L(α)(thin) phases. The simulation results for the membrane area expansion as a function of the grafting density conform extremely well to the scalings predicted by self-consistent mean field theories. We find that the bending modulus shows a small decrease for short polymers (number of beads, N(p) = 10) and low G(f), where the influence of polymer is reduced when compared to the effect of the increased a(h). For longer polymers (N(p) > 15), the bending modulus increases monotonically with increase in grafted polymer. Using the results from mean field theory, we partition the contributions to the bending modulus from the membrane and the polymer and show that the dominant contribution to the increased bending modulus arises from the grafted polymer.     

Mesomorphic complexes of DNA with the mixtures of a cationic surfactant and a neutral lipid

Polyanionic DNA binds to cationic lipids to form electrostatic complexes exhibiting rich self-assembled structures. These types of complexes have been considered as a nonviral carrier in gene therapy and as a template for nanostructure construction. For the latter application where biocompatibility is not the key issue, replacement of cationic lipid by cationic surfactant is advantageous due to the wide availability of surfactant. Here we report the self-assembly behavior of the complexes of DNA with a cationic surfactant, dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), mixed with a neutral lipid, dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), in fully hydrated state as a function of DTAB-to-DNA base pair molar ratio (x), DOPE-to-DTAB molar ratio (m) and temperature. The binary complexes of DNA with DTAB microphase separated to form hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains without long-range order. Incorporating DOPE into the complexes effectively strengthened the hydrophobic interaction and hence promoted the formations of long-range ordered mesophases, including a condensed multilamellar phase (L(alpha)(c)) at small to intermediate m (m approximately 6). The lyotropic mesophase transition with respect to the change of m was properly predicted by a formula for calculating the packing parameter of amphiphile mixture. In addition to the lyotropic transition, an unusual thermotropic order-order transition (OOT) between L(alpha)(c) and H(II)(c) phases was revealed for the isoelectric complex with m = 3. This OOT was thermally reversible and was postulated to be driven by the reduction of the effective headgroup area due to the release of trapped water molecules.     

Estimation of the persistence length of DNA from the torsion elastic constant and supercoiling free energy: effect of ethylene glycol

Two different methods are proposed to estimate the persistence length ( P) of DNA from the measured torsion elastic constant (alpha) and the twist energy parameter ( E T ) that governs the supercoiling free energy. The first method involves Monte Carlo simulations and reversible-work calculations of E T for model DNAs that possess the measured alpha and selected trial values of P. Comparison of the computed E T values with the experimental value allows estimation of P (or equivalently the bending elastic constant (kappa beta)) by interpolation. A far simpler, though less accurate, alternative is to solve a previously conjectured analytical relation connecting E T , alpha, kappa beta (or P), and an unknown "constant" ( B). The present simulations are used to ascertain the optimum value of B and to assess the validity and accuracy of that relation. Within the simulation errors, P values obtained from the measured alpha and E T via this analytical expression agree with those determined from the simulations and E T values reckoned from the input alpha and kappa beta by this analytical expression agree with the corresponding simulated values. Although B is found to be insensitive to variation in alpha, it appears to decline slightly with increasing kappa beta. The original analytical expression is modified to take this apparent variation of B with kappa beta into account. By using this modified analytical relation to estimate P (from the measured alpha and E T ) or E T (from the input alpha and kappa beta), much closer agreement is obtained respectively with the values of P or E T obtained from the simulations. As specific examples, these methods are applied to determine P in 0 and 20 w/v % ethylene glycol, which has been shown to induce a structural transition in duplex DNA.     

Synthesis and characterization of new coordination polymers generated from bent bis(cyanophenyl)oxadiazole ligands and Ag(I) salts

Two new bent bis(cyanophenyl)oxadiazole ligands, 2,5-bis(4-cyanophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (L7) and 2,5-bis(3-cyanophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (L8), were synthesized. The coordination chemistry of these ligands with various Ag(I) salts has been investigated. Seven new coordination polymers, namely, {[Ag(L7)(H2O)]ClO4}n) (1) (triclinic, P1, a = 9.342(4) A, b = 9.889(4) A, c = 10.512(4) A, alpha = 68.978(6) degrees, beta = 78.217(6) degrees, gamma = 81.851(7) degrees, Z = 2), {[Ag(L7)]SO3CF3}n (2) (monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 7.559(2) A, b = 23.739(6) A, c = 10.426(3) A, beta = 108.071(4) degrees, Z = 4), {[Ag(L8)]BF4 x 0.5(C6H6) x H2O}n (3) (triclinic, P1, a = 7.498(3) A, b = 10.649(4) A, c = 13.673(5) A, alpha = 98.602(5) degrees, beta = 100.004(5) degrees, gamma =110.232(5) degrees, Z = 2), {[Ag(L8)SbF6] x H2O}n (4) (triclinic, P1, a = 8.2621(9) A, b = 10.6127(12) A, c = 13.3685(15) A, alpha = 98.012(2) degrees, beta = 106.259(2) degrees, gamma = 112.362(2) degrees, Z = 2), {[Ag2(L8)2(SO3CF3)] x H2O}n (5) (triclinic, P1, a = 10.713(4) A, b = 13.449(5) A, c = 15.423(5) A, alpha = 65.908(5) degrees, beta = 74.231(5) degrees, gamma = 83.255(5) degrees, Z = 2), {[Ag2(L8)(C6H6)(ClO4)] x ClO4}n (6) (monoclinic, P2(1)/n, a = 6.9681(17) A, b = 20.627(5) A, c = 17.437(4) A, beta = 95.880(4) degrees, Z = 4), and {[Ag2(L8)(H2PO4)2]}n (7) (triclinic, P1, a = 7.956(2) A, b = 9.938(3) A, c = 14.242(4) A, alpha = 106.191(4) degrees, beta = 97.322(4) degrees, gamma = 107.392(4) degrees, Z = 1), were obtained by the combination of L7 and L8 with Ag(I) salts in a benzene/methylene chloride mixed-solvent system and fully characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In addition, the luminescence and electrical conductance properties of compounds 1-6 and the host-guest chemistry of compound 3 were investigated.     

Landau theory description of observed isotropic to anisotropic phase transition in mixed clay gels

A characteristic new cooperative dehydration transition, in 1:1 Laponite-MMT cogel, was observed at T(c) ≈ 60 °C, a temperature at which the storage modulus (G(')) and depolarization ratio (D(p)) showed sharp increase, and the isotropic cogel turned into an anisotropic one. The dehydration dynamics could be described through power-law relations: G(') ～ (T(c)-T)(-γ) and D(p) ～ (T(c)-T)(-β) with γ ≈ β = 0.40 ± 0.05. The x-ray diffraction data revealed that the crystallite size decreased from 17 nm (at 20 °C) to 10 nm (at 80 °C) implying loss of free and inter-planar water. When this cogel was spontaneously cooled below T(c), it exhibited much larger storage modulii values which implied the existence of several metastable states in this system. This phase transition could be modeled through Landau theory, where the depolarization ratio was used as experimental order parameter (ψ). This parameter was found to scale with temperature, as ψ ～ (T(c)-T)(-α), with power-law exponent α = 0.40 ± 0.05; interestingly, we found α ≈ β ≈ γ.     

Finite-size scaling analysis on the phase transition of a ferromagnetic polymer chain model

The finite-size scaling analysis method is applied to study the phase transition of a self-avoiding walking polymer chain with spatial nearest-neighbor ferromagnetic Ising interaction on the simple cubic lattice. Assuming the scaling M2(T,n) = n(-2beta/nu)[phi0 + phi1n(1/nu)(T-T(c)) + O(n(2/nu)(T-T(c))2)] with the square magnetization M2 as the order parameter and the chain length n as the size, we estimate the second-order phase-transition temperature T(c) = 1.784 J/k(B) and critical exponents 2beta/nu approximately 0.668 and nu approximately 1.0. The self-diffusion constant and the chain dimensions (R2) and (S2) do not obey such a scaling law.     

Poly[(2,2'-bipyridine)tetrakis(imidazolato)diiron(II)]: structural and spin-state phase transitions and low-temperature magnetic ordering in a unique 2-dimensional material

Poly[(2,2'-bipyridine)tetrakis(imidazolato)diiron(II)] was synthesized by the reaction of ferrocene with imidazole in an excess of 2,2'- bipyridine in a Carius tube at 130 degrees C. Dc magnetic susceptibility studies at an applied field of 1000 G reveal that on cooling from room temperature, the material undergoes two structural phase transitions designated alpha --> beta and beta --> gamma at 151 and 133 K, respectively. On warming, the gamma --> beta and beta --> alpha transitions are observed at 137 and 151 K, respectively; a 4 K thermal hysteresis clearly detectable in the lower temperature beta <--> gamma transition. These structural phase transitions have also been studied by detailed, variable-temperature, ac susceptibility and M?ssbauer spectroscopy techniques. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies done at 294, 143, and 113 K reveal 2, 12, and 6 unique iron centers in the alpha-, beta-, and gamma-forms, respectively. All three forms have the same basic structure involving 2D extended double layer sheets (bilayers) of alternating tetrahedral and octahedral irons singly bridged by imidazolate ligands, with the octahedral centers additionally coordinated by 2,2'-bipyridine ligands that occupy positions between the sheets. Magnetic susceptibility and bond length data reveal that in the gamma-phase one in three six-coordinate sites corresponds to spin singlet ground-state iron(II); i.e., the overall alpha --> gamma process involves a spin-crossover transition such that at least 1/6 of the iron sites in the gamma-phase correspond to S = 0. This is supported by the low-temperature M?ssbauer spectra of the gamma-phase, which reveal the simultaneous presence of both S = 2 and S = 0 iron(II) centers. The compound magnetically orders, with a resultant small remnant magnetization, at low temperatures. The magnetic phase transition, studied by a combination of dc and ac susceptibility and M?ssbauer techniques, occurs at T(c) approximately 6.5 K.     

Structure of mesh phases in a cationic surfactant system with strongly bound counterions

We report the observation of an intermediate mesh phase with rhombohedral symmetry, corresponding to the space group Rm, in a mixed surfactant system formed by the cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and the organic salt 3-sodium-2-hydroxy naphthoate (SHN). It occurs between a random mesh phase (L(alpha)(D)) and a lamellar phase (L(alpha)) at low temperatures; at higher temperatures, the (L(alpha)(D)) phase transforms continuously into the (L(alpha)) phase with an increasing surfactant concentration (phi(s)). To separate the effects of salt and phi(s) on the phase behavior, the ternary system consisting of cetyltrimethylammonium 3-hydroxy-naphthalene-2-carboxylate (CTAHN), sodium bromide (NaBr), and water was studied. The intermediate mesh phase is found in this system at high NaBr concentrations. The micellar aggregates, both in the intermediate and random mesh phases, are found to be made up of a two-dimensional network of rod-like segments, with three rods meeting at each node. The average mesh size increases with phi(s), and the transition from the random mesh phase to the intermediate phase is found to occur when it is approximately 1.5 times the lamellar periodicity. The intermediate mesh phase is absent in the equimolar dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB)-SHN system, indicating the role of the surfactant chain length in the formation of this phase. This system exhibits a random mesh phase over a very wide range of water content, with the average mesh size decreasing upon an increasing phi(s), contrary to the trend seen in the CTAB-SHN system.     

Modified polyoxometalates: Hydrothermal syntheses and crystal structures of three novel reduced and capped Keggin derivatives decorated by transition metal complexes

Three novel polyoxometalate derivatives decorated by transition metal complexes have been hydrothermally synthesized. Compound 1 consists of [PMo(VI)(6)Mo(V)(2)V(IV)(8)O(44)[Co (2,2'-bipy)(2)(H(2)O)](4)](3+) polyoxocations and [PMo(VI)(4-)Mo(V)(4)V(IV)(8)O(44)[Co(2,2'-bipy)(2)(H(2)O)](2)](3-) polyoxoanions, which are both built on mixed-metal tetracapped [PMo(8)V(8)O(44)] subunits covalently bonded to four or two [Co(2,2'-bpy)(2)(H(2)O)](2+) clusters via terminal oxo groups of the capping V atoms. Compound 2 is built on [PMo(VI)(8)V(IV)(6)O(42)[Cu(I)(phen)](2)](5-) clusters constructed from mixed-metal bicapped [PMo(VI)(8)V(IV)(6)O(42)](7-) subunits covalently bonded to two [Cu(phen)](+) fragments in the similar way to 1. The structure of 3 is composed of [PMo(VI)(9)Mo(V)(3)O(40)](6-) units capped by two divalent Ni atoms via four bridging oxo groups. The crystal data for these are the following: C(120)H(126)Co(6)Mo(16)N(24)O(103)P(2)V(16) (1), triclinic P1, a = 15.6727(2) A, b = 17.3155(3) A, c = 19.5445(2) A, alpha = 86.1520(1) degrees, beta = 81.2010(1) degrees, gamma = 63.5970(1) degrees, Z = 1; C(120)H(85)Cu(6-)Mo(8)N(20)O(44)PV(6) (2), triclinic P1, a = 14.565(4) A, b = 15.899(3) A, c = 16.246(4) A, alpha = 116.289(2) degrees, beta = 103.084(2) degrees, gamma = 94.796(2) degrees, Z = 1; C(60)H(40)Mo(12)N(10)Ni(3)O(40)P (3), monoclinic P2(1)/c, a = 14.804(3) A, b = 22.137(4) A, c = 25.162(5) A, alpha = 90 degrees, beta = 98.59(3) degrees, gamma = 90 degrees, Z = 4.     

A temperature-dependent order-disorder and crystallographic phase transition in a 0D Fe(II) spin crossover compound and its non-spin crossover Co(II) isomorph

The new dipyridylamino/triazine ligand DDE (N(2),N(2),N(4),N(4)-tetraethyl-N(6),N(6)-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine) has been incorporated into the mononuclear Fe(II) SCO compounds cis-[Fe(II)(NCSe)(2)(DDE)(2)] (1), cis-[Fe(II)(NCBH(3))(2)(DDE)(2)] (2), and cis-[Fe(II)(NCS)(2)(DDE)(2)] (3). Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that each of 1, 2 and 3 undergoes a complete, continuous spin transition with a T(?) of ～260 K, ～300 K and ～205 K, respectively. An analogue and isomorph of 1, cis-[Co(II)(NCSe)(2)(DDE)(2)] (4), remains high spin down to low temperatures. Variable temperature single crystal data reveal that 1 and 4 undergo a crystallographic phase transition (from orthorhombic Pbcn at high temperatures to monoclinic P2/c at low temperatures) accompanied by an order-disorder transition of ethyl moieties of the DDE ligand. In the Pbcn phase, the structures of 1 and 4 contain one crystallographically unique M(II) centre, while in the P2/c phase, 1 and 4 contain two crystallographically unique M(II) centres. Variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction experiments reveal that the crystallographic phase transition occurs at ～250 K for 1. The occurrence of the concomitant order-disorder and crystallographic phase transitions undergone by 1 and 4 is not directly apparent in their magnetic susceptibility measurements, and this is likely due to the local environment of the M(II) centres remaining largely undisturbed as the transitions occur. The compound 2 is isostructural to 1 and 4 at low temperatures.     

Synthesis, Characterization, and Single-Crystal EPR Studies of Three Dinuclear Copper(II) Complexes and One Mixed-Valence Tetranuclear Copper(I)-Copper(II) Cluster with an Asymmetric Imidazole-Containing Tripodal Ligand with Copper(II)-Copper(II) Distances between 3.35 and 3.63 Å

The synthesis and characterization of three dinuclear copper(II) complexes and one mixed-valence tetranuclear cluster with the asymmetric imidazole-containing ligand bis(1,1'-imidazole-2-yl)(4-imidazole-4(5)-yl)-2-azabutane (biib) are described. X-ray crystallographic parameters for the copper complexes are as follows. [Cu(2)(biib)(2)(BF(4))(2)](BF(4))(2)(H(2)O)(4): triclinic, space group P&onemacr;, a = 10.178(1) ?, b = 9.4881(9) ?, c = 11.037(1) ?, alpha = 95.130(10) degrees, beta = 112.20(1) degrees, gamma = 92.142(9) degrees, and Z = 1. [Cu(2)(biib)(2)(NO(3))(2)](NO(3))(2)(H(2)O)(4): monoclinic, space group &Pmacr;2(1)/n, a = 9.207(6) ?, b = 17.0516(6) ?, c = 12.6107(7) ?, beta = 109.82(1) degrees, and Z = 2. [Cu(2)(biib)(2)(CuBr(3))(2)]: monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, a = 11.583(2) ?, b = 11.864(2) ?, c = 16.070(2) ?, beta = 112.459(12) degrees, and Z = 2. The two Cu(II) ions in all four complexes are coordinated in a square-pyramidal geometry by three imidazole nitrogens and one amine nitrogen donor in the equatorial plane, and each copper ion is weakly coordinated at the axial position by respectively a tetrafluoroborate, a perchlorate, a nitrate, or a tribromocuprate(I) anion. By comparison of the structural data of the four complexes a relationship has been established between the donor strength of the anion and some structural features, like the Cu(II)-Cu(II) distance, of the dinuclear Cu(II)-Cu(II) unit in the four complexes. Single-crystal EPR spectra of [Cu(2)(biib)(2)(BF(4))(2)](BF(4))(2)(H(2)O)(4) were recorded at room temperature at X-band frequencies. The triplet spectra have been fit with nonparallel g and D tensors, whose principle values are as follows: g(xx)() = 2.022(8), g(yy)() = 2.060(7), g(zz)() = 2.211(8), D(x)()(')(x)()(') = -0.0182(9) cm(-)(1), D(y)()(')(y)()(') = -0.081(6) cm(-)(1), D(z)()(')(z)()(') = 0.0264(7) cm(-)(1). The compounds were further characterized and studied by ligand field and by frozen-solution and polycrystalline powder EPR spectroscopy. EPR spectra recorded at 77 K of frozen solutions of the perchlorate complex show that upon dilution in methanol the dinuclear complex reacts to form a mononuclear species.     

Systematic approach to the quantitative voltammetric analysis of the FeIII/FeII component of the [alpha2-Fe(OH2)P2W17O61]7-/8- reduction process in buffered and unbuffered aqueous media

The one-electron reduction of [alpha(2)-Fe(III)(OH(2))P(2)W(17)O(61)](7-) at a glassy carbon electrode was investigated using cyclic and rotating-disk-electrode voltammetry in buffered and unbuffered aqueous solutions over the pH range 3.45-7.50 with an ionic strength of approximately 0.6 M maintained. The behavior is well-described by a square-scheme mechanism P + e(-) <--> Q (E(1)(0/) = -0.275 V, k(1)(0/) = 0.008 cm s(-1), and alpha(1) = 1/2), PH(+) + e(-) <--> QH(+) (E(2)(0/) = -0.036 V, k(2)(0/) = 0.014 cm s(-1), and alpha(2) = 1/2), PH(+) <--> P + H(+) (K(P) = 3.02 x 10(-6) M), and QH(+) <--> Q + H(+) (K(Q) = 2.35 x 10(-10) M), where P, Q, PH(+), and QH(+) correspond to [alpha(2)-Fe(III)(OH)P(2)W(17)O(61)](8-), [alpha(2)-Fe(II)(OH)P(2)W(17)O(61)](9-), [alpha(2)-Fe(III)(OH(2))P(2)W(17)O(61)](7-), and [alpha(2)-Fe(II)(OH(2))P(2)W(17)O(61)](8-), respectively; E(1)(0)' and E(2)(0)' are the formal potentials, k(1)(0)' and k(2)(0)' are the formal (standard) rate constants, and K(P) and K(Q) are the acid dissociation constants for the relevant reactions. The analysis for the buffered media is based on the approach of Laviron who demonstrated that a square scheme with fully reversible protonations, reversible or quasi reversible electron transfers with the assumption that alpha(1) = alpha(2), can be well-described by the behavior of a simple redox couple, ox + e(-) <--> red, whose formal potential, E(app)(0)', and standard rate constant, k(app)(0)', are straightforwardly derived functions of pH, as are the values of E(1)(0)', k(1)(0)', E(2)(0)', k(2)(0)', and K(P) (only three of the four thermodynamic parameters in a square scheme can be specified). It was assumed that alpha(app) = 1/2, and the simulation program DigiSim was used to determine the values of E(app)(0)' and k(app)(0)', which are required to describe the cyclic voltammograms obtained in buffered media in the pH range from 3.45 to 7.52 (buffer-related reactions which effect general acid-base catalysis are included in the simulations). DigiSim simulations of cyclic voltammograms obtained in unbuffered media yielded the values of E(1)(0)' and k(1)(0)'; K(Q) was then directly computed from thermodynamic constraints. These simulations included additional reactions between the redox species and H(2)O. The value of the diffusion coefficient of the [alpha(2)-Fe(III)(OH(2))P(2)W(17)O(61)](7-), 2.92 x 10(-6) cm(2) s(-1), was determined using DigiSim simulations of voltammograms at a rotating disk electrode in buffered and unbuffered media at pH 3.45. The diffusion coefficients of all redox species were assumed to be identical. When the pH is greater than 6, instability of P (i.e., [alpha(2)-Fe(III)(OH)P(2)W(17)O(61)](8-)) led to the loss of the reactant and precluded lengthy experimentation.