Structural, spectroscopic, and magnetic properties of a diphenolate-bridged FeNi complex showing excellent phosphodiester cleavage activity

To mimic the phosphate ester hydrolysis behavior of purple acid phosphatases the heterobimetallic complex [(BNPP)Fe^IIIL(μ-BNPP)Ni^II(H₂O)](ClO₄) (1) has been synthesized from the precursor complexes [Fe^III(LH₂)(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₃·3H₂O and [Fe^III(LH₂)(H₂O)Cl](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O. In these compounds, L²⁻ is the anion of the tetraiminodiphenol macrocyclic ligand (H₂L), while LH₂ is the zwitterionic form in which the phenolic protons are shifted to the two metal-uncoordinated imine nitrogens, and BNPP is bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate. The X-ray crystal structure of compound 1 has been determined. The structure of 1 comprises of two edge-shared distorted octahedrons whose metal centers are bridged by two equatorial phenolate oxygens and two axially disposed oxygens of a BNPP ligand. The internuclear Fe?Ni distance is 3.083 Å. The high-spin iron(III) and nickel(II) in 1 are antiferromagnetically coupled (J = −7.1 cm⁻¹; H = −2JS₁·S₂) with S = 3/2 spin ground state. The phosphodiesterase activity of 1 has been studied in 70:30 H₂O-(CH₃)₂SO medium with NaBNPP as the substrate. The reaction rates have been measured by varying pH (3-10), temperature (25-50 °C), and with different concentrations of the substrate and complex at a fixed pH and temperature. Treatment of the rate data, obtained at pH 6.0 and at 35 °C, by the Michaelis-Menten approach have provided the following parameters: K_M = 3.6 × 10⁻⁴ M, V_max = 1.83 × 10⁻⁷ M s⁻¹, k_cat = 9.15 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹. As compared to the uncatalyzed hydrolysis rate of BNPP, the k_cat value is 8.3 × 10⁸ times higher, showing that 1 behaves as an excellent model for phosphate ester hydrolysis.     

Influence of the chain and layer structure of Fe(III) and In(III) aqua-pentachloro-complexes on the bending vibrations of water molecules

Studies of IR and Raman spectra of monohydrates M^I₂[M^IIICl₅(H₂O)] (where M^I=K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺ and M^III=Fe³⁺, In³⁺) at 1400-1900 cm⁻¹ have been carried out. The medium intensity band, detected in the region 1580-1595 cm⁻¹ was assigned to bending vibrations of water molecules (δHOH). The shift of the δHOH band towards low wavenumbers (1580-1595 cm⁻¹) is a main sign of the water molecule interactions in the chain hydrates. Additionally in the IR and Raman spectra of these salts, the appearance of the low intensity band between 1750 and 1810 cm⁻¹ (ν_x(H₂O)) was observed. In the presented paper we also discuss the influence of M^I and M^III cations on the position and splitting of these bands.     

New Cu(II)4 and Zn(II)4 complexes: Synthesis, characterization and magnetic and biological studies

Two new isomorphous tetranuclear complexes [Cu₄L₂(4,4′-bipy)₂]·(ClO₄)₄·2CH₃CN·2H₂O (1) and [Zn₄L₂(4,4′-bipy)₂]·(ClO₄)₃·CH₃O·4H₂O (2) have been obtained and fully characterized (where bipy = bipyridine, H₂L = macrocycle is the [2+2] condensation product of 2,6-diformyl-4-fluoro-phenol and 1,4-diaminobutane). They exhibit wheel-like configuration in which two 4,4′-bipy molecules connect two dinuclear [M₂L]²⁺ units. The interactions of the complexes with calf thymus DNA were studied by UV-Vis and CD spectroscopic techniques. The binding constants of 1 and 2 are 2.27 × 10⁶ and 3.89 × 10⁵ M⁻¹, respectively. The magnetic measurement of 1 reveals that there are strong antiferromagnetic coupling (J = -272.6 cm⁻¹) between two Cu(II) ions in the macrocyclic unit and ferromagnetic interaction (j′ = 41.7) between the Cu(II) ions in two adjacent macrocyclic units. Furthermore, the cyclic voltammogram of 1 shows that it undergoes two quasi-reversible processes with the half wave potentials -0.232 and -0.606 V, respectively.     

Determination of melamine in different milk batches using a novel chemosensor based on the luminescence quenching of Ru(II) carbonyl complex

A novel, simple, sensitive and precise spectrofluorimetric method was developed for measuring the melamine concentration in different milk batch samples. The method was based upon measuring the quenching of the luminescence intensity of the produced yellow colored ruthenium^(II) carbonyl complex of the general formula [Ru(CO)₂(L)] (where L = anion of tetradentate Schiff base). The Ru^(II) complex exhibited characteristic luminescence band in the visible region. The remarkable quenching of the luminescence intensity of [Ru(CO)₂(L)] complex by various concentrations of melamine was successfully used as a chemosensor for the assessment of melamine in different milk samples at λ_ex = 400 nm and pH 7.4 in DMSO with a linear dynamic range 1.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 3.0 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹ and lower detection limit (LOD) and quantification detection limit (QOD) of 3.3 × 10⁻¹⁰ and 1.0 × 10⁻⁹ mol L⁻¹, respectively.     

Photoinduced interactions between colloidal TiO2 nanoparticles and calf thymus-DNA

The interaction of colloidal TiO₂ nanoparticles with calf thymus-DNA was studied by using absorption, FT-IR, steady state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The apparent association constant has been deduced (K_app = 2.85 × 10³ M⁻¹) from the absorption spectral changes of the DNA-colloidal TiO₂ nanoparticles using the Benesi–Hildebrand equation. Addition of colloidal TiO₂ nanoparticles quenched the fluorescence of EtBr–DNA. The number of binding sites (n = 0.97) and the apparent binding constant (K = 6.68 × 10³ M⁻¹) were calculated from relevant fluorescence quenching data. The quenching, through a static mechanism, was confirmed by time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Biomimetic sensor based on MnMn complex as manganese peroxidase mimetic for determination of rutin

A novel biomimetic sensor for rutin determination based on a dinuclear complex [Mn^IIIMn^II(Ldtb)(μ-OAc)₂]BPh₄ containing an unsymmetrical dinucleating ligand, 2-[N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-aminomethyl]-6-[N-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-oxidoben-zyl)-N-(2-pyridylamino)aminomethyl]-4-methylphenol (H₂Ldtb), as a manganese peroxidase mimetic was developed. Several parameters were investigated to evaluate the performance of the biomimetic sensor obtained after the incorporation of the dinuclear complex in a carbon paste. The best performance was obtained in 75:15:10% (w/w/w) of the graphite powder:Nujol:Mn^IIIMn^II complex, 0.1 mol L⁻¹ phosphate buffer solution (pH 6.0) and 4.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ hydrogen peroxide. The response of the sensor towards rutin concentration was linear using square wave voltammetry in the range of 9.99 × 10⁻⁷ to 6.54 × 10⁻⁵ mol L⁻¹ (r = 0.9998) with a detection limit of 1.75 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. The recovery study performed with pharmaceuticals ranged from 96.6% to 103.2% and the relative standard deviation was 1.85% for a solution containing 1.0 × 10⁻³ mol L⁻¹ rutin (n = 6). The lifetime of this biomimetic sensor was 200 days (at least 750 determinations). The results obtained for rutin in pharmaceuticals using the biomimetic sensor and those obtained with the official method are in agreement at the 95% confidence level.     

Near IR luminescent rare earth 3,4,5,6-tetrafluoro-2-nitrophenoxide complexes: Synthesis,X-ray crystallography and spectroscopy

3,4,5,6-Tetrafluoro-2-nitrophenoxide (L⁻) forms complexes with rare earth M³⁺ ions. X-ray crystal structures of substances with the stoichiometry Cs₂ML₅ · mEt₂O (M = Er, m = 0; M = Er, m = 1; M = Y, m = 1.5; M = Yb, m = 1) have been determined. Each M³⁺ ion is coordinated to two bidentate and three monodentate L⁻ ions; Et₂O does not coordinate to M³⁺. The complexes absorb both visible and ultraviolet light. The solid Er³⁺ and Yb³⁺ complexes have unusually long lifetimes (τ = 20.2 μs and 142 μs, respectively) for the decay of their luminescence in the near-infrared region following photoexcitation; this is attributed to the lack of C–H bonds and other high frequency oscillators that could cause vibrational quenching.     

A method for rapid screening of interactions of pharmacologically active compounds with albumin

We determine the association constants for ligand–protein complex formation using the flow injection method. We carry out the measurements at high flow rates (F = 1 mL min⁻¹) of a carrier phase. Therefore, determination of the association constant takes only a few minutes. Injection of 1 nM of the ligand (10 μL of 1 μM concentration of the ligand solution) is sufficient for a single measurement. This method is tested and verified for a number of complexes of selected drugs (cefaclor, etodolac, sulindac) with albumin (BSA). We obtain K = 4.45 × 10³ M⁻¹ for cefaclor, K = 1.00 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ for etodolac and K = 1.03 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ for sulindac in agreement with the literature data. We also determine the association constants of 20 newly synthesized 3β- and 3α-aminotropane derivatives with potential antipsychotic activity – ligands of 5-HT_1A, 5-HT_2A and D₂ receptors with the albumin. Results of the studies reported here indicate that potential antipsychotic drugs bind weakly to the transporter protein (BSA) with K ≈ 10²–10³ M⁻¹. Our method allows measuring K in a wide range of values (10²–10⁹ M⁻¹). This range depends only on the solubility of the ligand and sensitivity of the detector.     

Molecular recognition of La@C82 endohedral metallofullerene by an isophthaloyl-bridged porphyrin dimer

La@C₈₂ is recognized by an isophthaloyl-bridged porphyrin dimer forming a stable 1:1 supramolecular complex with an association constant K_assoc = (67.3 ± 3.2) × 10³ M⁻¹.     

Voltammetric determination of L-dopa using an electrode modified with trinuclear ruthenium ammine complex (Ru-red) supported on Y-type zeolite

The L-dopa is the immediate precursor of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Unlike dopamine, L-dopa easily enters the central nervous system and is used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. A sensitive and selective method is presented for the voltammetric determination of L-dopa in pharmaceutical formulations using a carbon paste electrode modified with trinuclear ruthenium ammine complex [(NH₃)₅Ru^IIIORu^IV(NH₃)₄ORu^III(NH₃)₅]⁶⁺ (Ru-red) incorporated in NaY zeolite. The parameters which influence on the electrode response (paste composition, potential scan rate, pH and interference) were also investigated. The optimum conditions were found to an electrode composition (m/m) of 25% zeolite containing 6.7% Ru, 50% graphite and 25% mineral oil in acetate buffer at pH 4.8. Voltammetric peak currents showed a linear response for L-dopa concentration in the range between 1.2×10⁻⁴ and 1.0×10⁻² mol l⁻¹ (r=0.9988) with a detection limit of 8.5×10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹. The variation coefficient for a 1.0×10⁻³ mol l⁻¹ L-dopa (n=10) was 5.5%. The results obtained for L-dopa in pharmaceutical formulations (tablet) was in agreement with compared official method. In conclusion, this study has illustrated that the proposed electrode modified with Ru-red incorporated zeolite is suitable valuable for selective measurements of L-dopa.     

Series of compositions Bi2(M′xM1−x)4O9 (M′, M=Al, Ga, Fe; 0≤x≤1) with mullite-type crystal structure: Synthesis, characterization and O/O exchange experiment

Series of compositions Bi₂(M′_xM_1−x)₄O₉ with x=0.0, 0.1,…, 1.0 and M′/M=Ga/Al, Fe/Al and Fe/Ga were synthesized by dissolving appropriate amounts of corresponding metal nitrate hydrates in glycerine, followed by gelation, calcination and final heating at 800 °C for 24 h. The new compositions with M′/M=Ga/Al form solid-solution series, which are isotypes to the two other series M′/M=Fe/Al and Fe/Ga. The XRD data analysis yielded in all cases a linear dependence of the lattice parameters related on x. Rietveld structure refinements of the XRD patterns of the new compounds, Bi₂(Ga_xAl_1−x)₄O₉ reveal a preferential occupation of Ga in tetrahedral site (4 h). The IR absorption spectra measured between 50 and 4000 cm⁻¹ of all systems show systematic shifts in peak positions related to the degree of substitution. Samples treated in ¹⁸O₂ atmosphere (16 h at 800 °C, 200 mbar, 95% ¹⁸O₂) for ¹⁸O/¹⁶O isotope exchange experiments show a well-separated IR absorption peak related to the M-¹⁸O_c-M vibration, where O_c denotes the common oxygen of two tetrahedral type MO₄ units. The intensity ratio of M-¹⁸O_c/M-¹⁶O_c IR absorption peaks and the average crystal sizes were used to estimate the tracer diffusion coefficients of polycrystalline Bi₂Al₄O₉ (D=2×10⁻²² m²s⁻¹), Bi₂Fe₄O₉ (D=5×10⁻²¹ m²s⁻¹), Bi₂(Ga/Al)₄O₉ (D=2×10⁻²¹ m²s⁻¹) and Bi₂Ga₄O₉ (D=2×10⁻²⁰ m²s⁻¹).     

Enthalpy change and mechanism of oxidation of o-phenylenediamine by hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase

The hydrogen peroxide-oxidation of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) at 37 °C in 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) was studied by calorimetry. The apparent molar reaction enthalpy with respect to OPD and hydrogen peroxide were −447 ± 8 kJ mol⁻¹ and −298 ± 9 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. Oxidation of OPD by H₂O₂ catalyzed by HRP (1.25 nM) at pH 7.0 and 37 °C follows a ping-pong mechanism. The maximum rate V_max (0.91 ± 0.05 μM s⁻¹), Michaelis constant for OPD K_m,S (51 ± 3 μM), Michaelis constant for hydrogen peroxide Km,H₂O₂ (136 ± 8 μM), the catalytic constant k_cat (364 ± 18 s⁻¹) and the second-order rate constants k₊₁ = (2.7 ± 0.3) × 10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k₊₅ = (7.1 ± 0.8) × 10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ were obtained by the initial rate method.     

Two novel rhenium complexes derived from [ReO(OMe)Cl2(dpphen)] - Synthesis, crystal structure, spectroscopic and magnetic properties

The reaction of [ReO(OMe)Cl₂(dpphen)] (dpphen = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) with triphenylphosphine has been examined and two novel rhenium complexes - [Re^IIICl₃(dpphen)(PPh₃)]·Me₂CO (1) and [Re^IVCl₄(dpphen)]·CHCl₃ (2) - have been obtained. The compounds have been characterised by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, magnetic measurements and X-ray crystallography. The electronic structures of [ReCl₃(dpphen)(PPh₃)] and [ReCl₄(dpphen)] have been studied by DFT/B3LYP level calculations, and TD-DFT calculations have been employed for discussion of the electronic spectra in more detail. The magnetic behaviour of 1 is characteristic of mononuclear complexes with d⁴ low-spin octahedral Re(III) complexes (³T_1g ground state) and arise because of the large spin-orbit coupling (ζ = 2500 cm⁻¹), which gives diamagnetic ground state. For complex 2 the results of calculations revealed value of zero-field splitting parameter D = 10.8 cm⁻¹, g_|| = 2.49 and g_⊥ = 1.51.     

Kinetics of the CH3 + HCl/DCl → CH4/CH3D + Cl and CD3 + HCl/DCl → CD3H/CD4 + Cl reactions: An experimental H atom tunneling investigation

The kinetics of the radical reactions of CH₃ with HCl or DCl and CD₃ with HCl or DCl have been investigated in a temperature controlled tubular reactor coupled to a photoionization mass spectrometer. The CH₃ (or CD₃) radical, R, was produced homogeneously in the reactor by a pulsed 193 nm exciplex laser photolysis of CH₃COCH₃ (or CD₃COCD₃). The decay of CH₃/CD₃ was monitored as a function of HCl/DCl concentration under pseudo-first-order conditions to determine the rate constants as a function of temperature, typically from 188 to 500 K. The rate constants of the CH₃ and CD₃ reactions with HCl had strong non-Arrhenius behavior at low temperatures. The rate constants were fitted to a modified Arrhenius expression k = QA exp (−E_a/RT) (error limits stated are 1σ + Students t values, units in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹): k(CH₃ + HCl) = [1.004 + 85.64 exp (−0.02438 × T/K)] × (3.3 ± 1.3) × 10⁻¹³ exp [−(4.8 ± 0.6) kJ mol⁻¹/RT] and k(CD₃ + HCl) = [1.002 + 73.31 exp (−0.02505 × T/K)] × (2.7 ± 1.2) × 10⁻¹³ exp [−(3.5 ± 0.5) kJ mol⁻¹/RT]. The radical reactions with DCl were studied separately over a wide ranges of temperatures and in these temperature ranges the rate constants determined were fitted to a conventional Arrhenius expression k = A exp (−E_a/RT) (error limits stated are 1σ + Students t values, units in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹): k(CH₃ + DCl) = (2.4 ± 1.6) × 10⁻¹³ exp [−(7.8 ± 1.4) kJ mol⁻¹/RT] and k(CD₃ + DCl) = (1.2 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹³ exp [−(5.2 ± 0.2) kJ mol⁻¹/RT] cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹.     

Low-temperature heat capacity and thermodynamic properties of endo-Tricyclo[5.2.1.0]decane

Endo-Tricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,6]decane (CAS 6004-38-2) is an important intermediate compound for synthesizing diamantane. The lack of data on the thermodynamic properties of the compound limits its development and application. In this study, endo-Tricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,6]decane was synthesized and the low temperature heat capacities were measured with a high-precision adiabatic calorimeter in the temperature range from (80 to 360) K. Two phase transitions were observed: the solid-solid phase transition in the temperature range from (198.79 to 210.27) K, with peak temperature 204.33 K; the solid-liquid phase transition in the temperature range from 333.76 K to 350.97 K, with peak temperature 345.28 K. The molar enthalpy increments, ΔH_m, and entropy increments, ΔS_m, of these phase transitions are ΔH_m=2.57 kJ · mol⁻¹ and ΔS_m=12.57 J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹ for the solid-solid phase transition at 204.33 K, and, Δ_fusH_m=3.07 kJ · mol⁻¹ and Δ_fusS_m=8.89 J · K⁻¹ · mol⁻¹ for the solid-liquid phase transition at 345.28 K. The thermal stability of the compound was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. TG result shows that endo-Tricyclo[5.2.1.0^2,6]decane starts to sublime at 300 K and completely changes into vapor when the temperature reaches 423 K, reaching the maximal rate of weight loss at 408 K.     

Comparison of pyrimethanil-imprinted beads and bulk polymer as stationary phase by non-linear chromatography

A pyrimethanil-imprinted polymer (P1) was prepared by iniferter-mediated photografting a mixture of methacrylic acid and ethylene dimethacrylate onto homemade near-monodispersed chloromethylated polydivinylbenzene beads. The chromatographic behaviour of a column packed with these imprinted beads was compared with another column packed with irregular particles obtained by grinding a bulk pyrimethanil-imprinted polymer (P2). The comparison was made using the kinetic model of non-linear chromatography, studying the elution of the template and of two related substances, cyprodinil and mepanipyrim. Extension of the region of linearity, capacity factors for the template and the related substances, column selectivity, binding site heterogeneity, apparent affinity constant (K) and lumped kinetic association (k_a) and dissociation rate constant (k_d) were studied during a large interval of solute concentration, ranging between 1 and 2000 μg/ml. From the experimental results obtained, in the linearity region of solute concentration column selectivity and binding site heterogeneity remained essentially the same for the two columns, while column capacity (at 20 μg/ml, P1 = 23.1, P2 = 11.5), K (at 20 μg/ml, P1 = 8.3 × 10⁶ M⁻¹, P2 = 2.5 × 10⁶ M⁻¹) and k_a (at 20 μg/ml, P1 = 3.5 μM⁻¹ s⁻¹, P2 = 0.47 μM⁻¹ s⁻¹) significantly increased and k_d (at 20 μg/ml, P1 = 0.42 s⁻¹, P2 = 0.67 s⁻¹) decreased for the column packed with the imprinted beads. These results are consistent with an influence of the polymerisation method on the morphology of the resulting polymer and not on the molecular recognition properties due to the molecular imprinting process.     

Synthesis and characterisation of molecularly imprinted catalytic microgels for carbonate hydrolysis

Novel molecularly imprinted microgels incorporating arginine and tyrosine side chains as functional monomers have been designed and synthesised with percentages of cross-linker ranging from 70 to 90%. Full chemico-physical characterisation including M_r, coil density and size particle determination concluded that all polymer preparations obtained can be classified as microgels. Molecular imprinting using a phosphate template was used to generate catalytic microgels for the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl carbonates. Kinetic characterisation of the catalytic activity of the different preparations indicated that values of critical monomer concentration (C_M) and percentage of cross-linker play an important role in determining the catalytic efficiency of the different preparations. Microgels containing 70% cross-linker were the only ones following the Michaelis-Menten saturation model and kinetic parameters were obtained using 4 mg/ml of M397: V_max = 1.34 × 10⁻⁶ M s⁻¹ (S.E. 1.28 × 10⁻⁷) and K_M = 2.38 × 10⁻³ M (S.E. 3.1 × 10⁻⁴).     

Interaction of colloidal AgTiO2 nanoparticles with bovine serum albumin

The interaction between colloidal AgTiO₂ nanoparticles and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied by using absorption, steady state, time resolved and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy measurements. Absorption spectroscopy proved the formation of a ground state BSA?AgTiO₂ complex. Upon excitation of BSA, colloidal AgTiO₂ nanoparticles effectively quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA. The number of binding sites (n = 1.06) and apparent binding constant (K = 3.71 × 10⁵ M⁻¹) were calculated by the fluorescence quenching method. A static mechanism and conformational changes of BSA were observed.