Sensitive Voltammetric Sensing of the 2,3‐Dimethyl‐2,3‐dinitrobutane (Dmnb) Explosive Taggant

The highly sensitive voltammetric detection of the 2,3‐dimethyl‐2,3‐dinitrobutane (DMNB), a required additive to commercial plastic explosives, is described. The protocol relies on a fast square‐wave voltammetric measurement of the DMNB explosive taggant at an unmodified carbon fiber electrode using a phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) solution. Different solutions and working electrodes were evaluated. Under the optimal conditions, a linear response is observed over the 300–3000 μg/L DMNB concentration range examined, with a detection limit of 60 μg/L. A highly stable response, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.6%, is observed for 30 repetitive measurements. Such electrochemical approach offers great promise for a simple, rapid, sensitive and inexpensive field screening of plastic explosives. Preliminary data illustrate the utility of electrochemical detection for electrophoretic microchips for the simultaneous measurements of DMNB, cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and pentaerythritoltetranitrate (PETN).     

Fragmentation pathways of 2,3‐dimethyl‐2,3‐dinitrobutane cations in the gas phase

2,3‐Dimethyl‐2,3‐dinitrobutane (DMNB) is an explosive taggant added to plastic explosives during manufacture making them more susceptible to vapour‐phase detection systems. In this study, the formation and detection of gas‐phase [M+H]⁺, [M+Li]⁺, [M+NH₄]⁺ and [M+Na]⁺ adducts of DMNB was achieved using electrospray ionisation on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The [M+H]⁺ ion abundance was found to have a strong dependence on ion source temperature, decreasing markedly at source temperatures above 50°C. In contrast, the [M+Na]⁺ ion demonstrated increasing ion abundance at source temperatures up to 105°C. The relative susceptibility of DMNB adduct ions toward dissociation was investigated by collision‐induced dissociation. Probable structures of product ions and mechanisms for unimolecular dissociation have been inferred based on fragmentation patterns from tandem mass (MS/MS) spectra of source‐formed ions of normal and isotopically labelled DMNB, and quantum chemical calculations. Both thermal and collisional activation studies suggest that the [M+Na]⁺ adduct ions are significantly more stable toward dissociation than their protonated analogues and, as a consequence, the former provide attractive targets for detection by contemporary rapid screening methods such as desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. Copyright © 2009 Commonwealth of Australia. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

丙酮肟氧化偶联合成2,3-二甲基-2,3-二硝基丁烷反应的研究

以丙酮肟为原料,在改性TS-1(钛硅分子筛)催化剂催化下,可用H2O2氧化偶联合成2,3-二甲基-2,3-二硝基丁烷(DMNB).在此基础上以丙酮为原料,在改性TS-1催化剂催化下,一锅法进行丙酮氨肟化和氧化偶联反应可制备收率43.2%的DMNB.该方法简便易操作,操作安全.产物结构经1H NMR,13C NMR表征.     

Solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography for the determination of 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane as a marking agent for explosives

This paper investigates the detection of 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMNB), a marking agent in explosives, by gas chromatography (GC) with electron capture detection using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) as a sample preparation technique. The 25,27-dihydroxy-26,28-oxy (2′,7′-dioxo-3′,6′-diazaoctyl) oxy-p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene/hydroxy-terminated silicone oil coated fiber was highly sensitive to trap DMNB from ammonium nitrate matrix. The analysis was performed by extracting 2 g of explosives for 30 s at room temperature and then immediately introducing into the heated GC injector for 1 min of thermal desorption. The method showed good linearity in the range from 0.01 to 1.0 μg/g. The relative standard deviations for these extractions were <8%. The calculated limit of detection for DMNB (S/N = 3) was 4.43 × 10⁻⁴ μg/g, which illustrates that the proposed systems are suitable for explosive detection at trace level. This is the first report of an SPME-GC system shown to extract marking agent in explosives for subsequent detection in a simple, rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive manner.     

5-甲基-2，3-二苯基-1，5-苯并硫氮杂卓-4(5H)-酮的合成

以2-甲硫基苯胺为原料,通过酰化、碘环化以及Suzuki交叉偶联反应,合成了5-甲基-2,3-二苯基-1,5-苯并硫氮杂卓-4(5H)-酮。 分别考察了催化剂对酰化反应、溶剂对碘环化反应的影响,以及催化剂、配体、碱和温度等因素对Suzuki交叉偶联反应的影响,在最佳的反应条件下,反应总收率为68.5%,中间产物和目标产物的结构经IR、NMR和MS等测试技术得以确证。     

Ultrasensitive detection of aliphatic nitro-organics based on “turn-on” fluorescent sensor array

The broad class of explosives includes nitro aromatics as well as challenging aliphatic nitro-organics whose detection is important from counter-terrorism and national security perspectives. Here we report a turn-on fluorescent sensor array based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorophores as receptors. To achieve a good sensing system with fast response, good sensitivity and low detection limit, three receptors with abundant chemical diversities for target analytes were synthesized. The turn-on response of the individual receptor showed highly variable and cross-reactive analyte-dependent changes in fluorescence. The excellent ability to identify a variety of explosives, especially the challenging aliphatic nitro-organics (2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMNB), 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX), cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX) and entaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN)), was demonstrated in qualitative and quantitative analyses with 100% accuracy. The fluorescence signal amplification in the presence of explosives allows for application of these receptors in a sensor microarray suitable for high-throughput screening. These results suggested that the cross-reactive sensor array based on AIE fluorophores could find a wide range of applications for sensing various analytes or complex mixtures.     

Characterization of DMNB,a detection agent for explosives,by thermal analysis and solid state NMR

The thermal properties of 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMNB), a detection agent for explosives, have been determined by DSC measurements. Additionally, the results of an NMR study are compared with conclusions arrived at in the literature with regard to the source of two endotherms observed in the DSC. The thermal decomposition of DMNB is characterized by an exotherm with an energy in excess of 3 kJ g^?1, observed in conjunction with a third endotherm resulting from the fusion of DMNB. Arrhenius parameters determined from both variable heating rate and isothermal measurements in the DSC are compared with predicted values assuming various mechanisms for the decomposition process.     

Quenching mechanism of Zn(salicylaldimine) by nitroaromatics

Nitroaromatics and nitroalkanes quench the fluorescence of Zn(Salophen) (H2Salophen = N,N'-phenylene-bis-(3,5-di- tert-butylsalicylideneimine); ZnL(R)) complexes. A structurally related family of ZnL(R) complexes (R = OMe, di-tBu, tBu, Cl, NO2) were prepared, and the mechanisms of fluorescence quenching by nitroaromatics were studied by a combined kinetics and spectroscopic approach. The fluorescent quantum yields for ZnL(R) were generally high (Phi approximately 0.3) with sub-nanosecond fluorescence lifetimes. The fluorescence of ZnL(R) was quenched by nitroaromatic compounds by a mixture of static and dynamic pathways, reflecting the ZnL(R) ligand bulk and reduction potential. Steady-state Stern-Volmer plots were curved for ZnL(R) with less-bulky substituents (R = OMe, NO2), suggesting that both static and dynamic pathways were important for quenching. Transient Stern-Volmer data indicated that the dynamic pathway dominated quenching for ZnL(R) with bulky substituents (R = tBu, DtBu). The quenching rate constants with varied nitroaromatics (ArNO2) followed the driving force dependence predicted for bimolecular electron transfer: ZnL* + ArNO2 --> ZnL(+) + ArNO2(-). A treatment of the diffusion-corrected quenching rates with Marcus theory yielded a modest reorganization energy (lambda = 25 kcal/mol), and a small self-exchange reorganization energy for ZnL*/ZnL(+) (ca. 20 kcal/mol) was estimated from the Marcus cross-relation, suggesting that metal phenoxyls may be robust biological redox cofactors. Electronic structure calculations indicated very small changes in bond distances for the ZnL --> ZnL(+) oxidation, suggesting that solvation was the dominant contributor to the observed reorganization energy. These mechanistic insights provide information that will be helpful to further develop ZnL(R) as sensors, as well as for potential photoinduced charge transfer chemistry.     

Anion detection by fluorescent Zn(II) complexes of functionalized polyamine ligands

The Zn(2+) coordination chemistry and luminescent behavior of two ligands constituted by an open 1,4,7-triazaheptane chain functionalized at both ends with 2-picolyl units and either a methylnaphthyl (L1) or a dansyl (L2) fluorescent unit attached to the central amino nitrogen are reported. The fluorescent properties of the ZnL1(2+) and ZnL2(2+) complexes are then exploited toward detection of anions. L1 in the pH range of study has four protonation constants. The fluorescence emission from the naphthalene fluorophore is quenched either at low or at high pH values leading to an emissive pH window centered around pH = 5. In contrast, in L2 the fluorescence emission from the dansyl unit occurs only at basic pH values. In the case of L1, a red-shifted band appearing in the visible region was assigned to an exciplex emission involving the naphthalene and the tertiary amine of the polyamine chain. L1 forms Zn(2+) mononuclear complexes of ZnH(p)L1((p+2)+) stoichiometry with p = 1, 0, -1. Formation of the ZnL1(2+)species produces a strong enhancement of the L1 luminescence leading to an extended emissive pH window from pH = 5 to pH = 9. Addition of several anions to this last complex leads to a partial quenching effect. On the contrary, the fluorescence emission of L2 is partially quenched upon complexation with Zn(2+) in the same pH window (5 < pH < 9). The lower stability of ZnL2(2+) with respect to ZnL1(2+) suggests a lack of involvement of the sulfonamide group in the first coordination sphere. However, there is spectral evidence for an interesting photoinduced binding of the sulfonamide nitrogen to Zn(2+). While addition of diphosphate, triphosphate, citrate, and D,L-isocitrate to a solution of ZnL2(2+) restores the fluorescence emission of the system (lambda max ca. 600 nm), addition of phosphate, chloride, iodide, and cyanurate do not produce any significant change in fluorescence. Moreover, this system would permit one to differentiate diphosphate and triphosphate over citrate and d, l-isocitrate because the fluorescence enhancement observed upon addition of the first anions is much sharper. The ZnL2(2+) complex and its mixed complexes with diphosphate, triphosphate, citrate, and D,L-isocitrate have been characterized by (1)H, (31)P NMR, and Electrospray Mass Spectrometry.     

Recognition of thymine and related nucleosides by a Zn(II)-cyclen complex bearing a ferrocenyl pendant

A cyclen derivative bearing a ferrocenyl arm (L) and a series of its ZnII complexes [ZnL(OH2)][ClO4]2 (C1), [ZnL(OH)][ClO4] (C2), and [ZnL(Cl)][ClO4].CH3CN (C3) (cyclen = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, L = 1-(ferrocenemethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane) have been prepared and characterized spectroscopically. An X-ray structure determination confirmed the formation of complex C1 and revealed that the coordinated water participates in hydrogen bonding with the perchlorate counter ions. The pKa value for deprotonation of the water molecule determined by potentiometric titration was found to be 7.36 +/- 0.09 at 25 degrees C and I = 0.1 (KNO3). The possibility of using complex C1 as a potential sensor for thymine derivatives in aqueous solution has been examined. Shifts in the 1H and 13C NMR resonances showed the binding occurred with thymine (T) and two thymine derivatives, thymidine (dT) and thymidine 5'-monophosphate (TMP2-). Significant shifts of the nuC=O and nuC=C vibrations of the thymine derivatives were also observed via IR spectroscopy upon complexation with the receptor. The thymine adduct, [ZnL(thymine anion)][ClO4].2H2O (C4), has been crystallized and characterized. The X-ray structure of C4 confirmed the thymine binding to the receptor, and the short Zn-N(thymine) distance of 1.975(5) A indicated clearly that the ferrocenyl arm does not affect the complexation of the DNA base. In contrast to the large spectral changes, electrochemical studies showed a small shift of the reversible potential of the redox couple Fc+/Fc (Fc = ferrocene) and subtle changes in voltammetry upon the addition of an excess of dT, TMP2-, and guanine (dG) at physiological pH, indicating the level of interaction is similar in both Fc and Fc+ forms.     

Monomeric, one- and two-dimensional networks incorporating (2,6-Me2C6H3S)2Pb building blocks

The amine coordination of lead(II) has been examined through the preparation and structural analysis of Lewis base adducts of bis(thiolato)lead(II) complexes. Reaction of Pb(OAc)(2) with 2,6-dimethylbenzenethiol affords (2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3)S)(2)Pb (6) in high yield. The solubility of 6 in organic solvents allows for the preparation of the 1:2 Lewis acid-base adduct [(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3)S)(2)Pb(py)(2)](7), and 1:1 adducts [(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3)S)(2)Pb(micro(2)-bipy)](infinity](8) and [(2,6-Me(2)C(6)H(3)S)(2)Pb(micro(2)-pyr)](infinity)(9)(where py = pyridine, bipy = 4,4'-bipyridyl and pyr = pyrazine) from reaction with an excess of the appropriate amine. In contrast to 7, reaction of (C(6)H(5)S)(2)Pb (1) with pyridine afforded the 2:1 adduct [(C(6)H(5)S)(4)Pb(2)(py)](infinity)(10). Compounds were characterized via elemental analysis, FT-IR, solution (1)H and (13)C[(1)H](6) NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography (7-10). The structures of 7-9 show the thiolate groups occupying two equatorial positions and two amine nitrogen atoms occupying axial coordination sites, yielding distorted see-saw coordination geometries, or distorted trigonal bipyramids if an equatorial lone pair on lead is considered. The absence of intermolecular contacts in 7 and 8 result in monomeric and one-dimensional polymeric structures, respectively. Weak Pb...S intermolecular contacts in 9 result in the formation of a two-dimensional macrostructure. In contrast, the structure of , shows extensive intermolecular Pb...S interactions, resulting in five- and six-coordinate bonding environments for lead(II), and a complex polymeric structure in the solid state. This demonstrates the ability of the 2,6-dimethylphenylthiolate ligand to limit intermolecular lead-sulfur interactions, while allowing the axial coordination of amine Lewis base ligands.     

Polyfunctional Lewis Acids: Intriguing Solid‐State Structure and Selective Detection and Discrimination of Nitroaromatic Explosives

Synthesis and crystal structures of three porphyrin‐based polyfunctional Lewis acids 1 – 3 are reported. Intermolecular HgCl ??? HgCl (linear and μ‐type) interactions in the solid state of the peripherally ArHgCl‐decorated compound 3 lead to a fascinating 3D supramolecular architecture. Compound 3 shows a selective fluorescence quenching response to picric acid and discriminates other nitroaromatic‐based explosives. For the first time, an electron‐deficient polyfunctional Lewis acid is shown to be useful for the selective detection and discrimination of nitroaromatic explosives. The Stern–Volmer quenching constant and detection limits of compound 3 for picric acid are the best among the reported small‐molecular receptors for nitroaromatic explosives. The electronic structure, Lewis acidity, and selective sensing characteristics of 3 are well corroborated by DFT calculations.     

Bis(amido)ruthenium(IV) Complexes with 2,3-Diamino-2,3-dimethylbutane. Crystal Structure and Reversible Ru(IV)-Amide/Ru(III)-Amine and Ru(IV)-Amide/Ru(II)- Amine Redox Couples in Aqueous Solution

Two bis(amido)ruthenium(IV) complexes, [Ru(IV)(bpy)(L-H)(2)](2+) and [Ru(IV)(L)(L-H)(2)](2+) (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, L = 2,3-diamino-2,3-dimethylbutane, L-H = (H(2)NCMe(2)CMe(2)NH)(-)), were prepared by chemical oxidation of [Ru(II)(bpy)(L)(2)](2+) and the reaction of [(n-Bu)(4)N][Ru(VI)NCl(4)] with L, respectively. The structures of [Ru(bpy)(L-H)(2)][ZnBr(4)].CH(3)CN and [Ru(L)(L-H)(2)]Cl(2).2H(2)O were determined by X-ray crystal analysis. [Ru(bpy)(L-H)(2)][ZnBr(4)].CH(3)CN crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with a = 12.597(2) ?, b = 15.909(2) ?, c = 16.785(2) ?, beta = 91.74(1) degrees, and Z = 4. [Ru(L)(L-H)(2)]Cl(2).2H(2)O crystallizes in the tetragonal space group I4(1)/a with a = 31.892(6) ?, c = 10.819(3) ?, and Z = 16. In both complexes, the two Ru-N(amide) bonds are cis to each other with bond distances ranging from 1.835(7) to 1.856(7) ?. The N(amide)-Ru-N(amide) angles are about 110 degrees. The two Ru(IV) complexes are diamagnetic, and the chemical shifts of the amide protons occur at around 13 ppm. Both complexes display reversible metal-amide/metal-amine redox couples in aqueous solution with a pyrolytic graphite electrode. Depending on the pH of the media, reversible/quasireversible 1e(-)-2H(+) Ru(IV)-amide/Ru(III)-amine and 2e(-)-2H(+) Ru(IV)-amide/Ru(II)-amine redox couples have been observed. At pH = 1.0, the E degrees is 0.46 V for [Ru(IV)(bpy)(L-H)(2)](2+)/[Ru(III)(bpy)(L)(2)](3+) and 0.29 V vs SCE for [Ru(IV)(L)(L-H)(2)](2+)/[Ru(III)(L)(3)](3+). The difference in the E degrees values for the two Ru(IV)-amide complexes has been attributed to the fact that the chelating saturated diamine ligand is a better sigma-donor than 2,2'-bipyridine.     

Bis[N,N′‐diisopropylbenzamidinato(−)]silicon(II): Lewis Acid/Base Reactions with Triorganylboranes

Reaction of the donor‐stabilized silylene 1 (which is three‐coordinate in the solid state and four‐coordinate in solution) with BEt₃ and BPh₃ leads to the formation of the Lewis acid/base complexes 2 and 3 , respectively, which are the first five‐coordinate silicon compounds with an Si?B bond. These compounds were structurally characterized by crystal structure analyses and by multinuclear NMR spectroscopic studies in the solid state and in solution. Additionally, the bonding situation in 2 and 3 was analyzed by quantum chemical studies.     

Identification of volatile chemical signatures from plastic explosives by SPME-GC/MS and detection by ion mobility spectrometry

This study demonstrates the use of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) to extract and pre-concentrate volatile signatures from static air above plastic explosive samples followed by detection using ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) optimized to detect the volatile, non-energetic components rather than the energetic materials. Currently, sample collection for detection by commercial IMS analyzers is conducted through swiping of suspected surfaces for explosive particles and vapor sampling. The first method is not suitable for sampling inside large volume areas, and the latter method is not effective because the low vapor pressure of some explosives such as RDX and PETN make them not readily available in the air for headspace sampling under ambient conditions. For the first time, headspace sampling and detection of Detasheet, Semtex H, and C-4 is reported using SPME-IMS operating under one universal setting with limits of detection ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 ng for the target volatile signatures. The target signature compounds n-butyl acetate and the taggant DMNB are associated with untagged and tagged Detasheet explosives, respectively. Cyclohexanone and DMNB are associated with tagged C-4 explosives. DMNB is associated with tagged Semtex H explosives. Within 10 to 60 s of sampling, the headspace inside a glass vial containing 1 g of explosive, more than 20 ng of the target signatures can be extracted by the SPME fiber followed by IMS detection.     

Heterobimetallic Zn(II)-Ln(III) phenylene-bridged schiff base complexes, computational studies, and evidence for singlet energy transfer as the main pathway in the sensitization of near-infrared Nd3+ luminescence

A series of 3d-4f heterobimetallic phenylene-bridged Schiff base complexes of the general formula [Zn(mu-L1)Ln(NO3)3(S)n] [Ln = La (1), Nd (2), Gd (3), Er (4), Yb (5); S = H(2)O, EtOH; n = 1, 2; H2L1 = N,N'-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)phenylene-1,2-diamine] and [Zn(mu-L2)Ln(NO3)3(H2O)n] [Ln = La (6), Nd (7), Gd (8), Er (9), Yb (10); n = 1, 2; H(2)L(2) = N,N'-bis(3-methoxy-5-p-tolylsalicylidene)phenylene-1,2-diamine] were synthesized and characterized. Complexes 1, 2, 4, and 7 were structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. At room temperature in CH(3)CN, both neodymium(III) (2 and 7) and ytterbium(III) (5 and 10) complexes also exhibited, in addition to the ligand-centered emission in the UV-vis region, their lanthanide(III) ion emission in the near-infrared (NIR) region. The photophysical properties of the zinc(II) phenylene-bridged complexes (ZnL1 and ZnL2) were measured and compared with those of the corresponding zinc(II) ethylene-bridged complexes (ZnL3 and ZnL4). Our results revealed that, at 77 K, both ligand-centered triplet (3LC) and singlet (1LC) states existed for the ethylene-bridged complexes (ZnL3 and ZnL4), whereas only the (1)LC state was detected for the phenylene-bridged complexes (ZnL1 and ZnL2). NIR sensitization studies of [Zn(mu-L')Nd(NO3)3(H2O)n] (L' = L1-L4) complexes further showed that Nd3+ sensitization took place via the 3LC and 1LC states when the spacer between the imine groups of the Schiff base ligand was an ethylene and a phenylene unit, respectively. Ab initio calculations show that the observed differences can be attributed to the difference in the molecular vibrational properties and electron densities of the electronic states between the ethylene- and phenylene-bridged complexes.     

Bis(1,2,3-trimethylindenyl)iron(III) 2,3-dicyanonaphtho-1,4-quinonide, a non-metallocene, charge-transfer salt metamagnet with complementary donor-acceptor geometries

Bis(1,2,3-trimethylindenyl)iron(III) can be paired with 2,3-dicyanonaphtho-1,4-quinone to give an air-stable pi-stacked metamagnet with T(c) = 4.1 K, the first example of a non-metallocene CT salt magnet in this class. A single crystal X-ray structure of the Fe(1,2,3-Me(3)C(9)H(4))(2)[DCNQ] salt indicates that it consists of stacks of alternating donors and acceptors, in which the DCNQ ring systems are aligned with indenyl groups above and below, and the long axes of the DCNQ and the indenyl ligand are parallel to each other. This arrangement suggests that the magnetic properties arise from favorable interactions due to geometric similarities between the donor and acceptor, and not from a unique property of the donor itself.     

Spectroscopic studies on chromotropic mixed-ligand copper(II) complexes containing o-hydroxy benzoyl derivatives and dinitrogen bases

Synthesis of chromotropic copper(II) mixed ligand complexes of o-hydroxy benzoyl derivatives (L1) and dinitrogen bases (L2), general formula Cun(L1)(L2)nXn; where n=1 or 2, L1=4,6-diacetyl-resorcinol (H2DACR), o-hydroxy benzaldhyde (HOHBZ) or o-hydroxy acetophenone (HOHAP), L2=N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (Me4en), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) or bipyridine (bipy) and X=ClO4-, NO3- or Br- have been reported. Spectral, magnetic and molar conductance measurements as well as analytical data of these complexes show either mononuclear structure for OHBZ and OHAP or binuclear structure for DACR complexes. The IR stretching vibration frequencies of Cu-N and Cu-O are linearly correlated with the d-d absorption frequencies. The d-d absorption bands of Me4en-complexes in weak donor solvents suggest square-planar, distorted octahedral and distorted trigonal bipyramid geometries for the perchlorate, nitrate and bromide complexes, respectively. However, an octahedral structure is identified for the complexes in strong donor solvents. Perchlorate complexes show a remarkable color change from violet to green as the donor ability of the axial ligand increases, whereas bromide complexes are mainly affected by the Lewis acidity of the axial ligand. Specific and non-specific interactions of solvent molecules with the complexes are investigated using the unified solvation model. Calculations of the electronic transition probability (f) of the d-d band along with molecular orbital calculations of ligands have been carried out and correlated with the experimental data.     

Four zinc(II) helical coordination polymers and 78-membered six-node zinc metallacycle assembled from diastereopure N,N'-bis(acetylacetone)cyclohexanediimine

The interaction of the diastereopure N,N'-bis(acetylacetone)cyclohexanediimine ligands, L(1)(1R,2R), L(2)(1S,2S), and their 1:1 mixture, with Zn(II) chloride has been investigated. Four new coordination polymers, [ZnL(1)Cl2 x H2O]n (1), [ZnL(2)Cl2 x H2O]n (2), [ZnL(2)Cl2]n (3), and [Zn6(L(2))6Cl12 x 2 H2O]n (4), each consisting of an infinite single helical chain displaying different pitches and/or handedness have been isolated. The complexed Schiff base ligands are present in their deprotonated enol forms, and the nitrogen atoms, which do not coordinate, are protonated because of proton transfer from the adjacent enol oxygen (coupled with concomitant N-H...O bond formation); each bound ligand is thus pseudo-zwitterionic. The respective zinc centers are bound to two chloro ligands and two oxygen donors from acacH-imine units belonging to different N,N'-bis(acetylacetone)cyclohexanediimine ligands such that the coordination at each zinc is distorted tetrahedral. Compounds 1 and 2, prepared from enantiopure L(1) and L(2), respectively, are enantiomers with similar structures, with the helical pitch in each being 17.0 A. Overall, the structure of 3 may be described as a one-dimensional helical chain with a pitch of 17.3 A, with each period corresponding to two L(2) ligands and two metal centers. The structure of [(Zn6L(2)6Cl12) x 2 H2O]n (4) contains six Zn(II) centers connected via six L(2) ligands to form a "bowed" helical repeat unit, with the pitch of the helix corresponding to 43.5 A. Supramolecular (intra- and intermolecular) aspects of all these unusual polymeric structures are discussed. Finally, the synthesis and characterization of an unprecedented six zinc-node discrete supramolecular assembly, [Zn6(L(1))3(L(2))3Cl12] (5), incorporating a 78-membered metallacycle, is also reported.     

Study on the fluorescence spectra and electrochemical behavior of ZnL2 and Morin with DNA

The interactions of Morin (2', 3, 4', 5, 7-pentahydroxyflavone) and its Zn-complex, ZnL2.3H2O [L = Morin (2'-OH group deprotonated)], with calf thymus DNA have been studied using fluorimetric and electrochemical methods. ZnL2.3H2O has different spectral characteristics and electrochemical behavior from that of Morin in the presence of DNA. Increasing fluorescence is seen for ZnL2.3H2O with DNA addition whereas decreased fluorescence is observed for Morin. An isosbestic point appears at 560 nm for the DNA-ZnL2.3H2O system with ethidium bromide (EB) addition while no isosbestic point is detectable for Morin. Quenching fluorescence is observed for DNA-EB system when ZnL2.3H2O is added whereas no quenched fluorescence is seen for DNA-EB system with Morin addition. The above results suggest that Morin and ZnL2.3H2O can both bind to DNA, but the binding mode is different. The complex binds to DNA mainly by intercalation, while Morin binds in a non-intercalating mode. The binding constant and binding site sizes are derived from electrochemical methods. For ZnL2.3H2O, the binding constant is 5.0 x 10(4) l mol(-1) at 20 degrees C, and the binding site size n(s) is 5.