Ruthenium(II) complexes of azoimine and α-diimine ligands: synthesis,spectroscopic and electrochemical properties,crystal structures and DFT calculations

Five octahedral ruthenium(II) complexes with azoimine–quinoline (Azo) and α-diimine (L) ligands having the general formula [Ru^II(L)(Azo)Cl](PF₆) (1–5) {Azo: PhN=NC(COMe)=NC₉H₆N, L = 4,4′-dimethoxy-2,2′-bipyridine (dmeb) (1), 4,4′-di-tertbutyl-2,2′-bipyridine (dtb) (2), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) (3), 5-chlorophenanthroline (Clphen) (4), or 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (tmphen) (5)} were prepared by stepwise addition of the tridentate azoimine (H₂Azo) and α-diimine (L) pro-ligands to RuCl₃ in refluxing EtOH. The tridentate azoimine–quinoline ligands coordinate to ruthenium via the Azo-N′, N′-imine and N″-quinolone nitrogen atoms. The spectroscopic properties (IR, UV/Vis, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁹F NMR) and electrochemical behavior of complexes 1–5 and the X-ray crystal structures of complexes 2 and 3 are presented. The coordination of Ru(II) to these strong π-acceptor ligands (Azo and L) results in a large anodic shift for the Ru(III/II) couples of 1.63–1.72 V versus NHE. The electronic spectra in MeCN and IR spectra in CH₂Cl₂ for complex 3 in its oxidized 3 ⁺ and reduced 3 ^? forms were investigated. The calculated absorption spectrum of 3 in MeCN was used to assign the UV–Vis absorption bands.     

Hydrolytic degradation of POSS-PEG-lactide hybrid hydrogels

A polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS), functionalized with eight arms of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG; MW 400) and then acrylated, was incorporated into a hydrogel network based on triblock copolymers of poly(lactide-b-ethylene glycol-b-lactide) diacrylates using a redox-initiated polymerization. The organic-inorganic hybrid hydrogels so prepared contained the inorganic crosslinker POSS from 1 to 28 wt.%. The degradation properties of the hydrogels in a pH 7.4 phosphate-buffered saline solution at 37 °C were studied using measurements of mass loss, cryogenic SEM, and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. It was found that copolymerization of acrylated 1kPEG-lactide with increasing amounts of POSS created a more porous network which was more resistant to hydrolysis. The ATR-FTIR technique was used to monitor the progress of degradation with exposure time through the changes in the carbonyl and C-H deformation bands of the lactide and the Si-C stretching band of the POSS. Increasing POSS incorporation resulted in decreased rate of degradation due to its hydrophobic nature and inertness to hydrolysis. Conversely, an increase in lactide content increased the degradation rate due to the increased number of hydrolytically-sensitive ester groups in the network.     

Surface molecular degradation of 3D glass polymer composite under low earth orbit simulated space environment

Epoxy resin reinforced with 3D parabeam glass fibre was subjected to low earth orbit (LEO) simulation conditions comprising ultra high vacuum, temperature cycling (TC), and ultraviolet (UV) radiation and atomic oxygen (AO) bombardment. Inspection of the same composite using only a selection of these hazardous conditions provided comparison measures to identify the effect of each condition on the surface degradation of the resin composite. Each of the individually selected conditions showed a different degradation mechanism that is accelerated by the presence of other conditions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to provide surface information. The resin composite samples suffered surface oxidation that increased the oxygen content to 17.24% in comparison with the untreated sample (only 14.2%). The samples that were treated with AO showed higher C-O and CO functional groups on the surface in comparison with the rest of the samples (as indicated by XPS). Molecular information (from ToF-SIMS) showed that surface oxidation differs with different conditions and in comparison with the use of all conditions. All treated samples were shown to suffer significant chain scission and loss of volatiles as a result of the LEO conditions. The extent of the chain scission reaction for each condition can be indicated by the extent of the reduction of the relative concentration of the aliphatic hydrocarbon ions. The relative intensity of the C₄H₁₁N₄O₂⁺ ion showed that AO bombardment accelerated the oxidation of the surface. The AO effect is doubled when UV and TC are also present. SEM results indicated that sample surfaces were eroded and roughened upon exposure to LEO conditions. Presence of AO and UV in the LEO conditions introduced white deposits onto the surface, believed to be crosslinked formations.     

Mixed thioalkyl-azoimine (SNN′)/α-diimine–ruthenium complexes: synthesis,characterization, DFT calculations,crystal structure and application as pre-catalysts for hydrogenation of acetophenone

Transition Metal Chemistry - Eight ruthenium complexes having thioalkyl-azoimine (SNN) ligands of two general types have been synthesized: (a) [Ru(L)(bipy)Cl](PF6) where {bipy = bipyridine,...     

An investigation of the accelerated thermal degradation of different epoxy resin composites using X-ray microcomputed tomography and optical coherence tomography

Epoxy resin composites reinforced with hollow glass microspheres, microlight microspheres, 3D parabeam glass, and E-Glass individually were subjected to accelerated thermal degradation conditions. X-ray microcomputed tomography (XμCT) was used to evaluate density changes, reinforcement filler damage, homogeneity, cracks and microcracks in the bulk of the different epoxy resin composites. XμCT 3D images, 2D reconstructed images and voids calculations revealed microspheres damage, filler distributions and showed cracks in all composites with different shapes and volume in response to the thermal degradation conditions. In addition, expansion of air bubbles/voids was observed and recorded in the microsphere and microlight epoxy composite samples. In a complementary way, optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used as a novel optical characterisation technique to study structural changes of the surface and near-surface regions of the composites, uncovering signs of surface shrinkage caused by the thermal treatment. Thus, combining XμCT and OCT proved useful in examining epoxy resin composites' structure, filler-resin interface and surface characteristics.     

The nature of halogen...halide synthons: theoretical and crystallographic studies

Two types of halogen...halide synthons are investigated on the basis of theoretical and crystallographic studies; the simple halogen...halide synthons and the charge assisted halogen...halide synthons. The former interactions were investigated theoretically (ab initio) by studying the energy of interaction of a halide anion with a halocarbon species as a function of Y...X- separation distance and the C-Y...X- angle in a series of complexes (R-Y...X-, R=methyl, phenyl, acetyl or pyridyl; Y=F, Cl, Br, or I; X-=F-, Cl-, Br-, or I-). The theoretical study of the latter interaction type was investigated in only one system, the [(4BP)Cl]2 dimer, (4BP=4-bromopyrdinium cation). Crystal structure determinations, to complement the latter theoretical calculations, were performed on 13 n-chloropyridinium and n-bromopyridinium halide salts (n=2-4). The theoretical and crystallographic studies indicate that these interactions are controlled by electrostatics and are characterized by linear C-Y...X- angles and separation distances less than the sum of van der Waals radius (rvdW) of the halogen atom and the ionic radii of the halide anion. The strength of these contacts from calculations varies from weak or absent, e.g., H3C-Cl...I-, to very strong, e.g., HCC-I...F- (energy of interaction ca. -153 kJ/mol). The strengths of these contacts are influenced by four factors: (a) the type of the halide anion; (b) the type of the halogen atom; (c) the hybridization of the ipso carbon; (d) the nature of the functional groups. The calculations also show that charge assisted halogen...halide synthons have a comparable strength to simple halogen...halide synthons. The nature of these contacts is explained on the basis of an electrostatic model.     

Identification of tyrosine nitration in UCH-L1 and GAPDH

Protein tyrosine nitration is a post-translational modification commonly used as a marker of cellular oxidative stress associated with numerous pathophysiological conditions. We focused on ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (GAPDH) which are high-abundant brain proteins that have been identified to be highly susceptible to oxidative modification. Both UCH-L1 and GAPDH have been linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, however specific nitration sites have not been elucidated. Identification of specific nitration sites and quantitation of endogenous nitrated proteins are important in correlating this modification to disease pathology. In this study, purified UCH-L1 and GAPDH were nitrated in vitro with peroxynitrite and the presence of nitrated proteins was confirmed by anti-3-nitrotyrosine Western blots. Data-dependent LC-MS/MS analysis identified several distinct tyrosine nitration sites in UCH-L1 (Tyr-80) and GAPDH (Tyr-47, Tyr-92, and Tyr-312). Subsequent validation with synthetic peptides was conducted for selected nitropeptides. An LC-MS/MS method was developed for semi-quantitative determination of the synthetic nitropeptides: KGQEVSPKVY(*) (UCH-L1) and mFQY(*) DSTHGKF (GAPDH). The nitropeptides were detectable in the mid-attomole range and the peak area response was linear over three orders of magnitude. Targeted analysis of endogenous UCH-L1 and GAPDH nitration was then conducted in an in vivo second-hand smoke rat model to evaluate the utility of this approach.     

Novel Supramolecular Hydrogels as Artificial Vitreous Substitutes

The possibility of employing self-healing gels as potential artificial vitreous substitutes is being explored. Advancement of traditional synthetic hydrogels as vitreous substitutes is hindered by their fragmentation upon injection into the vitreous cavity leading ultimately to inflammation. Preliminary work involved developing first generation self-healing gels, using amphiphilic tri-block copolymers of poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol) (PPG-PEG-PPG) as the building block. Eight linear self-healing gels are synthesized by tethering an ureidopyrimidinone system to synthetically modified PPG-PEG-PPG via the formation of a bis-urea as a linker. The reversible nature of the hydrogen bonds permits alteration of their physical properties by changing the environment, yet retaining desirable characteristics. Despite low solubility in water, these polymers demonstrated associating behaviour under the investigated conditions, which is encouraging. Future generations of self-healing gels should involve the selection of a more hydrophilic core and/or star-like polymers to facilitate gel formation and strengthen the network.