Electrochemiluminescence Bioassays with a Water‐Soluble Luminol Derivative Can Outperform Fluorescence Assays

The most efficient and commonly used electrochemiluminescence (ECL) emitters are luminol, [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺, and derivatives thereof. Luminol stands out due to its low excitation potential, but applications are limited by its insolubility under physiological conditions. The water‐soluble m‐carboxy luminol was synthesized in 15 % yield and exhibited high solubility under physiological conditions and afforded a four‐fold ECL signal increase (vs. luminol). Entrapment in DNA‐tagged liposomes enabled a DNA assay with a detection limit of 3.2 pmol L^?1, which is 150 times lower than the corresponding fluorescence approach. This remarkable sensitivity gain and the low excitation potential establish m‐carboxy luminol as a superior ECL probe with direct relevance to chemiluminescence and enzymatic bioanalytical approaches.     

Three New Iron(II) Thiocyanato Coordination Polymers Based on 4,4′‐Bipyridine as Ligand and the Influence of Methanol on Their Structures

Reaction of iron(II) thiocyanate with 4,4‐bipyridine (bipy) in methanol leads to the formation of three new solvates of different composition depending on the reaction conditions: At room temperature two new ligand‐rich 1:2 (1:2 = ratio between metal and N‐donor ligand) polymorphic forms [Fe(NCS)₂(bipy)₂ · 2MeOH]_n ( 1I ) and [Fe(NCS)₂(bipy)(MeOH)₂ · (bipy)]_n ( 1II ) are obtained, whereas solvothermal conditions leads to the formation of the new ligand‐deficient 1:1 compound [{Fe(NCS)₂(bipy)(MeOH)}₂]_n ( 2 ). All crystal structures were determined by X‐ray single crystal structure analysis. In the crystal structure of modification 1I the metal atoms are coordinated by four bridging bipy ligands, which connect them into layers. The methanol molecules occupy voids in the structure. Compared to 1I in modification 1II the crystal structure contains of linear Fe–bipy–Fe chains, which are further connected by hydrogen bonds between coordinating MeOH and noncoordinated bipy ligands into layers. The ligand‐deficient 1:1 compound 2 shows a completely different coordination topology with linear Fe–bipy–Fe chains, which are connected by coordinating methanol molecules into double‐chains. In all compounds the thiocyanato anions are terminal N‐bonded to the metal atoms. Investigation of the thermal behavior of compound 1I shows a two‐step decomposition, in which ligand‐deficient intermediates are formed. Magnetic measurements on 1I reveal Curie–Weiss paramagnetism with increasing antiferromagnetic interactions on cooling.     

New Rare‐Earth Metal Germanides RE2Ge9 (RE = Nd,Sm) by Thermal Decomposition of High‐Pressure Phases REGe5

The rare‐earth metal germanides RE₂Ge₉ (RE = Nd, Sm) have been prepared by thermal decomposition of the metastable high‐pressure phases REGe₅ at ambient pressure. The compounds adopt an orthorhombic unit cell with a = 396.34(4) pm; b = 954.05(8) pm and c = 1238.4(1) pm for Nd₂Ge₉ and a = 395.46(7) pm; b = 946.4(2) pm and c = 1232.1(3) pm for Sm₂Ge₉. Crystal structure refinements reveal space group Pmmn (No. 59) for Nd₂Ge₉. The atomic pattern resembles an ordered defect variety of the pentagermanide motif REGe₅ (RE = La; Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb) comprising corrugated germanium layers. These condense into a three‐dimensional network interconnected by eight‐coordinated germanium atoms. The resulting framework channels along [100] enclose the neodymium atoms. With respect to the atomic arrangement of the pentagermanides, half of the interlayer germanium atoms are eliminated in an ordered way so that occupied and empty germanium columns alternate along [001]. The rare‐earth metal atoms of both types of compounds, REGe₅ and RE₂Ge₉, exhibit the electronic states 4f ³ and 4f ⁵ (oxidation state +3) for neodymium and samarium, respectively, evidencing that the modification of the germanium network leaves the electron configuration of the metal atoms unaffected.     

Synthese und Metallierung des Diaminosiloxans O(SiiPr2NH2)2

Synthesis and Metalation of the Diaminosiloxane O(SiiPr₂NH₂)₂ The 1,3‐diaminoldisiloxane O(SiiPr₂NH₂)₂ ( 1 ) was obtained from the reaction of O(SiiPr₂Cl)₂ with NH₃. The reactions of 1 with AlEt₃ or GaEt₃ produced the compounds [O{SiiPr₂N(H)MEt₂}{SiiPr₂NMEt}]₂ ( 2 : M = Al; 3 : M = Ga). The crystal structures of 2 and 3 were determined by single crystal X‐ray diffraction, showing a polycyclic M₄N₄Si₄O₂ core structure of these molecules.     

Non-Oxido-Vanadium(IV) Metalloradical Complexes with Bidentate 1,2-Dithienylethene Ligands: Observation of Reversible Cyclization of the Ligand Scaffold in Solution

Derivatives of 1,2-dithienylethene (DTE) have superb photochromic properties due to an efficient reversible photocyclization reaction of their hexatriene structure and, thus, have application potential in materials for optoelectronics and (multi-responsive) molecular switches. Transition-metal complexes bearing switchable DTE motifs commonly incorporate their coordination site rather distant from the hexatriene system. In this work the redox active ligand 1,2-bis(2,5-dimethylthiophen-3-yl)ethane-1,2-dione is described, which reacts with [V(TMEDA)₂Cl₂] to give a rare non-oxido vanadium(IV) species 3(M,M/P,P) . This blue complex has two bidentate en-diolato ligands which chelate the V^IV center and give rise to two five-membered metallacycles with the adjacent hexatriene DTE backbone bearing axial chirality. Upon irradiation with UVA light or prolonged heating in solution, the blue compound 3(M,M/P,P) converts into the purple atropisomer 4(para,M/para,P) . Both complexes were isolated and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (using lab source and synchrotron radiation). The antiparallel configuration (M or P helicity) present in both 3(M,M/P,P) and 4(para,M/para,P) is a prerequisite for (reversible) 6π cyclization reactions. A CW EPR spectroscopic study reveals the metalloradical character for 3(M,M/P,P) and 4(para,M/para,P) and indicates dynamic reversible cyclization of the DTE backbone in complex 3(M,M/P,P) at ambient temperature in solution.     

A Maltol-Containing Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complex as a Potential Anticancer Agent

Cancer is one of the main causes of death worldwide. Chemotherapy, despite its severe side effects, is to date one of the leading strategies against cancer. Metal-based drugs present several potential advantages when compared to organic compounds and they have gained trust from the scientific community after the approval on the market of the drug cisplatin. Recently, we reported the ruthenium complex ([Ru(DIP)₂(sq)](PF₆) (where DIP is 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenantroline and sq is semiquinonate) with a remarkable potential as chemotherapeutic agent against cancer, both in vitro and in vivo. In this work, we analyse a structurally similar compound, namely [Ru(DIP)₂(mal)](PF₆), carrying the flavour-enhancing agent approved by the FDA, maltol (mal). To possess an FDA approved ligand is crucial for a complex, whose mechanism of action might include ligand exchange. Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterisation of [Ru(DIP)₂(mal)](PF₆), its stability in solutions and under conditions that resemble the physiological ones, and its in-depth biological investigation. Cytotoxicity tests on different cell lines in 2D model and on HeLa MultiCellular Tumour Spheroids (MCTS) demonstrated that our compound has higher activity than cisplatin, inspiring further tests. [Ru(DIP)₂(mal)](PF₆) was efficiently internalised by HeLa cells through a passive transport mechanism and severely affected the mitochondrial metabolism.     

Synthesis,Structure, and Properties of the High‐Pressure Modification of CePdSn – a 5 K Antiferromagnet

The high‐pressure (HP) modification of CePdSn was synthesized under multianvil high‐pressure (10.5 GPa) high‐temperature (1100 °C) conditions from the normal‐pressure (NP) modification. The structures of both modifications were studied by X‐ray powder and single crystal diffraction: TiNiSi type, Pnma, a = 754.1(2), b = 470.6(1), c = 798.4(3) pm, wR2 = 0.0333, 945 F² values, 20 variables for NP‐CePdSn and ZrNiAl type, , a = 760.03(5), c = 416.06(3) pm, wR2 = 0.0443, 248 F² values, 13 variables for HP‐CePdSn. The structural chemistry of both modifications is goverened by platinum centered trigonal prisms. The platinum and tin atoms in NP‐CePdSn and HP‐CePdSn build up a three‐dimensional [PdSn] network in which the cerium atoms fill channels. Susceptibility measurements on HP‐CePdSn reveal an experimental magnetic moment of 2.55(1) μ_B/Ce atom in the paramagnetic region. At 5 K a paramagnetic‐to‐antiferromagnetic transition is evident from magnetization and specific heat measurements.