Nickel(II)–Lanthanide(III) Magnetic Exchange Coupling Influencing Single‐Molecule Magnetic Features in {Ni2Ln2} Complexes

Four isostructural [Ni₂Ln₂(CH₃CO₂)₃(HL)₄(H₂O)₂]³⁺(Ln³⁺=Dy ( 1 ), Tb ( 2 ), Ho ( 3 ) or Lu ( 4 )) complexes and a dinuclear [NiGd(HL)₂(NO₃)₃] ( 5 ) complex are reported (where HL=2‐methoxy‐6‐[(E)‐2′‐hydroxymethyl‐phenyliminomethyl]‐phenolate). For compounds 1 – 3 and 5 , the Ni²⁺ ions are ferromagnetically coupled to the respective lanthanide ions. The ferromagnetic coupling in 1 suppresses the quantum tunnelling of magnetisation (QTM), resulting in a rare zero dc field Ni–Dy single‐molecule magnet, with an anisotropy barrier U_eff of 19 K.     

Determination of catecholamines in urine using hydrophilic interaction chromatography with electrochemical detection

The determination of catecholamines in urine was investigated using hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) as an alternative to the commonly used reversed-phase (RP) method. A number of different approaches were explored, including per-aqueous liquid chromatography (PALC), and HILIC using bare silica, bonded amide and zwitterionic phases. The bonded phases gave superior results in terms of both peak shape and selectivity. The mechanism of the HILIC separation was investigated particularly with respect to the contribution of ion exchange to retention. The electrochemical detection of catecholamines was studied and optimised in typical HILIC mobile phases that contain high concentrations of acetonitrile. HILIC offered a number of advantages over the conventional RP approach, giving good retention of the solutes without use of ion pair reagents, the absence of which also would facilitate detection by mass spectrometry. HILIC used in conjunction with solid phase extraction based on RP also gives orthogonal separation mechanisms in the cleanup and analysis steps. Furthermore, good recoveries from the cleanup stage were obtained, as high concentrations of acetonitrile can be used as eluting solvent that are fully compatible with HILIC, and lipophilic impurities are eluted close to the void volume of the HILIC column.     

Non-catalytic approach to the synthesis of partially reduced 'S' shaped dioxathia- and oxadithiahelicenes through base induced inter- and intramolecular C-C bond formation

An efficient and convenient route for the construction of helical 'S' shaped dioxathia- and oxadithiahelicenes with oxygen and sulfur atoms located in the middle of the outer helix has been developed through base induced inter- and intramolecular C-C bond formation from the reaction of 4-sec-amino-2-oxo-2,5-dihydrothiochromeno[4,3-b]pyran-3-carbonitriles with 3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[b]oxepin-5(2H)-ones, 3,4-dihydrobenzo[b]thiepin-5(2H)-one and thiochroman-4-ones separately. Quantum chemical calculations have also been carried out to explore the geometries and electronic structures of newly synthesized compounds to envisage the pathway for interconversion of both atropisomers. The determination of helicity parameters and configurational stability demonstrate that the energy barrier is strongly dependent on the nature of hetero-atoms present.     

A redox series of gallium(III) complexes: ligand-based two-electron oxidation affords a gallium-thiolate complex

We have prepared a series of gallium(III) complexes of the redox active iminopyridine ligand (IP). Reaction of GaCl(3) with iminopyridine ligand (IP) in the presence of either two or four equivalents of sodium metal resulted in the formation of deep green (IP(-))(2)GaCl (1), or deep purple [(DME)(3)Na][(IP(2-))(2)Ga] (2a), respectively. Complex 1 is paramagnetic with a room temperature magnetic moment of 2.3 μ(B) which falls to 0.5 μ(B) at 5 K. These observations indicate that two ligand radicals comprise a triplet at room temperature which becomes a singlet due to antiferromagnetic coupling at low temperature. Complex 2 is diamagnetic. Cyclic voltammograms recorded on 0.3 M Bu(4)NPF(6) THF solutions of [Na(THF)(6)][(IP(2-))(2)Ga](-) (2b) indicate that oxidation of 2b occurs in two two-electron steps at -1.31 V and -0.54 V vs. SCE. The observation of two-electron redox events indicates that electronic coupling through the gallium(III) center is minimal and that the two IP ligand on 2b are oxidized concurrently. Oxidation of 2 with one equivalent of MeS-SMe afforded the two-electron oxidized product (IP(-))(2)Ga(SMe) (3). This complex has an electronic structure analogous to 1. Accordingly, both 1 and 3 are deep green in color and magnetic susceptibility measurements performed on 3 confirm the triplet character of the complex at room temperature. Electron paramagnetic resonance experiments on 1 and 3 display a quartet signal at g = 2.0 which confirmed the triplet nature of the compounds, and a half field signal consistent with the integer spin state.     

Structure,dielectric and bioactivity of P2O5–CaO–Na2O–B2O3 bioactive glass

Bioactive phosphate glasses have been widely investigated for bone repair. Phosphate glass system of 47P₂O₅–30.5CaO–(22.5?x)Na₂O–xB₂O₃ has been prepared by melt quenching technique. From the Raman analysis, it is confirmed that phosphate network form metaphosphate structure. Bioactivity of the glass is studied by immersing the prepared glass in simulated body fluid (SBF). All the glasses exhibited bioactivity after soaking in SBF. Addition of B₂O₃ to the glass by replacing the Na₂O produces considerable effect on the dielectric and bioactivity of the glass. Ion dynamics are also analyzed through imaginary modulus and imaginary dielectric permittivity.     

Synthesis of calcineurin-resistant derivatives of FK506 and selection of compensatory receptors

We used olefin metathesis to synthesize C40 derivatives of FK506 and measured their ability, when complexed to FKBP12, to inhibit calcineurin's phosphatase activity. We identified modular dimerization domains (CABs) containing segments of the calcineurin A and B polypeptides. These CABs respond to FK506 both when overexpressed in mammalian cells and in yeast or mammalian three-hybrid assays. Using chemical genetic selection, we identified compensatory mutant CABs that respond to a calcineurin-resistant FK506 derivative at concentrations well below the response threshold for CABs containing only wild-type calcineurin sequence. These reagents provide a small molecule-protein combination orthogonal to existing dimerizer systems and may be used with existing systems to increase the complexity of induced-proximity experiments. This new use of the "bump-hole" strategy protects target cells from complications arising from the inhibition of endogenous calcineurin.     

Determination of trace amounts of mercury(II) in water samples using a novel kinetic catalytic ligand substitution reaction of hexacyanoruthenate(II)

A simple, sensitive, selective and rapid kinetic catalytic method has been developed for the determination of Hg(II) ions at micro-level. This method is based on the catalytic effect of Hg(II) ion on the rate of substitution of cyanide in hexacyanoruthenate(II) with nitroso-R-salt (NRS) in aqueous medium and provides good accuracy and precision. The concentration of Hg(II) catalyst varied from 4.0 to 10.0 × 10⁻⁶ M and the progress of reaction was followed spectrophotometrically at 525 nm (λ_max of purple-red complex [Ru(CN)₅NRS]³⁻,  = 3.1 × 10³ M⁻¹ s⁻¹) under the optimized reaction conditions; 8.75 × 10⁻⁵ M [Ru(CN)₆⁴⁻], 3.50 × 10⁻⁴ M [nitroso-R-salt], pH 7.00 ± 0.02, ionic strength, I = 0.1 M (KCl), temp 45.0 ± 0.1 °C. The linear calibration curves, i.e. calibration equations between the absorbance at fixed times (t = 15, 20 and 25 min) versus concentration of Hg(II) ions were established under the optimized experimental conditions. The detection limit was found to be 1.0 × 10⁻⁷ M of Hg(II). The effect of various foreign ions on the proposed method has also been studied and discussed. The method has been applied to the determination of mercury(II) in aqueous solutions.     

Trace determination of thiosulphate and thioglycolic acid using novel inhibitory kinetic spectrophotometric method

Sulphur containing compounds such as sodium thiosulphate (STS) and thioglycolic acid (TGA) inhibit the rate of cyanide substitution by nitroso-R-salt (NRS) in hexacyanoruthenate(II) catalysed by Hg(II) ions due to their strong binding tendencies with Hg(II) catalyst. This inhibitory effect of sodium thiosulphate and thioglycolic acid is used as the basis for their determination at micro levels. The reaction was followed spectrophotometrically at 525 nm (λ_max of [Ru(CN)₅NRS]³⁻ complex) under optimised reaction conditions at 8.75 × 10^− 5 M [Ru(CN)₆⁴⁻], 3.50 × 10^− 4 M [NRS], pH 7.00 ± 0.02, ionic strength (µ) 0.1 M (KCl) and temp 45.0 ±0.1 °C. The modified mechanistic scheme is proposed to understand the inhibition caused by sulphur containing compounds (STS and TGA) on Hg(II) catalysed substitution of cyanide by NRS in [Ru(CN)₆]⁴⁻. The range of analytical concentration of inhibitor depends upon two factors; the amount of Hg(II) catalyst present in the indicator reaction and the stability of the Hg(II)-inhibitor complex under consideration. Under optimum conditions STS and TGA have been determined in the range of 0.98-7.0 × 10^− 6 M and 0.30-7.0 × 10^− 6 M. The detection limits for STS and TGA were found to be 3.0 × 10^− 7 M and 1.0 × 10^− 7 M respectively.     

A diethyltartrate-based synthesis of both (−)- and (+)-arundic acid

A diethyltartrate-based synthesis of both enantiomers of the acute ischemic stroke therapeutic agent, arundic acid is presented. Separable diastereomers were obtained through the Johnson-Claisen rearrangement of the chiral vicinal diol based on the diethyltartrate skeleton and were converted separately into the two enantiomers of arundic acid.