Solid state coordination chemistry of copper(II)/α-hydroxycarboxylato/2,2′-bipyridine systems

Four new two-ligand complexes of copper(II) with 2,2′-bipyridine and one of three different α-hydroxycarboxylic acids (lactic, H₂LACO; 2-methyllactic, H₂MLACO; and mandelic, H₂MANO) were prepared. Complexes 1–3 of general formula [Cu(HL)₂(bipy)]·nH₂O (HL=monodeprotonated acid), were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, electronic and EPR spectroscopy, magnetic measurements and thermogravimetric analysis. Complexes 1 (HL=HLACO, n=2), 2 (HL=HMLACO, n=1) and 3a (the result of attempted recrystallization of 3, of formula [Cu(HMANO)(bipy)₂](HMANO)·H₂MANO·CH₃CN were studied by X-ray diffractometry. The copper atom is in an elongated, tetragonally distorted octahedral environment in 1 and 2 and in 3a has a coordination polyhedron intermediate between a square pyramid and a trigonal bipyramid, as evaluated in terms of the parameter τ. In 1 and 2 the α-hydroxycarboxylato ligand is bidentate and monoanionic but in 3a there are three forms: a monodentate monoanion, a monoanionic counterion, and a neutral molecule.     

Syntheses, structures, and magnetic properties of mixed-valent diruthenium(II,III) diphosphonates with discrete and one-dimensional structures

Four mixed-valent ruthenium diphosphonates, namely, Na(4)[Ru(2)(hedp)(2)X]x16H(2)O [X = Cl (1), Br (2)], K(3)[Ru(2)(hedp)(2)(H(2)O)(2)]x6H(2)O (3), and Na(7)[Ru(2)(hedp)(2)Fe(CN)(6)]x24H(2)O (4), where hedp represents 1-hydroxyethylidenediphosphonate [CH(3)C(OH)(PO(3))(2)](4-), were synthesized and structurally characterized. Compounds 1, 2, and 4 show linear chain structures in which the mixed-valent [Ru(2)(hedp)(2)](3-) dimers are linked by X(-) or [Fe(CN)(6)](4-) bridges. Compound 3 contains discrete species of [Ru(2)(hedp)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](3-) where the axial positions of [Ru(2)(hedp)(2)](3-) paddlewheel are terminated by water molecules. Magnetic studies show that significant antiferromagnetic exchanges are mediated between the [Ru(2)(hedp)(2)](3-) (S = 3/2) units through halide bridges in compounds 1 and 2.     

Preparation and characterization of individual peptide-wrapped single-walled carbon nanotubes

Two challenges for effectively exploiting the remarkable properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are the isolation of intact individual nanotubes from the raw material and the assembly of these isolated SWNTs into useful structures. In this study, we present atomic force microscopy (AFM) evidence that we can isolate individual peptide-wrapped SWNTs, possibly connected end-to-end into long fibrillar structures, using an amphiphilic alpha-helical peptide, termed nano-1. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and well-resolved absorption spectral features further corroborate nano-1's ability to debundle SWNTs in aqueous solution. Peptide-assisted assembly of SWNT structures, specifically in the form of Y-, X-, and intraloop junctions, was observed in the AFM and TEM images.     

A comparative XAS and X-ray diffraction study of new binuclear Mn(III) complexes with catalase activity. indirect effect of the counteranion on magnetic properties

Four new binuclear Mn(III) complexes with carboxylate bridges have been synthesized: [[Mn(nn)(H(2)O)](2)(mu-ClCH(2)COO)(2)(mu-O)](ClO(4))(2) with nn = bpy (1) or phen (2) and [[Mn(bpy)(H(2)O)](2)(mu-RCOO)(2)(mu-O)](NO(3))(2) with RCOO = ClCH(2)COO (3) or CH(3)COO (4). The characterization by X-ray diffraction (1 and 3) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) (1-4) displays the relevance of this spectroscopy to the elucidation of the structural environment of the manganese ions in this kind of compound. Magnetic susceptibility data show an antiferromagnetic coupling for all the compounds: J = -2.89 cm(-1) (for 1), -8.16 cm(-1) (for 2), -0.68 cm(-1) (for 3), and -2.34 cm(-1) (for 4). Compounds 1 and 3 have the same cation complex [[Mn(bpy)(H(2)O)](2)(mu-ClCH(2)COO)(2)(mu-O)](2+), but, while 1 shows an antiferromagnetic coupling, for 3 the magnetic interaction between Mn(III) ions is very weak. The four compounds show catalase activity, and when the reaction stopped, Mn(II) compounds with different nuclearity could be obtained: binuclear [[Mn(phen)(2)](mu-ClCH(2)COO)(2)](ClO(4))(2), trinuclear [Mn(3)(bpy)(2)(mu-ClCH(2)COO)(6)], or mononuclear complexes without carboxylate. Two Mn(II) compounds without carboxylate have been characterized by X-ray diffraction: [Mn(NO(3))(2)(bpy)(2)][Mn(NO(3))(bpy)(2)(H(2)O)]NO(3) (5) and [Mn(bpy)(3)](ClO(4))(2).0.5 C(6)H(4)-1,2-(COOEt)(2).0.5H(2)O (8).     

Physical and electrochemical characterizations of microwave-assisted polyol preparation of carbon-supported PtRu nanoparticles

PtRu nanoparticles supported on Vulcan XC-72 carbon and carbon nanotubes were prepared by a microwave-assisted polyol process. The catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The PtRu nanoparticles, which were uniformly dispersed on carbon, were 2-6 nm in diameter. All PtRu/C catalysts prepared as such displayed the characteristic diffraction peaks of a Pt face-centered cubic structure, excepting that the 2theta values were shifted to slightly higher values. XPS analysis revealed that the catalysts contained mostly Pt(0) and Ru(0), with traces of Pt(II), Pt(IV), and Ru(IV). The electro-oxidation of methanol was studied by cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, and chronoamperometry. It was found that both PtRu/C catalysts had high and more durable electrocatalytic activities for methanol oxidation than a comparative Pt/C catalyst. Preliminary data from a direct methanol fuel cell single stack test cell using the Vulcan-carbon-supported PtRu alloy as the anode catalyst showed high power density.     

Highly specific spectrophotometric method for palladium(II) determination with 3-(5'-tetrazolylazo)-2,6-Diaminotoluene in the presence of chlorides. Kinetic and equilibrium study of reactions

3-(5'-tetrazolylazo)-2,6-Diaminotoluene (TEADAT, H(3)L(2+)) forms stable 1:1 and 1:2 (metal:ligand) pink-red complexes (lambda(max) 506 and 536 nm) with palladium(II). The apparent molar absorptivity of 1:2 complex is 5.2 x 10(4) 1.mol(-1). cm(-1) at 536 nm. Equilibrium constants beta*(nl) for reactions PdCl(2-)(4) + nH(3)L(2+) right harpoon over left harpoonright harpoon over left harpoon PdCl(4-n) (H(2)L)(2n-2)(n) + n Cl(-) + n H(+) were determined: logbeta*(1) = 4.09 +/- 0.05, logbeta*(2) = 8.40 +/- 0.02, corresponding stability conditional constants of PdCl(3)(H(2)L) and PdCl(2)(H(2)L)(2+)(2) were log beta(1) = 19.03, log beta(2) = 26.74. The formation of complexes was rather slow but could be speeded up considerably by the catalytic effect of trace amounts of thiocyanate. Constant absorbance values were thus reached in 2-5 min. A rapid, sensitive and highly specific method for the determination of palladium(II) at pH 1.42 in 0.25M NACl has been worked out with a detection limit of 0.54 mug. Interference of precious and common metal ions have been studied and the method has been applied for the determination of palladium in Pd asbestos, oakay alloys and various catalysts and for the determination of palladium in precious metals.     

Spectrofluorimetric determination of cisatracurium and mivacurium in spiked human serum and pharmaceuticals

Spectrofluorimetric methods to determine cisatracurium and mivacurium are proposed and applied to the determination of both substances in human serum and to the determination of mivacurium in pharmaceuticals. The fluorimetric methods allow the determination of 5-500 ng ml(-1) of mivacurium in aqueous solutions and 5-500 ng ml(-1) of cisatracurium in water-acetonitrile solutions, both containing acetic acid-sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.5) with lambda(exc)=230 nm and lambda(em)=324 nm.     

Limited flexibility of lactose detected from residual dipolar couplings using molecular dynamics simulations and steric alignment methods

The conformational flexibility of lactose in solution has been investigated by residual dipolar couplings (RDCs). One-bond carbon-proton and proton-proton coupling constants have been measured in two oriented media and interpreted in combination with molecular dynamics simulations (MD). Two different approaches, known as PALES (Zweckstetter et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2000, 122, 3791-3792) and TRAMITE (Azurmendi et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2002, 124, 2426-2427), have been used to determine the alignment tensor from a shape-induced alignment model with the oriented medium. The steric alignment of the structures from several MD trajectories has provided ensemble averaged RDCs that have been compared with the experimental ones. The obtained results reveal the almost exclusive presence of a major low energy region defined as syn-phi/syn-psi (> 97%), for which sampling occurs in a dynamic manner. This result satisfactorily agrees with that determined by standard NOE-based methods.     

Temperature Dependence of the Solubility of Acetaminophen in Propylene Glycol + Ethanol Mixtures

The thermodynamic functions Gibbs energy, enthalpy and entropy of solution, mixing and solvation of acetaminophen in propylene glycol (PG) + ethanol (EtOH) cosolvent mixtures were evaluated from solubility data measured at several temperatures, using the van't Hoff and Gibbs equations. The solubility was greater at 50% m/m of PG at 20.0^C, while it was greater at 80% of PG at 40.0 ^C where m/m refers to mass percent. The solvation of this drug is appreciably greater in the mixtures than in the pure solvents. By means of an enthalpy–entropy compensation analysis, complex behavior was found for the solution. From 0 up to 20% of PG and from 60 up to 100% of PG the solution process is enthalpy driven, whereas from 20 up to 60% of PG it is entropy driven. These facts can be explained in terms of a decrease in the energy required for cavity formation in the solvent for mixtures containing 20–60% of PG.     

A NMR method for the analysis of mixtures of alkanes with different deuterium substitutions

¹³C NMR at 125.76 MHz with ¹H and ²H decoupling, ²H NMR at 76.77 MHz with ¹H decoupling, and ¹H NMR at 500.14 MHz with ²H decoupling were employed as analytical tools to study the complex mixtures of deuterated ethanes resulting from the catalytic H–D exchange of normal ethane with gas-phase deuterium in the presence of a platinum foil. Reference samples consisting of 1:1 binary mixtures of pure normal ethane and ethane-d_n (n=1–6) were used to identify the peak positions in the ¹³C, ²H, and ¹H NMR spectra due to each individual isotopomer, and the effect of isotopic substitution on the chemical shifts was determined in each case. While the NMR of all three nuclei worked well for the identification of the individual components of the 1:1 standard mixtures, both ¹H and ²H NMR suffered from inadequate resolution when studying complex reaction mixtures because of the broadening of the lines due to ¹H–¹H (¹H NMR) and ²H–²H (²H NMR) couplings. ¹³C NMR was therefore determined to be the method of choice for the quantitative analysis of the reaction mixtures. Using the ¹³C NMR results, a correlation that takes into account the primary and secondary isotope substitution effects on chemical shifts was deduced. This equation was used for the identification of the individual components of the mixtures, and integration of the individual observed resonances was then employed for quantification of their composition. This study shows that ¹³C NMR with ¹H and ²H decoupling is a viable procedure for studying mixtures of deuterated ethanes. Furthermore, the additivity of the isotopic effects on chemical shifts and the transferability of the values obtained with ethane to other molecules makes this approach general for the analysis of other isotopomer mixtures.