Manganese(II) Complexes with Bridging Selenidoarsenate(III) Anions [AsSe2(Se2)]3− and [(AsSe2)2(μ‐Se2)]4−

Solvothermal reaction of [MnCl₂(terpy)] with elemental As and Se at a 1:1:2 molar ratio in H₂O/trien (10:1) at 150 °C affords the linear trimanganese(II) complex [{Mn(terpy)}₃(μ‐AsSe₄)₂] ( 1 ). The tridentate [AsSe₂(Se₂)]^3? anions of 1 chelate the terminal {Mn(terpy)}²⁺ fragments and bridge these through their remaining Se atom to the central {Mn(terpy)}²⁺ moiety. Weak interactions of Mn1···Se and Mn3···Se bonds with length 2.914(7) and 3.000(7) Å link the molecules of 1 into infinite chains. Treatment of [MnCl₂(cyclam)]Cl with As and Se at a 1:1:2 molar ratio in superheated H₂O/CH₃OH (1:1) at 150 °C yields the dinuclear complex [{Mn(cyclam)}₂ (μ‐As₂Se₆)] ( 2 ), whose novel [(AsSe₂)₂(μ‐Se₂)]^4? ligands bridge the Mn^II atoms in a μ‐1κ²Se¹, Se²: 2κ²Se⁵,Se⁶ manner.     

Potentiometric DNA Sensor Based on Electropolymerized Phenothiazines for Protein Detection

Novel method of potentiometric detection of DNA‐protein interactions has been proposed. For this purpose, polymeric phenothiazine dyes, methylene blue (MB) and methylene green (MG), were electrochemically deposited onto the glassy carbon electrode and covered with double stranded DNA (dsDNA) as a target for antibodies (DNA‐sensor) or DNA aptamer specific to human α‐thrombin (aptasensor). The biosensors were consecutively incubated at pH 7.5 and 3.0 and the difference in potentials, ΔE, was used as a measure of protein concentration. The potentiometric DNA‐sensors were tested in standard serum of autoimmune disease patients (systemic lupus erythemathosus (SLE) and autoimmune thyroidites). It was shown, that the ΔE value of DNA‐sensor depends on the dilution of serum in the range from 1 : 1 to 1 : 100. Nonthermostated serum exhibited bell‐shape dependence of ΔE on serum dilution due to interfering effect of serine proteins at maximum dilution between 1 : 20 and 1 : 50. For SLE serum thermostated at 56 °C the ΔE linearly decreased as a function of serum dilution and reached saturation at dilution 1 : 20. Similarly the changes in the potential of aptasensor allowed us to determine the α‐thrombin in the range from 1 nM to 1 μM. The Faradic impedance spectra measured at presence of redox probe [Fe(CN)₆]^4?/3? revealed changes in the resistance and capacitance attributed to the shielding effect of anti‐DNA antibodies and an increase in the electron transfer. The developed potentiometric biosensors can be used for preliminary diagnostics of autoimmune diseases and thrombin detection with sensitivity comparable to traditional methods. The developed assay is, however simpler and cheaper in comparison with commonly used methods.     

Two isomorphous ZnII/CoII complexes with tri‐tert‐butoxysilanethiol and histamine,and (4‐hydroxymethyl‐1H‐imidazole‐κN)bis(tri‐tert‐butoxysilanethiolato‐κ2O,S)zinc(II)

The complexes [2‐(1H‐imidazol‐4‐yl‐κN³)ethylamine‐κN]bis(tri‐tert‐butoxysilanethiolato‐κS)cobalt(II), [Co(C₁₂H₂₇O₃SSi)₂(C₅H₉N₃)], and [2‐(1H‐imidazol‐4‐yl‐κN³)ethylamine‐κN]bis(tri‐tert‐butoxysilanethiolato‐κS)zinc(II), [Zn(C₁₂H₂₇O₃SSi)₂(C₅H₉N₃)], are isomorphous. The central Zn^II/Co^II ions are surrounded by two S atoms from the tri‐tert‐butoxysilanethiolate ligand and by two N atoms from the chelating histamine ligand in a distorted tetrahedral geometry, with two intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen‐bonding interactions between the histamine NH₂ groups and tert‐butoxy O atoms. Molecules of the complexes are joined into dimers via two intermolecular bifurcated N—H...(S,O) hydrogen bonds. The Zn^II atom in [(1H‐imidazol‐4‐yl‐κN³)methanol]bis(tri‐tert‐butoxysilanethiolato‐κ²O,S)zinc(II), [Zn(C₁₂H₂₇O₃SSi)₂(C₄H₆N₂O)], is five‐coordinated by two O and two S atoms from the O,S‐chelating silanethiolate ligand and by one N atom from (1H‐imidazol‐4‐yl)methanol; the hydroxy group forms an intramolecular hydrogen bond with sulfur. Molecules of this complex pack as zigzag chains linked by N—H...O hydrogen bonds. These structures provide reference details for cysteine‐ and histidine‐ligated metal centers in proteins.     

The unusual stability of H-bonded complexes in solvent caused by greater solvation energy of complex compared to those of isolated fragments

Here, the effect of solvent on the stability of non-covalent complexes, was studied. These complexes were from previously published S22, S66, and X40 datasets, which include hydrogen-, halogen- and dispersion-bonded complexes. It was shown that the charge transfer in the complex determines whether the complex is stabilized or destabilized in solvent.     

Elusive Double Perovskite Iodides: Structural,Optical, and Magnetic Properties

Halide double perovskites [A₂M^IM^IIIX₆] are an important class of materials that have garnered substantial interest as non-toxic alternatives to conventional lead iodide perovskites for optoelectronic applications. While numerous studies have examined chloride and bromide double perovskites, reports of iodide double perovskites are rare, and their definitive structural characterization has not been reported. Predictive models have aided us here in the synthesis and characterization of five iodide double perovskites of general formula Cs₂NaLnI₆ (Ln=Ce, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy). The complete crystal structures, structural phase transitions, optical, photoluminescent, and magnetic properties of these compounds are reported.     

Therapeutic Potential of Highly Selective A3 Adenosine Receptor Ligands in the Central and Peripheral Nervous System

Ligands of the G_i protein-coupled adenosine A₃ receptor (A₃R) are receiving increasing interest as attractive therapeutic tools for the treatment of a number of pathological conditions of the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS, respectively). Their safe pharmacological profiles emerging from clinical trials on different pathologies (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and fatty liver diseases) confer a realistic translational potential to these compounds, thus encouraging the investigation of highly selective agonists and antagonists of A₃R. The present review summarizes information on the effect of latest-generation A₃R ligands, not yet available in commerce, obtained by using different in vitro and in vivo models of various PNS- or CNS-related disorders. This review places particular focus on brain ischemia insults and colitis, where the prototypical A₃R agonist, Cl-IB-MECA, and antagonist, MRS1523, have been used in research studies as reference compounds to explore the effects of latest-generation ligands on this receptor. The advantages and weaknesses of these compounds in terms of therapeutic potential are discussed.     

Secondary Metabolites,including a New 5,6-Dihydropyran-2-One,Produced by the Fungus Diplodia corticola. Aphicidal Activity of the Main Metabolite,Sphaeropsidin A

An undescribed 5,6-dihydropyran-2-one, namely diplopyrone C, was isolated and characterized from the cultures of an isolate of the fungus Diplodia corticola recovered from Quercus suber in Algeria. The structure and relative stereostructure of (5S,6S,7Z,9S,10S)-5-hydroxy-6-(2-(3-methyloxiran-2-yl)vinyl)-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one were assigned essentially based on NMR and MS data. Furthermore, ten known compounds were isolated and identified in the same cultures. The most abundant product, the tetracyclic pimarane diterpene sphaeropsidin A, was tested for insecticidal effects against the model sucking aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum. Results showed a toxic dose-dependent oral activity of sphaeropsidin A, with an LC₅₀ of 9.64 mM.     

Enzyme biosensors based on ion-selective field-effect transistors

The key theoretical principles of the work on ion-selective field-effect transistor connected with their application in bioanalytical practice, some specifics of modern microtechnologies for their creation, and measurement schemes with set-ups are discussed. The achievements in the creation of enzyme biosensors based on ion-selective field-effect transistors and prospects for their application are described in detail.     

Ozonolysis-based route to the in situ formation of aldehyde-bearing self-assembled monolayer surfaces

While ozonolysis of a terminal carbon-carbon double bond to produce aldehydes is a well-established synthetic strategy for conventional solution chemistry, exposure of vinyl-terminated self-assembled monolayers to ozone has been reported to yield carboxylic acids. By using a cold solution of ozone in methanol and then adding a reducing agent to this solution, acid formation is minimized and near-quantitative aldehyde formation is achieved. The aldehyde-bearing surface is characterized by its physical and chemical properties and by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy showing a characteristic aldehyde C-H peak at 2715 cm(-1) and carbonyl peak at 1729 cm(-1). The reactivity of the aldehyde-bearing surface is shown by its reaction with amines and amine derivatives to give surface-bound imines and by the reversible cycling between aldehyde and acetal. The acetal also provides a useful way to mask the aldehyde and store readily released aldehyde surface functionality for subsequent surface elaboration.     

Potential of capillary zone electrophoresis for estimation of humate acid-base properties

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has been applied for fractionation and characterization of soil-derived humic acids (HAs). Humic acids from soddy-podzolic (HA(s)) and chernozem (HA(ch)) soils were studied as well as hydrophobic high-molecular-weight (HMW) and hydrophilic low-molecular-weight (LMW) HA(s) fractions obtained by salting-out with ammonium sulfate at a saturation of 0-40% and >70%, respectively. The possibility of CZE partial fractionation of HAs has been demonstrated. The shape of "humic hump" was shown to depend on the pH of running electrolyte. Almost the whole peak overlapping occurred if alkaline solutions were used for fractionation, but the peak resolution was improved at pH 5-7. Under appropriate fractionation conditions (pH 7), at least three humic acid subfractions with different electrophoretic mobilities were distinguished in the electropherograms of initial HA and HA(s) fractions. Such a high peak resolution has never been achieved for humic acids before. The presence of three subfractions in the HA is in agreement with gel-filtration analysis and was confirmed by comparison of the electrophoretic behavior of HA(s) with those of its HMW (hydrophobic) and the LMW (hydrophilic) fractions. The potentiometric titration of HA and its fractions was performed and the pK(a) of the functional groups were calculated. An attempt was made for the first time to relate the variation of electrophoretic mobility values with acid-base properties of humic acids. It was shown that changes in the humate charge resulting from the variation of the ionization degree of its functional groups as a function of pH can be estimated on the basis of electrophoretic mobility values. Potential of CZE in estimation of HA isoelectric point was demonstrated. The pH value corresponding to the lowest absolute electrophoretic mobility value of about 20 x 10(-5) cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) can be used for approximate estimation of HA isoelectric point. The data were discussed and agreement with the random coil structural model has been shown.