Preparation of La0.75Sr0.25MnO3 Nano-Phase Powders and Films from Alkoxide Precursors

The first purely alkoxide-based sol-gel route to nano-phase powders and thin films of perovskite La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ is described. The phase and microstructure evolution on heat treatment of free gel films to form the target nano-phase oxide were investigated by TGA, IR spectroscopy, powder XRD, SEM and TEM-EDS. The xerogel consisted of a hydrated oxo-carbonate, without remaining alkoxo groups or solvent. Heating at 5°C·min^–1 decomposed the carbonate groups and yielded the pure perovskite La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ at 760°C. The cell dimensions were virtually unchanged from the first observation of perovskite at 680°C, to 1000°C, 4 h. The monoclinic cell of La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ obtained at 1000°C, 4 h, had the dimensions a = 5.475(1), b = 5.504(2), c = 7.771(1) Å, = 90.50(2), fitting the literature data quite well. Crack-free, homogenous, 150 nm thick La_0.75Sr_0.25MnO₃ films were prepared by spin-coating Si/SiO₂/TiO₂/Pt and polycrystalline -Al₂O₃ substrates with a 0.6 M alkoxide solution, followed by heating at 5°C·min^–1 to 800°C, 30 min.     

Membrane activity of biotechnological peptide drugs

Charged Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers deposited at an immobilised liquid-liquid interface have been used as a simple model for a biological membrane to investigate the membrane activity of biotechnological oligopeptide drugs.     

Predicting 19F NMR Chemical Shifts: A Combined Computational and Experimental Study of a Trypanosomal Oxidoreductase–Inhibitor Complex

The absence of fluorine from most biomolecules renders it an excellent probe for NMR spectroscopy to monitor inhibitor–protein interactions. However, predicting the binding mode of a fluorinated ligand from a chemical shift (or vice versa) has been challenging due to the high electron density of the fluorine atom. Nonetheless, reliable ¹⁹F chemical-shift predictions to deduce ligand-binding modes hold great potential for in silico drug design. Herein, we present a systematic QM/MM study to predict the ¹⁹F NMR chemical shifts of a covalently bound fluorinated inhibitor to the essential oxidoreductase tryparedoxin (Tpx) from African trypanosomes, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness. We include many protein–inhibitor conformations as well as monomeric and dimeric inhibitor–protein complexes, thus rendering it the largest computational study on chemical shifts of ¹⁹F nuclei in a biological context to date. Our predicted shifts agree well with those obtained experimentally and pave the way for future work in this area.     

Reactions of Polyfluoroarenes with MenE‐MMe3 Reagents (MenE = Me2As,Me2P,Me2N,and MeS; M = Si,Sn): Synthesis of Polyfluoroaryl MenE Compounds

Trimethylsilyldimethylarsane Me₃SiAsMe₂ was used as a reagent for the substitution of fluorine in polyfluoroarenes C₆F₅X (X = F, H, Cl) and C₅NF₅ by the Me₂As group. The reactions occur between 50 — 180 °C, either in benzene or without solvent, to give as a rule 4‐X‐1‐(dimethylarsano)tetrafluorobenzenes XC₆F₄AsMe₂, ( 1—3 ) and 4‐dimethylarsano‐tetrafluoropyridine C₅NF₄AsMe₂ ( 4 ), respectively, in yields between 43 and 94 %. In the case of C₆F₆, also double substitution is observed affording 1, 4‐bis(dimethylarsano)tetrafluorobenzene 5 in addition to the monosubstituted derivative. The time and temperature dependencies of the reactions increase in the sequence: C₆F₆< C₆F₅H < C₆F₅Cl < C₅NF₅. The arsanes 1 and 4 were transformed to the potentially valuable bidentate ligands 1‐(dimethylarsano)‐4‐(dimethylphosphano)tetrafluorobenzene 6 and 4‐(dimethylarsano)‐2‐(dimethylphosphano)trifluoropyridine 8 by reaction with trimethylsilyl‐dimethylphosphane Me₃SiPMe₂. 6 reacts with oxygen to yield the corresponding phosphane oxide 7 . Trimethylsilyl‐dimethylamine Me₃SiNMe₂ also was successfully tested as a reagent for the dimethylamination of polyfluoroarenes C₆F₅X [X = F, H, Cl, CF₃, P(S)Me₂], 1‐P(S)Me₂‐4‐H‐C₆F₄ and 4‐X‐C₅NF₄ [X = F, PMe₂, P(S)Me₂]. Sulfuration of the new Me₂P derivatives 8 and 20 leads to the corresponding thiophosphanes 9 and 21 (Schemes 2 and 3). Furthermore, the recently reported very efficient one‐pot synthesis of Me₂P substituted polyfluoroarenes (e.g. XC₆F₄PMe₂ with X = F, Me₂PC₆F₄) was extended to the preparation of Me₂As and MeS derivatives of pentafluoropyridine using a mixture of Me₃SnH, As₂Me₄ (or S₂Me₂) and C₅NF₅ as precursors for the one‐pot reaction. The expected products 4‐(dimethylarsano)tetrafluoropyridine 4 and 4‐(methylthio)tetrafluoropyridine 22 , respectively, were obtained in 84 and 82 % isolated yields. The novel compounds were characterized by spectroscopic (NMR, MS) and analytical data. Compounds 5 , 7 , 9 and 21 could be isolated in form of single crystals and their structures have been studied by X‐ray diffraction.     

A Tetranuclear Manganese Cluster with a Star‐Shaped Mn4O6 Core Motif: Directed Synthesis using a Mononuclear Precursor Complex

The tetranuclear manganese(II) complex [Mn₄(ppi)₆](BPh₄)₂ ( 2 ) (Hppi = 2‐pyridylmethyl‐2‐hydroxy phenylimine) is prepared by using the precursor complex [Mn(ppi)₂]·H₂O ( 1 ). Based on UV/Vis‐ and IR‐spectroscopy data in combination with mass spectrometry it has been concluded that 1 is a mononuclear neutral Mn^II complex, in which two ppi ligands chelate the manganese atom. Compound 2 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1¯ (no. 2), with a = 17.500(3), b = 17.955(4), c = 19.101(4) Å, α = 113.79(3)°, β = 111.33(3)°, γ = 93.91(3)°, V = 4950(2) ų and Z = 2. In the tetranuclear [Mn₄(ppi)₆]²⁺ complex cation Mn(1), Mn(2), and Mn(3) are equivalently coordinated by two deprotonated Hppi ligands leading to a N₄O₂ donor set. The environment of the central Mn(4) is formed by coordination of three [Mn(ppi)₂] fragments resulting in a phenoxo bridged star‐shaped Mn₄O₆ core motif. The average distance of directly adjacent manganese ions is 3.310 Å, whereas the average distance of Mn(1), Mn(2), and Mn(3) among each other is 5.732 Å.     

A Synthetic Adenylation‐Domain‐Based tRNA‐Aminoacylation Catalyst

The incorporation of non‐proteinogenic amino acids represents a major challenge for the creation of functionalized proteins. The ribosomal pathway is limited to the 20–22 proteinogenic amino acids while nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) are able to select from hundreds of different monomers. Introduced herein is a fusion‐protein‐based design for synthetic tRNA‐aminoacylation catalysts based on combining NRPS adenylation domains and a small eukaryotic tRNA‐binding domain (Arc1p‐C). Using rational design, guided by structural insights and molecular modeling, the adenylation domain PheA was fused with Arc1p‐C using flexible linkers and achieved tRNA‐aminoacylation with both proteinogenic and non‐proteinogenic amino acids. The resulting aminoacyl‐tRNAs were functionally validated and the catalysts showed broad substrate specificity towards the acceptor tRNA. Our strategy shows how functional tRNA‐aminoacylation catalysts can be created for bridging the ribosomal and nonribosomal worlds. This opens up new avenues for the aminoacylation of tRNAs with functional non‐proteinogenic amino acids.     

Influence of boric acid on the determination of iron in reactor coolant water by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

Summary The matric effect of boric acid was investigated in the determination of iron in the primary circuit coolant water of nuclear power plants by furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The effect of boric acid was of particular interest. The method was applied during refuelling and maintenance periods and the results were used to interpret the chemical changes in the water.

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Einfluß von Borsäure auf die Bestimmung von Eisen in Reaktorkühlwasser durch GF-AAS

     

Synthesis and Characterization of Gd2[Pt2(SO4)4(HSO4)2](HSO4)2

Red single crystals of Gd₂[Pt₂(SO₄)₄(HSO₄)₂](HSO₄)₂ (triclinic, , Z = 1, a = 844.02(9), b = 908.50(9), c = 939.49(8) pm, α = 107.73(1)°, β = 112.10(1)°, γ = 103.53(1)°) were obtained by the reaction of [Gd(NO₃)(H₂O)₇][PtCl₆]·4H₂O with sulfuric acid at 320 °C in a sealed glass ampoule. In the crystal structure, Pt₂ dumbbells are coordinated by four chelating sulfate groups and two monodentate hydrogensulfate ions. Two further HSO₄^? ions are not bonded to the Pt₂ dumbbell. The Gd³⁺ ions are eightfold coordinated by oxygen atoms. The IR data of Gd₂[Pt₂(SO₄)₄(HSO₄)₂](HSO₄)₂ are typical for these type of compounds. The thermal decomposition of the compound leads to elemental platinum and Gd₂O₃.     

Hexachloroplatinates of the Lanthanides: Syntheses and Thermal Decomposition of [M(NO3)2(H2O)6]2[PtCl6]·2H2O (M = La,Pr) and [M(NO3)(H2O)7][PtCl6]·4H2O (M = Gd,Dy)

The reaction of the nitrates M(NO₃)₃·6H₂O (M = La, Pr) and (H₃O)₂PtCl₆ led to yellow single crystals of [M(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₆]₂[PtCl₆]·2H₂O (M = La, Pr) (monoclinic, P2₁/c, Z = 2, La/Pr: a = 697.4(3)/695.5(1), b = 1654.5(1)/1652.5(2), c = 1317.7(6)/1318.5(3) pm, β = 93.97°(7)/93.93°(2), R_all = 0.0169/0.0659) while the reaction of M(NO₃)₃·5H₂O (M = Gd, Dy) and (H₃O)₂PtCl₆ yielded yellow single crystals of [M(NO₃)(H₂O)₇][PtCl₆]·4H₂O (monoclinic, P2₁/n, Z = 4, Gd/Dy: a = 838.72(3)/838.40(2), b = 2131.98(6)/2139.50(7), c = 1142.63(3)/1143.10(3) pm, β = 95.670(4)/95.698(3), R_all = 0.0475/0.0337). The crystal structures consist of octahedral [PtCl₆]^2? anions and complex [M(NO₃)₂(H₂O)₆]₂⁺ and [M(NO₃)(H₂O)₇]²⁺ cations, respectively. The thermal decomposition of both types of compounds leads via various steps to elemental platinum and the oxide chlorides MOCl (M = La, Pr, Gd, Dy).