Photochemical reactions of M(CO)5THF (M = Cr, Mo, W) with thio Schiff bases

The hitherto unknown complexes, [M₂(CO)₆(μ-CO)(μ-L)], [M = Cr; 1, Mo; 2, W; 3] and [M₂(CO)₆(μ-CO)(μ-L′)], [M = Cr; 4, Mo; 5, W; 6] have been synthesized by the photochemical reactions of photogenerated intermediate, M(CO)₅THF (M = Cr, Mo, W) with thio Schiff base ligands, N,N′-bis(2-aminothiophenol)-1,4-bis(2-carboxaldehydephenoxy)butane (H ₂ L) and N,N′-bis(2-aminothiophenol)-1,7-bis(2-formylphenyl)-1,4,7-trioxaheptane (H ₂ L′). The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, LC-mass spectrometry, magnetic studies, FT-IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The spectroscopic studies show that H ₂ L and H ₂ L′ ligands are converted to benzothiazole derivatives, L and L′ after UV irradiation and coordinated to the central metal as bridging ligands via the central azomethine nitrogen and sulphur atoms in 1–6.     

New azo‐azomethine‐based transition metal complexes: Synthesis,spectroscopy, solid‐state structure,density functional theory calculations and anticancer studies

A novel tetradentate azo‐Schiff base ligand (H₂L) was synthesized by 2:1 molar condensation of an azo‐aldehyde and ethylenediamine. Its mononuclear Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II) and Zn(II) complexes were prepared and their structures were confirmed using elemental analysis, NMR, infrared and UV–visible spectroscopies and molar conductivity measurements. The results suggest that the metal ion is bonded to the tetradentate ligand through phenolic oxygens and imine nitrogens of the ligand. The solid‐state structures of the azo‐Schiff base ligand and its Cu(II) complex were determined using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. The azo‐Schiff base ligand lies on a crystallographic inversion centre and thus the asymmetric unit contains half of the molecule. X‐ray data revealed that keto–amine tautomer is favoured in the solid‐state structure of the ligand. In the structure of the Cu(II) complex, the Cu(II) ion is coordinated to two phenolate oxygen atoms and two imine nitrogen atoms of the azo‐Schiff base ligand with approximate square planar geometry. The anticancer activity of the synthesized complexes was investigated for human cancer cell line (MCF‐7) and cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds was determined against mouse fibroblast cells (L929). The ligand and its complexes were found to show antitumor activity. The synthesized metal complexes were optimized at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level and a new theoretical formula for MCF‐7 cells was also derived.     

Ferrofluid mediated nanocytometry

We present a low-cost, flow-through nanocytometer that utilizes a colloidal suspension of non-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for label-free manipulation and separation of microparticles. Our size-based separation is mediated by angular momentum transfer from magnetically excited ferrofluid particles to microparticles. The nanocytometer is capable of rapidly sorting and focusing two or more species, with up to 99% separation efficiency and a throughput of 3 × 10(4) particles/s per mm(2) of channel cross-section. The device is readily scalable and applicable to live cell sorting with biocompatible ferrofluids, offering competitive cytometer performance in a simple and inexpensive package.     

FT‐Raman,FT‐IR spectra and DFT calculations on monomeric and dimeric structures of 5‐fluoro‐ and 5‐chloro‐salicylic acid

The experimental and theoretical study on the structures and vibrations of 5‐fluoro‐salicylic acid and 5‐chloro‐salicylic acid (5‐FSA and 5‐ClSA, C₇H₅FO₃ and C₇H₅ClO₃) is presented. The Fourier transform infrared spectra (4000–400 cm⁻¹) and the Fourier transform Raman spectra (4000–50 cm⁻¹) of the title molecules in the solid phase were recorded. The molecular structures, vibrational wavenumbers, infrared intensities, Raman intensities and Raman scattering activities were calculated for a pair of molecules linked by the intermolecular O H···O hydrogen bond. The geometrical parameters and energies of 5‐FSA and 5ClSA were obtained for all eight conformers/isomers from density functional theory (DFT) (B3LYP) with 6‐311++G(d,p) basis set calculations. The computational results identified the most stable conformer of 5‐FSA and 5‐ClSA as the C1 form. The complete assignments were performed on the basis of the total energy distribution (TED) of the vibrational modes, calculated with scaled quantum mechanics (SQM) method. The spectroscopic and theoretical results were compared with the corresponding properties for 5‐FSA and 5‐ClSA monomers and dimer of C1 conformer. The optimized bond lengths, bond angles and calculated wavenumbers showed the best agreement with the experimental results. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nucleophilic Reactivity of Ethers Against Terminal Epoxides in the Presence of BF3: A Mechanistic Study

In the presence of BF₃, a series of symmetrical and unsymmetrical ethers reacted with epichlorohydrin and 2‐[(benzyloxy)methyl]oxirane, two terminal epoxides, to afford 1‐alkoxy‐3‐chloropropan‐2‐ol and 1‐alkoxy‐3‐(benzyloxy)propan‐2‐ol. The cleavage of unsymmetrical ethers occurred via an S_N2 or S_N1 mechanism. Secondary epoxides did not give similar ring‐opening products.     

The metal complexes of new Schiff bases containing phosphonate groups and catalytic properties for alkane oxidation

In this study, two new salicylidene phosphonate ligands (HL¹ and HL²) and their metal complexes (Cu²⁺, VO²⁺ and La³⁺) were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic and analytical methods. The molecular structure of the ligand HL¹ was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction study. In the structure of the ligand, there is an intramolecular phenol‐imine hydrogen bond. The synthesized compounds exhibit only one emission maximum upon excitation at 270–295  nm range. Complexation of the Schiff base ligands with metal ions did not cause a considerable quenching effect. Finally, the complexes prepared were used as catalysts in cyclohexane oxidation under microwave irradiation. The complexes showed high conversion rates (> 90%) for cyclohexane oxidation; however, poor selectivity was observed for all complexes. The La³⁺ complexes showed better selectivity for cyclohexane → cyclohexanol transformation with about 45% selectivity.