Self-optimizing charge-transfer energy phenomena in metallosupramolecular complexes by dynamic constitutional self-sorting

In this paper we report an extended series of 2,6-(iminoarene)pyridine-type ZnII complexes [(Lii)2Zn]II, which were surveyed for their ability to self-exchange both their ligands and their aromatic arms and to form different homoduplex and heteroduplex complexes in solution. The self-sorting of heteroduplex complexes is likely to be the result of geometric constraints. Whereas the imine-exchange process occurs quantitatively in 1:1 mixtures of [(Lii)2Zn]II complexes, the octahedral coordination process around the metal ion defines spatial-frustrated exchanges that involve the selective formation of heterocomplexes of two, by two different substituents; the bulkiest ones (pyrene in principle) specifically interact with the pseudoterpyridine core, sterically hindering the least bulky ones, which are intermolecularly stacked with similar ligands of neighboring molecules. Such a self-sorting process defined by the specific self-constitution of the ligands exchanging their aromatic substituents is self-optimized by a specific control over their spatial orientation around a metal center within the complex. They ultimately show an improved charge-transfer energy function by virtue of the dynamic amplification of self-optimized heteroduplex architectures. These systems therefore illustrate the convergence of the combinatorial self-sorting of the dynamic combinatorial libraries (DCLs) strategy and the constitutional self-optimized function.     

Propolis-Based Nanofiber Patches to Repair Corneal Microbial Keratitis

In this research, polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA)/gelatin (GEL)/propolis (Ps) biocompatible nanofiber patches were fabricated via electrospinning technique. The controlled release of Propolis, surface wettability behaviors, antimicrobial activities against the S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, and biocompatibility properties with the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were investigated in detail. By adding 0.5, 1, and 3 wt.% GEL into the 13 wt.% PVA, the morphological and mechanical results suggested that 13 wt.% PVA/0.5 wt.% GEL patch can be an ideal matrix for 3 and 5 wt.% propolis addition. Morphological results revealed that the diameters of the electrospun nanofiber patches were increased with GEL (from 290 nm to 400 nm) and Ps addition and crosslinking process cause the formation of thicker nanofibers. The tensile strength and elongation at break enhancement were also determined for 13 wt.% PVA/0.5 wt.% GEL/3 wt.% Ps patch. Propolis was released quickly in the first hour and arrived at a plateau. Cell culture and contact angle results confirmed that the 3 wt.% addition of propolis reinforced mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and wettability properties of the patches. The antimicrobial activity demonstrated that propolis loaded patches had antibacterial activity against the S. aureus, but for P. aeruginosa, more studies should be performed.     

Rational Design of a Confacial Pentaoctahedron: Anisotropic Exchange in a Linear ZnIIFeIIIFeIIIFeIIIZnII Complex

The first confacial pentaoctahedron comprised of transition metal ions namely Zn^IIFe^III_AFe^III_BFe^III_AZn^II has been synthesized by using a dinucleating nonadentate ligand. The face-sharing bridging mode enforces short Zn^II⋅⋅⋅Fe^III_A and Fe^III_A⋅⋅⋅Fe^III_B distances of 2.83 and 2.72 Å, respectively. Ab-initio CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations provide significant negative zero-field splittings for Fe^III_A and Fe^III_B with |D_A|>|D_B| with the main component along the C₃ axis. Hence, a spin-Hamiltonian comprised of anisotropic exchange, zero-field, and Zeeman term was employed. This allowed by following the boundary conditions from the theoretical results the simulation in a theory-guided parameter determination with J^xy=+0.37, J^z=−0.32, D_A=−1.21, E_A=−0.24, D_B=−0.35, and E_B=−0.01 cm⁻¹ supported by simulations of high-field magnetic Mössbauer spectra recorded at 2 K. The weak but ferromagnetic Fe^III_AFe^III_B interaction arises from the small bridging angle of 84.8° being at the switch from anti- to ferromagnetic for the face-sharing bridging mode.     

The Strong Variant of a Barbashin Theorem on Stability of Solutions for Non-autonomous Differential Equations in Banach Spaces

Among others we shall prove that an exponentially bounded evolution family U = {U(t, s)} _t≥s≥0 of bounded linear operators acting on a Banach space X is uniformly exponentially stable if and only if there exists q [1, ∞) such that

Alkaline earth metal ions mediated self-assembly in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline, nitrate and tetrafluoroborate anions

1,10-Phenanthroline (phen) was reacted with various combinations of two and in one of the cases with three alkaline earth metal cations taken in equimolar ratio. In all the competitive reactions it was obtained only one product free of any impurities, which is in accordance with the theory of self-assembly processes. The compound [Ca(phen)2(H2O)2(NO3)]NO3 was synthesized in all the reactions where Ca(2+) was involved. In contrast, none of the reactions led to the preparation of a strontium complex. Two of the reactions, in which participated Be(2+), resulted in the compound (phen)3(H+)2(NO(-)(3))2. The second group of competitive reactions was carried out with 1,10-phenanthroline and a given alkaline earth metal cation in the presence of the anions NO(3)(-) and BF(4)(-). These led to the compounds Mg(phen)4(BF4)2(H2O)3, [Ca(phen)2(H2O)2(NO3)]BF4, Sr(phen)4(OH)(BF4)(H2O) and Ba(phen)3.5(BF4)2(H2O). All the newly synthesized substances were characterized by elemental analysis, IR- and FAB-mass-spectra.     

The two-body problem with generalized Lennard-Jones potential

We consider a generalization of the famous Lennard-Jones potential. To study the two-body problem associated to this potential, we use the foliations of the phase space by the invariant sets corresponding to the first integrals of energy and angular momentum. We investigate all possible situations created by the interplay among the constants of integration and the field parameters. We obtain the global flow, and illustrate it in both 3D and 2D. This flow exhibits a great variety of orbits, a homoclinic one included. All phase portraits are interpreted in terms of physical trajectories.     

Hemin interaction with bare and 4,4'-thio-bis-benzene-thiolate covered n-GaAs (110) electrodes

Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) investigations on the redox behavior of hemin at bare and 4,4'-thio-bis-benzene-thiolate (TBBT) covered n-GaAs (110) electrodes in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) revealed the high irreversibility of the electroreduction process, which appeared to be closely related to the stable adsorbed species strongly interfering with the electronic properties of the semiconducting substrate. The subsequent exploration of the hemin-modified electrodes by second harmonic generation (SHG), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements pointed to significant differences between the iron protoporphyrin species adsorbed on the bare- and TBBT-GaAs (110) electrodes. Only Fe(2+) species having a flat configuration with the porphyrin plane oriented parallel to the surface were detected on GaAs, unlike the TBBT-GaAs, where Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) species having both flat and vertical adsorption positions could be observed. These differences originate from the mutual interactions between the solvent, hemin and dithiolate molecules as well as their competition for the surface sites found to play a key role in the electrochemical process under discussion.     

Cyanide-Bridged Fe(III)-Cu(II) Complexes: Jahn-Teller Isomerism and Its Influence on the Magnetic Properties

We report here the synthesis and characterization of four dinuclear cyanide-bridged Fe(III)-Cu(II) complexes, based on a tetra- or a pentadentate bispidine ligand (L(1) or L(2), respectively; bispidines are 3,7-diazabiyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives) coordinated to the Cu(II) center, and a tridentate bipyridineamide (bpca) coordinated to the low-spin Fe(III) site, with cyanide groups completing the two coordination spheres, one of them bridging between the two metal ions. The four structurally characterized complexes [{Fe(bpca)(CN)(3)}{Cu(L(1)·H(2)O)}]BF(4), [{Fe(bpca)(CN)(3)}{Cu(L(2))}][Fe(bpca)(CN)(3)]·5H(2)O, [{Fe(bpca)(CN)(3)}{Cu(L(2)·MeOH)}]PF(6)·MeOH·H(2)O, and [{Fe(bpca)(CN)(3)}{Cu(L(2))}]PF(6)·2H(2)O belong to different structural isomers. The most important differences are structurally and electronically enforced (direction of the pseudo-Jahn-Teller mode) strong or weak interactions of the copper(II) center with the cyanide bridge. The related strength of the magnetic coupling of the two centers is analyzed with a combination of experimental magnetic, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), electronic spectroscopic data together with a ligand-field theory- and density functional theory (DFT)-based analysis.     

Influence of acceptor functionality on charge transfer interactions in mixtures of poly(9-vinylcarbazole) with nitroaromatic compounds

Charge transfer interactions in mixtures of poly(9-vinylcarbazole) with three nitro compounds (4,4′dinitrodibenzyl, ethyl 3,5-dinitrobenzoate and 2,2′,4,4′-tetranitrodibenzyl) were examined.