Structure and properties of dinuclear manganese(III) complexes with pentaanionic pentadentate ligands including alkoxo, amido, and phenoxo donors

Doubly bridged mu-alkoxo-mu-X (X = pyrazolato or acetato) dinuclear MnIII complexes of 2-hydroxy-N-{2-hydroxy-3-[(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino]propyl}benzamide) (H5L1) and 2-hydroxy-N-{2-hydroxy-4-[(2-hydroxybenzoyl)amino]butyl}benzamide (H5L2), [Mn2(L)(pz)(MeOH)4].xMeOH (1, L = L1, x = 0.5; 2, L = L2, x = 0; Hpz = pyrazole) and [Mn2(L1)(OAc)(MeOH)4] (3), have been prepared, and their structure and magnetic properties have been studied. The X-ray diffraction analysis of 1 (C24.5H34Mn2N4O9.5, triclinic, P, a = 12.2050(7) A, b = 12.7360(8) A, c = 19.2780(10) A, alpha = 99.735(5) degrees , beta = 96.003(4) degrees , gamma = 101.221(5) degrees , V = 2867.6(3) A3, Z = 4), 2 (C25H34Mn2N4O9, triclinic, P, a = 9.4560(5) A, b = 11.0112(5) A, c = 13.8831(6) A, alpha = 90.821(4) degrees , beta = 92.597(4) degrees , gamma = 93.403(4) degrees , V = 1441.29(12) A3, Z = 2), and 3 (C23H32Mn2N2O11, triclinic, P, a = 10.511(5) A, b = 11.713(5) A, c = 13.135(5) A, alpha = 64.401(5) degrees , beta = 74.000(5) degrees , gamma = 66.774(5) degrees , V = 1329.3(10) A3, Z = 2) revealed that all complexes consist of dinuclear units which are further extended into 1D (1 and 3) and 2D (2) supramolecular networks via hydrogen-bonding interactions. Magnetic susceptibility data evidence antiferromagnetic interactions for all three complexes: J = -3.6 cm-1, D approximately 0 cm-1, g = 1.93 (1); J = -2.7 cm-1, D = 0.8 cm-1, g = 1.93 (2); J = -4.9 cm-1, D = 3.8 cm-1, g = 1.95 (3).     

Effect of a new hydrophobically modified polyampholyte on the formation of inverse microemulsions and the preparation of gold nanoparticles

A new regular polyampholyte, namely poly-(N,N-dially-N,N-dimethylammonium-alt-N-octyl-maleamic carboxylate), was synthesized by alternating free radical copolymerization. The influence of the added polymer on the range of the inverse micellar region (L(2) phase) of a SDS-based system was investigated. The phase behavior as well as conductivity measurements indicate that the polymer, which forms hydrophobic microdomains, is located more in the water core of the microemulsion droplets rather than at the interface of the surfactant film. The polyampholyte proved to be an efficient reducing and stabilizing agent for the formation of gold colloids. The process of nanoparticle formation was investigated in the absence of any other reducing agent, in water as well as in the microemulsion template phase. In both cases, nanoscalic gold particles can be synthesized, while the adsorption of the polymer on the particle surface prevents their aggregation due to electrosteric stabilization.     

Sonolysis of levodopa and paracetamol in aqueous solutions

Pharmaceutical products are often present in wastewater treatment effluents, rivers, lakes and, more rarely, in groundwater. The advanced oxidation methods, like ultrasound, find a promising future in the area of wastewater treatment. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the influence of several parameters of the ultrasound process on the degradation of paracetamol, a widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory recalcitrant drug found in water and levodopa, the most frequently prescribed drug for the treatment of Parkinson disease. Experiments were carried out at 574, 860 and 1134 kHz of ultrasonic frequency with horn-type sonicator and actual power values of 9, 17, 22 and 32 W at 20 °C. Initial concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 150 mg L^?1 of both products were used. Treatment efficiency was assessed following changes in pharmaceuticals concentration and chemical oxygen demand.The sonochemical degradation of both products follows a pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics. Complete removal of pharmaceuticals was achieved in some cases but some dissolved organic carbon remains in solution showing that long lived intermediates were recalcitrant to ultrasound irradiation. Pollutants conversion and COD removal were found to decrease with increasing the initial solute concentration and decreasing power. The best results were obtained with 574 kHz frequency. Investigations using 1-butanol as radical scavenger and H₂O₂ as promoter revealed that pollutants degradation proceeds principally through radical reactions, although some differences were observed between both molecules. Addition of H₂O₂ had a positive effect on degradation rate, but the optimum concentration of hydrogen peroxide depends on the pollutant.     

Multi-residue analysis and ultra-trace quantification of 36 priority substances from the European Water Framework Directive by GC-MS and LC-FLD-MS/MS in surface waters

A multi residue analysis was developed for screening, quantification and confirmation of 36 priority organic compounds included in the 2000/60/EC European Water Framework Directive. The compounds analyzed included 19 pesticides, 8 PAH, 5 endocrine-disruptors and 4 organochlorine compounds. The method was developed in three steps. First, automated off-line solid-phase extraction using Strata X cartridges was optimized to trap simultaneously the 36 studied compounds. Second, the more volatile compounds were analysed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with electron impact ionisation in selected ion monitoring mode (SIM). Third, the last 20 compounds were detected and quantified, in one run, by liquid chromatography coupled to fluorescence detector and tandem mass spectrometry. The excellent selectivity and sensitivity allowed us satisfactory quantification and confirmation at levels as low as 0.2-67 ng L⁻¹ with recoveries between 59 and 105%. Such methodology was then applied to French surface waters: all the waters present organic contaminants, and their concentration varied according to the origin and nature of substances.     

Magnetic Bistability of Individual Single‐Molecule Magnets Grafted on Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotubes

A POM to remember : Hexanuclear Fe^III polyoxometalate (POM) single‐molecule magnets (see structure) can be noncovalently assembled on the surface of single‐wall carbon nanotubes. Complementary characterization techniques (see TEM image and magnetic hysteresis loops) demonstrate the integrity and bistability of the individual molecules, which could be used to construct single‐molecule memory devices.

     

5-Aminooxazole as an internal traceless activator of C-terminal carboxylic acid: rapid access to diversely functionalized cyclodepsipeptides

A conceptually novel macrolactonization protocol has been developed. It is a domino process involving a sequence of: 1) protonation of 5-aminooxazole leading to the electrophilic iminium salt; 2) trapping of the iminium species by the neighboring C-terminal carboxylic acid leading to a putative spirolactone; and 3) intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the tethered alcohol to the spirolactone followed by fragmentation. The strategically incorporated 5-aminooxazole serves as an internal traceless activator of the neighboring C-terminal carboxylic acid, since it became an integral part of the peptide backbone after cyclization. No coupling reagent is required and the entire sequence is triggered by just a few equivalents of trifluoroacetic acid under very mild conditions (MeCN as the solvent at room temperature). The spirolactone as an activated form of the carboxylic acid has been evidenced by a sulfur-migration experiment. By combining with a three-component synthesis of 5-aminooxazole, a two-step synthesis of structurally complex cyclodepsipeptides from readily accessible starting materials was developed.     

Ultrasoft pseudopotentials for lanthanide solvation complexes: core or valence character of the 4f electrons

The 4f electrons of lanthanides, because of their strong localization in the region around the nucleus, are traditionally included in a pseudopotential core. This approximation is scrutinized by optimizing the structures and calculating the interaction energies of Gd(3+)(H(2)O) and Gd(3+)(NH(3)) microsolvation complexes within plane wave Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof calculations using ultrasoft pseudopotentials where the 4f electrons are included either in the core or in the valence space. Upon comparison to quantum chemical MP2 and CCSD(T) reference calculations it is found that the explicit treatment of the 4f electrons in the valence shell yields quite accurate results including the required small spin polarization due to ligand charge transfer with only modest computational overhead.     

Production and reactions of organic-soluble lanthanide complexes of the monolacunary Dawson [alpha1-P2W17O61]10- polyoxotungstate

The incorporation of lanthanides into polyoxometalates provides entry to new classes of potentially useful materials that combine the intrinsic properties of both constituents. To utilize the [alpha1-Ln(H2O)4P2W17O61]7- species in applications of catalysis and development of luminescent materials, the chemistry of this family of lanthanide polyoxometalates in organic solvents has been developed. Organic-soluble polyoxometalate-lanthanide complexes TBA5H2[alpha1-Ln(H2O)4P2W17O61] (Ln = La(III), Sm(III), Eu(III), Yb(III)) were prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, acid-base titration, IR, 31P NMR, and mass spectrometry. The synthetic procedure involves a cation metathesis reaction in aqueous solution under strict pH control. A solid-liquid-phase transfer protocol yielded a unique species (TBA)8K3[Yb(alpha1-YbP2W17O61)2] with three ytterbium ions and two [alpha1-P2W17O61]10- polyoxotungstates. A centrosymmetric dimeric complex [{alpha1-La(H2O)4P2W17O61}2]14- was crystallized from aqueous solution and characterized by X-ray diffraction. ESI mass spectral analysis of the complexes TBA5H2[alpha1-Ln(H2O)4P2W17O61] shows that similar dimers exist in organic solution, in particular for the early lanthanides. Fragmentation in the mass spectrometer of the complexes from dry acetonitrile solution involves double protonation of an oxo ligand and loss of one water molecule. Low mass tungstate fragments combine into [(WO3)n]2- (n = 1-5) ions and their condensation products with phosphate. Reaction of TBA5H2[alpha1-Eu(H2O)4P2W17O61] with 1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2'-bipyridine showed an increase of the europium luminescence. This result is explained by the formation of a ternary complex of [alpha1-Eu(H2O)4P2W17O61]7- and two sensitizing ligands.     

A new family of mono- and dicarboxylic ruthenium complexes [Ru(DIP)2(L2)]2+ (DIP = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline): synthesis, solution behavior, and X-ray molecular structure of trans-[Ru(DIP)2(MeOH)2][OTf]2

A new family of ruthenium complexes of general formula [Ru(DIP)2(L2)]2+, where DIP = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, a bidentate ligand with an extended aromatic system, was prepared and fully characterized. When L is a monodentate ligand, the following complexes were obtained: L = CF3SO3(-1) (2), CH3CN (3), and MeOH (4). When L2 is a bidentate ligand, the compounds [Ru(DIP)2(Hcmbpy)][Cl]2 (5) and [Ru(DIP)2(H2dcbpy)][Cl]2 (6) were prepared (Hcmbpy = 4-carboxy-4'-methyl-2,2-bipyridine, H2dcbpy = 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine). Complex [Ru(DIP)2(MeOH)2][OTf]2 (4) displayed a trans configuration of the DIP ligands, which is rare for octahedral complexes featuring DIP bidentate ligands. DFT calculations carried out on 4 showed that the cis isomer is more stable by 12.2 kcal/mol relative to the trans species. The solution behaviors of monocarboxylic complex [Ru(DIP)2(Hcmbpy)][Cl]2 (5) and dicarboxylic complex [Ru(DIP)2(H2dcbpy)][Cl]2 (6) were investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. VT-NMR, concentration dependence, and reaction with NaOD allowed us to suggest that aggregation of the cationic species in solution, especially for 6, originates mainly from hydrogen bonding interactions.