Fluorometric chemosensors. Interaction of toxic heavy metal ions Pb(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) with novel mixed-donor phenanthroline-containing macrocycles: spectrofluorometric,conductometric, and crystallographic studies

The macrocycles L(1)-L(3) incorporating N(2)S(3)-, N(2)S(2)O-, and N(2)S(2)-donor sets, respectively, and containing the 1,10-phenanthroline unit interact in acetonitrile solution with heavy metal ions such as Pb(II), Cd(II), and Hg(II) to give 1:1 ML, 1:2 ML(2), and 2:1 M(2)L complex species, which specifically modulate the photochemical properties of the ligands. The stoichiometry of the complex species formed during spectrofluorometric titrations and their formation constants in MeCN at 25 degrees C were determined from fluorescence vs M(II)/L molar ratio data. The complexes [Pb(L(1))][ClO(4)](2).(1)/(2)H(2)O (1), [Pb(L(2))][ClO(4)](2).MeNO(2) (1a), [Pb(L(3))(2)][ClO(4)](2).2MeCN (1b), and [Cd(L(3))][NO(3)](2) (2b) were also characterized by X-ray diffraction studies. The conformation adopted by L(1)-L(3) in these species reveals the aliphatic portion of the rings folded over the plane containing the heteroaromatic moiety with the ligands trying to encapsulate the metal center within their cavity. In 1, 1a, and 2b the metal ion completes the coordination sphere by interacting with counteranion units and solvent molecules. On the contrary, the 1:2 complex 1b shows Pb(II) sandwiched between two symmetry-related molecules of L(3) reaching an overall [4N + 4S] eight-coordination.     

5-Endo-trig radical cyclizations: disfavored or favored processes?

Relative kinetic data were determined for the 5-endo-trig cyclization of radical 12 compared to hydrogen abstraction from (TMS)(3)SiH in the temperature range of 344-430 K, which allows for the estimation of a rate constant of 2 x 10(4) s(-)(1) at 298 K with an activation energy of ca. 9 kcal/mol for the cyclization process. The 5-endo-trig cyclization of a variety of radicals that afford five-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycles was addressed computationally at the UB3LYP/6-31G level. The 5-endo vs 4-exo mode of cyclication and the effect of delocalization of the unpaired electron in the transition state were investigated. Because the ring formed during cyclization contains five sp(2) centers, electrocyclization via a pentadienyl-like resonance form was also considered. For comparison, similar calculations were performed for 4-penten-1-yl and related radicals. The factors that affect the activation energies of homolytic 5-endo-trig cyclization were determined. In the absence of steric or conformational effects, the endo cyclization to form the five-membered ring was strongly favored over exo cyclization to form the four-membered ring not only on thermodynamic grounds but also kinetically. When a substituent on the double bond was able to delocalize the unpaired electron in the transition state of the 4-exo path, the two modes of cyclization became kinetically comparable. These results have an important bearing on the generalization of the Baldwin-Beckwith rules, which classified the 5-endo-trig radical cyclization as a "disfavored" process.     

Synthesis and catalytic properties in olefin epoxidation of dioxomolybdenum(vi) complexes bearing a bidentate or tetradentate salen-type ligand

The monomeric cis-dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes [MoO₂(oep-saldpen)] and [MoO₂Cl₂(oep-H₂saldpen)], with a tetradentate [N₂(imine)O₂] and bidentate [N₂(imine)] salen-type ligand functionalised with two pyrrole derivative pendant arms [oep-H₂saldpen = 1,2-diphenylethylenebis(3-oxyethylpyrrole)salicylideneimine], were synthesised and characterised by ¹H NMR, IR and Raman spectroscopy. The solid-state structure of the free ligand oep-H₂saldpen was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Assignment of the vibrational spectra of the molybdenum complexes was supported by carrying out ab initio calculations for the possible isomers using [MoO₂(salen)] and [MoO₂Cl₂(H₂salen)] as model compounds [H₂salen = N,N′-ethylenebis(salicylideneimine)]. The oep-saldpen complexes were examined as catalysts for the epoxidation of cyclooctene, (R)-(+)-limonene, styrene, α-pinene, and cis and trans-β-methylstyrene, with tert-butyl hydroperoxide as the oxidant. Both complexes exhibited high selectivity for the epoxidation reaction, with the bis(chloro) complex being always the more active of the two.     

Copper(I) complexes of fluorinated triazapentadienyl ligands: synthesis and characterization of [N[(C3F7)C(Dipp)N]2]CuL (where L = NCCH3, CNBut, CO; Dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl)

Sterically demanding triazapentadiene [N[(C3F7)C(Dipp)N]2] H has been synthesized in good yield. It features a W-shaped ligand backbone in the solid state. [N[(C3F7)C(Dipp)N]2]H reacts with copper(I) oxide in acetonitrile leading to [N[(C3F7)C(Dipp)N]2]CuNCCH3. This copper adduct serves as an excellent precursor to obtain thermally stable [N[(C3F7)C(Dipp)N]2]CuCNBut and [N[(C3F7)C(Dipp)N]2]CuCO. IR spectroscopic data of these copper(I) isocyanide (CN = 2176 cm(-1)) and copper(I) carbonyl (CO = 2109 cm(-1)) complexes indicate that the [N[(C3F7)C(Dipp)N]2]- ligand is a fairly weak donor.     

Regioselectivity in the addition of vinylmagnesium bromide to heteroarylic ketones: C- versus O-alkylation

The reactivity of heteroarylic ketones toward vinylmagnesium bromide (2) and the regiochemistry of the addition were investigated. The reactivity drastically increases when the carbonyl is conjugated with at least one aza group and the regiochemistry of the addition of the vinyl Grignard reagent depends on the carbonyl compound: in the series of di(heteroazolyl) ketones the O-alkylation product was observed as unique with di(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl) ketone, and in different relative ratios with respect to the classic C-alkylation product with di(1,3-thiazol-2-yl) ketone, (1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl) (1,3-thiazol-2-yl) ketone, and di(1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl) ketone, whereas di(N-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl) ketone gave the exclusive formation of the carbinol. This behavior can be explained by the intervention of the delocalization power of the heterocyclic ring and this was confirmed by the results obtained from the reaction between vinylmagnesium bromide and a series of mixed (1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl) (para-substituted phenyl) ketones, that showed a relative O-/C-alkylation ratio dependent on the nature and on the electronic effect of the substituent on the phenyl ring. The results are in agreement with the existence of intermediate species bearing a negative charge on the benzylic carbonyl carbon atom, and make the O-alkylation reaction between vinyl Grignard reagents and carbonyl compounds no longer a rare case, since it was observed with a number of heterocyclic carbonyl compounds, such as (1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl) aryl ketones and di(heteroaryl) ketones of the pentatomic 1,3-heteroazolic series.     

Five new zinc phosphite structures: tertiary building blocks in the construction of hybrid materials

The syntheses and structures of five new zinc phosphites [Zn(HPO(3))(C(4)H(6)N(2))] (1), [Zn(2)(HPO(3))(2)(C(10)H(10)N(2))(2)](2) (2), [Zn(HPO(3))(C(14)H(14)N(4))(0.5)] (3), [Zn(2)(HPO(3))(2)(C(14)H(14)N(4))].0.4H(2)O (4), and [Zn(2)(HPO(3))(2)(C(14)H(14)N(4))] (5) are reported. In compounds 1-3, the zinc atoms are ligated by 1-methylimidazole, 1-benzylimidazole, and 1,4-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene, respectively, while compounds 4 and 5 are synthesized in the presence of the same bifunctional ligand, 1,3-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene. The inorganic framework of compound 1 is composed of vertex-shared ZnO(3)N and HPO(3) tetrahedra that form 4-rings, which, in turn, are linked to generate a one-dimensional ladder structure. In 2, the inorganic framework is composed of 4-rings and 8-rings to form the well-known 4.8(2) 2D network. This is connected via C-H...pi interactions between 1-benzylimidazole ligand to generate a pseudo-pillared-layer structure. In 3, the inorganic framework again has the 4.8(2) topology pillared by the bis(imidazole) ligand, 1,3-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene. In 4, a new layer pattern is observed. Specifically, three edge-sharing 4-rings form triple-fused 4-rings. These tertiary building units are further connected to form 12-rings. The alternating triple 4-rings and 12-rings form a previously unknown 2D inorganic sheet. The sheets are joined together by the bis(imidazole) ligand, 1,3-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)benzene, to generate a 3D pillared-layer structure. In 4, benzene rings and imidazole rings stack in a zigzag pattern in the interlayer space. A significant role for the triple 4-ring tertiary building unit in the formation of hybrid inorganic/organic metal phosphite structures is proposed for 4 and 5. In 5, the triple 4-rings fuse to give a 1D stair-step structure. Calculations show that the triple 4-ring pattern observed in the linear ladder structure of 1 is more stable than that in the stair step pattern of 5.     

Application of multivariate techniques for optimization of direct method for determination of lead in naphtha and petroleum condensate by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A direct method is proposed for the determination of lead in naphtha and petroleum condensate by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET AAS) using palladium as a permanent modifier. The procedure includes the dilution of 3 mL of sample (naphtha or petroleum condensate) to a final volume of 10 mL with xylene, and direct injection of 30 μL of this solution into the graphite furnace. The optimization of the instrumental conditions was performed using multivariate techniques. Firstly, a 2³ full factorial design was performed for preliminary evaluation of the factors: pyrolysis time, pyrolysis temperature and atomization temperature. This experiment showed that in the studied levels only the factors pyrolysis time and atomization temperature were significant. Then, a 3² full factorial design was performed for the determination of the critical conditions of these variables. The method allows the determination of lead using the standard calibration technique with a calibration curve from 2.6 to 30 μg L⁻¹ (correlation coefficient higher than 0.998). A limit of detection (3σ) of 0.8 μg L⁻¹ and a characteristic mass of 35 pg were obtained in the presence of palladium as modifier. The precision expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) was 1.5 and 0.8% for lead concentrations of 3.0 and 30 μg L⁻¹ (n = 10). Recovery studies demonstrate that lead can be determined in naphtha and petroleum condensate using calibration with organic standard solutions. This method was applied for the determination of lead in three petroleum condensate and two naphtha samples. The concentrations found for the petroleum condensate was between 2.7 and 5.7 μg L⁻¹, while the naphtha samples did not contain any detectable lead.     

Convergence of block spins defined by a random field

We study the asymptotic behavior of families of dependent random variables called block spins, which are associated with random fields arising in statistical mechanics. We give sufficient conditions for these families to converge weakly to products of independent Gaussian random variables. We also estimate the error terms involved. In addition we give some conditions which imply that the block spins can converge weakly only to families of normal or degenerate random variables. Central to our proofs is a mixing property which is weaker than strong mixing and which holds for many random fields studied in statistical mechanics. Finally we give a simple method for determining when a stationary random field does not satisfy a strong mixing property. This method implies that the two-dimensional Ising model at the critical temperature is not strong mixing, a result obtained by a different method by M. Cassandro and G. Jona-Lasinio. The method also shows that a stationary, mean-zero, positively correlated Gaussian process indexed by is not strong mixing if its covariance function decreases liket ^– , 0 < < 1.     

Coupled Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations with a Gauge Potential: Existence and Blowup

We study solutions of the Cauchy problem for nonlinear Schrödinger system in with nonlinear coupling and linear coupling modeling synthetic magnetic field in spin‐orbit coupled Bose–Einstein condensates. Three main results are presented: a proof of the local existence, a proof of the sufficient condition for the blowup result in finite time for some solutions, and the persistence of the nonlinear dynamics in the limit where the spin‐orbit coupling converges to zero.     

Schizocalyx cuspidatus (A. St.-Hil.) Kainul. & B. Bremer extract improves antioxidant defenses and accelerates the regression of hepatic fibrosis after exposure to carbon tetrachloride in rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of leaves extract of Schizocalyx cuspidatus (A. St.-Hil.) Kainul. & B. Bremer on hepatic morphofunctional dysfunction induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Liver lesions were induced via intraperitoneal administration of CCl₄ every 48 h for 12 days. Forty-nine rats were randomised into seven groups: G1: CCl₄; G2: CCl₄ (animals euthanised 24 h after last CCl₄ application); G3: CCl₄ + DMSO; G4: SCE 400 mg/kg; G5: DMSO (700 μl); G6: CCl₄ + SCE 200 mg/kg and G7: CCl₄ + SCE 400 mg/kg. SCE administration resulted in reduction in hydroperoxide levels, lipidic droplets and necrosis compared to G1, G2 and G3. There was an increase in the amount of collagen fibres in G1, G2 and G3 compared to the groups. These results show that the extract of SCE leaves has great potential for the recovery of liver damage after the application of CCl₄.