Brønsted acidity of ceric ammonium nitrate in anhydrous DMF. The role of salt and solvent in sucrose cleavage

The generation of an unexpected Brønsted acidity in anhydrous DMF at 50 °C was evidenced by NMR measurements during the investigation on the course of sucrose cleavage by ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN). The formation of a nitrooxy derivative of DMF by reaction with CAN is responsible for this acidity. The reactivity of CAN at 50 °C with several solvents was evaluated by voltammetric and potentiometric measurements. The possible release of protons from these reactions, particularly when aqueous solvent mixtures are used, should always be taken into account in the mechanistic interpretation of CAN synthetic applications.     

Novel poly(amido-amine)-based hydrogels as scaffolds for tissue engineering

Biodegradable and biocompatible amphoteric poly(amido-amine) (PAA)-based hydrogels, containing carboxyl groups along with amino groups in their repeating unit, were considered as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. These hydrogels were obtained by co-polymerising 2,2-bisacrylamidoacetic acid with 2-methylpiperazine with or without the addition of different mono-acrylamides as modifiers, and in the presence of primary bis-amines as crosslinking agents. Hybrid PAA/albumin hydrogels were also prepared. The polymerisation reaction was a Michael-type polyaddition carried out in aqueous media. The PAA hydrogels were soft and swellable materials. Cytotoxicity tests were carried out by the direct contact method with fibroblast cell lines on the hydrogels both in their native state (that is, as free bases) and as salts with acids of different strength, namely hydrochloric, sulfuric, acetic and lactic acid. This was done in order to ascertain whether counterion-specific differences in cytotoxicity existed. It was found that all the amphoteric PAA hydrogels considered were cytobiocompatible both as free bases and salts. Selected hydrogels samples underwent degradation tests under controlled conditions simulating biological environments, i.e. Dulbecco medium at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C. All samples degraded completely and dissolved within 10 d, with the exception of hybrid PAA/albumin hydrogels that did not dissolve even after eight months. The degradation products of all samples turned to be non-cytotoxic. All these results led us to conclude that PAA-based hydrogels have a definite potential as degradable matrices for biomedical applications.     

Preparation of J-aggregate liposome dispersions and their chromic transformation

We report the preparation of aqueous liposome dispersions of J-aggregates formed by the amphiphilic merocyanine dye (MD). A series of liposome-forming lipids were dispersed together with MD J-aggregates at different molar ratios of MD to lipid. The MD J-aggregate dispersions prepared with 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) at the MD to DMPC ratio of 0.16 exhibit good dispersibility; that is, they can be readily redispersed without any flocculation even after their precipitation. By use of different counterions for the MD molecules, two types of J-aggregate dispersions, one that exhibits an absorption band (J-band) at 635 nm (type I) and the other at 600 nm (type II), were obtained. As an example of the use of MD J-aggregates liposome dispersions, the thermochromic transformation of MD J-aggregates was demonstrated. When the dispersions are heated, J-aggregates of type I transformed into type II at a certain temperature (T(disp)). The parameters that control the speed of the transformation and the value of T(disp) were determined.     

Light-responsive polyelectrolyte/gold nanoparticle microcapsules

We report the preparation and characterization of light-responsive delivery vehicles, microcapsules composed of multiple polyelectrolyte layers and light-absorbing gold nanoparticles. The nanostructured capsules were loaded with macromolecules (fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled dextran) by exploiting the pH-dependence of the shell permeability, and the encapsulated material was released on demand upon irradiation with short (10 ns) laser pulses in the near-infrared (1064 nm). In addition, the polyelectrolyte multilayer shell was modified with lipids (dilauroylphosphatidylethanolamine) and then functionalized with ligands (monoclonal immunoglobulin G antibodies) for the purposes of enhanced stability and targeted delivery, respectively. We anticipate that these capsules will find application in a range of areas where controlled delivery is desirable.     

31P-NMR and X-Ray Studies of the Complexes [HgX2 (1)]. (1=2, 11-bis (diphenylphosphinomethyl)benzo [c]phenanthrene,X=Cl,I)

The ³¹P{¹H}-NMR characteristics of the complexes [HgX₂( 1 )] and [HgX₂-(PPh₂Bz)₂] (X = NO₃, Cl, Br, I, SCN, CN) and the solid state structures of the complexes [HgCl₂( 1 )] and [HgI₂( 1 )] ( 1 = 2,11-bis (diphenylphosphinomethyl)benzo-[c]phenanthrene) have been determined. The ¹J(¹⁹⁹Hg, ³¹P) values increase in the order CN < I < SCN < Br < Cl < NO₃. The two molecular structures show a distorted tetrahedral geometry about mercury. Pertinent bond lengths and bond angles from the X-ray analysis are as follows: Hg? P = 2.485(7) Å and 2.509 (8) Å, Hg? Cl = 2.525 (8) Å and 2.505 (10) Å, P? Hg? P = 125.6(3)°, Cl? Hg? Cl = 97.0(3)° for [HgCl₂( 1 )] and Hg? P = 2.491 (10) Å and 2.500(11) Å, Hg? I = 2.858(5) Å and 2.832(3) Å, P? Hg? P = 146.0(4)°, I? Hg? I = 116.9(1)° for [HgI₂( 1 )]. The equation, derived previously, relating ¹J(¹⁹⁹Hg, ³¹P) and the angles P? Hg? P and X? Hg? X is shown to be valid for 1 .     

Surface interactions during polyelectrolyte multilayer buildup. 1. Interactions and layer structure in dilute electrolyte solutions

We report the investigation of surface forces between polyelectrolyte multilayers of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and poly(styrenesulfonate sodium salt) (PSS) assembled on mica surfaces during film buildup using a surface force apparatus. Up to four polyelectrolyte layers were prepared on each surface ex situ, and the surface interactions were measured in 10(-4) M KBr solutions. The film thickness under high compressive loads (above 2000 microN/m) increased linearly with the number of deposited layers. In all cases, the interaction between identical surfaces at large separations (>100 A from contact) was dominated by electrostatic double-layer repulsion. By fitting DLVO theory to the experimental force curves, the apparent double-layer potential of the interacting surfaces was calculated. At shorter separations, an additional non-DLVO repulsion was present due to polyelectrolyte chains extending some distance from the surface into solution, thus generating an electrosteric type of repulsion. Forces between dissimilar multilayers (i.e., one of the multilayers terminated with PSS and the other with PAH) were attractive at large separations (30-400 A) owing to a combination of electrostatic attraction and polyelectrolyte bridging.     

Crystal and molecular structures oftrans-dichloro-(ethylene) (4-methylpyridine)platinum(II) andtrans-dichloro(ethylene) (2,4,6-trimethylpyridine)platinum(II)

The crystal and molecular structures oftrans-[PtCl₂(C₂H₄)(4-MeC₅H₄N)] (I) andtrans-[PtCl₂(C₂H₄)(2,4,6-Me₃C₅H₂N)] (II) have been determined by single-crystal x-ray methods.I crystallizes in space groupP2₁/c witha= 4.991(1), b=21.658(3), c=10.675(3) Å, =110.17(2) °,Z=4;II is orthorhombic (Pbca) witha=10.295(6),b=12.393(8),c=20.370(10) Å,Z=8.Full-matrix least-squares refinements have given finalR factors of 0.053 (1520 reflections) forI and 0.042. (1412 reflections) forII. The intensities were recorded by counter methods, and only those reflections havingI>3(I) were used in the analyses.In both complexes, platinum is four-coordinate with the two chlorine atoms, the double bond of the ethylene, and the nitrogen atom of the substituted pyridine. The two structures are discussed in terms of the arrangement of the pyridine ligand with respect to the PtCl₂(C₂H₄) moiety.     

A Novel L-Shaped Fluorescent Probe for AIE Sensing of Zinc (II) Ion by a DR/NIR Response

In the field of optical sensors, small molecules responsive to metal cations are of current interest. Probes displaying aggregation-induced emission (AIE) can solve the problems due to the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) molecules, scarcely emissive as aggregates in aqueous media and in tissues. The addition of a metal cation to an AIE ligand dissolved in solution can cause a “turn-on” of the fluorescence emission. Half-cruciform-shaped molecules can be a winning strategy to build specific AIE probes. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a novel L-shaped fluorophore containing a benzofuran core condensed with 3-hydroxy-2-naphthaldehyde crossed with a nitrobenzene moiety. The novel AIE probe produces a fast colorimetric and fluorescence response toward zinc (II) in both in neutral and basic conditions. Acting as a tridentate ligand, it produces a complex with enhanced and red-shifted emission in the DR/NIR spectral range. The AIE nature of both compounds was examined on the basis of X-ray crystallography and DFT analysis.     

(4-Vinylpyridine-Styrene) Copolymer as Host Polymer for Chromophoric Complexes with Potential Second Order Nonlinear Optical Properties

A series of new metal containing polymers for second order nonlinear optics have been prepared by grafting Cu (II) and Pd (II) chromophoric complexes on a preformed (4-vinylpyridine-styrene) copolymeric backbone. The metallated polymers have been chemically and physically characterized. They show high glass transition temperatures, high thermal stability and good solubility. Their properties have been compared with analogous metallated poly(4-vinylpyridine) samples: variations in the polymeric backbone, as well as in ligands, metal, and metallation ratio, allow to tune their properties.