Synthesis,crystal structures and spectroscopic studies of praseodymium(III) malonate complexes

Reactions of malonic acid (H₂mal) with PrCl₃·6H₂O afforded the known complex [Pr₂(mal)₃(H₂O)₆]_n (1), and compounds [Pr₂(mal)₃(H₂O)₆]_n·2nH₂O (2·2nH₂O), [PrCl(mal)(H₂O)₃]_n·0.5nH₂O (3·0.5nH₂O) and [Pr(mal)(Hmal)(H₂O)₃]_n·nH₂O (4·nH₂O) using various reaction ratios, reaction media (H₂O, MeOH) and pH values. Analogous reactions with CeCl₃·7H₂O afforded compounds [Ce₂(mal)₃(H₂O)₆]_n (5), [CeCl(mal)(H₂O)₃]_n·nH₂O (6·nH₂O) and [Ce(mal)(Hmal)(H₂O)₃]_n·nH₂O (7·nH₂O). Compounds 2·2nH₂O and 3·0.5nH₂O were characterized by X-ray crystallography, and 4–7 by microanalytical and spectroscopic data. The malonate(-2) ligand adopts three different coordination modes in the structures of 1–3, i.e., the μ₂-κO:κO′:κO″ and the μ₄-κ²O:κO′:κ²O″:κO? in 1 and 2 leading to a 3D network structure, and the μ₃-κ²O:κO′:κ²O″:κO? in 3 promoting an 1D structure. The thermal decomposition of 1 and 3·0.5nH₂O was monitored by TG/DTA and TG/DTG measurements. The structural features of 1–3 are discussed in terms of known malonato(-2) Ln^III and Ca^II complexes. The bioinorganic chemistry relevance of our results is discussed.     

Strong antiferromagnetic coupling in doubly N,O oximato-bridged dinuclear copper(II) complexes

The use of di-2-pyridyl ketone oxime, (py)pkoH, and phenyl 2-pyridyl ketone oxime, ppkoH, in copper(II) hexafluoroacetylacetonate chemistry is reported. The reaction of CuCl₂·2H₂O with one and two equivalents of ppkoH and Na(hfac), respectively, in CH₂Cl₂ affords the dinuclear complex [Cu₂(hfac)₂(ppko)₂] (1) in excellent yield. The replacement of ppkoH by (py)pkoH gives the isostructural compound [Cu₂(hfac)₂{(py)pko}₂] (2) in good yield. The Cu^II atoms in both 1 and 2 are doubly bridged by the oximate groups of two η¹:η¹:η¹:μ₂ ppko⁻ and (py)pko⁻ ligands, respectively. The bridging Cu–(R–NO)–Cu′ units are not planar, with the torsion angles being 23.2° (1) and 20.3° (2). A bidentate chelating hfac⁻ ligand completes five-coordination at each square pyramidal metal ion. The hfac⁻-free reaction system CuCl₂·2H₂O/(py)pkoH/NEt₃ (1:2:1) gives instead the mononuclear complex [CuCl{(py)pko}{(py)pkoH}] (3) in very good yield. The Cu^II atom is coordinated by two N,N′-bidentate (py)pko⁻/(py)pkoH chelates and a monodentate chloride anion resulting in a distorted square pyramidal geometry around the metal center. Variable-temperature, solid-state dc magnetic studies were carried out on the representative dinuclear complex 1 in the 2.0–300 K range. The data indicate a very strong antiferromagnetic exchange interaction and a resulting S = 0 ground state, which is well isolated from the S = 1 excited state. The J value of −720 cm⁻¹ was derived from the fitting of the experimental data using the Hamiltonian H = −J(S₁ · S₂).     

Monomeric oxovanadium(IV) compounds of the general formula cis-[V(IV)(=O)(X)(L(NN))(2)](+/0) [X = OH(-), Cl(-), SO(4)(2)(-) and L(NN) = 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) or 4,4'-disubstituted bipy

Reaction of [V(IV)OCl(2)(THF)(2)] in aqueous solution with 2 equiv of AgBF(4) or AgSbF(6) and then with 2 equiv of 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy), 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine (4,4'-dtbipy), or 4,4'-di-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine (4,4'-dmbipy) affords compounds of the general formula cis-[V(IV)O(OH)(L(NN))(2)]Y [where L(NN) = bipy, Y = BF(4)(-) (1), L(NN) = 4,4'-dtbipy, Y = BF(4)(-) (2.1.2H(2)O), L(NN) = 4,4'-dmbipy, Y = BF(4)(-) (3.2H(2)O), and L(NN) = 4,4'-dtbipy, Y = SbF(6)(-) (4)]. Sequential addition of 1 equiv of Ba(ClO(4))(2) and then of 2 equiv of bipy to an aqueous solution containing 1 equiv of V(IV)OSO(4).5H(2)O yields cis-[V(IV)O(OH)(bipy)(2)]ClO(4) (5). The monomeric compounds 1-5 contain the cis-[V(IV)O(OH)](+) structural unit. Reaction of 1 equiv of V(IV)OSO(4).5H(2)O in water and of 1 equiv of [V(IV)OCl(2)(THF)(2)] in ethanol with 2 equiv of bipy gives the compounds cis-[V(IV)O(OSO(3))(bipy)(2)].CH(3)OH.1.5H(2)O (6.CH(3)OH.1.5H(2)O) and cis-[V(IV)OCl(bipy)(2)]Cl (7), respectively, while reaction of 1 equiv of [V(IV)OCl(2)(THF)(2)] in CH(2)Cl(2) with 2 equiv of 4,4'-dtbipy gives the compound cis-[V(IV)OCl(4,4'-dtbipy)(2)]Cl.0.5CH(2)Cl(2) (8.0.5CH(2)Cl(2)). Compounds cis-[V(IV)O(BF(4))(4,4'-dtbipy)(2)]BF(4) (9), cis-[V(IV)O(BF(4))(4,4'-dmbipy)(2)]BF(4) (10), and cis-[V(IV)O(SbF(6))(4,4'-dtbipy)(2)]SbF(6) (11) were synthesized by sequential addition of 2 equiv of 4,4'-dtbipy or 4,4'-dmbipy and 2 equiv of AgBF(4) or AgSbF(6) to a dichloromethane solution containing 1 equiv of [V(IV)OCl(2)(THF)(2)]. The crystal structures of 2.1.2H(2)O, 6.CH(3)OH.1.5H(2)O, and 8.0.5CH(2)Cl(2) were demonstrated by X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystal data are as follows: Compound 2.1.2H(2)O crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca with (at 298 K) a = 21.62(1) A, b = 13.33(1) A, c = 27.25(2) A, V = 7851(2) A(3), Z = 8. Compound 6.CH(3)OH.1.5H(2)O crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/a with (at 298 K) a = 12.581(4) A, b = 14.204(5) A, c = 14.613(6) A, beta = 114.88(1) degrees, V = 2369(1), Z = 4. Compound 8.0.5CH(2)Cl(2) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pca2(1) with (at 298 K) a = 23.072(2) A, b = 24.176(2) A, c = 13.676(1) A, V = 7628(2) A(3), Z = 8 with two crystallographically independent molecules per asymmetric unit. In addition to the synthesis and crystallographic studies, we report the optical, infrared, magnetic, conductivity, and CW EPR properties of these oxovanadium(IV) compounds as well as theoretical studies on [V(IV)O(bipy)(2)](2+) and [V(IV)OX(bipy)(2)](+/0) species (X = OH(-), SO(4)(2)(-), Cl(-)).     

Lamellar Organo-Bridged Silicones

The acid-hydrolysis of an organo-bridged bisdiethoxysilylated molecular precursor bearing urea groups, (EtO)₂MeSi(CH₂)₃NHCONH(CH₂)₁₂NHCONH(CH₂)₃SiMe(OEt)₂, has been performed in pure aqueous medium. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the resulting insoluble solid revealed plate-like forms with a lamellar structure as determined by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) studies with a sharp peak at 28.5 Å. The solid state ²⁹Si MAS-NMR spectrum of this bridged siloxane hybrid is consistent with a moderately condensed material with complete preservation of the Si–C bonds throughout the hybrid network. In comparison, the classical sol–gel hydrolysis-condensation of the molecular precursor in ethanol with stoichiometric amount of water and fluoride anion as catalyst produced an amorphous featureless solid.     

Probing the formation of bicyclo[4.2.0]octan-1-ols

Reaction of lithium enolates of simple ketones with (+/-)-phenyl vinyl sulfoxide has potential for the convergent construction of complex fused ring systems containing a bicyclo[n.2.0]alkan-1-ol. The formation of sulfinylbicyclo[4.2.0]octan-1-ols 1-3 from the lithium enolate of cyclohexanone with (+/-)-phenyl vinyl sulfoxide or (R)-(+)-p-tolyl vinyl sulfoxide 18 was used to probe the mode of this novel cyclization reaction. Using phenyl vinyl sulfoxide, variations in the reaction lighting and solvent were investigated, in conjunction with radical trapping (TEMPO) and isotope labeling (deuterium) experiments. Cyclization to form sulfinylbicyclooctanols 1-3 is likely to proceed via an intermediate that ring closes to the bicycloalkanol anion 11 and was presently favored by the use of solvents such as THF or DME.     

Electrochemical probing of ground state electronic interactions in polynuclear complexes of a new heteroditopic ligand

The synthesis and electronic properties of dinuclear ([(bipy)2Ru(I)M(terpy)][PF6]4(bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine, terpy = 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine; M = Ru, Os)) and trinuclear ([[(bipy)2Ru(I)]2M][PF6]6 M = Ru, Os, Fe, Co) complexes bridged by 4'-(2,2'-bipyridin-4-yl)-2,2':6',2'-terpyridine (I) have been investigated and are compared with those of mononuclear model complexes. The electrochemical analysis using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry reveals that there are no interactions in the ground state between adjacent metal centres. However, there is strong electronic communication between the 2,2'-bipyridine and 2,2':6',2'-terpyridine components of the bridging ligand. This conclusion is supported by a step-by-step reduction of the dinuclear and trinuclear complexes and the assignment of each electrochemical process to localised ligand sites within the didentate and terdentate domains. The investigation of the electronic absorption and emission spectra reveals an energy transfer in the excited state from the terminating bipy-bound metal centres to the central terpy-bound metal centre. This indicates that the bridge is able to facilitate energy transfer in the excited state between the metal centres despite the lack of interactions in the ground state.     

PTV-LV-GC/MS/MS as screening and complementary method to HRMS for the monitoring of dioxin levels in food and feed

Recent developments in trapping efficiency inside ion trap mass spectrometer permitted to lower instrument detection limit (IDL). An IDL of 200 fg μl⁻¹ injected with a signal-to-noise ratio of 5:1 for tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was obtained by gas chromatography coupled to a quadrupole ion storage mass spectrometer in tandem mode (GC/MS/MS). Coupling large volume programmable temperature vaporizer (PTV-LV) injection to GC/MS/MS provides an alternative and complementary method to classical splitless-GC injection connected to high-resolution mass spectrometry (splitless-GC/HRMS) method for dioxin monitoring in food and feed.

An injection volume of 10 μl was found to be the best compromise between the sensitivity requirements and the robustness required for a high throughput method. PTV-LV-GC/MS/MS and Splitless-GC/HRMS were compared by performing analysis on five different matrices such as beef fat, yolk eggs, milk powder, animal feed and serum samples covering a concentration range of two orders of magnitude (i.e. 0.2–25 ng WHO-TEQ kg⁻¹). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was carried out. Fisher tests pointed out that the method effect for all the 2,3,7,8 congeners was not significant, indicating that the null hypothesis (H₀: μ₁=μ₂=…=μ_n) was not rejected. Moreover, the interaction effects between methods and matrices were not significant for most of the 2,3,7,8 congeners. However, three congeners (2,3,7,8-TCDF; 1,2,3,4,7,8-HxCDD and 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD) were characterized by P-values lower than the significance level (=0.05). In toxic equivalence (TEQ), the study showed that no significant bias was observed between the two methods. Consequently, PTV-LV-GC/MS/MS is an attractive technique and can be used as a cost effective complementary method to HRMS for dioxin levels monitoring in food and feed.