Synthesis and characterisation of bis(pentafluorophenyl)antimony(V) cations, [(C6F5)2SbL3]

Pentacoordinate complex cations of the general formula [(C₆F₅)₂SbL₃]³⁺ stabilized as solid salts in combination with tetraphenylborate (BPh₄), tetrafluorobroate (BF₄) anions, where L=DMSO, Ph₃AsO, PyO, DMF, α-, β- and γ-picoline have been isolated. The newly formed complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance measurements, solid-state IR and and NMR. From these results, a five-fold coordination around antimony was required.     

Ruthenium complexes of 2-[(4-(arylamino)phenyl)azo]pyridine formed via regioselective phenyl ring amination of coordinated 2-(phenylazo)pyridine: isolation of products,X-ray structure,and redox and optical properties

Aromatic ring amination reactions in the ruthenium complex of 2-(phenylazo)pyridine is described. The substitutionally inert cationic brown complex [Ru(pap)(3)](ClO(4))(2) (1) (pap = 2-(phenylazo)pyridine) reacts smoothly with aromatic amines neat and in the presence of air to produce cationic and intense blue complexes [Ru(HL(2))(3)](ClO(4))(2) (2) (HL(2) = 2-[(4-(arylamino)phenyl)azo]pyridine). These were purified on a preparative TLC plate. The X-ray structure of the new and representative complex 2c has been solved to characterize them. The results are compared with those of the starting complex, [Ru(pap)(3)](ClO(4))(2) (1). The transformation 1 --> 2 involves aromatic ring amination at the para carbon (with respect to the diazo function) of the pendant phenyl rings of all three coordinated pap ligands in 1. The transformation is stereoretentive, and the amination reaction is regioselective. The extended ligand HL(2) coordinates as a bidentate ligand and chelates to ruthenium(II) through the pyridine and one of the azo nitrogens. The amine nitrogen of this bears a hydrogen atom and remains uncoordinated. Similarly, the amination reaction on the mixed-ligand complex [Ru(pap)(bpy)(2)](ClO(4))(2) produces the blue complex [Ru(HL(2))(bpy)(2)](ClO(4))(2) (3) as anticipated. The reactions of [RuCl(2)(dmso)(4)] and [Ru(S)(2)(L)(2)](2+) (dmso = dimethyl sulfoxide, S = labile coordinated solvent, L = 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and pap) with the preformed HL(2) ligand have been explored. The structure of the representative complex [RuCl(2)(HL(2a))(2)] (5a) is reported. It has the chlorides in trans configuration while the pyridine as well as azo nitrogens are in cis geometry. Optical spectra and redox properties of the newly synthesized complexes are reported. All the ruthenium complexes of HL(2) are characterized by their intense blue solution colors. The lowest energy transitions in these complexes appear near 600 nm, which have been attributed to intraligand charge-transfer transitions. For example, the lowest energy visible range transition in [Ru(HL(2b))(3)](2+) appears at 602 nm and its intensity is 65 510 M(-1) cm(-1). All the tris chelates show multiple-step electron-transfer processes. In [Ru(HL(2))(3)](2+), six reductions waves constitute the complete electron-transfer series. The electrons are believed to be added successively to the three azo functions. In the mixed-ligand chelates [Ru(HL(2))(pap)(2)](2+) and [Ru(HL(2))(bpy)(2)](2+) the reductions due to HL(2), pap, and bpy are observed.     

A turn on ESIPT probe for rapid and ratiometric fluorogenic detection of homocysteine and cysteine in water with live cell-imaging

5(Benzothiazol-2-yl)-4-hydroxyisophthalaldehyde (BHI), an intense ESIPT containing molecule in mixed media loses its properties due to resonance-assisted H-bond (RAHB) in absolute water. Due to resonance-assisted H-bond the o-aldehyde is more reactive than the other one. With addition of cysteine/homocysteine into this solution the o-aldehyde group gets transformed into thiazolidine/thiazine ring, respectively, and the phenolic proton becomes free enough for transfer to nitrogen of the benzothiazole ring in excited state, that is, the ESIPT of BHI is turned on. Thus we can detect cysteine/homocysteine in water as well as in live cells.     

On the Control of Magnetic Anisotropy through an External Electric Field

The effect of an external electric field on the magnetic anisotropy of a single‐molecule magnet has been investigated, for the first time, with the help of DFT. The application of an electric field can alter the magnetic anisotropy from “easy‐plane” to “easy‐axis” type. Excitation analysis performed through time‐dependent DFT predicts that the external electric field facilitates metal to π‐acceptor ligand charge transfer, leading to uniaxial magnetic anisotropy and concomitant spin Hall effect in a single molecule.     

Dye sensitization of a large band gap semiconductor by an iron(III) complex

The Fe(III) complex, [Fe^III(HQS)₃] (HQS = 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid), is found to effect sensitization of the large band gap semiconductor, TiO₂. The role of interfacial electron transfer in sensitization of TiO₂ nanoparticles by surface adsorbed [Fe^III(HQS)₃] was studied using femtosecond time scale transient absorption spectroscopy. Electron injection has been confirmed by direct detection of the electron in the conduction band. A TiO₂-based dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was fabricated using [Fe^III(HQS)₃] as a sensitizer, and the resulting DSSC exhibited an open-circuit voltage value of 425 mV. The value of the short-circuit photocurrent was found to be 2.5 mA/cm². The solar to electric power conversion efficiency of the [Fe^III(HQS)₃] sensitized TiO₂-based DSSC device was 0.75 %. The results are discussed in the context of sensitization of TiO₂ by other Fe(II)-dye complexes.     

An Antibody with a Variable‐Region Coiled‐Coil “Knob” Domain

The X‐ray crystal structure of a bovine antibody (BLV1H12) revealed a unique structure in its ultralong heavy chain complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3H) that folds into a solvent‐exposed β‐strand “stalk” fused to a disulfide crosslinked “knob” domain. We have substituted an antiparallel heterodimeric coiled‐coil motif for the β‐strand stalk in this antibody. The resulting antibody (Ab‐coil) expresses in mammalian cells and has a stability similar to that of the parent bovine antibody. MS analysis of H–D exchange supports the coiled‐coil structure of the substituted peptides. Substitution of the knob‐domain of Ab‐coil with bovine granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (bGCSF) results in a stably expressed chimeric antibody, which proliferates mouse NFS‐60 cells with a potency comparable to that of bGCSF. This work demonstrates the utility of this novel coiled‐coil CDR3 motif as a means for generating stable, potent antibody fusion proteins with useful pharmacological properties.     

Cobalt‐Embedded Nitrogen‐Rich Carbon Nanotubes Efficiently Catalyze Hydrogen Evolution Reaction at All pH Values

Despite being technically possible, splitting water to generate hydrogen is still practically unfeasible due mainly to the lack of sustainable and efficient catalysts for the half reactions involved. Herein we report the synthesis of cobalt‐embedded nitrogen‐rich carbon nanotubes (NRCNTs) that 1) can efficiently electrocatalyze the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with activities close to that of Pt and 2) function well under acidic, neutral or basic media alike, allowing them to be coupled with the best available oxygen‐evolving catalysts—which also play crucial roles in the overall water‐splitting reaction. The materials are synthesized by a simple, easily scalable synthetic route involving thermal treatment of Co²⁺‐embedded graphitic carbon nitride derived from inexpensive starting materials (dicyandiamide and CoCl₂). The materials’ efficient catalytic activity is mainly attributed to their nitrogen dopants and concomitant structural defects.     

Leak detection in a high-pressure heat exchanger system in a refinery using radiotracer technique

A radiotracer investigation was carried out in a diesel hydrotreater (DHDT) unit in a refinery for leak detection in a breech-lock heat exchanger system. The main objectives of the study were to identify the leaking heat exchanger in a system with six heat exchangers and estimate the leak rate. Bromine-82 as dibromobiphenyl was selected and used as radiotracer for the investigation. The radiotracer was instantaneously injected into the suction end of the feed pump line to the heat exchanger of the DHDT unit. The movement of the tracer was measured at strategically selected locations using NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors. Based upon the results of the radiotracer investigation, it was found that out of six heat exchangers, exchanger E-1F was leaking.     

Dynamic Interfacial Behavior of Poly(oxyethylene) Lauryl Ether Based Surfactant Mixtures

The adsorption behavior of binary mixtures comprising nonionic surfactants at the air–water interface has been studied by bubble pressure tensiometry at concentrations above and below their critical micelle concentrations. Surfactants with the same hydrocarbon chains but different degree of ethoxylations were chosen as the components to understand their mixing behavior at equilibrium and dynamic conditions. At short times, the adsorption is found to be diffusion limited for individual components as well as for the mixtures, as predicted by the Ward and Tordai model. The effective diffusion coefficient of the monomers in the mixed state displays a dynamic synergism, consistent with the molecular thermodynamic model for dynamic surface tension. However, the equilibrium surface tension and micellar diffusion coefficient of the mixtures exhibit ideal behavior.