γ-Hydroxypropyl-functionalised iron thiolate complexes: crystal and molecular structure of [{Fe2(CO)6(μ-SCH2CH2CH2OH)}2(μ4-S)]

The γ-hydroxypropyl-functionalised diiron dithiolate complex [Fe₂(CO)₆(μ-SCH₂CH₂CH₂OH)₂] is prepared upon thermolysis of Fe₃(CO)₁₂ and HO(CH₂)₃SH and further reaction with dppm (dppm = Ph₂PCH₂PPh₂) affords [Fe₂(CO)₄(μ-dppm)(μ-SCH₂CH₂CH₂OH)₂]. From the reaction of Fe₃(CO)₁₂ with dppm(S₂) a minor product is the tetrairon cluster, [{Fe₂(CO)₆(μ-SCH₂CH₂CH₂OH)}₂(μ⁴-S)], the mode of formation of which is unclear. It has been crystallographically characterised and adopts a μ⁴-S bridged double butterfly structure which is compared with other crystallographically characterised complexes of this type. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Neutral Higgs sector of the MSSM with explicit CP violation and non-holomorphic soft breaking

Using the effective potential method, we computed one-loop corrections to the mass matrix of neutral Higgs bosons of the Non-Holomorphic Supersymmetric Standard Model (NHSSM) with explicit CP violation, where the radiative corrections due to the quarks and squarks of the third generation were taken into account. We observed that the non-holomorphic trilinear couplings can compete with the holomorphic ones in CP violating issues for the mass and mixing of the neutral Higgs bosons.     

Insulator-to-metal transition in selenium-hyperdoped silicon: observation and origin

Hyperdoping has emerged as a promising method for designing semiconductors with unique optical and electronic properties, although such properties currently lack a clear microscopic explanation. Combining computational and experimental evidence, we probe the origin of sub-band-gap optical absorption and metallicity in Se-hyperdoped Si. We show that sub-band-gap absorption arises from direct defect-to-conduction-band transitions rather than free carrier absorption. Density functional theory predicts the Se-induced insulator-to-metal transition arises from merging of defect and conduction bands, at a concentration in excellent agreement with experiment. Quantum Monte Carlo calculations confirm the critical concentration, demonstrate that correlation is important to describing the transition accurately, and suggest that it is a classic impurity-driven Mott transition.     

Complexation and transport of amino acid esters and their salts with synthesised chiral novel aza crown ether derivatives

The syntheses of four aza-15-crown-5 ethers bearing phenyl and phenoxymethyl moieties attached to a stereogenic centre on the crown ring were achieved. Macrocycles have exhibited strong binding ability (K_a = 5364–12,969 M^? 1) and modest enantiomeric discrimination towards the enantiomers of amino acid methyl ester salts by UV titration method in CHCl₃ at 25°C. Computer modelling results supported experimental data providing a detailed understanding of the molecular recognition mode between hosts and guests and the likely binding sites involved. Macrocycles were used for chiral discrimination of amino acids in their zwitterionic forms or as potassium and sodium salts in transport experiments across a bulk chloroform membrane with satisfactory selectivity.     

Lead Fractionation Analysis in Lipstick Samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

A new analytical approach based on fractionation was introduced for lead in lipstick samples. Different separation techniques including n-hexane, glycerol extraction, and activated carbon adsorption were used to characterize the lipid fraction, polar and aromatic components of the samples. Additionally, artificial saliva and food stimulant extractions were used for the risk assessment studies. Trace metal levels in fractions were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Method validation parameters in the total element determinations were defined in terms of detection limits, accuracy, and precision. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.02 and 0.07 mg kg^?1 for Pb; whereas the repeatability and reproducibility of the results based on percent relative standard deviation were 3.0% and 7.2% for lead, respectively.     

Removal of copper (Cu2+) from water by sulfonated cellulose

Water insoluble sulfonated cellulose was prepared and applied for Cu²⁺ removal from water. The effects of sorbent dose, initial solution pH, temperature and initial Cu²⁺ concentration on the removal performance of sulfonated cellulose were investigated. Isothermal data were modeled with the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The Cu²⁺ sorption onto sulfonated cellulose followed the Langmuir isotherm model with the maximum sorption capacity of 8.2?mg-Cu²⁺/g. Removal of Cu²⁺ showed rapid initial kinetics; in 3?min removal of Cu²⁺ reached equilibrium status. Thermodynamic study revealed an exothermic sorption process. In addition, sulfonated cellulose is a kind of green and renewable sorbent because it can be easily regenerated by 0.1?M HCl.     

Antiferromagnetic Coupling in a New Mn(III) Schiff Base Complex with Open-Cubane Core: Structure,Spectroscopic and Luminescence Properties

A new open-cubane Mn^III, [{(H₂O)Mn^IIIL}{Mn^IIIL}]₂·2(CH₃OH).2(CH₃CH₂OH)·2Cl, 1 where H ₂ L=[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-methoxysalicylaldimine] has been synthesized and characterized by element analysis, FT-IR, solid UV–Vis spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure determination shows an open-cubane tetranuclear complex. The Mn1 (Mn1ⁱ) ions is hexacoordinate by NO₅ donor sets while the Mn2 (Mn2ⁱ) is pentacoordinate by NO₄ donor sets. The solid state photoluminescence properties of complex 1 and its ligand H ₂ L have been investigated under UV light at 349 nm in the visible region. H ₂ L exhibits blue emission while complex 1 shows orange-red emission at room temperature. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements on the complex 1 in the range 2–300 K indicate an antiferromagnetic interaction.     

Allyl palladium dithiocarbamates and related dithiolate complexes as precursors to palladium sulfides

Allyl-palladium dithiocarbamate complexes, [Pd(allyl)(S₂CNR₂)], have been prepared from the addition of dithiocarbamate salts to [Pd(allyl)(μ-Cl)]₂ and TGA and DSC studies have been carried out in order to assess their potential as MOCVD precursors to palladium sulfides. For comparison [(η³-C₄H₇)Pd(S₂PPh₂)] and [Pd(S₂CNMeR)₂] (R = Bu, Hex) have also been prepared and tested as precursors. The unsymmetrical dithiocarbamate complex, [(η³-C₃H₅)Pd(S₂CNMeHex)], which has a melting point of 65 °C was selected as the best single source precursor and thin films of predominantly Pd_2.8S were deposited on glass slides. The crystal structures of [(η³-C₄H₇)Pd(S₂CNMe₂)], [(η³-C₄H₇)Pd(S₂CNPr₂)], [(η³-C₄H₇)Pd(S₂PPh₂)] and [Pd(S₂CNMeBu)₂] are reported. All except [(η³-C₄H₇)Pd(S₂CNPr₂)] show weak intermolecular S?H or Pd?H interactions.     

Trace Elemental Analysis of Allium Species by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) with Multivariate Chemometrics

Aerial parts and roots of the 12 Allium species collected from five localities of Turkey were studied for trace elements (Ag, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Se, Tl, V, and Zn) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A tomato leaves certified reference material was used to characterize the accuracy and precision of the analysis. Each Allium species contained Se (315–2740?µg/kg), Tl (2.75–71?µg/kg), V (77–6790?µg/kg), and Zn (3.73–26.6?mg/kg) which can meet the necessary daily intake of these minerals. In addition, chemometric analyses were performed using correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and hierarchical cluster analysis to determine the association of 12 trace elements in the Allium species. Using chemometrics, the distribution of elements between aerial parts and roots, and geographic collection localities of Allium species were also examined. This study is important the consumers because of the wide consumption of Allium species. This report is the first detailed characterization of the metal content of Allium species.     

A Robust,Precious‐Metal‐Free Dye‐Sensitized Photoanode for Water Oxidation: A Nanosecond‐Long Excited‐State Lifetime through a Prussian Blue Analogue

Herein, we establish a simple synthetic strategy affording a heterogeneous, precious metal‐free, dye‐sensitized photoelectrode for water oxidation, which incorporates a Prussian blue (PB) structure for the sensitization of TiO₂ and water oxidation catalysis. Our approach involves the use of a Fe(CN)₅ bridging group not only as a cyanide precursor for the formation of a PB‐type structure but also as an electron shuttle between an organic chromophore and the catalytic center. The resulting hetero‐functional PB‐modified TiO₂ electrode demonstrates a low‐cost and easy‐to‐construct photoanode, which exhibits favorable electron transfers with a remarkable excited state lifetime on the order of nanoseconds and an extended light absorption capacity of up to 500 nm. Our approach paves the way for a new family of precious metal‐free robust dye‐sensitized photoelectrodes for water oxidation, in which a variety of common organic chromophores can be employed in conjunction with CoFe PB structures.