Copper perchlorate and tetrafluoridoborate compounds with the ligand 1,4,5-triazanaphthalene. Gradual transformation of mononuclear Cu(II) compounds via polynuclear mixed-valence Cu(II)/Cu(I) species to dinuclear Cu(I); syntheses, characterizations and X-ray structures

When the ligand 1,4,5-triazanaphthalene (abbreviated as tan) is reacted with Cu(II) BF(4)(-) and ClO(4)(-) salts, a variety of mononuclear compounds has been found, all with the [Cu(tan)(4)] unit and varying amounts of weakly coordinating axial ligands and lattice solvents. Reproducible compounds formed include two purple compounds, analyzing as [Cu(tan)(4)](ClO(4))(2)(CH(3)OH)(2)(H(2)O) (1) and [Cu(tan)(4)](BF(4))(2)(CH(3)OH)(1.5)(H(2)O) (3), and two blue compounds, analyzing as [Cu(tan)(4)](ClO(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2) (2) and [Cu(tan)(4)](2)(BF(4))(2)(H(2)O)(2) (4). Upon standing at room temperature, red-coloured, mixed-valence dinuclear-based 3D coordination polymers are formed by conversion of the purple/blue products, of which [Cu(2)(tan)(4)](n)(BF(4))(3n) (5) and the isomorphic methanol-water adduct [Cu(tan)(4)](n)(BF(4))(3n)(CH(3)OH)(n)(H(2)O)(5n) (5A) are presented in this paper. In addition a fully reduced dinuclear Cu(I) compound of formula [Cu(2)(tan)(3)(ClO(4))(2)] (7) has been observed, and structurally characterized, as a rare three-blade propeller structure, with a Cu-Cu distance of 2.504 ?.     

Preparation of bis(μ-chalcogeno) complexes [(η5-RC5H4)2M(μ-E)]2 M = Zr,Hf; R = H,t-Bu; E = S or Se from metallocene dichlorides,and isolation of the mixed μ-complexes [(t-BuC5H4)2Zr2](μ-O)(μ-E)

Metallocene dichlorides (RCp)₂MCl₂ (M = Zr, Hf; R = H, t-Bu) react with E/2HLiBEt₃ (E = S, Se) to give the symmetrical dinuclear compounds [(RCp)₂M(μ-E)]₂. UV irradiation in toluene of [(t-BuCp)₂Zr(CH₃)]₂(μ-O) in the presence of powdered sulfur or gray selenium gives the new compounds [(t-BuCp)₂Zr₂](μ-O)(μ-E).     

At-line bioprocess monitoring by immunoassay with rotationally controlled serial siphoning and integrated supercritical angle fluorescence optics

In this paper we report a centrifugal microfluidic “lab-on-a-disc” system for at-line monitoring of human immunoglobulin G (hIgG) in a typical bioprocess environment. The novelty of this device is the combination of a heterogeneous sandwich immunoassay on a serial siphon-enabled microfluidic disc with automated sequential reagent delivery and surface-confined supercritical angle fluorescence (SAF)-based detection. The device, which is compact, easy-to-use and inexpensive, enables rapid detection of hIgG from a bioprocess sample. This was achieved with, an injection moulded SAF lens that was functionalized with aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) using plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) for the immobilization of protein A, and a hybrid integration with a microfluidic disc substrate. Advanced flow control, including the time-sequenced release of on-board liquid reagents, was implemented by serial siphoning with ancillary capillary stops. The concentration of surfactant in each assay reagent was optimized to ensure proper functioning of the siphon-based flow control. The entire automated microfluidic assay process is completed in less than 30 min. The developed prototype system was used to accurately measure industrial bioprocess samples that contained 10 mg mL⁻¹ of hIgG.     

Mechanism of Intramolecular Photostabilization in Self‐Healing Cyanine Fluorophores

Organic fluorophores, which are popular labels for microscopy applications, intrinsically suffer from transient and irreversible excursions to dark‐states. An alternative to adding photostabilizers at high concentrations to the imaging buffer relies on the direct linkage to the fluorophore. However, the working principles of this approach are not yet fully understood. In this contribution, we investigate the mechanism of intramolecular photostabilization in self‐healing cyanines, in which photodamage is automatically repaired. Experimental evidence is provided to demonstrate that a single photostabilizer, that is, the vitamin E derivative Trolox, efficiently heals the cyanine fluorophore Cy5 in the absence of any photostabilizers in solution. A plausible mechanism is that Trolox interacts with the fluorophore through intramolecular quenching of triplet‐related dark‐states, which is a mechanism that appears to be common for both triplet‐state quenchers (cyclooctatetraene) and redox‐active compounds (Trolox, ascorbic acid, methylviologen). Additionally, the influence of solution‐additives, such as cysteamine and procatechuic acid, on the self‐healing process are studied. The results suggest the potential applicability of self‐healing fluorophores in stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM) with optical super‐resolution. The presented data contributes to an improved understanding of the mechanism involved in intramolecular photostabilization and has high relevance for the future development of self‐healing fluorophores, including their applications in various research fields.     

Monomers and polymers from plant oils via click chemistry reactions

As a consequence of the depleting of fossil reserves and environmental issues, today, plant oils and fatty acids derived therefrom have a respectable status within the polymer chemistry community. However, maximizing the benefits of these renewable feedstocks requires the utilization of sustainable and efficient chemical transformations. The emergence of click chemistry concept and especially the renaissance of thiol‐ene addition reaction have had an impact on the way to make plant oil‐derived polymers. This highlight discusses the applicability and success of thiol‐ene addition and other click reactions in the transformation of oleochemicals into monomers and polymers. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013     

Quantification of L‐ergothioneine in whole blood by hydrophilic interaction ultra‐performance liquid chromatography and UV‐detection

A new hydrophilic interaction ultra‐performance LC method was established for the whole blood measurement of L‐ergothioneine. Chromatographic separation was achieved in a fairly short time, less than 4 min, on a 100 × 2.1 mm Acquity UPLC BEH HILIC 1.7 μm column with a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of 100 mmol/L ammonium acetate/ACN/water (5:85:10, v/v/v) that flowed isocratically at 0.250 mL/min. The LOD and the limit of quantification were 3.85 and 11.67 μmol/L, respectively. The method exhibited linearity in a concentration range of 15.63–1000 μmol/L (R² > 0.999). Mean recovery was 96.34% whereas intraassay and interassay precision were 1.52 and 1.82% RSD, respectively. On the whole, the developed method is simple, fast, precise, accurate, and sensitive and may be useful for routine analyses.     

Activity testing and surface characterization of pretreated fused-silica capillaries for gas chromatography A new modification of existing intermediate column tests

A new modification of existing intermediate capillary column tests for uncoated columns is presented. A short (1 m), thick film (2 μm) precolumn is coupled to the column to be tested. The use of a short precolumn results in a rapid test. This makes it attractive in terms of time to inject the test compounds separately, thus excluding mutual influences, in diluted solutions spiked with n-alkanes as references. Moreover, the short precolumn gives sharp Gaussian injection profiles on the second column. A simple versatile coupling device has been developed, which permits easy control and adjustment of pressures and carrier flows, monitoring of the effluents of the precolumn and introduction of sharp input bands on the second column. The monitor detector accurately shows the shape and time of introduction of the compounds on the second column. This permits the evaluation of peak distortion, peak shift and yield on the second column. Test compounds were selected on the basis of their physico-chemical properties (vapour pressure, acid-base properties, dipole moments, hydrogen bonding, complexation with metals, etc.). A number of differently pretreated capillaries were tested with these compounds under various external conditions. Accurate quantification and qualification of the activity of the capillary present difficulties. The test is a case of nearly ideal non-linear chromatography. When peaks of different sizes are superimposed, the tails lie on a common envelope. The k′ of the end of the tail is fixed, irrespective of the amount injected, and forms an important parameter in the evaluation. Reconstruction of the chromatogram with a k′ scale instead of a time scale eliminates the influence of carrier velocity and column length. The method is a sensitive tool for intermediate column testing and shows promises for surface characterization.     

Bis­[bis­(pyrimidin‐2‐yl‐κN)­amine](dicyan­amido‐κN1)(tri­fluoro­methanesulfonato‐κO)copper(II) ethanol hemisolvate forms a hydrogen‐bonded chain

In the crystal structure of [Cu(CF₃SO₃)(C₂N₃)(C₈H₇N₅)₂]·0.5C₂H₆O, the Cu^II atom adopts a distorted octahedral geometry, with the basal plane formed by two N atoms of one dipyrimidinyl­amine ligand, one N atom of the second pyrimidine ligand and a nitrile N atom of the dicyan­amide anion [Cu—N = 1.972 (2)–2.021 (2) Å]. The apical positions are occupied by an N atom of the second ligand [Cu—N = 2.208 (2) Å], and an O atom of the tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate anion [Cu—O = 2.747 (2) Å] at a semi‐coordination distance. Pairs of inversion‐related N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds of the so‐called Watson–Crick type, augmented by two C—H⋯N contacts, link adjacent complexes into an infinite one‐dimensional chain running in the [101] direction.     

Methyl, hydrochalcogenido, and phenylchalcogenolate complexes of zinc in a sulfur rich coordination environment: syntheses and structural characterization of the tris(2-mercapto-1-tert-butylimidazolyl)hydroboratozinc complexes [TmBut]ZnMe, [TmBut]ZnEH (E = S, Se) and [TmBut]ZnEPh (E = O, S, Se, Te)

A series of hydrochalcogenido and phenylchalcogenolate complexes of zinc supported by tris(2-mercapto-1-tert-butylimidazolyl)hydroborato ligation, [Tm(Bu(t))]ZnEH (E = S, Se) and [Tm(Bu(t))]ZnEPh (E = O, S, Se, Te) have been synthesized from [Tm(Bu(t))]ZnMe; structural characterization by X-ray diffraction indicates that the variation in Zn-E bonding as a function of the chalcogen is significantly different from that in other series of metal-chalcogenolate compounds.     

Formation of organolithium hetero-aggregates [Li4Ar2(nBu)2] (Ar=C6H4CH(Me)NMe2-2) during the directed ortho-lithiation of [1-(dimethylamino)ethyl]benzene

(R)-[1-(Dimethylamino)ethyl]benzene reacts with nBuLi in a 1:1 molar ratio in pentane to quantitatively yield a unique hetero-aggregate (2 a) containing the lithiated arene, unreacted nBuLi, and the complexed parent arene in a 1:1:1 ratio. As a model compound, [Li(4)(C(6)H(4)CH(Me)NMe(2)-2)(2)(nBu)(2)] (2 b) was prepared from the quantitative redistribution reaction of the parent lithiated arene Li(C(6)H(4)CH(Me)NMe(2)-2) with nBuLi in a 1:1 molar ratio. The mono-Et(2)O adduct [Li(4)(C(6)H(4)CH(Me)NMe(2)-2)(2)(nBu)(2)(OEt(2))] (2 c) and the bis-Et(2)O adduct [Li(4)(C(6)H(4)CH(Me)NMe(2)-2)(2)(nBu)(2)(OEt(2))(2)] (2 d) were obtained by re-crystallization of 2 b from pentane/Et(2)O and pure Et(2)O, respectively. The single-crystal X-ray structure determinations of 2 b-d show that the overall structural motifs of all three derivatives are closely related. They are all tetranuclear Li aggregates in which the four Li atoms are arranged in an almost regular tetrahedron. These structures can be described as consisting of two linked dimeric units: one Li(2)Ar(2) dimer and a hypothetical Li(2)nBu(2) dimer. The stereochemical aspects of the chiral Li(2)Ar(2) fragment are discussed. The structures as observed in the solid state are apparently retained in solution as revealed by a combination of cryoscopy and (1)H, (13)C, and (6)Li NMR spectroscopy.