Crystal structure ofcis-diaqua bis(2,2′-bipyridyl)chromium(III) nitrate, [Cr(bipy)2(H2O)2] (NO3)3

cis-Diaquabis(2,2-bipyridyl)chromium(III) nitrate crystallizes in the mono-clinic system, space groupP2₁/c, witha=16.102(6),b=10.792(5),c=15.076(6) Å,=112.90(5)°, andZ=4. The saltlike structure was determined from X-ray crystallography and refined toR=7.5% for 3342 observed reflections. The Cr atom is octahedrally surrounded by twocis water molecules and by two chelated 2,2-bypiridyl ligands forming two nearly orthogonal planes. Selected bond distances are: Cr-O, 2.00(1) and 1.98(1) Å, Cr-N, 2.04 Å (mean).     

Modelling the soundscape quality of urban waterfronts by artificial neural networks

The renewal of the urban waterfronts has become a major focus of attention for politicians and decision makers in the city’s management programs. The recognition of the patterns that define the waterfronts’ identity is essential to select new strategies of intervention for the environmental recovery. In order to create adequate environments for everyday life within a sustainable development, new links between human senses, human perception and design need to be created. Within this wide approach, the landscape and the soundscape play a significant role and can become a key driving force in the implementation of the changes. New techniques have to be tested to identify the sonic and visual parameters capable to explain the specificity of a waterfront. With this purpose, an artificial neural network (ANN) was developed, and the relative importance of the input variables was evaluated. The collected database was also analysed by multiple linear regression (MLR) to compare the outcomes of both models. The urban waterfront of Naples (Italy) was chosen as case study. The results obtained show that the performance of the neural network is better than the one of the linear regression (rANN = 0.949, rMLR = 0.639). The interpretation of the relative importance method is also quite satisfactory in the ANN.     

Gadolinium‐Decorated Silica Microspheres as Redox‐Responsive MRI Probes for Applications in Cell Therapy Follow‐Up

The redox microenvironment within a cell graft can be considered as an indicator to assess whether the graft is metabolically active or hypoxic. We present a redox‐responsive MRI probe based on porous silica microparticles whose surface has been decorated with a Gd‐chelate through a disulphide bridge. Such microparticles are designed to be interspersed with therapeutic cells within a biocompatible hydrogel. The onset of reducing conditions within the hydrogel is paralleled by an increased clearance of Gd, that can be detected by MRI.     

Five-coordinate low-spin cobalt(II) complexes with benzeneseleninato ions and ethylenediamine as ligands

Summary Five-coordinate bis(benzeneseleninato)tris(ethylenediamine) cobalt (II)complexes are obtained by reaction of Co(H₂O)₂ (XC₆ H4 SeO₂)2 complexes (X = H, p-Cl, m-CI, p-Br, ni-Br, p-Me,p-NO₂) with ethylenediamine. The diaquo complexes (one mole)react with ethylenediamine (three moles)to form O-seleninato derivatives. Spectral and magnetic properties show that the complexes are low-spin (s = 1/2) and,on the basis of the electronic spectra a distorted trigonal geometry,D _3h , is suggested. Assignments for the electronic spectra are proposed. Conductivity data indicate that these derivatives are nonelectrolytes. Both ethylenediamine and [RSeO₂ ]^– behave as monodentate ligands.     

Halogen bonding in supramolecular chemistry

Halogen bonding is the noncovalent interaction where halogen atoms function as electrophilic species. The energetic and geometrical features of the interaction are described along with the atomic characteristics that confer molecules with the specific ability to interact through this interaction. Halogen bonding has an impact on all research fields where the control of intermolecular recognition and self-assembly processes plays a key role. Some principles are presented for crystal engineering based on halogen-bonding interactions. The potential of the interaction is also shown by applications in liquid crystals, magnetic and conducting materials, and biological systems.