Influence of CF3 Substituents on the Spin Crossover Behavior of Iron(II) Coordination Polymers with Schiff Base-like Ligands

A Schiff base-like ligand bearing CF₃ substituents was synthesized and converted to iron(II) coordination polymers [{FeL(L_ax)}_n] using five different bridging ligands L_ax. The structure of the coordination polymers was investigated using powder X-ray diffraction and single-crystal X-ray diffraction in the case of [{FeL(bipy)}_n]. The later revealed an untypical ABAB pattern of alternating equatorial ligands rotated by 180° with regard to each other along the chain. The temperature-dependent magnetic behavior was investigated with a SQUID magnetometer and the spin states at room temperature were confirmed by ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopy. Three out of five coordination polymers show spin crossover behavior in the temperature range between 50 and 400 K with different kind of curve progressions (abrupt, gradual, step-wise). The other two coordination polymers are either fully highspin or fully low spin.     

Buffer Standards for pH Measurement of N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N′-2-ethanesulfonic Acid (HEPES) for I=0.16 mol⋅kg−1 from 5 to 55 °C

The values of the second dissociation constant, pK ₂, of N-(2-hydroxyethyl) piperazine-N′-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES) have been reported at twelve temperatures over the temperature range 5 to 55 °C, including 37 °C. This paper reports the results for the pa _H of eight isotonic saline buffer solutions with an I=0.16 mol⋅kg⁻¹ including compositions: (a) HEPES (0.01 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaHEPES (0.01 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.15 mol⋅kg⁻¹); (b) HEPES (0.02 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaHEPES (0.02 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.14 mol⋅kg⁻¹); (c) HEPES (0.03 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaHEPES (0.03 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.13 mol⋅kg⁻¹); (d) HEPES (0.04 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaHEPES (0.04 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.12 mol⋅kg⁻¹); (e) HEPES (0.05 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaHEPES (0.05 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.11 mol⋅kg⁻¹); (f) HEPES (0.06 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaHEPES (0.06 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.10 mol⋅kg⁻¹); (g) HEPES (0.07 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaHEPES (0.07 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.09 mol⋅kg⁻¹); and (h) HEPES (0.08 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaHEPES (0.08 mol⋅kg⁻¹) + NaCl (0.08 mol⋅kg⁻¹). Conventional pa _H values, for all eight buffer solutions from 5 to 55 °C, have been calculated. The operational pH values with liquid junction corrections, at 25 and 37 °C have been determined based on the NBS/NIST standard between the physiological phosphate standard and four buffer solutions. These are recommended as pH standards for physiological fluids in the range of pH = 7.3 to 7.5 at I=0.16 mol⋅kg⁻¹.     

Synthesis of functionalized sulfonamides via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of pentafluorophenyl vinylsulfonate

[reaction: see text] An efficient intermolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a variety of nitrones to pentafluorophenyl (PFP) vinylsulfonate is described. The transformation produces stable "reversed" cycloadducts of unprecedented stereo- and regioselectivity. Subsequent amine displacement of the PFP moiety furnished functionalized sulfonamide products in good yields.     

Total Synthesis of (+)‐Rubriflordilactone A

Two enantioselective total syntheses of the nortriterpenoid natural product rubriflordilactone A are described, which use palladium‐ or cobalt‐catalyzed cyclizations to form the CDE rings, and converge on a late‐stage synthetic intermediate. These key processes are set up through the convergent coupling of a common diyne component with appropriate AB‐ring aldehydes, a strategy that sets the stage for the synthetic exploration of other members of this family of natural products.     

Capillary Atmospheric Pressure Electron Capture Ionization (cAPECI): A Highly Efficient Ionization Method for Nitroaromatic Compounds

We report on a novel method for atmospheric pressure ionization of compounds with elevated electron affinity (e.g., nitroaromatic compounds) or gas phase acidity (e.g., phenols), respectively. The method is based on the generation of thermal electrons by the photo-electric effect, followed by electron capture of oxygen when air is the gas matrix yielding O₂ ^– or of the analyte directly with nitrogen as matrix. Charge transfer or proton abstraction by O₂ ^– leads to the ionization of the analytes. The interaction of UV-light with metals is a clean method for the generation of thermal electrons at atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, only negative ions are generated and neutral radical formation is minimized, in contrast to discharge- or dopant assisted methods. Ionization takes place inside the transfer capillary of the mass spectrometer leading to comparably short transfer times of ions to the high vacuum region of the mass spectrometer. This strongly reduces ion transformation processes, resulting in mass spectra that more closely relate to the neutral analyte distribution. cAPECI is thus a soft and selective ionization method with detection limits in the pptV range. In comparison to standard ionization methods (e.g., PTR), cAPECI is superior with respect to both selectivity and achievable detection limits. cAPECI demonstrates to be a promising ionization method for applications in relevant fields as, for example, explosives detection and atmospheric chemistry.

Unusually Strong Long‐Distance Metal–Metal Coupling in Bis(ferrocene)‐Containing BOPHY: An Introduction to Organometallic BOPHYs

The first organometallic BOPHY (BOPHY=bis(difluoroboron)‐1,2‐bis{(pyrrol‐2‐yl)methylene}hydrazine) containing two ferrocene substituents was prepared through a Knoevenagel condensation between tetramethyl substituted BOPHY and ferrocene carboxaldehyde. An unprecedentedly strong long‐range (≈17.2 Å) metal–metal coupling in this new complex was investigated using electrochemical, spectroelectrochemical, and chemical oxidation methods. Electrochemical data is indicative of a 200 mV separation between the first and the second ferrocene‐centered oxidation processes. Formation of the mixed‐valence states and appearance and disappearance of two NIR bands were observed during stepwise oxidation of the first organometallic BOPHY. The electronic structure and the nature of the excited states in this new chromophore were studied by DFT and TDDFT calculations.     

(−)‐Englerin A is a Potent and Selective Activator of TRPC4 and TRPC5 Calcium Channels

Current therapies for common types of cancer such as renal cell cancer are often ineffective and unspecific, and novel pharmacological targets and approaches are in high demand. Here we show the unexpected possibility for the rapid and selective killing of renal cancer cells through activation of calcium‐permeable nonselective transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) calcium channels by the sesquiterpene (?)‐englerin A. This compound was found to be a highly efficient, fast‐acting, potent, selective, and direct stimulator of TRPC4 and TRPC5 channels. TRPC4/5 activation through a high‐affinity extracellular (?)‐englerin A binding site may open up novel opportunities for drug discovery aimed at renal cancer.     

BINOL-3,3'-triflone N,N-dimethyl phosphoramidites: through-space 19F,31P spin-spin coupling with a remarkable dependency on temperature and solvent internal pressure

A combined computational and experimental study of the effects of solvent, temperature and stereochemistry on the magnitude of the through-space spin-spin coupling between 31P and 19F nuclei which are six-bonds apart is described. The reaction of 3-trifluoromethylsulfonyl-2,'2-dihydroxy-1,1'-binaphthalene (3-SO2CF3-BINOL) with hexamethylphosphorous triamide (P(NMe2)3) generates a pair of N,N-dimethylphosphoramidites which are diastereomeric due to their differing relative configurations at the stereogenic phosphorous centre and the axially chiral (atropisomeric) BINOL unit. Through-space NMR coupling of the 31P and 19F nuclei of the phosphoramidite and sulfone is detected in one diastereomer only. In the analogous N,N-dimethylphosphoramidite generated from 3,3'-(SO2CF3)2-BINOL only one of the diastereotopic trifluoromethylsulfone moieties couples with the 31P of the phosphoramidite. In both cases, the magnitude of the coupling is strongly modulated (up to 400 %) by solvent and temperature. A detailed DFT analysis of the response of the coupling to the orientation of the CF3 moiety with respect to the P-lone pair facilitates a confident assignment of the stereochemical identity of the pair of diastereomers. The analysis shows that the intriguing effects of environment on the magnitude of the coupling can be rationalised by a complex interplay of solvent internal pressure, molecular volume and thermal access to a wider conformational space. These phenomena suggest the possibility for the design of sensitive molecular probes for local environment that can be addressed via through-space NMR coupling.     

Single peptide assembly onto a 1.5 nm Au surface via a histidine tag

Nanoparticle surfaces functionalized with proteins or other biomolecules provide a mechanism for interfacing the unique properties of nanomaterials with biological samples. In most of these studies, the biomolecule is conjugated to a gold nanoparticles (AuNP) surface through the thiol group of native or introduced cysteine residues. Here we demonstrate the direct attachment of a hexa-histidine tagged (His(6)) peptide to a 1.5 nm AuNP. Binding occurs via a specific interaction between the Ne of the His imidazole, forming a 1:1 stoichiometric complex. Given the widespread use of histidine tags in producing recombinant proteins, this approach promises to expand the applications of AuNP in biological applications.