Synthesis and Structural Investigations of [Mn(3)O(4)(phen)(4)(H(2)O)(2)](NO(3))(4).2.5H(2)O: A Water-Bound Complex Obtained by Cerium(IV) Oxidation

The trinuclear manganese complex [Mn(3)O(4)(phen)(4)(H(2)O)(2)](NO(3))(4).2.5H(2)O, 1 (where, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), has been synthesized by the Ce(IV) oxidation of a concentrated solution of manganese(II) acetate and phen in 1.6 N nitric acid. The complex crystallizes in the triclinic space group P&onemacr; with a = 10.700(2) ?, b = 12.643(3) ?, c = 20.509(4) ?, alpha = 78.37(3) degrees, beta = 83.12(3) degrees, gamma = 82.50(3) degrees, and Z = 2. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined by least-squares techniques to the conventional R (R(w)) factors of 0.055 (0.076) based on 4609 unique reflections with F(o) >/= 6.0sigma(F(o)). The structure of the cation consists of an oxo-bridged Mn(3)O(4)(4+) core, with the geometry of the manganese atoms being octahedral. The coordination polyhedron of one of the manganese atoms (Mn(1)) consists of two &mgr; oxo ligands and two pairs of nitrogen atoms of two phen moieties, whereas that of each of the remaining two manganese atoms consists of three &mgr;-oxo ligands, two nitrogen atoms of a phen moiety, and the oxygen atom of a water molecule. The complex represents the second example for water coordination to manganese(IV) centers in complexes with a Mn(3)O(4)(4+) core. Optical spectra in ligand buffer (pH 4.5) reveal complete conversion of the complex into a Mn(III)Mn(IV) species. The observed room-temperature (298 K) magnetic moment of 3.75 &mgr;(B) indicates the presence of strong antiferromagnetic coupling in the complex.     

Baryon pairs production ine + e − annihilation at\sqrt s = 2.4 GeV

Search for baryon pairs production ine ⁺ e ^? annihilation at \(\sqrt s = 2386 MeV\) is reported. The data relate to a luminosity of 161 nb^?1 collected by the DM2 experiment at DCI, the Orsay colliding ring. First measurements of directe ⁺ e ^? annihilation into \(\Lambda \bar \Lambda \) and ofe ⁺ e ^?→ \(p\bar p\) at this energy are presented. First observation of a goode ⁺ e ^?→ \(n\bar n\) candidate is reported and upper limits are given fore ⁺ e ^?→ \(n\bar n, \Lambda \bar \sum ^0 + c.c.\) and \(\Sigma ^0 \bar \Sigma ^0 \) .     

Sol-Gel Derived TiO2/Lead Phthalocyanine Photovoltaic Cells

Transparent TiO2 films were deposited onto a base electrode comprising an InSnO2 glass substrate using the (alkoxide) sol-gel technique. Lead phthalocyanine was subsequently vacuum sublimed onto the TiO2 surface. The resulting InSnO2/TiO2/PbPc/Au heterojunction cell was investigated for its illuminated current density/voltage, and spectral characteristics. The ideality factor (m) and saturation current (Jo) were determined from current density/voltage J(V) measurements. Photoelectrical measurements were conducted under both simulated solar radiation and within a wavelength range of 300–900 nm. This allowed calculation of open circuit voltage Voc, short circuit current Jsc, fill factor FF, quantum efficiency Z and the overall conversion efficiency. Typical photovoltaic characteristics were obtained indicating the potential of the device for solar cell applications. The power conversion efficiency was 0.001%; improvements are therefore required.     

Scalar Coupling between the 15N Centres in Methylated 1,8‐Diaminonaphthalenes and 1,6‐Diazacyclodecane: To What Extent is 2HJNN a Reliable Indicator of N?N Distance?

The scalar couplings between hydrogen bonded nitrogen centres ((2H)J(NN)) in the free-base and protonated forms of the complete series of [(15)N(2)]-N-methylated 1,8-diamino naphthalenes in [D(7)]DMF solution have been determined, either directly (15N[1H] NMR), or, indirectly (13C[1H] NMR and simulation of the X part of the ABX spectrum (X=13C, A,B=15N)). Additionally, the (2H)J(NN) value in the HBF(4) salt of [(15)N(2)]-1,6-dimethyl-1,6-diazacyclodecane was determined, indirectly by 13C[(1H] NMR spectroscopy. As confirmed by DFT calculations and by reference to CSD, the rigid nature of the naphthalene scaffold results in rather low deviations in N,N distance or H-N,N angle within each series, apart from the free base of the permethylated compound (proton sponge) where the naphthalene ring is severely distorted to relieve strain. Despite such restrictions, the (2H)J(NN) values increase smoothly from 1.5 to 8.5 Hz in the protonated series as the degree of methylation increases. The effect in the free-base forms is much less pronounced (2.9 to 3.7 Hz) with no scalar N,N coupling detected in the permethylated compound (proton sponge) due to the lack of hydrogen bond between the N,N centres. Neither the pK(a) nor the N-N distance in the protonated forms correlates with (2H)J(NN). However, the sum of the (13)C NMR shifts of the naphthalene ring C(1,8) carbons which are attached directly to the nitrogen centres correlates linearly with (2H)J(NN) and with the degree of methylation. The gas-phase computed (2H)J(NN) is almost constant throughout the homologous series, and close to the experimental value for the tetramethylated ion. However, the computed coupling constant is attenuated in structures involving microsolvation of each N-H unit, and the trend then matches experiment. These experimental and computational observations suggest that Fermi contact between the two N centres is decreased upon formation of strong charge-dispersing intermolecular hydrogen bonds of the free N-H groups with the solvent.     

Structural information on some metal(II) complexes of glycylglycine from their infrared spectra

The infrared spectra of thirteen metal(II) complexes of glycylglycine have been determined and are discussed in relation to their known or probable structures. A distinction between various structures is possible on the basis of differences in the spectral band patterns of these complexes.     

Nature of the intermediate formed in the reduction of O(2) to H(2)O at the trinuclear copper cluster active site in native laccase

The multicopper oxidases contain at least four copper atoms and catalyze the four-electron reduction of O(2) to H(2)O at a trinuclear copper cluster. An intermediate, termed native intermediate, has been trapped by a rapid freeze-quench technique from Rhus vernicifera laccase when the fully reduced form reacts with dioxygen. This intermediate had been described as an oxygen-radical bound to the trinuclear copper cluster with one Cu site reduced. XAS, however, shows that all copper atoms are oxidized in this intermediate. A combination of EXAFS, multifrequency EPR, and VTVH MCD has been used to understand how this fully oxidized trinuclear Cu cluster relates to the fully oxidized resting form of the enzyme. It is determined that in the native intermediate all copper atoms of the cluster are bridged by the product of full O(2) reduction. In contrast, the resting form has one copper atom of the cluster (the T2 Cu) magnetically isolated from the others. The native intermediate decays to the resting oxidized form with a rate that is too slow to be in the catalytic cycle. Thus, the native intermediate appears to be the catalytically relevant fully oxidized form of the enzyme, and its role in catalysis is considered.     

The infrared spectra of imidazole complexes of first transition series metal(ii) nitrates and perchlorates

The IR spectra (4000–4140 cm^?1 ) of the twelve imidazole (Him) complexes [M(Him)₆] (NO₃)₂ (M = Co, Ni, Zn); [M(Him)₆](ClO₄)₂ (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni); [Zn(Him)_s](ClO₄)₂; [Cu(Him)₄X₂] (X = NO₃, ClO₄); [Zn(Him)₄(NO₃)₂]; [Zn(Him)₄](ClO₄)₂ and their deuterated analogues are discussed. The ratio between the frequencies of corresponding bands in the deuterated and undeuterated species is used to assign the internal imidazole vibrations. The internal modes of the NO₃^? and ClO₄^? ions are discussed in relation to the known or proposed structures of the complexes. The metal-ligand vibrations are assigned on the grounds of the shifts which occur on imidazole deuteration and metal ion substitution.     

Experiments on a simulation of the photochemical A/D-secocorrin leads to corrin cyclo-isomerization by redox processes. Electrochemical oxidation of nickel(II)-1-methylidene-2,2,7,7,12,12-hexamethyl-15-cyano-1,19-secocorrinate perchlorate (author's transl)]

Experiments on a simulation of the photochemical A/D-secocorrin → corrin cycloisomerization by redox processes. Electrochemical oxidation of nickel(II)-1-methylidene-2,2,7,7,12,12-hexamethyl-15-cyano-1,19-secocorrinate perchlorate Can the act of light excitation in the photochemical A/D-secocorrin → corrin cycloisomerization be replaced by redox reactions in the dark? Electrochemical oxidation of nickel(II)-A/D-secocorrinate 4 in acetonitrile containing a trace of water produces the secocorrinoxide–nickel-complex 5 (structure determined by X-ray analysis) in almost quantitative yield. This two-electron oxidation involves a hydrogen shift from the methylene group C(19) in ring D to the methylidene carbon atom at ring A in the radical cation intermediate. Since the same type of hydrogen shift occurs in the photochemical A/D-secocorrin → corrin cycloisomerization, a close parallelism in their chemical reactivity seems to exist between electronically excited A/D-secocorrins and corresponding radical cations. Formation of the corrin complex 2 (M = Ni⁺) could be achieved (so far only in modest yields) by electrochemical one-electron oxidation of 4 in acetonitrile/acetanhydride/acetic acid 8:1:1 followed by one-electron reduction. – The transformation of the oxide nickel complex 5 to the corrinoid complex 10 – a new member in the family of dehydrocorrins – is also recorded.     

Spectroscopic and density functional studies of the red copper site in nitrosocyanin: role of the protein in determining active site geometric and electronic structure

The electronic structure of the red copper site in nitrosocyanin is defined relative to that of the well understood blue copper site of plastocyanin by using low-temperature absorption, circular dichroism, magnetic circular dichroism, resonance Raman, EPR and X-ray absorption spectroscopies, combined with DFT calculations. These studies indicate that the principal electronic structure change in the red copper site is the sigma rather than the pi donor interaction of the cysteine sulfur with the Cu 3d(x2-y2) redox active molecular orbital (RAMO). Further, MCD data show that there is an increase in ligand field strength due to an increase in coordination number, whereas resonance Raman spectra indicate a weaker Cu-S bond. The latter is supported by the S K-edge data, which demonstrate a less covalent thiolate interaction with the RAMO of nitrosocyanin at 20% relative to plastocyanin at 38%. EXAFS results give a longer Cu-S(Cys) bond distance in nitrosocyanin (2.28 A) compared to plastocyanin (2.08 A) and also show a large change in structure with reduction of the red copper site. The red copper site is the only presently known blue copper-related site with an exogenous water coordinated to the copper. Density functional calculations reproduce the experimental properties and are used to determine the specific protein structure contributions to exogenous ligand binding in red copper. The relative orientation of the CuNNS and the CuSC(beta) planes (determined by the protein sequence) is found to be key in generating an exchangeable coordination position at the red copper active site. The exogenous water ligation at the red copper active site greatly increases the reorganization energy (by approximately 1.0 eV) relative to that of the blue copper protein site, making the red site unfavorable for fast outer-sphere electron transfer, while providing an exchangeable coordination position for inner-sphere electron transfer.