Probing the structural and magnetic properties of transition metal-benzene anion complexes

Two types of transition metal-benzene anion complexes, (titanium)(n)(benzene)(m)? and (cobalt)(n)(benzene)(m)? (n ≤ 2, m ≤ 3) have been determined using density functional theory. The photoelectron spectra of Ti(n)Bz(m)? and Co(n)Bz(m)? (n ≤ 2, m ≤ 3) were discussed from the perspective of quantum chemical calculations of the vertical detachment energies (VDEs) of several low-energy isomers obtained by the structural optimization procedure. The binding of Ti and Co atoms to benzene molecules is accounted by 3d-π bonds, as revealed by the molecular orbitals. The topology of the electronic density has been analyzed, suggesting that the C-C bonds were weakened in the transition metal-benzene complexes in comparison to those in free benzene. Spin density distribution results show the spin densities for Ti(n)Bz(m)? and Co(n)Bz(m)? (n ≤ 2, m ≤ 3) reside mainly on the metal Ti and Co centers (70%-90%). A shift to lower magnetic moment with respect to the pure titanium/cobalt cluster anions indicates the solvent benzene molecule acts to demagnetize the bare titanium/cobalt cluster anions.     

A Mn(III)-superoxo complex of a zwitterionic calix[4]arene with an unprecedented linear end-on Mn(III)-O2 arrangement and good catalytic performance for alkene epoxidation

Reactions of [H(4)L][PF(6)](4) with 4 equiv. of Mn(OAc)(2)·4H(2)O in the presence of air gave rise to a mononuclear Mn(III)-superoxo complex [Mn(III)L(O(2))(H(2)O)](PF(6))(2), which contains a bowl-shaped cationic structure with a D(4d) symmetry. It has an unprecedented linear end-on Mn(III)-O(2) unit and exhibited good efficiency and selectivity in the catalytic oxidation of alkenes with O(2) plus isobutyraldehyde under mild conditions.     

Ultraviolet-durable superhydrophobic zinc oxide-coated mesh films for surface and underwater-oil capture and transportation

In this paper, we report a simple and an inexpensive method for fabricating superhydrophobic/superoleophilic mesh films from microstructured ZnO coatings. The microstructured ZnO coatings, which do not contain any fluorinated compounds, maintain their superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity after ultraviolet irradiation and display environmental stability. Furthermore, those microstructured ZnO-coated mesh films exhibit good selectivity (even underwater) and excellent recyclability, making them promising candidates for many potential applications, including liquid-liquid separation, water treatment, and liquid transportation.     

Reversible Phase Transformation and Mechanochromic Luminescence of ZnII‐Dipyridylamide‐Based Coordination Frameworks

A 1D double‐zigzag framework, {[Zn(paps)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂}_n ( 1 ; paps=N,N′‐bis(pyridylcarbonyl)‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl thioether), was synthesized by the reaction of Zn(ClO₄)₂ with paps. However, a similar reaction, except that dry solvents were used, led to the formation of a novel 2D polyrotaxane framework, [Zn(paps)₂(ClO₄)₂]_n ( 2 ). This difference relies on the fact that water coordinates to the Zn^II ion in 1 , but ClO₄^? ion coordination is found in 2 . Notably, the structures can be interconverted by heating and grinding in the presence of moisture, and such a structural transformation can also be proven experimentally by powder and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies. The related N,N′‐bis‐ (pyridylcarbonyl)‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl ether (papo) and N,N′‐(methylenedi‐para‐phenylene)bispyridine‐4‐carboxamide (papc) ligands were reacted with Zn^II ions as well. When a similar reaction was performed with dry solvents, except that papo was used instead of paps, the product mixture contained mononuclear [Zn(papo)(CH₃OH)₄](ClO₄)₂ ( 5 ) and the polyrotaxane [Zn(papo)₂(ClO₄)₂]_n ( 4 ). From the powder XRD data, grinding this mixture in the presence of moisture resulted in total conversion to the pure double‐zigzag {[Zn(papo)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂}_n ( 3 ) immediately. Upon heating 3 , the polyrotaxane framework of 4 was recovered. The double‐zigzag {[Zn(papc)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂}_n ( 6 ) and polyrotaxane [Zn(papc)₂(ClO₄)₂]_n ( 7 ) were synthesized in a similar reaction. Although upon heating the double‐zigzag 6 undergoes structural transformation to give the polyrotaxane 7 , grinding solid 7 in the presence of moisture does not lead to the formation of 6 . Significantly, the bright emissions for double‐zigzag frameworks of 1 and 3 and weak ones for polyrotaxane frameworks of 2 and 4 also show interesting mechanochromic luminescence.     

Simultaneous determination of deoxycytidine diphosphate and deoxycytidine triphosphate by capillary electrophoresis with transient isotachophoretic stacking: a sensitive monitoring method for ribonucleotide reductase activity

A simple and rapid capillary electrophoretic method was developed for simultaneous determination of sub‐micromolar 2′‐deoxycytidine 5′‐diphosphate (dCDP) and 2′‐deoxycytidine 5′‐triphosphate (dCTP) levels in enzyme assays without using radioactively labeled substrates. The separation was performed at 25°C using MES in the BGE as the terminating ion, the chloride ions in the sample buffer as the leading ion, and PEG 4000 in the BGE as the EOF suppressor for sample stacking by transient isotachophoresis (tITP). Several parameters affecting the separation were investigated, including the pH of the BGE, the concentration of sodium chloride in the sample buffer, and the concentrations of MES and PEG 4000 in the running buffer. Good separation with high separation efficiency was achieved within 6 min under optimal conditions. In comparison with the simple CZE method, the present tITP‐CZE method enabled a 150‐fold increase in the injection time without any decrease in resolution and the sensitivity was enhanced up to two orders of magnitude with the new method. The linear range of the method was 0.1–10 μM for dCDP and dCTP. The limits of detection of dCDP and dCTP were 85 and 73 nM, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the activity assay of ribonucleotide reductase from Hep G2 and Sf9 cells.     

Preparation of a nitrate-coordinated copper(II) complex of 2-(pyrazol-3-yl)-6-(pyrazolate)pyridine as an efficient catalyst for methyl methacrylate polymerization

Treatment of [CuCl(2)(bppyH(2))] (1, bppyH(2) = 2,6-di(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine) with 2 equiv. of AgNO(3) in DMF gave rise to a binuclear Cu(II) complex [Cu(2)(bppyH)(2)(NO(3))(2)] (bppyH = 2-(pyrazol-3-yl)-6-(pyrazolate)pyridine) (2). Complex 2 was characterized by elemental analysis, IR and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 2 has a dimeric structure in which the two Cu(ii) centers are bridged by a couple of the in situ-generated bppyH(-) anions. Each Cu(II) center is further coordinated by one O atom of a NO(3)(-) anion and three N atoms of one bppyH(-) anion. Complex 2 exhibited a higher catalytic activity in the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) than the precursor complex 1. Even though the ratio of catalyst to MMA was raised up to 1 : 1500, the PDI for 2 (reaction time was fixed at 4 h) is 1.63 and the conversion is up to 72%. The effects of solvent, reaction temperature and the ratio of MMA to catalyst were also investigated.     

Neuroprotective effect of agmatine in rats with transient cerebral ischemia using MR imaging and histopathologic evaluation

Purpose

This study aimed to further investigate the effects of agmatine on brain edema in the rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) injury using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) monitoring and biochemical and histopathologic evaluation.

Materials and methods

Following surgical induction of MCAO for 90 min, agmatine was injected 5 min after beginning of reperfusion and again once daily for the next 3 post-operative days. The events during ischemia and reperfusion were investigated by T2-weighted images (T2WI), serial diffusion-weighted images (DWI), calculated apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images (CE-T1WI) during 3 h–72 h in a 1.5 T Siemens MAGNETON Avanto Scanner. Lesion volumes were analyzed in a blinded and randomized manner. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC), Nissl, and Evans Blue stainings were performed at the corresponding sections.

Results

Increased lesion volumes derived from T2WI, DWI, ADC, CE-T1WI, and TTC all were noted at 3 h and peaked at 24 h–48 h after MCAO injury. TTC-derived infarct volumes were not significantly different from the T2WI, DWI-, and CE-T1WI-derived lesion volumes at the last imaging time (72 h) point except for significantly smaller ADC lesions in the MCAO model (P < 0.05). Volumetric calculation based on TTC-derived infarct also correlated significantly stronger to volumetric calculation based on last imaging time point derived on T2WI, DWI or CE-T1WI than ADC (P < 0.05). At the last imaging time point, a significant increase in Evans Blue extravasation and a significant decrease in Nissl-positive cells numbers were noted in the vehicle-treated MCAO injured animals. The lesion volumes derived from T2WI, DWI, CE-T1WI, and Evans blue extravasation as well as the reduced numbers of Nissl-positive cells were all significantly attenuated in the agmatine-treated rats compared with the control ischemia rats (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that agmatine has neuroprotective effects against brain edema on a reperfusion model after transient cerebral ischemia.     

阻变存储器复合材料界面及电极性质研究

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理对比研究了Cu（111）/HfO₂（001）,Cu（111）/HfO₂（010）,Cu（111）/HfO₂（100）三种复合材料界面模型的失配率、界面束缚能、电荷密度、电子局域函数以及差分电荷密度. 计算结果表明：Cu（111）/HfO₂（010）失配率最小,界面束缚能最大,界面体系相对最稳定;对比电荷密度及电子局域函数图显示,只有HfO₂（010）方向形成的复合材料体系出现了垂直Cu电极方向完整连通的电子通道,表明电子在此方向上具有局域性、连通性,与阻变存储器（RRAM）器件导通方向一致;差分电荷密度图显示,Cu（111）/HfO₂（010）复合材料体系界面处存在电荷密度分布重叠的现象,界面处有电子的相互转移、成键的存在;进一步计算了Cu（111）/HfO₂（010）体系距离界面不同位置的间隙Cu原子形成能,表明越靠近界面Cu原子越容易进入HfO₂ 体内,在外加电压下易发生电化学反应,从而导致Cu导电细丝的形成与断裂. 研究结果可为RRAM存储器的制备及性能的提高提供理论指导和设计工具. 关键词： 阻变存储器 复合材料 界面 电子通道     

Reversible phase transformation and mechanochromic luminescence of Zn(II)-dipyridylamide-based coordination frameworks

A 1D double-zigzag framework, {[Zn(paps)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2)}(n) (1; paps = N,N'-bis(pyridylcarbonyl)-4,4'-diaminodiphenyl thioether), was synthesized by the reaction of Zn(ClO(4))(2) with paps. However, a similar reaction, except that dry solvents were used, led to the formation of a novel 2D polyrotaxane framework, [Zn(paps)(2)(ClO(4))(2)](n) (2). This difference relies on the fact that water coordinates to the Zn(II) ion in 1, but ClO(4)(-) ion coordination is found in 2. Notably, the structures can be interconverted by heating and grinding in the presence of moisture, and such a structural transformation can also be proven experimentally by powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The related N,N'-bis- (pyridylcarbonyl)-4,4'-diaminodiphenyl ether (papo) and N,N'-(methylenedi-para-phenylene)bispyridine-4-carboxamide (papc) ligands were reacted with Zn(II) ions as well. When a similar reaction was performed with dry solvents, except that papo was used instead of paps, the product mixture contained mononuclear [Zn(papo)(CH(3)OH)(4)](ClO(4))(2) (5) and the polyrotaxane [Zn(papo)(2)(ClO(4))(2)](n) (4). From the powder XRD data, grinding this mixture in the presence of moisture resulted in total conversion to the pure double-zigzag {[Zn(papo)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2)}(n) (3) immediately. Upon heating 3, the polyrotaxane framework of 4 was recovered. The double-zigzag {[Zn(papc)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(2)}(n) (6) and polyrotaxane [Zn(papc)(2)(ClO(4))(2)](n) (7) were synthesized in a similar reaction. Although upon heating the double-zigzag 6 undergoes structural transformation to give the polyrotaxane 7, grinding solid 7 in the presence of moisture does not lead to the formation of 6. Significantly, the bright emissions for double-zigzag frameworks of 1 and 3 and weak ones for polyrotaxane frameworks of 2 and 4 also show interesting mechanochromic luminescence.     

Highly diastereo- and enantioselective direct aldol reactions promoted by water-compatible organocatalysts bearing a pyrrolidinyl-camphor structural scaffold

Efficient synthetic routes have been developed for the synthesis of a series of pyrrolidinyl-camphor containing organocatalysts (1-10). Structural modifications were made by varying the stereo- and electronic properties of the camphor scaffold and the aromatic substituents. These readily tunable and amphiphilic organocatalysts were evaluated for the direct asymmetric aldol reaction of various aromatic aldehydes and cyclohexanone either in organic solvents or in the presence of water. The aldol reaction proceeded smoothly with excellent chemical yields (up to 99%), enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee), and anti-diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1) with a catalytical amount of the bifunctional organocatalysts (20 mol %) under optimal reaction conditions. Mechanistic transition models are proposed and the stereochemical bias of the asymmetric aldol reaction is presented.