Highly reduced, polyoxo(alkoxo)vanadium(III/IV) clusters

A family of high nuclearity oxo(alkoxo)vanadium clusters in unprecedentedly low oxidation states is reported, synthesised from simple vanadium diketonate precursors in alcohols under solvothermal conditions. Crystal structures of [V18(O)12(OH)2(H2O)4(EtO)22(O2CPh)6(acac)2] (1), [V16Na2(O)18(EtO)16(EtOH)2(O2CPh)6(HO2CPh)2]infinity (2), [V13(O)13(EtO)15(EtOH)(RCO2)3] in which R=adamantyl (3) or Ph3C (4), and [V11(O)12(EtO)13(EtOH)(Ph3CCO2)2(MePO3)] (5) are reported, revealing these to be {VIII 16VIV 2} (1), {VIII 9VIV 3VV} (3 and 4) and {VIII 3VIV 8} (5) clusters, while 2 consists of isolated {VIII 8VIV 8} clusters bridged into polymeric chains by {Na2(OEt)2} fragments. Solvothermal conditions are essential to the formation of these species, and the level of oxidation of the isolated clusters is in part controlled by the crystallisation time, with the lowest mean-oxidation-state species being isolated by direct crystallisation on controlled cooling of the reaction solutions.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and multifrequency electron paramagnetic resonance studies of mononuclear thiomolybdenyl complexes

Reaction of Tp*MoVSCl2 with a variety of phenols and thiols in the presence of triethylamine produces mononuclear, thiomolybdenyl complexes Tp*MoVSX2 [Tp* = hydrotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)borate; X = 2-(ethylthio)phenolate (etp), 2-(n-propyl)phenolate (pp), phenolate; X2 = benzene-1,2-dithiolate (bdt), 4-methylbenzene-1,2-dithiolate (tdt), benzene-1,2-diolate (cat)]. The complexes have been characterized by microanalysis, mass spectrometry, IR, EPR, and UV-visible spectroscopic data, and X-ray crystallography (for the etp, pp, bdt, and cat derivatives). The mononuclear, six-coordinate, distorted-octahedral Mo centers are coordinated by terminal sulfido (MoS = 2.123(1)-2.1368(8) A), tridentate facial Tp*, and monodentate or bidentate O/S-donor ligands. Multifrequency (S-, X-, Q-band) EPR spectra of the complexes and selected molybdenyl analogues were acquired at 130 K and 295 K and yielded a spin Hamiltonian of Cs symmetry or lower, with gzz < gyy < gxx < ge and Az'z' > Ax'x' approximately Ay'y', and a noncoincidence angle in the range of beta = 24-39 degrees . Multifrequency EPR, especially at S-band, was found to be particularly valuable in the unambiguous assignment of the spin Hamiltonian parameters in these low-symmetry complexes. The weaker pi-donor terminal sulfido ligand yields a smaller SOMO-LUMO gap and reduced g-values for the thiomolybdenyl complexes compared with molybdenyl analogues, supporting existing crystallographic and EPR data for an apically coordinated oxo group in the active site of xanthine oxidase.     

Computational modeling of nanorod growth

In this computational study, we used molecular dynamics and the embedded atom method to successfully reproduce the growth of gold nanorod morphologies from starting spherical seeds in the presence of model surfactants. The surfactant model was developed through extensive systematic attempts aimed at inducing nonisotropic nanoparticle growth in strictly isotropic computational growth environments. The aim of this study was to identify key properties of the surfactants which were most important for the successful anisotropic growth of nanorods. The observed surface and collective dynamics of surfactants shed light on the likely growth phenomena of real nanoprods. These phenomena include the initial thermodynamically driven selective adsorption, segregation, and orientation of the surfactant groups on specific crystallographic surfaces of spherical nanoparticle seeds and the kinetic elongation of unstable surfaces due to growth inhibiting surfactants on those surfaces. Interestingly, the model not only reproduced the growth of nearly all known nanorod morphologies when starting from an initial fcc or fivefold seed but also reproduced the experimentally observed failure of nanorod growth when starting from spherical nanoparticles such as the I(h) morphology or morphologies containing a single twinning plane. Nanorod morphologies observed in this work included fivefold nanorods, fcc crystalline nanorods in the [100] direction and [112] directions and the more exotic "dumbell-like" nanorods. Non-nanorod morphologies observed included the I(h) and the nanoprism morphology. Some of the key properties of the most successful surfactants seemed to be suggestive of the important but little understood role played by silver ions in the growth process of real nanorods.     

Synthesis, structural characterization, and biological studies of new antimony(III) complexes with thiones. The influence of the solvent on the geometry of the complexes

Five new antimony(III) complexes with the heterocyclic thiones 2-mercapto-benzimidazole (MBZIM), 5-ethoxy-2-mercapto-benzimidazole (EtMBZIM), and 2-mercapto-thiazolidine (MTZD) of formulas {[SbCl(2)(MBZIM)4]+.Cl-.2H(2)O. (CH(3)OH)} (1), {[SbCl(2)(MBZIM)4]+.Cl-.3H(2)O.(CH3CN)} (2), [SbCl(3)(MBZIM)2] (3), [SbCl(3)(EtMBZIM)(2)] (4), and [SbCl(3)(MTZD)2] (5) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, far-FT-IR, differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction, and conductivity measurements. Complex {[SbCl2(tHPMT)(2)]+Cl-}, (tHPMT = 2-mercapto-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-pyrimidine), already known, was also prepared, and its X-ray crystal structure was solved. It is shown that the complex is better described as {[SbCl3(tHPMT)(2)]} (6). Crystal structures of all other complexes (1-5) have also been determined by X-ray diffraction at ambient conditions. The crystal structure of the hydrated ligand, EtMBZIM.H2O is also reported. Compound [C(28)H(24)Cl(2)N(8)S(4)Sb.2H(2)O.Cl.(CH(3)OH)] (1) crystallizes in space group P2(1), with a = 7.7398(8) A, b = 16.724(3) A, c = 13.717(2) A, beta = 98.632(11) degrees, and Z = 2. Complex [C(28)H(24)Cl(2)N(8)S(4)S(b).Cl.3H(2)O.(CH(3)CN)] (2) corresponds to space group P2(1), with a = 7.8216(8) A, b = 16.7426(17) A, c = 13.9375(16) A, beta = 99.218(10) degrees , and Z = 2. In both 1 and 2 complexes, four sulfur atoms from thione ligands and two chloride ions form an octahedral (Oh) cationic [SbS(4)Cl(2)]+ complex ion, where chlorides lie at axial positions. A third chloride counteranion neutralizes it. Complexes 1 and 2 are the first examples of antimony(III) compounds with positively charged Oh geometries. Compound [C(14)H(12)Cl(3)N(4)S(2)S(b)] (3) crystallizes in space group P, with a = 7.3034(5) A, b = 11.2277(7) A, c = 12.0172(8) A, alpha = 76.772(5) degrees, beta = 77.101(6) degrees, gamma = 87.450(5) degrees, and Z = 2. Complex [C(18)H(20)Cl(3)N(4)O(2)S(2)S(b)] (4) crystallizes in space group P1, with a = 8.6682(6) A, b = 10.6005(7) A, c = 13.0177(9) A, alpha = 84.181(6) degrees, beta = 79.358(6) degrees, gamma = 84.882(6) degrees, and Z = 2, while complex [C(6)H(10)Cl(3)N(2)S(4)S(b)] (5) in space group P2(1)/c shows a = 8.3659(10) A, b = 14.8323(19) A, c = 12.0218(13) A, beta = 99.660(12) degrees, and Z = 4 and complex [C(8)H(16)Cl(3)N(4)S(2)S(b)] (6) in space group P1 shows a = 7.4975(6) A, b = 10.3220(7) A, c = 12.1094(11) A, alpha = 71.411(7) degrees, beta = 84.244(7) degrees, gamma = 73.588(6) degrees, and Z = 2. Crystals of complexes 3-6 grown from acetonitrile solutions adopt a square-pyramidal (SP) geometry, with two sulfur atoms from thione ligands and three chloride anions around Sb(III). The equatorial plane is formed by two sulfur and two chloride atoms in complexes 3-5, in a cis-S, cis-Cl arrangement in 3 and 5 and a trans-S, trans-Cl arrangement in 4. Finally, in the case of 6, the equatorial plane is formed by three chloride ions and one sulfur from the thione ligand while the second sulfur atom takes an axial position leading to a unique SP conformation. The complexes showed a moderate cytostatic activity against tumor cell lines.     

Counter-current chromatography separation scaled up from an analytical column to a production column

An analytical separation was performed on an analytical J-type counter-current chromatography (CCC) instrument using a 5.4 ml column, with a 1 ml/min mobile phase flow rate. This separation had a resolution of 0.69 and was achieved in 10 min. The same separation was performed using two 2300 ml columns connected in series at a flow rate of 850 ml/min using a production scale J-type centrifuge. This production scale separation was also obtained in 10 min with a resolution of 0.71. This represents an 850 times increase in productivity. This paper presents these separations and the underlying scale up theory.     

A practical synthesis of alpha-aryl methyl ketones via a transition-metal-free Meerwein arylation

We report herein a simple, scalable, transition-metal-free approach to the synthesis of alpha-aryl methyl ketones from diazonium tetrafluoroborate salts under mild conditions. This methodology uses easily accessible and nontoxic starting material and was applied to the multi-kilogram-scale preparation of 1-(3-bromo-4-methylphenyl)propan-2-one.     

13C-13C NMR spin-spin coupling constants in saccharides: structural correlations involving all carbons in aldohexopyranosyl rings

13C-13C Spin-spin coupling constants (JCC) have been measured in a group of aldohexopyranoses and methyl aldopyranosides singly labeled with 13C at different sites to confirm and extend prior correlations between JCC magnitude and sign and saccharide structure. Structural correlations for 2JC1,C3, 2JC2,C4, 2JC4,C6, and 2JC1,C5 have been confirmed using density functional theory calculations to test empirical predictions. These geminal couplings depend highly on the orientation of C-O bonds appended to the terminal coupled carbons, but new evidence suggests that 2JCCC values are also affected by intervening carbon structure and C-O bond rotation. 3JC1,C6 and 3JC3,C6 values show Karplus-like dependences but also are affected by in-plane terminal hydroxyl substituents. In both cases, rotation about the C5-C6 bond modulates the coupling due to the alternating in-plane and out-of-plane O6. 3JC3,C6 is also affected by C4 configuration. Both 3JC1,C6 and 3JC3,C6 are subject to remote effects involving the structure at C3 and C1, respectively. New structural correlations have been determined for 2JC3,C5, which, like 3JC3,C6, shows a remote dependence on anomeric configuration. Investigations of dual pathway 13C-13C couplings, 3+3JC1,C4 and 3+3JC2,C5, revealed an important additional internal electronegative substituent effect on 3JCC in saccharides, a structural factor undocumented previously and one of importance to the interpretation of trans-glycoside 3JCOCC in oligosaccharides.     

A general and efficient 2-amination of pyridines and quinolines

Pyridine N-oxides were converted to 2-aminopyridines in a one-pot fashion using Ts2O-t-BuNH2 followed by in situ deprotection with TFA. The amination proceeded in high yields, excellent 2-/4-selectivity, and with good functional group compatibility. 2-Amino (iso)quinolines were also obtained in the same manner. Combined with the simple oxidation of pyridines to pyridine N-oxides, this method provides a general and efficient way for amination of 2-unsubstituted pyridines.     

Dendritic nanoparticles-the impact of ligand cross-linking on nanocore stability

This paper describes the synthesis of gold nanoparticles stabilized by two series of new dendritic disulfide ligands with alkene groups at their peripheries. Intraparticle cross-linking of the alkene groups around the periphery of each nanoparticle was achieved by Grubbs' metathesis. It was demonstrated that cross-linking of the organic ligand has no effect on the size or morphology of the inorganic gold core as determined by TEM and UV-vis measurements. However, the introduction of cross-linking at the surface of the ligand enhances the stability of the gold nanocore toward chemical etchant agents (NaCN) and thermal treatment. The impact of cross-linking on nanoparticle stability is greater when the cross-linking is closer to the nanoparticle surface (i.e., using lower generation dendritic ligands). Attempts to perform further synthetic transformation on the hybrid materials in order to remove the gold core led to insoluble products composed predominantly of the dendritic ligand.     

Influence of a surfactant and electrolytes on adsorbed polymer layers

Solvent relaxation NMR and small-angle neutron scattering have been used to characterize adsorbed poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) layers on silica at a range of surfactant and electrolyte concentrations. Below the critical aggregation concentration (cac), the results suggest that sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) interacts relatively weakly, perhaps analogously to a simple salt reducing the solvency of PEO. This is evidenced by a decrease in the adsorbed layer thickness combined with an increase in the bound fraction, although the total adsorbed amount is not greatly affected. The layer thickness goes through a minimum at the cac, after which further SDS addition results in the formation of PEO/SDS aggregates that repel each other and, hence, tend to desorb. The adsorbed amount therefore decreases, from 0.7 mg m(-2) initially to 0.2 mg m(-2) with 32 mM SDS. The aggregates that remain adsorbed also repel, and hence, there is an increase in the layer thickness and the persistence length, while the bound fraction is reduced. In comparison, the effects of electrolyte at the ionic strength studied are relatively minimal. There is, however, evidence that the repulsions between adsorbed PEO/SDS aggregates are partially screened, allowing them to approach each other more readily. This leads to a contraction of the adsorbed layer when the SDS concentration is sufficiently high.