Synthesis,structure, and spectroscopic,photochemical, redox,and catalytic properties of ruthenium(II) isomeric complexes containing dimethyl sulfoxide,chloro, and the dinucleating bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazole ligands

Two isomeric Ru(II) complexes containing the dinucleating Hbpp (3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazole) ligand together with Cl and dmso ligands have been prepared and their structural, spectroscopic, electrochemical, photochemical, and catalytic properties studied. The crystal structures of trans,cis-[Ru(II)Cl(2)(Hbpp)(dmso)(2)], 2a, and cis(out),cis-[Ru(II)Cl(2)(Hbpp)(dmso)(2)], 2b, have been solved by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis showing a distorted octahedral geometry for the metal center where the dmso ligands coordinate through their S atom. 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy corroborates a similar structure in solution for both isomers. Exposure of either 2a or 2b in acetonitrile solution under UV light produces a substitution of one dmso ligand by a solvent molecule generating the same product namely, cis(out)-[Ru(II)Cl(2)(Hbpp)(MeCN)(dmso)], 4. While the 1 e(-) oxidation of 2b or cis(out),cis-[Ru(II)Cl(2)(bpp)(dmso)(2)](+), 3b, generates a stable product, the same process for 2a or trans,cis-[Ru(II)Cl(2)(bpp)(dmso)(2)](+), 3a, produces the interesting linkage isomerization phenomenon where the dmso ligand switches its bond from Ru-S to Ru-O (K(III)(O)(-->)(S) = 0.25 +/- 0.025, k(III)(O)(-->)(S) = 0.017 s(-1), and k(III)(S)(-->)(O) = 0.065 s(-1); K(II)(O)(-->)(S) = 6.45 x 10(9), k(II)(O)(-->)(S) = 0.132 s(-1), k(II)(S)(-->)(O) = 2.1 x 10(-11) s(-1)). Finally complex 3a presents a relatively high activity as hydrogen transfer catalyst, with regard to its ability to transform acetophenone into 2-phenylethyl alcohol using 2-propanol as the source of hydrogen atoms.     

Metallic polycrystalline thin films of the single-component neutral molecular solid Ni(tmdt)2

Metallic thin films of the single-component, neutral, molecular solid Ni(tmdt)2 have been prepared by electrocrystallization on passivated silicon substrates. Metallicity is achieved down to 6 K despite the polycrystalline morphology.     

N,N′‐Butane‐1,4‐diylbis­(bromo­acetamide)

The title compound, C₈H₁₄Br₂N₂O₂, lies about an inversion centre and adopts a pleated conformation, with the C(O)—NH—CH₂—CH₂ and NH—CH₂—CH₂—CH₂ torsion angles of the butane­diamine residue being −89.5 (6) and −62.1 (7)°, respectively. These data are useful in discerning the structure of polymers containing such a unit. A skew conformation is found for the Br—CH₂—C(O)—NH torsion angle [−124.2 (4)°]. The mol­ecular packing is stabilized by strong hydrogen bonds between amide groups and also by weak CH₂⋯OC inter­actions. In this way, each mol­ecule inter­acts with its six closest neighbours through eight hydrogen bonds.     

Synchronization of electronic genetic networks

We describe a simple analog electronic circuit that mimics the behavior of a well-known synthetic gene oscillator, the repressilator, which represents a set of three genes repressing one another. Synchronization of a population of such units is thoroughly studied, with the aim to compare the role of global coupling with that of global forcing on the population. Our results show that coupling is much more efficient than forcing in leading the gene population to synchronized oscillations. Furthermore, a modification of the proposed analog circuit leads to a simple electronic version of a genetic toggle switch, which is a simple network of two mutual repressor genes, where control by external forcing is also analyzed.     

Nonequilibrium dynamics in lattice ecosystems: Chaotic stability and dissipative structures

A generalized coupled map lattice (CML) model of ecosystem dynamics is presented. We consider the spatiotemporal behavior of a prey-predator map, a model of host-parasitoid interactions, and two-species competition. The latter model can show phase separation of domains (Turing-like structures) even when chaos is present. We also use this CML model to explore the time evolution and structural properties of ecological networks built with a set of N competing species. The May-Wigner criterion is applied as a measure of stability, and some regularities in the stable networks observed are discussed.